Interview with Glen Humphries, author of "Aussie Rock Anthems: The Stories Behind Our Biggest Hit Songs"

As music lovers, we've all had a soundtrack to our lives....it's provided to us by the radio. Maybe at this point in the 21st century, that's less of a given. Was it the internet that killed the radio star? Who can truly say, but for most of the rock era, radio has provided songs that millions of music fans would discover, sing along to, discuss with their friends, learn to play on their instrument of choice, get amorous to, get stoned to, or cherish for some personal reason.

Welcome to episode 179 of Love That Album.

It's been said that in the early days of rock and roll, tyranny of distance made Australian music tougher than its Northern Hemisphere counterparts. Henry Silva might have asked, “Bullshit Or Not?” What is for certain is that Australian rock musicians could often become huge in their home country, but not raise an eyebrow anywhere else (the reverse is also true, but that's a story for another episode).

Author Glen Humphries has just published a terrific book called “Aussie Rock Anthems: The Stories Behind Our Biggest Hit Songs". He writes 40 essays about popular songs from the 1960s through to the first decade of the 21st century. These essays tell stories about songs that many Australians grew up with. Some became popular outside our borders, some didn't. These songs show a huge diversity – where else will you get Shadap You Face occupying the same tome as Khe Sanh? At some stage or another, these songs all meant something to the wider Australian populus, and Glen weaves fascinating tales that cover politics, sporting pride, cultural cringe, and musical invention. I was rapt to have someone to discuss these songs with me. Neither of us were fans of every one of the songs covered in the book, and inevitably, people will argue about what was left out. What's important is that these songs all have interesting backstories and are worthy of being celebrated.

Tune into find which songs Glen and I absolutely detest...and those we love.

You can watch the videos of all the songs in the book at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-hDK76bIps&list=PLJN0hAdSkVNXxaVd4l4hWOAa3l5u85rAH&fbclid=IwY2xjawFJFx5leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHTzxc0uDiMYmVj1_cUK_A_2TDL93qk8AIbZ7I4wJ_XSchZykEzkHEKWB5Q_aem_uII4NG3Lme6zceP8Gxn8Ig

or you can listen to the Spotify playlist at: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/28mak27jhmIWSFsYGGlFgC?si=iOUWpNq-QfmuHUVDsB9erA&pi=dtdCj9ZKQYKeC&nd=1&dlsi=6991f678a35947b1

You can get the book from the usual places you get books (like bookstores) or Amazon or at https://www.geldingstreetpress.com/product/aussie-rock-anthems-top-40/

Download this episode of LTA from your podcast app of choice (not Spotify). The wider back catalogue of episodes can also be found at https://lovethatalbumpodcast.blogspot.com

Love That Album is proudly part of the Pantheon Podcast network. Go to https://pantheonpodcasts.com to check out all their great shows.

You can send me feedback at rrrkitchen@yahoo.com.au (written or mp3 voicemail) or join the Facebook group at http://www.facebook.com/groups/lovethatalbum

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