E228: Maureen O'Grady on Rave + Pet Sounds + Miles Davis audio

In this episode we invite the pioneering Geoffrey Cannon to reminisce about his stint as The Guardian's rock critic between 1968 and 1972. Commencing with the pop baptism of his first hearing Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers in a Horsham record booth in 1956, our guest talks us through his early work for New Society and The Listener — including his prescient reviews of albums by the Velvet Underground and the Mothers of Invention. He also explains how the 1969 Granada film Johnny Cash at San Quentin came about. Geoffrey then recounts how he pitched a weekly rock column to Guardian editor Peter Preston, and how he sustained it from late 1968 until 1972 while simultaneously editing the Radio Times. Clips from the late Pete Makowski's 2008 audio interview with Jack Bruce give us a chance to discuss the origins of Cream, and how the relative innocence of the '60s collapsed into the druggy decadence of the '70s. The conversation with Geoffrey concludes with our guest's post-rock adventures in writing about health and nutrition, plus his 2000 uprooting to Brazil and subsequent love of singers such as Belchior and Caetano Veloso. Finally, William and Jasper talk us out with their thoughts on articles about Ornette Coleman (1969), Plastic Bertrand (1978), Jools Holland (2004) and James Blake (2025). Many thanks to special guest Geoffrey Cannon. Pieces discussed: Pop Music Democratised, Mother's Rites: Freak Out/Absolutely Free, Aesthetics of Outrage, Johnny Cash at San Quentin was my idea, Jack Bruce audio, Plastic Bertrand, Jools Holland, Second opinion: Ornette Coleman and James Blake is taking on TikTok, Live Nation and 'Free Music'.

Acclaimed author Simon Reynolds joins us in Hammersmith to discuss his latest book. A journey through the many bands and scenes he wrote about between 1984 and 1994, Still in a Dream gives us a chance to ask our guest about shoegaze, C86 and the book's autobiographical threads. Clips from an early 2000 Jay-Z audio interview by Dorian Lynskey prompt a general discussion of the hip hop superstar whose debut album Reasonable Doubt turns 30 this week. Jasper and William then wrap up the episode with their highlights among new additions to the RBP library, including pieces about LL Cool J (1986), Rick Rubin (2009) and Randy Newman's priceless song about Vladimir Putin (2017). Many thanks to special guest Simon Reynolds. Still In a Dream: Shoegaze, Slackers and the Reinvention of Rock, 1984–1994 is published by Hachette and available now. Pieces discussed: Younger Than Yesterday, The Butthole Surfers: Deeper & Down, "Dream-Pop" Bands Define the Times in Britain, Jay-Z audio, Jay-Z: The Blueprint (Roc-A-Fella), Oscar Peterson Trio: Assembly Hall, Worthing, LL Cool J: He Has Seen Rap 'n' Roll Future, Rick Rubin and Randy Newman: And You Thought 'Short People' Was Controversial?.

In this episode we welcome Lloyd Bradley back to Hammersmith to discuss his monumental new tome Funk Is Its Own Reward. We ask our guest about what he describes as "Black America's second great cultural revolution" before learning of his own first awareness of funk as a new musical form. After we consider the parts played in the movement's evolution by James Brown, Earth Wind & Fire and Kool & the Gang, we get to George Clinton's Parliament-Funkadelic, whose mind-blowing  "P-Funk Earth Tour" of America celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. Clips from a rare audio interview with Betty Davis prompt our combined thoughts on the cult funk-rock queen who married Miles Davis and helped him fly his freak flag by turning him on to Sly Stone and Jimi Hendrix. After William discusses newly-added library pieces about the Beatles (1962) and a Marc Almond convention at London's Heaven (1986), Jasper revisits a live review of Bruno ('Uptown Funk') Mars from 2017. Many thanks to special guest Lloyd Bradley. Funk Is Its Own Reward is published by Constable and available now from all good bookshops. Visit his website at lloydbradley.net for more details. Pieces discussed: James Brown: Twilight Of The Godfather, Countdown on Parliament, from launchpad to mothership connection... We have lift-off!, A Journey to the Center of Parliament/Funkadelic, The Bizarre World of George Clinton (Parliament/Funkadelic Drop The Funk-Bomb On America), Betty Davis audio, Marc Almond Convention: Heaven Sent, Local Group: The Beatles and Bruno Mars live.

For this episode we're joined all the way from San Francisco by Barry Walters to discuss his new history of LGBTQ music. And in our first recording since the retirement of Mark Pringle, William Pike becomes an official co-host of the RBP podcast... Barry reflects on his upbringing in Rochester, N.Y., his move to New York City, and his early writing for the Village Voice. We then hear about his years as pop critic for the San Francisco Examiner and the inspiration of gay disco icon Sylvester. Along the way our guest touches on some of the other artists he writes about in Mighty Real, including the Village People, k.d. lang and Grace Jones. We hear clips from Richard Cook's 1985 audio interview with the amazing Grace and discuss her unique contribution to LGBTQ culture. After William mentions a recently-added library piece about Ray Davies (1977), prompting a discussion of the Kinks' watershed hit 'Lola', Jasper talks us out with his thoughts on Kylie Minogue (2011) and his deep reverence for Spanish superstar Rosalía (from whose O2 show the previous evening he is still reeling...). Many thanks to special guest Barry Walters. Mighty Real: A History of LGBTQ Music, 1969–2000 is published by Viking and available now from all good bookshops. Visit Barry's website at barrywalterswriter.com. Pieces discussed: Grace Jones audio interview (1985), Ray Davies live at Queen Elizabeth Hall, Kylie Minogue: The Albums 2000–2010 and Rosalía: Lux.

For this episode we're joined by not one but two very special guests to talk about one of the great music cities. Penny Kiley is the former pop columnist for the Liverpool Echo, contributed regularly to Melody Maker and has just published the superb memoir Atypical Girl. Paul Du Noyer, meanwhile, wrote beautifully for the NME in its glory years and edited both Q and MOJO; he is also the author of 2002's exceptional Liverpool: Wondrous Place. We ask our guests about everything from the Beatles to Frankie Goes to Hollywood via Eric's, the Real Thing and the "crucial three" of Pete Wylie, Julian Cope and Ian McCulloch. We also hear riveting clips from Simon Garfield's 1999 audio interview with (Sir) Paul McCartney. After paying tribute to NME legend Keith Altham, Mark quotes from interviews with Miami soul star Betty Wright (1977) and Southern country-rocker Charlie Daniels (1979). Finally, Jasper rounds things off with his thoughts on Terris – apparently "the best new band in Britain" (2000). Many thanks to special guests Penny Kiley and Paul Du Noyer. You can find Penny's music writing on her Substack at pennykiley.substack.com; Atypical Girl is published by Polygon and available from all good bookshops. Find Paul's writing and details of his books online at pauldunoyer.com. Pieces discussed: Beatles Find Show Biz Isn't All Fun, The Real Thing haven't souled out, Liverpool's Cream: Bag Company, Articles, interviews and reviews from Penny Kiley, The Teardrop Explodes: Teardrops Rising, Eric's: An Undignified Death, Frankie Goes To Hollywood: Royal Court, Liverpool, Paul McCartney audio, Betty Wright, Charlie Daniels' million-dollar miles and Make way for Terris — the best new band in Britain.