Rock and Roll for Grownups – Episode 29 Guide
Denny Somach brings his encyclopedic knowledge of rock history to Episode 29, curating a lineup that represents both the heart and breadth of classic rock. This episode captures the duality of rock music—raw intensity alongside emotional depth—while tying each track to the artists’ greater legacy.
Bad Company & Todd Rundgren:
We begin with Bad Company’s Feel Like Makin’ Love from their 1975 Straight Shooter album. Its mix of acoustic subtlety and soaring electric riffs makes it a signature song of the band. Following that, Rundgren’s Hello It’s Me reminds listeners of his genius in blending pop craftsmanship with emotional sincerity. Originally written with his band the Nazz, the reworked version became one of his most recognized hits.
Warren Zevon & Joe Cocker:
Denny shifts gears to Warren Zevon, the sardonic storyteller whose Lawyers, Guns and Money from 1978’s Excitable Boy epitomizes his dark wit. Then comes Joe Cocker’s rendition of Hitchcock Railway, taken from his debut album. With his soulful, raspy delivery, Cocker transformed covers into something uniquely his own.
Moody Blues & McCartney:
The Moody Blues enter the set with I’m Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band) from Seventh Sojourn, a track that encapsulates their progressive rock sensibility. McCartney follows with Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five from Band on the Run, displaying his flair for theatrical arrangements. Denny adds a Beatles touch with Michelle, the Grammy-winning ballad that highlights McCartney’s melodic brilliance.
Blue Öyster Cult, Van Halen & Van Morrison:
The episode then drives into the 1980s with Blue Öyster Cult’s Burnin’ for You off Fire of Unknown Origin. Van Halen keeps the energy high with Dreams, from their first album with Sammy Hagar, 5150. Van Morrison shifts the mood with the soulful Wild Night from Tupelo Honey, underscoring his revered position in music history—even honored on a Northern Irish postage stamp.
Led Zeppelin, Phil Collins & Eddie Money:
The journey concludes with Led Zeppelin’s Good Times Bad Times, the opening cut from their monumental 1969 debut. Denny ties this back to the band’s origins and the new documentary Becoming Led Zeppelin. The 1980s pop-rock energy resurfaces with Phil Collins’ Sussudio from No Jacket Required and Eddie Money’s Baby Hold On, both staples of the era’s sound.
final note
Episode 29 underscores the enduring vitality of rock music. From the pioneers of the late ‘60s and ‘70s to the mainstream triumphs of the ‘80s, Denny Somach crafts a narrative that reminds listeners why these songs still resonate decades later.
Playlist
Feel Like Makin’ Love – Bad Company (5:12)
Feelin’ Alright – Traffic (4:16)
Hello It’s Me – Todd Rundgren (4:42)
Lawyers, Guns and Money – Warren Zevon (3:29)
I’m Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band) – The Moody Blues (4:18)
Hitchcock Railway – Joe Cocker (4:37)
Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five – Paul McCartney (5:33)
Michelle – The Beatles (2:42)
Burnin’ for You – Blue Öyster Cult (4:29)
Dreams – Van Halen (4:53)
Wild Night – Van Morrison (3:33)
Good Times Bad Times – Led Zeppelin (2:43)
Sussudio – Phil Collins (4:23)
Baby Hold On – Eddie Money (3:30)
