
Andrew Hickey presents a history of rock music from 1938 to 1999, looking at five hundred songs that shaped the genre.
| Publishes | Twice weekly | Episodes | 254 | Founded | 7 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | MusicSociety & CultureDocumentaryMusic History | |||

This episode, we look at the song “Proud Mary” and the brief but productive career of Creedence Clearwater Revival. Click the full post to read liner notes, links to more information, and a transcript of the episode.
Patreon backers also have a fort... more
For those who haven’t heard the announcement I posted, songs from this point on will sometimes be split among multiple episodes, so this is the first part of a two-episode look at the song “Dazed and Confused” by Led Zeppelin, although this episode d... more
For those who haven’t heard the announcement I posted, songs from this point on will sometimes be split among multiple episodes, so this is the first part of a two-episode look at the song “Dazed and Confused” by Led Zeppelin, although this episode d... more
Erratum: At one point here I say “Cannonball Adderley” when I mean “Nat Adderley”.
This episode is part of Pledge Week 2025. For five days this week, I will be posting old Patreon bonus episodes to the main feed to encourage people to subscribe to m... more
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This is consistently the best, most informative, and certainly the most entertaining music history podcast available, in the vein of the late, much-missed Cocaine and Rhinestones podcast. I like to save a couple of these to binge listen to on special days with no other pressing obligations. I love it! Five stars doesn't do it justice.
I first heard about this podcast from Terry Gross on "Fresh Air." She said it was one of the few podcasts she'd ever listened to and that she was a long-time fan. There couldn't be a better recommendation IMO, so I decided to give it a try. Now I'm a huge fan! Mr. Hickey gives us a history that I never knew about, starting off with antecedents of rock music back in the 1930s and 1940s...who knew? His scrupulous research and detailed but fascinating talks, anchored chronilogically on one particul... more
I absolutely love this podcast but at the current rate, we won’t hear about song #500 for another 16 years! And now Andrew is releasing episodes monthly and splitting songs into 3 parts?? I would love to know what the long term vision is and, ya know, some history past 1967…
Anyway, amazing show - listen and share people!
In my quest to find a new music podcast, the Grateful Dead episode came up again and again. I love the dead, but have a cursory knowledge of them and their lore, and mostly love them because it makes me feel connected to my dad, who was a massive dead head and passed away when I was a child. For four hours I was totally entranced, entertained, happy, sad, excited, and totally engaged. I learned so much about a band that is so important to me, and wept at the end thinking about how painful life c... more
Stunning scholarship
Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
Spotify | #23 | |
Apple Podcasts | #2 | |
Apple Podcasts | #9 | |
Spotify | #13 | |
Apple Podcasts | #1 | |
Apple Podcasts | #3 |
Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.
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Focuses on the extensive narrative of rock music from its inception in 1938 to the late 1990s, highlighting five hundred pivotal songs that have shaped the genre. Each episode provides a detailed exploration of the historical context, influences, and artistic evolution surrounding a particular song or artist, blending musical analysis with engaging storytelling. The podcast is distinguished by its thorough research and deep dives into the socio-cultural phenomena that intersect with the evolution of rock music, featuring a wide range of artists and movements.
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A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs launched 7 years ago and published 254 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.
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