Episodes
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Episode 2158: Book Nook: A Chance to Harmonize by Sheryl Kaskowitz
It’s back-to-back visits to the Book Nook this week on Rockin’ the Suburbs. In this episode, Patrick discusses a recent read, A Chance to Harmonize by Sheryl Kaskowitz. The book’s details the work of a little-known but influential part of FDR’s New Deal: The Music Unit. Learn how this project played a part in America’s musical history and the folk revival of the 1950s and 60s.
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Episode 2157: Book Nook: Can’t Stand Up For Falling Down and Too Late to Stop Now by Allan Jones
It’s Book Nook time again, listener! Patrick takes you into the rock and roll literary world today with two hilarious, sharply written and observed volumes by Allan Jones. Jones wrote for Melody Maker starting in 1974 and went on to have a long career as a music writer and editor. These two volumes collect his best “Rock and Roll War Stories” and are both wonderfully entertaining.
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Episode 2156: Beach Boys Week Part Five: In Conclusion, The Seventies and Beyond
Listen: EPISODIX: Posted: July 11, 2025 Music: All music in this episode by the Beach Boys. Notes: The week of Beach Boys concludes with a…
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Episode 2155: Beach Boys Week Part Four: Good Vibrations and A Teenage Symphony to God
Welcome to Beach Boys Week! In the aftermath of Brian Wilson’s passing last month, Nick Scalera and Mike Wagner lead a discussion of the iconic and legendary California band. We’ve arrived at the fourth installment in the series, in which Brian’s artistic ambition blossoms into commercial success on “Good Vibrations,” followed by an attempt to make a record so ambitious that it would drive him into the abyss.
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Episode 2154: Beach Boys Week Part Three: Pet Sounds
Welcome to Beach Boys Week! In the aftermath of Brian Wilson’s passing last month, Nick Scalera and Mike Wagner lead a discussion of the iconic and legendary California band. In the third part of the series, Brian Wilson nears his artistic zenith as he responds to the Beatles Rubber Soul with his masterpiece, Pet Sounds.
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Episode 2153: Beach Boys Week Part Two: All Kinds of Growth (1964-1965)
Welcome to Beach Boys Week! In the aftermath of Brian Wilson’s passing last month, Nick Scalera and Mike Wagner lead a discussion of the iconic and legendary California band. In the second installment, Brian Wilson’s growth (both chemically and musically) is the focus as he quits touring and finds his true home in the recording studio.
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Episode 2152: Beach Boys Week Part One: Formation and the Early Years
Welcome to Beach Boys Week! In the aftermath of Brian Wilson’s passing last month, Nick Scalera and Mike Wagner lead a discussion of the iconic and legendary California band. In part one, the band’s formation and early recordings are the focus.
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Episode 2151: July 4 Jams
Bud Verge joins the podcast as Jim hits shuffle on his playlist “Hey Baby It’s the Fourth of July.” Patrick Foster crashes the party.
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Episode 2150: More Thoughts on Sly Stone and Brian Wilson
In this episode we hear listeners Bob Peterson and Liam McIndoe give their thoughts on two musical giants who recently passed: Sly Stone and Brian Wilson.
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Episode 2149: May 2025 New Music 6: Menno Versteeg, Ezra Furman, Jesse Welles, Bibelhauser Brothers, Deraps, Paralyzed, Slung
The May 2025 New Music Train winds up it’s song-filled journey today with a jaunt through Midwestern America. On board are Scot Isom and Sunny Varney and they bring us new work from Menno Versteeg, Ezra Furman, Jesse Welles, Bibelhauser Brothers and Sam Bush, Deraps, Paralyzed and Slung.