The Music Time Machine

Larry Hackenberg
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  • MUSIC HISTORY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Master storytellers Larry Hackenberg and Jennifer Tessane tell the stories behind the music you grew up listening to. If you've ever owned a car with a cassette tape player, this podcast will what was really going on in the lives of the artists who created the soundtrack of your life.

  1. 12/01/2025

    The Greatist Guitarist Ever

    Who is the greatest guitar player of all?  Is it Hendrix, Clapton, Page, Gilmore? Let us lay out the case for Mark Knofler.  Who is Mark Knofler?  He’s the front man of Dire Straits. Were they good, or opportunists of a new invention “The CD” and the launching of the new MTV channel; not to mention Live Aid? Listen to the stories, and find out. Can’t you still hear Sting shouting “I Want My MTV”? Come with us, you will have fun.  Why did Mark Knofler say “Fame is what comes out of an exhaust pipe of a car”? Here are the songs whose stories we tell in this episode: “Sultans Of Swing” - Dire Straits“So Far Away”  - Dire Straits“Money For Nothing” - Dire Straits“Walk Of Life” - Dire Straits“I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” - U2“We Are The Champions” - Queen

    37 min

  2. 10/22/2025

    The Bee Gees - Part 2

    When The Bee Gees sent a demo tape to The Beatles manager, Brian Epstein, they didn’t realize the chain of events they were kicking into gear. Epstein died shortly after passing the tape to one of the people at his management firm,. Robert Stigwood who would go on to become a famed movie producer taking The Bee Gees on a merry ride around the world. This is just one of the great stories in our second chapter of the 1978 story. Join us and listen to music you’ll remember. Songs like these: • Night Fevewr • Staying Alive • If I Can’t Have You • Emotion • Love Is Thicker Than Water • How Deep Is Your Love • I Just Want To Be Your Everything • Grease • Hopelessly Devoted to You • You’re The One That I Want Summer Nights Let’s Get Physical Sargent Peppers Lonely Heart Club Band With Or Without You Two Out Of 3 Ain’t Bad

    37 min

  3. 10/10/2025

    The Year Is: 1971 Part 3

    This is the third episode where we roll out stories from 1971, And look at the list of songs listed below. Behind every song is a great story, causing us to wonder, Was 1971 the greatest year in Rock ‘n Roll history? We tell stories, you decide. So, here is just a teaser of the stories we uncovered for this episode:. How did the Beatles help invent the first CAT scan medical procedure? Kris Kristofferson wrote 3 specialty hits in one year, released by Janis Joplin, Ray Price, and Sammi Smith; do you remember their titles? In 1971 the Rolling Stones, part of the British Invasion of the mid-1960s, were living a chaotic, drug-fueled life while recording in a foreign country. Guess which one! Did you know who designed the Stones’ iconic lips and tongue logo? Yeah, there’s a great story behind that, as well. Enjoy the stories and songs, then tell us if you think 1971 is Rock’s greatest year. Here are some of the songs that will stir your memories in this episode: “Maggie May” - Rod Stewart “Reason to Believe” - Rod Stewart “As Tears Go By” - Marianne Faithfull “It’s All Over Now” - Rolling Stones “Satisfaction” - Rolling Stones “Ruby Tuesday” - Rolling Stones “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” - Rolling Stones “The Wedding Song” - Paul Stookey “Brown Sugar” - Rolling Stones “Wild Horses” - Paul Stookey “If” - Bread (David Gates) “Where Do I Begin” - Andy Williams “Me And You And A Dog Named Boo” - Lobo “One Bad Apple” - The Osmonds “I Woke Up This Morning” - The Partridge Family “Proud Mary” - Ike and Tina Turner “Smiling Faces Sometimes” - Undisputed Truth “Stairway to Heaven” - Led Zeppelin

    45 min

  4. 09/24/2025

    1971 - Part 2

    In the year's since The Beatles breakup, George Harrison emerged as one of Rock music's finest songwriters. During his Beatles career he was eclipsed by the dynamic duo of Lennon and McCartney. But his really songwriting mentors were across the pond. Tune in and find out how George rose to the very heights of the songwriters world while fighting off frivolous lawsuits and underhanded enemies. One lawsuit tied up his royalties from "My Sweet Lord" for years. Here's some of the music interwoven with the many stories we tell in this episode. As you cans, it's a humdinger : “I Want To Hold Your Hand” The Beatles“San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flower in Your Hair)” Scott McKenzie“Don’t Leave Me This Way” Thelma Houston“When Doves Cry” Prince“Kids Of The Baby Boom” Bellamy Brothers“A Day In The Life” The Beatles“While My Guitar Gently Weeps” The Beatles“Maybe I’m Amazed” Paul McCartney“All Things Must Pass” George Harrison“Here Comes The Sun” George Harrison“My Sweet Lord” George Harrison“Isn’t It A Pity” George Harrison“It’s Too Late” Carole King“I Feel the Earth Move” Carole King“You’ve Got A Friend” Carol King“Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow” The Shirelles“A Natural Woman” Carol King“Your Song” Elton John

    47 min

  5. 09/12/2025

    1971: Rock 'n Roll Turning Point

    Start with a wild story about a washed up 1960's singer whose career was swept away in the British Invasion of 1964. Almost a decade later he was given the chance to record a song with a group of back-up girl singers. But, they couldn't figure out a way to be in the studio at the same time. Predictably, the result was the year's biggest hit, "Candida" setting Tony Orlando and Dawn on a record-breaking run he thought forever beyond his reach. How it happened is just one story from one of the most significant years in rock history.  But, 1971 had so much more. From Scott McKenzie's iconic "San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair) to Carol King's soulful "Natural Woman", there are stories to tell. Join master storytellers, Larry Hackenberg and Jennifer Tessane as they take you back to the days of your youth and let you in on some secret stories you've never heard before. “San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flower in Your Hair)” Scott McKenzie“Don’t Leave Me This Way” Thelma Houston“When Doves Cry” Prince“Kids Of The Baby Boom” Bellamy Brothers“A Day In The Life” The Beatles“While My Guitar Gently Weeps” The Beatles“Maybe I’m Amazed” Paul McCartney“All Things Must Pass” George Harrison“Here Comes The Sun” George Harrison“My Sweet Lord” George Harrison“Isn’t It A Pity” George Harrison“It’s Too Late” Carole King“I Feel the Earth Move” Carole King“You’ve Got A Friend” Carol King“Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow” The Shirelles“A Natural Woman” Carol King“Your Song” Elton John“Mercy Mercy Me” Marvin Gaye“Anticipation” Carly Simon“Morning Has Broken” Cat Stevens

    44 min

  6. 08/29/2025

    1974, Part 2: The Cornucopia of Rock

    The concept behind the Monkees sitcom, which aired on NBC between 1966 to 1968, was a madcap rock band, based loosely on the Beatles video style as seen in a “Hard Days Night” and “Help."  They were to be strictly a studio band with professional musicians and songwriters creating their songs (“Pleasant Valley Sunday” by Carole King), (“I’m a Believer” by Neil Diamond) all coordinated by Don Kirshner a renowned rock producer. Problem…The Monkees thought they were a real band, and in 1967 escaped from their contract with Kirshner and shot to stardom ... just like real bands do. Don Kirshner made a comeback, in 1968, producing the “Archie Show” for TV.  This time the characters were a fictional cartoon band and they immediately charted the Billboard number one hit, of 1969, “Sugar Sugar”.  Kirshner celebrated with a great quote: “I finally found a group that won’t talk back to me.” Travel back to 1971 and learn about the stories behind songs like, "Sugar Sugar" and a cornucopia of rock sounds from the country-tinged songs of John Denver to the romantic soul stylings of Barry White. This episode includes the stories behind songs like: “Rock Me Gently” - Andy Kim“I Honestly Love You” - Olivia Newton John“Then Came You” - The Spinners“I’ve Been Searching So Long” - Chicago“Call On Me” - Chicago“Hooked On A Feeling” - ABBA“Sunshine On My Shoulders” - John Denver“Annies Song” - John Denver“The Most Beautiful Girl” - Charlie Rich“You’re My First, My Last, My Everything” - Barry White“Kung Fu Fighting” - Carl Douglas“Cats In The Cradle” Harry Chapin

    41 min

  7. 08/10/2025

    The Bee Gee's - Part 2

    We know you're going to enjoy this episode! It's based on the music and stories of three major Hollywood productions produced by Robert Stigwood, a fellow Australian and manager of The Bee Gees. Saturday Night Fever. Grease. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. You'll find yourself tapping your toes and clapping hands along with music by The Bee Gees, John Trabolta, Olivia Newton John, Frankie Valli, Peter Frampton and Andy Gibb, as well as a few surprises. Climb aboard The Music Time Machine as we return to 1978 and tell the stories behind some of history's most memorable movies and soundtracks.  Enjoy the Trip. Some of the songs you'll hear in this episode include: • Night Fever • Staying Alive • If I Can't Have You • Emotion • Love Is Thicker Than Water • How Deep Is Your Love • I Just Want To Be Your Everything • Grease • Hopelessly Devoted to You • You're The One That I Want • Summer Nights • Let's Get Physical • Sargent Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band • With or Without You • Two Out of Three Ain't Bad

    37 min

  8. 07/22/2025

    The Bee Gee's Warm a Cold, Cold Year

    f you’re old enough to remember 1978, and you lived in a northern clime, you probably remember one of the coldest winters in history. But, no matter where you lived back then, you most certainly remember The Bee Gees, three brothers from Down-Under who turned the music world upside down. Today we’re turning The Music Time Machine clock back to 1978, a big year for The Bee Gees and, probably, lots of people like you. In this podcast episode we look at The Bee Gees’ career from their start as a grade school singing group to placing five of their songs on the Billboard 100 … at the same time! Join us on a toe-tapping tour of some of the most memorable, enjoyable and singable music from the soundtrack of our life. Here are some of the songs from this episode that you may remember: • Night Fever • Staying Alive • If I Can’t Have You • Emotion •. Love is Thcker Than Water •. Shadow Dancing •. How Deep Is Your Love • Grease • You’re The One That I Want • New York Mining Disaster • Massachusetts • I Started a Joke • Holiday •. To Love Somebody • I Gotta Get A Message To You • Hopelessly Devoted To You • Summer Nights • Hair • I Don’t Know How to Love Him • How Can You Mend A Broken Heart • Nights On Broadway • You Should Be Dancing

    36 min
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About

Master storytellers Larry Hackenberg and Jennifer Tessane tell the stories behind the music you grew up listening to. If you've ever owned a car with a cassette tape player, this podcast will what was really going on in the lives of the artists who created the soundtrack of your life.

Information

  • Creator
    Larry Hackenberg
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    13
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025
  • Show Website
    The Music Time Machine