A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Andrew Hickey presents a history of rock music from 1938 to 1999, looking at five hundred songs that shaped the genre.
Song 180: “Dazed and Confused” by Led Zeppelin, Part Two — “Inspiration is What You Are to Me”
Song 180: “Dazed and Confused” by Led Zeppelin, Part One, The Song Remains the Same
PLEDGE WEEK: “Light Flight” by Pentangle
PLEDGE WEEK: “Fruit Tree” by Nick Drake
PLEDGE WEEK: “Living in the Past” by Jethro Tull
PLEDGE WEEK: “Pictures of Matchstick Men” by The Status Quo
PLEDGE WEEK: “La conferencia secreta del Toto’s Bar” by Los Shakers
Announcing Pledge Week 2025
Song 179: “Kick Out the Jams” by the MC5 (Public Clean Version)
Song 178: “Who Knows Where the Time Goes?” by Fairport Convention, Part Two: “I Have no Thought of Time”
Song 178: “Who Knows Where The Time Goes?” by Fairport Convention, Part One, Going Electric
Song 177: “Never Learn Not to Love” by the Beach Boys, Part 4: “Sometimes I Have A Great Notion”
Song 177: “Never Learn Not to Love” by the Beach Boys, Part 3: “Mister, Can You Give Me Some Direction?”
Song 177: “Never Learn Not to Love” by the Beach Boys, Part Two — “Is it True What They Say About Dixie?”
Next Episode Coming Soon
Song 177: “Never Learn Not to Love” by the Beach Boys, Part One, Old Folks at Home
Song 176, “Sympathy for the Devil” by the Rolling Stones, part 4: “Who Breaks a Butterfly?””
Song 176, “Sympathy for the Devil” by the Rolling Stones, part 3: “Every Cop is a Criminal and All the Sinners Saints”
Song 176: “Sympathy for the Devil” by the Rolling Stones, part 2: Traps for Troubadours
Song 176: “Sympathy for the Devil” by the Rolling Stones, Part One: A Man of Wealth and Taste
PLEDGE WEEK: “Dark End of the Street” by James Carr
PLEDGE WEEK: “I Love You” by People
PLEDGE WEEK: “Son of a Preacher Man” by Dusty Springfield
PLEDGE WEEK: “My World Fell Down” by Sagittarius
PLEDGE WEEK: “A Whiter Shade of Pale” by Procol Harum
ANNOUNCEMENT: Pledge Week 2024
Song 175: “Everyday People” by Sly and the Family Stone Part 2, “My Own Beliefs Are In My Song”
Song 175: “Everyday People” by Sly and the Family Stone Part 1 Different Strokes For Different Folks
Song 174B: “I Heard it Through the Grapevine” Part Two, “It Takes Two”
Song 174A: “I Heard it Through the Grapevine” Part One, “If At First You Don’t Succeed…”
An Alert: Someone Plagiarising Me
Song 173: “All Along the Watchtower” Part Two, The Hour is Getting Late
Song 173: “All Along the Watchtower”, Part One: “He’s Not the Messiah”
Song 172, Hickory Wind by the Byrds: Part 4, Hour of Darkness
Song 172, Hickory Wind by the Byrds: Part 3, The Parsons Tale
Song 172, “Hickory Wind” by the Byrds: Part Two, Of Submarines and Second Generations
Song 172, “Hickory Wind” by the Byrds: Part One, Ushering in a New Dimension
Announcement Regarding Schedule
Episode 171: “Hey Jude” by the Beatles
Episode 170: “Astral Weeks” by Van Morrison
Episode 169: “Piece of My Heart” by Big Brother and the Holding Company
Episode 168: “I Say a Little Prayer” by Aretha Franklin
Episode 167: “The Weight” by The Band
Episode 166: “Crossroads” by Cream
Episode 165: “Dark Star” by the Grateful Dead
Episode 164: “White Light/White Heat” by the Velvet Underground
Episode 163: “(Sittin’ on) The Dock of the Bay” by Otis Redding
Episode 162: “Daydream Believer” by the Monkees
Episode 161: “Alone Again Or” by Love
XMAS BONUS: “Christmas Time is Here Again” by the Beatles
XMAS BONUS: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
XMAS BONUS: Little St. Nick
Episode 160: “Flowers in the Rain” by the Move
ADMIN: Holiday Schedule 2022
Episode 159: “Itchycoo Park”, by the Small Faces
Episode 158: “White Rabbit” by Jefferson Airplane
Episode 157: “See Emily Play” by The Pink Floyd
Episode 156: “I Was Made to Love Her” by Stevie Wonder
Admin: Podcast Now Fortnightly
Episode 155: “Waterloo Sunset” by the Kinks
A Request
Episode 154: “Happy Together” by the Turtles
Episode 153: “Heroes and Villains” by the Beach Boys
Episode 152: “For What It’s Worth” by Buffalo Springfield
Episode 151: “San Francisco” by Scott McKenzie
Season Four Announcement
July 2022 Q&A
PLEDGE WEEK: “You’re Gonna Miss Me” by The Thirteenth Floor Elevators
Pledge Week: “Rescue Me” by Fontella Bass
PLEDGE WEEK: “I’m Henry VIII I Am” by Herman’s Hermits
PLEDGE WEEK: “Hanky Panky” by Tommy James and the Shondells
PLEDGE WEEK: “The Name Game” by Shirley Ellis
PLEDGE WEEK: “Blues Run the Game” by Jackson C Frank
PLEDGE WEEK: “Winchester Cathedral” by the New Vaudeville Band
ADMIN: Pledge Week 2022
Episode 150: “All You Need is Love” by the Beatles
Episode 149: “Respect” by Aretha Franklin
Episode 148: “Light My Fire” by the Doors
Episode 147: “Hey Joe” by The Jimi Hendrix Experience
Episode 146: “Good Vibrations” by the Beach Boys
Episode 145: “Tomorrow Never Knows” by the Beatles
Episode 144: “Last Train to Clarksville” by the Monkees
Episode 143: “Summer in the City” by the Lovin’ Spoonful
Episode 142: “God Only Knows” by the Beach Boys
Episode 141: “River Deep, Mountain High” by Ike and Tina Turner
Episode 140: “Trouble Every Day” by the Mothers of Invention
Episode 139: “Eight Miles High” by the Byrds
[Admin] An Explanation for Delays… And What I’m Going to Do About It
Second Book Announcement
Episode 138: “I Fought the Law” by the Bobby Fuller Four
Episode 137: “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag” by James Brown
Episode 136: “My Generation” by the Who
Episode 135: “The Sound of Silence” by Simon and Garfunkel
Episode 134: “In the Midnight Hour” by Wilson Pickett
Episode 133: “My Girl” by the Temptations
Episode 132: “I Can’t Help Myself” by the Four Tops
Episode 131: “I Hear a Symphony” by the Supremes
Episode 130: “Like a Rolling Stone” by Bob Dylan
Episode 129: “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” by the Rolling Stones
Episode 128: “Mr. Tambourine Man” by the Byrds
Episode 127: “Ticket to Ride” by the Beatles
Episode 126: “For Your Love” by the Yardbirds
PLEDGE WEEK: “Hey Little Cobra” by the Rip Chords
PLEDGE WEEK: “Farmer John” by Don and Dewey
PLEDGE WEEK: “Papa Oom Mow Mow” by the Rivingtons
PLEDGE WEEK: “Muleskinner Blues” by the Fendermen
Episode 125: “Here Comes the Night” by Them
PLEDGE WEEK: “Sukiyaki” by Kyu Sakamoto
PLEDGE WEEK: “Any Other Way” by Jackie Shane
PLEDGE WEEK: “If You Wanna Be Happy” by Jimmy Soul
ADMIN: Pledge Week 2021
Episode 124: “People Get Ready” by the Impressions
Episode 123: “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin'” by the Righteous Brothers
Episode 122: “A Change is Gonna Come” by Sam Cooke
Episode 121: “The Leader of the Pack” by the Shangri-Las
Episode 120: “A Hard Day’s Night” by the Beatles
Admin Note: Podcast Host Moved
Episode 119: “You Really Got Me” by the Kinks
Episode 118: “Do-Wah-Diddy-Diddy” by Manfred Mann
Episode 117: “Don’t Worry Baby” by the Beach Boys
Episode 116: “Where Did Our Love Go?” by The Supremes
Episode 115: “House of the Rising Sun” by the Animals
Episode 114: “My Boy Lollipop” by Millie
Episode 113: “Needles and Pins” by The Searchers
Episode 112: “She Loves You” by The Beatles
Episode 111: “Heat Wave” by Martha and the Vandellas
Episode 110: “Be My Baby” by the Ronettes
BONUS: A Tribute to Gerry Marsden
Episode 109: “Blowin’ in the Wind” by Peter, Paul, and Mary
Episode 108: “I Wanna Be Your Man” by the Rolling Stones
BONUS: I Read The NewsToday Oh Boy: The Kennedy Assassination
Episode 107: “Surf City” by Jan and Dean
Episode 106: “Louie Louie” by the Kingsmen
Episode 105: “Green Onions” by Booker T. and the MGs
Episode 104: “He’s a Rebel” by “The Crystals”
BONUS: I Read The News Today Oh Boy — The Profumo Affair
Episode 103: “Hitch-Hike” by Marvin Gaye
Episode 102: “Twist and Shout” by the Isley Brothers
Episode 101: “Telstar” by the Tornados
BONUS: I Read The News Today, Oh Boy: The Cuban Missile Crisis
Episode 100: “Love Me Do” by the Beatles
Episode 99: “Surfin’ Safari” by the Beach Boys
Episode 98: “I’ve Just Fallen For Someone” by Adam Faith
Episode 97: “Song to Woody” by Bob Dylan
Episode 96: “The Loco-Motion” by Little Eva
Episode 95: “You Better Move On” by Arthur Alexander
BONUS: “Strawberry Fair” by Anthony Newley
Episode 94: “Stand By Me”, by Ben E. King
Episode 93: “Please Mr. Postman” by the Marvelettes
Episode 92: “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” by the Tokens
Episode 91: “The Twist” by Chubby Checker
PLEDGE WEEK: “Sixteen Tons” by Tennessee Ernie Ford
Episode 90: “Runaway” by Del Shannon
PLEDGE WEEK: “Black Denim Trousers and Motorcycle Boots” by the Cheers
PLEDGE WEEK: “Ain’t Got No Home” by Clarence “Frogman” Henry
PLEDGE WEEK: “Shake a Hand” by Faye Adams
PLEDGE WEEK: “Blue Yodel #9” by Jimmie Rodgers
PLEDGE WEEK: “The Flying Saucer” by Buchanan and Goodman
PLEDGE WEEK BONUS: “Chantilly Lace” by the Big Bopper
Episode 89: “Will You Love Me Tomorrow?” by the Shirelles
Episode 88: “Cathy’s Clown” by the Everly Brothers
Episode 87: “Apache” by the Shadows
Episode 86: “LSD-25” by the Gamblers
Episode 85: “Three Steps to Heaven” by Eddie Cochran
Episode 84: “Shakin’ All Over” by Johnny Kidd and the Pirates
Episode 83: “Only The Lonely” by Roy Orbison
Episode 82: “Are You Lonesome Tonight?” by Elvis Presley
Episode 81: “Shout” by the Isley Brothers
Episode 80: “Money” by Barrett Strong
Episode 79: “Sweet Nothin’s” by Brenda Lee
Episode 78: “What’d I Say” by Ray Charles
Episode 77: “Brand New Cadillac” by Vince Taylor and the Playboys
Episode 76: “Stagger Lee” by Lloyd Price
Episode 75: “There Goes My Baby” by the Drifters
Episode 74: “It Doesn’t Matter Any More” by Buddy Holly
Episode 73: “La Bamba” by Ritchie Valens
Episode 72: “Trouble” by Elvis Presley
Episode 71: “Willie and the Hand Jive” by Johnny Otis
Episode 70: “Move It” by Cliff Richard and the Drifters
Episode 69: “Fujiyama Mama” by Wanda Jackson
Episode 68: “Yakety Yak” by the Coasters
Episode 67: “Johnny B. Goode”, by Chuck Berry
Episode 66: “Great Balls of Fire” by Jerry Lee Lewis
Episode 65: “Maybe” by the Chantels
Episode Sixty-Four: “Reet Petite” by Jackie Wilson
Episode 63: “Susie Q” by Dale Hawkins
Episode 62: “Jailhouse Rock” by Elvis Presley
Episode 61: “That’ll Be the Day” by The Crickets
Episode 60: “You Send Me” by Sam Cooke
Book Announcement
Episode 59: “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” by Jerry Lee Lewis
Episode 58: “Mr. Lee” by the Bobbettes
Episode 57: “Flying Saucers Rock ‘n’ Roll” by Billy Lee Riley and the Little Green Men
Episode 56: “Bye Bye Love” by the Everly Brothers
Episode 55: “Searchin'” by the Coasters
Episode 54: “Keep A Knockin'” by Little Richard
Episode 53: “I Put a Spell on You” by Screamin’ Jay Hawkins
Episode 52: “Twenty Flight Rock”, by Eddie Cochran
Episode 51: “Matchbox” by Carl Perkins
BONUS: Question and Answer Episode 2
BONUS: Question and Answer Episode 1
Episode 50: “Honky Tonk” by Bill Doggett
Episode 49: “Love is Strange” by Mickey and Sylvia
Episode 48: “Rock With the Caveman” by Tommy Steele
Episode 47: “Goodnight My Love” by Jesse Belvin
Episode 46: “Brown-Eyed Handsome Man” by Chuck Berry
Episode 45: “Blueberry Hill”, by Fats Domino
Episode 44: “Train Kept A-Rollin'”, by Johnny Burnette and the Rock ‘n’ Roll Trio
Episode 43: “I Gotta Know” by Wanda Jackson
Episode 42: “Ooby Dooby” by Roy Orbison and the Teen Kings
Episode 41: “Be-Bop-A-Lula” by Gene Vincent and the Bluecaps
Episode 40: “Drugstore Rock ‘n’ Roll” by Janis Martin
Episode 39: “Please Please Please” by James Brown and the Famous Flames
Episode 38: “Heartbreak Hotel” by Elvis Presley
Episode 37: “I Walk The Line” by Johnny Cash
Episode 36: “Blue Suede Shoes” by Carl Perkins
Episode 35: “Why Do Fools Fall In Love?” by Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers
Episode 34: “Tutti Frutti” by Little Richard
Episode 33: “Mystery Train”, by Elvis Presley
Episode 32: “I Got A Woman” by Ray Charles
Episode 31: “Only You” by the Platters
Episode 30: “Bo Diddley” by Bo Diddley
Episode 29: “Maybellene” by Chuck Berry
Episode 28: “Sincerely” by the Moonglows
Episode 27: “Tweedle Dee” by LaVern Baker
Episode 26: “Ain’t That A Shame” by Fats Domino
Episode 25: “Earth Angel” by the Penguins
Episode 24: “Ko Ko Mo” by Gene and Eunice
Episode 23: “Pledging My Love” by Johnny Ace
Episode 22: “The Wallflower” by Etta James
Episode 21: “Rock Island Line” by Lonnie Donegan
Episode 20: “Rock Around the Clock” by Bill Haley and the Comets
Episode 19: “That’s All Right, Mama” by Elvis Presley
Episode 18: “Sh-Boom” by the Chords
Episode 17: “Money Honey” by Clyde McPhatter and the Drifters
Episode 16: “Crazy Man Crazy” by Bill Haley and the Comets
Episode 15: “Hound Dog” by Big Mama Thornton
Episode 14″Jambalaya” by Hank Williams
Episode 13: “Mama He Treats Your Daughter Mean” by Ruth Brown
Episode 12: “Lawdy Miss Clawdy” by Lloyd Price
“Rocket 88” by Jackie Brenston and the Delta Cats
Episode 10: “Double Crossin’ Blues”, by Johnny Otis, Little Esther, and the Robins
Episode 9: “How High The Moon” by Les Paul and Mary Ford
Episode 8: “The Fat Man” by Fats Domino
Episode 7: Wynonie Harris and “Good Rockin’ Tonight”
Episode 6: The Ink Spots — “That’s When Your Heartaches Begin”
Episode 5: Rosetta Tharpe and “This Train”
Episode 4: “Choo Choo Ch’Boogie” by Louis Jordan
A Disclaimer
Episode 3: “Ida Red” by Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys
Episode 2: “Roll ‘Em Pete” by Big Joe Turner and Pete Johnson
Episode 1: “Flying Home” by the Benny Goodman Sextet