Riffs on Riffs

Back in the day, children would read stories at school during story time and would often hear the "beep” that would signify when the page should be turned.  ELO’s Evil Woman and The Pussycat Dolls' “Beep” are generations apart but both illustrate how they worked to turn the page in creativity, impact, and style. Join Joe and Toby as they wind through the connections between these tracks.

Truth be told, there is a bit of confusion about what exactly was sampled from Shuggie Otis' "Strawberry Letter 23” to help create Outkast’s “Ms. Jackson”... But one thing that isn’t up for debate is that both of these songs are hits and there’s no time like the present to discuss these artists and their impact. Join Joe and Toby as they wind through the connections between these tracks.

If given a choice between sipping whiskey and going blind, the answer is pretty clear. But when listening to Etta James’ “I’d Rather Go Blind” and Chris Stapleton’s cover of “Tennessee Whiskey”, things get a little fuzzier. Join Joe and Toby as they wind through the connections between these two tracks.

Bobby Caldwell is a longtime crooner and someone that can rightfully say he’s big in Japan. Bobby’s classic track, “What You Won’t Do for Love,” is his most recognizable hit, but in this episode Joe and Toby show how Common sampled another Caldwell track, “Open Your Eyes,” for his iconic song “The Light”.

Ed Sheeran is a gifted songwriter and performer, but that hasn’t prevented him from getting into hot water around sampling and interpolating other artist’s material. Join Joe and Toby as they explore the similarities between Sheeran’s “The Shape of You” and TLC’s “No Scrubs.” Along the way we’ll take a look at the “Stairway to Heaven” copyright case and see how it impacts Ed Sheeran’s financial future. Don’t worry, he’s going to be ok.

Before he went looking for an around the way girl, LL Cool J was just a boy with his radio, needing a beat. He became a legendary hip hop pioneer and entertainment mogul. The Mary Jane Girls were the brainchild of Rick James, and he lent his prodigious musical talents to tracks like All Night Long and In My House. Join  Joe and Toby as they connect the dots between these artists.

You may know it as the chicken dance, but The Dance of the Little Bird was originally about ducks. Joe and Toby take a look at the origins of this oom-pah classic and demonstrate how it may have inspired The Jonas Brothers to create their latest hit, Only Human.

Roy Ayers Jr. has been called the Godfather of Neo Soul, and his Roy Ayers Ubiquity project was aptly named, as the track Everybody Loves the Sunshine has been a ubiquitous sample in hip hop history. Joe and Toby connect the dots to Mary J. Blige’s second album and its title track, My Life.

Heavy D and the Boys had a smash hit in 1991 with Now That We Found Love, and Joe and Toby examine how this track interpolates the 1973 hit from the O’Jays with the same name. Join us as we follow Heavy D’s career to full-fledged entertainment mogul and learn more about the soul group that had an enormous influence on future generations.

Back long before Stefani Germanotta became Lady Gaga, Madonna was, well, Madonna. Joe and Toby examine how the Madonna song “Express Yourself” was inspiration — and some might argue more than that — for Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way”. Both artists have made an enormous impact on the pop culture landscape, extending their reach far beyond music. Madonna has done it for decades, and time will tell if Lady Gaga has the same staying power.

When it comes to the music business, Warren G hit the stepbrother lottery. But that doesn’t mean he’s not a monster talent in his own right. Joe and Toby explore how Warren G used Michael McDonald’s “I Keep Forgettin” for his debut collaboration with Nate Dogg, “Regulate”. Speaking of monster talents, Michael McDonald has one of the most recognizable voices in music. We’ll take a listen to his work with Steely Dan, the Doobie Brothers, and as a solo artist. Mount up!

What we geek out over in this episode: Van Morrison & Them, Bob Dylan vs. Keith Sweat, Them! (1954) monster movie about nuclear ants, The Band’s “Up on Cripple Creek” (1969), Bert Berns - or, the guy who wrote “Hang on Sloopy” (1964) and “Brown Eyed Girl” (1967), Eric Gale - American jazz and session guitarist, “White Lines” (1983) by Melle Mel & Grandmaster Flash, and Beck’s rap/funk/soul/folk musical inspiration.

Calling all rebellious spirits with green mohawks! It’s time to unite for this all-things-Clash episode of Riffs on Riffs. What we geek out over in this episode: The legendary 70’s punk-rock band The Clash and re-discovering the greatness of their music; Bassist Paul Simonon smashing his Fender Precision Bass; what is the deal with the famous London Calling album cover? We’ll interview an expert!; other Clash-influenced tunes by Green Day, Garbage, Blue Oyster Cult, M.I.A. and many more.

I know, I know, I know you’ll love this episode featuring Shawn Mendes “I Know What You Did Last Summer” (2015) with Camilla Cabello. What we geek out over in this episode: The life and music of Grammy-winning singer-songwriter, Bill Withers; country music legend Mel Tillis and “Coca Cola Cowboy” (1979); Lou Rawls disco soul wonder “You'll Never Find Another Love like Mine" (1976), Booker T. & The MG's “Green Onions” (1962), Chuck Berry’s “My Ding-a-Ling” (1972).

Let’s explore Fall Out Boy’s 2015 hit “Centuries” and the 1990’s indie-folk sample that influenced it’s fist-pumping pop-punk sound. What we geek out over in this episode: “Seinfeld” Theme Song, “Saved by the Bell - The College Years”, the Mother of the MP3, Fast Folk Musical Magazine, Bobbie Gentry’s “Ode to Billie Joe” (1967), DNA (band), Soul II Soul “Keep on Movin” (1989), “Tom’s Diner” 2015 remix by Giorgio Moroder ft Britney Spears, Live at Daryl’s House, and the