The Backstory

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Old friends, working musicians, and noted know-it-alls, Tom Bridwell & Chris Holt expound on the backstory of a classic song and explain what makes it great.

Tom Bridwell & Chris Holt


    • Feb 21, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 51m AVG DURATION
    • 26 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from The Backstory

    The Backstory #26 - Posthumous Success & Cult Fame pt. 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 21, 2025 31:36


    The 2nd part of a series we're calling "Posthumous Success & Cult Fame," focusing on the artist that was significantly appreciated after he was gone - Nick Drake

    The Backstory #25 - Posthumous Success & Cult Fame pt. 1 - Big Star

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 21, 2025 45:45


    The first part of a series we're calling "Posthumous Success & Cult Fame," focusing on the band that was significantly appreciated after they were gone - Big Star

    The Backstory #24 - Paul Is Dead

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 19, 2024 44:35


    We dispel the absurd conspiracy theory that Paul McCartney has been dead since 1966.

    The Backstory #23 - We Are The World

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 5, 2024 57:53


    We nourish on 1985's hunger-fighting hymn, We Are The World by supergroup USA For Africa.

    The Backstory #22 - The Skynyrd Plane Crash

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 19, 2024 26:59


    We recount the details of the infamous plane crash that killed members of Lynyrd Skynyrd.

    The Backstory #21 - Radio, Radio

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 19, 2024 26:35


    We discuss the controversial song by Elvis Costello that led to his 12-year ban from SNL.

    The Backstory #20 - Lost Guitars

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 29, 2023 32:52


    Cholt regales us with two oddly similar stories of famous lost then found Gibson Les Pauls.

    The Backstory #19 - Nothing Compares 2U

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 25, 2023 38:36


    We remember Sinéad O'Connor and her powerful cover of Nothing Compares 2U.

    The Backstory #18 - Chords, Lyrics, and Court

    Play Episode Listen Later May 2, 2023 73:33


    We discuss songs that sound like other songs.

    The Backstory #17 - Bittersweet Symphony

    Play Episode Listen Later May 2, 2023 28:14


    We discuss the bittersweet history of The Verve's, Bittersweet Symphony.

    The Backstory #16 - Bohemian Rhapsody

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 18, 2023 54:52


    We discuss Queen's mega-hit, Bohemian Rhapsody.

    The Backstory #15 - I Will Always Love You

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 18, 2023 32:35


    We discuss Dolly Parton's ballad, I Will Always Love You.

    The Backstory #14 - Band On The Run

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 22, 2023 53:53


    We discuss Wings' breakout album, Band On The Run.

    The Backstory #13 - Dark Side Of The Moon

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 10, 2023 71:31


    We acknowledge the 50th anniversary of Pink Floyd's, Dark Side of The Moon - the greatest album of all time.

    The Backstory #09: Tomorrow Never Knows

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2023 55:45


    The backstory of The Beatles freakout, Tomorrow Never Knows.

    The Backstory #11: Good Vibrations

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2023 53:19


    The backstory of Brian Wilson's groundbreaking masterpiece, Good Vibrations.

    The Backstory #10: Go Your Own Way

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2023 50:09


    The backstory of Fleetwood Mac's feisty song, Go Your Own Way.

    The Backstory #06: Shine On You Crazy Diamond

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2023 51:28


    The backstory of Pink Floyd's masterpiece, Shine On You Crazy Diamond.

    The Backstory #08: Gimme Shelter

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2023 49:06


    The backstory of The Rolling Stones song, Gimme Shelter.

    The Backstory #04: Layla

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2023 60:03


    The backstory of Eric Clapton's sentimental psalm, Layla.

    The Backstory #05: Without You

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2023 52:49


    The tragic backstory of Badfinger's song, Without You.

    The Backstory #07: Never Learn Not To Love

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2023 39:53


    The backstory of the Beach Boys' cover of Charles Manson's, Never Learn Not To Love.

    The Backstory #12: Get Back (documentary)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2023 155:49


    We discuss Peter Jackson's documentary, Get Back.

    The Backstory #03: All My Love

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2023 36:34


    The backstory of Led Zeppelin's pop-ballad, All My Love.

    The Backstory #02: All The Young Dudes

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2023 51:30


    The backstory of Mott The Hoople's hit, All The Young Dudes.

    The Backstory #01: Baba O'Riley

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 8, 2023 59:42


    The backstory of The Who's classic song, Baba O' Riley.

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