Episodes

  • The Jazz Pianist's Perspective, with Peter Martin

    The Jazz Pianist's Perspective, with Peter Martin
    Nov 28 2025
    Kirk sits down with jazz piano legend Peter Martin to talk about Peter's musical background, his momentous early encounters with Wynton Marsalis and Kenny Kirkland, the jazz scene of the 1990s, how the Suzuki method works, and why jazz students today should be less shy about talking to their heroes. Check out Peter's online jazz education program Open Studio, as well as You'll Hear It, the music podcast he co-hosts with Adam Maness. DISCUSSED/REFERENCED:“Variations Sur ‘Le Carnaval de Venise” feat. Wynton Marsalis and the Eastman Wind Ensemble from Carnival, 1987“Path Adjacent” Peter Martin w/ Gregory Hutchinson, Sarah Hanahan & Reuben Rogers from Generation S, 2023“Bag’s Groove” by Milt Jackson from Miles Davis, Bag’s Groove, 1967“Tea For Two” by Youmans/Ceasar, played by Art Tatum from Piano Starts Here, 1968“Broad Way Blues” by Ornette Coleman from New York Is Now, 1968“Swingin’ at the Haven” by Branford Marsalis from Royal Garden Blues, 1986“Now’s The Time/Billie’s Bounce” by Charlie Parker from Jamey Aebersold Vol. 6: All Bird“Naima’s Love Song” by Betty Carter from I_t’s Not About The Melody_, 1992“Mental Phrasing” by Roy Hargrove live w/ Joshua Redman, Ron Blake, Peter Martin, Rodney Whitaker, Greg Hutchinson“Turnaround” by Joshua Redman w/ Pat Metheny from Wish, 1993“Jig-A-Jug” by Joshua Redman and “St. Thomas” by Sonny Rollins” from Spirit of the Moment: Live at the Village Vanguard, 1995“Cat Battles” and “One Shining Soul” by Joshua Redman from Freedom in the Groove, 1996“The Loneliness of a Long Distance Runner” intro and “Mind and Body” from Solo, Live in New York, 2015“Why Approach Chords Matter” - Adam Maness for Open Studio on YouTube, 2025“2 Down & 2 Across,” “Sing a Song of Song,” “Before It’s Time to Say Goodbye” by Kenny Garrett feat. Kenny Kirkland from Songbook, 1997“Phyrzzinian Man” by Wynton Marsalis from Black Codes from the Underground, 1985“Necessary Evil” by Elvin Jones and “Whatever Possessed Me” by Chet Baker feat. Pat LaBarbera (Tenor) and Kenny Kirkland from Brother John, 1982“Stella by Starlight” by Hoagy Carmichael, performed by the Miles Davis Quintet on My Funny Valentine: In Concert, 1965----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--------------------NOVEMBER 2025 WHOLE-NOTE PATRONSAccessViolationAndyBen BarronCatherine WarnerCesarChristopher McConnellChristopher MillerCorpus FriskyDamon WhiteDaniel Hannon-BarryDave FloreyDavid MascettiElizabeth CulverGregJamie WhiteJay SwartzJenness GardnerJeremy DawsonJoe LaskaJulie RoweKen HirshLisa CrottyMelanie AndrichMelissa LucasNathaniel BauernfeindPaul DelaneyRich FishRick KeelerRobyn MetcalfeRushSami SamhuriThomas McIlheranNOVEMBER 2025 HALF-NOTE PATRONSAaron CainAaron WadeAbbie BergAbraham BenrubiAchint SrivastavaAdam ClarkAdam StofskyAdam WAilie FraserAJ SchusterAlan KressAlan MaassAlexAlex MillerAlexanderAlexander PolsonAlison DuganAmanda FurlottiAndrew BakerAndrew FairAndrew HoferAndrew KnutsonAngela LivingstoneAnthony MentzArjun SharmaAruni JayatillekeAshleyBeaBen SteinBernard KhooBetsy BarreBill ThorntonBonnie PrinsenBrad CallahanBrendan McLeodBrett DouvilleBrian AmoebasBrian RinckenbergerBrian John PeterBruno GaetaCarlos LernerCaro FieldCatherine ClausecbalmainCharles McGeeCheryl WilkeChris KChristian HessmannChristopher Selby SpinkClare HolbertonClaudia CartyClint McElroyColin HodoDallas HockleyDan CutterDaniDaniel KaberonDaniel MarkoffDaniel NervoDave DouglassDave Kolasdave malloyDave SharpeDavidDavid FutterDavid JoskeDavid NoahDeebsDent EarlDermot CrowleyDhu WikDiane HughesDiane TurnerDick MorganDonald MackieDoreen CarlsonDoug BelewDouglas H FrazerDr Arthur A GrayDubmarineE Margaret WartonEdward SteenEoin de BurcaEric HelmEric Prestemoneric spEric StoneErikEthan BaumanEthan LaserFreddy FreemanGary PierceGavin DoigGeraldine ButlerGlenn JacksonGrettir AsmundarsonHeather JHenry MindlinHiddenJesterIan KarmelIan PiddInmar GivoniirritableJamesJamesJames JohnsonJames McMurryJamieJanice BerryJason PrattJeffJeff UlmJeffrey BeanJeffrey OlsonJennifer BushJezJim SellersJoe GalloJohn BerryJohn Dominajohn halpinJonathan DanielsJordan GatenbyJoseph RomeroJosh SingerJoshua HillJRRJJulie KellmanJustin McElroyKarma JayKaya WoodallKayla RussellKellen SteffenKelli BrockingtonKenIsWearingAHatKenneth JungKevin MarceloKevin PotterKevin StaffordKym GriffithLauren KnottsLauren ReayLawrenceLee R.LGLinda DuffyLisa TurnerLottie AronLuigi BocciaM Shane BordersMaddie SMargaret ...
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    1 hr and 26 mins
  • The Fearless Fela Kuti, with Jad Abumrad

    The Fearless Fela Kuti, with Jad Abumrad
    Nov 14 2025
    Writer, composer, and Peabody Award-winning podcaster Jad Abumrad joins Kirk to talk about Fela Kuti: Fear No Man, his new 12-part series on the life, music, and legacy of Afrobeat superstar Fela Kuti.DISCUSSED/REFERENCED:“Miryea’s Death” by Jack Nitzche from Revenge, 1990“Prologue” by Alexandre Desplat from Birth, 2004Excerpt from Port(al), music by Paola Prestini and Jad Abumrad, performed by the Brooklyn Youth Chorus“It’s Highlife Time” and “Amaechi’s Blues” by Fela Kuti and his Koola Lobitos, ca. 1963-69“Jeun Ko Ku,” “Eko Ile,” and “Je’nwi Temi” by Fela Kuti from Afrodesiac, 1973“Zombie” by Fela Kuti from Zombie, 1976“The Great Curve” by Talking Heads from Remain in Light, 1980“Life During Wartime” and “Once in a Lifetime” by Talking Heads from Stop Making Sense, 1984“The Prince We Never Knew“ - Sasha Weiss’ essential New York Times feature on Ezra Edelman’s unreleased Prince documentary“RITUAL” by Jon Hopkins from Ritual, 2024“Open Eye Signal” by Jon Hopkins from Immunity, 2013“A Quiet Glow” by Siavash Amini from Songs for Sad Poets, 2022“In The Dust of This Planet” - 2014 Radiolab Episode featuring the poetry of Eugene Thacker“The Right Man (Daniele Baldelli & Marco Dionigi Cosmic Remix)” from The Units - Connections, 2011“quiero sentirme bien” by Kali Uchis from Sin Miedo, 2020“Looking for Love” by The Tallest Man On Earth from Henry St., 2023“Sweet Surrender” by Sarah McLachlan from Mirrorball, 1999----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--------------------OCTOBER 2025 WHOLE-NOTE PATRONSAccessViolationAndyBen BarronCatherine WarnerCesarChristopher McConnellChristopher MillerCorpus FriskyDamon WhiteDaniel Hannon-BarryDave FloreyDavid MascettiElizabeth CulverGregJamie WhiteJay SwartzJenness GardnerJeremy DawsonJoe LaskaKen HirshLisa CrottyMelanie AndrichMelissa LucasNathaniel BauernfeindPaul DelaneyRick KeelerRobyn MetcalfeRushSami SamhuriThomas McIlheranOCTOBER 2025 HALF-NOTE PATRONSAaron CainAaron WadeAaron WilsonAbbie BergAbraham BenrubiAchint SrivastavaAdam ClarkAdam StofskyAdam WAilie FraserAJ SchusterAlan KressAlan MaassAlexAlex MillerAlexanderAlexander PolsonAlison DuganAmanda FurlottiAndrew BakerAndrew FairAndrew HoferAngela LivingstoneAnthony MentzArjun SharmaAruni JayatillekeAshleyBeaBen SteinBernard KhooBetsy BarreBill ThorntonBonnie PrinsenBrad CallahanBrendan McLeodBrett DouvilleBrian AmoebasBrian RinckenbergerBrian John PeterBruno GaetaCarlos LernerCaro FieldCatherine ClausecbalmainCharles McGeeCheryl WilkeChris KChris RemoChristian HessmannChristopher Selby SpinkClare HolbertonClaudia CartyClint McElroyColin HodoDallas HockleyDan CutterDaniDaniel KaberonDaniel MarkoffDaniel NervoDave DouglassDave Kolasdave malloyDave SharpeDavidDavidDavid FutterDavid JoskeDavid NoahDavid StroudDeebsDent EarlDermot CrowleyDhu WikDiane HughesDiane TurnerDick MorganDonald MackieDoreen CarlsonDoug BelewDouglas H FrazerDr Arthur A GrayE Margaret WartonEdward SteenEoin de BurcaEric HelmEric Prestemoneric spEric StoneErikEthan BaumanEthan LaserFreddy FreemanGary PierceGavin DoigGeraldine ButlerGlenn JacksonGrettir AsmundarsonHenry MindlinHiddenJesterIan KarmelIan PiddInmar GivoniirritableJamesJames JohnsonJames McMurryJamieJanice BerryJason PrattJeffJeff UlmJeffrey BeanJeffrey OlsonJennifer BushJezJim SellersJoe GalloJohn Berryjohn halpinJonathan DanielsJordan GatenbyJoseph RomeroJosh SingerJoshua HillJRRJJulie KellmanJustin McElroyKarma JayKaya WoodallKayla RussellKellen SteffenKelli BrockingtonKenIsWearingAHatKenneth JungKevin MarceloKevin PotterKevin StaffordKym GriffithLauren KnottsLauren ReayLawrenceLee R.LGLinda DuffyLisa TurnerLottie AronLuigi BocciaM Shane BordersMargaret McReynoldsMartín SalíasMathias SchmidtMatt BetzelMatthew JonesMaxmax barnesMelanie StiversMelissa KuhnsMelmaniacMerv AdrianMeryl AllisonMichaelMichael BermanMichael CasnerMichael SingerMichael WisnoskyMichelle Laughranmino caposselaMisty HaisfieldmjsMonica St. AngeloMordok’s Vape PenNaomi WatsonNathan GouwensNell MorseOl ParkerPascal RuegerPaul BigelmanPaul WayperPeter HardingPhantomMarePhilip KellyPortland Eye CarePrincess of WhalesR J HelowRachelRand LeShayRandal VegterRandy SouzaRichard SneddonRichard TollerRishi SahayRob TsukRobert GranatRobert HeuerRsPRyan RairighSarah VettersSean MurphySeattle Trans and Nonbinary Choral EnsembleSimon HellmanSTEPHENStephen TsoneffStephen WolkwitzSteve BSteve MartinoSteve PaquinStu BakerSuzanne CrawfordSy JacobsTanner MortonTBThomasTim ...
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    1 hr and 57 mins
  • Super Mario Bros: Koji Kondo's 8-Bit Masterpiece [Twenty Thousand Hertz]

    Super Mario Bros: Koji Kondo's 8-Bit Masterpiece [Twenty Thousand Hertz]
    Oct 31 2025

    This episode of Twenty Thousand Hertz originally ran in August 2025.

    Kirk's 2020 episode of Strong Songs about the music of Super Mario

    TWENTY THOUSAND HERTZ SHOW NOTES:

    This episode was written & produced by Casey Emmerling.

    From the springy jump sound to the iconic Overworld Theme, the sound of Super Mario Bros. is instantly recognizable. With just five lo-fi audio channels and 40 kilobytes of space, composer Koji Kondo created a soundscape full of unforgettable melodies. In this episode, we explore how Kondo’s playful instincts, rhythmic trickery, and love of jazz fusion defined the sound of Mario. Featuring Kirk Hamilton of Strong Songs and Thomas of Thomas Game Docs.

    MUSIC FEATURED IN THIS EPISODE

    Rocker Jr. - Shake [B]IT
    DJARTMUSIC - 8 Bit Console from My Childhood
    moodmode - Game 8-Bit On
    XtremeFreddy - Bit Beats 1
    moodmode - Level VII
    Wesley Slover - Analog Jam 1103
    Space_Cat - Light It Up
    moodmode - Level VI
    William Benckert - Dance of the Pixel Birds

    Subscribe on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to see our new video series.

    If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mystery.20k.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

    Support the show and get ad-free episodes at ⁠⁠⁠20k.org/plus⁠⁠⁠.

    Follow Dallas on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

    Join our community on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Reddit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

    Follow Kirk Hamilton’s podcasts ⁠Strong Songs⁠ and ⁠Triple Click⁠.

    Subscribe to Thomas’ Youtube channel, ⁠Thomas Game Docs⁠.
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    33 mins
  • Our Favorite TV Themes, with Leigh Sales

    Our Favorite TV Themes, with Leigh Sales
    Oct 17 2025
    It's fun to talk about TV theme songs, so that's what Kirk and special guest Leigh Sales did. Does this episode need any more introduction than that? Probably not.Check out Leigh's wonderful podcast Chat 10 Looks 3A YouTube Playlist of many of the themes discussed (and some they didn't get to)DISCUSSED/REFERENCED:The Office Theme - “Handbags and Gladrags” - 1967 by Mike D’Abo, perf. Big George Webley -US theme 2005 by Jay FergusonParks & Recreation - 2009, by Gaby Moreno and Vincent JonesWelcome Back Kotter - by John Sebastian (1974 - 1979)“Suicide is Painless” by Johnny Mandel, from MA_S_HThe Nanny Theme by Ann Hampton CallawayThe Brady Bunch theme by Frank De Vol & Sherwood SchwartzGilligan’s Island theme by Sherwood Schwartz (lyrics) & George Wyle (music)Beverley Hillbillies theme by Paul Hennig feat. Lester Flatt & Earl ScruggsMoney For Nothing/Beverley Hillbillies by Weird Al Yankovic from UHF, 1988"Money For Nothing" by Dire Straits from Brothers in Arms, 1985The Americans theme by Nathan Barr"Do Ya Wanna Taste It" by Wig Wam from Peacemaker, 2021The Pi Song from AsapSCIENCESymphony No. 8 in B Minor, D. 759 by Franz Schubert“Green Acres Theme” by Vic Mizzy“Woke Up This Morning” by Alabama 3, from The Sopranos"A Beautiful Mine" from Mad Men by RJD2“Sex and the City Theme” by Douglas J. CuomoSix Feet Under theme by Thomas NewmanBreaking Bad theme by Dave PorterHouse of Cards Theme by Jeff BealTank! by Yoko Kanno and SeatbeltsLEIGH'S MUSIC PICKS:Frank Sinatra Live at the Sands, ‘66 with the Count Basie Orchestra conducted by Quincy JonesINXS - Kick, 1987The Villagers - Becoming a Jackal, 2010----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--------------------OCTOBER 2025 WHOLE-NOTE PATRONSAccessViolationAndyBen BarronCatherine WarnerCesarChristopher McConnellChristopher MillerCorpus FriskyDamon WhiteDaniel Hannon-BarryDave FloreyDavid MascettiElizabeth CulverGregJamie WhiteJay SwartzJenness GardnerJeremy DawsonJoe LaskaKen HirshLisa CrottyMelanie AndrichMelissa LucasNathaniel BauernfeindPaul DelaneyRick KeelerRobyn MetcalfeRushSami SamhuriThomas McIlheranOCTOBER 2025 HALF-NOTE PATRONSAaron CainAaron WadeAaron WilsonAbbie BergAbraham BenrubiAchint SrivastavaAdam ClarkAdam StofskyAdam WAilie FraserAJ SchusterAlan KressAlan MaassAlexAlex MillerAlexanderAlexander PolsonAlison DuganAmanda FurlottiAndrew BakerAndrew FairAndrew HoferAngela LivingstoneAnthony MentzArjun SharmaAruni JayatillekeAshleyBeaBen SteinBernard KhooBetsy BarreBill ThorntonBonnie PrinsenBrad CallahanBrendan McLeodBrett DouvilleBrian AmoebasBrian RinckenbergerBrian John PeterBruno GaetaCarlos LernerCaro FieldCatherine ClausecbalmainCharles McGeeCheryl WilkeChris KChris RemoChristian HessmannChristopher Selby SpinkClare HolbertonClaudia CartyClint McElroyColin HodoDallas HockleyDan CutterDaniDaniel KaberonDaniel MarkoffDaniel NervoDave DouglassDave Kolasdave malloyDave SharpeDavidDavidDavid FutterDavid JoskeDavid NoahDavid StroudDeebsDent EarlDermot CrowleyDhu WikDiane HughesDiane TurnerDick MorganDonald MackieDoreen CarlsonDoug BelewDouglas H FrazerDr Arthur A GrayE Margaret WartonEdward SteenEoin de BurcaEric HelmEric Prestemoneric spEric StoneErikEthan BaumanEthan LaserFreddy FreemanGary PierceGavin DoigGeraldine ButlerGlenn JacksonGrettir AsmundarsonHenry MindlinHiddenJesterIan KarmelIan PiddInmar GivoniirritableJamesJames JohnsonJames McMurryJamieJanice BerryJason PrattJeffJeff UlmJeffrey BeanJeffrey OlsonJennifer BushJezJim SellersJoe GalloJohn Berryjohn halpinJonathan DanielsJordan GatenbyJoseph RomeroJosh SingerJoshua HillJRRJJulie KellmanJustin McElroyKarma JayKaya WoodallKayla RussellKellen SteffenKelli BrockingtonKenIsWearingAHatKenneth JungKevin MarceloKevin PotterKevin StaffordKym GriffithLauren KnottsLauren ReayLawrenceLee R.LGLinda DuffyLisa TurnerLottie AronLuigi BocciaM Shane BordersMargaret McReynoldsMartín SalíasMathias SchmidtMatt BetzelMatthew JonesMaxmax barnesMelanie StiversMelissa KuhnsMelmaniacMerv AdrianMeryl AllisonMichaelMichael BermanMichael CasnerMichael SingerMichael WisnoskyMichelle Laughranmino caposselaMisty HaisfieldmjsMonica St. AngeloMordok’s Vape PenNaomi WatsonNathan GouwensNell MorseOl ParkerPascal RuegerPaul BigelmanPaul WayperPeter HardingPhantomMarePhilip KellyPortland Eye CarePrincess of WhalesR J HelowRachelRand LeShayRandal VegterRandy SouzaRichard SneddonRichard TollerRishi SahayRob TsukRobert GranatRobert HeuerRsPRyan RairighSarah VettersSean MurphySeattle Trans and Nonbinary Choral EnsembleSimon ...
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    1 hr and 18 mins
  • Strong TV Songs: HBO Edition [Recast]

    Strong TV Songs: HBO Edition [Recast]
    Oct 3 2025
    Originally Aired October 20, 2020The Wildlings are south of the wall, the robots are rising up, Seventh Kavalry's on the move, and two percent of the world's population has vanished. Time for another edition of Strong TV Songs!This time around the focus is on HBO, a network that has defined much of the broader TV landscape over the past couple of decades. So let's dig into a bunch of great music from a bunch of good shows, with themes for Dothraki raiders, Alethiometers, robot farmgirls, nuns with guns, monstrous moguls, and lost souls.Special thanks to the key of C minor for making this episode possible.REFERENCED/DISCUSSED:“Woke Up This Morning” by Alabama 3 from Exile on Coldharbour Lane, 1997“Six Feet Under” by Thomas Newman, 2001“Deadwood” by David Schwartz, 2004“Way Down In The Hole” by Tom Waits from Franks Wild Years, 1987. Performed by Waits, The Blind Boys of Alabama, The Neville Brothers, DoMaJe, and Steve Earle“Game of Thrones” by Ramin Djawadi, 2011"Game of F***in' Thrones" by Anamanaguchi, 2012“Pacific Rim” by Ramin Djawadi feat. Tom Morello from Pacific Rim, 2013“Doom Patrol” by Clint Mansell and Kevin Kiner, 2019“His Dark Materials” by Lorne Balfe, 2019“Westworld” and “Sweetwater” by Ramin Djawadi, 2016“Ezio’s Family” by Jesper Kyd from Assassin’s Creed II, 2009"How The West Was Really Won,” “Nun With a Motherf***ing Gun,” and “Children of Krypton” by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, 2019“Succession” by Nicholas Britell, 2018"Kiss from Daddy" by Demi Adejuyigbe, 2019“The Departure” and “Dona Nobis Pacem” by Max Richter from The Leftovers, 2014OUTRO SOLOIST: Luke PriceThis episode's outro soloist is Portland fiddle player Luke Price. When he's not working as a side man in a variety of killer bands, Luke joins his wife Rachael to form the excellent songwriting duo DEAN!. You can follow them on Instagram and listen to some of their stuff on their website, wearedean.com.----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--------------------SEPTEMBER 2025 WHOLE-NOTE PATRONSAccessViolationAndyBen BarronCatherine WarnerCesarChristopher McConnellChristopher MillerCorpus FriskyDamon WhiteDaniel Hannon-BarryDave FloreyDavid MascettiElizabeth CulverJamie WhiteJay SwartzJenness GardnerJeremy DawsonJoe LaskaKen HirshLisa CrottyMelanie AndrichMelissa LucasNathaniel BauernfeindPaul DelaneyRick KeelerRobyn MetcalfeRushSami SamhuriThomas McIlheranSEPTEMBER 2025 HALF-NOTE PATRONSAaron CainAaron WadeAaron WilsonAbbie BergAbraham BenrubiAchint SrivastavaAdam ClarkAdam StofskyAdam WAilie FraserAJ SchusterAlan MaassAlex MillerAlexanderAlexander PolsonAlison DuganAmanda FurlottiAndrew BakerAndrew FairAndrew HoferAngela LivingstoneAnthony MentzArjun SharmaAruni JayatillekeAshleyBeaBen SteinBernard KhooBetsy BarreBill ThorntonBonnie PrinsenBrad CallahanBrendan McLeodBrett DouvilleBrian AmoebasBrian RinckenbergerBrian John PeterBruno GaetaCarlos LernerCaro FieldCatherine ClausecbalmainCharles McGeeCheryl WilkeChris KChris RemoChristian HessmannChristopher Selby SpinkClare HolbertonClaudia CartyClint McElroyColin HodoDallas HockleyDan CutterDan EliasDaniDaniel KaberonDaniel MarkoffDaniel NervoDave DouglassDave Kolasdave malloyDave SharpeDavidDavidDavid FutterDavid JoskeDavid NoahDavid StroudDeebsDent EarlDermot CrowleyDhu WikDiane HughesDiane TurnerDick MorganDonald MackieDoreen CarlsonDoug BelewDouglas H FrazerDr Arthur A GrayE Margaret WartonEdward SteenEoin de BurcaEric HelmEric Prestemoneric spErikEthan BaumanEthan LaserFreddy FreemanGary PierceGavin DoigGeraldine ButlerGlenn JacksonGrettir AsmundarsonHenry MindlinHiddenJesterIan KarmelIan PiddIan StedingInmar GivoniirritableJamesJames JohnsonJames McMurryJamieJanice BerryJason GerryJason PrattJeffJeff UlmJeffrey BeanJeffrey OlsonJennifer BushJezJoe GalloJohn BaumanJohn Berryjohn halpinJonathan DanielsJordan GatenbyJoseph RomeroJosh SingerJoshua HillJRRJJulie KellmanJustin McElroyKaya WoodallKayla RussellKellen SteffenKelli BrockingtonKenIsWearingAHatKenneth JungKevin MarceloKevin PotterKevin StaffordKym GriffithLauren KnottsLauren ReayLawrenceLee R.LGLinda DuffyLisa TurnerLottie AronLowell MeyerLuigi BocciaM Shane BordersMargaret McReynoldsMartín SalíasMathias SchmidtMatt BaxterMatt BetzelMatthew JonesMaxMelanie StiversMelissa KuhnsMelmaniacMerv AdrianMeryl AllisonMichaelMichael BermanMichael CasnerMichael SingerMichael Wisnoskymino caposselaMisty HaisfieldMonica St. AngeloMordok’s Vape PenNaomi WatsonNathan GouwensNell MorseOl ParkerPascal ...
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    1 hr and 9 mins
  • A Bob Dylan Beginner's Guide, with Matt Sitman and Sam Adler-Bell

    A Bob Dylan Beginner's Guide, with Matt Sitman and Sam Adler-Bell
    Sep 19 2025
    With so many dozens of albums over so many wildly disparate eras, it can take a lifetime to truly get your arms around Bob Dylan. On this episode, Kirk is joined by two guests who have spent their lifetimes doing exactly that. Matt Sitman and Sam Adler-Bell, in addition to co-hosting the terrific political history podcast Know Your Enemy, are both lifelong Dylan fans. This spring, they came on the show to give listeners a tour of Dylan's many eras, and to give newcomers a place, or places, they might start getting to know him better.DYLAN SONGS DISCUSSED, IN RELEASE CHRONOLOGY“Blowin in the Wind” and “Corrina, Corrina” from Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan, 1963 (and as sung by Peter, Paul and Mary)“Like A Rolling Stone,” “Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues,” “From a Buick 6” from Highway 61 Revisisted, 1965“Subterranean Homesick Blues,” “Mr. Tambourine Man,” and “Outlaw Blues” from Bringing it All Back Home, 1965“Rainy Day Women #12 & 35” and “Pledging My Time” from Blonde on Blonde, 1966“All Along the Watchtower” and “I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight” from John Wesley Harding, 1967“Lay, Lady, Lay” and “Girl from the North Country” (with Johnny Cash) from Nashville Skyline, 1969“Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” from Pat Garret & Billy The Kid Original Soundtrack, 1973“Forever Young” from Planet Waves, 1974“Tangled Up in Blue” from Blood On The Tracks, 1975“Hurricane” and “Romance in Durango” from Desire, 1976“Changing of the Guards” from Street-Legal, 1978“Serve Somebody,” and “Do Right to Me Baby (Do Unto Others)” from Slow Train Coming, 1979“Saved” from Saved, 1980“The Groom’s Still Waiting At the Alter” and “Lenny Bruce” from Shot of Love, 1981“Pressing On” and "Solid Rock" live in Toronto, 1980“Neighborhood Bully,” “Jokerman,” “Sweetheart Like You” from Infidels, 1983“Dark Eyes” from _Empire Burlesqu_e, 1985“Brownsville Girl” from Knocked Out and Loaded, 1986“Sylvio” from Down In The Groove, 1988“Everything Is Broken” and “Most of the Time” from Oh Mercy, 1989“Hard Times” from Good As I Been to You, 1992“Train of Love,” Johnny Cash tribute, 1999“Pay In Blood” from Tempest, 2012“I’m A Fool To Want You“ by Frank Sinatra, Jack Wolf, and Joel Herron from Shadows in the Night, 2015, and as recorded by Frank Sinatra“Polka Dots and Moonbeams” by Jimmy Van Heusen and Johnny Burke, from Fallen Angels, 2016“How Deep is the Ocean” by Irving Berlin from Triplicate, 2017“I’ve Made Up My Mind to Give Myself to You” from Rough and Rowdy Ways, 2020ALSO DISCUSSED/REFERENCED:The Know Your Enemy episode about Dylan's The Philosophy of Modern Song"Moonlight Mind" by Will Epstein and High Water from Crush, 2016"Lonely Woman" by Ornette Coleman from The Shape of Jazz to Come, 1959"Rainy Day Women #12 & 35" as recorded by Tom Petty and the HeartbreakersSam’s review of A Complete Unknown in The NationBob Dylan: Expecting Rain websiteEpisode one, "Weather”, from Dylan’s radio show Theme Time Radio Hour, featuring Muddy Waters on "Blow Wind, Blow”Audio from D.A. Pennebaker’s 1967 documentary Bob Dylan: Don’t Look BackAudio from Scorses’s 2005 documentary No Direction Home: Bob DylanGUEST MUSIC PICKS:Sam: Lucinda Wiliams, Car Wheels on a Gravel Road, 1998Matt: Willie Nelson, Across the Borderline, 1993----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--------------------SEPTEMBER 2025 WHOLE-NOTE PATRONSAccessViolationAndyBen BarronCatherine WarnerCesarChristopher McConnellChristopher MillerCorpus FriskyDamon WhiteDaniel Hannon-BarryDave FloreyDavid MascettiElizabeth CulverJamie WhiteJay SwartzJenness GardnerJeremy DawsonJoe LaskaKen HirshLisa CrottyMelanie AndrichMelissa LucasNathaniel BauernfeindPaul DelaneyRick KeelerRobyn MetcalfeRushSami SamhuriThomas McIlheranSEPTEMBER 2025 HALF-NOTE PATRONSAaron CainAaron WadeAaron WilsonAbbie BergAbraham BenrubiAchint SrivastavaAdam ClarkAdam StofskyAdam WAilie FraserAJ SchusterAlan MaassAlex MillerAlexanderAlexander PolsonAlison DuganAmanda FurlottiAndrew BakerAndrew FairAndrew HoferAngela LivingstoneAnthony MentzArjun SharmaAruni JayatillekeAshleyBeaBen SteinBernard KhooBetsy BarreBill ThorntonBonnie PrinsenBrad CallahanBrendan McLeodBrett DouvilleBrian AmoebasBrian RinckenbergerBrian John PeterBruno GaetaCarlos LernerCaro FieldCatherine ClausecbalmainCharles McGeeCheryl WilkeChris KChris RemoChristian HessmannChristopher Selby SpinkClare HolbertonClaudia CartyClint ...
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    1 hr and 54 mins
  • Singing and Songwriting, with The Wailin' Jennys

    Singing and Songwriting, with The Wailin' Jennys
    Sep 5 2025
    The Wailin' Jennys have been singing together for more than two decades - recording albums, touring the world, and filling venues large and small. After all these years, the trio—Ruth Moody, Heather Masse, and Nicky Mehta—have reached both a plateau and an inflection point. What's it like for a musical group that's been together for that long; for singers who've found such perfect vocal harmony for one another? How do they each think of songwriting, and of creative work in general? On their recent west coast tour, they stopped by the studio for a chat about those things and more.THE WAILIN' JENNYS ARE:Ruth Moody - Banjo, Guitar, VocalsNicky Mehta - Guitar, Drums, VocalsHeather Masse - Bass, VocalsFeaturing excerpts from the Jennys' albums Bright Morning Stars, iTunes Session - EP, 40 Days, and FirecrackerFEATURED/DISCUSSED:"Total Eclipse of the Heart" by Jim Steinman, sung by Bonnie Tyler and Rory Dodd"Paradise by the Dashboard Light," "I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That)," "Objects in the Rearview Mirror May Appear Closer Than They Are" - by Jim Steinman sung by Meat Loaf"Closer To Fine" and "Love's Recovery" by Indigo Girls from Indigo Girls, 1989Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert, 2016Kirk's essay on creativity, "Follow The Spark"Jeff Tweedy talking songwriting on The Ezra Klein Show"What Am I Here For" by Jade BirdMUSIC PICKS:Heather: Bonny Light Horseman, Keep Me On Your Mind/Set You Free, 2024Ruth: Aaron Neville, "Louisiana 1927"Nicky: Afghan Whigs, Black Love ----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 ...
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    1 hr and 11 mins
  • 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