163. DJ Alix Brown on Lou Reed's 'Transformer' (1972)

Guitar legend, multi-instrumentalist and bandleader of Conan's Basic Cable Band - Jimmy Vivino - joins me to discuss the classic album that kicked off the jam band era: Al Kooper, Mike Bloomfield and Stephen Stills' "Super Session" (1968). Jimmy talks about his long friendship and collaborations with Al Kooper, the career paths that led each of the major players to this record, and tells amazing stories from his own storied career in rock'n'roll, including playing bass with Springsteen in the studio, getting chewed out by Chuck Berry on stage mid-song, jamming with a shirtless Keith Richards, when David Bowie played him a song he wrote about Jimmy’s brother, how nothing on a Beatles record is ‘un-fucked-with’ and why you should always meet your heroes. My Favorite Album is a podcast unpacking the great works of pop music. Each episode features a different songwriter or musician discussing their favorite album of all time - their history with it, the making of the album, individual songs and the album’s influence on their own music.Jeremy Dylan is a filmmaker, journalist and photographer from Sydney, Australia who has worked in the music industry since 2007. He directed the the feature music documentary Jim Lauderdale: The King of Broken Hearts (out now!) and the feature film Benjamin Sniddlegrass and the Cauldron of Penguins, in addition to many commercials and music videos. If you’ve got any feedback or suggestions, drop us a line at myfavoritealbumpodcast@gmail.com.

28 Jan 20161h 7min

London-based Aussie songstress and ex-frontwoman of Bridezilla, Holiday Sidewinder joins me for chat about one of Bob Dylan's underappreciated classics - 1973's 'Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid', the soundtrack to the film of the same name. What happens when rock's most famous lyricist makes a largely instrumental album? Why does legendary R&B organist Booker T play bass on the album? What did Holiday steal from Dylan when she met him backstage? How does the record fit in with Bob's Nashville period? Why did Holiday play this album at a funeral she was musical directing? Plus, Holiday and I close the episode with a short acoustic rendition of the album's most famous song 'Knockin On Heaven's Door'. My Favorite Album is a podcast unpacking the great works of pop music. Each episode features a different songwriter or musician discussing their favorite album of all time - their history with it, the making of the album, individual songs and the album’s influence on their own music.Jeremy Dylan is a filmmaker, journalist and photographer from Sydney, Australia who has worked in the music industry since 2007. He directed the the feature music documentary Jim Lauderdale: The King of Broken Hearts (out now!) and the feature film Benjamin Sniddlegrass and the Cauldron of Penguins, in addition to many commercials and music videos. If you’ve got any feedback or suggestions, drop us a line at myfavoritealbumpodcast@gmail.com.

25 Jan 201650min

In the days following our mutual heroes passing, TV (Puss in Boots, Supernatural), stage (Thrilling Adventure Hour) and comic book (Thunderbolts) writer (as well as the host the Writers Panel podcast) Ben Blacker joined me over coffee and bagels in Los Angeles to talk about the legacy and evolution of David Bowie, through one of his best albums, 1973′s ‘Aladdin Sane’. How did Ben overcome a distaste for ‘classic rock’ to fall hard for Bowie in the early 90s? How does your understanding of Bowie’s songs change as you mature? How did he incorporate the history of pop music into his tunes? What was a normal day at home like for him? Why was he more sincere than Bob Dylan? and how do you process grief for public figures you loved but never actually knew?My Favorite Album is a podcast unpacking the great works of pop music. Each episode features a different songwriter or musician discussing their favorite album of all time - their history with it, the making of the album, individual songs and the album’s influence on their own music.Jeremy Dylan is a filmmaker, journalist and photographer from Sydney, Australia who has worked in the music industry since 2007. He directed the the feature music documentary Jim Lauderdale: The King of Broken Hearts (out now!) and the feature film Benjamin Sniddlegrass and the Cauldron of Penguins, in addition to many commercials and music videos. If you’ve got any feedback or suggestions, drop us a line at myfavoritealbumpodcast@gmail.com.

21 Jan 201646min

Singer/songwriter and frontman of New York power-poppers EZTV, Ezra Tenenbaum, joins me to dive into a cult classic of the power-pop genre, the self-titled debut from The Toms (1979). We talk about the shared influences of British invasion and 60s west coast rock on both Ezra and the Toms, the discipline of short songs, 'bands' made up of one person, the benefits and temptations of tinkering in the studio, how albums can capture a moment of someone's life, and when we can expect a new EZTV album. My Favorite Album is a podcast unpacking the great works of pop music. Each episode features a different songwriter or musician discussing their favorite album of all time - their history with it, the making of the album, individual songs and the album’s influence on their own music.Jeremy Dylan is a filmmaker, journalist and photographer from Sydney, Australia who has worked in the music industry since 2007. He directed the the feature music documentary Jim Lauderdale: The King of Broken Hearts (out now!) and the feature film Benjamin Sniddlegrass and the Cauldron of Penguins, in addition to many commercials and music videos. If you’ve got any feedback or suggestions, drop us a line at myfavoritealbumpodcast@gmail.com.

19 Jan 201624min

Melbourne singer/songwriter on Lou Reed's classic solo record 'Transformer', produced by David Bowie and Mick Ronson.

15 Jan 201628min

Self-described ‘life-long advocate of simplicity’ and Canadian Americana singer/songwriter Whitney Rose joins me at a Mexican restaurant in Nashville to talk about 80s country icon Keith Whitley’s posthumously released Greatest Hits album. Whitney reveals how her childhood love for Whitney helped foster her love for country music, why some of his songs make more emotional than logical sense, her passion for simplicity in life and music and how the album helped her bond with Mavericks frontman (and her producer) Raul Malo. My Favorite Album is a podcast unpacking the great works of pop music. Each episode features a different songwriter or musician discussing their favorite album of all time - their history with it, the making of the album, individual songs and the album’s influence on their own music.Jeremy Dylan is a filmmaker, journalist and photographer from Sydney, Australia who has worked in the music industry since 2007. He directed the the feature music documentary Jim Lauderdale: The King of Broken Hearts (out now!) and the feature film Benjamin Sniddlegrass and the Cauldron of Penguins, in addition to many commercials and music videos. If you’ve got any feedback or suggestions, drop us a line at myfavoritealbumpodcast@gmail.com

5 Jan 201621min

ABC TV's Danny Yau joins me as gust co-host as we count down our 5 favorite albums of 2015, with commentary from friends of the show Jason Isbell, Tim Rogers, Will Hoge, Dan Kelly, Shane Nicholson and Tame Impala's Julien Barbagallo. My Favorite Album is a podcast unpacking the great works of pop music. Each episode features a different songwriter or musician discussing their favorite album of all time - their history with it, the making of the album, individual songs and the album’s influence on their own music.Jeremy Dylan is a filmmaker, journalist and photographer from Sydney, Australia who has worked in the music industry since 2007. He directed the the feature music documentary Jim Lauderdale: The King of Broken Hearts (out now!) and the feature film Benjamin Sniddlegrass and the Cauldron of Penguins, in addition to many commercials and music videos. If you’ve got any feedback or suggestions, drop us a line at myfavoritealbumpodcast@gmail.com.

1 Jan 20161h

For Christmas Eve, I dive into the melodramatic and perverse world of Phil Spector, and his seminal Christmas pop record ‘A Christmas Gift For You’, with my friend and sometimes producer Jaime Lewis and a large batch of eggnog. Why did the album bomb on first release? Which 60s pop legend considers it the greatest album of all time? How does Spector’s sincere love of syrupy Christmas music track with his reprehensible real life behaviour? How does the album mash up innovative contemporary production with traditional holiday standards? What’s the history of the album’s lasting classic track, Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)? What’s the right amount of bourbon to put in eggnog? And isn’t Phil Spector Jewish anyway? Listen in the player above or download the episode by clicking here. My Favorite Album is a podcast unpacking the great works of pop music. Each episode features a different songwriter or musician discussing their favorite album of all time - their history with it, the making of the album, individual songs and the album’s influence on their own music.Jeremy Dylan is a filmmaker, journalist and photographer from Sydney, Australia who has worked in the music industry since 2007. He directed the the feature music documentary Jim Lauderdale: The King of Broken Hearts (out now!) and the feature film Benjamin Sniddlegrass and the Cauldron of Penguins, in addition to many commercials and music videos. If you’ve got any feedback or suggestions, drop us a line atmyfavoritealbumpodcast@gmail.com

24 Dec 201557min