FROM THE VAULT: How The Beatles’ “A Day in the Life” Redefined Rock Music Forever
ON THIS DAY in 1967, The Beatles began a 15-week reign at #1 on the US album chart with their iconic album Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.FROM THE VAULT: In 1967, a brilliant concept album was recorded that shattered the boundaries of song arrangement, and forever changed the art of recorded music. The Beatles Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. Maybe Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr created a concept record about an imaginary band. They were in a race with the Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys to create the greatest record ever.. The last cut on their ground-breaking record A Day in the Life was a mind-altering composition inspired by the death of a notorious socialite, and psychedelia. We raise the curtain on this fantastic voyage across the perils of stone cold realism.. and the fantasy of lysergic imagination….NEXT on Professor of Rock."See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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22:38
Alice Cooper’s Most Controversial Hit: The True Story of “School’s Out”
Today, we are taking the time machine back to a shocking hit from the 70s: School's Out. It was from Alice Cooper, a rock star who defined the words SHOCK and AWE, and caused some real trouble with teachers across America. There are some insane stories behind this one…from CREEPY urban legends like the band getting their name from the ghost of a 16th-century witch, to schools getting shut down for playing this song. Plus, School's Out was so dangerous that the physical record came with a switchblade, a slingshot, and was wrapped in actual underwear! Find out why they banned it and why it became an all-time anthem…Next, on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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23:01
Countdown: The Greatest Rock Songs of 1990 and the Stories Behind Them
You requested it, so here it is. It was the dawn of a new decade with some of the most intriguing music of the rock era, and some of the most interesting stories... including Nothing Compares 2 U, an incredible song that hit #1, and Sinead O'Connor was livid when it did. She was so pissed, she made a blatant decision right then and there to do everything in her power to be a one hit wonder even though she could’ve had dozens of hits. Plus a Song by Depeche Mode that MTV forced a band to edit because it showed a horse's butt during a controversial sound Then there was the Motley Crue icon who died of an overdose and then came back to life and immediately wrote the band’s best song: Kickstart My Heart. Plus, the heart-wrenching song that came when a Supermodel broke up with Billy Joel, an average-looking rocker. But then he wooed another Supermodel right after. Plus, Fly to the Angels, which was written when Mark Slaughter came home from a tour and tried to call his girlfriend and got devastating news… It became a haunting epic. So many classics on our top countdown of a special year next on POR.Head to https://www.acorns.com/early/por or download the Acorns Early app to help your kids grow their money skills today. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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38:45
Guilty Pleasures Countdown: The Songs We Secretly Love to Sing
Coming up—we’re counting down the songs we’re not supposed to like… Some call them guilty pleasures, others call them bad. Some call them cheese. But when nobody’s looking, most of us sing every word when they come on. I’m gonna get REBUKED FOR THIS but here it goes…One track, To Be With You, is a ballad from a band of shredders that sounds like a camp counselor campfire song that somehow hit #1. Then, there’s the song I Want It That Way, written by a Swedish songwriter who didn’t know English. And it was so confusing that even the band, the Backstreet Boys, didn’t know what it meant. And honestly, neither do WE. Then there’s one of the PMRC’s most wanted, Sugar Walls, an infamous Filthy Fifteen track that gave the phrase “guilty pleasure” a whole new meaning. Plus, there’s a literal boy band Hanson who wrote MMMBop, a song with a chorus so catchy it’s still stuck in our heads 28 years later, and it’s been mocked mercilessly even though it’s 1 of the most emotionally mature songs of the time. They’re all songs we secretly love, but won't admit it… But when no one else is around, all bets are off. It’s the latest edition of our Guilty Pleasures countdown, NEXT on the Professor of Rock.Head to https://www.acorns.com/early/por or download the Acorns Early app to help your kids grow their money skills today. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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35:32
How Eagles Became Rock Icons: Producer Bill Szymczyk Tells All
Coming up next, one of the greatest producers of the 70s and '80s, Bill Szymczyk, gives us the lowdown on working with one of the greatest bands of the rock era: Eagles… He got recruited to help the band when their sound was softer and more acoustic, and they wanted to rock, so he helped take them to the next level, where they not only became legends but also one of the biggest bands ever. And this interview is a treat…He tells the stories behind helping craft some of their biggest hits, including the classic Lyin' Eyes that the band wrote after seeing a beautiful young woman with an old fat rich guy, and the great one-liner came from that. Plus, the song this band regrets putting on their album because it was written with an outgoing member of the group and his girlfriend, who happened to be a US President's Daughter. Plus, Take It to the Limit, that was sung by back up singer Randy Meisner, who had immense pressure to hit a certain high note every night after it became a hit, and one revelation you’ll never believe… The biggest-selling album ever took an afternoon to put together. It’s all next on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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 timeless tracks were made, the creative breakthroughs, the near-breakups, and the powerful moments that defined music history. Each episode is a masterclass in rock culture and nostalgia—whether it's a chart-topping ‘80s anthem, a one-hit wonder with a wild backstory, or a candid conversation with the legends themselves. Hear the Stories. Relive the Music. Only on Professor of Rock.
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