LRRC EP853: Them vs Jimmy Page, Thomas Dolby, GE Smith, Why Modern Music Sucks

2025-09-20

On This week's show we do a deep dive on the issues plaguing modern music. We talk objective facts that are actually hurting the industry as well as the listener. We also tell you about the crazy recording session of "Baby Please Don't Go" and a really touching story about GE Smith's beloved 1952 Telecaster. All this and much more! Loudini: the real crazy recording of the song “baby please don’t go” by Them(Freewheeling), How Thomas Dolby was blinded by science(why this song), GE Smith’s telecaster(premiere guitar), facts about the film Amadeus(golden flicker), did richie blackmore invent shred(deep purple), nurse messy sc...

Loudini: the real crazy recording of the song “baby please don’t go” by Them(Freewheeling), How Thomas Dolby was blinded by science(why this song), GE Smith’s telecaster(premiere guitar), facts about the film Amadeus(golden flicker), did richie blackmore invent shred(deep purple), nurse messy scandal? Worst guitar buying experience

why your music sucks(wasteful media),

Homogenized… length, style tempo & tambre
Accessible but disposable
Over saturated,, too much of the same
Over simplified for mass conception
Consumability over creativity
Algorithm creates Musical echo chamber
Artists become slave to algorithm
A.I. making situation worse
Pressure to keep it between 100 to 110 BPM
“Loudness war” eliminates dynamics… reduces impair cognitive function, creates noise fatigue,
Over sameness keeps music from “hitting” like it used to.
“Industry plants”
Prioritizes standardization over individuality
Band camp and patreon can help

Pittsburgh Kevin: tik tok friend disappeared, guitar myths,

Film Corner: The Home, The Monster Inside, Super Store(TV series),

Your Week In Rock:

Key Anniversaries & “On This Day” Events

Date

Event

Notes

Sept. 15

Elvis Presley is presented with a gold record for Don’t Be Cruel, which just overtook Hound Dog as his best‐selling single. (Classic Bands)

Sept. 15

Group from Hawthorne, California (The Pendletones) record "Surfin’" – one of the early Beach Boys tracks. (Classic Bands)

Sept. 15

This Day in Music lists: birthdays of modern/rock musicians such as Zach Filkins (OneRepublic), Paul Thomson (Franz Ferdinand) etc. (This Day In Music)

Sept. 16

“She Loves You” / “I’ll Get You” by The Beatles is released in the US via Swan Records; important in Beatles/rock history. (Classic Bands)

Sept. 16

Johnny Burnette records “You’re 16”, which later becomes a hit in various versions. (Classic Bands)

Sept. 16

First package rock & roll tour by Dick Clark & Irvin Feld: Paul Anka / Lloyd Price / Coasters / Duane Eddy / etc. This is an early example of packaged rock/R&B/“pop” shows. (Classic Bands)

Sept. 16

Deaths: Marc Bolan (T. Rex) in 1977, car accident. (on-this-day.com) Also, Jimi Hendrix’s final public appearance (with Eric Burdon) in 1970 at Ronnie Scott’s in London. (This Day In Music)

Sept. 18

Jimi Hendrix died in London (1970) at age 27. (Wikipedia)

Sept. 20

Jim Croce and Maury Muehleisen died in a plane crash after a concert in Natchitoches, Louisiana, in 1973. (Classic Bands) Also on Sept. 20: Sarah Dash (member of Labelle, session/work with Rolling Stones etc.) died in 2021. (This Day In Music)

Sept. 20

Bay City Rollers performed on Saturday Night Variety Show with their then new “Saturday Night”‐record, which later becomes a #1 hit in US. (Classic Bands)

Birthdays (Rock / Related Genres) During This Week

Here are some musician / rock artist birthdays in September 15-21:

Date

Artist

What they’re known for / band

Sept. 16

B.B. King (1925-…) – Blues legend. (This Day In Music)

Sept. 16

Bernie Calvert (The Hollies) (This Day In Music)

Sept. 20

Chuck Panozzo (Styx) (This Day In Music)

Sept. 20