Rock And/or Roll

Originally released August 18, 2016: In this intentionally dichotomous episode BJ plays the heaviest songs he could find by some of the bands or artists often labelled, rightfully so or not, as "soft rock." STARSHIP - JANE AIR SUPPLY - BRING OUT THE MAGIC AMERICA - GREEN MONKEY THE MOODY BLUES - IT'S UP TO YOU CHICAGO - LONG TIME NO SEE BREAD - DOWN ON MY KNEES JOHN DENVER - TAKE ME TO TOMORROW PETER FRAMPTON - IT'S A PLAIN SHAME 10cc - SILLY LOVE GILBERT O'SULLIVAN - I DON'T LOVE YOU BUT I THINK I LIKE YOU ??? - FLASHY LADY GARY WRIGHT - I KNOW GERRY RAFFERTY - MR. UNIVERSE SCORCHED EARTH - ON THE RUN HALL & OATES - YOU MUST BE GOOD FOR SOMETHING AMBROSIA - CRYIN' IN THE RAIN TOTO - MANUELA RUN LITTLE RIVER BAND - IT'S NOT A WONDER CHRISTOPHER CROSS - I HEAR YOU CALL ANDREW GOLD - STRANDED ON THE EDGE KENNY LOGGINS - NOBODY'S FOOL REO SPEEDWAGON - ONLY THE STRONG SURVIVE MICHAEL BOLTON - CAN'T HOLD ON, CAN'T LET GO Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As a member of Weapon, Jeff Summers wrote a NWOBHM classic called "Set the Stage Alight" that influenced, among others, Metallica. He later joined the bands Wildfire with original Iron Maiden frontman Paul Mario Day and Statetrooper with former MSG vocalist Gary Barden.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

BJ presents an hour of cartoon theme songs from the eighties (with commercials). M.A.S.K. JAYCE AND THE WHEELED WARRIORS ULYSSES 31 THE ADVENTURES OF THE GALAXY RANGERS ROCK LORDS COMMERCIAL DEFENDERS OF THE EARTH POLE POSITION SABER RIDER AND THE STAR SHERIFFS SPIRAL ZONE RING RAIDERS MIGHTY ORBOTS GOBOTS COMMERCIAL DINOSAUCERS RUBIK THE AMAZING CUBE ROBOTIKS COMMERCIAL JEM AND THE HOLOGRAMS THUNDERCATS SLIME PIT COMMERCIAL MACRON 1 DANGER MOUSE TIGERSHARKS CHUCK NORRIS KARATE KOMMANDOS SATURDAY SUPERCADE Q BERT GALAXY HIGH SCHOOL KIDD VIDEO THE VISIONAIRIES AERIAL BOTS COMMERCIAL TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES TEEN WOLF SILVERHAWKS HEATHCLIFF INHUMANOIDS CROSS BOSS COMMERCIAL SNORKS THE PODDINGTON PEAS DENVER THE LAST DINOSAUR DENNIS THE MENACE KOOL AID COMMERCIAL CHIP 'N' DALE RESCUE RANGERS THE CHIPMUNKS THE ADVENTURES OF THE GUMMI BEARS TEDDY RUXPIN TOXIC CRUSADERS MAD SCIENTIST CAPTAIN PLANET G.I. JOE SERPENTOR COMMERCIAL MR. T C3POs COMMERCIAL STAR WARS: DROIDS DRAGONBALL DRAGONBALL Z DRAGONBALL Z KAI L

Originally released as RA/OR Episode 34 on Thursday, March 6, 2014... Long before he joined Megadeth Marty Friedman was already making great and groundbreaking heavy metal music with his bands Deuce, Vixen, Aloha and Hawaii. On this episode B.J. discusses those early metal bands with him and you'll get to hear some of the great music that they made. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

BJ presents a sampling of thirty more great AOR songs. They'd be wearing their hearts on their sleeve if their shirts had any sleeves! FIST - ARE YOU CRYING TANGIER - ONE MORE TIME TREAT - HIDIN' VOYAGER UK - DON'T WALK AWAY FROM LOVE FAHRENHEIT - TALKING 'BOUT LOVE 1927 - A DAY LIKE TODAY OCEANS APART - DON'T SAY GOODBYE THE EVIDENCE - OCEANS APART SEQUEL - I'M LOSIN' ANNICA - BLACK WAVES WHITE WOLF - TIME WAITS FOR NO ONE THE CAUZE - LOVIN' MY LIFE AWAY JOHN LAWRY - STARS IN THE NIGHT ROBERT BERRY - YOUNG BLOOD SOJOURN - STRAIGHT ON VISION FIELDS - SHOW ME THE WAY GALLEYBOYZ - FEAR FOR YOUR LIFE ADRIAN DODZ - SOMEBODY BEAT ME TO THE PUNCH TRANS AM - LEAVING YOU GRINGOS LOCOS - SHOUT PRETTY BOY - ONE CHANCE HOT BOY - ALL THE LOVE QUEEN OF SPADES - AMAZON CALLIN' NO EXQZE - WE WON'T WAIT TIL SATURDAY LISA NEMZO - COMBINATION TO YOUR HEART SHARON O'NEILL - I'VE GOT YOU TO THANK REBEL HEELS - WORLD OF MIRRORS TRADIA - NEVER GONNA GO BOYSTOWN - BOY INSIDE A MAN NOTORIOUS - ARIANNE       Learn more about your ad

For this episode BJ is joined by Parthenon Huxley, whose power pop career stretches all the way back to Chapel Hill in the late seventies, alongside the likes of Don Dixon and Mitch Easter. It's an inspirational tale of making it without making it in the music business. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hear conversations BJ had with Coleman York from Canadian power pop band Numbers and Graham "Kidder" Hammonds from punky UK power poppers the Incredible Kidda Band? And the songs on this episode? Proof positive that even the highest quality material may not bring a band success. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Legendary Dead Boys guitarist Cheetah Chrome graces Rock and/or Roll with his presence. Listen to hear Cheetah discuss: the evolution of punk rock, Peter Laughner, Cheap Trick, Stiv Bators, GG Allin, Ron Weasley...all this and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Continuing the power pop series, BJ presents conversations he had with Brent Hoad from Kansas City's The Secrets* and Jeff Root from Boston's Hot Dates. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

BJ wrote a book, published by Jawbone Press and available now: https://www.amazon.com/This-Band-Has-No-Past/dp/1911036874For this episode BJ covers some of the podcasts he has been on to promote the book, along with some of the reviews that have come out, then interviews Trouser Press editor Ira Robbins, who shares his thoughts on the book, and also some insights and stories relating to Cheap Trick. Also included is a recording of a casual conversation between Howie Klein and Rick Nielsen and Robin Zander from March 1977. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I wrote a book!  It's called This band has no past: How Cheap Trick Became Cheap Trick, published by Jawbone Press. http://jawbonepress.com/this-band-has-no-past/ For this very special, one of a kind episode, BJ presents various clips from some of the many interviews that he conducted for the book. Where to order: Get a signed copy direct from the author: https://thisbandhasnopast.blogspot.com/2022/08/signed-copies-of-this-band-has-no-past.html Or buy the book wherever books are sold online: https://www.amazon.com/This-Band-Has-No-Past/dp/1911036874 https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/this-band-has-no-past-brian-j-kramp/1140676941 https://www.target.com/p/this-band-has-no-past-by-brian-j-kramp-paperback/-/A-85836563   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 70, originally released April 2, 2015: Since this is episode number seventy BJ decided to take a look at his own personal top ten favorite albums that were released in the corresponding year of 1970. Episode 74, originally released on April 30, 2015: Since this is episode number seventy-four BJ decided to take a look at his own personal top ten favorite albums that were released in the corresponding year of 1974. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

BJ is joined, separately, by guitarist Steve Allen and bassist Ron Flynt from power pop pioneers 20/20 to cover the story of the band and its music. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

BJ is joined by Steve Butler from Quincy and Phil Solem from Great Buildings. Both tell very engaging stories. Topics tackled include: murder, lawsuits and Randy Rhoads. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

BJ has enlightening conversations about power pop (and the music business) with guitar player Marco Delmar from The Elektrics (who released two albums with Capitol) and keyboardist Dave Hearn from HAWKS (who released two albums with Columbia). What role did a young Jon Bon Jovi play in creating a unique percussion sound? Who turned down a tour with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers? Listen to find out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A pair of remixed episodes from the RA/OR archives... "Tickled Ivories" originally released June 2014:  BJ plays some of his favorite piano-centric rock songs...and they're not all ballads! "Unplugged" originally released March 2014:  It's RA/OR UNPLUGGED as BJ plays 25 of his favorite acoustic songs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Pop released a pair of singles and album independently before signing with Arista for their 1979 album Go! They managed one more EP with Rhino before splitting up in 1981. Hear David's story of moving from Chicago to LA in the early seventies to pursue his rock and roll dreams. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

BJ is joined by Arthur Alexander, guitar player and singer/songwriter from the classic power pop bands the Poppees, very early purveyors of the style that became power pop, and Sorrows, whose album Teenage Heartbreak is one of the greatest power pop albums ever released. We also learn how the band's second album, Love Too Late, was hijacked by a legendary producer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gary Valentine was an early member of Blondie, performing on the band's first album before leaving to form his own band in Los Angeles called The Know. Hear Gary's story on this episode, with lots of great music interspersed throughout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

BJ is joined by Steve Brigida, drummer from Artful Dodger, for a discussion about the band's career, and their place in the history power pop. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices