Shows / Behind The Song: Classic Rock Chronicles
Behind The Song: Classic Rock Chronicles
Dig into the history of classic rock songs and the storytellers that created them in "Behind The Song," a podcast by Janda Lane. Hear what was happening behind the scenes while some of the most iconic songs in rock history were being written.
Episodes
Behind The Song: Classic Rock ChroniclesHow Paul McCartney landed the title theme for a James Bond film
“Live And Let Die” marked some important firsts for the James Bond film franchise. It was the first 007 film to star Roger Moore as James Bond, and when it…
- Behind The Song: Classic Rock Chronicles
How Eddie Money’s Rock and Roll Dream Came True
Eddie Money seemed to burst onto the national music scene fully formed when his self-titled debut album was released in 1977 and “Two Tickets To Paradise”…
- Behind The Song: Classic Rock Chronicles
The long strange history of “Casey Jones” by the Grateful Dead
A favorite among Dead fans and casual listeners alike, “Casey Jones” has a super catchy melody and an origin story that goes back to early 1900’s Americana. It…
- Behind The Song: Classic Rock Chronicles
How Tom Petty punched back at the music biz with “Refugee”
By the time Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers set out to record their third album, Damn The Torpedoes, they were in a legal mess with MCA Records over a contract…
- Behind The Song: Classic Rock Chronicles
How "On The Dark Side" became a surprise hit
Without the music, the 1983 cult classic film Eddie & The Cruisers just wouldn’t be the same. And without the film, the real-life bar band band who wrote many…
- Behind The Song: Classic Rock Chronicles
The inspiration behind David Bowie’s “The Jean Genie”
By the time David Bowie wrote the songs for his Aladdin Sane album, which was released in April of 1973, it was his first time writing as an actual rock star…
- Behind The Song: Classic Rock Chronicles
How “One” unified U2
By the time U2 recorded their seventh album, 1991’s Achtung Baby, they were exhausted from nonstop touring, going through personal struggles at home in…
- Behind The Song: Classic Rock Chronicles
The spellbinding story of “Black Magic Woman”
The late Peter Green was one of the early guitar heroes in England, alongside names like Eric Clapton. He formed Fleetwood Mac in 1967, and their early records…
- Behind The Song: Classic Rock Chronicles
The love song that started it all for Styx
“Lady” was the first of several hit Styx songs that Dennis DeYoung wrote for his longtime wife, Suzanne. It became the first hit song for the band, and it is…
- Behind The Song: Classic Rock Chronicles
How Joe Walsh’s “In The City” went from Warriors to Eagles
“In The City” is best known as an album cut on 1979’s The Long Run, an album the Eagles cobbled together after many months and on the heels of their epic Hotel…
- Behind The Song: Classic Rock Chronicles
Why Van Halen took their time with “Right Now”
"Right Now” by Van Halen is an inspirational song about living in the moment, but it took a long time to come together. Released on 1991’s For Unlawful Carnal…
- Behind The Song: Classic Rock Chronicles
When Billy Squier Rocked Christmas on MTV
In 1981, the launch of MTV coincided with the rise of Billy Squier, and the two were a match made in pop culture heaven. The year ended with a singalong…
- Behind The Song: Classic Rock Chronicles
How Joan Jett embraced her "Bad Reputation"
“Bad Reputation” is a song Joan Jett wrote while being rejected over and over by people in the music business, after realizing that she herself had gotten a…
- Behind The Song: Classic Rock Chronicles
Supertramp’s singalong hit about the ideal gift
“Give A Little Bit,” the opening track on Supertramp’s 1977 album, Even In The Quietest Moments….is a song that appeals to our better angels, with an…
- Behind The Song: Classic Rock Chronicles
The country song that became Def Leppard’s only US #1 hit
When you think about Def Leppard, country music is probably the last thing that comes to mind. This band helped usher in the second wave of British heavy metal…
- Behind The Song: Classic Rock Chronicles
When Sting became the "King Of Pain"
When The Police recorded their final album, 1983’s Synchronicity, they were the biggest band in the world, but they were on the brink of disintegrating…
- Behind The Song: Classic Rock Chronicles
How Pink Floyd and Bob Ezrin built The Wall
Pink Floyd’s 1979 double album, The Wall, stands tall as a body of work. A true rock opera, it tells a tale of a war orphan who grew up to become a jaded rock…
- Behind The Song: Classic Rock Chronicles
David Bowie’s mad, marvelous Moonage Daydream
When David Bowie wrote “Moonage Daydream,” he didn’t actually write it for himself. Yet, the song became the pivotal hinge on which the rest of his ingenious…
- Behind The Song: Classic Rock Chronicles
All Apologies: interpreting Nirvana’s last goodbye
“All Apologies” by Nirvana is the last song on the band that rocked a generation’s third and last album, In Utero. If the last song on an album is an…
- Behind The Song: Classic Rock Chronicles
Who is "Angie" by The Rolling Stones about?
The song "Angie," released on The Rolling Stones' Goats Head Soup album in 1973, has been the subject of much debate over the years. Is there an actual "Angie"…
- Behind The Song: Classic Rock Chronicles
How “Killer Queen” set the stage for Queen to grab the crown
When the band Queen set out to make Sheer Heart Attack, their third album, much was at stake. They were embroiled in a battle over royalties with their…
- Behind The Song: Classic Rock Chronicles
Down Under by Men At Work: the song that made vegemite famous
When Men At Work wrote their 1982 hit, "Down Under," little did they know that it would become a worldwide smash. They were the first Australian band to have a…
- Behind The Song: Classic Rock Chronicles
Bruce Springsteen wrote "Hungry Heart" for who?
When Bruce Springsteen decided to double up on songs for his 1980 album, The River, he also decided to keep its biggest hit for himself instead of giving it to…
- Behind The Song: Classic Rock Chronicles
How “Sweet Emotion” helped put Aerosmith on the Mount Rushmore of Rock
They’re not exactly as wholesome as apple pie, but they have been anointed “America’s Greatest Rock Band” for good reason. Aerosmith have sold more hard rock…
- Behind The Song: Classic Rock Chronicles
The Bob Dylan song that Jimi Hendrix made his own
Bob Dylan wrote “All Along The Watchtower” for his 1967 album, John Wesley Harding, after realizing he was getting swindled by his own management and record…
- Behind The Song: Classic Rock Chronicles
How The Romantics went from Motor City Rockers to MTV darlings
Straight out of Detroit Rock City, The Romantics made their first entry into the Billboard chart with a high-energy tune sung by their drummer. That song…
- Behind The Song: Classic Rock Chronicles
Judas Priest's "Living After Midnight:" Metal Gods riding the razor’s edge of British Steel
When Judas Priest released their classic British Steel album in 1980, it paved the way for metal music to really hit the mainstream, and is one of the reasons…
- Behind The Song: Classic Rock Chronicles
Billy Idol’s “Rebel Yell”: from punk rocker to pop star
“Rebel Yell” by Billy Idol is now a classic for good reason. It showcases his unique ability to put a hard edge on a pop song, and it was one of the reasons…
- Behind The Song: Classic Rock Chronicles
The Cars’ biggest hit was a pop oddity
“Drive” by The Cars was their biggest hit, with a video that sparked a long marriage for Ric Ocasek and supermodel Paulina Porizkova, but the song touches on…
- Behind The Song: Classic Rock Chronicles
The Thrill Ride of Van Halen's "Panama"
Van Halen’s rip-roaring “Panama” from their classic album 1984 is a song about a car, and a girl, and it represents a joyful, pedal-to-the-metal breakout…
- Behind The Song: Classic Rock Chronicles
Investigating Elvis Costello’s “Watching The Detectives”
Elvis Costello’s first song to chart in the US was “Watching The Detectives,” a song born out of a night spent listening to The Clash with lyrics that tell two…
- Behind The Song: Classic Rock Chronicles
How Deep Purple’s classic song was born out of flames
“Smoke On The Water” by Deep Purple is a true account of a horrific fire that the band witnessed in Switzerland while waiting to record the Machine Head album…
- Behind The Song: Classic Rock Chronicles
The J. Geils Band’s hit song about love gone wrong
The new episode of the Behind The Song podcast is about the lyrics and history of “Love Stinks” by The J. Geils Band. An anti-Valentine’s tune that we can all…
- Behind The Song: Classic Rock Chronicles
The song Simple Minds didn’t want to record for The Breakfast Club soundtrack
“Don’t You (Forget About Me)” made its debut in the opening and closing credits for the 1985 movie that it was written specifically for, The Breakfast Club…
- Behind The Song: Classic Rock Chronicles
The story behind Paul Simon’s “Still Crazy After All These Years”
In 1975, Paul Simon released his fourth solo album. The title track, “Still Crazy After All These Years,” was inspired while Simon was going through a rocky…
- Behind The Song: Classic Rock Chronicles
A Look Back At 2021: Revelatory Moments in Classic Rock from Behind The Song
Over the past year, the Behind The Song podcast has explored some of the most interesting backstories and lyrics in classic rock. From Tom Scholz’s fantastic…
- Behind The Song: Classic Rock Chronicles
“Wonderful Christmastime” by Paul McCartney: the $15 million song
Written in less time than it takes to light up the yule log, Paul McCartney’s “Wonderful Christmastime” continues to be played around the world during the…
- Behind The Song: Classic Rock Chronicles
Led Zeppelin's "Thank You" is a love letter from a grateful Robert Plant
“Thank You” by Led Zeppelin, released on their incredible second album, shows the softer side of Robert Plant. Written for his wife at the time, Maureen, it…
- Behind The Song: Classic Rock Chronicles
"Eminence Front" by The Who: Pete Townshend's midlife crisis
“Eminence Front” by The Who was recorded at a crucial time for the band, after the death of drumming legend Keith Moon and during a very rocky period in…
- Behind The Song: Classic Rock Chronicles
How John Lennon's death inspired Red Rider's "Lunatic Fringe"
“Lunatic Fringe” by Red Rider is perfectly spooky-sounding for Halloween season, but the song is actually about something much scarier than ghosts and goblins…
- Behind The Song: Classic Rock Chronicles
The story behind Rod Stewart's "Maggie May"
“Maggie May” by Rod Stewart catapulted his solo career when it was released in 1971, and it's based on a real life event that happened to the rock star. Find…
- Behind The Song: Classic Rock Chronicles
Behind The Song: Scorpions "Wind Of Change"
“Wind Of Change” by Scorpions has the rare distinction of being a history lesson within a huge rock ballad, released after the Berlin Wall came crashing down…
- Behind The Song: Classic Rock Chronicles
Behind The Song: Neil Young "Heart Of Gold"
“Heart Of Gold” by Neil Young is his only #1 hit, a song that was recorded in just two takes with an assembly of artists in Nashville including James Taylor…
- Behind The Song: Classic Rock Chronicles
Behind The Song: Bad Company "Silver, Blue and Gold"
“Silver, Blue and Gold” by Bad Company is a fan favorite from the supergroup, but it was never released as a single. Written by Paul Rodgers for the Run With…
- Behind The Song: Classic Rock Chronicles
Behind The Song: Don Henley "The Boys Of Summer"
“The Boys Of Summer” by Don Henley is one of the quintessential end of summer songs, and it has a surprising history. With music written by Mike Campbell and…
- Behind The Song: Classic Rock Chronicles
Behind The Song: Boston's Tom Scholz and his Rockman (Bonus Episode)
In episode 72 of Behind The Song, Janda unpacked the history of “Foreplay/Longtime” by Boston, and the incredible story of how Boston founder Tom Scholz…
- Behind The Song: Classic Rock Chronicles
Behind The Song: Boston "Foreplay/Longtime"
In 1976, Tom Scholz engineered one of the greatest capers in music history when he devised a plan to record Boston’s debut album his own way, contrary to how…
- Behind The Song: Classic Rock Chronicles
Behind The Song: Guns N' Roses "Sweet Child O' Mine"
In episode 71 of the Behind The Song podcast, Janda dives into the history and lyrics of "Sweet Child O' Mine" by the band once called the most dangerous in…
- Behind The Song: Classic Rock Chronicles
Behind The Song: Elton John "Philadelphia Freedom"
In this episode of Behind The Song, Janda takes a closer look at the lyrics and surprising history of "Philadelphia Freedom" by Elton John and Bernie Taupin…
- Behind The Song: Classic Rock Chronicles
Behind The Song: Bob Seidemann, the artist and his "Blind Faith" (Bonus Episode)
In episode 69 of Behind The Song, Janda examined the history and lyrics of "Can't Find My Way Home" by Blind Faith, the short-lived supergroup comprised of…
- Behind The Song: Classic Rock Chronicles
Behind The Song: Blind Faith "Can't Find My Way Home"
In episode 69 of Behind The Song, Janda digs into the history and lyrics of "Can't Find My Way Home" by Blind Faith, the short-lived supergroup comprised of…
- Behind The Song: Classic Rock Chronicles
Behind The Song: Who is Helena Springs? (Bonus Episode)
In episode 68 of Behind The Song, Janda unpacked the lyrics of "West End Girls" by Pet Shop Boys. The song features the background vocals of Helena Springs, an…
- Behind The Song: Classic Rock Chronicles
Behind The Song: Pet Shop Boys "West End Girls"
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Behind The Song: Tom Petty "Wildflowers"
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Behind The Song: Cheap Trick "Surrender"
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Behind The Song: John Mellencamp "Jack & Diane"
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Behind The Song: John Fogerty "Centerfield"
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Behind The Song: REO Speedwagon "Roll With The Changes"
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Behind The Song: Paul & Linda McCartney "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey"
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Behind The Song: The Black Crowes "She Talks To Angels"
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