Riffs n Rants: Music Convos with Shawn and Anna

Important Years in Music Part 4: 1977

Thank you for your patience after our unintentional month-long hiatus! Join us as we dive into the important moments of 1977 including the punk movement and its influences on music today. Intro/Outro song: "Can You" by Anna Spackman Copyright 2020.

Important Years in Music Part 3: 1971

Continuing in our series of important years in music, we talk about the year 1971. Shawn takes us through iconic albums including What’s Going On by Marvin Gaye, Tapestry by Carol King, Blue by Joni Mitchell, There’s A Riot Going On by Sly and the Family Stone, Maggot Brain by Funkadelic, L.A. Woman by The Doors, Led Zeppelin 4…the list goes on. Shawn highlights some important live albums by Aretha Franklin, Yes, Led Zeppelin, The Almond Brothers, Poco (of course!) and more. We also talk about the pivotal album in Stevie Wonder’s songwriting (Where I’m Coming From,) the significance of this year to the jam band tradition, and the peak of the singer/songwriter movement. Intro/outro music: “Still Here” Copyright Anna Spackman 2020.

Important Years in Music Part 2: 1969

Shawn takes us through some of the heavy, iconic, and impactful moments of 1969. We discuss the difference in tone from 1967, important debut albums, the origins of country rock, Summer of Soul, Woodstock, and more. (Maybe to be continued??) Intro/Outro song: "Still Here" by Anna Spackman Copyright 2020.

Important Years in Music Part 1: 1967

Part 1 of an ongoing series on the podcast! Shawn takes us through the first of several pivotal years in "non-jazz" music (rock, soul, pop, etc.): 1967. We talk about changes in recording and engineering (get ready for the mono vs. stereo debate,) The Beatles' "Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band," the gigantic list of debut albums of incredibly influential artists (David Bowie, Laura Nyro, Dolly Parton, Cat Stevens, The Grateful Dead, Al Green, etc....,) a little-heard-of subgenre we have dubbed "Gnome Rock," Love's "Forever Changes" (our store's namesake!) and more. Subscribe, like, comment, and share!

Beyond Motown: Soul Music Broken Down

Join us as Shawn breaks down the music and cultural legacy of Motown, the other major players of the 60’s/70’s, some tea from the industry at the time, and the glorious neo-soul movement still taking place today! Episode notes: Motown: founded in Detroit MI by Berry Gordy in 1959. Studio: The Snake Pit. Example artists: Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, The Four Tops, Diana Ross and the Supremes, The Temptations, The Contours, Martha and the Vandellas, Marvin Gaye, Tammi Terrell, The Spinners, Gladys Knight & The Pips, The Isley Brothers, Mary Wells, The Jacksons, Stevie Wonder, The Commodores. Sonically: complex arrangements and songwriting, variety of instruments (“is that an oboe??”) Stax-Volt: founded in Memphis TN by Jim Stewart and Estelle Axton in 1961 (formerly Satellite, distributed by Atlantic from 1960-1968.) Studio: Muscle Shoals. Example artists from Stax-Volt and Atlantic: Booker T and the MG’s, Sam & Dave, Otis Redding, Carla Thomas, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Isaac Hayes, The Drifters, The Clovers, Wilson Pickett, Roberta Flack. Sonically: gritty, “one take” feeling, heavily blues-based in style and arrangement. Philadelphia International: founded in Philadelphia PA by Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff in 1971. Studio: Sigma Sound. Examples artists: The O’Jays, The Intruders, Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, Teddy Pendergrass, Patti Labelle, Billy Paul, Lou Rawls, The Stylistics, The Delphonics. Sonically: “soul with a tuxedo,” lots of strings, pre-disco elements of bass/percussion, male vocals and harmonies similar to doowop. Some documentaries we mention: Luther: Never Too Much (2024) Sly Lives! (Aka the Burden of Black Genius) (2025) Summer of Soul (Or…When The Revolution Could Not Be Televised) (2021) The Greatest Night in Pop (2024)