The Record Player

Send us a textIn picking her favorite album, author K.L. Doty let us know up front that she couldn't settle on just one -- something which we're all familiar with as music fans, right? So we talk about a lot of different music. But in regards to Disintegration by the Cure, specifically, she shared a thought that will land with many of us who have grown up (I guess that's all of us) and made our way out into the real world, which can maybe be the first real moment where you learn about things like compromise. Prior to the interview, K.L. told us the reason for her love of Disintegration comes back to this: "It reminds me of dreams and all the things I wanted as a child that I ultimately left to go chase."Her story is an interesting one, because she's been chasing a lot of different things for a good amount of time. There's been both happiness and heartbreak -- that's life in a nutshell on some days -- but also, redemption and discovery. Her newest project found her spending the past few years helping former Great White vocalist Jack Russell put his memories on paper and her book was the result of the hours of conversations they had. The True Tale of Mista Bone: A Rock + Roll Narrative was released this summer and is an unvarnished look at Russell's life and career. Through Doty, Russell puts it all out on the table. We enjoyed talking with K.L. to learn about how the book came together, but also, we spoke about her general life journey that has brought her to this point and what's ahead. We hope you enjoy this conversation!Support the show

Send us a textYou might know Brian Wecht as Ninja Brian. Or maybe you know him as Trey Magnifique. Perhaps, you just know him as Brian and that's fine too. Matt and Jeff were just thrilled to have him on the podcast to talk about Al Jarreau's mighty fine Breakin' Away album. But there were conditions. First, an impromptu 20 minute discussion about Kenny G. You'll see. Is there a Chicago reference followed by some scathing condemnation? You know there is.As it happens, Brian, er, Trey Magnifique has a new holiday EP, Let it Blow, available now as you're listening to this. We talk about that and you should buy it and give Brian some of your hard-earned money that you were planning to spend on Christmas cookies. Was Jim Morrison on the receiving end? What does it all mean? I guess it means that we had a really fun and extremely random conversation with Brian that covers a lot of different topics. Which frankly, it feels like that's exactly what needed to happen.Our thanks to Brian for spending time talking tunes with us. We look forward to having him back on the podcast soon! Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, but also follow him on BlueSky. You know he has a podcast, right? It's called Leighton Night and you can listen here.P.S. This episode has some filthy language. You kind of expected that, didn't you?P.S.S. Jeff and Matt are on BlueSky as well.Support the show

Send us a textRob Baker of The Tragically Hip joins Matt to discuss the 35th anniversary of the band's 1989 debut, Up to Here, which is being celebrated with a lavish box set featuring a wealth of previously unreleased content. The box set is available today digitally and will be released in a variety of physical formats on Nov. 15. You can order your copy of the box set here.The conversation with Rob was wonderfully free-flowing and numerous topics are discussed, including of course, stories from the time period that Up to Here was in the works. But also, Rob and Matt dig into the band's early struggles before they secured their first label deal, the challenges they've had in locating and preserving their archival material, recording in unique locations and even a humorous Rush story, just to name a few things.In addition to the new box set for Up to Here, fans can also enjoy No Dress Rehearsal, the new four-part documentary on Amazon Prime. There's also a new book. So it's a good time to be a fan of the Tragically Hip and it was a real pleasure to speak with Rob to hear some stories. Fellow longtime fans will enjoy this conversation and we appreciate Rob's time!P.S. Our comrade Allison Rapp also had a recent conversation that will be of interest to Hip fans. She spoke with bassist Gord Sinclair to discuss his love of Joni Mitchell's music for her Joni podcast and it's a chat you won't want to miss!Support the show

Send us a textProfessor Louis Moore joins Matt and Jeff to discuss his essential new book, The Great Black Hope: Doug Williams, Vince Evans and the Making of the Black Quarterback. Our engaging discussion with Lou took us deep into the history of Black quarterbacks and athletes in general in the NFL and he talks about the journey he took as he was writing the book. However much progress you might think has been made in the NFL (and beyond), this discussion -- and Lou's book -- will remind you that there's a lot that still needs to be addressed.Lou also shared his history as a music fan and the formative experiences he had as a listener growing up, and why Life is...Too $hort is still one of the most important albums in his collection. We had a blast speaking with Lou and if you haven't had a chance to check out his book yet, you'll really want to after hearing this conversation. Our thanks to Lou for writing this book and the time he spent with us to talk about it! You can visit his official website and read more information about his career to date below.P.S. You can skip the intro and go right to our conversation with Lou, which begins at 10:02.About Professor Louis Moore:Louis Moore is a Professor of History at Grand Valley State University. He teaches African American History, Civil Rights, Sports History, and US History.His research and writing examines the interconnections between race and sports.  He is the author of two books, I Fight for a Living: Boxing and the Battle for Black Manhood, 1880-1915 and We Will Win the Day: The Civil Rights Movement, the Black Athlete, and the Quest for Equality, and has an Audible lecture, African American Athletes Who Made History. In addition, he has two Audible lectures, African American Athletes Who Made History and A Pastime of Their Own: The Story of Negro League Baseball. He has also written for various online outlets including The New York Daily News, Vox, The Global Sports Institute, First and Pen, and the African American Intellectual Historical Society, and he has appeared on NPR, MSNBC, CNN, and BBC Sports. The co-host of the Black Athlete Podcast, his latest book, The Great Black Hope: Doug Williams, Vince Evans and the Making of the Black Quarterback is out now.Support the show

Send us a textThis is almost a "lost episode" of sorts. To pull the curtain back a bit, we recorded this episode back in July and then promptly got busy with a bunch of other things. So if you hear a mention or two that sound a bit dated, there ya go. What remains is a fun discussion that we had regarding Robert Wyatt's 1974 album Rock Bottom. We examine where Robert was career-wise in 1974 as he was continuing to evolve his solo work following his time with Soft Machine and subsequently, Matching Mole. Fellow prog aficionados and those who like a good, weird album, just generally, this one's for you.P.S. As we get into the fall, we've got a bunch of fresh episodes ready to roll and you'll be hearing them here in the coming weeks! Thanks for listening and for your ongoing support of The Record Player!Support the show

Send us a textThe guys end summer break with a completely random "accidental Cassingle," as Jeff tagged it. There are discussions of Funyuns (which still exist!), Taco Bell, concept albums, Jeff's new book, asbestos, kids who swear a lot, new music from Jon Anderson of Yes, the upcoming solo album from Warren Haynes and other subjects that are probably being forgotten. We got together to record a simple introduction for our next podcast episode....and this happened. Anyway, it's been a good summer away, but we've all missed you!P.S. Don't play this particular episode around your kids. There's some swearing.P.S.S. Apparently Funyuns are 55 years old this year! It's time for them to start pulling their weight around here.Texas ToastThe #1 Country Music Podcast in Texas!Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the show

Send us a textOur latest Bonus Track features a conversation with author and journalist John Barry, who covered Woodstock '94 as it happened. Thirty years later, he joins Matt to share some of his memories of the experience. Music fans will also be interested in the book that John wrote about Levon Helm's incredible second act with the Midnight Ramble and other events that happened during the later years of his career.Levon Helm: Rock, Roll & Ramble - The Inside Story of the Man, the Music and the Midnight Ramble is an essential read for fans of Levon and the Band. John shares the story of how the book came together and some of the Levon memories he's really grateful for.  You can read John's latest articles at the Times Union website and he also has an ongoing newsletter, Quicksand.Big thanks to John for the conversation!Texas ToastThe #1 Country Music Podcast in Texas!Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the show

Send us a textJeff and Matt love nothing more than coming across obscure AOR gems. Jesse Colin Young's 1982 album, The Perfect Stranger, fits into that category. Featuring guest appearances by Carly Simon, Michael McDonald, Bill Payne and Fred Tackett of Little Feat and Timothy B. Schmit of the Eagles, The Perfect Stranger also finds Jesse surrounded by an unbelievable cast of many of the era's best session players.Jesse tells the guys how he came to work with producer Michael James Jackson on The Perfect Stranger, which he describes as an album he'd never made before - and it was an experience he ultimately didn't repeat. We also discuss his current songwriting contest with Future Youth Records. They're seeking to help inspire young songwriters from 18-24 to "use their unique voice to inspire change. Jesse knows a thing or two about that, having been the voice for "Get Together," the inspiring and unifying hit he released in 1967 with the Youngbloods. Entries for "The Perfect Stranger" songwriting contest are being accepted through August 15. Good luck!Jesse also tells us about the early days of the No Nukes movement, which he co-founded, his struggles with Lyme Disease and his memoir that he recently completed. We also ask him how many times he saw the Freedom Rock commercial in the '80s.It was a delight speaking with Jesse and for the first time, you can now find The Perfect Stranger on your favorite digital service, wherever you get your music, so dig in! P.S. Jeff has been quite busy. He has a new book out and he continues to write even more good words beyond that at Jefitoblog.Texas ToastThe #1 Country Music Podcast in Texas!Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the show

Send us a textPodcasting pioneer Jimmy Pardo hosts the award-winning podcast, Never Not Funny. But he also puts his name behind a lot of good things. Witness his annual Pardcast-a-Thon, which provided nine hours of laughs from Sarah Silverman, Patton Oswalt, Dave Holmes, Jon Cryer and numerous others -- INCLUDING DAVID FOSTER -- raising over $125 thousand dollars for charity in the process. For $25 you can purchase an archive of this year's performances and if you like to laugh, we highly recommend that.Jimmy is also a big fan of '80s AOR music and the only rock band with horns that you need to have in your life, Chicago. Which means that when we needed a friend to help us talk about Chicago 17 in honor of its 40th anniversary, Jimmy came right over to "Stay the Night." Okay, wait. We're taking that last part back. Here's what we can promise about today's edition of the podcast: You will hear three guys talking for more than an hour about Chicago 17 -- before and beyond -- making obscure band/Peter Cetera references and other things we can't remember now that it's been several days since we recorded this. Short version: you will probably enjoy this.Thanks to Jimmy as always for hanging out with us. Visit Jimmy's Records & Tapes for even more music nerd fun.Visit Jefitoblog.com for even more Jeff Giles.Texas ToastThe #1 Country Music Podcast in Texas!Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the show

Send us a textThis is a flashback moment to our previous podcast, 1991: The Year AOR Ate Itself. For those of you who didn't hear that podcast series, you'll be interested to hear this episode, which aired July 5, 2021. In my memory (note: I'm making this up), we decided to celebrate Independence Day by talking about Foreigner's first album without Lou Gramm, Unusual Heat.Even though that's not true, we did have a lot of fun discussing Unusual Heat with our friend Ben Arthur, who brought a really interesting perspective as a fellow artist to this discussion. It was Jeff who had the idea overall for the AOR podcast and I'm really glad we did it. We had a lot of fun talking about some of our favorite albums from 1991 and who knows, maybe we'll visit another year from the '90s -- or even the '80s -- one of these days. In the meantime, there's 12 other episodes of this '91 'cast if you enjoy what you hear today. Dig in!We've both been tied up with life stuff, but will be back with a fresh episode this week -- and it's another one of our favorite albums (I don't think I'm wrong in saying that, but we'll find out, won't we?). In the meantime, enjoy this conversation regarding a Foreigner album you've probably never heard!P.S. Ben is back with a new season of his SongWriter podcast. Check out the initial episode here!Related:An article at Ultimate Classic Rock from Jeff and Matt regarding Unusual Heat, featuring interviews with Johnny Edwards and Mick Jones. Texas ToastThe #1 Country Music Podcast in Texas!Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the show

Send us a textOur latest Bonus Track features a great conversation with the legendary Leland Sklar and director Denny Tedesco regarding his film, The Immediate Family. That's right, someone finally made a movie about Lee Sklar, Danny Kortchmar, Waddy Wachtel and Russ Kunkel. If you're a liner notes nerd, you know those names!Here's one example:Jackson Browne's Running on Empty album was one where the music fans got to be part of the process. Because it was recorded live on stage in concert -- and at other points along the touring trail, backstage, in hotel rooms and even on the tour bus - it was a unique and often chaotic experience for those involved in the recording.As Sklar told me, Running on Empty was unlike anything he had ever been a part of. While bands and artists are very used to the uncomfortable nature of playing new material in front of an audience that's just there to hear the hits, Running on Empty captured moments with Browne and the band where they were playing new songs that the audiences hadn't even had a chance to get on an album yet, because they hadn't been recorded.For Sklar, it was just one experience of many songs and albums that he's played on across the decades. While he's worked with countless names, there were a few that kept coming up -- guitarist Waddy Wachtel, guitarist Danny Kortchmar and drummer Russ Kunkel. The four became known as The Section, the '70s heir apparent to The Wrecking Crew of the '60s. Collectively and often together, they've played on thousands of albums.In more recent years, they've acquired a new moniker, one which fits well with their connection to the legendary albums they played on by Warren Zevon, Linda Ronstadt, Carole King, Don Henley and many others -- The Immediate Family. Adding vocalist Steve Postell to their ranks, they've put out several albums.But it was Tedesco who decided to tell the story of the guys, through the words of their famous employers and associates. He's well-suited for the task, having put out a film about The Wrecking Crew, the group of session musicians that featured his father, guitarist Tommy Tedesco. He saw the natural throughline that connected that collective with what Kortchmar, Wachtel, Sklar and Kunkel continued with the Section.The Immediate Family is a fascinating journey, one which weaves together valuable history as recounted by those who were there. The film was recently released on DVD and Blu-ray and continues to screen nationally. You can find further details at immediatefamilyfilm.com.I loved chatting with Denny and Lee -- and it was exciting to hear some details from Denny about his next project, a movie about Wolfman Jack that's currently in process! Can't wait!P.S. I mention it during the episode, but here's a direct link to Leland's YouTube channel.Texas ToastThe #1 Country Music Podcast in Texas!Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the show

Send us a textThe 1974 Project continues as we welcome back our friend and A&R man Peter Lubin to discuss Pussy Cats by Harry Nilsson. Produced by John Lennon, Pussy Cats is an interesting and at times, unfortunate mile marker in Nilsson's career -- and the guys discuss why that is.There is once again a great tribute album at the heart of all of this Nilsson stuff for Jeff and Matt, 1995's For the Love of Harry: Everybody Sings Nilsson. Jeff describes the doors that opened for him as a music fan after he heard that album. We talk about the many peculiarities of Harry's career -- including the fact that he never toured. How did everyone not die while recording Pussy Cats? Good question. Okay, so that scratches the surface, rather roughly, on some of the areas that we cover in today's episode. All you really need to know is that whether you worship this album, or you've never heard Harry's music, there's something here for everyone. Thanks for listening!Related:The Harry Nilsson documentary (which is a great watch and very much worth your time)An article that Jeff wrote about Pussy Cats for Ultimate Classic RockThe mega-Nilsson playlist that Matt knew Jeff had somewhere in his digital back pocket. Can you finish it?Texas ToastThe #1 Country Music Podcast in Texas!Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the show

Send us a textIn 1984, Christopher Cross added a unique new entry to his discography. "A Chance For Heaven" was selected as the official swimming theme for the Olympics. I bet you didn't even know there was an official swimming theme that year, did you? Neither did we. Discovering that factoid during our episode about Christopher's 1985 album, Every Turn of the World, was enough to send us out on an important quest.What if we were to discuss the Olympics soundtrack albums for 1984, 1988 and 1992? That's the task that Jeff and Matt decided to tackle on today's episode of The Record Player. It's not an easy one, because none of the three volumes are on streaming. Which means, YouTube to the rescue!Here's streaming links for all three volumes:The Official Music Of The XXIIIrd Olympiad Los Angeles 19841988 Summer Olympics Album: One Moment in TimeBarcelona Gold (1992) - note that a few songs are not streaming officially, but 12 songs are. You'll get the point. But here's the complete rundown.This is a wide-ranging discussion that explores the bulk of the first two compilations track-by-track with scattered thoughts on Barcelona Gold, because we  were at the clock limit and honestly, the tone of the song curation changed with Barcelona Gold in a way that felt less specific to the Olympics. But where else are you going to find En Vogue and Damn Yankees back to back on the same album? That's a really good question.There are references along the way to the Ghostbusters soundtrack, the We Are the World album and a bunch of other things -- including the most excellent Little Feat-related tribute album from the '90s, Rock & Roll Doctor: A Tribute to Lowell George. Streaming the Lowell tribute appears to be a bit of a chore -- it's on Apple Music at the very least, but finding it on Spotify was an elusive task.Anyway, we talk about some things and you've got some fresh listening material to enjoy now as well. Thanks as always for listening and don't forget to visit Jefitoblog for even more thoughts from Jeff. Have a good weekend!Texas ToastThe #1 Country Music Podcast in Texas!Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the show

Send us a textIn our first Bonus Track of 2024, legendary artist and producer Narada Michael Walden tells Matt about his time working with the late Tommy Bolin. It's an emotional subject for Narada, but also a period in his career that he retains a lot of love and affection for.We spoke in November of 2023 as Narada was just about to release his newest solo album, Euphoria. The record features a wealth of exciting new compositions -- and also, a long-in-the-works collaboration with Sting, Carlos Santana and Stevie Wonder.You can hear "The More I Love My Life," the song which came out of the collaboration and read more about how it happened right here.Thanks for listening and don't forget to visit Jefitoblog!If you're listening to this podcast on YouTube, you can also find it wherever you get your other podcasts, including Apple Music and Spotify. Here's a complete list of providers.Texas ToastThe #1 Country Music Podcast in Texas!Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the show

Send us a textThe magnificent Davia Schendel joins Jeff and Matt to discuss Suzi Quatro's second album, Quatro.Today's conversation definitely goes deep into "music nerd" territory. We talk about record stores of the past, making playlists devoted to things like gated reverb and snare hits. Should we talk about the underrated power player in music that is known as the saxophone? You're darn right, we should.  How much does the bass rule? We've got thoughts.There are stray conversations about movie soundtracks, AOR soundtrack rarities , Roxy Music and Duran Duran. We discuss some non-musical things too, you know, the related and relevant topics like the holy trinity of oxygen machines, smoking and gambling.But there's also wisdom. Davia puts the thought out there about how "nothing is singular." We're keeping that as our new mantra. It was truly a joy to speak with Davia about so many things and it's a conversation that we both walked away from feeling energized and inspired.Check out Through the Deluge, Davia's newest EP -- and make sure to sign up for her newsletter/podcast, Zeitgest Deterrent. Our huge thanks to Davia for spending the time with us.Thanks for listening and don't forget to visit Jefitoblog!If you're listening to this podcast on YouTube, you can also find it wherever you get your other podcasts, including Apple Music and Spotify. Here's a complete list of providers.Related links:Davia's snare hit playlistDavia's sax playlistHer Celluloid Tracks podcast (the prelude to her current Zeitgeist Deterrent podcast)The Suzi Q documentary about Suzi QuatroThe AOR soundtrack rarities playlist.Kathy Valentine's memoir.Texas ToastThe #1 Country Music Podcast in Texas!Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the show

Send us a textIt's time for the first solo Jeff and Matt episode in a good while! Today, the guys team up to look back at Every Turn of the World, the third album by Christopher Cross. They dig through a number of topics including the album's relative lack of success, how Jeff found it -- and why he loved it so much at the time.We also discuss Jeff's forthcoming debut novel, Langley Powell and the Society for the Defense of the Mundane, which is set for a July release. Jeff gives fans of The Record Player an inside look at what they can expect from the book -- and how it came to be! Along the way, we discuss Mike Seaver and Boner, Matt Sledge and why Cleveland is a big deal and numerous other topics too boring to detail here. We're kidding about that last part, probably.OH....and if you see that link at the top of this episode description, you'll be aware that we can now receive fan mail -- which we will likely discuss on the podcast. We dig into an especially crazy submission that came in recently from an "anonymous caller."Thanks for listening and don't forget to find more words from Jeff at the coolest destination in the nation, Jefitoblog.Texas ToastThe #1 Country Music Podcast in Texas!Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the show

Send us a textWe have another first on the podcast, but you're going to have to listen to find out what it is. Let's start with the facts: Benjamin Miner of The Feldons joins Jeff and Matt to talk about 1969's Uncle Meat album, by Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention. Have you ever heard this album? It's a wild ride, just like our discussion. In addition to Uncle Meat, we also discuss pinball machines, pinball lust, churches with pinball machines and basketball gyms that have no air conditioning.Oh yeah, we also dig deep into the story behind The Feldons and their latest album and the fascinating journey that Benjamin took with both the band and the music. He unpacks the path that took him from Zappa to having his own band -- and there's a surprising revelation about horn sections. Is that a horn section-related plot twist? Perhaps.Our thanks to Benjamin for hanging out with us today. You can get your hands on a copy of the Feldons album at Bandcamp and for you fellow vinyl nerds, there's even vinyl to be had!Thanks also to all of you for listening to this episode. Don't forget to visit Jeff at Jefitoblog where you'll find even more musical discussion and thoughts.Texas ToastThe #1 Country Music Podcast in Texas!Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the show

Send us a textBenjamin Wagner joins the guys for a frank discussion about mental health in the midst of Mental Health Awareness Month. He's spent a good amount of time thinking about -- and researching the subject. His new film, Friends & Neighbors, is the result of that work. Benjamin tells Jeff and Matt how his own mental health struggles influenced the movie -- and what he learned once he finished the project.In Friends & Neighbors, Benjamin thinks back to the words of his friend, Fred Rogers -- known to the world as Mister Rogers -- and how he always encouraged people to "look for the helpers." For Benjamin, one of those helpers, beginning in his formative years as a teenager, was definitely music. One of the key albums was R.E.M.'s Reckoning. He shares his love for both the record and the band itself -- and why he really respects what they did from the beginning to the way they handled the end of their career.We also discuss Benjamin's first interview -- which happened to be with R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe -- and moments from his incredible run at MTV News which lasted for nearly two decades. As it happens, you can hear a whole lot more about Benjamin's time at MTV. He's got an essential podcast, You Hear It First: An Unofficial and Unfiltered History of MTV News, where he's been interviewing an incredible mix of people from the network -- including many of his former colleagues. For those of us who grew up with MTV News -- and perhaps eventually worked in the industry themselves -- it's a fascinating journey.Friends & Neighbors is screening this month at select locations and will feature panel discussion with Benjamin and others. You can find information on those screenings here. And If you're not in range to attend a screening, you can stream it during the month of May by visiting the film website.You can also find information on Benjamin's previous movie, Mister Rogers & Me at the film's official website. The movie is available for streaming on many major platforms.Thanks so much for listening to the program as always! Join us for further discussion at Jeff's website at Jefitoblog. We'll see you there (and we'll be back soon enough with Benjamin #3. You'll see what we mean after listening to this episode.)Texas ToastThe #1 Country Music Podcast in Texas!Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the show

Send us a textEmmy-nominated songwriter Ben Arthur released his third album, Edible Darling, in 2004. A longtime friend of the podcast (long before there was a podcast, in fact), Ben joins Jeff and Matt to look back on the album in its 20th anniversary year. He recaps his rollercoaster experience navigating the music industry in those early years and how it ultimately influenced where he's gone with his life's work since then.To date, Ben has released 10 albums and an ongoing series of singles, with his most recent song release being "Bless Your Heart" earlier this year. He is the creator and host of SongWriter, a podcast that turns stories into songs. SongWriter is launching its sixth season and has featured guests/collaborators that include  Questlove, Joyce Carol Oates, David Gilmour of Pink Floyd,  Susan Orlean, Neil Gaiman, George Saunders, Katie Melua, David Sedaris, and Steve Earle.Our thanks to Ben for hanging out with us. We had a blast looking back at one of our favorite albums and learning more about what was going on at the time.If you're new to The Record Player, check out our extensive archive of past episodes wherever you get your podcasts! Keep the experience going and visit Jefitoblog for more thoughts from Jeff (and more abuse from Matt). Thanks so much for listening!Texas ToastThe #1 Country Music Podcast in Texas!Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the show

Send us a textLegendary producer Tom Werman joins Jeff and Matt to talk about one of his favorite albums, Who's Next, by the Who.Tom is one of the best kind of people you can hope to meet in the music industry, because not only is he very talented as a producer, but he also is a music fan at heart. That's something that comes through again and again as you're reading his new memoir, Turn It Up:  My Time Making Hit Records In The Glory Days Of Rock Music (Featuring Mötley Crüe, Poison, Twisted Sister, Jeff Beck, Ted Nugent, Cheap Trick, And More). Yes, that's a very long title, but the good news is that if you needed a refresher course about Tom Werman and his life's work, you just got it! One of the great things about Turn It Up is that you get the stories about Werman's experience working with the mentioned artists (and more), but you also really get an inside look at what a producer does -- and how they do it. It's a valuable fly on the wall perspective on a number of levels, but Tom is able to explain the very technical job he did -- without getting overly technical in the way he illustrates that process.As it happens, the roots of the book began with a column that Tom wrote, The Producers, which ran at Jeff's website, Popdose. It's an interesting prequel that Jeff and Tom talk about as the interview begins. Tom has long been one of our favorite people when we think back to all of the albums we own that have his name in the liner notes, so it was a real joy to get a chance to dig in with Tom and discuss his career.P.S. Are you reading Jeff's words at Jefitoblog yet? Goodness gracious, get on over there and become part of the discussion!P.S.S. Here's a link to the Who's Next / Lifehouse box set that Matt mentions during the conversation with Tom. It's essential if you're a fan of the album.Texas ToastThe #1 Country Music Podcast in Texas!Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the show