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Classic Rock Album Olympics

Classic Rock Album Olympics

By: Evergreen Podcasts
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The CLASSIC ROCK ALBUM OLYMPICS is a podcast celebrating the most popular albums of the 1960s, 70s and 80s. In each episode music historians Gary Wenstrup and Robert Rodriguez will pull a classic rock album off the shelf and discuss which songs earn our gold, silver and bronze medals. It’s a fun, insightful and passionate journey through some of the greatest albums of all-time. Let the games begin!45903249 Music
Episodes
  • Station To Station by David Bowie...Episode #26

    Station To Station by David Bowie...Episode #26
    Jun 23 2026
    In episode #26 of Classic Rock Album Olympics music historians Gary Wenstrup and Robert Rodriguez award their gold, silver and bronze medals for songs from David Bowie’s Station To Station. Released in January 1976, Station to Station represented Bowie’s transition away from American soul influences toward the avant-garde European sensibilities that would define his late-1970s work with Brian Eno. Station To Station introduced Bowie’s mysterious “Thin White Duke” persona — elegant, detached, and emotionally fractured. Recorded in Los Angeles during a turbulent period of Bowie’s life, the album blended art rock, funk, krautrock influences, and hypnotic electronic textures into one of his most acclaimed works. The album reached #3 on the US Billboard 200, making it the highest charting album of Bowie's career. The major single from the album was Golden Years which peaked at #10 on the Billboard Hot 100. Second single TVC 15 reached #64. The musicians on the album formed one of Bowie’s most celebrated backing bands. Guitarist Carlos Alomar anchored the music with sharp funk rhythms. George Murray and Dennis Davis created the sleek rhythmic foundation that would continue into Bowie’s Berlin recordings. Keyboardist Roy Bittan of E Street Band fame and guitarist Earl Slick played roles as well. Producer Harry Maslin helped shape the album’s polished sound. Culturally, Station to Station became enormously influential on post-punk, new wave, gothic rock, and alternative music. Its cold elegance and rhythmic experimentation inspired artists ranging from Joy Division and Talking Heads to later musicians such as Nine Inch Nails and Radiohead. Medal Winners Wild Is The Wind TVC 15 Station To Station Stay Golden Years Bonus Tracks Fame Young Americans Space Oddity Rebel Rebel Cat People (Putting Out Fire) Wild Is The Wind – Bowie Video (Just Like) Starting Over – John Lennon Rockin Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu – Johnny Rivers When You Wish Upon A Star -Jiminy Cricket/Cliff Edwards Baby Mine – Bonnie Raitt The Nearness Of You – Glen Miller & His Orchestra Rawhide – Frankie Lane Town Without Pity – Gene Pitney Town Without Pity – Ronnie Montrose Wild Is The Wind – Johhny Mathis Wild Is The Wind – Nina Simone Do Not Forsake Me, Oh, My Darling – Tex Ritter original soundtrack High Noon Bennie & The Jets – Elton John Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding – Elton John Autobahn - Kraftwerk Track Listing Side One Station To Station Golden Years Word On A Wing Side Two TVC 15 Stay Wild Is The Wind #StationToStation #DavidBowie #ThinWhiteDuke #GoldenYears #TVC15 #ArtRock #ClassicAlbums #1976Music #BerlinTrilogy #RockHistory Contact Info Website: ⁠⁠⁠Gary Wenstrup⁠⁠⁠ Podcast Website: ⁠⁠⁠Home - Classic Rock Album Olympics⁠⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠(556) Classic Rock Album Olympics - YouTube⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠(7) Facebook⁠⁠⁠ Podcast Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠(17) Gary Wenstrup | LinkedIn⁠⁠ Intro & Outro Music by Flwers ⁠⁠Flwers⁠⁠ Something About The Beatles Podcast ⁠⁠somethingaboutthebeatles.com⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    57 mins
  • Reggatta de Blanc by The Police...Episode #25

    Reggatta de Blanc by The Police...Episode #25
    Jun 9 2026
    In episode #25 of Classic Rock Album Olympics music historians Gary Wenstrup and Robert Rodriguez sail with Reggatta de Blanc by The Police and award their gold, silver and bronze medals for their favorite songs. Released October 1979, Reggatta de Blanc was the second album by The Police and the record that transformed the trio from promising new-wave outsiders into stars. Produced by Nigel Gray along with the band, the album expanded the reggae-rock and post-punk sound introduced on Outlandos d’Amour. The title – Reggatta de Blanc - loosely translates to “white reggae,” reflecting the group’s fusion of punk energy, reggae rhythms, jazz textures, and pop songwriting. The album featured the classic Police lineup: Sting on bass and lead vocals, Andy Summers on guitar and Stewart Copeland on drums. Together they created a sparse but highly rhythmic sound built around Summers’ atmospheric guitar work, Sting’s melodic bass lines, and Copeland’s inventive drumming. Reggatta de Blanc became the band’s first UK No. 1 album. In the United States it reached No. 25 on the Billboard album chart, helping establish the band’s growing American audience. The singles “Message in a Bottle” and “Walking on the Moon” both reached No. 1 in the UK. The singles did not fare as well in the US. “Message” hit #74 and "Moon" did not chart. The instrumental title track earned the band its first Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance. The album captured the restless energy of the late-1970s post-punk era while proving that reggae influences could coexist with mainstream rock radio. The Police stood apart from both traditional punk and arena rock by emphasizing space, rhythm, and sophistication over heavy guitar excess. Many critics and fans view Reggatta de Blanc as the album where the band honed its signature sound, paving the way for later classics like Zenyatta Mondatta and Synchronicity. Follow-up Note: As speculated in the podcast, The Police did not perform at Live Aid. Sting however did play a few Police hits with outside musicians. Medal Winners No Time This Time Message In A Bottle The Bed’s Too Big Without You Bring On The Night Reggatta de Blanc Bonus Tracks Roxanne Next To You Nothing Achieving Truth Hits Everyone So Lonely Visions Of The Night Fall Out Behind The Camel Be My Girl/Sally Mirror In The Bathroom – English Beat Further Reading Shot In The Heart -Mikal Gilmore Track Listing Side One Message In A Bottle Reggatta de Blanc It's Alright For You Bring On The Night Deathwish Side Two Walking On The Moon On Any Other Day The Bed's Too Big Without You Contact Does Everyone Stare No Time This Time #ThePolice #ReggattaDeBlanc #Sting #AndySummers #StewartCopeland #NewWave #PostPunk #ReggaeRock #ClassicAlbums #1979Music Contact Info Website: ⁠⁠⁠Gary Wenstrup⁠⁠⁠ Podcast Website: ⁠⁠⁠Home - Classic Rock Album Olympics⁠⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠(556) Classic Rock Album Olympics - YouTube⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠(7) Facebook⁠⁠⁠ Podcast Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠(17) Gary Wenstrup | LinkedIn⁠⁠ Intro & Outro Music by Flwers ⁠⁠Flwers⁠⁠ Something About The Beatles Podcast ⁠⁠somethingaboutthebeatles.com⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    57 mins
  • Silk Degrees by Boz Scaggs...Episode #24

    Silk Degrees by Boz Scaggs...Episode #24
    May 25 2026
    In episode # 24 of Classic Rock Album Olympics music historians Gary Wenstrup and Robert Rodriguez dig into Silk Degrees by Boz Scaggs and award their gold, silver and bronze medals accordingly. Medal Winners Georgia Harbor Lights Lido Shuffle We’re All Alone Bonus Tracks We Were Always Sweethearts – Boz Finding Her – Boz Dinah Flo – Boz Near You - Boz Brandy (You’re A Fine Girl) – Looking Glass Look What You’ve Done To Me – Boz Harbor Lights – Platters Low Down - Boz Love Me Tomorrow - Boz Sooner Or Later – Grass Roots Long Tall Glasses (I Can Dance) – Leo Sayer What Do You Want The Girl To Do – Boz Lone Me A Dime – Boz Jump Street – Boz Silk Degrees by Boz Scaggs was released in March 1976 and became the defining album of his career, blending blue-eyed soul, smooth pop, and West Coast R&B into a polished, radio-friendly sound that helped define mid-1970s adult contemporary music. Recorded at CBS Studios in San Francisco, the album benefited from a group of top-tier session musicians, many of whom would soon form Toto, including David Paich (keyboards), Jeff Porcaro (drums), and David Hungate (bass), along with guitarist Fred Tackett. Their tight, groove-oriented playing gave the record its sleek, sophisticated feel. The album was produced by Joe Wissert, whose clean, layered production emphasized rhythm, melody, and Scaggs’ smooth vocal delivery. Several hit singles emerged, including “Lowdown,” “Lido Shuffle,” “What Can I Say,” and “It’s Over,” with “Lowdown” becoming the biggest success, reaching #3 on the Billboard Hot 100. “Lido Shuffle” also performed strongly, reaching the Top 20, helping sustain the album’s momentum across radio formats. Silk Degrees peaked at #2 on the Billboard 200 and became a multi-platinum success, eventually selling over five million copies in the United States. Its crossover appeal—bridging pop, R&B, and soft rock—made it a staple of FM radio and a key influence on the emerging yacht rock sound. Critically and commercially, the album marked the high point of Scaggs’ mainstream popularity, cementing his place in 1970s music and showcasing a seamless blend of craftsmanship, musicianship, and accessibility. Track Listing Side One What Can I Say Georgia Jump Street What Do You Want The Girl To Do Harbor Lights Side Two Lowdown It’s Over Love Me Tomorrow Lido Shuffle We’re All Alone Hashtags #BozScaggs #SilkDegrees #1970sMusic #YachtRock #ClassicAlbums #Lowdown #LidoShuffle Contact Info Website: ⁠⁠Gary Wenstrup⁠⁠ Podcast Website: ⁠⁠Home - Classic Rock Album Olympics⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠(556) Classic Rock Album Olympics - YouTube⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠(7) Facebook⁠⁠ Podcast Facebook: ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠⁠(17) Gary Wenstrup | LinkedIn⁠ Intro & Outro Music by Flwers ⁠Flwers⁠ Something About The Beatles Podcast ⁠somethingaboutthebeatles.com⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    58 mins
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