Poll: What is your pick for the greatest opening line of all time?

@Code.Name.V

Жыл бұрын

1. Hello darkness my old friend. 2. It sounds funny I know, but it really is so...I'm my own Grandpa. 3. Traveling in a fried out Kombi 4. I close my eyes, only for a moment then the moments gone.

@catherine6653

Жыл бұрын

Dearly Beloved/ We are gathered here today to get through this thing called life. Let's Go Crazy, Prince and the Revolution.

@witchy6978

Жыл бұрын

In the beginning, good always overpowered the evil of all man's sins. Motley Crue, In The Beginning 👿

@surlechapeau

Жыл бұрын

1. Music is a world within itself, with a language we all understand - Sir Duke - Stevie Wonder; 2. Jeremiah was a bullfrog, was a good friend of mine - Joy To The World - Three Dog Night.

@Whisper_292

Жыл бұрын

I'm actually drawing a blank! So, I'll go with the opening line of my favorite song, which is pretty great, anyway. "There's a crack in the mirror and a blood stain on the bed." -- "Bloodletting: the Vampire Song," by Concrete Blonde

My band opened for Cake in 1994 - during their soundcheck, the bassist & drummer switched instruments and they freaking KILLED it! Who knew?

@edryba4867

Жыл бұрын

There is SO mulch you just can’t tell about people just by looking at them, isn’t there?

@GODCONVOYPRIME

Жыл бұрын

No you didn't MY band opened for cake! And it also opened for pudding too! See I can be a retard too!

This is why I love this channel. In the 90’s into the 00’s my wife and I were raising a family. Pop culture and popular music went by the wayside, so I never heard of Cake till today. Thanks PoR for what y’all do. This channel is a great time. The breadth of coverage is amazing.

@ProfessorofRock

Жыл бұрын

Thanks my friend. Go hit up Fashion Nugget! You'll love it.

@t.p.sheppard1270

Жыл бұрын

@@ProfessorofRock Will do

@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980

Жыл бұрын

Yeah, same. Adam is doing the Lord’s work, teaching us about these mostly unknown or obscure musicians and giving their song(s) the spotlight they deserve.

@glo3139

Жыл бұрын

I don’t recall this band or song at all!! LOL

@derueoloughlin8672

Жыл бұрын

​@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 Amen!

Songs like this are why I love music so much. You think you've heard it all, then BAM you get something like Going the Distance.

@ProfessorofRock

Жыл бұрын

That's EXACTLY right! So good.

@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980

Жыл бұрын

I bet this song will blow me away!

Thank you, Professor of Rock! I REALLY love this channel!! You keep it SO interesting, and to me, that’s what is the most important thing to do…and, that’s not always easy! So, thank you, again. I appreciate your hard work and great videos! 👍👏

@ProfessorofRock

Жыл бұрын

Thanks!

Excellent interview, 2 very musically intelligent guys having a conversation. As always, thank you Adam.

Sometimes the shortest interviews are the most impactful. Great job, Professor...

I have always loved the trumpet parts. They were haunting and added a whole new level to the songs. I saw them do “Never There” on Lettermen and fell in love.

@ProfessorofRock

Жыл бұрын

The Trumpet parts are wonderful!

@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980

Жыл бұрын

🎺 I guess I need to listen to this one. I love trumpet songs.

@Jims_Camera_at_dawn

Жыл бұрын

Short Skirt Long Jacket is another great Cake song. As so many have stated, I like the trumpet also.

@robertlalexander4083

Жыл бұрын

Comfort Eagle while it still has the Trumpet became a bit more guitar driven IMO.

I use to love this song and had no idea who sang it. Thank you for featuring it. Love you Professor!

Every generation produces great music. Sometimes you have to go look for it.

That album was a breath of fresh air in the music world when it came out… it woke up my senses in a period were music was going down… thank you for that great interview. Keep up the amazing work!

When Cake came on the scene I had already given up on modern music. I only listened to classic rock and oldies stations, but fiddling with the supertuner one night on the freeway I happened across never there and it was so different than anything else...and the guy's haunting voice! I immediately bought the album and became a fan.

Your huge love of 80's music on this channel, it always delights when you actually talk about songs from the 90's, especially such an odd hit from the Alternative rock era

Thank you so much for showing this interview. I’ve loved cake since 96 but you really don’t seem many interviews with them. Bravo

Cake is an absolute product of their time, while also just having really timeless, really good music. Always awesome work man.

@ProfessorofRock

Жыл бұрын

Couldn't agree more! How was your holiday RC32?

@RC32Smiths01

Жыл бұрын

@@ProfessorofRock Went quite well! Hope you had the same. Cheers as always for the content.

@ProfessorofRock

Жыл бұрын

@@RC32Smiths01 Awesome!

@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980

Жыл бұрын

I kinda wish I discovered them much earlier because they sound like great guys. Cheers to you, RC32. 🍻

@TheJpep2424

Жыл бұрын

Awful music. Guy doesn't even sing he speaks. Garbage.

True story. I’ve been a metalhead for 40 years plus. My first thrash album was Ride the Lightning on vinyl. Megaforce Records. But my first love was theatrical and popular music from well before I was born. My wife and I decided to give our kids the gift of live music from the time they were very young. I’ve seen the Wiggles. Twice. Mostly, we centered on hard rock and metal, though Weird Al (a National Treasure) has made more than one appearance. Anyway, last summer, before my son had his license to drive, I went to pick him up after band practice, and when he opened the passenger door, he dropped his ear buds on the seat and I heard…something. I asked, “What are you listening to?” He turned it off quickly, looked embarrassed and mumbled, “Nothing.” I wondered what he could possibly be listening to that would make him think I would be shocked to hear about it, so I asked again: “What are you listening to?” Mumbled: “Jazz.” So we listened to Sinatra the whole way home. Not jazz, strictly, but it was great to share that wonderful sound with my boy. And better yet, he’s working his way back to the great pop tunes of the 80s. Foreigner show coming up. Share, share, share the gift with your kids. It pays off in ways you’ll never foresee.

Never heard of them before. Thanks for this interview. A very cool couple of dudes in this video.

I wasn't familiar with Cake until watching this interview. Thank you for the introduction, Adam 😀

This man is one of my heroes, thank you for this interview.

Always at the top of my driving playlist. Great Song. Thanks for this seriea and all that you do Adam.

I ran a metal shop when the single "Never there" came out. I would make everyone shut the equipment off and they weren't aloud to talk till it was over. Good times.

Great video, Professor! I got goosebumps when i heard The Distance playing. It had been a long time since I heard that sonic tapestry.

This is my new favorite channel.

I was talking about my love of John McCrea yesterday (more specifically about how wise Ben Folds was to have him in the song Fred Jones pt 2)! How nice of KZread to show me your interview with him! I have loved Cake since the mid-90s

here,s me, an Englishman living on a small island in Sweden. i actually found "Cake" only last year and the track "wheels". Absolutely love that track. So when i saw you were interviewing John McCree i had to watch. 16 minutes flew by but an excellant interview and insight.My neighbour uesed to hang out with them(Brady Blade, you should know of him) thanks for this and look forward to the next

I am 57 just found Cake within the last year one of my all time favorite bands

A very underrated band. The short skirt long jacket song is also so good.

Love this video Adam. I remember when Cake exploded onto the scene. Like you said, the rock scene was not vibrant during this era. I was CTO of one of the first Internet radio companies at that point in time and we put this, Short Skirt/Long Jacket, and I Will Survive into rotation on both pop and rock formats. We were based in San Francisco so Cake was something of a local band being from Sacramento. FWIW, you did great interviewing John. I do recall some awkward interviews back around the time with him, but he was totally comfortable talking to you.

So good. I love this band. I so love this song. I remember “You Turn the Screws” as my first CAKE song. What a banger. These dudes are so underrated, so deserving of a second listen. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️👏👏👏👏👏

Love Cake....so underappreciated! Thx for this professor.

I love this! All of it! 'Never There' speaks to me most.

Thank you again for your hard work and great insight into music history.

@ProfessorofRock

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching!

So good. Saw Cake live and been binging them nonstop since. They're genius.

I love John McCrea! I always wondered when you'd interview him! Day made!

Every single Cake album is pure gold. Go back to the earlier albums. They’ve always made full albums without concentrating on singles. I love ‘em. Really cool to see this interview Prof Rock. Nice job:)

Awesome interview Professor!! See you tomorrow!🤘🔥

@ProfessorofRock

Жыл бұрын

Can't wait!

Awesome interview! Just saw these guys in Denver a couple of weeks ago for the very first time & they were incredible. Mr McCrea is not only intelligent but straight up one of the funniest guys I've ever seen. From the the way he handled the crowd he could do solo standup comedy & kill it. Such an original man & band, love these guys.

This song and album ruled my life for a whole year. I still know every word of the entire album, and most of their others as well. Cake never gets old!

I never want to see the video for this! What’s in my head is hard to beat.

@ProfessorofRock

Жыл бұрын

Ha ha! Its worth seeing.

@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980

Жыл бұрын

I’m curious now.

There's a reason mainstream music went downhill in the late 90s. It was the Telecom Act of 1996 that gave Clear Channel (now iHeartRadio) a monopoly on rock radio. Small independently owned stations simply could not compete. At least we still have college radio.

I first heard of CAKE through their song 'Short Skirt / Long Jacket', and shortly after found 'The Distance', both great songs. As for best opening line, it's a toss up between Placebo's 'Song To Say Goodbye' with the line: 'You are one of God's mistakes, you crying tragic waste of skin.' And Sick Puppies' song 'Cancer' and the line: 'Tell me all your plans and I'll laugh back in your face.' First time I heard those lines I couldn't believe a band would be bold enough to start a song so harsh, which is why I love them.

@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980

Жыл бұрын

Those two opening lines are harsh!

@TheJpep2424

Жыл бұрын

Awful song. Absolute garbage.

@serendipityshopnyc

Жыл бұрын

I had not heard of "The Distance" before today, and only with your comment did I recognize that this was the same band behind "Short Skirt/Long Jacket". You can learn something new every day if you're not careful! :) Thanks to you and the Professor.

WOW. I can’t friggen believe this happened.. I knew I subscribed for a reason

"Never there" was one of my favourite ones and I loved their version of "I will survive." Fashion Nugget was a great album.

Love the channel, and love the tee shirt, lol.

This song sounded like nothing else on the radio in '96. And Fashion Nugget is one of the few CDs I've bought where the rest of the album is even better than the hit single. Italian Leather Sofa is an absolute JAM.

@MattEvans529

Жыл бұрын

Agreed *fully*. Hell, Fashion Nugget may be the best song on the album. Now I want to go watch some Mission Hill...

@MattEvans529

Жыл бұрын

Derp, "Italian Leather Sofa." It's early... Need coffee. :D

@adamv242

Жыл бұрын

@@MattEvans529 Stickshifts and Safety Belts should've been a single, too..

I haven't seen this episode yet but I figured it's the best place to put my question/request. Please make an entire episode on Paul Williams! I know a little about him but I want to know more.

Great to see John on the show. Cake was one of my favorite bands growing up. Always cool, always different.

I love everything cake does!

Never There is my favorite Cake song. What a collection of sounds and words cobbled together intentionally or not to sound like nothing else at the time, or since. 🤘🤘

Cake is a staple on my Spotify playlists…so many should be hits. And I love their use of the VibraSlap. That is such a signature sound for them.

Cool video thank you😎👍

Really nice interview. You can he is a thoughtful guy who has a real philosophy on musuc

Reminds me of The Butthole Surfers's song "Pepper". VIVA Gibby Haynes

@ProfessorofRock

Жыл бұрын

Cool song for sure.

@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980

Жыл бұрын

Yes indeed.

...love your shirt, Professor!!!...takes me back about 45-50 years...

Great interview and topic! Fashion Nugget is an old favorite with smart lyrics and unique musical style. Italian Leather Sofa is an underrated track but they all are smart and fun. I believe The Distance transcends generations because it speaks to the human condition of struggling for success and not attaining it. Even the most successful people can relate because they have failed more than succeeded. Excellent

This song is timeless. I seem to remember this song long before 96. It's one of those. I grew up in the renaissance of progressive and alt rock and I am amazed and appreciate the acknowledgement of these now classics

As soon as I heard “You Turn the Screws” on the radio in my car, I was instantly hooked on this GREAT band!! Bought every album they put out and was never once disappointed.

Agreed. I loved playing this album. My 21 year old son loves it too!

Cake is awesome. They have really complex bass lines. I loved how the discussion digressed into Frank Sinatra; it's cool to hear how artists are influenced by other artists. I also love Adam's shirt. I have to get me one of those!

THANK YOU for this interview with this particular person from this particular band about this particular song! A dream come true! The only question I would have added is - did they also have the animated series Speed Racer in mind while creating the lyrics and music for this song. BTW you were right to approach this interview with humility, but you weren't at all "Out of your league". You're the Professor of Rock!

I only heard this a couple of times but its been forever! Thanks for the memory & great interview, Prof! I was getting ready to get married in 98 (met my hubs in 96, actually, the 5th of July so 27 years ago today!!, from another state & only saw him on weekends, weather permitting until we got married) so everything from those 2 years is either great memories or a huge blur! Thats probably why i didn't hear this song much but ill be going back to listen to it, that's for sure!

@ProfessorofRock

Жыл бұрын

thanks Charleyanne. How was your fourth?

@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980

Жыл бұрын

Happy anniversary 🎉

When this song came out, I was in the middle of my grad school work, trying to hit deadlines on my thesis, assisting for survey level courses, putting in my office hours, and doing the work for the classes I was taking. All the while, I was trying to hold onto a dying relationship of two years. It was one of the darkest times in my life, and this song just fit it as perfectly as you could imagine.

“Wicked smart”😂😂😂 How you like them apples? 🍏🍏🤣

@ProfessorofRock

Жыл бұрын

You got it! Just showed Goodwill Hunting to my son a couple weeks back!

@GIBBO4182

Жыл бұрын

@@ProfessorofRock brilliant movie

@jamalstephenson7140

Жыл бұрын

That's my 2nd favorite movie of all time behind Shawshank!

@GIBBO4182

Жыл бұрын

@@jamalstephenson7140 you and I would get along! Do you like Gladiator, by any chance?

@jamalstephenson7140

Жыл бұрын

I like Gladiator, but sorry, it's not one of my favorites.

when I need a good rush from a song.... this is the one.... man my ears and brain couldn't get enough of it!!!!

Great interview, great band. Amazing song. Hope you can score an interview with My Chemical Romance since they are back together and recording. Also, an interview with Mickey Dolenze before he passes would be great.

@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980

Жыл бұрын

Hey hey, we’re the Monkees! People say we monkey around 🙉

@joejackson6205

Жыл бұрын

@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 hope you are well, keep the music alive in your heart, and in your ears, and try and turn the ones of your generation on to this timeless music.

@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980

Жыл бұрын

@@joejackson6205 I am in the process of doing just that. Thanks 🙏

@bobdavis4848

Жыл бұрын

You mean Micky Dolenz; yes he is a great interview. Lilly is a great youthful spreader of musical knowledge. :-)

🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉 Cake! Underappreciated band. I guess you could call them alternative. Personally I feel they have a Chili Peppers vibe to them. Same melodic structure. Thanks for this closet dive Professor. 😊

@ProfessorofRock

Жыл бұрын

Thanks Roger! How was your holiday?

@rogerdeahl9629

Жыл бұрын

@@ProfessorofRock Great! Hope you had a great holiday also! 😊

@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980

Жыл бұрын

I know I’m gonna like this one. I love RHCP.

I don't know this song or this band, but what a great interview. This guy really knows his music! And I think you did a really good job because you know your music too. Thanks for another great episode, Adam. Have an excellent day.

@ProfessorofRock

Жыл бұрын

Thanks Jill!

@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980

Жыл бұрын

Jill, same. I’m brand new to these guys today.

@jillwklausen

Жыл бұрын

Thanks, @@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980. Now I don't feel so alone! Have a great rest of the day!

@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980

Жыл бұрын

@@jillwklausen Haha! We’re learning new things together! 🤘

Cake! How fitting for just after the 4th b/c they were one of the bands I saw perform in the '90s at the Hatch Shell on the Esplanade here in Boston. Some friends and I went after work, and it was one of the most fun shows I've ever seen, also free to the public. Their tunes are so clever, original w/a '90s sound, but still lasting. John's such an interesting interview.🎂 p.s. "Frank Sinatra" was, ofc, in The Sopranos. And check out "Love You Madly" for great opening hooks.

I feel like Todd Roper's drumming on The Distance is such an important element of the song. It's tasteful and restrained but incredibly muscular and propulsive.

@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980

Жыл бұрын

Sounds like a guy who’s really good at drumming.

@larslan1975

Жыл бұрын

Solid,didn’t overcomplicate the parts!

I love that when you compared his style of delivery to Frank Sinatra’s, he immediately started giving reasons why he thought Sinatra was so great. This was an enjoyable and entertaining interview. You can tell the lead singers very well spoken.

The TV show Chuck helped spread the band's epic essence by using an amazing Cake tune in the intro music.

Appears that you interviewed him here in Sacramento. Great band. Saw them back in the day at the free Concerts in the Park on Friday nights in downtown Sac.

John ate a burger next to me in Portland once and I wanted so badly to tell him how much I love him and his whole catalog.

@ProfessorofRock

Жыл бұрын

You should have! He's a cool guy.

@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980

Жыл бұрын

Did you get to talk to him?

@chrisneyman

Жыл бұрын

@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 I was too chicken to say anything. 🐔

@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980

Жыл бұрын

@@chrisneyman You might have been in a pinch me moment

Great interview, Professor! Cake does a great cover of “Ruby, don’t take your love to town”.

@ProfessorofRock

Жыл бұрын

I'll check it out! Do you have a link?

@xmas74

Жыл бұрын

@@ProfessorofRock kzread.info/dash/bejne/iHilsaShYM6foLg.html

@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980

Жыл бұрын

Originally by Kenny Rogers First Edition.

@jennyjenny4501

Жыл бұрын

@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 fun fact: Ruby was written by Mel Tillis, and originally recorded by Waylon Jennings.

@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980

Жыл бұрын

@@jennyjenny4501 According to Wiki, the second person who recorded it was named Johnny Darrell. He would later suffer from issues with diabetes which led to his death at the age of 57 in 1997.

There is a wonderful poem by the late W.S. Merwin about one of his mentors called "Berryman" about the great poet John Berryman. Near the end, he has a line from Berryman himself saying, "If you need to know that anything you wrote was any good, don't write. You can never know."

Before 'The Distance' there was 'Rock N' Roll Lifestyle' which really threw them into the mix of music around '94. And then even later 'Short Skirt/Long Jacket.' They had an epic theatrical level song on pretty much all of their albums back then.

I think the Guitar and trumpet parts on "Your Never There" pop into MY mind more often.I f Music felt dead in '95 ,you weren't paying attention. Nice Interview

My first exposure to Cake was the song "Long Time" in the TV series Shameless. Obviously, I was late to the party, but ... better late than never. Good stuff PoR!

The Professor is such a gifted raconteur (because he can access those memories complete with the original emotions) that he should consider doing an off topic episode involving other aspects of pop culture. If anyone could spin a compelling anecdote about standing in line for Return of the Jedi or Indiana Jones it's the Professor 🤘

The moment the guitar of Short Skirt/Long Jacket started up the first time I saw the video late at night I knew it was Cake and I was happy there was new music from them to buy. Their style was very recognisably them, even if you hadn't heard the track before.

Saw Cake live in Des Moines at their height. Fantastic live band! Really good.

I always loved this band and their music!! Great vid, Professor!! You went the distance in this interview.

"Desperation... for everyone." LOL excellent.

Cake. Top five favorite band for me. One of the reasons I play bass.

Loved how for the video of short skirt long jacket instead of just playing the song they are walking around outside letting people on the street listen to it on headphones and most love it some don’t it’s totally great there’s a part where the song stops for a second silence before picking back up and the man listening to it was like oh is it over already? The. The music drops and he just looks so happy there it is! Super memorable

I've been a Cake fan since I first heard them. It's a shame that they don't tour that much. I've been lucky enough to see them live and they're so amazing!!! Long live Cake and their amazing music 🎸🎸🤘🏻🤘🏻

Great video, I could have listened to you two for hours. Memories of a much better time...

@ProfessorofRock

Жыл бұрын

I agree. A time long past unfortunately . What else would you like to see?

Yes. Thank you, Adam.

I am a total Cake-head. Excellent!

I played with Cake drummer Todd Roper in college in the late 80’s. He’s a great guy. He taught me how to relax on the drum kit - I was stiff as a board and all over the place.

Listening - bc I’ve never heard of them nor have I ever heard this song! It was about this time “new music” became less interesting to me. Nice to visit it here today.

"The Distance" makes me think back to being driven home by parents at dusk and tired on the way home. It was on the radio so much.

He is so right about instrument layers. Yeah you can hear all those parts and know that song. But once the music is not here and you start to play it back in your head and hum a specific chord progression, you are only focusing in on a few elements of the song if it is over-complicated.

Cake is from my hometown of Sacramento. They and Deftones and Tesla have put our little scene on the map.

I missed it entirely when it came out, but somewhere around 2008 it got used as the intro music for a programming podcast and I heard it every week for awhile.

great job adam

I LOVE Cake. I really only found them in the last few years, though heard their songs back in the day. But they never let me down. Soul Coughing and they seem to have been forgotten. Soul Coughing recently got a boost with the Reacher show.

Such an underrated band. One of my favorite albums. Definitely a start-to-finish record. “Mexico” and “Jolene” (not on this album,) are some of the most beautiful songs of the past thirty years IMHO.

Much Love for Sacramento Groups! Northern Cali!!! 916

Band geek here that spent hs and college in the 80s... magical! As the 90s edged out of grunge, the best thing happened - a revival of the American standards and swing dancing! "You're so money you don't even know how money you are" IYKYK :) I studied ballroom dance for 3 years and loved every second as the millenium approached. But into my life of trying to convert everyone to Sinatra comes a quirky a dear friend with very eclectic musical tastes. We took a road trip to Atlanta one weekend in 97-98 and I knew the music choices were going to be... interesting. My turn - Dean and Frank, live at the Tropicana during the time they were filming Ocean's 11. Her pick - Fashion Nugget. Never heard anything like it. I was so down the standards rabbithole then that I didn't embrace it the way she hoped, though I did love the trumpet riffs and witty lyrical style (she was a writer and I was a designer). Today I need to reach out to her and say YES Beth! They are as awesome as you tried to tell me they are. I hope she plays some Sinatra from time to time though...