054 - 'GOING FOR THE ONE' WITH RON 'BUMBLEFOOT' THAL

One of the most accomplished guitarists on the planet Ron 'Bumblefoot' Thal joins Mike to share his love of Yes and their 1977 album 'Going For The One'.

From the moment Ron first heard the title track as a child growing up in Staten Island, he was transported into a world created by the sheer beauty he heard across the five tracks on 'Going For The One'. Together with Mike, Ron shares why his love for this album still runs deep and strong to this day.

What led Rick Wakeman to return to Yes after leaving in 1973?
Which band delayed production of 'Going For The One' due to their own time at Mountain Studios in Montreux?
Has Ron ever had the pleasure of playing a vachalia; the Portugese guitar of choice used on 'Wondrous Stories'?

PLUS: Mike samples Ron's infamous 'Bumblef**ked' Hot Sauce live on the show with some moral support from Evanescence's Jen Majura!

AND: Hear Bumblefoot's fantastic 2020 single 'Planetary Lockdown'. 

An unforgettable episode of 'My Classic Album'.

Music Credits: 'This Is Rock' by Silvia Marchese
'Planetary Lockdown' by Bumblefoot Released on and played with permission from Bumblefoot Music
All music rights reserved to their respective owners.


052 - 'ALADDIN SANE' WITH PHIL COLLEN

The legendary David Bowie finally makes his 'My Classic Album' debut courtesy of Def Leppard guitarist Phil Collen. Phil joins Mike on this episode to discuss Bowie's celebrated album 'Aladdin Sane'.

With a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame career of his own, Phil reveals the impact David Bowie had on him in his formative years and how this album set him on his own musical journey... and of course with Mike being such a huge Def Leppard fan he couldn't resist some chat about 'Hysteria' and beyond!

In Phil's opinion, how does 'Aladdin Sane' improve on Bowie's breakthrough 'The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and The Spiders From Mars'? 
Why did Def Leppard choose to cover 'Drive In Saturday' for their 2006 covers album 'Yeah!'?
What unique Bowie recording was Phil's band mate Joe Elliott able to give to the man himself?

PLUS: Hear a preview of some great episodes coming this summer on 'My Classic Album' including conversations with Ron 'Bumblefoot' Thal and Riva Taylor!

An unmissable episode of 'My Classic Album'.

For more information on the show: Head over to www.myclassicalbum.co.uk

Like us on Facebook at 'My Classic Album with Mike Norris'
Follow us on Instagram @myclassicalbumpodcast
Or on Twitter @mca_podcast 

Music Credits: 'This Is Rock' by Silvia Marchese
All music rights reserved to their respective owners.

050 - 'RISING' WITH IAN HAUGLAND

The 50th episode of 'My Classic Album' is here and it's jam packed like no other! Ian Haugland, drummer of Swedish rock legends Europe joins Mike to discuss our 50th classic album, Rainbow's 'Rising'.

A union including the likes of Ritchie Blackmore, Ronnie James Dio and Cozy Powell was too much for a young Ian Haugland to resist. Together Ian and Mike explore the impact 'Rising' had not only on themselves but the development of hard rock and heavy metal as a whole!

What unique process did Rainbow use to audition drummers including Cozy Powell?

How did keyboardist Tony Carey react when Ian played him the intro to 'Tarot Woman' on his own radio show?

Is 'Stargazer' the genesis of metal's relationship with fantasy?

PLUS: Enjoy a track from Europe's most recent album 'Walk The Earth'

Oh but there's so much more!

  • Fans of TV show 'Parks and Recreation' rejoice! Mouse Rat are back!

  • It's been running over on our Instagram page for nearly a month. After 50 episodes worth of classic albums, the winner of the 50 Album Showdown will be revealed!

  • AND the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer joining Mike on a future episode of 'My Classic Album' will be announced at the end of the show!

My small way of thanking you all for enjoying 50 episodes of 'My Classic Album'

For more information on the show: Head over to www.myclassicalbum.co.uk

Like us on Facebook at 'My Classic Album with Mike Norris'

Follow us on Instagram @myclassicalbumpodcast

Or on Twitter @mca_podcast

 

Music Credits: 'This Is Rock' by Silvia Marchese

'5000 Candles In The Wind (Bye Bye L'il Sebastian)' by Mouse Rat (taken from their upcoming album 'The Awesome Album'. Released on and played with permission from Dualtone Records and Entertainment 720)

'Walk The Earth' by Europe (taken from their 2017 studio album 'Walk The Earth'. Released on and played with permission from Hell & Back Recordings)

All music rights reserved to their respective owners.

047 - 'ONE WAY... OR ANOTHER' WITH BOONE FROGGETT

Lauded as 'the American Led Zeppelin', the tale of American rockers Cactus is the encapsulation of sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll. On this edition of 'My Classic Album', Boone Froggett from Kentucky rockers Otis introduces Mike to Cactus's second album 'One Way... Or Another'

Wild shows with singer Rusty Day arrested before the encore and drug fuelled tours with the likes of Black Sabbath served as the backdrop for the album sessions with 'One Way... Or Another' playing a significant but underrated role in the development of hard rock and metal in its early years.

Which legendary British singer was close to becoming the voice of Cactus?
In what ways can Boone spot the influence of Eddie Kramer who helped produce the album?
Is 'Big Mama Boogie Pts 1 & 2' one of the defining moments in the storied career of drummer Carmine Appice?

PLUS: Enjoy music from Otis with their 2020 single 'Lyndales'. 

AND 50 years from the release of 'One Way... Or Another', hear 'Tightrope', the title track from the NEW Cactus studio album! 

The legacy of Cactus comes full circle on a special episode of 'My Classic Album' 

For more information on the show: Head over to www.myclassicalbum.co.uk

Like us on Facebook at 'My Classic Album with Mike Norris'
Follow us on Instagram @myclassicalbumpodcast
Or on Twitter @mca_podcast

 

Music Credits: 'This Is Rock' by Silvia Marchese
'Lyndales' by Otis (an independent release played with permission from the artist)
'Tightrope' by Cactus (with thanks to and permission from Cleopatra Records. Released from the new studio album 'Tightrope' available now!)

All music rights reserved to their respective owners.


043 - 'HIGHWAY TO HELL' WITH DAMON JOHNSON

The AC/DC lovefest continues on 'My Classic Album as friend of the show Damon Johnson returns to share his love for 'Highway To Hell'.

Damon recalls the very moment 'Highway To Hell' came into his life and the impact it had from the first three notes. Together Mike and Damon explore the pressures AC/DC were under from Atlantic Records to adapt for mainstream success and how they did it without compromising who they were as a band.

Which renowned producer almost produced 'Highway To Hell' before Mutt Lange's involvement?

What controversy in the mid 1980s change the public's perception of 'Night Prowler' forever?

Which song on the album did Angus Young write 'after a night of bad pizza'?

PLUS: Hear the fantastic 'Talk Yourself Into Anything', a track from Damon's new album 'Battle Lessons'.

 

Nobody's gonna slow us down on this edition of 'My Classic Album'.

 

For more information on the show: Head over to www.myclassicalbum.co.uk

Like us on Facebook at 'My Classic Album with Mike Norris'

Follow us on Instagram @myclassicalbumpodcast

Or on Twitter @mca_podcast

 

Music Credits: 'This Is Rock' by Silvia Marchese

'Talk Yourself Into Anything' by Damon Johnson & The Get Ready. Played with permission from the new album 'Battle Lessons' out now!

042 - 'HIGH VOLTAGE' WITH RILEY COUZZOURT

For the next four weeks, 'My Classic Album' will be celebrating the Bon Scott era of AC/DC starting with this episode dedicated to their international debut 'High Voltage'.

Mike is joined by Riley Couzzourt, guitarist of the Georgia Thunderbolts for who 'High Voltage' marked a crucial in his journey as a lover of rock music and a musician in his own right. Together Mike and Riley explore how the growing popularity of AC/DC in both Australia and across the world led the band to release this album; a compilation of their first two Australian releases.

 

Before he joined the band as lead singer, what role did Bon Scott play in the lives of AC/DC?

Why did Rolling Stone famously slate the album upon its release?

Who did Bon play songs including 'She's Got Balls' to see if they would make the cut for 'High Voltage'?

 

PLUS: Hear 'Looking For An Old Friend', the opening track from the debut EP from the Georgia Thunderbolts!

 

An episode not to be missed from 'My Classic Album'.

 

For more information on the show: Head over to www.myclassicalbum.co.uk

Like us on Facebook at 'My Classic Album with Mike Norris'

Follow us on Instagram @myclassicalbumpodcast

Or on Twitter @mca_podcast

 

Music Credits: 'This Is Rock' by Silvia Marchese

'Looking For An Old Friend' by The Georgia Thunderbolts (taken from their debut EP 'The Georgia Thunderbolts'. Released on and played with permission from Mascot Records)

039 - 'ELECTRIC WARRIOR' WITH MATTHEW HUGHES

'My Classic Album' sees in 2021 with an album credited as the very beginning of glam rock fifty years ago. Mike and special guest Matthew Hughes from US rockers Atari Ferrari team up to discuss T.Rex's 1971 album 'Electric Warrior'

Mike and Matthew explore Marc Bolan's beginnings in psychedelic folk duo Tyrannosaurus Rex and the musical journey Marc and T.Rex took to become the first and quintessential glam act in the UK in the early 70's.

 

How has the music on 'Electric Warrior' inspired modern day bands such as the Black Keys, Arcade Fire and the White Stripes?

Why did the iconic 'Get It On' spell the end for Bolan's friendship with DJ John Peel?

Was second single 'Jeepster' released without Marc's blessing?

 

PLUS: Hear 'Heartbreaker', the latest single from Atari Ferrari!

 

Start the new year right with My Classic Album!

For more information on the show: Head over to www.myclassicalbum.co.uk

Like us on Facebook at 'My Classic Album with Mike Norris'

Follow us on Instagram @myclassicalbumpodcast

Or on Twitter @mca_podcast

 

Music Credits: 'This Is Rock' by Silvia Marchese

'Heartbreaker' by Atari Ferrari

036 - 45 YEARS AT THE OPERA WITH SAVANNAH POPE

Three years since our last anniversary special and three years since their last appearance on 'My Classic Album', Queen are honoured on the podcast as we look back on 45 years of their iconic album 'A Night At The Opera'.

Friend of the show Savannah Pope returns to celebrate this momentous occasion as she and Mike discuss how important 'A Night At The Opera' was to Queen's future back in 1975 and address the impact that 'Bohemian Rhapsody' and the other eleven songs on the album have had since the album's release.

 

How close did Queen come to disbanding due to adversities they faced in the mid 1970s?

Which song on the album did the band choose to perform for Groucho Marx?

What extreme measure did Roger Taylor allegedly take to ensure 'I'm In Love with My Car' was chosen as the B-Side for 'Bohemian Rhapsody'?

 

Mike will also be reading memories and thoughts that you have shared about 'A Night At The Opera' throughout the show. Plus he will reveal the song voted as the best on the album as voted for by Queen fans and My Classic Album listeners alike.

It's such a jollifcation as a matter of fact! You won't want to miss a second!

For more information on the show: Head over to www.myclassicalbum.co.uk

Like us on Facebook at 'My Classic Album with Mike Norris'

Follow us on Instagram @myclassicalbumpodcast

Or on Twitter @mca_podcast

 

Music Credits: 'This Is Rock' by Silvia Marchese

030 - 'DAMN THE TORPEDOES' WITH HANNAH WICKLUND

The supremely talented Hannah Wicklund joins Mike for the 30th episode of 'My Classic Album' to chat about 'Damn The Torpedoes', the breakthrough album from Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers!

Together Mike and Hannah explore the unbelievable story behind the production of this incredible album including the unbelievable lengths Tom went to during a bitter dispute with the band's record label.

 

Which track on the album took over 100 takes to get right?

How does a particular lyric from 'Even The Losers' have a special significance for Hannah?

Why was 'Don't Do Me Like That' nearly given to the J Geils Band?

 

All these questions and more answered on this episode of 'My Classic Album'.

 

For more information on the show:

Head over to www.myclassicalbum.co.uk

Like us on Facebook at 'My Classic Album with Mike Norris'

Follow us on Instagram @myclassicalbumpodcast

Or on Twitter @mca_podcast 

 

Music Credits: 'This Is Rock' by Silvia Marchese