Glory Days Radio

This is a recording of my "live" tribute show heard on KBWD 1380 Brownwood TX.  So being "live" and recorded off the AM signal, the sound isn't the best.  But I was mostly proud of how I navigated a live commercial free show for over an hour.  

So you remember my Cowbell episode, well here's another show devoted to a fringe, novelty instrument.  However this episode has a twist.  In my countdown tonight, there's only songs from the New Wave 80's era. There's just something about the combination of synths and drum machines combined with an instrument that's been around since the early 1900's that I find too fascinating to not focus on.  So sorry to all you blues rock fans out there! 

I dip into the archives to bring you an episode that aired back in spring 2018, but was never podcasted.  I follow the strict rule here of only playing songs with numbers and nothing else in the title.  This, of course probably leaves out many of your favorites, but tough.  It's my show.  

Meet Joe and Valarie Nelson.  I've known Val from sharing the Brownwood Lyric Theatre stage with her.  She's supremely talented!  Plus, she's a RUSH fan! What??? A female RUSH fan???! Val will get her own show on GDR soon on 90's rock, but today it's mostly about her husband, Joe.  This guy is a huge RUSH fan and the perfect guest for this celebration of life show.  Joe picks 10 of his most influential RUSH songs and shares knowledge that only a lifelong fan would know.  We're SO fortunate to have him.    

What can I say?  I was inspired and a bit smitten by "The Sound of My Voice", the Linda Ronstadt documentary.  I was never a huge LR fan, but her story is just so darn interesting!  And I had a blast this week rediscovering her music. I do believe, taking in her entire career and the many styles, that's she's one of the greatest female singers of all time.    In this RADIO DOCUMENTARY (I didn't set out to call it that, but that's what it became) I share many snippets of a rare 1986 interview.  It's one that you didn't hear in the documentary.  I also pack it with 26 of Linda's most iconic songs and facts that didn't get shared in the video doc.   Enjoy this one.  

A Van Halen cover album, a couple of 72 year old rockers, Icelanders, a mopey dude rejoins a band, 3 Canadian acts, the most sympathetic pop singer, 2 Irish bands, some guy from Buffalo and the best live TV performance of the year.  AND MORE!   PLUS, I sing again......sorry. 

OK, this is a classic departure, but hey, 1940's radio WAS the glory days for some.  And THIS is just the kind of fare that your parents and grandparents would immerse themselves in, before TV brought this industry to a screeching halt.   I was lucky enough to land a role in our local community theatre's production of this classic story, retold like we were presenting it on WBFR Playhouse of the Air. It was tons of fun playing 5 different characters with 5 distinct voices.  We also used foley artists on stage for a great visual. After the show run I took the soundboard recording and added over 100 sound effects; stuff that we simply were not able to recreate live on stage.  After my remastering, I believe you'll be truly transported INTO the story of George Bailey's life.  Will he marry his sweetheart Mary?  Will he get out of Bedford Falls and make a name for himself?  Can he save the Building and Loan?  Will Clarence get his wings? And finally, will George ever realize the importance of his life for all those around him?  Please share with loved ones this holiday season.  MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Join Paul and daughter Sarah as they count down their Top 20 Christmas songs.  They'll also reveal 3 Christmas tunes on their "naughty" list, plus share some traditional Christmas hymns sung like you've never heard them before.   This is a show that aired LIVE (simulcast on both KBWD and KOXE) on a cold December day back in 2016. The radio station podcast recorder accidentally cut off well before the live show ended.   In a painstaking exercise, it's now been completely remastered and the countdown fully restored!

With winter fast approaching, warm up to the summer sounds of 1967 San Francisco.  We "live it" with former San Franciscan John Sommer.  Recorded live at the KBWD studios in Brownwood TX in the summer of 2017.  

The 90s was a weird time for me musically.  I wasn't super into grunge.  Hair metal (certainly not my thing) was thankfully dying out.  And my 70's & 80's music heroes were either breaking up, trying to reinvent themselves or dead.  So I started listening to a lot of various stuff.  Here's some I hope you like as much as I do.   Note:  This episode is a re-post from last week.  Upon listening, I realized that i processed all the music in mono.  Which makes a big difference when you hear a band like Eels.  

Some that just might give you nightmares and others that are more lighthearted. Enjoy this fast-paced look at the songs that I think of when I think Halloween.  Make it your Trick-or-Treating soundtrack! 

The highway for KK Bodiford & Amelia Presley (The Highway Sisters) hasn't always been the smoothest of rides. Individually, each has enjoyed moments in the fast lane where their careers appeared to be taking off. KK competed on season 1 of Nashville Star alongside some nobody named Miranda Lambert.  While Amelia had a face to face with Luke Bryan, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie on American Idol in 2018. Both share beautiful, humbling stories about these & many other life experiences.   I had only met Amelia briefly before we sat down and KK not at all. But, it's amazing what can transpire over an ice cold beer and a "Six-Pack" of Rock & Roll.  It's a can't miss story of life in the music business from these 2 unique voices that go together like fried chicken & waffles or pizza & ranch dressing; meaning, you wouldn't think they'd sound good together, but WOW, DO THEY EVER!           

Ok, I don't want to give away any of the songs here.  But you will hear the following names brought in relation to these hidden gems:  Badfinger, Cheap Trick, Billy Squier, Fleetwood Mac, Kiss, Alice Cooper, Steel Breeze & Van Halen.  This show is one of my favorites.  I hope you enjoy it!

You'll hear from an American Power Pop band, British pioneers of hard rock, a sexy crooner, a bubble gum band, a disco group (pre-disco) , a duo that went on to be huge with another band, a could-have-been band, a demo that went on to be a solo hit, and a Canadian band that would have to wait 6 more years to hit it big in America.     How many of these 10 songs are you familiar with?  

We start off talking Ric Ocasek, but ultimately decide to save that tribute till next week.  This week it's all Eddie Money.  10 (actually 11) songs with stories behind all of them.  

Listen as Paul, KOXE radio personality Starr and producer Jill discuss everything Rob Thomas. Lots of Matchbox stuff here and of course, we talk about THAT song!  You know the one that started out as a great Latin summer jam and then ultimately became a victim of its own success.  You'll also hear plenty from the man with those piercing baby blues himself.   So step back into the 90's with us tonight on GDR!

It's a homecoming for newly hired Sammy Burnet and his staff at history rich Brownwood High School.  Listen as we talk about how rock music and high school football go hand in hand.  THE MUSIC TALK STARTS AT ABOUT 10 MINUTES IN.  Recorded in 2018

Host Paul Underwood combines personal eyewitness memories, band interviews, listeners stories, unique forgotten audio and more researched facts than anyone has ever assembled for an album dissection, to bring you a complete picture of Journey's seminal album, Escape!    If you enjoy this episode, please leave feedback on Glory Days Radio facebook page.  

The definitive commercial free rock radio show, Glory Days Radio brings you their Top 20 Styx songs.  If you don't learn something about one of the greatest Prog/Pop bands of all time, then you're a bigger Styx nerd than host Paul Underwood.  This show promises to be almost as bombastic as the band itself.  So "relax and take it easy" for the next 1:52 minutes. And, as always, I welcome your opinions.

Here's a recording from my May 16th 2019 Glory Days Radio show heard live on KBWD. Who's your favorite?

Here's my April 25th "live" KBWD broadcast featuring my FIRST favorite band.  The highs and lows from this band out of Boston.  You'll hear from both Toxic Twins (Steven and Joe) and you'll also hear "Walk This Way" completely deconstructed to accentuate what each member brought to that classic song.  

Take a fun trip down memory lane with our guest Kathy Campbell.  How many of these jingles do you remember?  What breakfast cereal did The Rolling Stones endorse?  Who changed the fortunes of Pepsi Cola by changing the words to his hits?  (note: this show was recorded BEFORE Finding Neverland!)  We cover the Burger chains, the soda wars and all those great beer jingles of yesteryear! And each give our Top 5 jingles of all time.   Roy Spence, co-founder of the famous GSD&M ad agency (Don't Mess with Texas, Southwest Airlines, AT&T, etc) lends his expertise as well.  

Recently, someone asked me if I had one band that changed me or made me who I am today?  After careful consideration....Cheap Trick? Aerosmith? The Cars? , I came to the conclusion that more than a band, I was influenced by 2 radio stations. My dad installed an FM antenna in 1977 so he could steal (he didn't know it was illegal at the time) songs off of an easy listening instrumental station in Dallas to use for background music in our family restaurant.  Well, this ALSO opened up my world to KZEW "The Zoo" and later Eagle 97.  And those 2 stations out of Dallas TX changed who am I today. No doubt about it.   Today I give you my Top 20 obscure 80's bands and I have only these 2 stations to thank for exposing me to music I never would have heard in podunk Brownwood TX.  Enjoy!

All told, we share 34 of our favorite rock instrumentals and try to tell you at least one interesting fact on each.  We organize this show by dividing it into 5 sections: I.  Guitar Virtuosos II. Tribute to E.V.H. III. Instrumentals that MUST be followed by that next song. IV. Lead Album Track Instrumentals V.  Stand Alone Stellars

First off, this show is one of LOCAL appeal.  It's LIVE radio heard on KBWD Brownwood on Thursday December 13th at 5pm.  My guest is the lovely Terry Lynn Blagg.  Terry works for sponsor Coldwell Banker and loves listening to the music she grew up with.  Join us as we take a trip down memory lane to simpler times. 

As a companion piece to last weeks "Best Original Songs of 2018" here's a show where you'll likely be very familiar with nearly every song!  Enjoy listening to many of your favorites as you've never heard them before.  And don't miss my exclusive interview with Juliana Hatfield!

Are you like Billy Joel who only lives in the past or Paul McCartney who must try to stay hip and relevant?  I'll choose the latter!  That's why I don't think I'll ever stop seeking out new bands and new music.  Here's one of my favorite shows every year.  You'll find I'm a sucker for foreign synth-pop bands, songs with soaring choruses and bands that are making a comeback after deaths of lead singers.  This is a fast paced show. Meaning, I often do not play the entire songs of artists.  So, if I play one you don't like, relax...it'll be over soon enough.  I'll be curious to hear from you.  Did I play your favorite?  Which song/songs did you like or hate?  What are some of your favs that I missed?   IF YOU LISTEN TO NOTHING ELSE: catch my "Dickie Goodman-esque" song comedy routine just before my #1 song.  I had fun producing it!  ENJOY & TELL A FRIEND!

What are YOUR thoughts on the movie? Do you agree with my review?  My ranking of the fifteen Queen studio albums (especially #1) may surprise you.  Perhaps I'll win you over with my song selections. Each band member (Brian, John, Roger & Freddie) gets his shining moment with innovative sound isolation production that isn't to be missed. Enjoy one of the greatest rock and roll bands of all time and certainly THE best male vocalist of all time! 

As promised, the guy who was SO great on the Beatles Solo show sits down for a track by track discussion of his new release "Dazzlingly Uncool".  By day (and many nights) Dr. Rocky Seale is an obstetrician-gynecologist in Ogden, Utah. He's delivered over 6000 babies in his 20+ years!  Rocky's a great songwriter, musician and producer in his own right and when you add the stellar guitar work of Alex Weeden (on loan from country superstar Miranda Lambert's band), the songs soar to another level.  Standout tracks include "Treasure For the Other Side", "In Other Words" (my favorite) and the title track.  Furthermore, his cover of the Beach Boys masterpiece "Good Vibrations" isn't to be missed.  Enjoy this dazzlingly funny and sometimes serious episode with an old friend and fellow Alpha Tau Omega member from Baylor University. Sic' Em! 

Noted Beatles historian & recording artist Dr. Rocky Seale sits down with GDR to discuss the Fab 4's Solo Years.  Do we play your favorite?  You'll get hard hitting journalism like...If John, Paul, George & Ringo were one of Snow White's dwarves, which one would they be? How is the band Cheap Trick forever intertwined with John Lennon? Which bootleg McCartney song did a masseuse and her fiance' dance to at their wedding and how did they get it? Did George Harrison really rip off Mel Brooks' "Blazing Saddles" for a lyric? And why did Ringo cry to Barbara Walters? All that and much, much more in this fast paced 2 hour romp. 

Now this is NOT a podcast.  It is a recorded LIVE radio show from Sept. of 2017. So keep that in mind when things don't sound quite a smooth as some of my more recent efforts. We may have also been drinking a little as well.  

fake (fāk) adj. not genuine; counterfeit My sometimes producer; all the time lovely wife Jill joins me for an exhaustive study of bands that had an inorganic beginning.  We break it down into fake bands from movies, fake cartoon bands and fake bands from television. Fellow podcasters John Lamoreaux (The Hustle Podcast) and Pat Francis (Rock Solid) make cameos. WAYS TO SPOT A FAKE BAND * Is the band animated or perhaps made of clay? * Does the band have an evil band manager? * Are all the members well-known TV or movie actors? * Does the band have matching uniforms inconsistent with their disposible income? * Is Michael McKean or Harry Shearer in the band? * Does the band also solve crimes? * Did you just now make it up?

Listen to this ridiculous show at your own risk, because once you hear one, you'll never forget it. I picked the perfect guest for this one!  This is an archived show; back when I went on LIVE on KBWD.  So enjoy GDR, technical snafus and all!  New shows begin 8/23!   The technical term for misheard lyrics is "mondegreens", coined by Sylvia Wright in a 1954 Atlantic article.  As a child, young Sylvia had listened to a folk song that included the lines "...They had slain the Earl of Moray/And Lady Mondegreen."  As is customary with the victims of misheard lyrics, she didn't realize her mistake for years.  The song was not about the tragic fate of Lady Mondegreen, but rather the continuing plight of the good Earl: "They had slain the Earl of Moray/And laid him on the green."   ...and now you know......the rest of the story.

We record on location inside Brownwood's historic Lyric Theatre.  Piano virtuoso Eric Evans sits down behind the baby grand as we talk Piano Rock.  Listen as Paul and Eric reminiscence on songs they grew up with; from the likes of Elton John, Billy Joel, Queen, Journey and many others.  The wonderful bonus is getting to enjoy the beautiful piano playing of Eric.  

We pay tribute to the greatest cowbell player of all time, Gene Frenkel.  Then we play our Top 20 songs featuring this sonically versitile instrument.  Highlights include hearing a very playful Michael Jackson in studio and an interview with the ACTUAL cowbell player on Don't Fear the Reaper.  

Your intrepid host gives you the nominees and the ultimate winners for the BEST SONGS FOR EACH DAY OF WEEK AND MONTHS OF THE YEAR!  Paul plays around with his echo effect to simulate a real awards show atmosphere.  (He fails miserably) He also takes song suggestions from a few of his thousands of listeners! Join us for a light-hearted, fun listen! 

Rock historian Mike Blagg (Rock&Blues, Beatles, Beatles Under Cover) joins GDR for the fourth time.  This time Mike talks about his second favorite band at arguably their finest hour. Hear this juggernaut album like you've never heard it before.  Find out what favorite pet Roger channeled for inspiration to sing "Behind Blue Eyes".  Hear Alice Cooper tell hilarious stories about Moon the Loon and find out how stagefright and a urine shortage nearly derailed this quintessential album cover.  And much, much more!

Paul and very special guest recording artist Danny Bingham take you down memory lane with the Eagles! Packed with 29 great Eagles song snippets plus interviews from Glenn, Don, Don and Joe.  

As a precursor to next weeks  2 hour Eagles Extravaganza culminating in awarding one lucky listener  Eagles/Chris Stapleton tickets and hotel accomodations in Arlington TX for the June 23rd show, we play our Top 20 Non-Eagles songs by Eagles Members.  Apologies to Bernie Leadon.  Yes, GDR knows you were with the Flying Burrito Brothers and others, but poor Bernie just couldn't crack the Top 20.  AND MY NUMBER ONE SONG WILL SURPRISE YOU!  But you'll LOVE IT!

An uproarius episode featuring 4 MILLENNIALS! (Sarah, Justin, Luke & Melissa) telling all they know (and don't know) about the songs from the greatest decade of rock.  Each gets to introduce the favorite 80's tunes and tries to explain how they discovered them.  Over 30 Classic 80's Chart Toppers! And yes, there WILL be a test!

AND HEY..."WE'RE ON A BOAT!"  Always up for a gimmick, we take the ol' Tige Boat out and broadcast from beautiful Lake Brownwood.  It's where many of my fondest summer memories took place, so it's the perfect spot for me to share with you my Top 20 Songs of Summer.  

On this GDR we deconstruct this classic album track by awesome track.  How in the world did they ever get this album made?!   Hear seldom heard interviews with Lindsey, Stevie and Mick.  Plus we hear from the studio engineer Ken Calliet. 

 A Fun, Fast-Paced look at our favorite small parts of songs.  You know...those parts that, when they come on, you'd even shut your mama up and crank the volume to 11!  You'll hear songs from Journey, Rainbow, The Beatles, Clapton and many others.  Enjoy my friends!

Host Paul Underwood and guest SuperFan Billy Owen discuss all things Trick from 77' to 97'.  Over 30 classic CT songs, band interviews and special guests!  1.5 hours never seemed so short!