The Imbalanced History of Rock and Roll – Details, episodes & analysis

Back in May 2024, in Episode #351, Doro/Tyketto drummer Johnny Dee, our old friend from his Philly days, made the Conshohocken-Frankfurt Connection. During that chat he confided that he, as a listener to the podcast, had questions. This week, he's back with those queries, and more, apparently. This has never happened on this podcast before, so it's exciting to hear what happens! Yo, Johnny! Yer up! Catch this and any older episode on our web site, right here!!! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Born of psychedelia (when "it" was still good) and the S.F. scene of the mid-1960s, the Imbalanced Boys dig into the formation and early ways of this R&RHOF (class of 1996) band this week! 2400 Fulton Street, their mansion's address, was Golden Gate Park-adjacent, and a short walk to the Grateful Dead's house "in the Haight." In the early daze of the scene, things were "still coming together." Later, Marty, Grace, Jorma, Paul, Jack & Spencer would rock the universe! In that atmosphere Blind Thomas Jefferson Airplane formed and took flight. Prime flying time, festival glory, plus years of commercial success can't prevent major changes, as the story unfolds. Catch the tale in this week's episode, plus some really groooovy tunes! All of our episodes are available where you get podcasts AND on our web site! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Before our July Summer vacation, a really great talk with author Daniel Rachel (Like Some Forgotten Dream, Don't Look Back In Anger, Walls Come Tumbling Down) to discuss his latest book, Too Much Too Young: The 2-Tone Records Story! The music of Ska was the next big thing in London, and in Coventry, where many of the bands percolated in a vacuum. They were less effected by outside trends, and created their own thing. It's about the way Ska music, back to the early artists of Jamaica, makes you feel! The way it moves you! Daniel and the guys delve into that and what fueled the black & white-checkered trend of the Brits who adopted this music as their own! The Americans got into the act, too, as both Ray and Markus indicate in this episode. If you don't know much about Ska, dig in and start to learn right here! Hit our web site for our other episodes about the music of Jamaica by clicking here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

1973 was one helluva year! Behind the good, the bad AND the ugly of the world, there was music, an incredible motherlode of creativity exploding from all genres, changing our musical culture. Markus and Ray hop in the Imbalanced Time Machine to help paint the picture of their experiences that year. That includes a deep dive into the rabbit hole as they run down the full list of albums released in '73. The music frames the whole episode, and will evoke some strong memories! This is a recurring exercise, and given the impact of 1971 and 1972, can you expect '73 to be any less a part of your life experience? Sooooo, buckle in for a fun adventure, especially if you remember... We love our sponsors!!! Please visit their web sites, and support them because they make this crazy show go: Boldfoot Socks  https://boldfoot.com Crooked Eye Brewery  https://crookedeyebrewery.com/ Don't forget that you can find all of our episodes, on-demand, for free right here on our web site: https://imbalancedhistory.com/   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In reaction to poor treatment in the scene, the Riot Grrrl! movement started with Bikini KIll's Kathleen Hanna's manifesto. Taking the form of a band pamphlet, it spawned a sub-genre in the Punk world, and gave voice to women who liked to kick ass on stage! Markus and Ray dig into the bands, the fans, and this new branch of politics. The long-unsolved murder of Mia Zapata of The Gits only underlined the need for Grrrls to unite! The music was punky, and raw. The politics struck a chord, spawned a better outlook on Rock/Punk made by women, and inspired other bands. We love our sponsors!!! Please visit their web sites, and support them because they make this crazy show go: Boldfoot Socks  https://boldfoot.com Crooked Eye Brewery  https://crookedeyebrewery.com/ Don't forget that you can find all of our episodes, on-demand, for free right here on our web site: https://imbalancedhistory.com/   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You could say that everything he'd done prior to 1976's Songs In The Key Of Life was leading up to the musical cornucopia that became this landmark double album! The Imbalanced Brothers both hold this record, and Stevie Wonder, in the highest regard, and it shows in their dissection of the songs and the players who helped fulfill this musical vision! We love our sponsors!!! Please visit their web sites, and support them because they make this crazy show go: Boldfoot Socks  https://boldfoot.com Crooked Eye Brewery  https://crookedeyebrewery.com/ Don't forget that you can find all of our episodes, on-demand, for free right here on our web site: https://imbalancedhistory.com/   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A progenitor is a person without whom the path of the topic being discussed might be very different. That's the case with Memphis Minnie (not her real name), and Blind Lemon Jefferson (his real name) both of whom laid foundation stones for so much of what Rock & Roll drew upon when it came around. Starting in the 1890s, we follow both artists and their path of influence on future players! Both were superstars in their time, creating the pathways for those to come, some of which are part of our story this week. We love our sponsors!!! Please visit their web sites, and support them because they make this crazy show go: Boldfoot Socks  https://boldfoot.com Crooked Eye Brewery  https://crookedeyebrewery.com/ Don't forget that you can find all of our episodes, on-demand, for free right here on our web site: https://imbalancedhistory.com/   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Starting with the vision of Burt Sugarman, the Imbalanced Boys discuss the first late, late night TV show, which also happened to be groundbreaking in its presentation of live music! Thanks to the show's uncredited documentarians, we get the word on how it got started from Burt himself. We'll dig into the music, the artists, and of course, the great Wolfman Jack! What might be hard to get your head around is the idea of 1970's TV, and how it all went to a test pattern, after The Tonight Show! Groundbreaking not only in that regard, but in the way that television presented live music to its viewers! The guys say that if they did this episode once a month, it'd be different every time! We believe them... We love our sponsors!!! Please visit their web sites, and support them because they make this crazy show go: Boldfoot Socks  https://boldfoot.com Crooked Eye Brewery  https://crookedeyebrewery.com/ Don't forget that you can find all of our episodes, on-demand, for free right here on our web site: https://imbalancedhistory.com/   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From his family roots to his dual career paths, taken simultaneously, Markus and Ray take the ride with you, musically, and historically! From London to L.A., we talk about his musical life, and all the twists and turns it took. Due to the risk of a 2+ hourlong episode, much of Rod Stewart's personal story is pretty much left out. So, it's football and booze, and The Faces, and an amazing solo career that recently marked 55 years! Add your two cents for a follow-up episode by emailing us: imbalancedhistory@gmail.com New to the podcast? Start from the top, or click here to find all of our episodes! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Author Ericka Blount Danois joins the boys for an overall look into Soul Train, known by its on-air slogan as "the hippest trip in America!" We discuss Ericka's book, Love, Peace and Soul: Behind the Scenes of America's Favorite Dance Show Soul Train: Classic Moments, and other subjects about this classic TV show! We discuss the role of host Don Cornelius (as well as the other hosts) in shaping Soul Train, as well as his fading interest upon one musical genre's arrival! We also touch upon his completing suicide. Mostly, it's about the music, the dancers (many of whom became stars themselves), and the impact the show had on its viewers, and the musicians of the era! We love our sponsors!!! Please visit their web sites, and support them because they make this crazy show go: Boldfoot Socks  https://boldfoot.com Crooked Eye Brewery  https://crookedeyebrewery.com/ Don't forget that you can find all of our episodes, on-demand, for free right here on our web site: https://imbalancedhistory.com/   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices