Episodes

  • The Night When The Who Had to Call for a Substitute Out of the Audience
    Dec 5 2025

    In November 1973, while the Who were playing in San Francisco, drummer Keith Moon collapsed on stage, and when roadies were unable to rouse him, Pete Townshend turned to the audience for a fill-in. And a 19-year old Who fan and aspiring drummer got to live out a rock & roll fantasy by manning the drum kit for three songs. Randy has the whole story on this week's Chronicles of Rock.

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    6 mins
  • The Album That Took Queen from Rags to Riches
    Nov 28 2025

    In 1975, the members of Queen were broke and in debt, despite three critically-acclaimed albums. But thanks to the backing of Elton John's manager, they set about recording an epic album -- one of the most expensive albums ever recorded. And suddenly, mamma mia, they were the toast of the rock world. Randy Renaud has the story behind the making of A Night at the Opera for the 50th anniversary of its release (November 21, 1975) on the Chronicles of Rock.

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    7 mins
  • The U2 Album Recorded in Re-Unified Berlin That Almost Split the Band Apart
    Nov 24 2025

    This week in 1991, U2 released their first album of the 90's, featuring explorations of new musical influences and styles. It became one of the biggest albums of the 90's, and it may also have saved the band from breaking up. Randy Renaud has the story behind it on the Chronicles of Rock.

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    7 mins
  • The Opening Chapter in a Hall of Fame Career
    Nov 14 2025

    In November 1972, a new California band suddenly burst onto the scene with a brilliant debut album. But that band was really just a recording vehicle for two songwriters from New York, Donald Fagan and Walter Becker, who would go on to create some of the finest albums of the Seventies and get inducted into the Rock Hall of Fame in 2001. But this first one has gone down in history as one of rock's finest. Randy Renaud revisits the birth of Steely Dan on this week's edition of the Chronicles of Rock.

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    7 mins
  • The Debut Album by Harmonium
    Jun 24 2025

    In late February, 1974, the first album from a brand-new Montreal band was released. It would help launch a Montreal musical renaissance, and lead to that band getting an invitation to tour Europe with Supertramp. Randy Renaud has the story behind Harmonium by Harmonium on the Chronicles of Rock.

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    8 mins