July 27, 2021
Don't we all kind of wish we'd been in London in the 70s absorbing all the fantastic music pouring out? One of the greatest that doesn't get enough credit is glam rockers Sweet. Known for eternal jams like "Ballroom Blitz", "Fox on the Run" and "Love Is Like Oxygen", Sweet (with the help of Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman) married sparkling, but heavy, guitar riffs with perfect pop songs like few others. Today, guitarist Andy Scott is carrying on the Sweet name and released a great album of reworked Sweet classics called Isolation Boulevard earlier this year. If you're new to the band, here's the entire history. Enjoy!
www.thesweet.com
www.patreon.com/thehustlepod
July 26, 2021
For the latest Recap Jon is joined by Hustle CMO Andy Schaal to discuss the last three months of podcasting Commando Style! No edits, no songs, no production. Totally live. We have to kick it off with some very sad news but then we cover newsworthy topics and, of course, all the episodes from April, May and June. Thanks everybody for your continued support.
www.patreon.com/thehustlepod
July 21, 2021
Paula Cole was one of the key figures of the "Lilith Fair Generation" - that class of fantastic female artists like Sarah McLachlan, Shawn Colvin, India Arie, Joan Osbourne, and many more - whose artistry finally got the attention it deserved. Sadly, when the spotlight on Lilith moved on it moved off many of them too. But, Paula has consistently released strong albums ever since and her latest, American Quilt is her doing gorgeous versions of many American spirituals and folk songs from history. Here we talk about the inspiration for it, her time with Peter Gabriel on the Secret World tour, growing old gracefully, social issues, the impact of "I Don't Want to Wait" and the stories behind many of her songs. Enjoy!
July 19, 2021
In his early 20s Joel Miller, like most of us, was floating. There was telesales, film production work, and other things. He eventually decided to try his hand at being a roadie and quickly joined a Stone Temple Pilots tour where he rose up the ranks. This lead to tours and interactions with Guns n Roses, the Cranberries, and many others. He decided to write about his experience in his entertaining book Memoir of a Roadie. In this discussion, Jon and Dave bro down with Joel about his experience and what it takes to be a roadie. Enjoy!
July 15, 2021
Jon was invited to join the gang from Pretty Much Pop: A Culture Podcast recently to discuss how we relate as adults to the music we loved in our youth. Does it hold up? Do we ever really move on? What does it say about us if we still go back there? Will new music ever surpass the music we grew up on? The panel tackles these topics in an engaging discussion. Go in the PMP archives and find other eps you might like. It's good stuff!
July 14, 2021
Dennis DeYoung is saying goodbye. Last month he released what he says will be his final studio album, the killer 26 East Vol.2 (the equally excellent Vol.1 came out last year). But before he goes off into retirement, he agreed to share with us his thoughts on just about everything. Dennis holds court on Styx and it's various iterations, capitalism, punk rock, lockdown, his hits, his solo career, prog rock, street cred, marriage and a million other things. If you know Dennis, you also know the guy is hilarious and tells it like it is. Strap in and enjoy the ride!
July 12, 2021
We don't normally cover new bands on the Hustle, but we're making a special exception this time. Beauty in Chaos is the brainchild of musician Michael Ciravolo. Michael is steeped in the dark goth rock of the 80s, bands like the Cure, the Mission, Gene Loves Jezebel (who he also played with). He's taken that and released two great albums (as well as two remix albums), but what's amazing is who he's gotten to appear on these albums. Here's a list - Robin Zander, Michael Anthony, Simon Gallup, Ice T, Michael Aston, Al Jourgensen, Dug Pinnick and several former guests like Wayne Hussey, Tim Palmer and John Fryer. It's a collection of musicians you won't see anywhere else. Hear from Michael how he made all this happen and how he intends to move forward.
July 7, 2021
Fans know that Enuff Z'nuff are one of the most mishandled, mismarketed and misunderstood rock bands ever. The boys from Chicago had way more in common with logical legends Cheap Trick and the Beatles than with the Poisons and Warrants they were getting lumped in with (nothing against those bands). This cost EZ the chance to truly take off like they should have. Sadly, the aftermath was drugs, bankruptcy, sex, lawsuits, you name it. Donnie left years ago for an excellent solo career, while Chip Znuff has kept the name alive. In this brutally honest conversation, Donnie details all these setbacks, how it impacted him and how he's managed to bounce back. He also talks about the new solo material he's working on. If you don't know much about Donnie or Enuff Z'nuff, you owe it to yourself to get into it. Enjoy!
June 30, 2021
In the late 80s the Godfathers were on to something. College radio hits like "Birth, School, Work, Death" was a swift punch in the face at a time just before that sound would become more commonplace. Covid prevented the band from celebrating their 35th anniversary to the fullest, but that will hopefully be changing soon. Frontman Peter Coyne gives us the full band history lesson, shares some killer newer tunes, tells touring stories, and even offers his tips for keeping those immaculate suits clean on the road. Next time you're ready to listen to some true, full-bodied rock and roll, put The Godfathers at the top of that list!
June 23, 2021
When Shakespeare's Sister struck gold with their #1 hit "Stay" in 1992, what listeners may not have known is that singer Marcella Detroit had already put in 20 years of professional singing by then. Marcy Levy starts out in the early 70s singing with Bob Seger, then moves on to Leon Russell, and then Eric Clapton where she even co-wrote several of his songs including "Lay Down Sally". She eventually joins up with Bananarama's Siobhan Fahey for SS, but that's really a short chapter of her long career which includes several solo albums, session singing (Hall & Oates, Aretha Franklin, Alice Cooper) and songwriting (Al Jarreau, Chaka Khan, Philip Bailey). To celebrate her birthday, Marcella just released a new single, "Vicious Bitch" that is available on her website (www.marcelladetroit.rocks/music) . We get into all of this and hear the stories behind everything including Live Aid. Enjoy!
June 16, 2021
Dunfermline Scotland's Skids were local legends in the late 70s. Led by lead singer Richard Jobson and guitarist Stuart Adamson (later of Big Country, of course), the band kept their punk bona fides while also writing classic anthems like "Into the Valley" and "The Saints are Coming", songs that have only gotten bigger over the years. After three albums, Stuart left for bigger things, while Richard did a little of everything - the Armoury Show with John McGeoch, spoken word, acting, TV presenting, film critic, etc. The remaining Skids are back with a killer new album, Songs From a Haunted Ballroom, which is a collection of covers of songs from those early days that truly made an impact (it was also produced by Big Country's Bruce Watson). Richard discusses his years as a punk, working with tragic geniuses like Stuart and John, his acting career and everything else under the sun. Don't miss this one!
June 9, 2021
Del Amitri's Justin Currie doesn't get enough credit for being one of the best songwriters around. The fantastic Scottish band have been at it since the mid-80s, but didn't really find their voice until the early 90s and their commercial peak soon followed when "Roll To Me" became a top 10 hit. Justin has bounced between Del Amitri and solo albums for decades now, but the band is back together for their first album in many years, Fatal Mistakes. Justin and I get deep into the process of songwriting, the many ups and downs the band has experienced, his solo albums, and the behind the scenes story of that famous BBC Songwriters Circle where he made Chris Difford cry. He's also a big muso, so we discuss the Beatles, Simple Minds, Nick Cave, Trashcan Sinatras, Orange Juice and many others. Enjoy!
www.joeyssong.org
June 2, 2021
When james are at their best hardly anyone can rival their mixture of ecstasy, passion, groove, and spirit. In this discussion with frontman Tim Booth you'll learn that isn't an accident. In fact, you may question whether "Pop Group" is too limiting a title for what james sets out to accomplish. And they've done it again with the release of their new album, All The Colours of You, this weekend. Once again they've tapped into the global sense of frustration and dismay to record a hopeful set of excellent tunes that may be their best set in a couple decades. Tim and I cover all the major bases - Politics, Drugs, God, and Music and Tim shows some sides of himself that may surprise you. When it's over you may ask yourself if Tim Booth is a pop singer or some kind of deity, a question us fans have been asking for a long time. Enjoy!
May 31, 2021
Noted rock doc director John Scheinfeld joins us this week to discuss his new outstanding documentary on the great Sergio Mendes, In The Key of Joy. John talks about what got him excited about making this particular film, why Sergio is an important figure, and what the music of Brazil means to him. We also discuss some of John's other documentaries on artists like John Lennon, Harry Nilsson, John Coltrane and Herb Alpert. Sergio Mendes: In The Key of Joy will have a full theatrical release later this year, but a shortened version will air on PBS in June, so check your local listings for that. You won't want to miss it!
May 26, 2021
Any list of synth pioneers would include the great Martyn Ware. He's basically devoted his life to seeing what that machine is capable of. He starts out in Sheffield forming the Human League with pals Ian Craig Marsh and Phil Oakey, but after two ambitious albums, the band splits. Phil stays put, but Martyn and Ian get with Glenn Gregory and form Heaven 17, birthing classics like "Let Me Go", "Temptation" and many others. Martyn's career as a producer is also taking off as he works with Terence Trent D'Arby, Erasure, and Tina Turner who jump-started her major comeback when she sang on his B.E.F. project. These days, Martyn has one of the best podcasts out there, Electronically Yours, where he talks to all kinds of legends and peers. We get our hands dirty discussing all of this and much much more. Enjoy!
May 19, 2021
Throughout most of the world, Spandau Ballet were stadium fillers there for a while. They famously came out of the same club scene as friendly rivals Duran Duran and Ultravox, the lads were immediate trendsetters both in music and fashion. It all comes together in 1983 with the release of their third album, True, and the global title track smash. Success would continue to grow (though not so much in the States) for the rest of the 80s, including unforgettable appearances at both Live Aid and Band Aid, before drama would settle in and never completely go away. Lead singer Tony Hadley has been out of the band officially for four years, but his solo career is ongoing. In fact he recently released a new single, "Obvious" and has another solo album coming out soon. We get to hear stories about all of it and then some. Enjoy!
May 12, 2021
Graham Parker has been a master at his craft for so long, you probably think you have him figured out. You'd be wrong. Is he a cult artist? A punk? An angry young man? He says no. What he is, and this is indisputable, is one of the finest songwriters of all time. He even hilariously played up the image many have of him in Judd Apatow's film The Is 40 (he tells us the whole story on that one). This year he released another fine live album called Five Old Souls, which shows perfectly where GP is as an artist today. In this candid and impassioned chat, Graham debunks some "rumors", sets some records straight, and, best of all, tells us what he really thinks about all kinds of issues. He's one of the bes there's ever been, we're lucky to have him.
May 10, 2021
Jon and Jan discuss the first quarter of 2021, the stories and thoughts behind the episodes, what's happening in our personal lives, and we answer some listener mail.
May 5, 2021
We celebrate our 6th year of podcasting this week by welcoming Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, award-winning actor, and decorated producer Little Steven Van Zandt! Steve has his hands in so many projects it's hard to cover them all - whether it's his Sirius radio stations, his multiple charities like teachrock.org, running his label Wicked Cool Records, backing up The Boss, or his own utterly fantastic solo career. As if that isn't enough, he's publishing his memoir, Unrequited Infatuations, in September. We discuss all of these plus his work with people like Southside Johnny and Darlene Love, the current state of politics, and some Sopranos and Lilyhammer. Little Steven is a gift to the world and especially the good word of Rock and Roll. Bless him!
April 29, 2021
The music world lost a true one-of-a-kind recently with the death of the great Jim Steinman. He's probably best known for his work with Meat Loaf on Bat Out of Hell, but don't forget he also wrote legendary tracks like "Total Eclipse of the Heart", "Making Love Out of Nothing at All" and "It's All Coming Back to Me Now." We bring back singer Ellen Foley (ep78) who's breakout was duetting with Meat on "Paradise by the Dashboard Light". She recalls her time working with Jim and we discuss what an "extremist" he was. There's only ever been one Jim Steinman. He'll be missed.
April 27, 2021
Canada's Saga is proof that the country does some things better than the rest of us. That fantastic band has been merging prog rock with a solid tunefulness for 45 years now and show no signs of slowing down. This year they released a new album, Symmetry, which is an acoustic reimagining of many of their signature songs from their long career. What makes Symmetry special is that these aren't just scaled back versions - they've been given new life. Frontman Michael Sadler discusses the thought process behind the album, working with the late great Rupert Hine, their 80s hits like "On the Loose" and "Wind Him Up", why he left the band and then came back, and what excites him about prog rock. Saga are a great band that have been making interesting work for decades. Respect!
April 21, 2021
John Waite has been blessed with one of the greatest voices in music. Whether he's belting killer rock tunes with the Babys or Bad English or his own solo work, putting his spin on blues and Americana on a lot of his albums the last 30 years, or bringing a ton of soul to ballads like his chart topping "Missing You", he always sounds perfect. These days he's recreating many of his songs acoustically on his Wooden Heart album series, which will soon add a third volume and come out as a box set. Here we talk about his feelings on his whole career, why now was the time for an acoustic album, his feelings on the Babys and Bad English, and how many of his great hits came to be. He's one of the best we have. Enjoy!
April 18, 2021
We're starting a new sidecast called Book Club where we will be inviting authors of great music-related books to discuss them with us. Our first installment is with guitarist Jeffrey Lee Campbell who details the year he was plucked from obscurity and chosen to tour the world with Sting in Do Stand So Close. We learn how this even happened, what Sting is like to work for, and what life is like on the road. To change things up, joining me is my good friend Dave Carruth. We hope you enjoy these conversations, but mostly we hope you'll seek out Jeffrey's book.
April 14, 2021
We all know the Milli Vanilli story. Have you ever wondered who really sang those songs? This week we welcome singer/songwriter John Davis, one of the actual voices for Milli Vanilli. John was an American living in Germany and working as a musician when he was picked by producer Frank Farian to sing for a project he was working on, only to later hear his voice coming out of Fab's mouth. John tells us the before, during, and after of the whole story, and we hear some of his own music, including his fantastic 2009 album Runnin' Back to You he made with musician Roland Muller. Here is a unique glimpse on the infamous Milli Vanilli story from someone with first-hand experience.
April 11, 2021
Jethro Tull's Ian Anderson becomes our first three-time guest with this return to The Huste, and, as usual, the conversation doesn't go where you think it will. First of all, Ian has a book coming out this summer called Silent Singing which is a lyric book of all Tull and Ian solo songs and includes pictures, stories, etc. You can pre-order the book at the link below and get your name printed in it. In addition, The 40th Anniversary deluxe edition of Jethro Tull's album "A" comes out this month too. We discuss the making of that album, as well as many other things like European history, politics, and his health.
April 7, 2021
Producer/Engineer/Mixer Gareth Jones didn't set out to be the "synth guy", but that didn't stop him from working closely with some of the greatest synth artists ever. First came John Foxx and his first solo album, the revolutionary Metamatic. Then came a string of legendary albums with Depeche Mode like Black Celebration and Some Great Reward. And lastly, he continues to work with Erasure and produced albums of theirs like Wild! and Cowboy. There have also been notable work with bands like Wire, Interpol, Embrace, and Grizzly Bear. Gareth also has some recent solo projects that deserve your attention like Electrogenetic. We get stories about all of it and learn how Gareth was the man to help these people find their creative voices. Enjoy!
April 5, 2021
For this very special edition of Deep Dive we are honored to welcome back guitarist Steve Stevens to discuss one of the seminal rock albums of the 80s, Billy Idol's Rebel Yell. Steve and Billy created one of the classic rock albums ever and Steve lets us in on how the songs came together, how the input of producer Keith Forsey enhanced the album and what it meant to everyone's career. Rebel Yell was huge - to the people who made it and the people who heard it. Here's the full story.
March 31, 2021
You couldn't plan for Stan Bush's career if you tried. He came on strong in the early 80s as a rising rock singer, but he carved a niche for himself when he was featured on soundtracks for movies like Kickboxer, Bloodsport and, most famously, Transformers - The Movie in 1986 which featured his signature song "The Touch". Of course that song was resurrected a decade later when Dirk Diggler sang it to great effect in Boogie Nights. Stan has always delivered consistently strong AOR rock that feels like it's still 1987, including his latest album, 2020's Dare to Dream. Along the way he's won an Emmy and been inducted into the Transformers Hall of Fame. Stan shares his unique story with us this week. Enjoy!
March 24, 2021
Super producer Daniel Lanois has just released the album of the year. This legendary record maker (U2, Peter Gabriel, Robbie Robertson, Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Emmylou Harris, etc), has created the music we all need right now with the just released Heavy Sun. Lanois mixes his masterful knack for atmosphere with his love of gospel music to create a healing gumbo for these tense times. In this conversation, Daniel explains his approach to producing, what musical project is getting him excited, and he shares stories about the artists listed above. Daniel also performs a new song for us that will change your life. I wish all of us had as much soul and calm as Daniel Lanois. Enjoy!
March 22, 2021
We're excited to put out a special bonus episode with former Grand Funk Railroad frontman Mark Farner! On April 6th Mark is releasing a brand new live DVD From Chili with Love featuring many GFR and solo hits and even a couple new tracks. This conversation is quite unique as we focus on things like the current state of the country and how many of his songs reflect it, his fitness regimen, what it was like working with Todd Rundgren, Ringo Starr and Frank Zappa, and his born again Christianity. He's also brutally honest about his feelings about the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In addition, Mark works passionately with America's veterans including www.vsf-usa.org. There's no one quite like Mark. Enjoy!
March 16, 2021
This week we are honored to welcome one of the greatest and most underrated guitarists of all time, Echo & the Bunnymen's Will Sergeant! The first four Bunnymen albums are core to the foundation of the post-punk coming out of the UK in the early 80s. Hits like "The Killing Moon", "The Cutter", "Rescue" and many more will never ever die. After taking a break, Will and frontman Ian McCulloch reformed in the late 90s and have been going strong ever since. In this rare long form interview, Will gives his feelings about the band's legacy, how involved (or not) he's been in the creation of the music the last 20 years, his opinions about himself as a guitarist versus his contemporaries, and the stories behind many songs. If you're a fan, you will love this conversation!
www.bunnymen.com
www.willsergeant.com
www.patreon.com/thehustlepod
March 10, 2021
Producer/engineer/mixer Phill Brown can say he was in the room when songs like "All Along the Watchtower", "Sympathy for the Devil", "Stairway to Heaven" and "I Shot the Sheriff" were recorded. He also worked with legends like Sly and the Family Stone, Bowie, Traffic (and Steve Winwood), and Roxy Music. Can you believe this? Two of his longest collaborations were with Robert Palmer on his first few albums and Talk Talk on their last few when they were inventing a new kind of music. He's written a book about it all called Are We Still Rolling? that tells these stories and many more. Phill is one of our best guests ever and this is an instant classic. Sit back and enjoy this fantastic story time!
March 3, 2021
Punk rock has produced some of music's greatest characters, but tops of all is probably TSOL frontman Jack Grisham. Jack was there for the band's first two albums Dance With Me and the game changing Beneath The Shadows before deciding to explore other genres and finding some success with The Joykiller in the 90s. He eventually returned to the fold and has been at the helm ever since. Jack talks openly about homelessness, sobriety, his marriages, the punk ethos, the books and movies he's created, and much much more. There really is no one like Jack, bless him!
February 27, 2021
This week we welcome back drummer Tris Imboden to talk about Kenny Loggins's 1979 classic Keep The Fire! Tris was a member of the incredible band that recorded this beauty and that featured the Grammy winning smash "This Is It". Tris fills us in on how the songs came to be and what it was like working for him. Not to mention what the deal is with that cover! Enjoy!
February 24, 2021
This week is our first producer of 2021, 2x Grammy winning producer/engineer/mixer Bill Schnee! Bill was an integral part of creating the soft rock sound of the 70s that we think of thanks to his work with artists like Carly Simon, Art Garfunkel, Pablo Cruise and Leo Sayer. Not to mention the Grammys he won for engineering the Steely Dan albums, Aja and Gaucho. This legend releases his memoir next week - Chairman at the Board - and recounts some stories from his amazing career with us. Huey Lewis and the News, the Pointer Sisters, and a fascinating Thelma Houston story also make appearances in this one. Bill is a smart, humble guy, but his ears and his talent helped make the 70s what it was. Enjoy!
February 17, 2021
Thanks to his Satanic masterpiece "Fire" from 1968, Arthur Brown will forever be known as "The God of Hellfire". That spine-tingling hit topped the charts all over the world and cemented his image as the banshee with fire on his head and paint on his face. But Arthur has been a musical explorer ever since making progressive music in the spirit of Captain Beefheart and Frank Zappa one minute, but then an album made entirely on a drum machine or dedicated to dancing the next. We get into the inspiration for his "crazy" persona, his spiritual side, what he did for a living during the lean years, and how he came to lend his voice to an all-star charity single "House of the Rising Sun". Enjoy getting to know this mysterious figure!
February 10, 2021
Wayne Hussey's knack for writing deep, beautiful pop songs about struggles with the divine and a penchant for darkness are unlike anyone else. He has led his formidable band The Mission for over 35 years, giving a voice to the confused and unsure with songs like "Tower of Strength", Butterfly on a Wheel" and "Wasteland"among many others. Wayne discusses how his Mormon upbringing may have influenced his art, his short time in Dead Or Alive and Sisters Of Mercy, how he feels about being labeled "goth", the stories behind many of the songs, and how he pulled off the "modern Band Aid" with his TOS2020 Remission charity single. He's one of a kind! Enjoy!
www.themissionuk.com
www.patreon.com/thehustlepod
February 3, 2021
This week is the big 3-0-0!
Aldo Nova's career is an example of tenacity. He stormed out of the gates in 1982 with the self-titled debut and the huge hit "Fantasy" selling a couple million copies in the process. He eventually delivered the follow up,
Subject... Aldo Nova, which was equally as strong, but did not move the same units and for the next 10 years he was forced to play catch up, including collaborations with Jon Bon Jovi, and loads of label interference that stifled his vision. Luckily, at a time when he could have been at his lowest, he pivoted into writing for other people, people you wouldn't expect like Clay Aiken and Celine Dion (who won him a Grammy). Here we talk about how his Italian family got to Montreal, his pioneering ways mixing heavy guitars with synths, the many ups and downs and his excellent new project -
The Life and Times of Eddie Gage. Enjoy!
January 26, 2021
Who remembers the skinny tie, new wave power pop days of the late 70s? Over in the UK, a band called The Records were on that train and released the cult classic "Starry Eyes" in 1979. Guitarist Huw Gower bailed after one album though and immediately went to work with greats like David Johansen and Graham Parker among others. He has also released some stellar solo material over the years as well as many other projects. We talk with Huw about why he left the Records, what it was like working with others, and what he does now. Enjoy!
January 25, 2021
Jon and Jan look back on the ups and downs of the last year, recap the last three months, countdown their top 10 episodes of the year (as well as the listener’s), and answer some listener questions. Thanks everybody for the support this year. It hasn’t been easy but you all make it worth it.
www.patreon.com/thehustlepod
January 20, 2021
In the US Icehouse may be best known for those two huge hits from 1987, "Crazy" and "Electric Blue", but back in their native Australia they're practically royalty. Mastermind Iva Davies has directed the band for over 40 years, consistently finding new shades and angles of alternative rock to explore. These days Iva gets to bask in the love and success he's built all these years Down Under, including recently releasing a new live album, Icehouse Plays Flowers Live to celebrate the 40th anniversary of their debut album. Here we discuss what happened to their stature in America, what led to him taking 16 years off, and the stories behind many songs and albums. Iva is one of popular and Australian music's great minds, we're honored to have him.
January 13, 2021
Stooges guitarist (and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer) James Williamson's sludgy, greasy sound is uniquely his own. Plus, he was a perfect match and co-conspirator for Iggy Pop at just the right time when he took over for Ron Asheton on the Raw Power album and then partnered up with Iggy for a few more years, writing songs, and taking whatever record contracts they could get while totally strung out. James quickly left and forged a long and successful; career in Silicon Valley, not even touching a guitar for over 20 years! He eventually stepped in when needed again for Asheton and toured with the Stooges for a few more years before deciding to do his own thing. His "own thing" has included several excellent albums including last year's Two To One with vocalist Deniz Tek, one of the best of the year. We go deep on albums, songs, software, Bowie (not a fan), and other stories. Enjoy!
January 5, 2021
Jane's Addiction might be the most influential and important band of the last 35 years. Think about it - did anyone bridge the alternative rock of the 80s with the grunge sound of the 90s better? They are the link in that transition. Hugely creative, fantastically musical, and tragically dysfunctional, their records may be few, but their power is enormous. Speaking of power, drummer Stephen Perkins joins us to share his philosophy on drumming, music, life, band dynamics and everything in between. We also hear the stories behind the songs and albums that we all love. His passion is infectious and the music never gets old. Enjoy!
December 30, 2020
We're ending 2020 the same way it began, by hearing from a fantastic and accomplished songwriter. Clif Magness has won a grammy, been nominated for an Oscar, and has had songs recorded by everyone from Barbra Streisand to Cheap Trick to Quincy Jones. But some of his biggest successes have been writing "All I Need" for Jack Wagner back in the 80s and working closely with Avril Lavigne on her debut album. He's also found time to release a couple excellent solo albums which you'll want to check out if you're a fan of meat and potatoes AOR rock. In addition to all this, we discuss his partnership with Glen Ballard, some of his soundtrack work, a serious health scare, and more. Enjoy!
December 23, 2020
It's Christmastime and it felt right to share our conversation with the lovely Leigh Nash of Sixpence None the Richer! Of course SIxpence broke through big when their third album in 1997 launched "Kiss Me" into the public consciousness where it would remain embedded forever and ever and the band has released music when the mood hit them ever since. Along the way, Leigh has forged her own solo path, including the wonderful EP Get Happy, released earlier this year. Leigh and I discuss the whole career, how she approaches a cover, her love of Country and Religious music, and the good and bad things about being labeled a Christian artist. Leigh is about as sweet as it gets, so please enjoy and have as Merry a Christmas as is possible!
December 20, 2020
We are welcoming back rock doc director Jon Brewer to discuss his recent documentary “Chuck Berry: The Original King of Rock and Roll”. Chuck is on the Mt Rushmore of rock but is also s complicated person. Jon and I discuss the good and bad sides of the man and his legacy. We also are giving away two copies of the Blu-ray so join Patreon to be in the running. Enjoy!
www.patreon.com/thehustlepod
December 16, 2020
I can't think of another band quite like Modern Romance. They came out of the Blitz scene in the early 80s with bands like Duran Duran, Ultravox and Spandau Ballet and originally sounded like lesser versions of those guys. On their third single, "Everybody Salsa", they adopted big Latin rhythms and stumbled on a unique new sound and a bunch of hits followed - "Best Years of Our Lives", "Ay Ay Ay Moosey" and more. Soon after styles and band members changed and the band called it quits. In 1999 original percussionist Andy Kyriacou brought the band back and they've been playing Retro Fests ever since. Andy's story is a unique one and when he talks about his family a profound lesson is shared. They also just released Their Greatest Tracks. Enjoy!
December 9, 2020
We close out our recent producer series by talking to the fantastic Tim Palmer! Tim's career goes back 40 years and includes everyone from Ozzy to Kajagoogoo to Heatwave. We hear amazing stories about his time with artists like Tin Machine, Pearl Jam, Dead or Alive, Robert Plant, Tears for Fears, U2, Psychedelic Furs and many others. Tim is still very active today, in fact a recent production of his couldn't be more important. Wayne Hussey of The Mission put together an all-star group of music legends to re-record their seminal hit, "Tower Of Strength" with Tim producing as a charity single for front-line workers during the pandemic. Think of it as the 2020 version of Band-Aid. It's beautiful stuff and so is everything else Tim touches. Enjoy!
December 7, 2020
Tis the season! Jon and Jan are joined by friends Ben Montgomery from the Records Revisited podcast and Jon's buddy, regular, podcast-less civilian, Dave Carruth to discuss Christmas music, but also movies, traditions, etc. Hot topics are debated like whether "Wonderful Christmastime" and "Last Christmas" are good or bad, whether Die Hard is a Christmas movie, and a number of other hot takes. We also countdown our top 3 Christmas songs/albums ever. And listen to the intro and outro songs provided by friends of the pod.
From our house to yours, Happy Holidays!
December 2, 2020
Don't we all miss the 70s? That golden era of soulful singer-songwriters left an impression that has never been replicated and high among them is the great Melissa Manchester. After 50 years in the business, Melissa keeps getting better releasing material in the 2000s that's easily as good as her peak 70s period. We talk openly about her journey, how the glory of the 70s led to the gloss of the 80s that completely changed her sound before the 90s passed her by almost entirely. We also talk about her relationship with songwriters like Carole Bayer-Sager, Kenny Loggins and Paul Simon, her teaching career, and how she was nearly a cast member on Saturday Night Live! They don't make them like Melissa anymore, we're lucky to have her!
