The CLASSIC ROCK ALBUM OLYMPICS is a podcast celebrating the most popular albums of the 1960s, 70s and 80s. In each episode music historians Gary Wenstrup and Robert Rodriguez will pull a classic rock album off the shelf and discuss which songs earn our gold, silver and bronze medals. It's a fun, in
In this episode of Classic Rock Album Olympics music historians Gary Wenstrup and Robert Rodriguez open The Doors' L. A. Woman, select their favorite tracks and award their gold, silver and bronze medals accordingly. Medal Winners The Changeling Riders On The Storm Love Her Madly Hyacinth House L. A. Woman Bonus Tracks Til The End Of Time – Perry Como Cheek To Cheek – Fred Astaire Riders In The Sky – Vaughn Moore Roadhouse Blues (Live) – Doors Light My Fire – Doors Been Down So Long - Doors Crawling King Snake – John Lee Hooker Released in 1971 , L.A. Woman is the sixth studio album by the…
In this episode of Classic Rock Album Olympics music historians Gary Wenstrup and Robert Rodriguez roll Linda Ronstadt's Heart Like A Wheel to select their favorite tracks and award their gold, silver and bronze medals accordingly. Medal Winners Faithless Love Heart Like A Wheel You're No Good Keep Me From Blowing Away When Will I Be Loved Bonus Tracks Different Drum – Stone Ponys Different Drum- Mike Nesmith Long Long Time – Linda Ronstadt Dark End Of The Street – Flying Burrito Brothers The Dark End Of The Street – James Carr Making Love (At The Dark End Of The Street) – Clarence Carter…
We know "the people" liked it. Did you? In this episode of Classic Rock Album Olympics music historians Gary Wenstrup and Robert Rodriguez analyze R.E.M.'s Automatic For The People add award their gold, silver and bronze medals to the album's strongest tracks. Medal Winners Ignoreland Everybody Hurts Monty Got A Raw Deal Drive Find The River Released in October 1992, Automatic For The People is widely regarded as one of the defining albums of the 1990s and a peak artistic statement in R.E.M.'s career. Following the massive success of Out of Time , the band moved away from jangly college rock…
In this episode (#28) of Classic Rock Album Olympics music historians Gary Wenstrup and Robert Rodriguez turn their attention to Moondance by Van Morrison and award their gold, silver and bronze medals for the strongest tracks. Released in January 1970, it was Morrison's third solo album and transformed him from a critically admired cult artist into a major commercial success. While his previous album, Astral Weeks , had been celebrated for its poetic ambition and jazz-influenced experimentation, Moondance struck a perfect balance between artistic sophistication and accessibility. Blending…
In this episode of Classic Rock Album Olympics music historians Gary Wenstrup and Robert Rodriguez turn on Remain In Light by Talking Heads and award gold, silver and bronze medals to their favorite songs. Medal Winners Crosseyed And Painless Once In A Lifetime The Overload Listening Wind Remain In Light, released in the fall of 1980, was the band's fourth studio album and was an artistic leap as they blended new wave, funk, African polyrhythms, electronic music, and experimental rock into a new sonic texture. Building on ideas first explored on Fear of Music, the album challenged…
In this episode of Classic Rock Album Olympics music historians Gary Wenstrup and Robert Rodriguez take Marvin Gaye's What's Going On for a spin and award gold, silver and bronze medals for their favorite tracks. Medal Winners What's Going On Flyin' High (In The Friendly Sky) Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology) What's Happening Brother Inner City Blues (Makes Me Want To Holler) The album was released in the summer of 1971 and is widely regarded as one of the greatest albums ever made. It marked a dramatic artistic transformation for Marvin Gaye and for Motown itself. Rather than focusing on…
In this episode of Classic Rock Album Olympics music historians Gary Wenstrup and Robert Rodriguez turn their attention to the self-titled album by The Band and award their gold, silver and bronze medals accordingly. Medal Winners Jemima Surrender Whispering Pines The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down Rockin' Chair Across The Great Divide Released in the fall of 1969, the album arrived roughly a year after the group's acclaimed debut, Music From Big Pink. At a time when psychedelic rock and hard rock dominated popular music, The Band looked backward instead of forward, drawing inspiration from…
In episode #26 of Classic Rock Album Olympics music historians Gary Wenstrup and Robert Rodriguez award their gold, silver and bronze medals for songs from David Bowie's Station To Station. Released in January 1976, Station to Station represented Bowie's transition away from American soul influences toward the avant-garde European sensibilities that would define his late-1970s work with Brian Eno. Station To Station introduced Bowie's mysterious "Thin White Duke" persona — elegant, detached, and emotionally fractured. Recorded in Los Angeles during a turbulent period of Bowie's life, the…
In episode #25 of Classic Rock Album Olympics music historians Gary Wenstrup and Robert Rodriguez sail with Reggatta de Blanc by The Police and award their gold, silver and bronze medals for their favorite songs. Released October 1979, Reggatta de Blanc was the second album by The Police and the record that transformed the trio from promising new-wave outsiders into stars. Produced by Nigel Gray along with the band, the album expanded the reggae-rock and post-punk sound introduced on Outlandos d'Amour . The title – Reggatta de Blanc - loosely translates to "white reggae," reflecting the…
In episode # 24 of Classic Rock Album Olympics music historians Gary Wenstrup and Robert Rodriguez dig into Silk Degrees by Boz Scaggs and award their gold, silver and bronze medals accordingly. Medal Winners Georgia Harbor Lights Lido Shuffle We're All Alone Bonus Tracks We Were Always Sweethearts – Boz Finding Her – Boz Dinah Flo – Boz Near You - Boz Brandy (You're A Fine Girl) – Looking Glass Look What You've Done To Me – Boz Harbor Lights – Platters Low Down - Boz Love Me Tomorrow - Boz Sooner Or Later – Grass Roots Long Tall Glasses (I Can Dance) – Leo Sayer What Do You Want The Girl To…
In episode #23 of Classic Rock Album Olympics music historians Gary Wenstrup and Robert Rodriguez discuss London Calling by The Clash and award their gold, silver and bronze medals accordingly. Medal Winners Lost In The Supermarket Spanish Bombs The Right Profile Rudie Can't Fail Clampdown Train In Vain London Calling by The Clash was released in the U.S. in January 1980, marking a turning point not just for the band but for late-1970s rock. Expanding far beyond their early punk sound, the double album blends reggae, ska, rockabilly, R&B, and pop into a politically charged yet musically…
In this episode of Classic Rock Album Olympics music historians Gary Wenstrup and Robert Rodriguez discuss and award their gold, silver and bronze medals for Tapestry by Carole King. Tapestry released February 1971 is widely regarded as a landmark album of the singer/songwriter era, blending introspective lyrics with rich, melodic piano-driven pop and soft rock. It spent 4 months (!) at #1 and stayed on the album charts for 6 ½ years. The album marked King's breakthrough as a solo artist after years of writing hits for others, showcasing her distinctive voice and emotionally resonant…
Pet Sounds, released on May 16, 1966, stands as The Beach Boys' most ambitious and influential album—a deeply personal statement from Brian Wilson that reshaped the possibilities of pop music. The album reached No. 10 on the Billboard 200 in the United States, a respectable showing at the time, though far below the group's earlier surf-era dominance. In the United Kingdom, however, it soared to No. 2 and was embraced immediately as a masterpiece. Over time, its stature eclipsed its initial commercial performance, and it is now routinely ranked among the greatest albums ever recorded. Medal…
In this episode of Classic Rock Album Olympics music historians Gary Wenstrup and Robert Rodriguez smoothly assess Rough Mix by Pete Townshend and Ronnie Lane and share which songs from the album earn their gold, silver and bronze medals. Medal Winners Keep Me Turning Annie April Fool My Baby Gives It Away Heart To Hand Onto Bonus Tracks Something In The Air – Thunderclap Newman Rough Mix Misunderstood Street In The City Till The Rivers All Run Dry There's A Heartache Following Me – Jim Reeves He'll Have To Go – Jim Reeves Released in 1977 Rough Mix is a collaborative studio album by Pete…
Welcome to episode #19 of Classic Rock Album Olympics. In this episode music historians Gary Wenstrup and Robert Rodriguez turn the light on the Eagles' One Of These Nights and select their gold, silver and bronze medal winning songs. Medal Winners Visions Take It To The Limit One Of These Nights After The Thrill Is Gone Lyin' Eyes Bonus Tracks If You Don't Know Me By Now – Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes The Thrill is Gone – B. B. King Hearts – Marty Balin Hearts On Fire – Randy Meisner Within Without You – Beatles I Can't Tell You Why – Eagles Journey Of The Sorcerer – Eagles I Wish You…
In this episode of Classic Rock Album Olympics music historians Gary Wenstrup and Robert Rodriguez discuss the songs that win their gold, silver and bronze medals from Jimi Hendrix's Are You Experienced. Medal Winners The Wind Cries Mary Are You Experienced? Fire Hey Joe Purple Haze Bonus Tracks Incense & Peppermints – Strawberry Alarm Clock Ruby Tuesday – Rolling Stones The Real Me – Who Hey Joe – Tim Rose Down By The River – Neil Young Oh Woman, Oh Why – Paul McCartney Come And Get It – Badfinger Little Wing – Derek And The Dominos Red House – Jimi Remember – Jimi 51st Anniversary – Jimi…
Elton John's Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, released October 1973, is widely considered the pinnacle of his early career and one of the greatest albums in rock history. By this point, Elton John had already achieved significant fame with albums like Honky Château (1972) and Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player (1973). He was establishing a signature sound: a blend of piano-driven rock with pop accessibility and theatrical flair. With Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, John and lyricist Bernie Taupin reached a new level of ambition and artistry, delivering a sprawling, double album that combined…
In this episode of Classic Rock Album Olympics music historians Gary Wenstrup and Robert Rodriguez take a sip of Tea For The Tillerman by Cat Stevens and award their gold, silver and bronze medals accordingly. Medal Winners On The Road To Find Out Father And Son Tea For The Tillerman Miles From Nowhere Hard Headed Woman Tea For The Tillerman is a warm, philosophical, beautifully crafted album that marked the creative peak of Cat coming fully into his voice. By the time Stevens made the album, he had already experienced the highs and lows of the music business: early pop success in the late…
In this episode of Classic Rock Album Olympics music historians Gary Wenstrup and Robert Rodriguez order up Supertramp's Breakfast in America and select their gold, silver and bronze medal winners. Released in March 1979, it's the album that transformed the band from a respected British art-rock group into an international pop phenomenon. Medal Winners The Logical Song Child Of Vision Just Another Nervous Wreck Casual Conversations Goodbye Stranger Take The Long Way Home After years of crafting long, introspective, and sometimes progressive records, Supertramp entered the late 1970s looking…
In this episode of Classic Rock Album Olympics music historians Gary Wenstrup and Robert Rodriguez enter The Byrds' Fifth Dimension. Released in July 1966 the album captures the moment when the band stepped into new territory and helped invent what would soon be called psychedelic rock. Medal Winners John Riley 5D (Fifth Dimension) Eight Miles High What's Happening?!?! The Byrds were already riding high on the success of their folk-rock hits "Mr. Tambourine Man" and "Turn! Turn! Turn!" But the departure of their musical anchor, Gene Clark, left the group at a crossroads. Instead of…
Court and Spark by Joni Mitchell In this episode of Classic Rock Album Olympics music historians Gary Wenstrup and Robert Rodriguez go to Joni Mitchell's 1974 album Court and Spark and determine which songs earn their gold, silver and bronze medals. Medal Winners Raised On Robbery Just Like This Train Free Man In Paris Twisted By the release of Court and Spark, Joni was already widely regarded as one of the most important voices of her generation. As a solo artist, she had released a remarkable run of albums—Song to a Seagull (1968), Clouds (1969), Ladies of the Canyon (1970), and…
In this episode of Classic Rock Album Olympics music historians Gary Wenstrup and Robert Rodriguez enter Led Zeppelin's 1973 album Houses of the Holy and award their gold, silver and bronze medals. Medal Winners The Rain Song Dancing Days Over The Hills And Far Away D'yer Mak'er The Ocean This is the group's fifth studio album, and notably, the first Zeppelin record to actually have a title instead of a number. Coming off the monumental success of Led Zeppelin IV, the band used Houses of the Holy to push outward creatively, exploring styles beyond the heavy blues-rock they were…
In this episode of Classic Rock Album Olympics music historians Gary Wenstrup and Robert Rodriguez dig into Paul Simon's 1983 album Hearts and Bones. The album was written and recorded following Simon and Garfunkel's Concert In The Park in 1981 and their world tour of 1982–1983. Some of the songs intended for Hearts and Bones were performed on the tour. Paul and Art began recording and intended that the finished product would be an all-new Simon & Garfunkel studio album. However, tensions during recording led to the project being released as a Paul Simon solo album. Hearts and Bones peaked…
In this episode of Classic Rock Album Olympics music historians Gary Wenstrup and Robert Rodriguez discuss The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band and award their gold, silver and bronze medals accordingly. Often considered the most important rock album ever made, it saw The Beatles abandon touring to focus on studio recordings. Adopting the alter-ego of a fictional Edwardian-style band, they experimented with new sounds, orchestration, and studio techniques, pushing rock into the realm of art. Released during the "Summer of Love," it became a cultural touchstone of 1967 and…
In this episode of Classic Rock Album Olympics music historians Gary Wenstrup and Robert Rodriguez go deep on Badfinger's Straight Up. Badfinger's story is one of great songs and huge heartbreak. Formed in the mid-1960s in Wales, the group began as The Iveys, playing a mix of British rock and pop. In 1968 they became the first band signed to The Beatles' Apple Records. Paul McCartney gave them "Come and Get It" to record which became a worldwide hit in 1969 and they changed their name to Badfinger. Under Apple, Badfinger released — Magic Christian Music (1970), No Dice (1970), and Straight…
The Who by Numbers is the seventh studio album by The Who, released in October 1975. It follows an impressive run of deep, successful, and respected work by the band: Tommy, Who's Next and Quadrophenia. Understandably, Pete Townsend and company might have felt spent. That said, the album contains great performances by Pete, Roger Daltrey, John Entwistle and Keith Moon with straight-forward production by Glynn Johns. On Who By Numbers principal songwriter Pete Townsend grapples with disillusionment, midlife anxiety, and questions about The Who's future. Though not as thematically grand as…
Highway 61 Revisited is Bob Dylan's sixth studio album and a defining moment in rock history. Released in 1965, it marked Dylan's full embrace of electric instrumentation after his transitional album Bringing It All Back Home. With its biting lyrics, surreal imagery, and raw rock-and-roll energy, the album reshaped popular music's sense of what a song could be. The album reached #3 on the U.S. Billboard 200 and #4 on the UK Albums Chart. Its lead single, "Like a Rolling Stone," became Dylan's biggest hit, peaking at #2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. The opening track "Like a Rolling Stone,"…
In this episode of CLASSIC ROCK ALBUM OLYMPICS, music historians Gary Wenstrup and Robert Rodriguez pull Steely Dan's Can't Buy A Thrill off the shelf and discuss which songs earn their gold, silver and bronze medals. Can't Buy A Thrill was the band's 1972 debut. It reached #17 on the album charts and placed two songs in the Top Twenty: Do It Again and Reelin' in the Years. Songwriters Walter Becker and Donald Fagen delivered a gender-bending album with jazz and Latin rhythm tones, pop/rock hooks and cryptic lyrics. Steely Dan made pop music for people who did not think they liked pop music.…
In this episode of Classic Rock Album Olympics music historians Gary Wenstrup and Robert Rodriguez tackle one of the most iconic albums of the 1980s—Bruce Springsteen's Born in the U.S.A.. Packed with 7 (!) Top Ten hits and stadium-shaking anthems, this summer of 1984 release cemented "The Boss" as a global superstar. The album hit #1 and it stayed there for almost 2 months. Besides its popularity, the album had social commentary too as evidenced by the tension of the patriotic perception and political reality in the title track. But which tracks stand tallest in this blue-collar…
In this episode of Classic Rock Album Olympics, music historians Gary Wenstrup and Robert Rodriguez dive deep into the legendary Rolling Stones' 1971 masterpiece, Sticky Fingers . With its raw energy, soulful ballads, and iconic riffs, this album is packed with timeless gems. But which three tracks will earn their gold, silver annd bronze medals? Join in as they debate, dissect, and ultimately crown the top songs that define this rock 'n' roll classic. From the swaggering groove of "Brown Sugar" to the electrifying energy of "Bitch," the bluesy brilliance of "Can't You Hear Me Knocking," and…
About Classic Rock Album Olympics
The CLASSIC ROCK ALBUM OLYMPICS is a podcast celebrating the most popular albums of the 1960s, 70s and 80s. In each episode music historians Gary Wenstrup and Robert Rodriguez will pull a classic rock album off the shelf and discuss which songs earn our gold, silver and bronze medals. It's a fun, in
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