Michael's Record Collection

Episode 79: Dean Friedman - American Lullaby

Singer-songwriter Dean Friedman isn't a one-hit wonder. His best-known song in the U.S., "Ariel" charted back in 1977, but he's had follow-ups do well in various other countries. Dean was gracious enough to join me this week to talk about his self-titled debut album, which came out 45 years ago, his musical background, some of the books he's authored, and his latest album, American Lullaby, which dropped last year. American Lullaby is a time capsule of the last six years, including the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections, the pandemic, divisive political views, climate change, and more. You can learn more about Dean's music at DeanFriedman.com. 

Reminder: You can support independent podcasting by becoming a Michael's Record Collection Patreon subscriber starting at only $2 per month (50 cents an episode...or less!) at the MRC Patreon page. Supporter benefits escalate at each level, providing more value the more you support the show. For example, you will know about interviews in advance and some levels can submit questions for the artists, come on the show to co-host, enter prize drawings, and more. 

Please hit the like button and leave a rating/review on Apple Music or the Goodpods app if you consume this podcast on those platforms. You can read my Michael's Record Collection newsletter for free by signing up at michaelsrecordcollection.substack.com. Follow MRC on Twitter (@MikesRecords), like it on Facebook, and follow on Instagram. Have questions or comments or want to suggest a topic? Hit me up at michaelsrecordcollection@gmail.com.

Episode 78: Swedish Rockers Ström Discuss Debut Album

Ström is a new band out of Sweden that wear their classic 70s hard rock influences on their sleeve. The band is set to release its self-titled debut album on Sept. 23 and Zdravko Zizmond (vocals) and Johan Siljedahl (guitars) were kind enough to tell me about the record, which was necessary because unlike many rock bands in Scandinavia, Ström lyrics and vocals are not in English. Ström sings in Swedish, which ironically sets them apart even in their home country for their chosen genre. Big thanks to Zdravko and Johan for their time. You can follow Ström on Facebook for more information and order their music on Sound Pollution's web shop. 

Reminder: You can support independent podcasting by becoming a Michael's Record Collection Patreon subscriber starting at only $2 per month (50 cents an episode...or less!) at the MRC Patreon page. Supporter benefits escalate at each level, providing more value the more you support the show. For example, you will know about interviews in advance and some levels can submit questions for the artists, come on the show to co-host, enter prize drawings, and more. 

Please hit the like button and leave a rating/review on Apple Music or the Goodpods app if you consume this podcast on those platforms. You can read my Michael's Record Collection newsletter for free by signing up at michaelsrecordcollection.substack.com. Follow MRC on Twitter (@MikesRecords), like us on Facebook, and check us out on Instagram. Have questions or comments or want to suggest a topic? Hit me up at michaelsrecordcollection@gmail.com.

Episode 77: KISS - Love Gun with Shout It Out Loudcast

If you grew up in the 1970s in the midwest, you were practically issued your KISS Army uniform. We were weaned on KISS albums like Alive!, Destroyer, Rock and Roll Over, Double Platinum, and, of course, Love Gun. That album turned 45 years old this calendar year, so I thought it was a good time to discuss it. Joining me to do just that, and to tell me how they started their excellent podcast, is Tom and Zeus from the outstanding Shout It Out Loudcast. We shared our KISS origin stories and went track by track through this 1977 classic. 

Reminder: You can support independent podcasting by becoming a Michael's Record Collection Patreon subscriber starting at only $2 per month (50 cents an episode...or less!) at the MRC Patreon page. Supporter benefits escalate at each level, providing more value the more you support the show. For example, you will know about interviews in advance and some levels can submit questions for the artists, come on the show to co-host, enter prize drawings, and more. 

Please hit the like button and leave a rating/review on Apple Music or the Goodpods app if you consume this podcast on those platforms. You can read my Michael's Record Collection newsletter for free by signing up at michaelsrecordcollection.substack.com. Follow MRC on Twitter (@MikesRecords), like us on Facebook, and check us out on Instagram. Have questions or comments or want to suggest a topic? Hit me up at michaelsrecordcollection@gmail.com.

Episode 76: Pink Floyd - Animals

I've been wanting to talk about Pink Floyd for quite some time. One of my favorite bands of all time, Pink Floyd had an incredible run of albums in the 1970s that were the whole package...music, lyrics, production value...it all worked. As 2022 is the 45-year anniversary of the album Animals, which is one of my favorites, I though that would be a good place to start. I enlisted the help of my friend Joel Craig, a former internet DJ who hosted the show Interstellar Overdrive at ProgRock.com and The Dividing Line a few years back. Joel and I discuss the album in depth and share our passion for this classic album.

Reminder: You can support independent podcasting by becoming a Michael's Record Collection Patreon subscriber starting at only $2 per month (50 cents an episode...or less!) at the MRC Patreon page. Supporter benefits escalate at each level, providing more value the more you support the show. For example, you will know about interviews in advance and some levels can submit questions for the artists, come on the show to co-host, enter prize drawings, and more. 

Please hit the like button and leave a rating/review on Apple Music or the Goodpods app if you consume this podcast on those platforms. You can read my Michael's Record Collection newsletter for free by signing up at michaelsrecordcollection.substack.com. Follow MRC on Twitter (@MikesRecords), like us on Facebook, and check us out on Instagram. Have questions or comments or want to suggest a topic? Hit me up at michaelsrecordcollection@gmail.com.

Episode 75: John Mitchell Talks New Lonely Robot Album

The talented John Mitchell joins me in this episode to discuss his latest album under the Lonely Robot moniker, A Model Life, which drops Aug. 26. This new record is Mitchell at his most vulnerable and introspective and it's brilliant. He also discussed the upcoming Arena album, the rise and fall of The Urbane, starting Kino, joining It Bites, how he became a member of Frost*, and much more. John was one of the most candid and honest interview subjects I've had over these 75 episodes.  

Find out more about John's work at johnmitchellhq.com. 

Reminder: You can support independent podcasting by becoming a Michael's Record Collection Patreon subscriber starting at only $2 per month (50 cents an episode...or less!) at the MRC Patreon page. Supporter benefits escalate at each level, providing more value the more you support the show. For example, you will know about interviews in advance and some levels can submit questions for the artists, come on the show to co-host, enter prize drawings, and more. 

Please hit the like button and leave a rating/review on Apple Music or the Goodpods app if you consume this podcast on those platforms. You can read my Michael's Record Collection newsletter for free by signing up at michaelsrecordcollection.substack.com. Follow MRC on Twitter (@MikesRecords), like us on Facebook, and check us out on Instagram. Have questions or comments or want to suggest a topic? Hit me up at michaelsrecordcollection@gmail.com.

Episode 74: Robert Berry - SiX BY SiX

It's been a little over a year and a half since I had California-based multi-instrumentalist Robert Berry on the show to discuss the Third Impression album he released under the name 3.2 as part of the trilogy of his work with Keith Emerson. Robert is back with a new power trio, alongside Saga guitarist Ian Crichton and Saxon drummer Nigel Glockler in SiX BY SiX. This new band rocks its guitar-based music on its self-titled debut release and Robert was gracious enough to tell me how the band came about and the stories behind the music and the graphic novel about the album that will follow next month. 

You can learn more about this project at sixbysixband.com and you can follow the band on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. 

Reminder: You can support independent podcasting by becoming a Michael's Record Collection Patreon subscriber starting at only $2 per month (50 cents an episode...or less!) at the MRC Patreon page. Supporter benefits escalate at each level, providing more value the more you support the show. For example, you will know about interviews in advance and some levels can submit questions for the artists, come on the show to co-host, enter prize drawings, and more. 

Please hit the like button and leave a rating/review on Apple Music or the Goodpods app if you consume this podcast on those platforms. You can read my Michael's Record Collection newsletter for free by signing up at michaelsrecordcollection.substack.com. Follow MRC on Twitter (@MikesRecords), like us on Facebook, and check us out on Instagram. Have questions or comments or want to suggest a topic? Hit me up at michaelsrecordcollection@gmail.com.

Episode 73: Talking Iron Maiden’s ”The Number of the Beast” with Uncle Steve

I've been wanting to talk about Iron Maiden for some time, and outside of the band itself, who better to do that with than the host of the excellent Uncle Steve's Iron Maiden Zone podcast? Steve joined me to give me his Iron Maiden origin story and to tell me a little about his show. We then dove into a discussion of Maiden's iconic classic The Number of the Beast, which turned 40 years old this year from start to finish. You can find Uncle Steve's Iron Maiden Zone wherever podcasts are available and you can follow him on Twitter. My thanks to Steve for his time. This was a fun discussion.

Reminder: You can support independent podcasting by becoming a Michael's Record Collection Patreon subscriber starting at only $2 per month (50 cents an episode...or less!) at the MRC Patreon page. Supporter benefits escalate at each level, providing more value the more you support the show. For example, you will know about interviews in advance and some levels can submit questions for the artists, come on the show to co-host, enter prize drawings, and more. 

Please hit the like button and leave a rating/review on Apple Music or the Goodpods app if you consume this podcast on those platforms. You can read my Michael's Record Collection newsletter for free by signing up at michaelsrecordcollection.substack.com. Follow MRC on Twitter (@MikesRecords), like us on Facebook, and check us out on Instagram. Have questions or comments or want to suggest a topic? Hit me up at michaelsrecordcollection@gmail.com.

Episode 72: Stephan Lill - Vanden Plas Live & Immortal

This week I had the pleasure of speaking with Vanden Plas guitarist Stephan Lill. The German progressive metal masters have a new live CD, LP, and video release coming out Aug. 12 called Live & Immortal, which captured a full concert performance on the band's Chronicles of the Immortals tour. Stephan discussed why the band seldom tours, takes a long time between albums (especially live albums), how he got into rock music, and much more. 

For more info on Vanden Plas, visit the band's website at VandenPlas.de or check them out on Facebook.

Reminder: You can support independent podcasting by becoming a Michael's Record Collection Patreon subscriber starting at only $2 per month (50 cents an episode...or less!) at the MRC Patreon page. Supporter benefits escalate at each level, providing more value the more you support the show. For example, you will know about interviews in advance and some levels can submit questions for the artists, come on the show to co-host, enter prize drawings, and more. 

Please hit the like button and leave a rating/review on Apple Music or the Goodpods app if you consume this podcast on those platforms. You can read my Michael's Record Collection newsletter for free by signing up at michaelsrecordcollection.substack.com. Follow MRC on Twitter (@MikesRecords), like us on Facebook, and check us out on Instagram. Have questions or comments or want to suggest a topic? Hit me up at michaelsrecordcollection@gmail.com.

Episode 71: Mary Fahl - Can’t Get It Out of My Head

Former October Project vocalist Mary Fahl has had a solo career as unique as her voice. She's got a new album out called Can't Get It Out of My Head, which is made up of her early favorite classic songs that became part of her musical DNA. Mary was kind enough to talk about the making of the album, how she reimagined the songs to put her own spin on them, how she ended up doing a song for an Anne Rice audiobook, how she got dragged back into music, and much more.

For more information on Mary Fahl, go to MaryFahl.com or look for Mary Fahl Music on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and even Tiktok.

Reminder: You can support independent podcasting by becoming a Michael's Record Collection Patreon subscriber starting at only $2 per month (50 cents an episode...or less!) at the MRC Patreon page. Supporter benefits escalate at each level, providing more value the more you support the show. For example, you will know about interviews in advance and some levels can submit questions for the artists, come on the show to co-host, enter prize drawings, and more. 

Please hit the like button and leave a rating/review on Apple Music or the Goodpods app if you consume this podcast on those platforms. You can read my Michael's Record Collection newsletter for free by signing up at michaelsrecordcollection.substack.com. Follow MRC on Twitter (@MikesRecords), like us on Facebook, and check us out on Instagram. Have questions or comments or want to suggest a topic? Hit me up at michaelsrecordcollection@gmail.com.

Episode 70: Ryo Okumoto - The Myth of the Mostrophus

Keyboardist Ryo Okumoto (Spock's Beard, ProgJect) joins me to discuss his upcoming solo album, The Myth of the Mostrophus, which drops July 29. It's his first solo release in 20 years and it's amazing. He enlisted the help of his Spock's Beard and ProgJect bandmates on an album that is cohesive, progressive (in all the right ways), and fun. Ryo also talked to me about his background, how he ended up in both of his main bands, and much more.

Learn more about Ryo Okumoto's work and order his merch at his website, RyoOkumoto.com.

Reminder: You can support independent podcasting by becoming a Michael's Record Collection Patreon subscriber starting at only $2 per month (50 cents an episode...or less!) at the MRC Patreon page. Supporter benefits escalate at each level, providing more value the more you support the show. For example, you will know about interviews in advance and some levels can submit questions for the artists, come on the show to co-host, enter prize drawings, and more. 

Please hit the like button and leave a rating/review on Apple Music or the Goodpods app if you consume this podcast on those platforms. You can read my Michael's Record Collection newsletter for free by signing up at michaelsrecordcollection.substack.com. Follow MRC on Twitter (@MikesRecords), like us on Facebook, and check us out on Instagram. Have questions or comments or want to suggest a topic? Hit me up at michaelsrecordcollection@gmail.com.