Nakedly Examined Music Podcast

Nakedly Examined Music Podcast
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Why do musicians create what they do? Why do they create in that particular way? Mark Linsenmayer (aka songwriter Mark Lint, and host of The Partially Examined Life) talks to songwriters and composers about specific recordings, which are played in full. We cover lyric meanings, writing and recording techniques, arrangements, band dynamics, the stories behind the songs, and even music theory.

  1. APR 1

    NEM#229: Peter Holsapple (dB’s, Continental Drifters) Pays Tribute to His Adolescence

    Peter recorded with Chris Stamey as early as 1972, and they reconvened as The dB’s in the ’80s. Peter has released six albums as the dB’s, three more as a duo with Chris, four co-fronting the Continental Drifters, and three solo albums. He has also been a supporting/touring member in several bands including REM (e.g. on the Out of Time album), Hootie and the Blowfish, and currently The Paranoid Style. We discuss “Larger Than Life” from his new solo album The Face of 68), “Don’t Mention the War” from Game Day (2018), and “She Won’t Drive in the Rain” (co-written with Kristian Bush from Sugarland) by The Db’s from their reunion album Falling off the Sky (2012). We conclude by listening to “Where Does the Time Go” by Continental Drivers from Better Day (2001). Intro: “Amplifier” by The Db’s from Repercussion (1981). To read Peter’s words, check out halfpearblog.blogspot.com. Here’s the NY Times piece he wrote about how musicians need to get day jobs. Peter’s bandcamp page only has a couple of things on it, but one of them includes the live version of “Don’t Mention the War,” as well as an updated take on “Amplifier.” Watch the original video for “Amplifier.” Another dB’s video (featuring Stamey, who had left by the “Amplifier” video) is for “Neverland.” Here’s one for “Don’t Mention the War.” Watch the dB’s live back in 1984 and during their 2012 reunion. Here he is live solo in 1988 and in 2022. Here he is playing one of his tunes live backed by The Blue Dogs. Watch Peter singing and playing keys for Continental Drifters in 2001. Watch Peter playing keyboards with Hootie on Letterman. Peter is with REM, hiding out of focus in a hat playing rhythm guitar here between Bill Berry (playing bass?) and Mike Mills on keys. You can hear Peter on the new Paranoid Style album, The Interrogator. Hear Peter with Rittenhouse Square in 1972 (with Chris Stamey and Mitch Easter), singing his song “Like Wow.” Another pre-dB’s tune of his is “Big Black Truck” (1978). Hear more Nakedly Examined Music. a href="https://www.facebook.

    1h 19m
  2. MAR 6

    NEM#228: John “JR” Robinson: Omnipresent Drummer

    JR is one of our most recorded session drummers, playing on over 200 US Billboard Hot 100 songs and 50 Grammy winning tunes. He was Quincy Jones’ drummer of choice and played on “We Are the World” and with Michael Jackson, Chaka Khan, Lionel Richie, Herbie Hancock, Barbara Streisand, Daft Punk, Lady Gaga, and too many others to name. He was a member and contributing songwriter for Rufus in the late 70s/early 80s, has released two solo albums, written for soundtracks, produced other artists, and has led various combos over the years. He is currently promoting his auto-biography King of the Groove. We discuss “Gonna Be Alright” (with Maya Azucena) from The Bronx, USA soundtrack (2020), “Flight 81” from his first solo album, Funkshui (2004), and “You’re Really Out of Line” by Rufus (written with Hawk Wolinski) from Seal in Red (1983). End song: “Tal Shia” by SRT from Vanguards of Groove (2023). Intro: “Higher Love” by Steve Winwood (1986). More at johnjrrobinson.com. Watch JR play along to one of his songs for his group TRW. Watch SRT play a whole concert. JR refers to his reworked version of Foreigner’s “Cold As Ice” where you can clearly hear him singing the choral parts. Here’s a tune from his duo Bridge 2 Far from 1989. JR mentions his first song for Rufus (with Chaka): “Dancing for Your Love.”  Watch him tell the story and play along to Michael Jackson’s “Rock With You.” Here he is playing along with an Eric Clapton tune that he played the studio version of. He tells the story about the intro to “Higher Love” and much more length in this interview. JR in our interview mentions his electronic drum work on “Ya Mo Be There.” Listen to my interview with Ivan Neville, featured on “You’re Really Out of Line.” Hear more Nakedly Examined Music. Like our Facebook page. Support us on Patreon.

    1h 12m
  3. JAN 10

    NEM#226: The Evolution of Iain Matthews (Fairport Convention, Southern Comfort, Plainsong)

    Iain started as Ian, the male singer in Britain’s Fairport Convention in the late ’60s, but quickly left that band to start a couple more and then move to the US for a lengthy solo career. He has in total released close to 50 albums, including many collaborations. We discus the title track from How Much Is Enough (2024), the title track from God Looked Down (1996), and “Road to Ronderlin” by Matthews Southern Comfort from Later That Same Year (1970). End song: “St. Theresa’s Ghost” by Ian Matthews and the Searing Quartet, from Joy Mining (2008). Intro: “Book Song” by Fairport Convention from What We Did on Our Holidays (1969), which was co-written with my previous guest Richard Thompson. Learn more at iainmatthews.nl. Hear all of “Book Song.” Hear “If You See Thro’ My Eyes,” a central early solo tune (that also features a harmony with Fairport’s Sandy Denny); this is also the title of Iain’s 2018 memoir. Listen to the big single by Plainsong, “in Search of Amelia Earhart.” (1972). Here’s one of the tunes he made with Michael Nesmith shortly after moving to America in 1973. Here’s the Baker’s Dozen 2017 duo version of “God Looked Down.” Here’s that later (2013) re-working of Matthews Southern Comfort’s “Road to Ronderlin” that Iain refers to, and here they are playing it live. Watch Iain live with BJ Baartmans. Here he is solo. Here he is live with The Salmon Smokers. Watch Iain’s band live in 1983, and in 1994. Here he is live with Richard Thompson playing their biggest hit together, “Woodstock” by Joni Mitchell. Watch Fairport Convention live in their initial (pre-Sandy Denny) configuration. Hear more Nakedly Examined Music. Like our Facebook page. Support us on Patreon.

    1h 19m
  4. 12/14/2024

    NEM#225: Loudon Wainwright III, the Reporter-Songwriter

    Loudon has released 30 albums since 1970. He’s the quintessential singer-songwriter, relying on crafty, personal lyrics delivered dynamically and typically solo with acoustic guitar (though sometimes piano, banjo, ukulele, or a cappella), though his studio work has varied in production style and orchestration level over the years. We discuss “How Old is 75” from Lifetime Achievement (2022), “Road Ode (Live)” from Career Moves (1993), and “Be Careful There’s a Baby in the House” from Album II (1971). We wrap up by listening to “Missing You” from Last Man on Earth (2001). Intro: “The Swimming Song” from Attempted Mustache (1973). Learn more at lw3.com. Hear all of “The Swimming Song.” Perhaps his bigger hit is the novelty song “Dead Skunk in the Middle of the Road.” Here’s “The Suicide Song.” Hear the song “One Year” that we mention about a unique child-rearing situation. Here’s “Motel Blues,” the song we mention that was covered by Alex Chilton. Another he mentions is “Rufus Is a Tit Man.” Here he is acting in Knocked Up. His most famous song from that soundtrack, “Daughter,” was actually written by Peter Blegvad. Here’s one of his recent big band covers (by Irving Berlin). Listen to his Grammy-winning album of Charlie Poole songs. See a 2017 live version of “Be Careful There’s a Baby in the House.” Watch a whole live set from 2024. Watch him playing ukulele. Watch a live solo set from 1976. Here he is performing with his kids (who are famous in their own right). Hear more Nakedly Examined Music. Like our Facebook page. Support us on Patreon.

    1h 9m

Shows with Subscription Benefits

  • Mark Linsenmayer (host of The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast) and Bill Arnett (head of the Chicago Improv Studio) each try to teach each other their crafts via conversation, sketches, and what can only be called performance art. No taking turns!

  • A philosopher, an actor/musician, and a sci-fi writer (often with entertainment industry guests) talk about media and how we consume it: TV, film, music, novels, games, comics, comedy, theater, podcasts, online video, and more. Most of what (other) people like is pretty weird when you think about it, so thinking about it is what we do.

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About

Why do musicians create what they do? Why do they create in that particular way? Mark Linsenmayer (aka songwriter Mark Lint, and host of The Partially Examined Life) talks to songwriters and composers about specific recordings, which are played in full. We cover lyric meanings, writing and recording techniques, arrangements, band dynamics, the stories behind the songs, and even music theory.

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