ESSENTIAL COMPILATIONS
A Breakin’ Anthology
1984
Three years since first joining up on the first episode of ESSENTIAL COMPILATIONS, Lee McCormack is back to join Craig for some drinks and a track by track breakdown of both Breakin’ soundtrack albums and films!
In this episode, Brad Page (of the I’m In Love With That Song podcast) dares to join Craig on the fabled desert island that has ruined many a friendship as they chat about each growing up in very different areas listening to the music of Pink Floyd and then share their twenty collective picks.
Six-Pack of Stray Cats, Volume One
On this Six-Pack episode, Lee McCormack of the Tramps Like Us Podcast and friend of the show Kurt Runyon join Eric Miller of Pods & Sods to talk Stray Cats. Lee is shot out of a cannon on this one with the Stray Cats being his all-time favorite band – he has his guitar, he has all the trivia anyone would want, he has stories (including the time Slim Jim broke Lee’s personal drum head), and he has off-the-charts enthusiasm!! Kurt gets in a few words edgewise, hehe… this episode is a real blast as we dig into the ultimate rockabilly band!’
So throw on your bowling shirt, slick back your hair and discover or rediscover the rockabilly greatness of Stray Cats!
Six-Pack of Manowar, Volume One
HOLD YOUR HAMMERS HIGH!!
On this Six-Pack episode, Matt Porter from The KISS Room and BJ Kramp of the Rock And/Or Roll podcast join Eric Miller of Pods & Sods to ride the winds of victory into Valhalla and discuss the music and Conan-like pageantry of Manowar. From loin clothes to tales of Thor and battles and triumphs, Manowar is certainly a unique band. Their musicianship is aggressive, smart, and solidly beyond reproach, their image and lyrical content is definitely testosterone-laden and fantasy based. Should they be winking with some of their songs a la Spinal Tap? Is it all kayfabe?? What do they think of the “metal” posers of their day?!? We discuss all of this and much more. But moreover, we play six fun and fist-pumping songs from this pioneering band in the power-metal, fantasy-metal genre!
So grab your broadsword, let the arrows fly, and ride with us into glory as we have some fun with a Six-Pack of Manowar!
IMMEDIATE FAMILY WEEK!
Steve Postell Picks The Essential David Crosby (and James, Joni, and Jackson)
Steve Postell shares his essential David Crosby songs and more. Actually we start with James Taylor, then move onto Joni Mitchell, then Jackson Browne, and finally David Crosby. Through this chronological journey in song, Steve paints the vivid and emotional picture of how he first discovered and “became a fan” of his Immediate Family brothers. From a young musician reading the names of Danny, Russ, Leland, and Waddy in liner notes, to watching them live on stage with both James Taylor and Jackson Browne, Steve felt a strong kinship with these guys long before they ever met. He shares that story and it’s really wonderful.. he talks about each of the Immediate Family members one by one, what he admires, how they connected, and how they connect musically and as friends. It’s a tremendous way to celebrate the band, their legacy, and their future together. An absolutely amazing way to wrap up the arc of Immediate Family Week!
Long-time friends and musical collaborators Danny Kortchmar, Russ Kunkel, Waddy Wachtel, Steve Postell, and Leland Sklar have come together to form The Immediate Family. Tune in this week on Pods & Sods as they each share memories of their careers, pick the essential songs from some of their favorite colleagues, talk about their new album, and much more!
IMMEDIATE FAMILY WEEK!
Waddy Wachtel Picks The Essential Keith Richards
Waddy Wachtel shares his essential Keith Richards songs. As a young guitarist, Waddy identified with the sounds of early Rolling Stones on record and on stage. And through his career in the 70s as Waddy was working with Zevon, Ronstadt, and dozens more, he connected with The Stones and became a friend of Keith’s. Then one day, he got a call – THAT call from Keith. Keith said “I’m forming a band and you’re in it.” Keith could have invited any guitarist in the world to play by his side and he chose Waddy. What does that mean to Waddy? He shares his journey as it relates to the Stones discography, what he loves about their songs, and his musical partnership and friendship with Keith. We also take a few brief detours into Frank Zappa, Don Everly, Lenny Bruce, Warren Zevon, and so much more.
Long-time friends and musical collaborators Danny Kortchmar, Russ Kunkel, Waddy Wachtel, Steve Postell, and Leland Sklar have come together to form The Immediate Family. Tune in this week on Pods & Sods as they each share memories of their careers, pick the essential songs from some of their favorite colleagues, talk about their new album, and much more!
IMMEDIATE FAMILY WEEK!
Leland Sklar Picks The Essential Billy Cobham
Leland Sklar shares his essential Billy Cobham songs. Following a six-week tour where Lee’s band The Section (with Danny Kortchmar and Russ Kunkel) opened for Mahavishnu Orchestra, Lee got a call from MO’s incomparable drummer, Billy Cobham, to join him on his first solo record. That record would also feature Jan Hammer, the late Tommy Bolin and would become the ferocious masterpiece known as Spectrum. Lee shares his memories of how that record came together, what it meant to him working with those fellow greats, how it influenced his approach and life, and so much more. We also talk a lot about Immediate Family, his career, and even take some detours into The Wrecking Crew, The Funk Brothers, Phil Collins, and much more.
Long-time friends and musical collaborators Danny Kortchmar, Russ Kunkel, Waddy Wachtel, Steve Postell, and Leland Sklar have come together to form The Immediate Family. Tune in this week on Pods & Sods as they each share memories of their careers, pick the essential songs from some of their favorite colleagues, talk about their new album, and much more!
IMMEDIATE FAMILY WEEK!
Russ Kunkel Picks The Essential Bob Dylan
Russ Kunkel shares his essential Bob Dylan songs. In 1970, Peter Asher rang up Russ to come down “to the studio” because George Harrison and Bob Dylan were jamming. It was a night that Russ will never forget and he brings us into that room by sharing memories in this episode. A few months later, Russ gets the call to record with Dylan for his New Morning record. What did these once-in-a-lifetime experiences mean to Russ, how does he feel about those songs, how were the sessions, what has his work with Dylan meant for him personally and professionally? We get into that while enjoying the songs for Russ’s work with Bob Dylan.
Long-time friends and musical collaborators Danny Kortchmar, Russ Kunkel, Waddy Wachtel, Steve Postell, and Leland Sklar have come together to form The Immediate Family. Tune in this week on Pods & Sods as they each share memories of their careers, pick the essential songs from some of their favorite colleagues, talk about their new album, and much more!
IMMEDIATE FAMILY WEEK!
Danny Kortchmar Picks The Essential James Taylor
Danny Kortchmar shares his essential James Taylor songs. Danny and James became friends at a young age in New York and have followed each other professionally through early bands in the New York club scene, through collaborations with other artists, and obviously through James’ wildly successful career. Danny picks his ten favorite (at the moment) James songs, why they’re meaningful to him, his memories or writing/recording them, and loads of James and Immediate Family anecdotes and trivia.
Long-time friends and musical collaborators Danny Kortchmar, Russ Kunkel, Waddy Wachtel, Steve Postell, and Leland Sklar have come together to form The Immediate Family. Tune in this week on Pods & Sods as they each share memories of their careers, pick the essential songs from some of their favorite colleagues, talk about their new album, and much more!
The ultimate souvenir! Craig takes a stroll down memory lane with old school friend Rick Schnee, and they talk about the artist that brought them together – Billy Joel. Starting around 1990, they go through the stories of discovering the albums, trading live bootlegs, seeing Billy in concert together (and separately) and talk about their favorite songs and the memories surrounding them, while discussing all of the albums and ranking them to see where they fall somewhere along the line.
