The Cat’s Whisker

It's that time of the year again and I thought, what better moment to talk about the one and only Brenda Lee? She keeps us company every year with her Rocking around the Christmas Tree, which she recorded when she was only 13. Let's discover more about this incredible and unforgettable artist!

Today marks the 60th anniversary of an incredible album: With the Beatles, the Beatles' second record. Join me and Cavern Club resident musician Liam Mannion while we dissect this iconic piece of music.

Today I'm interviewing Grammy Award winner Kosh. He designed album covers and worked as an art director for the Beatles, the Who, the Eagles, Linda Ronstadt and many more. If you want to hear the greatest stories about working with many amazing artists, watching the rooftop concert and designing some of the most iconic artwork in music history, this episode is for you! Watch the complete interview on Youtube Check out Kosh's website And Genny's website        

The legends, the icons, the main inspiration for many many acts that have been shaping music history during the past 60 years: The Everly Brothers! From their Kentucky roots, through the time they sang to wake up farmers in Iowa to their massive success. Today I'll tell you all about the act that scored the biggest recording deal of the time, and how their career fell apart until they gave us one of the best comebacks in music history.  

I've been obsessed with the meanings of the songs I love for a very long time but I must admit that some of them, are still a mystery to me. So, today, I'll investigate the story behind some 1960s songs that would get even English majors on their knees.  Thanks to my lovely Instagram friends @a_shrey_in_the_life, @retrokyllikki, @retrodreamgirl, and @vinylbenjy for sending in their requests!    

One of the greatest voices of the Sixties and yet, not many people know her. Helen Shapiro became famous at the age of 14 for her mature and deep voice and was so famous that during one of her tours, The Beatles opened for her!! But unfortunately, not long after, most people forgot about her. What happened to her? And how is it possible that a whole generation forgot about the youngest chart-topper in British history? Discover it today!

Today I'll be joined by Cavern Club resident musician Liam Mannion to talk about the legendary VOX AC30, the amp that literally changed the world.  From local pubs to the Shea Stadium, a small company from Dartford with a very eventful history powered the sound of the British Invasion and became a household name for amplification systems and instruments. The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Hollies, and many more used and sponsored VOX during their career. But what makes it so special? And why is the AC30 the staple of rock and roll amps? Discover it in this episode.

What was happening in the UK before the British Invasion and while America was the thriving home of rock and roll music? Well, believe it or not, here's a story, not many people talk about. Did you know that the UK was home to many pop idols before the Beatles? And that a mysterious genre developed here and paved the way for beat music? Here's a brief history of Britain's own rock and roll season.

As a girl who loves fifties and sixties music, I honestly know how it feels when you're obsessed with a band, so when I see pictures of girls crying and screaming for their idols, I kinda think that could have been me if I had lived those years; today, though, I'll present you with some stories that surprised even a Beatlemaniac like me! I'll tell you about some crazy adventures involving fans of the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Monkees, and more!

Yes, I know what you're thinking. WAIT WHAT? Wasn't this one a rock and roll podcast? YES. And, honestly, these three ladies ROCK. And in this episode, I will tell you everything about their career and why I think they should be considered pioneers of rock and roll.

If you know me, you also know that I've got a soft spot for Buddy Holly. So, finally, I've decided to talk about his life and story. His roots, style, and his work both with the Crickets and as a solo artist. His successes and his difficulties, from the very beginning to his early death.

If we listen to rock and roll now, the reason why we love it is pretty obvious. But, as many know, it wasn't love at first "hearing". It was banned in some cities in the US, it was barely noticeable on British radios and it even had to be printed on XRays in the USSR, but, as many know... rock and roll is here to stay! Today we'll talk about crazy situations that luckily didn't stop this music from changing the world.

Probably the most famous songwriters in rock and roll history, today we'll discover all the interesting circumstances that made Leiber and Stoller the magic duo that wrote for Elvis, Ben E. King, The Coasters, and many more!

Today, 60 years ago the Beatles debut album Please Please Me was released. And that certainly calls for a special episode, where I'll be joined by resident Cavern Club musician Liam Mannion.  We'll talk about how the album and the record deal came about, all the recording sessions of Please Please Me and how the songs were written. We'll also chat about the big influence Liverpool has on musicians and what it means to love the Beatles and be professionally involved in the city's music scene.

We're all used to music, but have you ever wondered how humans managed to record sound for the first time?  I'll tell you all about it in this episode where starting from the origins of sound recording, I'll tell you how music ended up on the support that all die-hard music fans love: vinyl.

Possibly one of the most prolific session musicians in history, Carol Kaye played on over 10 thousand songs. Between bass guitar and rhythm guitar, she became the most requested musician of the sixties. You've heard her on songs by Ritchie Valens, the Beach Boys, the Monkees, Sonny and Cher, Sam Cooke, Nancy Sinatra, the Doors, many Motown records, and a lot of other songs and even TV series or film scores! Discover her fascinating story and techniques in today's episode.

Music is a powerful tool, especially rock and roll. And the establishment knew it sooo well. That's why today I'll tell you what I found out exploring the FBI vault.

Happy Valentine's Day! To celebrate love and rock and roll today I'll tell you all about three couples that made writing love songs to each other A BUSINESS! Starting from the masters, Boudleaux and Felice Bryant who wrote for The Everly Brothers and Buddy Holly, to two couples straight from the celebrated Brill Building, where most of the greatest hits of the 60s came from: meet Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil and Ellie Greenwich and Jeff Berry.

Singer, pianist, songwriter, and activist. Carole King definitely has them all. This week, to celebrate both King's birthday and the 52nd anniversary of her masterpiece Tapestry, I'll take you through the life and the genius of a woman that paved the road for many musicians in the industry.  From her successful songwriting partnership with her husband Gerry Goffin, which gave us some of the most beautiful songs of the sixties, to the time she discovered her voice as a solo artist.

Also known as the most tragic day in rock and roll history, the day the music died refers to the plane crash that killed rising stars Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. Richardson AKA The Big Bopper while they were on tour. A tour where everything that could go wrong, did in fact go wrong. But how did they end up on the tour from hell? What really happened on that plane? Are the conspiracy theories behind the crash true?

From the Rolling Stones to the Who, this episode will cover near-death experiences (Tony Hicks knows something about this!) and all sorts of incidents that happened while some very famous rock and roll bands were on tour. And thank God, what happened on tour didn't (entirely) stay on tour because some of these tales are absolutely nuts and they need to be out in the world! Do you know any other story? Let me know! 

For this last episode of 2022 I've got something special for you: my favourite rock and roll Christmas songs. Records that you've never listened to and funny titbits about the ones that you might probably already know.

In this second episode of the Let's Line Up series, I'll finally cover the final two instruments of a rock and roll band, the electric bass and the drums. These two staples of modern music have a deeply fascinating history and not only! I've discovered many crazy, interesting, and very random facts about percussion instruments and I can't wait to share them with you.

If you worship at the shrine of Little Richard, Elvis, and Chuck Berry, here's another name for you if it's not already on your list: Eddie Cochran. Amazing singer and guitarist that left us way too soon but also gave us the song that started the Beatles (and also happens to be my favourite song, I know, the same level of importance, right?).

We're in Nazi Germany during the 30s and even if rock and roll was still far away, some people already had a rock and roll soul. I'm talking about the SwingJugend (or Swing Kids), a movement born to mock the Hitler Youth and fight for individualism and cultural freedom through music!

Join us on this very racy journey through very very explicit songs from the past. For the first time in its short history, The Cat's Whisker finally has a co-host: Liam Mannion, songwriter, professional musician, and... most importantly... my boyfriend! In this very special episode, we'll listen to songs from the past with VERY explicit lyrics! So... be ready! It's going to get dirty! To listen to the full version of the episode, complete with the songs, check out The Cat's Whisker on Spotify! Since we've also filmed this episode, follow me on my social media to make sure you see exclusive clips from this episode! 

The growth of rock and roll has definitely been propelled by radios. I know, that's obvious. But there are some juicy stories that maybe you don't know about all this! Starting from the cat's whisker radio (wink, wink!) to the influence of disc jockeys... until it became a little too risky! If you like good music and a good scandal, press play!

Have you ever heard of songwriter Otis Blackwell? Well, if you haven't heard of him I'm 100% sure you've listened to many of his songs. This week, following the passing of the great Jerry Lee Lewis, we'll get to know better the great songwriter behind some of his hits and the ones of many others, including the king himself Elvis Presley.

It's nearly Halloween, and, let's be honest... just a few things scared religion as much as rock and roll in the 1900s. So... let's talk about it!  I'll take you on a musical journey through the first rock and roll stars that sang religious lyrics, to the ones that were born in religious families but decided to surrender to the sinful rock and roll life. From bands that were bigger than Jesus Christ, to the influences of Hinduism on rock music. And stay until the very end if you want to hear one of the best spooky rock and roll stories I've ever heard! Happy Halloween!

Here's the second part of this series of two about this amazing couple, because there was such soooo much to say about these two. So, where were we? Les and Mary realise that they've just invented sound on sound on tape. And that is absolutely amazing but, guess what? Many new inventions are yet to come!

Les Paul isn't only the name of one of the most incredible guitars ever made but it was also a music star and inventor. Alongside his wife, the talented singer and guitarist Mary Ford, he has paved the road for many musicians. From the days when Les' mum pushed him to experiment with sound, to the ones when a car crash will lead to one of the major developments in music history. 

Starting from microphones and amplification, we'll get to the main event: the electric guitar. Who invented it? How? And why?

Critics have been wondering for years, what has been the first rock and roll song ever made? What are the elements that make a rock and roll song a rock and roll song? 

Welcome to The Cat's Whisker, a weekly journey back to the greatest era of music: rock and roll in the Fifties and Sixties! Episodes are out every Wednesday.