Shows / Professor of Rock
Professor of Rock
The ultimate rock music history podcast for fans of the greatest era of music. If you’ve ever wondered about the true stories behind your favorite songs, or wanted to hear directly from the legends who made them, Professor of Rock is your new go-to podcast. Hosted by music historian and superfan Adam Reader, this show brings the golden era of music back to life with exclusive interviews, behind-the-scenes stories, and deep dives into the songs that shaped our lives. This podcast uncovers how…
Episodes
Professor of RockInterview with Survivor: How “Eye of the Tiger” Became the Ultimate 80s Anthem
In the early 80s, this Survivor co-founder Jim Peterik came home for Lunch and checked his answering machine. He couldn’t believe his ears, Sylvester Stallone…
- Professor of Rock
Interview with Neil Sedaka: How Elton John Helped Him Stage a Legendary Comeback
Today I’m fortunate to have a true legend with us. Neil Sedaka, part of the brill building legends! He had 12 hits by the age of 21 including one of the most…
- Professor of Rock
The Top 10 One-Hit Wonders – Stories Behind These Unforgettable Hits
Get ready for a lively blast from the past as we countdown the Top 10 One-Hit Wonders! These tracks skyrocketed to fame, only to see the artists who recorded…
- Professor of Rock
Revisiting the Top 10 Songs of 1986 – Which Hits Have Stood the Test of Time?
Up next we’re going to go go behind the top 10 songs of this VERY same week from the year 1986. 38 years ago. Once again we will re rank them based on their…
- Professor of Rock
How a One-Night Stand Inspired a 70s Classic
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- Professor of Rock
How Toto’s “Africa” Became the Most Overplayed Yet Impossible-to-Hate Song
It’s the age-old tale… Toto didn’t think much of their song Africa and it became a huge hit. But this one is totally nuts because it was written on a $16,000…
- Professor of Rock
5 Bad Songs by Great Artists – When Legends Missed the Mark
I try to keep it positive here guys, but every now and then I have to look at songs and artists from a different perspective. And the truth is even the…
- Professor of Rock
How a Botched Lyric Turned “Blinded by the Light” Into Rock’s Funniest Misheard Song
How would you like it if you wrote a masterpiece with some pretty deep lyrics and it failed? But then another band cut the song and made it a #1 smash, but…
- Professor of Rock
Interview with Eric Burdon: The Mystery Behind “House of the Rising Sun” and Its Unknown Origins
Coming up, another great song mystery. It’s a famous song everyone knows: House of the Rising Sun. But Nobody really knows who wrote it or what it’s…
- Professor of Rock
How Joan Jett Turned a Rejected B-Side Into “I Love Rock ‘n Roll” – A #1 Smash Hit
You are never gonna believe this story! Today’s legend Joan Jett was rejected 23 times by labels. When she finally made it, Joan had a song she wanted to do…
- Professor of Rock
How Gregg Allman’s Late-Night Break-In Led to the Creation of “Midnight Rider”
Coming up, it's the untamed story of the Southern rock anthem Midnight Rider which was born in a farmhouse outside of Macon, Georgia. The artist The Allman…
- Professor of Rock
The Most Iconic Opening Lyrics in Rock – Stories Behind the Lines That Hooked Us
There is something about an opening lyric that can make or break a song. And as a lyricist, when you get it right, it launches your song into the stratosphere…
- Professor of Rock
How Boston’s Leaked Demo of “Amanda” Became a Surprise #1 Hit After an 8-Year Hiatus
Today’s band Boston REVITALIZED Rock in the Disco era when some thought Rock was dead and buried. Their first two albums lit up the charts and knocked disco…
- Professor of Rock
The Top 5 Hit Resurrections – Songs That Topped the Charts Twice
Coming up… it’s a countdown of the Top 5 hit resurrections of the Rock Era! These are the songs that made it into the upper reaches of the charts not once, but…
- Professor of Rock
Interview with 3 Doors Down: How “Kryptonite” Went from a High School Math Class to #1
You won't believe today's story. The story of the hit rock classic Kryptonite straight from the band, 3 Doors Down. When today’s lead singer Brad Arnold was 15…
- Professor of Rock
Interview with Lamont Dozier & Duke Fakir: How The Four Tops Turned “I Can’t Help Myself” Into Another Hit
Coming up, interviews with two legends that we’ve lost over the last few years. One was one of the most successful songwriters in history: Lamont Dozier…
- Professor of Rock
How ABBA’s “Dancing Queen” Became the Happiest Song Ever – And the Hit They Almost Delayed
Coming up, a snapshot of international supergroup ABBA in 1976, with two massive hits on the horizon... Fernando and Dancing Queen. Yet they made a choice no…
- Professor of Rock
How This “Soft Rock” Band Secretly Rocked Harder Than Most 70s Legends
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- Professor of Rock
How a Joke Song Meant to Mock Prog Rock Became an Accidental Classic
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- Professor of Rock
What the HELL-This is Being CENSORED For a PROFANITY That Was ACTUALLY BLEEPED OUT-Professor of Rock
Coming up next… REO Speedwagon's I Can't Fight This Feeling was a classic #1 that took 10 years to get together. It sat on the shelf for a decade because…
- Professor of Rock
Interview with Kevin Cronin: How REO Speedwagon’s “I Can’t Fight This Feeling” Took 10 Years to Finish
Up next we’re going to Go Go behind the top 10 songs of this VERY same week from the year 1987. One of my favorite years in music. 37 years ago. We are going…
- Professor of Rock
The Legend Who Created the Blueprint for Rock Singers – But Still Isn’t in the Rock Hall
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Interview with Freddy Curci: How He Set a World Record with the Longest Note on a #1 Hit
Today’s episode is a bottled lightning two-for-one. Singer Freddy Curci had Two chart-topping tracks though his bands vanished into thin air shortly after. One…
- Professor of Rock
Interview with Johnny Rzeznik: How a Broken Guitar Led to Writing “Iris” and Saving His Career
Coming up next iconic singer-songwriter Johnny Rzeznik shares the story of one of the biggest songs in history: Iris. He was going through one of the worst…
- Professor of Rock
The Mystery of “Eleanor Rigby” – Paul McCartney, a Gravestone, and a Songwriting Feud
In ’66, the Beatles introduced the world to a character so mysterious, that her name alone sparked curiosity and speculation... Eleanor Rigby. Who was she?…
- Professor of Rock
How a Legendary Band Turned a Biblical Verse into an Epic 1984 Rock Classic
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- Professor of Rock
How Steve Miller’s “The Joker” Became a #1 Hit Twice – Thanks to a Misheard Lyric
Coming up… Steve Miller's career was on the ropes before it even started… he had 7 consecutive albums that flopped… If his next one wasn’t a hit the label was…
- Professor of Rock
The Most Underrated Classics – Songs That Deserve More Love
In the commercial world of music, not every great song gets the spotlight it deserves. Some tracks, though overshadowed by their chart-topping counterparts…
- Professor of Rock
Interview with Daryl Hall: How Hall & Oates Quietly Dominated the 80s with 21 Hits
Coming up next, one of the greatest singers of the rock era, Daryl Hall tells the stories behind some of his biggest hits. He was in one of the most famous…
- Professor of Rock
How a Babysitter Turned “The Loco-Motion” Into a #1 Hit – Again and Again
Coming up… Eva Boyd wasn’t a singer, and had never earned a penny performing…She was a babysitter! And she hadn’t even been filling those duties for long. But…
- Professor of Rock
The Top 5 Most Interesting Duets of the 80s – Surprising Collaborations & Unforgettable Hits
Get ready for a journey back to the '80s, when artists weren't afraid to join forces in unexpected and unforgettable ways. On this edition of Professor of…
- Professor of Rock
How a Mysterious Gardener Inspired The Rolling Stones’ “Jumpin’ Jack Flash”
Imagine a smoky studio… late in the evening. One of the most celebrated bands of the Rock Era the Rolling Stones are restless, searching for a sound, an edge…
- Professor of Rock
How “Bette Davis Eyes” Made the Hollywood Icon Cool Again – The Story Behind the 1981 Hit
Today’s song Bette Davis Eyes was recorded several times and didn’t go anywhere… in 1974 it was released and was a total flop. It was written about an old-time…
- Professor of Rock
The Mystery of the Most Mysterious Song on the Internet – Solved After 41 Years!
It finally happened! Seventeen years in the making, and 41 years after the song was released the search for the internet’s most notorious lost song has come to…
- Professor of Rock
Interview with Neil Finn: How “Don’t Dream It’s Over” Became One of the Most Admired Songs Ever
In 1984 two Brothers Neil and Tim Finn found themselves at a crossroads. Their band Split Enz, which had a bit of success on one side of the ocean broke up…
- Professor of Rock
How Bob Dylan’s “Like a Rolling Stone” Changed Music Forever – Even the Beatles Took Notice
On his way back from Europe, one of rock’s greatest icons Bob Dylan was emotionally drained—disillusioned to the point of nearly quitting music altogether…
- Professor of Rock
Interview with Weird Al Yankovic: How Mark Knopfler Insisted on Playing in His Own Parody
Coming up next… the second part of my interview with everybody’s favorite jokester Weird Al Yankovic! This time around he tells the story of doing weeks of…
- Professor of Rock
Interview with Tony Lewis: The Story Behind The Outfield’s “Your Love” – A Misunderstood 80s Classic
COMING up next, the last extensive interview iconic 80s singer Tony Lewis of The Outfield gave before he passed away. I was fortunate to speak to him about one…
- Professor of Rock
The 3 Strangest Song Inspirations of the 80s – Featuring Tina Turner, Kate Bush & Cyndi Lauper
Alright, today we’ve got something of an unusual show lined up for you. This one is going to be a little weird, but it’s also going to be a lot of fun. You…
- Professor of Rock
Interview with Ann Wilson: How Heart Turned Industry Insults into “Barracuda”
Coming up one of rock greatest vocalists Ann Wilson of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band Heart tells the first-hand account of a song that has become part of…
- Professor of Rock
Interview with Elvis Costello: How Insomnia and Rivalry Sparked “Watching the Detectives”
Coming up next, an interview with one of the greatest, most legendary singer-songwriters of the rock era, Elvis Costello… on his breakthrough Watching the…
- Professor of Rock
Red Red Wine': How a DJ's Mistake Turned UB40's Song Into a Chart-Topping Hit
Up next two principals from the classic Reggae group UB40, original singer Ali Campbell and toaster the late Astro tell us the compelling story of a song that…
- Professor of Rock
Why Bryan Adams Was Warned Against '(Everything I Do)': The Unexpected #1 Smash
Coming up… the story of Bryan Adams' (Everything I Do) I Do It For You, a song that was featured in the blockbuster movie Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves…
- Professor of Rock
Crimson and Clover': Tommy James' Unfinished Demo That Changed Radio Forever
Coming up… Tommy James had dabbled in a lot of different styles to great effect. But then he rolled out of bed one day with an incredible song idea that would…
- Professor of Rock
When David Lee Roth Left Van Halen: The Rise of Sammy Hagar and Four #1 Hits
Coming up. We’re going back to the days of the cassettes and compact discs to feature a mammoth-sized band. One that has delivered some of the most ramped-up…
- Professor of Rock
The Story Behind Cream's 'White Room': A Poem Turned Heavy Metal Blueprint
In the middle of the most innovative time in music history, today’s classic hit White Room by Cream composed of Ginger Baker, Eric Clapton, and Jack Bruce was…
- Professor of Rock
Why DJs Thought ‘Wooly Bully’ Was Dirty and How It Became a Cultural Phenomenon
Coming up… the story of Wooly Bully, a song that has conquered every aspect of our culture. From movies to TV to cover songs by some of the biggest artists in…
- Professor of Rock
King of Wishful Thinking': Go West’s Accidental Hit From the Pretty Woman Soundtrack
Coming up next, an interview with one of the most underrated singers of his time… Peter Cox of the band Go West. He fronted Go West since the 80s and this duo…
- Professor of Rock
October 1976’s Top 10 Hits Ranked Today: Heart, Bee Gees, Chicago, and More
Today, ee go behind the TOP 10 songs of this VERY same week from the year 1976. 48 years ago. Then we re rank them based on their legacy since that week…
- Professor of Rock
Tempted' by Squeeze: The Bold Decision That Turned a Backup Singer Into a Star
Coming up next, a special episode of The Professor of Rock. We have 2 legends on today’s show, Elvis Costello and Paul Carrack, telling the story of one of the…
- Professor of Rock
Daydream Believer': Davy Jones’ Struggles and the Song That Almost Wasn’t
Coming up, the unpredictable story behind the Monkees feel-good anthem that almost didn’t happen: Daydream Believer. The songwriter nearly gave up on finishing…
- Professor of Rock
The 5 Most Overplayed Rock Songs (And the Underrated Gems to Replace Them)
Coming up… we’re counting down the Top 5 Most Overplayed Rock Songs—the ones we all know by heart, are tired of, but we still love them whether we want to or…
- Professor of Rock
Refugee': How Tom Petty Took Down a Corrupt Record Label and Made a Rock Classic
Today, it’s the story of Tom Petty, a songwriter who risked everything to take down a cheating record company... His finances, his reputation, his future in…
- Professor of Rock
Time Stand Still': Rush’s Genre-Bending Collaboration with Aimee Mann
Coming up we’re talking about some strange bedfellows… There have definitely been some unusual collaborations throughout the Rock Era. And this one between…
- Professor of Rock
How 'Mama, I’m Coming Home' Helped Ozzy Osbourne Rebuild His Life and Career
For years rock legend Ozzy Osbourne had been fighting a losing battle against alcoholism and substance abuse. He was always a controversial figure in rock, but…
- Professor of Rock
How Sting Used a Unique Word in 'Wrapped Around Your Finger' and Made History
Coming up next an interview with one of the greatest, most legendary singer-songwriters of the rock era... Sting! We discuss a few of his biggest hits ever and…
- Professor of Rock
Paul McCartney vs. John Lennon: The War of Words After The Beatles’ Breakup
Coming up, we’re telling the tale of a misunderstood sibling rivalry between Paul McCartney and John Lennon. We’re talking two legendary singer-songwriters who…
- Professor of Rock
How Dan Hartman’s 'I Can Dream About You' Became an Accidental 80s Classic
Coming up, an underrated treasure of the 70s and 80s, Dan Hartman, who wrote and performed one of the most ear-candied, hook-laden classics of 1984: I Can…
- Professor of Rock
The Rise and Fall of Zebra: The Band Once Compared to Led Zeppelin
Coming up, it’s the story of a band that just might be the greatest rock group you’ve never heard of… Often compared to Led Zeppelin, and sometimes Triumph…
- Professor of Rock
How a Dirty Magazine Helped The J. Geils Band Find Their Biggest Hit 'Centerfold'
The J. Geils band paid their dues for over a decade on the road. They released 9 albums and not one was a hit, 11 singles with not one MAJOR BREAKTHROUGH… By…