Veteran Rockers

Experience this episode with the music mentioned in it by clicking on this link: https://www.mixcloud.com/dashboard/my-shows/unlisted/.Phil Collins initially became fascinated with the genius of rock legend Eric Clapton after seeing him play with Cream in 1966. Phil never thought that less than twenty years later, not only would Eric play guitar on his debut solo record, but Phil would be asked to produce an album or two by Slowhand. In 1984, Roger Forrester suggested he use Phil as he was riding high at the time. Though Eric wasn't a fan of Genesis, the two of them were friends even before Clapton recorded with Collins on the track "If Leaving Me Is Easy" from Phil's 1981 debut solo album "Face Value." Collins produced and played drums on Eric's 1985 album "Behind The Sun." The collaboration between Clapton and Collins marked a significant moment in both their careers, blending Clapton's iconic guitar work with Collins' distinctive drumming style. This partnership not only showcased their individual talents but also paved the way for further musical exploration and innovation in the rock genre. Not everyone enjoyed this slick new sound at the time, and some critics even thought he was sacrificing his talent for commercial consumption for the masses, as the record contained a few ballads. However, many fans embraced the shift, appreciating the emotional depth and artistry that the ballads brought to the album. When Phil co-produced Eric's 1986 follow-up "August" with Tom Dowd as executive producer, the result was Eric's most successful record to date. After Eric's son Connor was born, he managed to get sober again, but this time, Eric surrendered to a program of recovery, and it showed in the music he ended the decade with. The maturity in his songwriting reflected a newfound clarity and purpose, resonating deeply with listeners who had followed his journey. His 1989 album called "Journeyman" only had one track with Phil Collins called "Bad Love," but this particular collaboration left fans and critics with a sense of nostalgia as Eric's guitar playing was reminiscent of Jimi Hendrix, but Phil's slick drumming beautifully commiserated with the raw emotion of the lyrics. This fusion of styles not only showcased their individual talents but also highlighted the seamless blend of rock and soul that defined the era, leaving an indelible mark on the music landscape. Eric's also played guitar on Phil's 1989 "I Wish It Would Rain Down," from Phil's album "But Seriously," showcasing the emotional depth that both musicians brought to their collaborations. Unlike "If Leaving Me Is Easy," you can hear Eric this time.

This episode sounds better with music. You can listen on MixCloud at: https://www.mixcloud.com/veteranrockers/veteran-rockers-ep-11-princes-purple-rain/. Prince, an American singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist, released his sixth studio album, Purple Rain. Warner Bros. Records released it on June 25, 1984, as the soundtrack album for the same-titled 1984 movie. Compared to Prince's earlier albums, Purple Rain featured numerous layers of guitars, keyboards, electronic synthesizer effects, drum machines, and other instruments, as well as full band performances. The production and performances of a large portion of the record had a grandiose, synthetic, and hallucinogenic luster. Although several aspects of Purple Rain's music hint at the more experimental albums Prince would release later, the song is generally considered to be the most pop-oriented of Prince's career. According to network executives, the music video for the album's lead song "When Doves Cry" was too explicit for television due to its sexual content. Tipper Gore and the Parents Music Resource Center voiced their disapproval of the risqué lyrics of "Darling Nikki," which helped lead to the adoption of Parental Advisory stickers and imprints on record sleeves.

Enjoy this episode with music at: https://www.mixcloud.com/veteranrockers/veteran-rockers-ep-10-the-kinks-1981-1993/. On this final chapter of my series on The Kinks, I discuss their challenges during the 1980's and subsequent breakup in the 1990's due to the toxic sibling rivalry of Dave and Ray Davies.

Enjoy this episode with music at: https://www.mixcloud.com/veteranrockers/veteran-rockers-ep-9-the-kinks-part-2-1970-1979/. On Part 2 of 3 of The Kinks, I talk about how The Kinks not only survived but also thrived in the 1970's. This decade would start off well with hits like "Lola" and "Strangers," but Ray's experimental theatrical songwriting for a string of concept albums would cause the band to dwindle into obscurity. The Kinks managed to bounce back in 1977 by returning to their roots with "Sleepwalker" and again in 1978 with "Misfits" and "Low Budget" in 1979.

Enjoy this episode with music on MixCloud at: https://www.mixcloud.com/veteranrockers/veteran-rockers-ep-8-the-kinks-part-1-1964-1970/. Part 1 of 3 of The Kinks covers the early part of their career from 1964-1970. Ray and Dave Davies, brothers, founded the Kinks, who were from Muswell Hill in North London. With pal Peter Quaife on bass, they played a mix of rock and roll and R&B in their early lineup, which they called The Ravens. Shel Talmy, a record producer, heard a self-made demo tape and helped the band sign a 1964 contract with Pye Records. The group changed their name to The Kinks and signed Mick Avory as their drummer. You Really Got Me, the group's third hit, shot to the top of the UK charts, marking the beginning of music history with the iconic lineup. The song, which Ray wrote in their parents' front room and was inspired by Dave's aggressive, extravagant guitar sound, has subsequently been credited with influencing heavy metal, punk, garage rock, and even The Who, among other genres. After the huge hit, the Kinks put together an album quickly, which was quickly followed by another Top 10 single, All Day and All Of the Night.

Listen to this episode with music at: https://www.mixcloud.com/veteranrockers/veteran-rockers-ep-7-the-cars/. American rock group The Cars was founded in Boston in 1976. They were composed of Greg Hawkes on keyboards, David Robinson on drums, Eric Ocasek on rhythm guitar, Benjamin Orr on bass guitar, Elliott Easton on lead guitar, and Greg Hawkes on keyboards. Orr and Ocasek first worked together as members of the folk group Milkwood in the early 1970s, before The Cars were formed. They sprang from the new wave era in the late 1970s. Orr and Ocasek took turns leading the group's songwriting and playing lead vocals.American rock group The Cars was founded in Boston in 1976. They were composed of Greg Hawkes on keyboards, David Robinson on drums, Elliot Easton on lead guitar, Benjamin Orr on bass guitar, and rhythm guitarist Ric Ocasek. They came out of the late 1970s new wave era. Orr and Ocasek took turns leading the group's songwriting and playing lead vocals.In the 1978 Rolling Stone Readers' Poll, The Cars came in first place as Best New Artist. Six million copies of the band's debut album, The Cars, were sold, and it spent 139 weeks at number one on the Billboard 200 album chart. "Shake It Up" (1981), "You Might Think" (1984), "Drive" (1984), and "Tonight She Comes" (1985) were the four Top 10 successes for The Cars. At the first MTV Video Music Awards in 1984, the band's "You Might Think" video won Video of the Year.Following the 1987 release of Door to Door, their worst-selling album, The Cars broke up in 1988. During the recording of this album, Ocasek and Orr had a creative falling out that prevented them from speaking for years. After spending the 1990s producing bands like Weezer and Bad Brains, Ric was influenced by the sounds of the day. As a result, he recorded his 1997 album Troubilizing with Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan serving as producer. Orr passed away from pancreatic cancer in 2000. Along with Todd Rundgren and other members, Easton and Hawkes formed the side project band The New Cars in 2007. Move Like This, the band's seventh and last album, was released in May 2011 after the surviving founding members of the Cars got back together in 2010. The band took a brief break after supporting Move Like This on tour before going on sabbatical once more. The Cars got back together to play at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony in April 2018. Cardiovascular illness claimed Ocasek's life in 2019.

Listen to this episode with music on MixCloud at: https://www.mixcloud.com/veteranrockers/both-sides-phil-collins/. The most authentic and emotionally transparent album of Phil Collins' career is explored. That album, of course, is "Both Sides,"  which was released in October of 1993. From it's opening title track to "Everyday,"  a more run-of-the mill Phil ballad, to a song that's clearly a commentary on domestic terrorism called "We Wait and We Wonder," this record has it all. This record is as raw as Phil gets. I highly recommend streaming it or buying a physical copy. Both Sides was written during an emotionally tumultuous time for the Genesis drummer after concluding their We Can't Dance tour. It's very 90's Phil, but it has aged well despite the Philifiers/rock purists out there. It's also worth pointing out that he plays every instrument on the album.

Hear this episode with music on MixCloud at: https://www.mixcloud.com/veteranrockers/veteran-rockers-podcast-episode-5-paul-mccartney-surviving-the-1980s/. Part 2 of Macca surviving the 1980's covers the second half of the decade of decadence, between the years of 1986-1989. Press to Play was an ambitious effort for the former Beatle as he recruited Hugh Padgham for the project. It would receive mixed reviews but Paul would bounce back with a memorable collaboration with Elvis Costello on his 1989 album called Flowers In The Dirt.

Listen to their episode with music at: https://www.mixcloud.com/veteranrockers/veteran-rockers-episode-4-paul-mccartney-surviving-the-1980s-part-1/. The '80's started out very well for the former Beatle and Wings leader with the success of McCartney II, but Paul found himself lost after losing his former bandmate and best friend John Lennon. Paul would also find himself betrayed by Michael Jackson after a memorable collaboration. An attempt at Hollywood failed, but the soundtrack for a movie he made was better received by the critics and the fans. Despite that failed movie attempt, his main title song for a Cold War comedy would hit #1 on the UK charts. 

Listen to the MixCloud version of this episode at: https://www.mixcloud.com/veteranrockers/veteran-rockers-podcast-episode-3-billy-idol/ Billy Idol is a singer, songwriter, musician, and actor who is both British and American. As the lead singer of the band Generation X, he rose to prominence in the 1970s after emerging from the London punk rock scene. He then started a solo career that brought him prominence on a global scale and elevated Idol to the lead position during the MTV-led "Second British Invasion" in the US. The term "Billy Idol" originated from the way a schoolteacher described him as "idle" ldol started out as a punk rock guitarist in a band called "Chelsea" in late 1976. Idol founded Generation X with Tony James, his former bandmate. The band, which included Idol as the lead singer, was successful in the UK and put out three studio albums on Chrysalis Records before breaking up. Idol relocated to New York City in 1981 in order to work with guitarist Steve Stevens on his solo endeavors. Billy Idol, his 1982 studio debut album, was a commercial hit. With music videos for the hits "White Wedding" and "Dancing with Myself," Idol quickly cemented her place on MTV, which had only recently launched. The popular songs "Rebel Yell" and "Eyes Without a Face" from Idol's 1983 second studio album, Rebel Yell, made the album a huge sales success. He put out Whiplash Smile in 1986. Idol released Idol Songs: 11 of the Best, a greatest hits album, in 1988 after scoring three UK top 10 hits ("Rebel Yell," "White Wedding," and "Mony Mony"). The album earned platinum in the UK. Subsequently, Idol released the concept album Cyberpunk (1993) and Charmed Life (1990). Idol devoted the latter part of the 1990s to his private life, keeping it hidden from the public. Devil's Playground (2005), Kings & Queens of the Underground (2014), and an EP titled The Roadside (2021) and The Cage (2022) marked a new era for Billy Idol.