Episode Guide
Episode 39 of Rock and Roll for Grownups is another journey through the music you love, guided by Denny Somach. This week’s playlist balances stories and sounds, opening with Thin Lizzy’s Dancing in the Moonlight, The Cars’ My Best Friend’s Girl, and Traffic’s Feelin’ Alright. Along the way, Somach shares insights from Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull on retirement, revisits Guns N’ Roses’ cover of Dylan’s Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door, and highlights The James Gang, Blondie, and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. Kansas, The Band, Van Morrison, Tom Petty, The Byrds, and Nazareth add depth, before Genesis closes with their iconic Land of Confusion—a track forever remembered for its groundbreaking video.
The Opening Trio
Thin Lizzy’s Dancing in the Moonlight, from their Bad Reputation LP, sets the stage for Episode 39. The Cars follow with My Best Friend’s Girl, a shining example of late ‘70s new wave rock. Traffic’s Feelin’ Alright—written by Dave Mason for the band’s second album—closes the set. While Traffic’s version remains beloved, Joe Cocker turned it into a hit on his debut, and even the Jackson Five recorded it, proving the song’s universal appeal.
Jethro Tull, Guns N’ Roses, and More
Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull shares his thoughts on retirement, insisting that his heroes continued playing well into their later years. That story frames Too Old to Rock ’n’ Roll: Too Young to Die!, a fan favorite. Guns N’ Roses’ version of Bob Dylan’s Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door follows, a live staple that bridged classic songwriting with late-80s arena energy.
James Gang, Blondie, and CSN&Y
This segment keeps the momentum rolling with Funk #49 by the James Gang, featuring Joe Walsh’s early guitar fireworks. Blondie’s Call Me brings new wave swagger, while Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young’s Carry On, from Déjà Vu, provides a reminder of the supergroup’s unmatched harmonies. Somach notes that this program isn’t just about spinning songs, but also about preserving the stories behind them.
Kansas, The Band, and Van Morrison
The show turns introspective with Kansas’ Dust in the Wind, a timeless meditation on life’s fragility. The Band delivers Up on Cripple Creek, Robbie Robertson’s tale of southern Americana, and Van Morrison contributes And It Stoned Me, a song steeped in nostalgia and memory. Together, these tracks create a reflective, soulful centerpiece.
Petty, The Byrds, Nazareth, and Genesis
The closing arc begins with Tom Petty’s Breakdown, a track from his debut album that announced the arrival of one of America’s great rock songwriters. The Byrds’ Eight Miles High underscores their groundbreaking fusion of folk and psychedelia, while Nazareth’s cover of Joni Mitchell’s This Flight Tonight gets the hard rock treatment—one that Heart’s Nancy Wilson once cited as inspiration for Barracuda. The finale, Genesis’ Land of Confusion, recalls its iconic Spitting Image puppet video that dominated MTV and won a Grammy for Best Concept Music Video. The irony, as Somach reminds us, is that it lost MTV’s Video of the Year to Peter Gabriel’s Sledgehammer.
PLAYLIST
Thin Lizzy – Dancing in the Moonlight – 3:26
The Cars – My Best Friend’s Girl – 3:43
Traffic – Feelin’ Alright? – 4:16
Jethro Tull – Too Old to Rock ‘n’ Roll: Too Young to Die! – 5:42
Guns N’ Roses – Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door – 5:36
James Gang – Funk #49 – 3:54
Blondie – Call Me – 3:32
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young – Carry On – 4:25
Kansas – Dust in the Wind – 3:27
The Band – Up on Cripple Creek – 3:43
Van Morrison – And It Stoned Me – 4:30
Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers – Breakdown – 2:45
The Byrds – Eight Miles High – 3:35
Nazareth – This Flight Tonight – 3:23
Genesis – Land of Confusion – 4:46
