The True Tunes Podcast

King's X, the band formed by bassist, songwriter, and vocalist Dug Pinnick, guitarist Ty Tabor, and drummer Jerry Gaskill roughly 40 years ago, has pushed musical, lyrical, and even technological boundaries since its debut. Before that, these musical adventurers brushed up against the Christian music subculture as members of Phil Keaggy's band and others. But despite their early connection to the Jesus Movement - or perhaps because of it - they decided to specifically avoid any connection to the Christian music market when they formed King's X. Thousands of Christian rock fans nonetheless embraced them, parsing the imagery in their lyrics and wondering where they were coming from. 35 years into their journey, King's X continues to  innovate in the studio and rock on the stage. Listen in as Dug reflects on a long and - at times heartbreaking life in hard rock.  Find the full show notes (including a list of all songs used on this episode) at TrueTunes.com/KingsX . 

John Fischer was making "Jesus Music" in the mid-1960s - before it was even a "thing." At a recent live event in Fullerton California, JJT invited Fischer to join the conversation and talk about those early countercultural days and how it all came together. Before there was an industry, a genre, or even a movement, there were kids with guitars and a desire to experience God in a meaningful, tangible way. Fischer went on to become one of the accidental innovators of a new style of music. But when the counterculture became a subculture - and a movement became a market - he never lost that fire in his belly. What might the counterculture of the 60s have to tell us about our troubled times today - and what might a new Jesus Movement look - and sound - like if it was to break out now?  Find John Fischer's website HERE.  For full Show Notes (include a list of the songs featured on this episode) visit TrueTunes.com/Fischer or click HERE. If you want to support the show, please join our Patreon community or drop us a one-time tip and check out our MERCH!  

We've loved Robert Deeble for a long time around here. His brand of thoughtful alternative folk fit right in with artists like Over The Rhine, Vigilantes of Love, Innocence Mission, and Victoria Williams - and his side gig as a graphic artist lent a gorgeous visual perspective to all of his releases. His output has slowed over the last couple of decades as he became a successful psychologist and built a thriving practice in Oregon. So it was very good news indeed when we heard that he was about to release a new album - produced by Ric Hordinski no less! With many of us feeling more than a little on edge these days, we thought a touch-base with our favorite songsmith-turned-therapist was long overdue. In this special @45RPM episode of the show we focus on clips of JJT's full conversation with Robert. These bits focus on his new album - the beautiful collection entitled The Space Between Us that is currently seeking support via Kickstarter for a vinyl and CD release. And if you dig this, you can head over to OUR PATREON PAGE to hear the REST OF THE STORY! Patreon now allows a "free membership" - and it would be awesome if you would take a minute to sign up (for free) and take a listen. We will be posting more special content exclusively on that page (and even more on the paid side) from now on! And don't forget to head over to Kickstarter and back Robert's awesome project!  For full show notes visit TrueTunes.com/deeble

Chris Taylor is a lifer. His first bands, (Windows and Love Coma,) were covered by True Tunes when we were just getting started back in the early 90s. While his bandmate Matt Slocum went on to form the alternative pop group Sixpence None The Richer, Taylor continued to release projects as Love Coma and as a solo artist. He also became an accomplished painter along the way. Now, almost 35 years later, Taylor continues to break new artistic ground. His most recent Love Coma project (which included contributions by Slocum) was a stunner, and his brand new solo project - "I Carry The Flame" may be his best work yet. You may have heard Taylor when he appeared on our Bruce Cockburn episode, but this time it's all about him, his longevity, and how he keeps the flame burning after all these years. PLUS we spin the new EP "Rosemary Hill" by Sixpence None The Richer on the Jukebox!  For more info visit the full show notes page at TrueTunes.com/TaylorFlame.  If you want to support the show, please join our Patreon community or drop us a one-time tip and check out our MERCH!

Derri Daugherty, Steve Hindalong, and Dan Michaels surprised all of us when THE CHOIR dropped a fully-realized, manufactured, and ready-to-ship ambient instrumental project called Translucent in late 2024. Although the band has been incorporating ambient elements in their music since the 80s, this was a first for them. Join us as we discuss how Translucent came together, how the band approaches this element of their sound, and more. Find the show notes for this episode HERE. (Or go to truetunes.com/translucent)  If you missed our in-depth, career-spanning conversation with The Choir, find it HERE. We also did a deep dive into their classic album CHASE THE KANGAROO! For more about ambient music, don't miss our conversation with Marc Byrd of Hammock. If you want to support the show, please join our Patreon community or drop us a one-time tip and check out our MERCH!

True Tunes Podcast host John J. Thompson recently celebrated the "soft-release" of his new novel, "The Ballad of the Lost Dogs of East Nashville," with live events at Vinyl Tap in East Nashville and The Wheaton Public Library in the Chicago area. This special edition features clips from both events as JJT takes questions from Fr. Preston Sharpe of Sacrament Church (and guests) in Nashville, and Jeff Elbel (Chicago Sun-Times, Illinois Entertainer) in Wheaton.  The episode also features a chapter from the fully produced audiobook and a bit of the original song "Sweet Marianne" by JJT featuring Phil Keaggy and Jeff Taylor.  The book is available in print, digital, and audio form at most East Nashville record stores and bookstores and at LostPerros.com.  For more info, full show notes, and photos from these events, visit TrueTunes.com/BalladLive

There's a new “melancholy Christmas musical” to add to your list of indie film favorites, and when we had a chance to see an advance screening, we immediately knew that this story was YOUR kind of story. A hard-working, veteran singer-songwriter is trying to make it through to the end of another long year, wondering if it is time to lay down the dream. Boy does this one strike close to home.   Long December marks the acting debut of Stephen Williams of the band Jude Moses and sideman for the John Mark McMillan band. (McMillan also has a very convincing role in the film.) The film co-stars Charley Koontz (“Community,” “The Boys”), Emily Althaus (“Orange is the New Black,” “Handmaid's Tale”), and Maximiliano Hernandez (“Avengers: Endgame,” “Sicario”). The soundtrack is available on all streaming platforms right now, and the film premiers on VOD platforms on November 12th.   Join JJT as he sits down with writer/director Thomas Torrey to hear about the origin of the story, the music, and the production. (And thanks to friend of the show, Chris White of Electric Jesus fame for the tip-off on this one.)   If you want to support the show, please join our Patreon community or drop us a one-time tip and check out our MERCH!

            6-time Grammy winner Russ Taff's voice has defined the emotional potential of Gospel music for over half a century. His perfectly raspy tenor transcends genre and era, first as the lead vocalist for Gospel legends The Imperials, then as a phenomenally successful solo artist. That legacy now takes on a whole new depth as Taff unveils Cover Story, a collection of rock, soul, and Americana songs that resonate deeply with the struggles he has privately endured throughout his life onstage. Longtime fans may be surprised to find the Gospel singer interpreting tunes by The National, Prince, Blind Willie Johnson, Bob Dylan, U2, Duran Duran, Bill Withers, Paul Simon, and others. However, students of Roots Gospel, Americana, Soul, and Blues will immediately see the thread. These are songs of spiritual survival. (Don't miss executive producer Steve Taylor's Kickstarter campaign to release the project on vinyl and raise funds to promote it to a wide audience.)               In a surprising – and risky – move for a Gospel singer, Taff decided to go public with his long struggle with addiction, recovery, relapse, and ultimate inner healing via the revealing 2018 documentary Russ Taff: I Still Believe. Instead of ending his career singing in churches and at Bill Gaither's Homecoming events, audiences responded with deep appreciation for his candor and humility. A recent conversation on the recovery-themed Soft White Underbelly YouTube channel is currently generating similar enthusiasm. Taff, now 18 years sober and free of the need to hide anything, is more excited than ever to share music – and his story – with audiences around the country and the world.         Taylor, (the artist, professor, songwriter, producer, and filmmaker connected to projects by Sixpence None The Richer, Newsboys, Chevelle, and others) had pulled his critically acclaimed but ill-fated mainstream rock band Chagall Guevara (MCA) together for a one-time reunion show at Nashville's historic Ryman Auditorium. A special post-show afterparty at Jack White's Blue Room included an on-stage jam with several musical luminaries, including Taff (who had worked with Chagall members Lynn Nichols and Dave Perkins on several projects.) Taff's impromptu jam on Charlie Peacock's “Down In The Lowlands” thrilled the small crowd. Hearing Taff slay those songs, Taylor remembered an idea his longtime friend, bandmate, and musical collaborator John Mark Painter had suggested much earlier. What if they took their old friend into a recording studio with a slate of great songs and captured that raw, guttural energy and emotional honesty? They have now done just that. We are thrilled to sit down with Taff, Taylor, and Painter on this very special episode of the podcast, and to give our audience a first listen to Cover Story.   BACK the Kickstarter Campaign HERE (closes September 9th, 2024)   For the full list of songs, links, and a video of the infamous "Down In The Lowlands" jam at Jack White's Blue room, see the full Show Notes at TrueTunes.com/Russ   Get all of the info about host John J Thompson's new novel “The Ballad of the Lost Dogs of East Nashville” at TrueTunes.com/ballad.     If you want to support the show, please join our Patreon community or drop us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH!  

There's nothing like a relaxed, sit-down conversation – especially when discussing complicated things like faith, love, and art. True Tunes is committed to long-form dialogue in a world that is increasingly (and tragically) defined and governed by social media metrics and pithy one-liners. This conversation with Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Jennifer Knapp may be our longest yet – but we wouldn't have it any other way.   Knapp has come a long way since her debut LP, Kansas, was certified Gold 25 years ago. She followed that with two more critically acclaimed and commercially successful LPs in the Christian music market and earned increased respect and opportunities to share her craft on mainstream stages. She gathered two Grammy nominations and sold a million albums in three years, but things were not well behind the scenes. In 2002, after fulfilling her contractual obligations, Jennifer dropped out of the scene, disconnected from the industry, and moved to Australia. After an eight-year hiatus and coming out as gay, Knapp returned in 2010.   Jennifer recently revisited her debut, re-recording Kansas with producer Steve Hindalong to celebrate its 25th anniversary. On this episode of the podcast, Knapp visits John and Michelle Thompson in their East Nashville home to talk about her journey, her faith, and what it has been like to go back to Kansas. We'll also hear a bit from Hindalong about how the project came together.   Find the full song list and more at TrueTunes.com/Knapp   If you want to support the show, please join our Patreon community or drop us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH!    

On this “Extended Play” 45RPM episode of the show, our good friend Chris White, writer and director of the romantic comedy/road picture Electric Jesus, takes us to the set where he recently directed a short film for the song “Come And Save Me” starring actor and musician Fred Armisen (SNL, Portlandia) and our favorite outsider folk-pop band, Danielson. The song started as an unpublished lyric originally composed by the late Jesus Rock icon Larry Norman. It was then set to music, with the blessing of Larry's estate, by Daniel Smith (of Danielson.) The resulting song is a complete departure from the tongue-in-cheek hair-metal Smith composed for the fictional metal band 316 in Electric Jesus. While “Come and Save Me” was not used in the film, it did appear on the soundtrack. Now, however, White has written and directed a special short film for the song, with Fred Armisen as the starring actor.   So, come with us to a film studio in Greenville, South Carolina, and hear from Chris White, Daniel Smith, Fred Armisen, and Mike Norman (Larry Norman's son) about how this fantastic project came together and how each of them approaches and interprets the meaning of “Come And Save Me.”   If you missed these previous episodes, be sure to go back and find our conversation with Daniel Smith on the topic of outsider art, join us on the set of Electric Jesus (which includes our conversation with actor Brian Baumgartner of The Office), and find our conversation with Chris White and Andy Erwin about the different ways faith is approached in film. We also released a very special “From The Vault” episode that included a previously unheard conversation with Larry Norman and a then-recent conversation with Michael about their complicated relationship. And if you would like more info on the Electric Jesus story, seek out and devour BOTH seasons of their excellent podcast. (You'll find us all over them.)   We could not have presented this episode to you without the help of Chris and Emily White. Electric Jesus is available to stream now. If you have not seen it – please do!   If you want to support the show, please join our Patreon community or drop us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH!

On this "impossibly short version of the ongoing conversation you'll find at TrueTunes.com" we revisit our conversation with the pioneering LA-based alternative rock band The Prayer Chain back in 2018.  About The True Tunes Microdose Episodes: As we look back on our first 100 episodes we have gathered some of these "greatest hits" - never more than 5 minutes long - to remind long-time listeners of where we've been and give new folks a chance to check us out.  If you want to support the show, please join our Patreon community or drop us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH!

On this "impossibly short version of the ongoing conversation you'll find at TrueTunes.com" we revisit our conversation with the Berlin-based American ex-pat indie artist Roemer.  About The True Tunes Microdose Episodes: As we look back on our first 100 episodes we have gathered some of these "greatest hits" - never more than 5 minutes long - to remind long-time listeners of where we've been and give new folks a chance to check us out.  If you want to support the show, please join our Patreon community or drop us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH!

On this "impossibly short version of the ongoing conversation you'll find at TrueTunes.com" we revisit our conversation with the prolific and acclaimed Americana singer-songwriter Bill Mallonee (of Vigilantes of Love.) About The True Tunes Microdose Episodes: As we look back on our first 100 episodes we have gathered some of these "greatest hits" - never more than 5 minutes long - to remind long-time listeners of where we've been and give new folks a chance to check us out.  If you want to support the show, please join our Patreon community or drop us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH!

On this "impossibly short version of the ongoing conversation you'll find at TrueTunes.com" we revisit our conversation with artist and songwriter Tonio K.  About The True Tunes Microdose Episodes: As we look back on our first 100 episodes we have gathered some of these "greatest hits" - never more than 5 minutes long - to remind long-time listeners of where we've been and give new folks a chance to check us out.  If you want to support the show, please join our Patreon community or drop us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH!

On this "impossibly short version of the ongoing conversation you'll find at TrueTunes.com" we revisit our conversation with Drew Holcomb when he visited a class at Lipscomb University's School of Music.  About The True Tunes Microdose Episodes: As we look back on our first 100 episodes we have gathered some of these "greatest hits" - never more than 5 minutes long - to remind long-time listeners of where we've been and give new folks a chance to check us out.  If you want to support the show, please join our Patreon community or drop us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH!

On this "impossibly short version of the ongoing conversation you'll find at TrueTunes.com" we revisit our conversation with Steve Taylor, Dave Perkins, Lynn Nichols, and Mike Mead of the most amazing and unlucky band of all time: Chagall Guevara! About The True Tunes Microdose Episodes: As we look back on our first 100 episodes we have gathered some of these "greatest hits" - never more than 5 minutes long - to remind long-time listeners of where we've been and give new folks a chance to check us out.  If you want to support the show, please join our Patreon community or drop us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH!

On this "impossibly short version of the ongoing conversation you'll find at TrueTunes.com" we revisit our conversation with Kevin Max. About The True Tunes Microdose Episodes: As we look back on our first 100 episodes we have gathered some of these "greatest hits" - never more than 5 minutes long - to remind long-time listeners of where we've been and give new folks a chance to check us out.  If you want to support the show, please join our Patreon community or drop us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH!

On this "impossibly short version of the ongoing conversation you'll find at TrueTunes.com" we revisit our conversation with Michael Gungor. About The True Tunes Microdose Episodes: As we look back on our first 100 episodes we have gathered some of these "greatest hits" - never more than 5 minutes long - to remind long-time listeners of where we've been and give new folks a chance to check us out.  If you want to support the show, please join our Patreon community or drop us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH!

On this "impossibly short version of the ongoing conversation you'll find at TrueTunes.com" we revisit our conversation with poet, teacher, chaplain, and music industry veteran, David Bunker. This clip comes from the "Sacred Psychedelia" sidebar in the episode that featured Eric Earley of Blitzen Trapper. Bunker also joined us for a 45 RPM episode on Creativity and Artist Care. About The True Tunes Microdose Episodes: As we look back on our first 100 episodes we have gathered some of these "greatest hits" - never more than 5 minutes long - to remind long-time listeners of where we've been and give new folks a chance to check us out.  If you want to support the show, please join our Patreon community or drop us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH!

In the mid-nineties, it seemed to many of us that Luxury might be the band most likely to find real success in the wider alternative rock market. Their three-decade journey, however, has defied all expectations. From their early days of alt-punk abandon through a harrowing and deadly car crash and onto a very different path that found three of the members embracing Eastern Orthodoxy and eventually becoming priests, this is a story like none you have ever heard. Through all of the struggle and pain, Fathers Lee and Jamey Bozeman, (vocalist and guitarist,) Matt Hinton (auxiliary guitars,) Father Chris Foley (bass,) and Glenn Black (drums) have emerged as one of the most interesting and engaging alt-rock bands around. Their latest album, Like Unto Lambs came together over a span of five years and may be their best yet.  While there has been no shortage of discussions and arguments over the old debate about Christians making music, versus making Christian music, the concept of priests making mainstream alternative rock presents a unique opportunity to reconsider the question about the spiritual and vocational nature of arts and artistry. How might being in a band have informed these pastors' work in the ministry? Might their work as priests inform their work as musicians? Is there a holy way to rock that doesn't involve "Christian Rock?" Join us as we talk with three priests and a sacred Appalachian music historian about their rock band, their brotherhood, their trauma, and a priestly perspective on art.   For full show notes, including a list of all of the songs on this episode and more, visit TrueTunes.com/luxury or CLICK HERE.    If you want to support the show, please join our Patreon community or drop us a one-time tip and check out our MERCH!

This 45RPM episode features a look back at over 30 years of the music of a relatively obscure but critically acclaimed indie rock band, Luxury. We will go back to the beginning, when the band was known as The Shroud, playing with jangly punk abandon at their college in Toccoa, Georgia. We launched this podcast five years ago - when Luxury reconvened to record and release Trophies, their first new album in a decade. We've talked about that album since then several times (and you'll hear about it on the main show), but this flashback fills the rest of the story and sets the stage for the conversation about their latest album, Like Unto Lambs. (Patreon members can hear the whole show now.)  For full show notes, song list, and links visit TrueTunes.com/Luxury45 or CLICK HERE.    If you want to support the show, please join our Patreon community or drop us a one-time tip and check out our MERCH!

Randy Layton has been a tireless advocate of some of our favorite artists since the 1980s. He was also an early influence and encourager of all things True Tunes. His "Alternative Records" imprint helped to define the indie / DIY approach long before it was common, and his current campaign to reissue yet another incredible (and obscure) album by Robert Vaughn and The Shadows is one more example of his undying passion and love. Now, as Randy faces a devastating turn in the battle he has been waging with cancer, he is handing the reigns over to his son Matthias. On this episode, we hear from father and son, about this forty-year legacy, what it all meant, and where it goes when the road seems to end.  For a full list of all of the music heard on this episode, and links to our previous conversations with Randy, visit the Show Notes page at TrueTunes.com/HelloMatthias. (Patreon members will receive an EXCLUSIVE download "Best Of Alternative Records Mix" courtesy of Randy Layton!)  If you want to support the show, please join our Patreon community or drop us a one-time tip and check out our MERCH!

Dr. Leah Payne, author of the new book God Gave Rock and Roll To You, joins us to talk about the roots - and fruits - of the contemporary Christian music subculture. From the Pentecostal and Holiness movements of a century ago to the January 6th riots, Payne and host John J. Thompson wrangle with the odd and sometimes troubling history of the scene. You'll hear an amazing collection of historic and contemporary song clips along the way. Find the full show notes at TrueTunes.com/GodGaveRock. If you want to support the show, please join our Patreon community or drop us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH!

Even with champions like Peter Gabriel, U2, Jim Kerr, and others singing their praises, and songs like “The Walls Came Down,” “I Still Believe” and “Let The Day Begin” scratching out a presence on college and alternative radio, The Call never lived up to the commercial potential their fans knew they deserved. And when frontman, vocalist, and primary songwriter Michael Been passed away in 2010 while on the road with his son Robert Levon Been's band Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, it became heartbreakingly clear that The Call was on 80s band we would not be hearing more music from.   Or would we?   Recently the band found several previously unreleased – and in some cases unfinished songs. The surviving members regathered, adding fresh tracks to fill in the empty spaces, and giving them an incredible polish. They then reached out to fans via a new Kickstarter campaign to raise the funds necessary to release this LOST TAPES project – a campaign that closes in late February 2024. When the band reached out to us, to see if we would like to talk about this incredible project, we jumped at the chance. So on this special episode we sit down with keyboardist Jim Goodwin to hear not only about The Lost Tapes, but about what it was like to write songs, record, and perform with the band back in the day.   Hopefully you heard our full-length special episode featuring a previously unheard 1994 interview with Been, rescued and restored from an ancient cassette tape. If not, please do. And if you have not backed the Kickstarter campaign, you can do that HERE. (We certainly hope you will.) If you want to support the show, please join our Patreon community or drop us a one-time tip and check out our MERCH!

On this "impossibly short version of the ongoing conversation you'll find at TrueTunes.com" we revisit our conversation with rapper, author, and activist PROPAGANDA!  About The True Tunes Microdose Episodes: As we look back on our first 100 episodes we have gathered some of these "greatest hits" - never more than 5 minutes long - to remind long-time listeners of where we've been and give new folks a chance to check us out.  To hear the original show CLICK HERE.  If you want to support the show, please join our Patreon community or drop us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH!

On this "impossibly short version of the ongoing conversation you'll find at TrueTunes.com" we revisit our conversation with Steve Hindalong, Derri Daugherty, and Dan Michaels of The Choir. Few bands embody the spirit of spiritual yearning, artistic exploration, emotional risk, and impressionistic ambiance as completely as this veteran crew.  About The True Tunes Microdose Episodes: As we look back on our first 100 episodes we have gathered some of these "greatest hits" - never more than 5 minutes long - to remind long-time listeners of where we've been and give new folks a chance to check us out.  To hear the original show CLICK HERE.  If you want to support the show, please join our Patreon community or drop us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH!

On this "impossibly short version of the ongoing conversation you'll find at TrueTunes.com" we revisit our conversation with Eric Marshall, who has been releasing some of our favorite alternative worship music for well over a decade under the moniker YOUNG OCEANS. About The True Tunes Microdose Episodes: As we look back on our first 100 episodes we have gathered some of these "greatest hits" - never more than 5 minutes long - to remind long-time listeners of where we've been and give new folks a chance to check us out.  To hear the original show CLICK HERE.  If you want to support the show, please join our Patreon community or drop us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH!

On this "impossibly short version of the ongoing conversation you'll find at TrueTunes.com" we revisit our conversation with Prog Rock legend Neal Morse (of Spock's Beard, Transatlantic, Flying Colours, and The Neal Morse Band.) Morse took us on a journey through the history of progressive rock and his own artistic and spiritual discoveries.  About The True Tunes Microdose Episodes: As we look back on our first 100 episodes we have gathered some of these "greatest hits" - never more than 5 minutes long - to remind long-time listeners of where we've been and give new folks a chance to check us out.  To hear the original show CLICK HERE.  If you want to support the show, please join our Patreon community or drop us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH!

On this "impossibly short version of the ongoing conversation you'll find at TrueTunes.com" we revisit our conversation with Pianist, songwriter, and filmmaker Phil Cook. Cook - who cut his teeth as a member of Bon Iver - has been releasing some incredible solo material lately AND has been chronicling some of the best North Carolina roots Gospel music through his label Spiritual Helpline. His film Stay Prayed Up knocked us out!  About The True Tunes Microdose Episodes: As we look back on our first 100 episodes we have gathered some of these "greatest hits" - never more than 5 minutes long - to remind long-time listeners of where we've been and give new folks a chance to check us out.  To hear the original show CLICK HERE.  If you want to support the show, please join our Patreon community or drop us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH!

On this "impossibly short version of the ongoing conversation you'll find at TrueTunes.com" we revisit our conversation with the Third Man Records artist Natalie Bergman. Her story, and her music, captivated us as she added her humble (but seriously impressive) offering to the Jesus Music repertoire.  About The True Tunes Microdose Episodes: As we look back on our first 100 episodes we have gathered some of these "greatest hits" - never more than 5 minutes long - to remind long-time listeners of where we've been and give new folks a chance to check us out.  To hear the original show CLICK HERE.  If you want to support the show, please join our Patreon community or drop us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH!

On this "impossibly short version of the ongoing conversation you'll find at TrueTunes.com" we revisit our conversation with songwriter, worship leader, artist, and hymnist, Sandra McCracken. Having recently joined forces with Taylor Leonhardt, Jess Ray, and Leslie Jordan to form The Paper Horses, Sandra continues to evolve and innovate.  About The True Tunes Microdose Episodes: As we look back on our first 100 episodes we have gathered some of these "greatest hits" - never more than 5 minutes long - to remind long-time listeners of where we've been and give new folks a chance to check us out.  To hear the original show CLICK HERE.  If you want to support the show, please join our Patreon community or drop us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH!

On this "impossibly short version of the ongoing conversation you'll find at TrueTunes.com" we revisit our conversation with songwriter, artist, and pioneer, Terry Scott Taylor. Between his solo work, his groundbreaking work with the band Daniel Amos, his collaboration with The 77s' Michael Roe, The Choir's Derri Daugherty, and Adam Again's Gene Eugene as The Lost Dogs, and even his more experimental or humorous work with The Swirling Eddies or as the composer of soundtracks for animated shows and video games, Taylor has been setting invitingly high standards since the 1970s. If there is ever anything resembling a True Tunes Mt. Rushmore - be certain that Taylor's glorious mug will be etched thereupon.  About The True Tunes Microdose Episodes: As we look back on our first 100 episodes we have gathered some of these "greatest hits" - never more than 5 minutes long - to remind long-time listeners of where we've been and give new folks a chance to check us out.  To hear the original show CLICK HERE.  If you want to support the show, please join our Patreon community or drop us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH!

On this "impossibly short version of the ongoing conversation you'll find at TrueTunes.com" we revisit our conversation with artist, poet, author, and theologian STEVE SCOTT - who also served as the Arts Editor of the original True Tunes News magazine back in the 90s. Scott just released The Way of the Sevenfold Secret, a collection of poetry with accompanying music and ambient sound, that he described to us when he originally joined us on the show.  About The True Tunes Microdose Episodes: As we look back on our first 100 episodes we have gathered some of these "greatest hits" - never more than 5 minutes long - to remind long-time listeners of where we've been and give new folks a chance to check us out.  To hear the original show CLICK HERE.  If you want to support the show, please join our Patreon community or drop us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH!

On this "impossibly short version of the ongoing conversation you'll find at TrueTunes.com" we revisit our conversation with the always impressive and effervescent singer, songwriter, and producer, Taylor Leonhart. Taylor - who has recently joined forces with Sandra McCracken, Jess Ray, and Leslie Jordan to form The Paper Horses - continues to bring old-school songwriting soul to a new generation. About The True Tunes Microdose Episodes: As we look back on our first 100 episodes we have gathered some of these "greatest hits" - never more than 5 minutes long - to remind long-time listeners of where we've been and give new folks a chance to check us out.  To hear the original show CLICK HERE. For the full show notes page head to TrueTunes.com/MDLEONHARDT. If you want to support the show, please join our Patreon community or drop us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH!

On this "True Tunes Microdose" (an impossibly short version of the ongoing conversation you'll find at TrueTunes.com) we revisit a short bit of our chat with Michael Roe of The 77s and The Lost Dogs. The episodes with Mike proved to be some of the most popular in the history of our show, with many long-time fans chiming in and some new fans joining the tribe as well.  About The True Tunes Microdose Episodes: As we look back on our first 100 episodes we have gathered some of these "greatest hits" - never more than 5 minutes long - to remind long-time listeners of where we've been and give new folks a chance to check us out.  To hear the original show CLICK HERE. For the full show notes page head to TrueTunes.com/MDRoe If you want to support the show, please join our Patreon community or drop us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH!

Welcome to the True Tunes Microdose, an impossibly short version of the ongoing conversation you'll find at TrueTunes.com. As we look back on our first 100 episodes we have gathered some of these "greatest hits" - never more than 5 minutes long - to remind long-time listeners of where we've been and give new folks a chance to check us out.  Amy Grant's music may be a bit more "mainstream" than most of the stuff True Tunes was known for back in the day, but her commitment to honesty, integrity, and transparency made her one of our heroes. We featured her in our pages, back in the print mag days, and were thrilled for her to join us here on the podcast. All these years later she stands apart as a ringing example of grace, compassion, and warmth.  To hear the original show CLICK HERE. For the full show notes page head to TrueTunes.com/MDAmy If you want to support the show, please join our Patreon community or drop us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH!

Welcome to the True Tunes Microdose, an impossibly short version of the ongoing conversation you'll find at TrueTunes.com. As we look back on our first 100 episodes we have gathered some of these "greatest hits" - never more than 5 minutes long - to remind long-time listeners of where we've been and give new folks a chance to check us out.  Charlie Peacock is one of the hearts, minds, and voices who inspired the True Tunes story when it first launched in the mid-80s! He was our first guest when we launched this show as well.  To hear the original show CLICK HERE. For the full show notes page head to TrueTunes.com/MDCharlie If you want to support the show, please join our Patreon community or drop us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH!

Mylon LeFevre was an award-winning, genre-defining, trailblazing artist and songwriter who had a song cut by Elvis when he was just a teen, got kicked out of his family's legendary Souther Gospel band for wearing his sideburns too long, and released on the earliest and most significant Gospel Rock albums ever ("We Believe" circa 1970.) He went on to work with a Golden Rolodex full of mainstream rock royalty in the 70s, including George Harrison, Eric Clapton, The Who, and many others, before turning his life around in 1980 and channeling all of his creativity and passion into the production of Christian rock and pop music.  Mylon passed away on September 8th, 2023. True Tunes' John J Thompson spoke to him a couple of years ago, and now, for the first time, that conversation is being made available. For the full list of music used on this episode, visit TrueTunes.com/mylon   If you want to support the show, please join our Patreon community or drop us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH!

The Choir's 1988 LP Chase The Kangaroo is a classic, and when we heard that they had launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise the necessary funds to remaster and re-release it on vinyl and CD, we decided to pull together this special episode to lend some support. We spoke to primary songwriters Steve Hindalong and Derri Daugherty about the album a few years back but never used most of the recording. Here it is, along with clips from the recently remastered LP.  You can join us in support of the Kickstarter HERE - and find more info, photos, and a complete list of all of the music used on this episode on the SHOW NOTES page for this episode at TrueTunes.com/Kangaroo.  If you want to support the show, please join our Patreon community or drop us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH!

John Pantano's rock and roll roots go back to the 1960s psychedelic rock scene and the very genesis of the Jesus Movement. He and his friend, the late Ron Salsbury, were the core of JC Power Outlet - one of the earliest Jesus Rock bands on the scene. After two albums for Myrrh Records, the two signed with Larry Norman's vanguard Solid Rock label and changed their creative moniker to “Pantano Salsbury” for the release of their acclaimed, beloved (and doomed) 1977 album, Hit The Switch. That LP, long sought by collectors, is finally being remastered and re-released by Randy Layton's Alternative Records. Or at least we hope it is. We spoke to Pantano and Layton recently and are releasing this special 45 RPM episode, including several clips of the remastered songs, with the hope that more people will discover this sleeper classic and support the worthy Indiegogo campaign to fund this critical re-issue. For full song list, links, and more, visit the SHOW NOTES page (or TrueTunes.com/HitTheSwitch)  If you want to support the show, please join our Patreon community or drop us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH!

On this episode we are joined by veteran artist and author Allan Aguirre (Scaterd Few, Spyglass Blue) to explore the artistic legacy of the late – and truly great – David Bowie. We'll also crank up the Jukebox to listen to some of Allan's music, which was clearly inspired by the Thin White Duke, but took that inspiration in many different directions.   For full show notes, including a list of all of the music used on this episode, check out the show notes page by clicking HERE or visiting TrueTunes.com/LovingTheAlien.   If you want to support the show, please join our Patreon community or drop us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH!

This special Couples Skate episode of the True Tunes Podcast started out as a normal Jukebox feature for the Wild Harbors In Paris episode. But as we dug deeper and deeper into the world of amazing music made by couples, the dang thing demanded to become a separate show! So, we just rolled the Jukebox out into the middle of the rink for an extended exploration of music being made by married folks – from famous names to newlyweds.   And don't miss the massive corresponding Spotify mix, curated by both JJT and his three-plus-decade music and life partner Michelle Lynn Thompson. You can find it HERE or at the Show Notes page for this episode which is where you'll also find the list of all of the songs featured on this show.   To hear the deeper dive into John and Michelle's latest project, check out our recent special episode HERE.   If you want to support the show, please join our Patreon community or drop us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH!  

We often hear that being in a band is like being in a marriage. But what about when being in a marriage is like being in a band? What about those truly crazy people whose marriage IS a band? Chris and Jenna Badeker, aka Wild Harbors, have been carving out a functional and creatively exciting path as indie pop artists for several years. On this episode, they join us from Paris, where they were serving as Artists In Residence. We hear about their uniquely risky career choices, the path that led them overseas, and the cultural differences between faith-formed music in the US and Europe. We actually hear the streets of France as we catch this young couple in the midst of their most recent adventure, and we ponder the role risk plays in our creative, spiritual, and relational formation.   And along these same lines, on our next episode (coming very soon,) we'll push the Jukebox right out into the middle of the rink for a long-form “Couples Skate” as we listen to more than essential artists who chased their creative dreams from within the bond of marriage, so stay tuned…   For full SHOW NOTES and music list, visit TrueTunes.com/WildHarbors. You can also find our corresponding Spotify "A Band Is Like A Marriage" playlist (with over 100 songs and counting" on that Show Notes page or by clicking HERE.    If you want to support the show, please join our Patreon community or drop us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH!

The 77s' 1987 self-titled album was not only that band's first real shot at the "big-time" success their fans knew they deserved. It was also the climax of a creative explosion from a unique Sacramento community that had been cooking up spiritually driven, culturally engaged, artistically excellent music for about a decade. On this special "From The Vault" episode of the podcast, we unveil previously unheard tape culled from frontman Michael Roe's conversation with True Tunes and with The Electric Jesus Podcast to finally answer one of the most fascinating questions of all time: Did U2's breakthrough album The Joshua Tree inadvertently KILL one of our other favorite LPs?    If you dig this, don't miss our previous 2-part deep dive with Michael Roe, our recent @45RPM reflection on U2's Achtung Baby, our conversation with 77s and Exit Records advocate Randy Layton, or our discussions in the vault with fellow Exit artists Steve Scott, Jimmy Abegg, and Charlie Peacock.    For this show's FULL SHOW NOTES - including a list of ALL the music used in this episode and more - visit TrueTunes.com/RoeRedux.   If you want to support the show, please join our Patreon community or drop us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH!

Randy Layton may not be a household name, but that's not the point with people like him. Layton has been advocating for some of the most important - if not famous and successful - artists of the last forty years through his label Alternative Records and his previous work with the enormously influential Sacramento label Exit Records. He was all about the "Alternative" back when that word meant something. Layton has helped release projects by The 77s, Vector, Steve Scott, 2 Pound Planet, Robert Vaughn and the Shadows, and many others. Although we have heard pieces of this conversation here and there on previous episodes of the show, we finally unspool the whole enchilada and get the full story of Layton's formative years in the 70s, his early years as an importer of rare music from the UK and Europe, his work with some of our favorite artists, and some recent reissues as well. Along the way, we catch a glimpse of the power behind his story, and our own. Spoiler alert - it's about a lot more than music.   We have also featured many of the beneficiaries of Layton's largesse on previous episodes, including Michael Roe, Charlie Peacock, Steve Scott, and Jimmy Abegg   For full SHOW NOTES and music list visit TrueTunes.com/LaytonAlternative   If you want to support the show, please join our Patreon community or drop us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH!

The very first episode of this podcast - which premiered back in 2019 - featured a conversation with award-winning producer, songwriter, and artist Charlie Peacock. Charlie, one of the artists who inspired the launch of the original True Tunes in the 80s with his progressive, genre-bending, standard-setting music, was later associated with artists like Switchfoot, Civil Wars, and others. He is currently experiencing one of his most prolific phases as both a musical artist and as a visual artist.  When we first launched this show, we didn't know exactly what the format would be. As a result, a lot of this fantastic conversation got left on the cutting room floor. So for this special "From The Vault" episode, we have found some previously unheard "tape" and framed it with some of Charlie's recent jazz music to highlight even more of his important insights and observations.    Full Show Notes available at TrueTunes.com/CPVault   If you want to support the show, please join our Patreon community or drop us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH!

This 45RPM episode opens the True Tunes Vault and finds a conversation host John J. Thompson had with friend, fan, and artist manager Nick Barre about U2's initially shocking album, Achtung Baby, 30 years after its original release. With the band back in the news - both for Bono's stunning new memoir Surrender and their corresponding collection of reimagined older songs - and the announcement of their Las Vegas homage to their 30-year-old re-birth - it seemed a good time to revisit this reflection.    Full Show Notes available at TrueTunes.com/Achtung   If you want to support the show, please join our Patreon community or drop us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH!

True Tunes host John J. Thompson recently traveled to Cleveland, TN, to speak at a festival in honor of Rev. Howard Finster – the enigmatic painter, pastor, and musician who first came to international prominence when his art was used on album covers by Talking Heads, R.E.M., and Adam Again, and is considered by some to be the father of contemporary folk art. Painter and woodcut printmaker Kreg Yingst, whose art has graced recent album projects by Vigilantes of Love and others, presented at the festival as well and joined John for a conversation. Plus, we crank up the Jukebox to check out one of the most prolific and accomplished outsider musicians of the last three decades; John Darnielle and his band, The Mountain Goats.   The full music list, our special Spotify Mix and more for this episode are available on the SHOW NOTES page at TrueTunes.com/Outsiders2   If you would like to support the show, please consider joining our Patreon community or dropping us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH!

It takes some special instruments and a unique perspective to appreciate the frustrating version of "success" that weaves in and through Tonio K.'s long strange trip of a music career. He should have been one of those critical reference points of the heady '70s and '80s, right up there with Warren Zevon and Joe Jackson. He had the wit, the sneer, the shades, and the major label hookups. But even with the odds in his favor, a hall-of-fame roster of supporting band members, and people like T Bone Burnett supporting him, it wasn't until he started putting his pen to work for other artists that his path emerged. On this episode, we visit with the elusive, and in some ways illusory, artist and songwriter for a rare exploration of his entire career. We'll examine his earliest days in the trippy psychedelic art rock scene, his stint with the late Buddy Holly's “Crickets,” his serious run at a solo artist career, and his late renaissance as the crafter of smash hits for an impossibly diverse list of artists that includes both a member of The Sex Pistols and Burt Bacharach. Tonio K. tells us the whole amazing story – and with the help of some friends, we have peppered the show with some extremely rare Tonio K. recordings and a brace of tunes that made him a darling of both the Christian and mainstream underground. And, as if THAT wasn't enough, Tom Willett – who signed K. to WHAT? Records in the '80s and worked alongside T Bone and others – joins us for the conversation as well. The full music list, our special Spotify Mix, and more for this episode are available on the SHOW NOTES page at TrueTunes.com/Tonio1.  If you would like to support the show, please consider joining our Patreon community or dropping us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH!

Drew Holcomb is one of the most successful – and innovative – independent singer-songwriters working today. His rootsy, unadorned style has filled theaters and halls around the country, driven several singles up the Americana chart, seen some major placements in prominent films, television shows, and ad campaigns, and earned him a devoted fan base. Moon River, the festival he originally founded in Memphis, now draws tens of thousands of fans to Chattanooga, Tennessee, each September and has hosted Brandi Carlile, The National, Wilco, Dawes, Leon Bridges, Lord Huron, Allison Russell, Jason Isbell, The Avett Brothers, and so many more. So when True Tunes' John J. Thompson was trying to choose a special guest to speak to the final gathering of his first class as a teacher at Lipscomb University's School of Music, he thought of Drew. Fortunately for him, his co-teacher (and boss) Platinum selling and Grammy Award-winning producer Brown Bannister happens to be Drew's father-in-law.   On this extraordinary episode of the podcast, Drew Holcomb comes to class! JJT is joined by eight students as guest interviewers, each bringing one excellent question, and Mr. Holcomb offers a world of wisdom, wit, humor, and inspiration. We hear about everything from his earliest days as a struggling artist to last fall's disastrous Moon River rain-out. We hear about making music with a spouse, managing a band with friends, learning how (and when) to co-write, his biggest mistake, and much more. Throughout the conversation, we also hear clips from a slew of rare tracks by Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors, and other friends and comrades.   Says the host: "I am thrilled to be kicking off my new position as the Director of Music Industry Studies at Lipscomb University's College of Entertainment and the Arts with this special glimpse into the creative and strategic conversations we are having with the next generation of artists, songwriters, and industry leaders. Drew was an amazing guest; this show is a gold mine of artist development wisdom. Thanks, Drew - and Brown - and to the students for bringing such excellent questions!" (JJT)    If you would like to support the show, please consider joining our Patreon community or dropping us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH!  

If you think True Tunes host and founder John J. Thompson is objective about music - merely a dispassionate observer or fact-gathering journalist... think again. "Before I wrote about music," he admits, "before I worked in the industry at all - before I promoted concerts or started True Tunes back in the 80s - I was a kid with a guitar, bad hair, and way more confidence than talent. Inspired by heroes like T Bone Burnett, Steve Taylor, Bob Dylan, Bono, Mark Heard, Bruce Cockburn, The 77s, and all of the bands Terry Scott Taylor was in, I knew I had to make music. Everything I have done since then has flowed from this original inspiration. I am definitely biased about this stuff."  And despite how busy he has been helping other people with their projects, It's been a long time since Thompson has released new music of his own. With the release of a new double single: "Ghost In The Needle" / "Not OK At All"  that time has come and he is ready to show his hand. In this special "extended" 45RPM episode, JJT is joined by his wife - and longsuffering Wayside bandmate - Michelle Lynn Thompson to discuss their new songs in particular and their somewhat complicated creative relationship in general. Elsewhere in the show, he sits down with producer Matt Goldman, famous for his work with Underoath, The Chariot, Luxury, and others, to talk about the production process.  Full Show Notes are available at TrueTunes.com/Wayside45 and all of the band's available music can be found at TheWaysideStore.com.    If you would like to support the show, please consider joining our Patreon community or dropping us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH!