Second Book Announcement

Second Book Announcement

Author: Andrew Hickey December 7, 2021 Duration: 0:00
This is just to let everyone know that the second volume of the book based on the podcast should be available by the time you get this episode in your podcast app. It's been a long, long, time coming, because the last year and a bit has been far more difficult, for far more reasons, than I can go into here, but the book is now done. It's called "From the Million Dollar Quartet to the Fab Four", and contains versions of the scripts for episodes fifty-one through one hundred, revised for the book format rather than audio, along with a rewritten version of the Patreon episode on the Big Bopper, an introduction summarising the first book, and a bibliography. The ebook should be available from every major ebook store, though it might take time to filter through to all of them. I'll be including a link in the blog post for this episode which, if you click it, will take you to your preferred ebook store if the book's available there. The paperback is currently only available from Amazon. It should eventually also be available from other retailers, as it will enter all the standard distribution catalogues, but it's self-published through Amazon's service, so those of you who boycott Amazon, completely understandably, might not want to buy that version. The ebook link will also take you to the Amazon page for the paperback. The hardback is available from lulu.com. That too will eventually also be available from other online bookstores, but I make more money, and you get it quicker, if you buy it from Lulu rather than a third party. Again, I'll link that in the notes here. The physical books are relatively expensive -- twenty-five dollars for the paperback, and fifty dollars for the hardback -- but they're *big* books -- six hundred and fifty-three pages counting the indexes -- and paper is expensive right now because of supply chain issues, so I hope you'll consider them good value for money, as they're literally priced as low as I can make them. If money's tight, the ebook is only $5. And speaking of good value for money, for one week only I've reduced the cost of the ebook of the first book to just one dollar. That's a limited-time offer to promote the series, so if you've not got that and want it, now's your chance. Patreon backers at the five-dollar-a-month level and higher have already received copies of the ebook. Those at higher levels will be receiving their copies of the physical books shortly -- they'll be being sent out in waves over the next few weeks. It's because of those backers that I am able to do this podcast at all, and I can't thank them enough for their generosity.See you all in a couple of days, when we'll be looking at the Byrds, and "Eight Miles High".   Links to buy the book: Ebooks (and paperback through Amazon) Hardback Link to buy the first book (only $1 in ebook this week) The ebook for Patreon backers

Andrew Hickey’s A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs is a deep, chronological journey through the sounds and stories that built a century-defining genre. This isn't a simple list of hits; it's a richly detailed narrative that connects musical innovation to its cultural and historical context. Each episode focuses on a single pivotal track, using that song as a lens to examine the artists, producers, technologies, and social movements that made it possible. You'll hear about forgotten pioneers, unexpected influences, and the tangled web of events that led from early blues and country recordings to the dawn of the digital age. Hickey’s approach is both scholarly and accessible, weaving together musical analysis, biographical sketches, and broader historical arcs. Listening to this podcast feels like assembling a massive, interconnected puzzle where every piece-every song-reveals a part of a larger, fascinating story. The series commitment to a full timeline, from 1938 through 1999, provides a unique and comprehensive framework rarely attempted in audio documentary. For anyone curious about how popular music evolves, and why certain songs endure, this extensive project offers an endlessly engaging education. It’s a definitive, ambitious audit of rock's DNA, one carefully chosen song at a time.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Podcast Episodes
Song 182: “Many Rivers to Cross” by Jimmy Cliff [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:50:15
This episode, we look at the song “Many Rivers to Cross”, the birth of reggae, and the career of the late Jimmy Cliff. Click the full post to read liner notes, links to more information, and a transcript of the episode.…
Song 181: “Proud Mary” by Creedence Clearwater Revival [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:00
This episode, we look at the song “Proud Mary” and the brief but productive career of Creedence Clearwater Revival. Click the full post to read liner notes, links to more information, and a transcript of the episode. Pat…
PLEDGE WEEK: “Light Flight” by Pentangle [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:00
Erratum: At one point here I say “Cannonball Adderley” when I mean “Nat Adderley”. This episode is part of Pledge Week 2025. For five days this week, I will be posting old Patreon bonus episodes to the main feed to encou…
PLEDGE WEEK: “Fruit Tree” by Nick Drake [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:00
This episode is part of Pledge Week 2025. For five days this week, I will be posting old Patreon bonus episodes to the main feed to encourage people to subscribe to my Patreon. If you want more of these, and only if you…
PLEDGE WEEK: “Living in the Past” by Jethro Tull [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:00
This episode is part of Pledge Week 2025. For five days this week, I will be posting old Patreon bonus episodes to the main feed to encourage people to subscribe to my Patreon. If you want more of these, and only if you…
PLEDGE WEEK: “Pictures of Matchstick Men” by The Status Quo [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:00
This episode is part of Pledge Week 2025. For five days this week, I will be posting old Patreon bonus episodes to the main feed to encourage people to subscribe to my Patreon. If you want more of these, and only if you…