POWER POP SERIES: BOB GIFFORD (THE RINGS)

BJ is joined by Bob Gifford from the Boston band The Rings for another tale of the trials and tribulations of flirting with success in the music industry in the seventies going into the eighties. The episode includes great music, as usual.

STUART HARPER (IRON VIRGIN)

  

 

For this episode BJ is joined by Stuart Harper, the frontman for Junk Shop Glam cult favorites Iron Virgin. After Iron Virgin split up Stuart fronted two more bands in the late seventies, Miami and Orchid. For this episode Stuart was gracious enough to share with us unreleased original recordings from both of those bands. Never heard before! It's quite a treat!

 

 

 

MIAMI: 

 

 

 

 

ORCHID:

 

UNICORN

 

 

Unicorn were a UK country rock band produced by Pink Floyd's David Gilmour who made great records but failed to break through. Hear their story (and lots of their music) on this episode.

POWER POP SERIES: THE SHIVVERS/THE TREND/THE MOSQUITOS

 

 

It's a power pop triple threat as BJ talks to Scott Krueger from The Shivvers, John McMulln from The Trend and Vance Brescia from The Mosquitos.

BRIAN SPENCE

 

Scottish singer-songwriter Brian Spence shares the story of his musical journey, from a seventies glam rock band called Bilbo Baggins to a pair of classic AOR albums in the late eighties and beyond. Lots of fantastic music included.

 

 

JEFF SUMMERS (WEAPON/WILDFIRE/STATETROOPER)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As a member of Weapon, Jeff Summers wrote a NWOBHM classic called "Set the Stage Alight" which influenced, among others, Metallica. He later joined the bands Wildfire with original Iron Maiden frontman Paul Mario Day and Statetrooper with former MSG vocalist Gary Barden. Hear him share his metal memories.

LOST EPISODE: CARTOON THEME SONGS

 

An hour of cartoon theme songs from the eighties (with commercials).

M.A.S.K.
JAYCE AND THE WHEELED WARRIORS
ULYSSES 31
THE ADVENTURES OF THE GALAXY RANGERS
ROCK LORDS COMMERCIAL
DEFENDERS OF THE EARTH
POLE POSITION
SABER RIDER AND THE STAR SHERIFFS
SPIRAL ZONE
RING RAIDERS
MIGHTY ORBOTS
GOBOTS COMMERCIAL
DINOSAUCERS
RUBIK THE AMAZING CUBE
ROBOTIKS COMMERCIAL
JEM AND THE HOLOGRAMS
THUNDERCATS
SLIME PIT COMMERCIAL
MACRON 1
DANGER MOUSE
TIGERSHARKS
CHUCK NORRIS KARATE KOMMANDOS
SATURDAY SUPERCADE
Q BERT
GALAXY HIGH SCHOOL
KIDD VIDEO
THE VISIONAIRIES
AERIAL BOTS COMMERCIAL
TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES
TEEN WOLF

 

 

SILVERHAWKS
HEATHCLIFF
INHUMANOIDS
CROSS BOSS COMMERCIAL
SNORKS
THE PODDINGTON PEAS
DENVER THE LAST DINOSAUR
DENNIS THE MENACE
KOOL AID COMMERCIAL
CHIP 'N' DALE RESCUE RANGERS
THE CHIPMUNKS
THE ADVENTURES OF THE GUMMI BEARS
TEDDY RUXPIN
TOXIC CRUSADERS
MAD SCIENTIST
CAPTAIN PLANET
G.I. JOE SERPENTOR COMMERCIAL
MR. T
C3POs COMMERCIAL
STAR WARS: DROIDS
DRAGONBALL
DRAGONBALL Z
DRAGONBALL Z KAI

AOR? AOK! XXI

 

 

BJ presents a sampling of thirty more great AOR songs. They'd be wearing their hearts on their sleeve if their shirts had any sleeves!

 

FIST - ARE YOU CRYING 
WHITE WOLF - TIME WAITS FOR NO ONE   
TANGIER - ONE MORE TIME
TREAT - HIDIN'
VOYAGER UK - DON'T WALK AWAY FROM LOVE
FAHRENHEIT - TALKING 'BOUT LOVE
1927 - A DAY LIKE TODAY
OCEANS APART - DON'T SAY GOODBYE
THE EVIDENCE - OCEANS APART
SEQUEL - I'M LOSIN'
ANNICA - BLACK WAVE
THE CAUZE - LOVIN' MY LIFE AWAY
JOHN LAWRY - STARS IN THE NIGHT
ROBERT BERRY - YOUNG BLOOD
SOJOURN - STRAIGHT ON
VISION FIELDS - SHOW ME THE WAY
GALLEYBOYZ - FEAR FOR YOUR LIFE
ADRIAN DODZ - SOMEBODY BEAT ME TO THE PUNCH
TRANS AM - LEAVING YOU
GRINGOS LOCOS - SHOUT

PRETTY BOY - ONE CHANCE
HOT BOY - ALL THE LOVE
QUEEN OF SPADES - AMAZON CALLIN'

NO EXQZE - WE WON'T WAIT TIL SATURDAY
LISA NEMZO - COMBINATION TO YOUR HEART
SHARON O'NEILL - I'VE GOT YOU TO THANK
REBEL HEELS - WORLD OF MIRRORS
TRADIA - NEVER GONNA GO
BOYSTOWN - BOY INSIDE A MAN
NOTORIOUS - ARIANNE

POWER POP SERIES: PARTHENON HUXLEY

 

For this episode BJ is joined by Parthenon Huxley, whose power pop career stretches all the way back to Chapel Hill in the late seventies, alongside the likes of Don Dixon and Mitch Easter. It's an inspirational tale of making it without making it in the music business.

POWER POP SERIES: COLEMAN YORK (NUMBERS) / KIDDER (INCREDIBLE KIDDA BAND)

 

Hear conversations BJ had with Coleman York from Canadian power pop band the Numbers and Graham "Kidder" Hammonds from punky UK power poppers the Incredible Kidda Band. And the songs on this episode? Proof positive that even the highest quality material may not bring a band success.

 

CHEETAH CHROME

 

 

Legendary Dead Boys guitarist Cheetah Chrome (second from left) graces Rock and/or Roll with his presence. Listen to hear Cheetah discuss: the evolution of punk rock, Peter Laughner, Cheap Trick, Stiv Bators, GG Allin, Ron Weasley...all this and more.

POWER POP SERIES: BRENT HOAD (SECRETS*) / JEFF ROOT (HOT DATES)

 

Continuing the power pop series, BJ presents conversations he had with Brent Hoad from Kansas City's The Secrets* and Jeff Root from Boston's Hot Dates. Whose alibi was opening for Pat Benatar? Who helped launch the comedy career of Steven Wright? Who watched Michael Jackson practice his choreography at a diner? Listen and find out.

I WROTE A BOOK! THIS BAND HAS NO PAST: HOW CHEAP TRICK BECAME CHEAP TRICK

I wrote a book! 

It's called This band has no past: How Cheap Trick Became Cheap Trick, published by Jawbone Press.

http://jawbonepress.com/this-band-has-no-past/

For this very special, one of a kind episode, BJ presents various clips from some of the many interviews that he conducted for the book.

Where to order:

https://www.amazon.com/This-Band-Has-No-Past/dp/1911036874

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/this-band-has-no-past-brian-j-kramp/1140676941

https://www.target.com/p/this-band-has-no-past-by-brian-j-kramp-paperback/-/A-85836563

POWER POP SERIES: 20/20

BJ is joined, separately, by Steve Allen and Ron Flynt from power pop pioneers 20/20.

POWER POP SERIES: STEVE BUTLER (QUINCY) / PHIL SOLEM (GREAT BUILDINGS)

BJ is joined by Steve Butler from Quincy and Phil Solem from Great Buildings. Both tell very engaging stories. Topics tackled include: murder, lawsuits and Randy Rhoads.

POWER POP SERIES: MARCO DELMAR (ELEKTRICS) / DAVE HEARN (HAWKS)

BJ has enlightening conversations about power pop (and the music business) with guitar player Marco Delmar from The Elektrics (who released two albums with Capitol) and keyboardist Dave Hearn from HAWKS (who released two albums with Columbia). What role did a young Jon Bon Jovi play in creating a unique percussion sound? Who turned down a tour with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers? Listen to find out.

POWER POP SERIES: DAVID SWANSON

The Pop released a pair of singles and album independently before signing with Arista for their 1979 album Go! They managed one more EP with Rhino before splitting up in 1981. Hear David's story of moving from Chicago to LA in the early seventies to pursue his rock and roll dreams.

POWER POP SERIES: ARTHUR ALEXANDER (SORROWS)

BJ is joined by Arthur Alexander, guitar player and singer/songwriter from the classic power pop bands the Poppees, very early purveyors of the style that became power pop, and Sorrows, whose album Teenage Heartbreak is one of the greatest power pop albums ever released. We also learn how the band's second album, Love Too Late, was hijacked by a legendary producer.

POWER POP SERIES: GARY VALENTINE

Gary Valentine was an early member of Blondie, performing on the band's first album before leaving to form his own band in Los Angeles called The Know. Hear Gary's story on this episode, with lots of great music interspersed throughout.

POWER POP SERIES: STEVE BRIGIDA (ARTFUL DODGER)

 

BJ is joined by Steve Brigida, drummer from Artful Dodger, for a discussion about the band's career, and their place in the history power pop.

POWER POP SERIES: JONATHAN PALEY

 

BJ presents an interview with Jonathan Paley, who recalls unwittingly wandering into some dive called CBGBs along with Jonathon Richman, auditioning for the Heartbreakers (Johnny Thunders, Richard Hell and Jerry Nolan), recording with the Ramones, being produced by Phil Spector, not to mention the story of the band he had with his brother Andy, the Paley Brothers, who recorded a power pop classic for Sire in 1978. The follow up would have been even better, but it never happened. Find out why...

POWER POP SERIES: GRAEME DOUGLAS / WILL BIRCH

BJ presents interviews with two former members of pub rock band the Kursaal Flyers, Graeme Douglas and Will Birch, who each went on to make power pop history with, respectively, Eddie and the Hot Rods and The Records.

POWER POP SERIES: BIG STAR

 

For this episode, the second in the power pop series, BJ delves into the story of Big Star via interviews with drummer Jody Stephens and two more people who were there to witness the band's early days, Jon Tiven (from the bands Prix and The Yankees) and Van Duren, who also discusses his classic 1978 album Are You Serious?

POWER POP SERIES: EPISODE ONE

 

For this episode, the first in what will be an extended series about the development of the power pop genre, BJ presents a brief overview, including interviews with Bob Jackson, who joined Badfinger towards the end of that legendary band's original run, and Cyril Jordan, who wrote the iconic "Shake Some Action" for The Flamin' Groovies.

AOR? AOK! XX

Yes, this is actually the 20th episode of AOR? AOK! Meaning, at this point, BJ has exposed RA/OR listeners to melodic rock songs by more than 450 different bands or artists.

IAN CUSSICK - THE SUPERNATURAL

GUIDO MINEO - ROSES

ROULETTE - ONLY THE STRONG
PALACE - NEVER WANNA SAY GOODBYE
STEVEN MCCLINTOCK - WHEN LOVE BREAKS

SILENT RUNNING - FLAME OF LOVE

DAVID J. PETOVAR - IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT

6AM - TIME'S RUNNING

AMONG THIEVES - THE SUN STILL SHINES
WIZ KIDZ - DOWN ON MY LUCK

CHINA - HOT LOVIN' NIGHT
P.M. HEAT - COULD IT BE YOU
BILOXI - ONE IN A MILLION
MONSTERS - RIOT IN THE NIGHT
DE-ARROW - CAN'T GET YOU OUT OF MY MIND
MANITO PARK - SURRENDER
BRICKYARD - BREAK THE ICE
OSLO - STRANGERS EYES
VALOR - FOOL NO MORE
PAUL COTTON - ONE LONG LAST LOOK
MAGGIE BELL - I'M ON THE EDGE

OUTRIDER - LOVE IS KILLING ME

BLONZ - MIRACLES
GENE WALK GROUP - LONG ARM OF LOVE
FRICTION - DOWN AND LONELY
CHRIS ANDREW - HOLDIN' ON
TOWER CITY - WHEN IT ALL FALLS DOWN
ROBIN MILLER - FOREVER
ERIC RUSSELL - DON'T SLOW DOWN
TERRI NUNN - CONFESSION TIME

WARRANT "CHERRY PIE" ROUNDTABLE

Originally recorded in 2018 as a Rocknpod exclusive: 

BJ is joined by Craig Smith from the Pods & Sods Network, Ian Wadley from Rock & Metal Combat, Steven Michael from Growin' Up Rock and Wallygator from the CGCM Podcast for a roundtable discussion about Warrant's unfairly maligned 1990 album Cherry Pie.

LOST EPSIODE: TV THEME SONGS

BJ plays more than 40 theme songs from sitcoms from the eighties.

THE GREATEST AMERICAN HERO
PUNKY BREWSTER
SILVER SPOONS
GIMME A BREAK
WEBSTER
PERFECT STRANGERS
MY TWO DADS
HALF NELSON
FAST TIMES
GUNG HO
FREE SPIRIT
RAGS TO RICHES
DOUBLE TROUBLE
MISFITS OF SCIENCE
SECOND CHANCE
HOLLYWOOD BEAT
SHADOW CHASERS
HAWAIIAN HEAT
HARDBALL

JUST THE TEN OF US
MY SISTER SAM
THE BEST TIMES
THREE'S A CROWD
GOOD MORNING MISS BLISS
THE QUEST
JENNIFER SLEPT HERE
FATHERS AND SONS
DOMESTIC LIFE
E/R
BETTER DAYS
SIDEKICKS
CHICAGO STORY
LADY BLUE
EMPTY NEST
227
JUST OUR LUCK
THE EDISON TWINS
DAY BY DAY
NICK AND HILLARY
NOTHING IN COMMON
SISTER KATE
SQUARE PEGS

CARPE DIEM BABY: THE METALLICA SAGA PART III

 

BJ is once again joined by Fistful of Dave and Joey Haynie to celebrate the return of the podcast with a possibly pointless, definitely shameless sequel to the most downloaded Rock and/or Roll episode of all time, episode 91: SAD BUT TRUE (a dismantling of the Black Album). On this episode they take apart Metallica's misguided follow-ups to their Diamond record, LOAD and RELOAD.

THE RETURN OF SONGS OF THE KNIGHT: CREATURES OF HABIT

BJ is joined by Eric Miller and Jon Lamoreaux for the resurrection of the Songs of the Knight series originally presented by the Pods & Sods Network. For this episode they have an in depth discussion about Billy Squier's seventh album Creatures of Habit from 1991. Hear the previous episodes here:

https://podsodcast.com/?s=songs+of+the+knight

LOST EPISODE: ANSWER SONGS (UNRELEASED 2020)

This is a re-edited version of an episode I had finished and ready to go when the RIAA brought the smackdown in August 2020. 

An answer song is a song made in response to a previous song, normally by another artist. The concept became widespread in blues and R&B recorded music in the 1930s to the 1950s. Answer songs were also extremely popular in country music in the 1950s and 1960s, most often as female responses to an original hit by a male artist.

In Rock Eras: Interpretations of Music and Society, Jim Curtis says that: "Answer songs rode on the coattails, as it were, of the popularity of the first song, and resembled parodies in that their success depended on a knowledge of the original... Answer songs were usually one-hit flukes by unknown singers whose lack of identity did not detract from the success of the record since only the song, and not the performer, mattered."

HANK WILLIAMS - MY BUCKET'S GOT A HOLE IN IT
HARDROCK GUNTER - MY BUCKET'S BEEN FIXED
ROSEMARY CLOONEY - COME ON-A MY HOUSE
ROBERT Q. LEWIS - WHERES-A YOUR HOUSE
SKEETS MCDONALD - DON'T LET THE STARS GET IN YOUR EYES
GOLDIE HILL - I LET THE STARS GET IN MY EYES
NEIL SEDAKA - OH CAROL
CAROLE KING - OH NEIL
JIM REEVES - HE'LL HAVE TO GO
JEANNE BLACK - HE'LL HAVE TO STAY
CHRIS KENNER - I LIKE IT LIKE THAT 
THE BOBBETTES - I DON'T LIKE IT LIKE THAT
ERNIE K. DOE - MOTHER IN LAW
THE BLOSSOMS - SON IN LAW
SAM COOKE - BRING IT ON HOME TO ME
CARLA THOMAS - I'LL BRING IT ON HOME TO YOU
SMILEY LEWIS - I HEAR YOU KNOCKIN'
CAROL FRAN - I QUIT MY KNOCKIN'
ROGER MILLER - DANG ME
RUBY WRIGHT - DERN YA
THE ANGELS - MY BOYFRIEND'S BACK
BOBBY COMSTOCK AND THE COUNTS - YOUR BOYFRIEND'S BACK
DION - RUNAROUND SUE
LINDA LAURIE - STAY AT HOME SUE
BARRY MCGUIRE - EVE OF DESTRUCTION
THE SPOKESMAN - DAWN OF CORRECTION
BETTY WRIGHT - CLEAN UP WOMAN
JIMMY BO HORNE - CLEAN UP MAN
PAUL ANKA - (YOU'RE) HAVING MY BABY
SUNDAY SHARPE - I'M HAVING YOUR BABY
NAPOLEON XIV - THEY'RE COMING TO TAKE ME AWAY
JOSEPHINE XV - I'M HAPPY THEY TOOK YOU AWAY
DANNY AIELLO - PAPA WANTS THE BEST
BULLET - I'M BILLY JEAN

NO SHAME V: PODDER & SODDER (ORIGINALLY RELEASED APRIL 1, 2016)

 

Special encore presentation.

It's about time! BJ is once again joined by Craig Smith and Eric Miller from The Pods & Sods Network for another round of No Shame

WORST OF BOTH WORLDS

BJ and Brian Sword, along with special guest Greg Renoff, author of Van Halen Rising and Ted Templeman: A Platinum Producer’s Life in Music, reluctantly select the five worst songs from the David Lee Roth era, then enthusiastically malign the five worst Van Hagar songs.

MORE GREAT POWER POP

Rock and/or Roll is back for the attack with tunes from 30 more great, obscure power pop bands for your listening enjoyment.

THE KLICK - ONE TWO THREE

THE RESTLESS - THE CONTENDER

THE RESTLESS - IT’S OVER

USK - I WANT YOUR HEART

LOOSE LIPS - KYLE

SCREEN TEST - I AM SINCERE

THE INTENTIONS - YOU’RE THE ONE

THE INTENTIONS - NEVER HAD MUCH

THE SWINGIN RICHARDS - OUT OF MY HEAD

PANIC - SHE’S GOT ME

T.C. - ZOOM CITY

WRITERS - HOW I FEEL ABOUT YOU

KID AMERICA - I WANNA BE NORMAL

JET! - HEAR ME SHEILA

MINOR CLASSICS - SIGN LANGUAGE

YORKS - FIGURE AND A FACE

STRANGER THAN FICTION - IMMORTAL IN MIRRORS

THE GOLINSKI BROTHERS - BLOODY

THE SMIRKS - ANGRY WITH MYSELF

JUPITER - LIES

THE BURDONS - HERE COMES THAT GIRL AGAIN

BRIAN KRAMER - PEARL

BORN READY - EVERYTHING

THE TAKE - TONIGHT

THE YARDLEYS - I NEED YOU TONIGHT

EASY MONEY - STANDING IN YOUR SHADOW

THE BREAKERS - RADIO LOVE

KEITH BRUCE - IT’S ALL UP TO YOU

ALTER EGO - DON’T YOU KNOW IT’S TRUE

TREBLE BOYS - JULIE-ANNE

DANCE SET - MELODY

THE SPLIFFS - YOU KNOW WHAT THEY’LL SAY

THE RETURN OF AOR? AOK!

Rock and/or Roll is back for the attack with a sampling of 30 more great AOR tunes from the eighties and nineties.

They'd be wearing their hearts on their sleeves...if their shirts had any sleeves.

UNDER FIRE - NO MORE HEARTACHE
RAZOR SHARP - BACK IN MY ARMS
FAKE I.D. - EVEN THE STRONG
BABE BLU - JUST ONE NIGHT

BANGALORE CHOIR - SLIPPIN' AWAY
JOHN WARREN - CARRY ON
DE-ARROW - CAN’T GET YOU OUT OF MY MIND
RIO - I DON’T WANNA BE THE FOOL
ALEX LYON - HOLD YOUR HEART
WELL WELL WELL - BACK TO YOU
SHELL AND THE OCEAN - FACING YOUR LOVE
OPUS - SOMEWHERE SOMEHOW
ANDY QUNTA - SOONER OR LATER
NEIL NORMAN AND BOBBY SEXTON - WINNER TAKES ALL
JOHN PAYNE & ANDY NYE - BURNING THE INNOCENT
ALLIED - FIND YOURSELF ANOTHER FOOL
GLASGOW - SECRETS IN THE DARK 
GARRISON - HOLD BACK THE NIGHT
MESSANO - HIDE OUR LOVE AWAY (TELL ME WHY)
TOMMY TYSPER AND THE KIDS - RIDE SIDE BY SIDE
BOYCOTT - WALLS COME DOWN
THE ANDROIDS - 10,000 YEARS
REFUGEE - EXILES IN THE DARK
JT SHELTER - TIME IN OUR HANDS
SHAYLE - MORNING RADIO
SIMON SAYS - LET ME KNOW
WAYNE SMART - WAKE ME UP
JAIME KYLE - EVERYTHING BUT LOVE
HALO - SECRET TO LOVE
DEADRINGER - SECRET EYES
TOMMY SHAW - THE OUTSIDER