John Kessler

For the first "Blues Time Machine," I’ve chosen “Rollin’ and Tumblin’," a song that goes through some major changes on it’s way to the 21st century.

The story of "Rollin' and Tumblin'" also shows us that although the sound may evolve through time, the song remains true to the original.

This week RBR takes a look at the money train of the music industry and the mysterious world of song royalties.

This one sounds like an urban myth, but it’s true: Michael Jackson really did acquire the rights to most of the Beatles songs. It’s a strange and sordid tale, but it’s hard to feel too sorry for people who are worth hundreds of millions of dollars …

This we talk about the weather, but as usual, don't do anything about it ... except offer some favorite sayings for your amusement, starting with the classic, definitive bad opening line of all time:

It was a dark and stormy night.
– Edward Bulwer-Lytton

Political figures have frequently used pop music for an image boost. Bill Clinton played Fleetwood Mac’s “Don’t Stop Thinking About Tomorrow,” and President Obama used the Allen Toussaint song “Yes We Can Can” to great effect.

But the musicians aren’t always so keen on the idea ...

Until about 120 years ago, if there was music, an actual person was playing it. There weren’t rock stars and music heroes, because there weren't machines to reproduce music and radios to broadcast it.

But technology has not only changed music, it's also changed our relationship to it ... not always for the better of the music.

Believed to be an evil time "when the seas boiled, wine turned sour, dogs grew mad, and all creatures became languid," summer was also considered to cause "fevers, hysterics and frenzies." But, there are  some redeeming values, including beer and bikinis.

Actually neither of us drink beer or wear bikinis, but that was the first thing to come to our mind(s).

One small step for man ... and one giant leap of believability. As many as 25% of us Earthlings think the moon landings were a big fake, staged by Stanley Kubrick on a Hollywood sound stage.

For the Fourth of July, we cover our Top Ten Patriotic Songs of All Time, ever, at least 'til next year. And it’s amazing what you can find when you dare to look beneath the surface…

For a grab bag of irony, it’s hard to top “God Bless America."

We have nothing against school. Between the two of us we have 27 years of schooling and 3 ½ degrees. But now that school’s out, it’s time to cut loose with some of our favorite apophthegms…Look it up…

For Father's Day we put together an episode of Good Dads and Bad Dads...you be the judge.

Here are some ponderables for Dad's Day...

This week it’s stories about artists with diseases, disabilities and injuries who have had great success in the music biz. From Beethoven to Def Leppard with stops in between at Django Reinhardt and the Blind Boys of Alabama.

It’s springtime and thoughts are turning to…infidelity!

With countless celebrity role models, cheating is more popular than ever--up to 60% of married men cheat in America. The rest cheat in Europe.

Men can’t help it. Most men think monogamy is something you make tables out of.

Here’s what other people are saying…

This week’s show takes us from Gomer Pyle to Puffed Wheat cereal in the space of 3 minutes, and it’s a twisted road between the two. In between we hear from The Andrews Sisters,  Enrico Caruso and General George Patton.
Here are some interesting tidbits we found: 

“Stairway to Heaven” or  “Highway to Hell”. Take your pick. Yep, this Saturday you may be going somewhere.

Bugs are so cute and lovable except when they’re crawling on you. Or in your food. Or the bathtub. Come to think of it the only time bugs are okay is in song, and this week’s Record Bin Roulette celebrates some of our most beloved chitinous arthropods in melody.