Straight Up by Badfinger...Episode #9

In this episode of Classic Rock Album Olympics music historians Gary Wenstrup and Robert Rodriguez open The Doors' L. A. Woman, select their favorite tracks and award their gold, silver and bronze medals accordingly. Medal Winners The Changeling Riders On The Storm Love Her Madly Hyacinth House L. A. Woman Bonus Tracks Til The End Of Time – Perry Como Cheek To Cheek – Fred Astaire Riders In The Sky – Vaughn Moore Roadhouse Blues (Live) – Doors Light My Fire – Doors Been Down So Long - Doors Crawling King Snake – John Lee Hooker

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

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

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

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