Behind The Song: Classic Rock Chronicles

Gamut Podcast Network

Dig into the history of classic rock songs and the storytellers that created them in "Behind The Song," a podcast by Janda Lane. Hear what was happening behind the scenes while some of the most iconic songs in rock history were being written.

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20 episodes
Updated Wednesday

Episodes20

Newest first

Wednesday · 13 min
Don Henley: The Boys Of Summer and the Eagles’ Long Goodbye
Don Henley's “The Boys Of Summer” is a song with lyrical roots that trace back to the poet Dylan Thomas, but it got its musical start from a demo Mike Campbell played for Tom Petty -- who passed on it! In an updated episode of the Behind The Song podcast, Janda takes a look at how “The Boys OF Summer” fits into the Eagles' story as the band winds down its farewell tour. With Henley hinting this could be the Eagles' final year, this song about looking back has never felt more timely. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
July 22 · 13 min
Rush Fifty Something: A Night To Remember in Chicago
Janda recaps night one of Rush's Fifty Something tour in Chicago on July 16, 2026— a show few fans thought they'd ever see after Neil Peart's passing in 2020. The episode covers drummer Anika Nilles winning over skeptics with a show-stopping "Tom Sawyer," the emotional Peart tributes, a full 2112 suite, a surprise nod to founding drummer John Rutsey, and the joy of watching Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson carry the band's legacy forward. Part concert review, part love letter to five decades of Rush fandom — a reminder of why live music still hits like magic. Spoiler alert: full setlist and show details discussed. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
July 15 · 15 min
Unpacking The Rolling Stones’ Foreign Tongues
Sixty-plus years in, the Rolling Stones return with Foreign Tongues — fourteen tracks featuring Paul McCartney, Steve Winwood, and a surprise turn from The Cure's Robert Smith, plus previously unheard drumming from the late Charlie Watts. Janda goes track by track through the record, digging into its riffs, ballads, and covers, and makes the case for why it's the Stones' best album in years. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
July 8 · 12 min
Tadpole In A Jar: Unpacking Led Zeppelin's "Dancing Days"
In 1972, Led Zeppelin traded the studio for Mick Jagger’s driveway and the Rolling Stones' recording truck, after a detoured trip to Bombay reshaped their sound. Join Janda on the new episode of Behind The Song as she dives into the making of "Dancing Days," from its Eastern-tinged riff to the lyric that's baffled fans for 50 years: the lion standing alone with a tadpole in a jar. Plus: the critics who hated the Houses Of The Holy album, the tour that broke box office records anyway, and the unlikely afterlife this song had in 90’s. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
July 1 · 10 min
Remembering Clive Davis: The Hitmaker Who Rocked
In this episode of the Behind The Song podcast, Janda remembers the legendary Clive Davis, the music icon who almost single-handedly dragged the music industry into the rock revolution. He was a lawyer with no musical training whatsoever but with truly magic ears when it came to signing the cream of rock’s crop: from Janis Joplin to Aerosmith, The Grateful Dead to Springsteen, Santana to Billy Joel. Hear the story of how his legacy unfolded in this episode! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
June 24 · 10 min
Three Classic Albums That Radiate Summer Heat
Roll the windows down and crank the volume up! In the new bonus episode of Behind The Song Janda tracks the arc of a summer day through three classic albums that vibe with the season in very different ways. From Van Halen to the Eagles to Chicago, these albums rock your glorious summer days and nights. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
June 17 · 10 min
Baby I Love Your Way: Peter Frampton, But Make It Live!
How did Peter Frampton go from an industry underdog to an absolute stadium-packing global phenomenon? In the new episode of Behind The Song, Janda tracks the incredible "grind-it-out" story behind the 1976 double-album smash, Frampton Comes Alive! Did you know there was a real-life muse behind “Baby I Love Your Way,” one of the hit songs he wrote in a single day while sitting on a beach in the Bahamas? Listen to the story in this episode! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
June 10 · 10 min
Bohemian Cat-sody: Freddie Mercury's Felines
In this episode of the Behind The Song podcast with Janda Lane, step inside Freddie Mercury’s London mansion to meet the pampered clowder of ten felines who truly ruled his world. From mandatory long-distance phone calls to check in while Queen was on the road to the song inspired by his favorite calico, Delilah, Mercury truly went above and beyond typical pet care. In fact, he was so loyal to his beloved companions that he put it in his will that they would inherit his sanctuary, long after the music stopped. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
June 3 · 9 min
The Rolling Stones & Sonny Rollins: When Two Musical Worlds Collided
In this bonus episode of the Behind The Song podcast, Janda shares the incredible story behind how the late, great “saxophone colossus” Sonny Rollins came to record the sax solo on the Rolling Stones hit, “Waiting On A Friend.” Following the passing of the jazz legend at age 95, this awesome recording remains as proof that when talented musicians respect each other, the lines between genres can completely melt away. As Mick Jagger said: "He just blew his horn and it was beautiful." See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
May 27 · 12 min
Pete Townshend: The Guru Between The Notes
In this episode of the Behind The Song podcast, Janda takes a closer look into Pete Townshend’s “Let My Love Open The Door,” just one of many songs that he consistently wrote with his spiritual guru in mind. It’s a deep dive into the how Townshend’s decades-long devotion to Meher Baba completely colored his creative output and shifted his focus to search for the divine. From “Baba O’Riley” to “The Seeker” and more, take a listen to how he to put the guru between the notes of his songs. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
May 20 · 28 min
Get On The Bus! Why The Grateful Dead Will Never Die with Christian Lane
Janda is joined by Behind The Song podcast producer Christian Lane (her husband!) for a conversation about what makes the Grateful Dead continue to compel fans to “get on the bus,” more than 60 years after they played their first concert. The conversation explores the various entry points into the band's world and the philosophy of fun outlined by Jerry Garcia that still resonates with DeadHeads both new and old today. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
May 13 · 12 min
A Triumphant Return! Janda chats with Gil Moore and Mike Levine of Triumph
Triumph returns to the road and to Chicago’s Allstate Arena on May 13th in a Drive 25th Anniversary concert event! In this bonus episode, revisit the conversation as Janda sits down with Mike Levine and Gil Moore to discuss what made them decide to tour again and what fans can expect now. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
May 6 · 12 min
Flies in the Vasoline: Stone Temple Pilots' Tragic Prophecy
In 1994, Stone Temple Pilots hit #1 with Purple, but behind the scenes, the band was fracturing. In this episode of Behind The Song, Janda breaks down the STP classic "Vasoline." It’s the story of a band at their creative peak, even as their frontman Scott Weiland began a very long, sad goodbye. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
April 29 · 30 min
Rock’s Unsung Gems: Songs That Should Have Been Hits
Why did Aerosmith’s "You See Me Crying" never top the charts? How did a musical genius like Lowell George of Little Feat miss out on a solo smash? Janda is joined by WDRV Brand & Content Director Keith Hastings (her boss!) for a deep dive into the "should've beens" of rock and roll. From the hair-metal transition of Kip Winger to the bluesy hooks of the Arc Angels and the shifting sounds of Genesis, Janda and Keith trade picks on songs that had all the ingredients of a hit but somehow slipped through the cracks. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
April 22 · 32 min
What The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Got Right in 2026 with Christian James Hand
In the new episode of the Behind The Song podcast, Janda sits down for a no-filter conversation with musicologist Christian James Hand to break down the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame class of 2026. The duo dive into the singular career of Phil Collins, who now enters the rarified air of two-time inductees, and expand into what else the Rock Hall got right this year. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
April 15 · 12 min
David Bowie’s “Let’s Dance”: The Reinvention That Changed Everything
In the early 1980s, David Bowie was an artist’s artist, but he wasn’t yet a blockbuster hitmaker in America. Fresh off the experimental depths of his Berlin Trilogy, Bowie decided it was time to step out of the shadows and onto the dance floor. In this episode of Behind The Song, Janda explores the seismic shift that occurred when the Starman traded his avant-garde roots for a truly knockout hit that conquered the mainstream. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
April 8 · 6 min
More Cowbell!!!
It’s one of the most recognizable sounds in rock, but how did it get there? In this bonus episode of the Behind The Song podcast, Janda tracks the evolution of the cowbell! Follow along and discover how this humble piece of farm equipment became a secret weapon in rock ‘n roll, and how the Saturday Night Live moment turned a studio quirk into a cultural phenomenon. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
April 1 · 8 min
Jimmy Page and Joe Walsh: The Lost Chicago Tapes
What really happened at the Ambassador East Hotel in Chicago after a late-night dinner at the Pump Room in 1969? It has been whispered in certain circles for decades that Jimmy Page made musical history with Joe Walsh in Room 6 with nothing more than two guitars, a pizza box, and a four-track recorder. Join Janda on this special Behind The Song podcast exclusive as she traces that night and the origins of the long-lost song they allegedly recorded, “Angel On The CTA.” Featuring a guest appearance by Joe Walsh himself to explain what happened to the tapes, this April 1st episode of Behind The Song changes everything we thought we knew about two of rock’s most legendary characters. Or does it? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
March 25 · 12 min
The Who’s “Who Are You,” Explained
Who are you? Who who, who who…. In this episode of Behind The Song, Janda dives into wild night that inspired Pete Townshend to write “Who Are You,” the title track to The Who’s eighth album. From the spiritual meanings in the last verse of the song to the eerie warning on the album cover that preceded Keith Moon’s passing, get into the story of one of The Who’s biggest anthems - f-bombs and all! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
March 18 · 10 min
The Curse Of "Layla"
Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs is one of the best one-and-done albums by any classic rock group, but the cost of making it was staggeringly high. In this episode of the Behind The Song podcast, Janda digs into "The Curse" of Derek and the Dominos. From Eric Clapton’s unrequited love that fueled the sessions to the tragic fates of Duane Allman and Jim Gordon, the story behind this album reads like a Gothic novel. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Behind The Song: Classic Rock Chronicles

Don Henley: The Boys Of Summer and the Eagles’ Long Goodbye

Rush Fifty Something: A Night To Remember in Chicago

Unpacking The Rolling Stones’ Foreign Tongues

Tadpole In A Jar: Unpacking Led Zeppelin's "Dancing Days"

Remembering Clive Davis: The Hitmaker Who Rocked

Three Classic Albums That Radiate Summer Heat

Baby I Love Your Way: Peter Frampton, But Make It Live!

Bohemian Cat-sody: Freddie Mercury's Felines

The Rolling Stones & Sonny Rollins: When Two Musical Worlds Collided

Pete Townshend: The Guru Between The Notes

Get On The Bus! Why The Grateful Dead Will Never Die with Christian Lane

A Triumphant Return! Janda chats with Gil Moore and Mike Levine of Triumph

Flies in the Vasoline: Stone Temple Pilots' Tragic Prophecy

Rock’s Unsung Gems: Songs That Should Have Been Hits

What The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Got Right in 2026 with Christian James Hand

David Bowie’s “Let’s Dance”: The Reinvention That Changed Everything

More Cowbell!!!

Jimmy Page and Joe Walsh: The Lost Chicago Tapes

The Who’s “Who Are You,” Explained

The Curse Of "Layla"