053 - 'POWERSLAVE' WITH EMLEE JOHANNSON

Emlee Johansson, drummer of Swedish rockers Thundermother joins Mike to discuss Iron Maiden's iconic 5th album 'Powerslave'.

Amongst an unparalleled run of albums from Maiden in the 1980s, for many (including Emlee), 'Powerslave' sits as the pinnacle of the legendary metal band's career. Emlee recalls hearing opening track 'Aces High' for the first time and how this directly impacted her own journey into music.

Which song on 'Powerslave' harkens back to themes from 'The Number of The Beast'?
How has Nicko McBrain influenced Emlee's own drumming style?
Over 30 years since the release of '2 Minutes To Midnight', how much closer has the world come to doomsday?

PLUS: Hear 'Driving In Style', an awesome cut from Thundermother's latest album 'Heat Wave'
Horns in the air for another episode of 'My Classic Album'.

Music Credits: 'This Is Rock' by Silvia Marchese
'Driving In Style' by Thundermother (taken from their 2020 album 'Heat Wave'. Released on and played with permission from AFM Records)
All music rights reserved to their respective owners.

049 - 'ELIMINATOR' WITH JUSTIN ROSS

The Sharp Dressed Men of ZZ Top receive the 'My Classic Album' treatment as rock artist Justin Ross joins Mike to celebrate the iconic 'Eliminator' album. From the moment he first heard ZZ Top at a car rally, Justin knew this band would shape his musical identity for years to come and together he and Mike explore the impact 'Eliminator' had on the MTV generation with it's eclectic blend of blues rock and new wave influences.

How did the likes of Depeche Mode and Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark influence ZZ Top at this point in their career?
What impact did the 'Eliminator' music videos on MTV have on the success of the album? 
What lyric from 'Legs' is amusingly lost in translation across the pond from America to the UK?

PLUS: Hear 'Drink The Water', a track from Justin's new album 'Into The Dark'. Grab yourself a TV Dinner and settle in for another episode of 'My Classic Album'.

For more information on the show: Head over to www.myclassicalbum.co.uk
Like us on Facebook at 'My Classic Album with Mike Norris'
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Music Credits: 'This Is Rock' by Silvia Marchese
'Drink The Water' by Justin Ross (an independent release played with permission from the artist)
All music rights reserved to their respective owners.

048 - 'MOVING PICTURES' WITH TRAVIS LARSON

The Holy Triumvirate known as Rush finally make their way into the pantheon of legendary bands covered on 'My Classic Album'. Mike is joined by guitarist Travis Larson to discuss the iconic 'Moving Pictures'

From the moment Travis was given a mix tape from his school friend Jennifer including songs from 'Moving Pictures', the pair began an epic adventure of Rush fandom and ultimately a successful career in music together for over twenty years. Together Mike and Travis explore the impact 'Moving Pictures' had not only on the Travis Larson band but music lovers and even popular culture for four decades.

What classic movie scene (a favourite of Mike's) is soundtracked to 'Moving Pictures' single 'Limelight'?
How was Travis and Jennifer's experience of hearing Rush perform the entire album live on the Time Machine Tour?
In what way were Rush inspired by the likes of The Police and Talking Heads?

PLUS: Hear the title track from 'Annica', the most recent studio album from the Travis Larson Band on a mammoth edition of 'My Classic Album'.

For more information on the show: Head over to www.myclassicalbum.co.uk
Like us on Facebook at 'My Classic Album with Mike Norris'
Follow us on Instagram @myclassicalbumpodcast
Or on Twitter @mca_podcast

 

Music Credits: 'This Is Rock' by Silvia Marchese
'Annica' by the Travis Larson Band (an independent release played with permission from the artist)
All music rights reserved to their respective owners.


046 - 'THE JOSHUA TREE' WITH ERICK BIEGER

The album that cemented U2 as one of the biggest bands on the planet and established a legacy they would never get away from... even when they tried! Mike is joined by West of House's Erick Bieger to share their love for 'The Joshua Tree'.

From the first time Erick listened to 'The Joshua Tree', the album resonated with him strongly. Not only did it inspire Erick's own journey as a musician but it also raised his own awareness of American foreign policy as explored by Bono and the band throughout the album.

 

Which track on 'The Joshua Tree' holds a personal significance to Mike's own family history?

What connects serial killer Robert John Bardo to the song 'Exit'?

Who was Greg Carroll, the man the song 'One Tree Hill' was written in memory of?

 

PLUS: Enjoy 'Holy Ghosted', a track from West of House's debut album 'Crescendo of Silence'.

 

An all time classic finally takes its place on 'My Classic Album'

For more information on the show: Head over to www.myclassicalbum.co.uk

Like us on Facebook at 'My Classic Album with Mike Norris'

Follow us on Instagram @myclassicalbumpodcast

Or on Twitter @mca_podcast

 

Music Credits: 'This Is Rock' by Silvia Marchese

'Holy Ghosted' by West of House (played with permission from the artist from their 2020 album 'Crescendo of Silence', available on all streaming platforms)

040 - 'FAIR WARNING' WITH WILL WALLNER

'My Classic Album' crashes into the 1980's as we look back at the most underrated jewel in the David Lee Roth era of Van Halen: 1981's 'Fair Warning'.

Guitarist Will Wallner joins Mike to discuss an album that took Van Halen away from the carefree vibes of their early work towards a darker, heavier and at times more sinister sound. A conversation recorded three months to the day since Eddie Van Halen's passing, 'Fair Warning' stands as a testament to the legendary guitarist's creativity and sheer vision.

 

Did tensions within the band contribute to the sound we hear on 'Fair Warning'? 

How did David Lee Roth come up with the iconic breakdown in 'Unchained'?

How did Eddie come up with the iconic introduction to album opener 'Mean Street'?

 

PLUS: Hear 'Back On The Strip': a world exclusive from Will's band Vain Wallner.

 

Hit the ground running with another episode of 'My Classic Album'.

 

For more information on the show: Head over to www.myclassicalbum.co.uk

Like us on Facebook at 'My Classic Album with Mike Norris'

Follow us on Instagram @myclassicalbumpodcast

Or on Twitter @mca_podcast

 

Music Credits: 'This Is Rock' by Silvia Marchese

'Back On The Strip' by Vain Wallner

037 - 'LIKE A PRAYER' WITH SHAUNA TOHILL

Shauna Tohill, lead singer of Rews joins Mike as they express themselves about Madonna's final album of the 80's 'Like A Prayer'.

As Madonna looked to capitalise on the album market, 'Like A Prayer' brought forth a collection of reflective, controversial and deeply personal songs that were a huge part of Mike and Shauna's childhoods and stand as the pinnacle of the Queen of Pop's career. 

How did a young Shauna react to the now iconic music videos for the likes of 'Express Yourself' and 'Cherish'?

Why was 'Love Song', a collaboration with Prince not released as a single?

Who was Jessie, the young girl who inspired the song 'Dear Jessie'?

All these questions and more will be answered on this edition of 'My Classic Album'. 

 

PLUS: Hear 'Today We're Warriors', a standout track from Rews' latest album 'Warriors'.

 

For more information on the show: Head over to www.myclassicalbum.co.uk

Like us on Facebook at 'My Classic Album with Mike Norris'

Follow us on Instagram @myclassicalbumpodcast

Or on Twitter @mca_podcast

 

Music Credits: 'This Is Rock' by Silvia Marchese

'Today We're Warriors' by Rews. Courtesy of and with thanks to Marshall Records

029 - 'SYNCHRONICITY' WITH Damon Johnson

"Is that my mother on the phone?" No it's Damon Johnson! The Black Star Riders alum joins Mike to chat about 'Synchronicity', the final studio album by The Police!

While The Police were at each other's throats behind the scenes, they managed to release a seminal album that solidified their place as the biggest band on the planet bringing along millions of fans including Damon with them.

 

How was the album one meeting away from not happening?

Is 'Tea In The Sahara' or 'Murder by Numbers' the true ending of 'Synchronicity'? (CLUE: In what format do you own the album?)

What are Damon and Mike's thoughts on the utterly crazy 'Mother'?

 

PLUS: Mike shares his thoughts on his experience watching Sting perform inside Durham Cathedral in 2008 and reveals his opinions on Sting's latest studio album 'My Songs'.

All this and so much more on this episode of 'My Classic Album'.

 

For more information on the show:

Head over to www.myclassicalbum.co.uk

Like us on Facebook at 'My Classic Album with Mike Norris'

Follow us on Instagram @myclassicalbumpodcast

Or on Twitter @mca_podcast 

 

Music Credits: 'This Is Rock' by Silvia Marchese