A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Episodes
Episode 129: “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” by the Rolling Stones
30 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 129 of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction” by the Rolling Stones, and how they went fro...
Episode 128: “Mr. Tambourine Man” by the Byrds
22 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Episode one hundred and twenty-eight of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “Mr. Tambourine Man” by the Byrds, and the ...
Episode 127: “Ticket to Ride” by the Beatles
13 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week’s episode looks at "Ticket to Ride", the making of the Beatles' second film, and the influence of Bob Dylan on the Beatles' work and lives...
Episode 126: “For Your Love” by the Yardbirds
01 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 126 of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “For Your Love”, the Yardbirds, and the beginnings of heavy rock and the...
PLEDGE WEEK: “Hey Little Cobra” by the Rip Chords
21 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This is a bonus episode, part of Pledge Week 2021. Patreon backers get one of these with every episode of the main podcast. If you want to get those, ...
PLEDGE WEEK: “Farmer John” by Don and Dewey
20 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This is a bonus episode, part of Pledge Week 2021. Patreon backers get one of these with every episode of the main podcast. If you want to get those, ...
PLEDGE WEEK: “Papa Oom Mow Mow” by the Rivingtons
19 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This is a bonus episode, part of Pledge Week 2021. Patreon backers get one of these with every episode of the main podcast. If you want to get those, ...
PLEDGE WEEK: “Muleskinner Blues” by the Fendermen
18 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This is a bonus episode, part of Pledge Week 2021. Patreon backers get one of these with every episode of the main podcast. If you want to get those, ...
Episode 125: “Here Comes the Night” by Them
18 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 125 of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “Here Comes the Night", Them, the early career of Van Morrison, and the contin...
PLEDGE WEEK: “Sukiyaki” by Kyu Sakamoto
17 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This is a bonus episode, part of Pledge Week 2021. Patreon backers get one of these with every episode of the main podcast. If you want to get those, ...
PLEDGE WEEK: “Any Other Way” by Jackie Shane
16 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This is a bonus episode, part of Pledge Week 2021. Patreon backers get one of these with every episode of the main podcast. If you want to get those, ...
PLEDGE WEEK: “If You Wanna Be Happy” by Jimmy Soul
15 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This is a bonus episode, part of Pledge Week 2021. Patreon backers get one of these with every episode of the main podcast. If you want to get those, ...
ADMIN: Pledge Week 2021
15 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Transcript About a year ago I did a pledge week, to encourage people to back me on Patreon. This seemed relatively successful, so I'm going to ...
Episode 124: “People Get Ready” by the Impressions
08 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 124 of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “People Get Ready”, the Impressions, and the early career of Curtis Mayf...
Episode 123: “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin'” by the Righteous Brothers
25 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 123 of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'", the Righteous Brothers, Shindig! and "blue-...
Episode 122: “A Change is Gonna Come” by Sam Cooke
18 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 122 of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs is a double-length (over an hour) look at “A Change is Gonna Come” by Sam Cooke, at C...
Episode 121: “The Leader of the Pack” by the Shangri-Las
06 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Episode one hundred and twenty-one of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “The Leader of the Pack", the rise and fall of Red Bird...
Episode 120: “A Hard Day’s Night” by the Beatles
27 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week's episode, the first on the new host, looks at "A Hard Day's Night", and the making of the film that would define music cinema for decades t...
Admin Note: Podcast Host Moved
14 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A quick admin note about why the podcast has changed hosts. Click through for the transcript. Transcript This is a brief admin podcast to expl...
Episode 119: “You Really Got Me” by the Kinks
05 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Episode one hundred and nineteen of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “You Really Got Me” by the Kinks, and the song ...
Episode 118: “Do-Wah-Diddy-Diddy” by Manfred Mann
28 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 118 of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “Do-Wah-Diddy-Diddy” by Manfred Mann, and how a jazz group with a bl...
Episode 117: “Don’t Worry Baby” by the Beach Boys
20 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Episode one hundred and seventeen of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “Don’t Worry Baby” by the Beach Boys, an...
Episode 116: “Where Did Our Love Go?” by The Supremes
10 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Episode one hundred and sixteen of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “Where Did Our Love Go?” by the Supremes, and ho...
Episode 115: “House of the Rising Sun” by the Animals
27 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Episode one hundred and fifteen of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “House of the Rising Sun” by the Animals, at the...
Episode 114: “My Boy Lollipop” by Millie
18 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week’s episode looks at “My Boy Lollipop” and the origins of ska music. Click the full post to read liner notes, links to more ...
Episode 113: “Needles and Pins” by The Searchers
08 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week’s episode looks at “Needles and Pins”, and the story of the second-greatest band to come out of Liverpool in the sixties, ...
Episode 112: “She Loves You” by The Beatles
30 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week’s episode looks at “She Loves You”, the Beatles in 1963, and the start of Beatlemania in the UK. Click the full post to re...
Episode 111: “Heat Wave” by Martha and the Vandellas
20 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Episode one hundred and eleven of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “Heat Wave” by Martha and the Vandellas, and the ...
Episode 110: “Be My Baby” by the Ronettes
09 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 110 of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “Be My Baby”, and at the career of the Ronettes and Ronnie Spector.&...
BONUS: A Tribute to Gerry Marsden
03 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
I just heard the sad news that Gerry Marsden, of Gerry and the Pacemakers, has died today aged seventy-eight. As the latest episode of the podcast is ...
Episode 109: “Blowin’ in the Wind” by Peter, Paul, and Mary
23 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Episode one hundred and nine of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “Blowin’ in the Wind”, Peter, Paul and Mary, ...
Episode 108: “I Wanna Be Your Man” by the Rolling Stones
16 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 108 of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “I Wanna Be Your Man” by the Rolling Stones and how the British blue...
BONUS: I Read The NewsToday Oh Boy: The Kennedy Assassination
16 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The third in the occasional series of ten-minute looks at topics in the news during the time we’re looking at covers the Kennedy assassination. ...
Episode 107: “Surf City” by Jan and Dean
08 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 107 of A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs looks at “Surf City” and the career of Jan and Dean, including a Pop Symphony, ac...
Episode 106: “Louie Louie” by the Kingsmen
02 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 106 of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “Louie Louie” by the Kingsmen, and the story of how a band that had ...
Episode 105: “Green Onions” by Booker T. and the MGs
24 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 105 of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “Green Onions”, and how a company started by a Western Swing fiddle ...
Episode 104: “He’s a Rebel” by “The Crystals”
16 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 104 of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “He’s a Rebel”, and how a song recorded by the Blossoms was re...
BONUS: I Read The News Today Oh Boy — The Profumo Affair
16 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This month’s ten-minute extra bonus episode on news events at the time we’re looking at is on the Profumo Affair, and how a sex scandal tr...
Episode 103: “Hitch-Hike” by Marvin Gaye
05 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Episode one hundred and three of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “Hitch-Hike” by Marvin Gaye, and the early career ...
Episode 102: “Twist and Shout” by the Isley Brothers
26 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Episode one hundred and two of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “Twist and Shout” by the Isley Brothers, and the ear...
Episode 101: “Telstar” by the Tornados
17 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 101 of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs is the first one of the podcast's third year. This one looks at "Telstar" by the Tornados...
BONUS: I Read The News Today, Oh Boy: The Cuban Missile Crisis
06 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This is the first of a new monthly feature that will run alongside the main podcast — once a month I’ll be doing a ten-minute bonus episod...
Episode 100: “Love Me Do” by the Beatles
26 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week there are two episodes of the podcast going up, both of them longer than normal. This one, episode one hundred, is the hundredth-episod...
Episode 99: “Surfin’ Safari” by the Beach Boys
25 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week there are two episiodes of the podcast going up, both of them longer than normal. This one, episode ninety-nine, is on “Surfin...
Episode 98: “I’ve Just Fallen For Someone” by Adam Faith
15 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Episode ninety-eight of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “I’ve Just Fallen For Someone” by Adam Faith, and is ...
Episode 97: “Song to Woody” by Bob Dylan
10 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Episode ninety-seven of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “Song To Woody” by Bob Dylan, and at the Greenwich Village ...
Episode 96: “The Loco-Motion” by Little Eva
01 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Episode ninety-six of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “The Loco-Motion” by Little Eva, and how a demo by Carole Kin...
Episode 95: “You Better Move On” by Arthur Alexander
27 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Episode ninety-five of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “You Better Move On”, and the sad story of Arthur Alexander....
BONUS: “Strawberry Fair” by Anthony Newley
24 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This is a special extra episode of the podcast, not one of the “proper” five hundred. A book I’ve written, on the TV series The...
Episode 94: “Stand By Me”, by Ben E. King
18 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Episode ninety-four of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “Stand By Me” by Ben E. King, and at the later career of the...
Episode 93: “Please Mr. Postman” by the Marvelettes
10 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Episode ninety-three of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “Please Mr. Postman” by the Marvelettes, and the career of ...
Episode 92: “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” by the Tokens
02 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Episode ninety-two of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” by The Tokens, and at a seventy-yea...
Episode 91: “The Twist” by Chubby Checker
25 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Episode ninety-one of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “The Twist” by Chubby Checker, and how the biggest hit single...
PLEDGE WEEK: “Sixteen Tons” by Tennessee Ernie Ford
19 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to the seventh and final in the Pledge Week series of episodes, putting up old bonus episodes posted to my Patreon in an attempt to encourage ...
Episode 90: “Runaway” by Del Shannon
18 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Episode ninety of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “Runaway” by Del Shannon, and at the early use of synthesised sou...
PLEDGE WEEK: “Black Denim Trousers and Motorcycle Boots” by the Cheers
18 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to the sixth in the Pledge Week series of episodes, putting up old bonus episodes posted to my Patreon in an attempt to encourage more subscri...
PLEDGE WEEK: “Ain’t Got No Home” by Clarence “Frogman” Henry
17 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to the fifth in the Pledge Week series of episodes, putting up old bonus episodes posted to my Patreon in an attempt to encourage more subscri...
PLEDGE WEEK: “Shake a Hand” by Faye Adams
16 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to the fourth in the Pledge Week series of episodes, putting up old bonus episodes posted to my Patreon in an attempt to encourage more subscr...
PLEDGE WEEK: “Blue Yodel #9” by Jimmie Rodgers
15 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to the third in the Pledge Week series of episodes, putting up old bonus episodes posted to my Patreon in an attempt to encourage more subscri...
PLEDGE WEEK: “The Flying Saucer” by Buchanan and Goodman
14 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to the second in the Pledge Week series of episodes, putting up old bonus episodes posted to my Patreon in an attempt to encourage more subscr...
PLEDGE WEEK BONUS: “Chantilly Lace” by the Big Bopper
13 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to Pledge Week! I’m doing a week of posting some of the Patreon bonuses I’ve done, to encourage those who can to sign up to my Pat...
Episode 89: “Will You Love Me Tomorrow?” by the Shirelles
10 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Episode eighty-nine of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “Will You Love Me Tomorrow?” by the Shirelles, and at the be...
Episode 88: “Cathy’s Clown” by the Everly Brothers
02 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Episode eighty-eight of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “Cathy’s Clown” by The Everly Brothers, and at how ...
Episode 87: “Apache” by the Shadows
23 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Episode eighty-seven of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “Apache”, by the Shadows, and at the three years in which t...
Episode 86: “LSD-25” by the Gamblers
10 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Episode eighty-six of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “LSD-25” by the Gamblers, the first rock song ever to nameche...
Episode 85: “Three Steps to Heaven” by Eddie Cochran
05 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Episode eighty-five of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “Three Steps to Heaven” by Eddie Cochran, and at the Briti...
Episode 84: “Shakin’ All Over” by Johnny Kidd and the Pirates
28 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Episode eighty-four of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at "Shakin' All Over" by Johnny Kidd and the Pirates, and how the first g...
Episode 83: “Only The Lonely” by Roy Orbison
22 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Episode eighty-three of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “Only the Lonely” by Roy Orbison, and how Orbison finally...
Episode 82: “Are You Lonesome Tonight?” by Elvis Presley
14 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Episode eighty-two of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" by Elvis Presley, and the way his promising...
Episode 81: “Shout” by the Isley Brothers
04 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Episode eighty-one of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “Shout” by the Isley Brothers, and the beginnings of a care...
Episode 80: “Money” by Barrett Strong
27 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Episode eighty of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “Money” by Barrett Strong, the dispute over its authorship, and...
Episode 79: “Sweet Nothin’s” by Brenda Lee
22 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Episode seventy-nine of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “Sweet Nothin’s” by Brenda Lee, and at the career o...
Episode 78: “What’d I Say” by Ray Charles
13 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Episode seventy-eight of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “What’d I Say” by Ray Charles, and at Charles̵...
Episode 77: “Brand New Cadillac” by Vince Taylor and the Playboys
07 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Episode seventy-seven of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “Brand New Cadillac” by Vince Taylor and the Pla...
Episode 76: “Stagger Lee” by Lloyd Price
31 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Episode seventy-six of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “Stagger Lee” by Lloyd Price, and how a barroom fi...
Episode 75: “There Goes My Baby” by the Drifters
23 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Episode seventy-five of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “There Goes My Baby” by the Drifters, and how a fake record...
Episode 74: “It Doesn’t Matter Any More” by Buddy Holly
17 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Episode seventy-four of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “It Doesn’t Matter Any More” by Buddy Holly, and at...
Episode 73: “La Bamba” by Ritchie Valens
09 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Episode seventy-three of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “La Bamba” by Ritchie Valens, and is the first of a two-pa...
Episode 72: “Trouble” by Elvis Presley
02 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Episode seventy-two of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “Trouble” by Elvis Presley, his induction into the army, a...
Episode 71: “Willie and the Hand Jive” by Johnny Otis
24 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Episode seventy-one of A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs continues our look at British music TV by looking at the first time it affected American...
Episode 70: “Move It” by Cliff Richard and the Drifters
17 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Episode seventy of A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs looks at "Move It" by Cliff Richard, and the beginning of rock and roll TV in the UK. Click t...
Episode 69: “Fujiyama Mama” by Wanda Jackson
10 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Episode sixty-nine of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “Fujiyama Mama” by Wanda Jackson, and the first rock and ro...
Episode 68: “Yakety Yak” by the Coasters
04 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Episode sixty-eight of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “Yakety Yak'” by The Coasters, and at the group’s gre...
Episode 67: “Johnny B. Goode”, by Chuck Berry
27 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Episode sixty-seven of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “Johnny B. Goode” by Chuck Berry, and the decline and fall...
Episode 66: “Great Balls of Fire” by Jerry Lee Lewis
20 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Episode sixty-six of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at "Great Balls of Fire" by Jerry Lee Lewis. Click the full post to read li...
Episode 65: “Maybe” by the Chantels
13 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Episode sixty-five of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “Maybe” by the Chantels, and covers child stardom, hymns in L...
Episode Sixty-Four: “Reet Petite” by Jackie Wilson
06 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Episode sixty-four of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “Reet Petite” by Jackie Wilson, and features talent contests ...
Episode 63: “Susie Q” by Dale Hawkins
30 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Episode sixty-three of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “Susie Q” by Dale Hawkins, and at the difference between r...
Episode 62: “Jailhouse Rock” by Elvis Presley
22 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Episode sixty-two of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “Jailhouse Rock” by Elvis Presley, and at his relationships wi...
Episode 61: “That’ll Be the Day” by The Crickets
16 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Episode sixty-one of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at "That'll Be the Day" by The Crickets. Click the full post to read liner ...
Episode 60: “You Send Me” by Sam Cooke
09 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Episode sixty of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “You Send Me” by Sam Cooke Click the full post to read l...
Book Announcement
09 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Transcript This is just a quick announcement that the book based on the first fifty episodes of the podcast is now available for purchase. From Savoy ...
Episode 59: “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” by Jerry Lee Lewis
02 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Episode fifty-nine of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” by Jerry Lee Lewis...
Episode 58: “Mr. Lee” by the Bobbettes
25 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Episode fifty-eight of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “Mr. Lee” by the Bobbettes, and at the lbirth of the girl gr...
Episode 57: “Flying Saucers Rock ‘n’ Roll” by Billy Lee Riley and the Little Green Men
18 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Episode fifty-seven of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “Flying Saucers Rock ‘n’ Roll” by Billy Lee Ri...
Episode 56: “Bye Bye Love” by the Everly Brothers
11 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Episode fifty-six of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at "Bye Bye Love" by The Everly Brotherss, and at the history of country cl...
Episode 55: “Searchin'” by the Coasters
04 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Episode fifty-five of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “Searchin'” by The Coasters, and at the lineup changes and co...
Episode 54: “Keep A Knockin'” by Little Richard
28 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Episode fifty-four of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “Keep A Knockin'” by Little Richard, the long history of the ...
Episode 53: “I Put a Spell on You” by Screamin’ Jay Hawkins
21 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Episode fifty-three of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “I Put a Spell on You” by Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, and t...
Episode 52: “Twenty Flight Rock”, by Eddie Cochran
14 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Episode fifty-two of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “Twenty Flight Rock” by Eddie Cochran, and at the first great ...