Planet LP

Ted Asregadoo

Hosted by Ted Asregadoo, the Planet LP podcast delves deep into music -- and sometimes books about music. Ted works in the San Francisco Bay Area radio scene -- and has for a mighty long time. In addition to a career working for companies like iHeartMedia, Ted writes a lot about music and pop culture. Some of his work is featured on Ultimate Classic Rock, Popdose, and MusicTap. Join him each week 'cause he's dropping the needle on a world of albums!

  1. 12H AGO

    Episode 119: Bowie’s Blackstar 10 Years Later

    On January 8th, 2016, David Bowie celebrated his 69th birthday with the release of his 26th and final studio album, Blackstar. Two days later, Bowie was gone after succumbing to liver cancer. Now, a decade after its haunting release, host Ted Asregadoo revisits Bowie’s final masterpiece. Was it a "pretentious" swan song or a stroke of avant-garde genius? From its "dark jazz" undertones to the incredible musicianship of the Donny McCaslin Quartet, we break down why this record remains a monumental final statement in a career defined by constant reinvention. Joining the conversation is long-time friend of the pod and veteran radio broadcaster Michael McGauley (KCBS/KNX). Michael shares why Blackstar has climbed the ranks to become his favorite Bowie record and recounts his first experiences with the Thin White Duke’s legendary catalog. In This Episode, We Discuss: Track-by-Track Breakdown: We dive into the "guts" of the record, from the experimental merging of parts in the title track to the "Cure-esque" tones of Lazarus. The Power of the Band: A look at how drummer Mark Guiliana and the Donny McCaslin Quartet blew away even seasoned producers like Tony Visconti. The Death of Rock? We pivot to Billy Corgan’s recent "paranoid" claims about the decline of rock music. Is it a conspiracy, or has the genre run its course -- which is why Bowie kept pushing into new music territory. The Emotional Weight of Musical Icons: Ted reflects on a 2016 blog post written after the deaths of Bowie and Prince. He explores why we grieve for artists we never met—not just for the loss of the person, but for the loss of the "touchstones" to our own youth and the era of "immortality" we felt in our teens. Read the full post here. Special Thanks to our Sponsor: This episode is brought to you by Steve Fox’s Old School. It’s a "party in a box" featuring the best of Classic Soul, Disco, Hip-Hop, and 90s R&B. Listen now at SteveFoxOldSchool.com.

    56 min
  2. JAN 21

    Episode 117: Memorable Music Moments of 2025

    Hey, it's the first episode of the Planet LP Podcast for 2026! Host Ted Asregadoo kicks off the new year by looking back at the memorable music-related experiences from 2025 with special guest Jeff Giles, co-host of The Record Player Podcast and author of Jefitoblog. While best-of lists may feel less relevant in today's era of personalized music consumption, Ted and Jeff take a different approach—reflecting on the moments, albums, books, concerts, and documentaries that made 2025 memorable for them personally. Jeff shares an update on his work-in-progress novel, "Largo's Dream," inspired by the 1998 album, Largo, produced by Rick Chertoff and Rob Hyman, which drew inspiration from Dvořák's New World Symphony. Ted dives into his reading highlights, particularly Eric M. Shade's "It's All Over the Place: The Rise of the Bangles from the LA Underground," a detailed chronicle that gave him newfound respect for the band's musicianship and their struggles navigating the music industry's challenges. The guys also talk about that nine-part documentary about The Beatles on Disney+ -- which gets mixed reviews, but was still memorable. The episode also covers Ted's impressive concert year, including the all-day Cruel World festival in Pasadena featuring Midge Ure, a 'Til Tuesday reunion, DEVO, The Go-Go's, She Wants Revenge, Garbage, New Order, and a standout performance from Nation of Language. Ted also recounts seeing Wolf Alice at the Fox Theater in Oakland—a show that turned him into an even bigger fan—and experiencing Belly perform their album "King" in its entirety at the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco. Plus, he shares his thoughts on the prolific and experimental Steven Wilson, whom he saw live at The Masonic Theater in San Francisco. Jeff reflects on Ted's dedication to Rush, noting the $300+ tickets Ted purchased to see them in LA and San Jose—a level of commitment that Jeff admits he can't match, even for his own favorites, such as The Doobie Brothers and Billy Joel. Join Ted and Jeff for an engaging conversation about what made 2025 a memorable year for them. Maybe it'll get you to reflect on your own music experiences, too. Steve Fox’s Old School sponsors the Planet LP podcast! Steve Fox’s Old School. It’s the first place to go to stream R&B dance hits from the 1970s to the 1990s.

    49 min
  3. 11/24/2025

    Episode 116: Belly, Tanya Donelly, and Alt Music of the 90s

    Host Ted Asregadoo is flying solo this week to dive into the music of a band that defined the 1990s alternative scene for him: Belly. Belly, fronted by the immensely talented singer-songwriter Tanya Donelly, ascended quickly through the '90s alt-rock ranks. Donelly's journey is a fascinating tapestry of essential bands, starting with Throwing Muses (1986-1991) and a short but significant tenure in The Breeders, before she formed Belly with brothers Tom and Chris Gorman, later joined by bassist Gail Greenwood. The band captured the attention of alternative radio with standout hits like "Feed the Tree," "Slow Dog," "Now They'll Sleep," and "Super-Connected." They went from underground darlings to becoming the "it" alt band in 1995, landing the cover of Rolling Stone and performing on late-night shows. However, after a grueling tour supporting their second album, King (1995)—Ted’s personal favorite—Belly famously broke up. Donelly then embarked on a solo career, marked by the release of three albums and her collaborative Swan Song Series EPs. But the story didn't end there! In this episode, Ted explores: The band's rise and sudden break-up in the mid-'90s. Tanya Donelly's evolution as an artist through her solo work. The profound personal connection the music had to Ted's own transformative decade of the 1990s. The unexpected reunion! The band got back together to record the 2018 album Dove and is now, as of this recording, wrapping up a 2025 tour celebrating the 30th Anniversary of King. Join Ted for a nostalgic trip down memory lane to celebrate two really solid albums that meant—and still mean—the world to him. Steve Fox’s Old School sponsors the Planet LP podcast! Steve Fox’s Old School. It’s the first place to go to stream R&B dance hits from the 1970s to the 1990s.

    38 min
  4. 11/14/2025

    Episode 115: The Who – “Who Are You?” Super Deluxe Edition

    On Episode 115 of the Planet LP Podcast, Ted Asregadoo dives deep into a pivotal moment in The Who’s history — their 1978 album Who Are You — with longtime Who aficionado Jason Hare. Who Are You may not top most fans’ lists of the band’s greatest albums, but it remains one of the most significant. Released on August 18, 1978, it was the last record to feature the original lineup and arrived at a moment when the band — and Pete Townshend in particular — were confronting their own fading relevance. As rock critic Greil Marcus noted in his 1978 Rolling Stone review, much of the album is shaped by Townshend’s anxieties about obsolescence, artistic exhaustion, and the shifting musical landscape. Forty-seven years later, Who Are You gets the full Super Deluxe treatment, just as The Who call it quits (again) after their final “This Song Is Over” tour in 2025 — a greatest-hits victory lap for casual fans, but not always the deep-cut celebration hardcore devotees were hoping for. Ted and Jason unpack what this new box set offers: the unheard material, the surprises, what genuinely adds to the album’s legacy, and where the collection may come up short. They also take a candid look at Keith Moon’s final performances — the brilliance, the decline, and the tragedy of a 32-year-old who seemed decades older. It’s an episode for fans who want more than nostalgia — they want context, history, and a dash of humor in The Who's transitional chapter. Steve Fox’s Old School sponsors the Planet LP podcast! Steve Fox’s Old School. It’s the first place to go to stream R&B dance hits from the 1970s to the 1990s. Read Greil Marcus's 1978 review of "Who Are You" in Rolling Stone magazine.

  5. 09/08/2025

    Episode 112 And So It Goes: Diving into Billy Joel’s Music and Legacy

    On this week's episode, host Ted Asregadoo sits down with two of his biggest Billy Joel fan friends, Jeff Giles and Jason Hare, to discuss the recent HBO documentary, And So It Goes. Jeff is the founder of Popdose, host of The Record Player podcast, and creator of the new site Harmonic, while Jason is also a co-founder of Popdose and an avid triathlete. Ted, who was once a DJ imprisoned by the monotony of adult contemporary radio, has a complicated relationship with Joel’s music. Forced to play the same nine hit songs on repeat for 13 years, he now has an aversion to tunes like "Piano Man" and "Just the Way You Are." The conversation about the documentary leads to a much deeper discussion of Joel's albums, particularly his 1982 masterpiece, The Nylon Curtain. Both Ted and Jeff agree that this melancholy and often sad album is Joel's creative peak—a personal and generational biography of being a Baby Boomer. In contrast, Jason shares a more foundational love for Joel's music, recalling how hearing "Scenes From an Italian Restaurant" as a kid was what inspired him to start taking piano lessons. Join the trio as they dissect the documentary, debate the brilliance of The Nylon Curtain, and explore Billy Joel's music. ______________________________________ This episode of Planet LP is sponsored by Steve Fox's Old School. If you’ve been looking for a radio station that plays the true "Old School" music you grew up with, look no further. Steve Fox's Old School is the real thing, from classic soul and funk to the disco era and hip hop. Find them on TuneIn and let them know what you want to hear.

5
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

Hosted by Ted Asregadoo, the Planet LP podcast delves deep into music -- and sometimes books about music. Ted works in the San Francisco Bay Area radio scene -- and has for a mighty long time. In addition to a career working for companies like iHeartMedia, Ted writes a lot about music and pop culture. Some of his work is featured on Ultimate Classic Rock, Popdose, and MusicTap. Join him each week 'cause he's dropping the needle on a world of albums!