The CLASSIC ROCK ALBUM OLYMPICS is a podcast celebrating the most popular albums of the 1960s, 70s and 80s. In each episode music historians Gary Wenstrup and Robert Rodriguez will pull a classic rock album off the shelf and discuss which songs earn our gold, silver and bronze medals. It’s a fun, insightful and passionate journey through some of the greatest albums of all-time. Let the games begin!
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Heart Like A Wheel by Linda Ronstadt...Episode #32
Tuesday, September 29, 2026 • Duration 58:18
In this episode of Classic Rock Album Olympics music historians Gary Wenstrup and Robert Rodriguez roll Linda Ronstadt’s Heart Like A Wheel to select their favorite tracks and award their gold, silver and bronze medals accordingly.
Medal Winners
Faithless
Love
Heart
Like A Wheel
You’re
No Good
Keep
Me From Blowing Away
When
Will I Be Loved
Bonus Tracks
Different Drum –
Stone Ponys
Different
Drum- Mike Nesmith
Long
Long Time – Linda Ronstadt
Dark
End Of The Street – Flying Burrito Brothers
The
Dark End Of The Street – James Carr
Making
Love (At The Dark End Of The Street) – Clarence Carter
It’s
So Easy – Linda Ronstadt
That’ll
Be The Day – Linda Ronstadt
Blue
Bayou – Linda Ronstadt
Heart
Of Gold – Neil Young
You’re
So Vain – Carly Simon
Lonely
Boy – Andrew Gold
Thank
you For Being A Friend – Andrew Gold
You’re
No Good – Betty Everett
The
Game Of Love – Mindbenderrs
The
Thrill Is Gone – B.B. King
Heart
Like A Wheel – Anna McGarrigle
Drop
Kick Me, Jesus - Paul Craft/Bobby Bare
I
Will Never Marry – Linda Ronstadt
You
Can Close Your Eyes – Jame Taylor
You
Can Close Your Eyes – Linda Ronstadt
You’re
No Good – Van Halen
Cathy’s
Clown – Everly Brothers
Willin’
– Little Feat
Willin’
– Linda Ronstadt
I
Can’t Help It (If I’m Still In Love With You) – Hank Williams
It
Doesn’t Matter Anymore – Linda Ronstadt
It
Doesn’t Matter Anymore – Buddy Holly
You’re
Having My Baby – Paul Anka
One
Man Woman/One Woman Man – Paul Anka
Released in November 1974, Heart Like a Wheel was Linda Ronstadt’s fifth solo studio album and the record that made her into a major pop superstar. The album was produced by Peter Asher, who had also become Ronstadt’s manager and was instrumental in establishing the polished yet emotionally powerful sound that would define her great albums of the 1970s.
The musicians were an extraordinary collection of Los Angeles studio players and Ronstadt associates. Andrew Gold played guitar, piano, electric piano, drums and percussion and became one of the album’s most important musical architects, while Kenny Edwards, Ronstadt’s former Stone Poneys bandmate, played bass.
The singles were particularly successful. “You’re No Good” reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, giving Ronstadt her first No. 1 pop single and “When Will I Be Loved” reached No. 2 on the Hot 100. The album itself was an even bigger success. Heart Like a Wheel became Ronstadt’s first No. 1 album on the Billboard.
Its impact went far beyond sales. Heart Like a Wheel helped establish the template for the sophisticated country-rock/pop crossover that would dominate much of Ronstadt’s career and influence artists who followed. She demonstrated that an album could move effortlessly between rock, country, R&B, folk and pop without sounding stylistically confused. Just as importantly, Ronstadt became a major interpreter of songs by emerging writers such as J.D. Souther, Lowell George and Anna McGarrigle,
often bringing their work to audiences far larger than those they could reach themselves.
Ultimately, Heart Like a Wheel was the album that established the Linda Ronstadt formula: an extraordinary singer, first-rate musicians, carefully chosen songs, country roots and rock muscle, all held together by Peter Asher’s elegant production. It was both a commercial breakthrough and an artistic statement—and the beginning of one of the most successful recording careers by an American female artist of the 1970s.
Track Listing
Side 1
You’re No Good
It Doesn’t Matter Anymore
Faithless Love
The Dark End Of The Street
Heart Like A Wheel
Side 2
When Will I Be Loved
Willin’
I Can’t Help It (If I’m Still In Love With You)
Keep Me From Blowing Away
You Can Close Your Eyes
#LindaRonstadt #HeartLikeAWheel #PeterAsher #AndrewGold
#CountryRock #ClassicRock #RockHistory #1970sMusic #YoureNoGood
#WhenWillIBeLoved #MusicHistory #AlbumHistory #Grammy #ClassicAlbums
Contact Info
Website: Gary Wenstrup
Podcast Website: Home - Classic Rock Album Olympics
YouTube: (556) Classic Rock
Album Olympics - YouTube
Facebook: (7) Facebook
Podcast Facebook: Facebook
LinkedIn: (17) Gary Wenstrup | LinkedIn
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Automatic For The People by R.E.M...Episode #31
Tuesday, September 8, 2026 • Duration 01:06:12
We know "the people" liked it. Did you?
In this episode of Classic Rock Album Olympics music historians Gary Wenstrup and Robert Rodriguez analyze R.E.M.’s Automatic For The People add award their gold, silver and bronze medals to the album’s
strongest tracks.
Medal Winners
Ignoreland
Everybody
Hurts
Monty
Got A Raw Deal
Drive
Find
The River
Released in October 1992, Automatic For The People is widely regarded as one of the defining albums of the 1990s and a peak artistic statement in R.E.M.'s career. Following the massive success of Out of Time, the band moved away from jangly college rock toward a more introspective and melancholic sound. The album’s themes revolve around mortality, aging, loss and memory, giving it a reflective tone that feels both intimate and cinematic.
The album was produced by Scott Litt alongside R.E.M. A defining feature of the record is its use of orchestral instrumentation arranged by John Paul Jones (of Led Zeppelin). The production emphasizes acoustic guitars, piano, mellotron, strings, and restrained percussion, marking a stark contrast from the more energetic sound of their earlier work.
R.E.M. at this time consisted of Michael Stipe, whose abstract, emotionally direct lyrics and distinctive vocal delivery anchor the album; Peter Buck, whose guitar work shifted toward mandolin, acoustic
textures, and subtle melodic layering; Mike Mills, whose bass lines and
harmony vocals provide emotional depth; and Bill Berry, whose
understated drumming supports the album’s slower, more contemplative pacing. Together, the band created a unified sound that prioritizes mood and atmosphere over traditional rock dynamics.
Commercially, Automatic for the People was a major worldwide success. It reached #2 on the Billboard 200 in the United States and charted highly across Europe, including #1 in the UK Albums Chart. The album produced
several major singles. “Drive” became a top 30 hit in the United States
and a standout track on alternative radio. “Man on the Moon” became one
of the band’s signature songs, reaching #30 on the Billboard Hot 100. “Everybody Hurts” became one of R.E.M.’s most emotionally powerful and enduring songs, receiving extensive airplay worldwide and becoming an anthem for empathy and resilience.
The cultural significance of Automatic for the People lies in its ability to bring introspective, even somber themes into mainstream rock at a massive commercial scale. At a time when alternative rock was becoming
dominant in popular culture, R.E.M. demonstrated that vulnerability and
emotional honesty could coexist with chart success.
Bonus Tracks
Radio
Free Europe – R.E.M.
Sexual
Healing – Marvin Gaye
The
Right Profile – The Clash
Rock
On – David Essex
This
Is The Day – The The
Fall
On Me – R.E.M.
Harbor
Town - R.E.M.
Nightswimming
- R.E.M.
New
Orleans Instrumental #1 - R.E.M.
Man
On The Moon - R.E.M.
Rockin’
In The Free World – Neil Young
Cinnamon
Girl – Neil Young
Track Listing
Drive Side
Drive
Try Not To Breathe
The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite
Everybody Hurts
New Orleans Instrumental No. 1
Sweetness Follows
Ride Side
Monty Got A Raw Deal
Ignoreland
Star Me Kitten
Man On The Moon
Nightswimming
Find The River
Hashtags: #AutomaticForThePeople #REM
#AlternativeRock #IndieRock #1992Music #ManOnTheMoon #EverybodyHurts #Drive
#Nightswimming #ClassicAlbums #MusicHistory #AlbumHistory #90sMusic #WarnerBros
#ScottLitt
Info
Website: Gary Wenstrup
Podcast Website: Home - Classic Rock Album Olympics
YouTube: (556) Classic Rock
Album Olympics - YouTube
Facebook: (7) Facebook
Podcast Facebook: Facebook
LinkedIn: (17) Gary Wenstrup | LinkedIn
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Moondance by Van Morrison...Episode #30
Tuesday, August 25, 2026 • Duration 01:07:18
In this episode (#28) of Classic Rock Album Olympics music historians Gary Wenstrup and Robert Rodriguez turn their attention to Moondance
by Van Morrison and award their gold, silver and bronze medals for the
strongest tracks.
Released in January 1970, it was Morrison’s third solo album and transformed him from a critically admired cult artist into a major
commercial success. While his previous album, Astral Weeks, had been
celebrated for its poetic ambition and jazz-influenced experimentation, Moondance struck a perfect balance between artistic sophistication and accessibility. Blending rock, soul, jazz, folk, blues, rhythm and blues, and Celtic influences, the album showcased Morrison’s extraordinary songwriting while introducing a warmer, more up-tempo sound.
Medal Winners – Remarkably Gary and Robert picked the exact same 3 songs in the exact same order – a first and probably a last…
Moondance
Into
The Mystic
Caravan
Dissatisfied with having limited creative control during the making of Astral Weeks, Morrison assumed responsibility for producing Moondance, carefully shaping the arrangements and performances. The result was a polished yet organic recording that featured tight ensembles, memorable horn arrangements, and an effortless blend of jazz improvisation and pop
craftsmanship. The album marked the beginning of Morrison’s long career as a self-directed recording artist and established the musical style that would define much of his greatest work.
Van Morrison and John Platania played guitar with Jack Schroer and Collin Tilton on horns, Jef Labes on keyboards, John Klingberg on bass and Gary Mallaber on drums. The musicians created an intimate, swinging
sound that perfectly complemented Morrison’s soulful voice songwriting.
Commercially, Moondance became Van Morrison’s breakthrough album. It reached #29 on the Billboard 200 in the U.S., #32 on the UK Albums Chart while remaining a steady seller for decades. Come Running was the only single released from the album and reached #39 on the charts. Over time, however, “Moondance,” “Into the Mystic,” “Caravan,” and “And It Stoned Me” became FM radio staples.
Moondance has influenced generations of musicians across rock, folk, jazz, Americana, and soul, including Bruce Springsteen, Bonnie Raitt and Elvis Costello. More than fifty years after its release, Moondance remains a beloved album, celebrated for its effortless musicianship and timeless melodies. It is consistently ranked among the greatest albums ever and stands as the defining work in Van Morrison’s remarkable career.
Bonus Tracks
Moondance
– Michael Buble
East
Of The Sun (And West Of The Moon) – Frank Sinatra
Autumn
Leaves – Nat King Cole
Brown
Eyed Girl
Domino
Gloria
– Them
Chuck
E’s In Love – Rickie Lee Jones
Midnight
At The Osis – Maria Muldar
Caravan
from The Last Waltz
Punky’s
Dilemma – Simon & Garfunkel
Come
Running
And
It Stoned Me
Glad
Tidings
Crazy
Love
Brand
New Day
Everyone
I
Shall Be Released – The Band
I
Shall Be Released – Joe Cocker
I
Shall Be Released – Nina Simone
I
Shall Be Released from The Last Waltz
Rainy
Day Women #12 & 35 – Bob Dylan
Doo
Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker) – Rolling Stones
Track Listing
Side One
And It Stoned Me
Moondance
Crazy Love
Caravan
Into The Mystic
Side Two
Come Running
These Dreams of You
Brand New Day
Everyone
Glad Tidings
Hashtags: #Moondance #VanMorrison #ClassicRock
#SingerSongwriter #JazzRock #FolkRock #SoulMusic #IntoTheMystic #Caravan
#1970Music #ClassicAlbums #MusicHistory #AlbumHistory #VinylCommunity
#WarnerBros #TimelessMusic
Contact Info
Website: Gary Wenstrup
Podcast Website: Home - Classic Rock Album Olympics
YouTube: (556) Classic Rock
Album Olympics - YouTube
Facebook: (7) Facebook
Podcast Facebook: Facebook
LinkedIn: (17) Gary Wenstrup | LinkedIn
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Remain In Light by Talking Heads...Episode #29
Tuesday, August 11, 2026 • Duration 01:04:08
In this episode of Classic Rock Album Olympics music historians Gary Wenstrup and Robert Rodriguez turn on Remain In Light by Talking Heads and award gold, silver and bronze medals to their favorite songs.
Medal Winners
Crosseyed
And Painless
Once
In A Lifetime
The
Overload
Listening
Wind
Remain In Light, released in the fall of 1980, was the band’s fourth studio album and was an artistic leap as they blended new wave, funk, African polyrhythms, electronic music, and experimental rock into a new sonic texture.
Building on ideas first explored on Fear of Music, the album challenged conventional rock songwriting by emphasizing rhythm, layered textures, and hypnotic grooves over traditional verse-and-chorus structures.
The album was produced by Brian Eno, whose creative partnership with Talking Heads reached its peak during these sessions. Rather than recording songs in the traditional manner, the band developed many of the tracks through extended group improvisations that were edited into intricate rhythmic patterns before lyrics and melodies were added.
Inspired by the work of Nigerian musician and activist Fela Kuti, as well as electronic pioneers and minimalist composers, Eno and the band crafted a dense, layered production that pushed the boundaries of what a rock album could be.
Talking Heads consisted of David Byrne, lead vocals, guitar, and many of the album’s lyrics; Jerry Harrison, keys and guitar; Tina Weymouth, bass and Chris Frantz, drums.
Commercially, Remain in Light became Talking Heads’ highest-charting album to that point. It reached #19 on the Billboard 200 and earned widespread critical acclaim upon release. Two singles were issued from
the album. “Once in a Lifetime” became the band’s signature song, though it only reached #103 on the Billboard Hot 100. It became a cultural phenomenon thanks to its groundbreaking music video and has since become one of the defining songs of the MTV era. The second single, “Houses in Motion,” did not chart.
The cultural significance of Remain in Light is immense. It helped introduce African musical concepts to mainstream rock audiences in a respectful and creatively transformative way while demonstrating that experimental music could also be accessible.
Remain In Light influenced artists across alternative rock, electronic
music, art rock, indie rock, and even hip-hop including Radiohead, Peter
Gabriel and Arcade Fire. The album consistently ranks among the best albums ever made, celebrated for its experimentation, intellectual depth, and rhythmic vitality.
Bonus Tracks
Take
Me To The River
And
She Was
The
Lady Don’t Mind
Burning
Down The House
Road
To Nowhere
Artist
Only
Water
Got No Enemy – Fela Kuti
Zombie
– Fela Kuti
Take
Me To The River – Al Green
Love
Will Tear Us Apart – Joy Division
Little
Red Book – Love
Interstellar
Over Drive – Pink Floyd
DJ
– David Bowie
Hashtags: #RemainInLight #TalkingHeads #DavidByrne
#BrianEno #OnceInALifetime #NewWave #ArtRock #PostPunk #ClassicAlbums
#1980Music #MusicHistory #AlbumHistory #VinylCommunity #FunkRock
#AfricanRhythms #ClassicRock
Contact Info
Website: Gary Wenstrup
Podcast Website: Home - Classic Rock Album Olympics
YouTube: (556) Classic Rock
Album Olympics - YouTube
Facebook: (7) Facebook
Podcast Facebook: Facebook
LinkedIn: (17) Gary Wenstrup | LinkedIn
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What's Going On by Marvin Gaye...Episode #28
Tuesday, July 28, 2026 • Duration 54:08
In this episode of Classic Rock Album Olympics music historians Gary Wenstrup and Robert Rodriguez take Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On for a spin and award gold, silver and bronze medals for their favorite tracks.
Medal Winners
What’s
Going On
Flyin’
High (In The Friendly Sky)
Mercy
Mercy Me (The Ecology)
What’s
Happening Brother
Inner
City Blues (Makes Me Want To Holler)
The album was released in the summer of 1971 and is widely regarded as one of the greatest albums ever made. It marked a dramatic artistic transformation for Marvin Gaye and for Motown itself. Rather than focusing on romantic love songs, Gaye created a deeply personal concept album that addressed war, poverty, racial injustice, environmental concerns, police brutality, drug abuse, and spiritual renewal. Inspired in part by conversations with his brother Frankie, who had recently returned from service in Vietnam, What’s Going On captured the hopes, frustrations, and uncertainty of America during one of the nation’s most turbulent periods.
What’s Going On was produced by Marvin Gaye, making him one of the first Motown artists to exercise complete creative control over a major project. Recording sessions took place at Detroit’s Hitsville U.S.A. studio and at Golden World Studios, also in Detroit. Gaye experimented with layered vocals, sophisticated orchestration, jazz-influenced harmonies, and seamless transitions between songs, creating one of the first truly unified concept albums in soul music.
Marvin Gaye handled the lead and background vocals and worked with Motown’s famous house band – The Funk Brothers. They included bassists James Jamerson and Bob Babbit, drummer Chet Forest, percussionist Jack Ashford, keyboardist Earl Van Dyke and guitarists Robert White and Joe Messina. The album’s lush orchestral arrangements and rich vocal textures combined elements of soul, jazz, classical music, gospel, and rhythm and blues into a sound unlike anything Motown had previously
released.
Commercially, the album became one of the biggest successes of Marvin Gaye’s career, reaching #6 on the Billboard 200. Three singles emerged from the album. The title track, “What’s Going On,” reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100, “Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)” climbed to #4 and became one of popular music’s earliest environmental anthems. “Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)” reached #9.
The cultural significance of What’s Going On is difficult to overstate. It transformed expectations of what soul music could address and
demonstrated that pop music could also confront serious social and political issues. The album challenged Motown’s traditional business model, expanded creative freedom for recording artists, and influenced generations of musicians across soul, R&B, jazz, rock, hip-hop, and pop.
Artists ranging from Stevie Wonder to Prince, Bruce Springsteen, D’Angelo, and many others have cited it as a landmark achievement.
More than five decades after its release, What’s Going On continues to appear near the top of virtually every list of the greatest albums ever recorded and remains a timeless statement about empathy, justice, faith, and our shared humanity.
Hashtags: #WhatsGoingOn #MarvinGaye #Motown
#SoulMusic #ClassicAlbums #MusicHistory #ConceptAlbum #FunkBrothers #1971Music
#ClassicSoul #VinylCommunity #AlbumHistory #MercyMercyMe #InnerCityBlues
#WhatsGoingOnAlbum
Bonus Tracks
I
Can’t Get Next To You – Temptations
Stoned
Love – The Supremes
War
– Edwin Star
Ball
of Confusion – Temptations
Love
Is God
Right
On
Save
The Children
Sadly, a demo version of What’s Going On does not exist
Track Listing
Side One
What’s Going On
What’s Happening Brother
Flyin’ High (In The Friendly Sky)
Save The Children
God Is Love
Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)
Side Two
Right On
Wholy Holy
Inner City Blues (Makes Me Wanna Holler)
Contact Info
Website: Gary Wenstrup
Podcast Website: Home - Classic Rock Album Olympics
YouTube: (556) Classic Rock
Album Olympics - YouTube
Facebook: (7) Facebook
Podcast Facebook: Facebook
LinkedIn: (17) Gary Wenstrup | LinkedIn
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The Band by The Band...Episode #27
Tuesday, July 7, 2026 • Duration 58:02
In this episode of Classic Rock Album Olympics music historians Gary Wenstrup and Robert Rodriguez turn their attention to the self-titled album by The Band and award their gold, silver and bronze medals accordingly.
Medal Winners
Jemima
Surrender
Whispering
Pines
The
Night They Drove Old Dixie Down
Rockin’
Chair
Across
The Great Divide
Released in the fall of 1969, the album arrived roughly a year after the group’s acclaimed debut, Music From Big Pink. At a time when psychedelic rock and hard rock dominated popular music, The Band looked backward instead of forward, drawing inspiration from American folk traditions, country, blues, gospel, and early rock and roll to create a sound that helped lay the foundation for what would later become known as Americana.
The album was produced by John Simon, who had also produced
Music From Big Pink. Recording sessions took place primarily in a converted pool house at a rented home in the Hollywood Hills before moving to The Hit Factory in New York City to complete the project.
The Band consisted of Robbie Robertson who served as the principal songwriter and lead guitarist. Levon Helm played drums, mandolin, and sang many of the group’s most memorable lead vocals. Rick Danko
handled bass guitar, fiddle, and shared lead vocal duties with his expressive tenor voice. Richard Manuel contributed piano, drums, and soulful lead vocals that ranged from tender ballads to powerful rock performances. Garth Hudson, regarded by many as one of rock’s greatest keyboardists, supplied the album’s organ, piano, accordion, saxophone, and other instrumental textures that gave the music its distinctive character.
Commercially, The Band was a significant success. It reached #9 on the Billboard 200 album chart in the United States. Two singles were released from the album. “Up on Cripple Creek” became the band’s biggest American hit, climbing to #25 on the Billboard Hot 100 and “Rag Mama Rag” reached #57.
At a time when rock music often celebrated excess and experimentation, The Band created an album rooted in history, tradition, and compelling storytelling. Its songs explored themes of community, hardship, faith, work, and the changing American experience, helping redefine what rock
music could accomplish artistically.
The album became influential on later generations of musicians, inspiring artists such as Eric Clapton, Elvis Costello, Wilco, and countless Americana, country-rock, and folk-rock performers.
Bonus Tracks
The
Night They Drove Old Dixie Down – Joan Baez
The
Weight
Stage
Fright
Chest
Fever
Up
On Cripple Creek
Tears
Of Rage
I
Shall Be Released
Side 1
Across The Great Divide
Rag Mama Rag
The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down
When You Awake
Up On Cripple Creek
Whispering Pines
Side 2
Jemima Surrender
Rockin' Chair
Look Out Cleveland
Jawbone
The Unfaithful Servant
King Harvest (Has Surely Come)
Hashtags: #TheBand #TheBrownAlbum #ClassicRock
#RootsRock #Americana #1969Music #LevonHelm #RobbieRobertson #GarthHudson
#RickDanko #RichardManuel #JohnSimon #AlbumHistory #MusicHistory
#VinylCommunity #ClassicAlbums
Contact Info
Website: Gary Wenstrup
Podcast Website: Home - Classic Rock Album Olympics
YouTube: (556) Classic Rock
Album Olympics - YouTube
Facebook: (7) Facebook
Podcast Facebook: Facebook
LinkedIn: (17) Gary Wenstrup | LinkedIn
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Station To Station by David Bowie...Episode #26
Tuesday, June 23, 2026 • Duration 56:55
In episode #26 of Classic Rock Album Olympics music historians Gary Wenstrup and Robert Rodriguez award their gold, silver and bronze medals for songs from David Bowie’s Station To Station.
Released in January 1976, Station to Station represented Bowie’s transition away from American soul influences toward the avant-garde European sensibilities that would define his late-1970s work with Brian Eno.
Station To Station introduced Bowie’s mysterious “Thin White Duke” persona — elegant, detached, and emotionally fractured. Recorded in Los Angeles during a turbulent period of Bowie’s life, the album blended art rock, funk, krautrock influences, and hypnotic electronic textures into one of his most acclaimed works.
The album reached #3 on the US Billboard 200, making it the highest charting album of Bowie's career. The major single from the album was Golden Years which peaked at #10 on the Billboard Hot 100. Second single TVC 15 reached #64.
The musicians on the album formed one of Bowie’s most celebrated backing bands. Guitarist Carlos Alomar anchored the music with sharp
funk rhythms. George Murray and Dennis Davis created the sleek rhythmic
foundation that would continue into Bowie’s Berlin recordings. Keyboardist Roy Bittan of E Street Band fame and guitarist Earl Slick played roles as well. Producer Harry Maslin helped shape the album’s polished sound.
Culturally, Station to Station became enormously influential on post-punk, new wave, gothic rock, and alternative music. Its cold elegance and rhythmic experimentation inspired artists ranging from Joy Division and Talking Heads to later musicians such as Nine Inch Nails and Radiohead.
Medal Winners
Wild
Is The Wind
TVC
15
Station
To Station
Stay
Golden
Years
Bonus Tracks
Fame
Young
Americans
Space
Oddity
Rebel
Rebel
Cat
People (Putting Out Fire)
Wild
Is The Wind – Bowie Video
(Just
Like) Starting Over – John Lennon
Rockin
Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu – Johnny Rivers
When
You Wish Upon A Star -Jiminy Cricket/Cliff Edwards
Baby
Mine – Bonnie Raitt
The
Nearness Of You – Glen Miller & His Orchestra
Rawhide
– Frankie Lane
Town
Without Pity – Gene Pitney
Town
Without Pity – Ronnie Montrose
Wild
Is The Wind – Johhny Mathis
Wild
Is The Wind – Nina Simone
Do
Not Forsake Me, Oh, My Darling – Tex Ritter original soundtrack High Noon
Bennie
& The Jets – Elton John
Funeral
For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding – Elton John
Autobahn - Kraftwerk
Track Listing
Side One
Station To Station
Golden Years
Word On A Wing
Side Two
TVC 15
Stay
Wild Is The Wind
#StationToStation #DavidBowie #ThinWhiteDuke #GoldenYears
#TVC15 #ArtRock #ClassicAlbums #1976Music #BerlinTrilogy #RockHistory
Contact Info
Website: Gary Wenstrup
Podcast Website: Home - Classic Rock Album Olympics
YouTube: (556) Classic Rock
Album Olympics - YouTube
Facebook: (7) Facebook
Podcast Facebook: Facebook
LinkedIn: (17) Gary Wenstrup | LinkedIn
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Reggatta de Blanc by The Police...Episode #25
Tuesday, June 9, 2026 • Duration 57:18
In episode #25 of Classic Rock Album Olympics music historians Gary Wenstrup and Robert Rodriguez sail with Reggatta de Blanc by The Police and award their gold, silver and bronze medals for their favorite songs.
Released October 1979, Reggatta de Blanc was the second album by The Police and the record that transformed the trio from promising new-wave outsiders into stars. Produced by Nigel Gray along with the band, the album expanded the reggae-rock and post-punk sound introduced on Outlandos d’Amour.
The title – Reggatta de Blanc - loosely translates to “white reggae,” reflecting the group’s fusion of punk energy, reggae rhythms, jazz textures, and pop songwriting.
The album featured the classic Police lineup: Sting on bass and lead vocals, Andy Summers on guitar and Stewart Copeland on drums. Together they created a sparse but highly rhythmic sound built around Summers’ atmospheric guitar work, Sting’s melodic bass lines, and Copeland’s inventive drumming.
Reggatta de Blanc became the band’s first UK No. 1 album. In the United States it reached No. 25 on the Billboard album chart, helping establish the band’s growing American audience.
The singles “Message in a Bottle” and “Walking on the Moon” both reached No. 1 in the UK. The singles did not fare as well in the US. “Message” hit #74 and "Moon" did not chart. The instrumental title track earned the band its first Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance.
The album captured the restless energy of the late-1970s post-punk era while proving that reggae influences could coexist with mainstream rock radio. The Police stood apart from both traditional punk and arena rock by emphasizing space, rhythm, and sophistication over heavy guitar excess.
Many critics and fans view Reggatta de Blanc as the album where the band honed its signature sound, paving the way for later classics like Zenyatta Mondatta and Synchronicity.
Follow-up Note: As speculated in the podcast, The Police did not perform at Live Aid. Sting however did play a few Police hits with outside musicians.
Medal Winners
No
Time This Time
Message
In A Bottle
The
Bed’s Too Big Without You
Bring
On The Night
Reggatta
de Blanc
Bonus Tracks
Roxanne
Next
To You
Nothing
Achieving
Truth
Hits Everyone
So
Lonely
Visions
Of The Night
Fall
Out
Behind
The Camel
Be
My Girl/Sally
Mirror
In The Bathroom – English Beat
Further Reading
Shot
In The Heart -Mikal Gilmore
Track Listing
Side One
Message In A Bottle
Reggatta de Blanc
It's Alright For You
Bring On The Night
Deathwish
Side Two
Walking On The Moon
On Any Other Day
The Bed's Too Big Without You
Contact
Does Everyone Stare
No Time This Time
#ThePolice #ReggattaDeBlanc #Sting #AndySummers
#StewartCopeland #NewWave #PostPunk #ReggaeRock #ClassicAlbums #1979Music
Contact Info
Website: Gary Wenstrup
Podcast Website: Home - Classic Rock Album Olympics
YouTube: (556) Classic Rock
Album Olympics - YouTube
Facebook: (7) Facebook
Podcast Facebook: Facebook
LinkedIn: (17) Gary Wenstrup | LinkedIn
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Silk Degrees by Boz Scaggs...Episode #24
Monday, May 25, 2026 • Duration 57:45
In episode # 24 of Classic Rock Album Olympics music historians Gary Wenstrup and Robert Rodriguez dig into Silk Degrees by Boz Scaggs and award their gold, silver and bronze medals accordingly.
Medal Winners
Georgia
Harbor
Lights
Lido
Shuffle
We’re
All Alone
Bonus Tracks
We
Were Always Sweethearts – Boz
Finding
Her – Boz
Dinah
Flo – Boz
Near
You - Boz
Brandy
(You’re A Fine Girl) – Looking Glass
Look
What You’ve Done To Me – Boz
Harbor
Lights – Platters
Low
Down - Boz
Love
Me Tomorrow - Boz
Sooner
Or Later – Grass Roots
Long
Tall Glasses (I Can Dance) – Leo Sayer
What
Do You Want The Girl To Do – Boz
Lone
Me A Dime – Boz
Jump
Street – Boz
Silk Degrees by Boz Scaggs was released in March 1976 and became the defining album of his career, blending blue-eyed soul, smooth pop, and West Coast R&B into a polished, radio-friendly sound that helped define
mid-1970s adult contemporary music.
Recorded at CBS Studios in San Francisco, the album benefited from a group of top-tier session musicians, many of whom would soon form Toto, including David Paich (keyboards), Jeff Porcaro (drums), and David
Hungate (bass), along with guitarist Fred Tackett. Their tight, groove-oriented playing gave the record its sleek, sophisticated feel.
The album was produced by Joe Wissert, whose clean, layered production emphasized rhythm, melody, and Scaggs’ smooth vocal delivery.
Several hit singles emerged, including “Lowdown,” “Lido Shuffle,” “What Can I Say,” and “It’s Over,” with “Lowdown” becoming the biggest success, reaching #3 on the Billboard Hot 100. “Lido Shuffle” also performed strongly, reaching the Top 20, helping sustain the album’s momentum across radio formats.
Silk Degrees peaked at #2 on the Billboard 200 and became a multi-platinum success, eventually selling over five million copies in the United States. Its crossover appeal—bridging pop, R&B, and soft rock—made it a staple of FM radio and a key influence on the emerging yacht rock sound.
Critically and commercially, the album marked the high point of Scaggs’ mainstream popularity, cementing his place in 1970s music and showcasing a seamless blend of craftsmanship, musicianship, and accessibility.
Track Listing
Side One
What Can I Say
Georgia
Jump Street
What Do You Want The Girl To Do
Harbor Lights
Side Two
Lowdown
It’s Over
Love Me Tomorrow
Lido Shuffle
We’re All Alone
Hashtags
#BozScaggs #SilkDegrees #1970sMusic #YachtRock
#ClassicAlbums #Lowdown #LidoShuffle
Contact Info
Website: Gary Wenstrup
Podcast Website: Home - Classic Rock Album Olympics
YouTube: (556) Classic Rock
Album Olympics - YouTube
Facebook: (7) Facebook
Podcast Facebook: Facebook
LinkedIn: (17) Gary Wenstrup | LinkedIn
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London Calling by The Clash...Episode #23
Tuesday, May 12, 2026 • Duration 01:07:21
In episode #23 of Classic Rock Album Olympics music historians Gary Wenstrup and Robert Rodriguez discuss London Calling by The Clash and award their gold, silver and bronze medals accordingly.
Medal Winners
Lost
In The Supermarket
Spanish
Bombs
The
Right Profile
Rudie
Can’t Fail
Clampdown
Train
In Vain
London Calling by The Clash was released in the U.S. in January 1980, marking a turning point not just for the band but for late-1970s rock. Expanding far beyond their early punk sound, the double album blends reggae, ska, rockabilly, R&B, and pop into a politically charged yet musically adventurous statement that captured the turbulence of the era—economic decline, nuclear anxiety, and social unrest—while still delivering sharp songwriting and energy.
The album is considered the most “musical” punk album and its most ambitious.
The core lineup featured Joe Strummer (lead vocals, rhythm guitar + lyrics), Mick Jones (lead guitar, vocals + music), Paul Simonon (bass), and Topper Headon (drums). The album was produced by Guy Stevens with mostly just 1 or 2 takes for each song.
While the album only reached #27 on the U.S. Billboard 200, its reputation grew steadily, and it is now widely regarded as one of the greatest albums of all time. The lone single released from the album in the U.S. was “Train in Vain.” The song was added at the last minute and unlisted on early pressings, reaching #23 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Critically, London Calling has been celebrated for its ambition and range, often cited alongside landmark albums in rock history for its fusion of genres and its ability to translate political urgency into compelling music.
Its iconic cover—featuring Simonon smashing his bass, photographed
by Pennie Smith—echoes the design of Elvis Presley’s debut album, visually linking past and present while signaling a reinvention of rock tradition.
Original album title: The Last Testament
For more information: Route 19 Revisited: The Clash and
London Calling by Marcus Gray
Bonus Tracks
Vanilla
Tapes – The Clash
London
Calling - The Clash
Guns
Of Brixton – The Clash
Clampdown
– Bruce Springsteen
The
Clash - Live on Fridays 1980
Track Listing
Side One
London Calling
Brand New Cadillac
Jimmy Jazz
Hateful
Rudie Can’t Fail
Side Two
Spanish Bombs
The Right Profile
Clampdown
The Guns of Brixton
Side Three
Wrong ‘Em Boyo
Death Or Glory
Koka Kola
The Card Cheat
Side Four
Lover’s Rock
Four Horsemen
I’m Not Down
Revolution Rock
Train In Vain
Hashtags
#TheClash #LondonCalling #PunkRock #ClassicAlbums
#MusicHistory #JoeStrummer #MickJones #PaulSimonon #TopperHeadon
Contact Info
Website: Gary Wenstrup
Podcast Website: Home - Classic Rock Album Olympics
YouTube: (556) Classic Rock
Album Olympics - YouTube
Facebook: (7) Facebook
Podcast Facebook: Facebook
LinkedIn: (17) Gary Wenstrup | LinkedIn
Intro & Outro Music by Flwers
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