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Strong Songs

Strong Songs

By: Kirk Hamilton
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 Music: it's good. On each episode of Strong Songs, host Kirk Hamilton takes listeners inside a piece of music, breaking it down and figuring out what makes it work. Music
Episodes
  • Talkin' Tower of Power, with Adam Maness and Peter Martin [You'll Hear It]

    Talkin' Tower of Power, with Adam Maness and Peter Martin [You'll Hear It]
    Aug 22 2025
    Back in May, Kirk joined pianists Adam Maness and Peter Martin of the You'll Hear It podcast to talk about what makes Tower of Power great. It was a very fun conversation, so he asked if he could run their episode in the Strong Songs feed. And here we are!Listen to You'll Hear It anywhere you find podcasts, and find both Adam and Peter (and many others) teaching jazz lessons at OpenStudio.com.ORIGINAL SHOW NOTESMay 19, 2025We hand the mic to Kirk Hamilton from the Strong Songs podcast to help us break down the groovy 1973 self-titled release: Tower of Power. We unpack what makes this Oakland funk outfit a generational institution – from David Garibaldi’s precision drum fills and Rocco Prestia’s machine-gun bass lines to what may be the tightest horn section of all time. We dig into standout tracks like “What Is Hip?” and “Soul Vaccination,” spotlight Lenny Pickett’s wild ascent from TOP to SNL, and detail some funny production quirks (like why the drums are panned hard left). It’s a full-course tour through funk, soul, and brass brilliance – with a healthy side of stank face.----LINKS-----💰 SUPPORT STRONG SONGS!Patreon | Paypal🏠 HOMEPAGEstrongsongspodcast.com👚 MERCHstrongsongspodcast.com/store📬 KIRK'S NEWSLETTERnewsletter.kirkhamilton.com📷 SOCIAL MEDIAInstagram: @Kirk_HamiltonBluesky: @kirkhamilton.com💬 STRONG SONGS DISCORD SERVERstrongsongspodcast.com/discord🎧 STRONG SONGS PLAYLISTSSpotify | Apple Music | YouTube Music🎸 KIRK'S GEAR & INSTRUMENTSkirkhamilton.com/gear🎶 KIRK'S MUSICkirkhamilton.com/music🎨 SHOW ARTTom Deja, Bossman Graphics--------------------AUGUST 2025 WHOLE-NOTE PATRONSMelissa LucasThomas McIlheranAndyLisa CrottyRick KeelerElizabeth CulverMeryl AllisonRobyn MetcalfeCesarCorpus FriskyBen BarronCatherine WarnerDamon WhiteJay SwartzRushDaniel Hannon-BarryChristopher MillerJamie WhiteChristopher McConnellDavid MascettiJoe LaskaKen HirshMelanie AndrichJenness GardnerNathaniel BauernfeindPaul DelaneySami SamhuriJeremy DawsonAccessViolationDave FloreyAUGUST 2025 HALF-NOTE PATRONSMathias SchmidtErikFreddy FreemanAdam ClarkSTEPHENBrendan McLeodZach PutnamIan KarmelSteve BWorcesterJimJezAlex MillerLottie AronRsPMichael WisnoskyBrian RinckenbergerDan EliasHiddenJesterBetsy BarreIan StedingMargaret McReynoldsAlison DuganPrincess of WhalesDave DouglassSuzanne CrawfordPhantomMareKym GriffithRachelAruni JayatillekeTBDaniel KaberonWiggy HashWhit SidenerJulie KellmanSimon HellmanBeaClaudia CartyDaniGlenn JacksonChristopher Selby SpinkPhilip KellyDaniel NervoKevin StaffordLawrenceSy JacobsirritableIan PiddAndrew HoferJordan GatenbyMelissa KuhnsAshleySeattle Trans And Nonbinary Choral EnsembleKevin MarceloJamesMichaelJeffDan CutterJoseph RomeroOl ParkerJohn BerryDanielle KrizClint McElroyMordok’s Vape PenInmar GivoniMichael SingerMerv AdrianJoe GalloMichael YorkLauren KnottsDave KolasHenry MindlinMonica St. AngeloStephen WolkwitzRand LeShayMaxeric spMatthew JonesThomasAnthony MentzJames McMurryEthan LaserBrian John PeterChris RemoAaron WilsonDent EarlCarlos LernerMisty HaisfieldAbraham BenrubiLee R.Dick MorganBen SteinGrettir AsmundarsonSean MurphyRandal VegterKellen SteffenKaya WoodallRobert Granatdave malloyAlan MaassDouglas H Frazerjohn halpinPeter HardingDavidKayla RussellJohn BaumanMartín SalíasStu BakerSteve MartinoDr Arthur A GrayGary PierceMatt BaxterLuigi BocciaE Margaret WartonTim SheehanCharles McGeeCatherine ClauseEthan BaumanKenIsWearingAHatAaron WadeJeff UlmDavid FutterJamieDeebsPortland Eye CareRichard SneddonChristian HessmannJanice BerryDoreen CarlsonWendy GilchristLisa TurnerPaul WayperMiles FormanBruno GaetaKenneth JungAdam StofskyZak RemerRishi SahayJeffrey BeanJRRJAilie FraserRob TsukJosh SingerAdam WKelli Brockingtonmino caposselaSteve PaquinDonald MackieDavid JoskeBernard KhooRobert HeuerDavid NoahGeraldine ButlerJason PrattAbbie BergDoug BelewDermot CrowleyAchint SrivastavaRyan RairighMichael BermanLinda DuffyBonnie PrinsenEoin de BurcaKevin PotterM Shane BordersDallas HockleyJason GerryNell MorseNathan GouwensLauren ReayEric PrestemoncbalmainAngela LivingstoneDiane HughesMichael CasnerLowell MeyerStephen TsoneffJoshua HillPascal RuegerRandy SouzaClare HolbertonDiane TurnerTom ColemanDhu WikMelmaniacEric HelmJonathan DanielsCaro FieldDave SharpeNaomi WatsonDavidAlexanderJeff PattersonChris KGavin DoigTanner MortonAJ SchusterJennifer BushDavid StroudBrad CallahanAmanda FurlottiAndrew BakerAndrew FairBill ThorntonBrian AmoebasBrett DouvilleJeffrey OlsonMatt BetzelMelanie StiversRichard TollerAlexander PolsonJustin McElroyArjun SharmaJames JohnsonKevin MorrellColin Hodo
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    1 hr and 13 mins
  • A Song For My Father

    A Song For My Father
    Aug 8 2025
    THE APOCALYPSE WERE:Tony Capuano - Guitar, Lead VocalsJohn Shorb - Alto SaxGene Meros - Tenor SaxGreg Novik - Bass, Backing Vocals (guitar on Stormy Monday)Oggie Hamilton - Drums, Backing VocalsFeaturing The Apocalypse playing:“Good Good Lovin’” and “Try Me” by James Brown“Hi-Heel Sneakers" by Tommy Tucker“The Shadow of Your Smile” by Mandel & Webster"I Don't Want To Cry" by Dixon/Jackson“Sack of Woe” by Cannonball Adderley“Think” by Lowman Pauling"The Midnight Hour" by Steve Cropper & Wilson Pickett"Shout" by The Isley Brothers“Stormy Monday” by Aaron ’T-Bone’ Walker"Song For My Father” by Horace SilverALSO FEATURED/DISCUSSED:“Stainless Soul,” “Wichita Lineman,” and “Watch Your Step” by The New Apocalypse from Stainless Soul, 1969. Listen via Demir Kelebek on YouTube"Moanin" by Bobby Timmons recorded by Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers on Moanin', 1959Excerpt from Hot Rod Hulbert's WWIN Show via RadioMaven77The Herald Times obituary for Ogden HamiltonThe Baltimore Sun obituary for Greg Novik“Greg’s Goodbye” by Leah Erskin for Baltimore Magazine, 2017----LINKS-----💰 SUPPORT STRONG SONGS!Patreon | Paypal🏠 HOMEPAGEstrongsongspodcast.com👚 MERCHstrongsongspodcast.com/store📬 KIRK'S NEWSLETTERnewsletter.kirkhamilton.com📷 SOCIAL MEDIAInstagram: @Kirk_HamiltonBluesky: @kirkhamilton.com💬 STRONG SONGS DISCORD SERVERstrongsongspodcast.com/discord🎧 STRONG SONGS PLAYLISTSSpotify | Apple Music | YouTube Music🎸 KIRK'S GEAR & INSTRUMENTSkirkhamilton.com/gear🎶 KIRK'S MUSICkirkhamilton.com/music🎨 SHOW ARTTom Deja, Bossman Graphics--------------------JULY 2025 WHOLE-NOTE PATRONSMelissa LucasThomas McIlheranAndyLisa CrottyRick KeelerElizabeth CulverRobyn MetcalfeCesarCorpus FriskyBen BarronCatherine WarnerDamon WhiteJay SwartzRushDaniel Hannon-BarryChristopher MillerJamie WhiteChristopher McConnellDavid MascettiJoe LaskaKen HirshMelanie AndrichJenness GardnerNathaniel BauernfeindPaul DelaneySami SamhuriJeremy DawsonAccessViolationDave FloreyJULY 2025 HALF-NOTE PATRONSFreddy FreemanAdam ClarkSTEPHENBrendan McLeodZach PutnamIan KarmelSteve BWorcesterJimJezAlex MillerLottie AronRsPMichael WisnoskyBrian RinckenbergerDan EliasHiddenJesterBetsy BarreIan StedingMargaret McReynoldsAlison DuganPrincess of WhalesDave DouglassSuzanne CrawfordPhantomMareKym GriffithRachelAruni JayatillekeTBDaniel KaberonWiggy HashWhit SidenerJulie KellmanSimon HellmanBeaClaudia CartyDaniGlenn JacksonChristopher Selby SpinkPhilip KellyDaniel NervoKevin StaffordLawrenceSy JacobsirritableIan PiddAndrew HoferJordan GatenbyMelissa KuhnsAshleySeattle Trans And Nonbinary Choral EnsembleKevin MarceloJamesMichaelJeffDan CutterJoseph RomeroOl ParkerJohn BerryDanielle KrizClint McElroyMordok’s Vape PenInmar GivoniMichael SingerMerv AdrianJoe GalloMichael YorkLauren KnottsDave KolasHenry MindlinMonica St. AngeloStephen WolkwitzRand LeShayMaxeric spMatthew JonesThomasAnthony MentzJames McMurryEthan LaserBrian John PeterChris RemoAaron WilsonDent EarlCarlos LernerMisty HaisfieldAbraham BenrubiLee R.Dick MorganBen SteinGrettir AsmundarsonSean MurphyRandal VegterKellen SteffenKaya WoodallRobert Granatdave malloyAlan MaassDouglas H Frazerjohn halpinPeter HardingDavidKayla RussellJohn BaumanMartín SalíasStu BakerSteve MartinoDr Arthur A GrayGary PierceMatt BaxterLuigi BocciaE Margaret WartonTim SheehanCharles McGeeCatherine ClauseEthan BaumanKenIsWearingAHatAaron WadeJeff UlmDavid FutterJamieDeebsPortland Eye CareRichard SneddonChristian HessmannJanice BerryDoreen CarlsonWendy GilchristLisa TurnerPaul WayperMiles FormanBruno GaetaKenneth JungAdam StofskyZak RemerRishi SahayJeffrey BeanJRRJAilie FraserRob TsukJosh SingerAdam WKelli BrockingtonVictoria Yumino caposselaSteve PaquinDonald MackieDavid JoskeBernard KhooRobert HeuerDavid NoahGeraldine ButlerJason PrattAbbie BergDoug BelewDermot CrowleyAchint SrivastavaRyan RairighMichael BermanLinda DuffyBonnie PrinsenEoin de BurcaKevin PotterM Shane BordersDallas HockleyJason GerryNell MorseNathan GouwensLauren ReayEric PrestemoncbalmainAngela LivingstoneDiane HughesMichael CasnerLowell MeyerStephen TsoneffJoshua HillPascal RuegerRandy SouzaClare HolbertonDiane TurnerTom ColemanDhu WikMelmaniacEric HelmJonathan DanielsCaro FieldDave SharpeNaomi WatsonDavidAlexanderJeff PattersonChris KGavin DoigTanner MortonAJ SchusterJennifer BushDavid StroudBrad CallahanAmanda FurlottiAndrew BakerAndrew FairBill ThorntonBrian AmoebasBrett DouvilleJeffrey OlsonMatt BetzelMelanie StiversRichard TollerAlexander PolsonJustin McElroyArjun SharmaJames JohnsonKevin MorrellColin Hodo
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    40 mins
  • "Lean On Me" by Bill Withers

    "Lean On Me" by Bill Withers
    Jul 11 2025
    For the Season Seven finale, Kirk takes a look at Bill Withers' enduring hit "Lean On Me." In the process, he takes a broader look at a bunch of Withers' other most famous songs to better understand how this plainspoken, seemingly ordinary guy managed to write so many extraordinary songs.Written by: Bill WithersAlbum: Still Bill, 1972Listen/Buy via Album.LinkALSO REFERENCED/DISCUSSED:“Ain’t No Sunshine” and “Grandma’s Hands” by Bill Withers from Just As I Am, 1971“Lonely Town, Lonely Street,” “Let Me In Your Life,” and “Use Me,” by Bill Withers, and “Who Is He (And What Is He To You)” by Bill Withers/Stan McKenny from Still Bill, 1972“Lovely Day” by Bill Withers and Skip Scarborough, 1977“Just The Two of Us” by Bill Withers, William Salter, and Ralph MacDonald, recorded by Grover Washington Jr., 1981“The Way” by Meshell Ndegeocello and “Who Is He (And What Is He To You)” recorded by Ndegeocello on Peace Beyond Passion, 1996Excerpts from Live at Carnegie Hall, released 1972Excerpts from the 2010 documentary “Still Bill,” dir. Damani Baker and Alex Vlack2004 Songfacts interview w/ WithersWithers' 2015 Rock Hall of Fame acceptance speechRecord needle sound via Sounds Recorded----LINKS-----💰 SUPPORT STRONG SONGS! Patreon | Paypal 🏠 HOMEPAGEstrongsongspodcast.com 👚 MERCHstrongsongspodcast.com/store 📬 KIRK'S NEWSLETTERnewsletter.kirkhamilton.com📷 SOCIAL MEDIA Instagram: @Kirk_HamiltonBluesky: @kirkhamilton.com💬 STRONG SONGS DISCORD SERVER strongsongspodcast.com/discord🎧 STRONG SONGS PLAYLISTS Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube Music🎸 KIRK'S GEAR & INSTRUMENTS kirkhamilton.com/gear🎶 KIRK'S MUSIC kirkhamilton.com/music🎨 SHOW ART Tom Deja, Bossman Graphics--------------------JUNE 2025 WHOLE-NOTE PATRONSThomas McIlheranAndyLisa CrottyRick KeelerElizabeth CulverMeryl AllisonRobyn MetcalfeCesarCorpus FriskyBen BarronCatherine WarnerDamon WhiteJay SwartzRushDaniel Hannon-BarryChristopher MillerJamie WhiteChristopher McConnellDavid MascettiJoe LaskaKen HirshMelanie AndrichJenness GardnerNathaniel BauernfeindPaul DelaneySami SamhuriJeremy DawsonAccessViolationDave FloreyJUNE 2025 HALF-NOTE PATRONSIan StedingMargaret McReynoldsAlison DuganPrincess of WhalesDave DouglassSuzanne CrawfordPhantomMareKym GriffithRachelAruni JayatillekeRyan GillenTBDaniel KaberonWiggy HashWhit SidenerJulie KellmanSimon HellmanBeaClaudia CartyDaniGlenn JacksonChristopher Selby SpinkPhilip KellyDaniel NervoKevin StaffordLawrenceSy JacobsirritableIan PiddAndrew HoferJordan GatenbyMelissa KuhnsAshleySeattle Trans And Nonbinary Choral EnsembleKevin MarceloSamantha CoatesJamesJeffDan CutterJoseph RomeroOl ParkerJohn BerryDanielle KrizClint McElroyMordok’s Vape PenInmar GivoniMichael SingerMerv AdrianJoe GalloLauren KnottsDave KolasHenry MindlinMonica St. AngeloStephen WolkwitzRand LeShayMaxeric spMatthew JonesThomasAnthony MentzJames McMurryEthan LaserBrian John PeterChris RemoAaron WilsonDent EarlCarlos LernerMisty HaisfieldAbraham BenrubiLee R.Callum WebbDick MorganBen SteinGrettir AsmundarsonSean MurphyRandal VegterKellen SteffenKaya WoodallRobert Granatdave malloyAlan Maassjohn halpinPeter HardingDavidKayla RussellJohn BaumanMartín SalíasStu BakerSteve MartinoDr Arthur A GrayGary PierceMatt BaxterLuigi BocciaE Margaret WartonTim SheehanCharles McGeeCatherine ClauseEthan BaumanKenIsWearingAHatJordan BlockAaron WadeJeff UlmDavid FutterJamieDeebsPortland Eye CareRichard SneddonJanice BerryDoreen CarlsonWendy GilchristLisa TurnerPaul WayperMiles FormanBruno GaetaKenneth JungAdam StofskyZak RemerRishi SahayJeffrey BeanJRRJAilie FraserRob TsukJosh SingerAmy Lynn ThornsenAdam WKelli BrockingtonVictoria Yumino caposselaSteve PaquinDonald MackieDavid JoskeBernard KhooRobert HeuerDavid NoahGeraldine ButlerMadeleine MaderJason PrattAbbie BergDoug BelewDermot CrowleyAchint SrivastavaRyan RairighMichael BermanLinda DuffyBonnie PrinsenEoin de BurcaKevin PotterM Shane BordersDallas HockleyJason GerryNell MorseNathan GouwensLauren ReayEric PrestemoncbalmainAngela LivingstoneDiane HughesMichael CasnerLowell MeyerStephen TsoneffJoshua HillPascal RuegerRandy SouzaClare HolbertonDiane TurnerTom ColemanDhu WikMelmaniacEric HelmJonathan DanielsCaro FieldDave SharpeNaomi WatsonDavidAlexanderJeff PattersonChris KGavin DoigSam FennTanner MortonAJ SchusterJennifer BushDavid StroudBrad CallahanAmanda FurlottiAndrew BakerAndrew FairL.B. MorseBill ThorntonBrian AmoebasBrett DouvilleJeffrey OlsonMatt BetzelNate from KalamazooMelanie StiversRichard TollerAlexander PolsonJustin McElroyArjun SharmaJames JohnsonKevin MorrellColin Hodo
    Show More Show Less
    59 mins
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Really enjoyed this analysis and holistic approach you have looking at the performance, thank you

Great breakdown and analysis. thank you

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I love that someone so caring and insightful can take this subject matter and dive into it so deeply and with so much attention to detail! Even to the point of analysing the outboard fx used and to go ahead and learn the guitar parts. SO WELL DONE. Love this series, very muchly.

A fine analysis and exploration of a true classic

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