Discograffiti

UNREST’S MARK ROBINSON TACKLES BILLY JOEL’S DISCOGRAPHY (PART 2: PIANO MAN & STREETLIFE SERENADE) (Ep. 234B)

Discograffiti is the deep-dive podcast for music obsessives.  In this episode, host Dave Gebroe talks with the epitome of DIY punk spirit (who can also write a pop hook like the best of ‘em), the great Mark Robinson (of Unrest, Grenadine, Air Miami, Flint Flon, Uncomfortable Police, et al), and together they discuss Billy Joel’s entire recorded output with commentary, stories, and star ratings for every release. If you’re a long-time listener, then you know that Dave has harbored a long-time hatred of Billy Joel…so why the sudden turnaround in taste? Discograffiti’s Mark Robinson Tackles Billy Joel (But Only Metaphorically) Series dissects every last release Billy Joel’s ever had a hand in creating. Part 2 tackles his two early-1970s, California-based albums after signing with Columbia Records: Piano Man & Streetlife Serenade. 
Here are just a few of the many things that Mark discusses with Discograffiti in this podcast:
The multitude of genres that Billy tries out while in California during the early 1970s, before settling into his known style;
The violent altercation that host Dave Gebroe may have had with the real-life Captain Jack’s son;
The connective threads that bind Billy and Mark as artists that must create no matter what;
The not-very-well-known gang of Billy Joel instrumentals that ended in this era;
Billy’s “saving a hooker” song that’s somehow actually taken from his own personal life;
The amount of money that Billy made off the Piano Man LP;
And an in-depth deep dive on every song off Piano Man and Streetlife Serenade.
There’ll be a short sneak peak running publicly for free, but the entirety of this podcast will only be accessible on the Major Tier of Discograffiti’s Patreon. Don’t miss it, or you’ll only be getting part of the story. Get it as a one-off, or better yet just subscribe…and then we’ll all have world peace.
Full Episode: Patreon.com/Discograffiti (available on the Major Tier & up)
Free Sneak Peek: linktr.ee/discograffiti
Subscribe to Discograffiti's Patreon and receive a ceaseless barrage (4 shows a week!) of must-hear binge-listening. It’s completely free to be a basic member, $1 to get your backstage pass, $5/month for the weekly Sunday show by & for our community, $10 for weekly early release, ad-free, super-extended Director's Cuts of the main show plus access to half our Patreon episode archive, & $20 for Discograffiti’s weekly bonus episodes and access to our entire Patreon episode archive. There are now over 400 Patreon episodes.

UNREST’S MARK ROBINSON TACKLES BILLY JOEL'S DISCOGRAPHY (PART 1: COLD SPRING HARBOR) (Ep. 234)

Discograffiti is the deep-dive podcast for music obsessives.  In this episode, host Dave Gebroe talks with the epitome of DIY punk spirit (who can also write a pop hook like the best of ‘em), the great Mark Robinson (of Unrest, Grenadine, Air Miami, Flint Flon, Uncomfortable Police, et al), and together they discuss Billy Joel’s entire recorded output with commentary, stories, and star ratings for every release. If you’re a long-time listener, then you know that Dave has harbored a long-time hatred of Billy Joel…so why the sudden turnaround in taste? Discograffiti’s Mark Robinson Tackles Billy Joel (But Only Metaphorically) Series dissects every last release Billy Joel’s ever had a hand in creating. Part 1 tackles his turmoil-ridden ancient history, including early bands The Hassles and Attila, plus his debut LP, Cold Spring Harbor. 
Here are just a few of the many things that Mark discusses with Discograffiti in this podcast:
Dave’s complete revolution in taste from abject hatred of anything Billy Joel-related to discovering to his shock that he actually likes him;
How first wife Elizabeth’s glue-sniffing brother’s crazed antics gave Billy his initial big break in first band The Hassles;
How The Hassles metamorphosed into Billy’s sole foray into Zeppelin-inspired head-banging with his duo Attila; 
An overview of his early days struggling with depression, which culminated in Billy attempting suicide twice in a row;
How that experience turned his life around and led to his career finally taking off;
And an in-depth deep dive on the early Hassles records, plus every song off Attila and his debut Cold Spring Harbor.
Listen: linktr.ee/discograffiti
I support a wife and a six-year-old son with Discograffiti as my sole source of income. 
If you’re a Mark Robinson & Billy Joel superfan like me, The Director’s Cut of this episode is ad-free and features 12 additional minutes of essential material.  Support Discograffiti by opting for this clearly superior version.
Either subscribe to Discograffiti’s Patreon at the Lieutenant or Major Tier, or just grab the episode as a one-off at the same link.
The Director’s Cut: Patreon.com/Discograffiti

AN INTERVIEW WITH BRIAN WILSON’S ENGINEER LARRY LEVINE (THE BEACH BOYS’ PET SOUNDS & SMILE) (Ep. 233B)

Discograffiti is the deep-dive podcast for music obsessives. In this episode, we feature the next entry in The Chuck Granata Pet Sounds Interview Series. It’s Chuck’s chat with legendary Gold Star engineer Larry Levine, the man responsible, side by side with The Wrecking Crew, for building Phil Spector’s "Wall of Sound”. His peak accomplishments include “Be My Baby”, “Summertime Blues”, “River Deep, Mountain High”, “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’”, “He’s A Rebel”, "Then He Kissed Me", A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector, Pet Sounds, Smile, and so many others. Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss poached Larry in 1967, making him A&M Records’ Chief Engineer. Larry passed away just a few years after this interview in 2008, which makes this posthumously released “Chuck Chat” yet another priceless buried treasure.  
Here are just a few of the many things that Larry discusses with Discograffiti in this podcast:
The early days of Gold Star and working with Phil Spector;
The Phil Spector session that became the turning point in his working relationship with the producer;
How Larry created the very first echo chamber, and an in-depth overview on how it developed over time;
Larry’s assessment of Brian Wilson’s overall character;
How Phil talked about Brian to Larry when Brian wasn’t around;
And his relationship with Chuck Britz.
There’ll be a short sneak peak running publicly for free, but the entirety of this podcast will only be accessible on the Major Tier of Discograffiti’s Patreon. Don’t miss it, or you’ll only be getting part of the story. Get it as a one-off, or better yet just subscribe…and then we’ll all have world peace.
Full Episode: Patreon.com/Discograffiti (available on the Major Tier & up)
Free Sneak Peek: linktr.ee/discograffiti
Subscribe to Discograffiti's Patreon and receive a ceaseless barrage (4 shows a week!) of must-hear binge-listening. It’s completely free to be a basic member, $1 to get your backstage pass, $5/month for the weekly Sunday show by & for our community, $10 for weekly early release, ad-free, super-extended Director's Cuts of the main show plus access to half our Patreon episode archive, & $20 for Discograffiti’s weekly bonus episodes and access to our entire Patreon episode archive. There are now over 400 Patreon episodes.

GRAHAM NASH DISCUSSES DAVID CROSBY’S SOLO DEBUT "IF I COULD ONLY REMEMBER MY NAME" (Ep. 233)

Discograffiti is the deep-dive podcast for music obsessives.  In this episode, Graham Nash discusses David Crosby’s classic solo debut If I Could Only Remember My Name with commentary and stories. Discograffiti’s Wild Tales: The Graham Nash Interview Series tackles every last release the great Graham Nash ever had a hand in creating, including CSN/Y, C&N, and his solo career, detailing a history almost too wild to be believed. 
Here are just a few of the many things that Graham discusses with Discograffiti in this podcast:
An overview of the initial spate of CSNY solo projects, and how they all performed relative to one another;
The origin story of the Planet Earth Rock & Roll Orchestra, and the albums on which this massive aggregate of legendary musicians have appeared (in the Director’s Cut only);
The only track on which Neil Young and Jerry Garcia are both playing guitar;
How Jerry Garcia wound up being the hero of Remember My Name, and what exactly David & The Dorks was;
The massive boatload of Crosby’s session outtakes, all of which is top-notch quality;
The outstanding financial debt for which Croz is still on the hook to Graham; 
Jerry Garcia’s favorite of his own pedal steel guitar performances;
And an in-depth deep dive on every song that comprises David Crosby’s If I Could Only Remember My Name, including David’s own lyrical analyses!
Listen: linktr.ee/discograffiti
I support a wife and a six-year-old son with Discograffiti as my sole source of income. 
If you’re a Graham Nash & CSNY superfan like me, The Director’s Cut of this episode is ad-free and features 14 additional minutes of essential material.  Support Discograffiti by opting for this clearly superiorr version.
Either subscribe to Discograffiti’s Patreon at the Lieutenant or Major Tier, or just grab the episode as a one-off at the same link.
The Director’s Cut (14m extra): Patreon.com/Discograffiti

AN INTERVIEW WITH SUNDAZED RECORDS FOUNDER BOB IRWIN ABOUT THE BEACH BOYS’ PET SOUNDS (Ep. 232B)

Discograffiti is the deep-dive podcast for music obsessives.  In this episode, we feature the next entry in The Chuck Granata Pet Sounds Interview Series. It’s Chuck’s chat with re-issue genius Bob Irwin. Bob and his wife Mary started the Sundazed Music label in 1989. The first Sundazed releases were The Great Lost Knickerbockers Album! by The Knickerbockers and Western Union by The Five Americans, and reflected Irwin's personal preference for garage rock and surf music. His skill at restoring old vinyl records for the (then new) CD format attracted the attention of major labels, who increasingly solicited him to help them re-issue material from their back catalogs. He also helped Sony Music release their archival Legacy Records label. Later, his restoration work included early material by the likes of Bob Dylan, Nancy Sinatra, & The Byrds.
In this episode, Bob discusses his relationship with Pet Sounds, its standing in the pantheon no matter how many times you’ve heard it, its importance and influence on music in general, and the wonders of a technology with inherent, imposed limitations.
There’ll be a short sneak peak running publicly for free, but the entirety of this podcast will only be accessible on the Major Tier of Discograffiti’s Patreon. Don’t miss it, or you’ll only be getting part of the story. Get it as a one-off, or better yet just subscribe…and then we’ll all have world peace.
Full Episode: Patreon.com/Discograffiti (available on the Major Tier & up)
Free Sneak Peek: linktr.ee/discograffiti
Subscribe to Discograffiti's Patreon and receive a ceaseless barrage (4 shows a week!) of must-hear binge-listening. It’s completely free to be a basic member, $1 to get your backstage pass, $5/month for the weekly Sunday show by & for our community, $10 for weekly early release, ad-free, super-extended Director's Cuts of the main show plus access to half our Patreon episode archive, & $20 for Discograffiti’s weekly bonus episodes and access to our entire Patreon episode archive. There are now over 400 Patreon episodes.

THE BEACH BOYS’ PET SOUNDS DEEP-DIVE: “Caroline, No” (Part 7) (Ep. 232)

Discograffiti is the deep-dive podcast for music obsessives.  In this episode, Beach Boys author Chuck Granata reviews and discusses Pet Sounds’ “Caroline, No” with commentary and stories. Discograffiti’s Pet Sounds Deep-Dive Series stands as a unique combination of factual obsession and personal connection, and there’s nothing else quite like it. This is the final episode.
Here are just a few of the many things that Chuck discusses with Discograffiti in this podcast:
How Pet Sounds’ final track differs from the rest of the record;
The many possible Carolines who may have inspired the song;
What writing the song wound up setting in motion for Brian, as he attempted to reconnect with his high school crush, Carol Mountain;
An intensive breakdown of the song’s mysterious coda;
And how both Chuck and I connect with “Caroline, No” in a laid-bare, explicitly personal way.
Listen: linktr.ee/discograffiti
I support a wife and a six-year-old son with Discograffiti as my sole source of income. 
The Director’s Cut of this episode is ad-free and features 17 additional minutes of essential material. Support Discograffiti by opting for this clearly superior version.
Either subscribe to Discograffiti’s Patreon at the Lieutenant or Major Tier, or just grab the episode as a one-off at the same link.
The Director’s Cut: Patreon.com/Discograffiti
Chuck Granata’s book Wouldn’t It Be Nice: Brian Wilson And The Making Of The Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds is the ultimate dissection of Brian Wilson’s 1966 masterpiece.  Order it on Amazon or at your favorite brick n mortar bookstore. 

1001 ALBUM COMPLAINTS HOST ROB KASSEES’S STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE ON HOW TO MAKE A RECORD (Ep. 231B)

Discograffiti is the deep-dive podcast for music obsessives.  In this episode, Dave Gebroe interviews our brother podcast’s host Rob Kassees as he walks us through the process of creating and releasing your own album, something he’s done many times over by this point.  In fact, he’s just released an initial sold-out vinyl press run of a new record that has to be heard to be believed. 
 
Stay Puft is the best Ghostbusters musical you'll hear this year. Upbeat songs and catchy hooks abound as his band The Chop retells the story of science's triumph over ancient Sumerian demigods. If you love indie concept albums made by old pros whose friendship and experience ooze through the speakers at every turn, you'll love Stay Puft. Printed with love to special "Slimer-green" vinyl with all original songs and artwork. 
 
It’s a hell of a lot of fun. You can order your copy right here:  https://linktr.ee/thechopunlimited
 
There’ll be a short sneak peak running publicly for free, but the entirety of this podcast will only be accessible on the Major Tier of Discograffiti’s Patreon. Don’t miss it, or you’ll only be getting part of the story. Get it as a one-off, or better yet just subscribe.
 
Full Episode: Patreon.com/Discograffiti (available on the Major Tier & up)
 
Free Sneak Peek: linktr.ee/discograffiti
 
Subscribe to Discograffiti's Patreon and receive a ceaseless barrage (4 shows a week!) of must-hear binge-listening. It’s completely free to be a basic member, $1 to get your backstage pass, $5/month for the weekly Sunday show by & for our community, $10 for weekly early release, ad-free, super-extended Director's Cuts of the main show plus access to half our Patreon episode archive, & $20 for Discograffiti’s weekly bonus episodes and access to our entire Patreon episode archive. There are now over 400 Patreon episodes.

TONY ASHER TALKS ABOUT WORKING WITH BRIAN WILSON ON THE BEACH BOYS’ PET SOUNDS (PART 3) (Ep. 231)

Discograffiti is the deep-dive podcast for music obsessives.  In this episode, the next entry in The Chuck Granata Pet Sounds Interview Series, Discograffiti presents Part 3 of Chuck’s chat with Tony Asher, Brian Wilson’s lyrical collaborator on Pet Sounds. This is easily the best, most honest and unguarded Tony Asher interview in existence. Huge thank you to Chuck.   
 
Here’s just a few of the many things that Tony discusses with Discograffiti in this podcast:
 
The tantalizing pitch to rewrite some Beach Boys lyrics that Tony wound up turning down (Director’s Cut only);
How his work writing jingles for Mattel toys dovetailed creatively into his experience working with Brian (Director’s Cut only);
Granular details of his very first hang with Brian;
The grand total of Beach Boys LPs that Tony Asher owns;
His opinion of pre-Pet Sounds Beach Boys lyrics;
And details surrounding the wild Loren Schwartz parties which the two men both attended.
 
Listen: linktr.ee/discograffiti
 
I support a wife and a six-year-old son with Discograffiti as my sole source of income. 
 
The Director’s Cut of this episode is ad-free and features 14 additional minutes of essential material. Support Discograffiti by opting for this clearly superior version.
 
Either subscribe to Discograffiti’s Patreon at the Lieutenant or Major Tier, or just grab the episode as a one-off at the same link.
 
The Director’s Cut: Patreon.com/Discograffiti
 
Chuck Granata’s book Wouldn’t It Be Nice: Brian Wilson And The Making Of The Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds is the ultimate dissection of Brian Wilson’s 1966 masterpiece.  Order it on Amazon or at your favorite brick n mortar bookstore. 

AN INTERVIEW WITH DR. PAUL TANNER, INVENTOR OF THE ELECTRO-THEREMIN (Ep. 230B)

Discograffiti is the deep-dive podcast for music obsessives.  In this episode, we feature the next entry in The Chuck Granata Pet Sounds Interview Series. It’s Chuck’s chat with Dr. Paul Tanner, inventor (with Bob Whitsell) of the Electro-Theremin, which he also famously played on three Beach Boys tracks: “I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times,” “Good Vibrations,” and “Wild Honey.” Paul passed away a few years later in 2013, which makes this posthumously released “Chuck Chat” yet another priceless buried treasure.  
Here are just a few of the many things that Paul discusses with Discograffiti in this podcast:
How he got the idea for the Electro-Theremin in the first place;
The differences between the theremin and Dr. Tanner’s simpler device;
His days playing trombone with the Glenn Miller Band;
The 1958 record Music For Heavenly Bodies, which was the first full-length LP to feature Paul’s instrument;
Being asked to join The Beach Boys on tour;
And what happened when a different Wilson brother hired Paul for a session date.
There’ll be a short sneak peak running publicly for free, but the entirety of this podcast will only be accessible on the Major Tier of Discograffiti’s Patreon. Don’t miss it, or you’ll only be getting part of the story. Get it as a one-off, or better yet just subscribe…and then we’ll all have world peace.
Full Episode: Patreon.com/Discograffiti (available on the Major Tier & up)
Free Sneak Peek: linktr.ee/discograffiti
Subscribe to Discograffiti's Patreon and receive a ceaseless barrage (4 shows a week!) of must-hear binge-listening. It’s completely free to be a basic member, $1 to get your backstage pass, $5/month for the weekly Sunday show by & for our community, $10 for weekly early release, ad-free, super-extended Director's Cuts of the main show plus access to half our Patreon episode archive, & $20 for Discograffiti’s weekly bonus episodes and access to our entire Patreon episode archive. There are now over 400 Patreon episodes.
CONNECT
Join our Soldiers of Sound Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1839109176272153
Patreon: www.Patreon.com/Discograffiti
Podfollow: ⁠⁠https://podfollow.com/1592182331⁠⁠
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClyaQCdvDelj5EiKj6IRLhw
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/discograffitipod/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Discograffiti/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Discograffiti
Order the Digital version of the METAL MACHINE MUZAK 2xLP (feat. Lou Barlow, Cory Hanson, Mark Robinson, & W. Cullen Hart): www.patreon.com/discograffiti/shop/197404
Order the $11 Digital version of the MMM 2xLP on Bandcamp: https://discograffiti.bandcamp.com/album/metal-machine-muzak
Order the METAL MACHINE MUZAK Double Vinyl + Digital package: www.patreon.com/discograffiti/shop/169954
Merch Shop: https://discograffitipod.myspreadshop.com/all
Venmo Dave A Tip: @David-Gebroe
Web site: http://discograffiti.com/
 
CONTACT DAVE
Email: dave@discograffiti.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hooligandave
Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/davidgebroe/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DaveGebroe
There is no other Patreon in existence where you get more for your money. 4 shows a week is what it takes these days to successfully blot out our unacceptable reality…so do yourself a favor and give it a shot for at least one month to see what I’m talking about.  
If you’re already a member, please comment below about your experience.  
www.Patreon.com/discograffiti

THE BEACH BOYS’ PET SOUNDS DEEP-DIVE: “I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times” & “Pet Sounds” (Ep. 230)

Discograffiti is the deep-dive podcast for music obsessives.  In this episode, Beach Boys author Chuck Granata reviews and discusses Pet Sounds’ “I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times” and “Pet Sounds” with commentary and stories. Discograffiti’s Pet Sounds Deep-Dive Series stands as a unique combination of factual obsession and personal connection, and there’s nothing else quite like it. 
Here are just a few of the many things that Chuck discusses with Discograffiti in this podcast:
Dave Gebroe’s 2 favorite songs of all time;
The use of the Electro-Theremin in “I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times,” which stands as its first usage in a pop/rock record ever;
Tony Asher’s inability to personally connect with the lyrics to “I Just Wasn’t Made”;
The spiritual successor to the song that Brian created and recorded with Andy Paley in the 1990s;
The true origin and first-draft title of the title track;
And how both Chuck and I connect with “I I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times” and Pet Sounds” in a laid-bare, explicitly personal way.
Listen: linktr.ee/discograffiti
I support a wife and a six-year-old son with Discograffiti as my sole source of income. 
The Director’s Cut of this episode is ad-free and features 19 additional minutes of essential material (which comprises the entire section on the title track). Support Discograffiti by opting for this clearly superior version.
Either subscribe to Discograffiti’s Patreon at the Lieutenant or Major Tier, or just grab the episode as a one-off at the same link.
The Director’s Cut: Patreon.com/Discograffiti
Chuck Granata’s book Wouldn’t It Be Nice: Brian Wilson And The Making Of The Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds is the ultimate dissection of Brian Wilson’s 1966 masterpiece.  Order it on Amazon or at your favorite brick n mortar bookstore. 
CONNECT
Join our Soldiers of Sound Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1839109176272153
Patreon: www.Patreon.com/Discograffiti
Podfollow: ⁠⁠https://podfollow.com/1592182331⁠⁠
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClyaQCdvDelj5EiKj6IRLhw
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/discograffitipod/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Discograffiti/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Discograffiti
Order the Digital version of the METAL MACHINE MUZAK 2xLP (feat. Lou Barlow, Cory Hanson, Mark Robinson, & W. Cullen Hart): www.patreon.com/discograffiti/shop/197404
Order the $11 Digital version of the MMM 2xLP on Bandcamp: https://discograffiti.bandcamp.com/album/metal-machine-muzak
Order the METAL MACHINE MUZAK Double Vinyl + Digital package: www.patreon.com/discograffiti/shop/169954
Merch Shop: https://discograffitipod.myspreadshop.com/all
Venmo Dave A Tip: @David-Gebroe
Web site: http://discograffiti.com/
 
CONTACT DAVE
Email: dave@discograffiti.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hooligandave
Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/davidgebroe/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DaveGebroe
There is no other Patreon in existence where you get more for your money. 4 shows a week is what it takes these days to successfully blot out our unacceptable reality…so do yourself a favor and give it a shot for at least one month to see what I’m talking about.  
If you’re already a member, please comment below about your experience.  
www.Patreon.com/discograffiti