Rock 'N' Roll Elementary School: Recent Episodes
Mike Ralph Creative
A rock 'n' roll history ride with a dad and his elementary school aged rock 'n' roll music-loving son.
After 3 years and 26 episodes, Mike and Ezra say goodbye to Rock 'N' Roll Elementary School Podcast as Ezra begins middle school. In this episode, Mike and Ezra look back on the their show, talk about some of their favorite memories, and mention some of the bands that they wished they had time to feature. They also talk about the Seattle band Nirvana, the Grunge scene and culture that that they pioneered, their tortured front man Kurt Cobain, and the legacy that he and his band left on rock 'n' roll and popular music.
What was your favorite episode of Rock 'N' Roll Elementary School?
In this episode, Mike and Ezra talk about the band Wilco, their birth out the ashes of alt-country/college radio darlings, Uncle Tupelo, and their collaboration with Woody Guthrie's ghost songs. They also discuss recording their episode on Ezra's final day of elementary school and the future of the podcast. Will there be a Rock 'N' Roll Elementary School summer school? Listen to find out!
In this episode, Mike and Ezra look back at the history of The Blues from it's primitive beginnings in the Mississippi Delta to the rock clubs of London, thanks to a band of rockers named The Rolling Stones who would take The Blues to new heights and become "The Greatest Band of Rock 'N' Roll. They also discussed The Rolling Stones' iconic lips and tongue logo and some of the other great logos of the rock 'n' roll era.
In this episode, Mike and Ezra look back at the brief career of rock 'n' roll pioneer, Buddy Holly, his tragic death along with two other rockstars in a plane crash, and the hit song written years later inspired by "the day the music died."
In this episode, Mike and Ezra talk about Ezra's first drum recital, and then they discuss some some of the great drummers in history, including the wild and crazy antics of the drummer Keith Moon and his band The Who.
In a special extended double episode, Mike and Ezra start out by discussing and debating their "greatest of all time" albums. In part 2, they talk about the band Genesis, their evolution from progressive rock to pop stars, and the star solo careers of their two leaders in their history, Pater Gabriel and Phil Collins.
In this episode, Mike and Ezra look back at the career of the original college rockers, R.E.M., the meaning of R.E.M., and the band's connection to the famed outsider artist Howard Finster.
In this episode, Mike and Ezra take a look at the legendary country performer, Johnny Cash, his genre redefining career, and his twilight career revival thanks to a cover song by industrial music darlings, Nine Inch Nails.
In this episode, Mike and Ezra talk about the famed R&B and Soul record label Motown Records, their greatest hits and hitmakers during the 60s, as well as some of their "One Hit Wonders," like the Contours, and Mike shares about his time failing to locate the Motown Museum while visiting Detroit.
In this episode, Mike and Ezra talk about country-rock pioneers The Byrds, as well as their connection with Buffalo Springfield, Flying Burritos Brothers, and others; and we ask the question, "Will Ezra ever figure out how to correctly pronounce the name of The Byrds?"
In this episode, Mike and Ezra talk about Van Morrison, his ground breaking album Astral Weeks, and Ezra gives a lesson on Northern Ireland geography.
In this episode, Mike and Ezra look back at the reggae legend Bob Marley and his band The Wailers, and Mike talks about working with orphans and teaching basketball during his mission trip to Jamaica back in college.
In this episode, Mike and Ezra talk about misunderstood song lyrics and look back on the career of Creedence Clearwater Revival and their famously misunderstood song lyric from the song Bad Moon Rising.
In this special Christmas episode, Mike and Ezra talk about the infamous producer Phil Spector and his beloved Christmas album compilation, “A Christmas Gift For You.” They also talk about some of their other favorite Christmas songs and discuss Spector’s Wall of Sound production style and its influence on rock and pop music.
In this episode, Mike and Ezra talk about The Band, their Thanksgiving Day concert film The Last Waltz, their legendary basement tapes recordings with Bob Dylan, and Mike and Ezra's visit to see The Band's Big Pink house in Woodstock, NY.
In this episode, Mike and Ezra take a look back to legendary folk rock duo, Simon & Garfunkel and their post S&G careers. Mike talks about their soundtrack to the movie The Graduate and how it inspired a short film parody created by him and his friends in high school, and Ezra professes his love for Paul Simon’s Graceland album.
After a summer break, the Rock ‘N’ Roll Elementary School Podcast is back in session. In this episode, Mike and Ezra talk about the legendary NYC punk rockers The Ramones, their movie Rock 'N' Roll High School, which was the inspiration for the name of this podcast, and Mike tells the story of missing out on The Ramones final tour because of a snowstorm.
In this episode, Mike and Ezra and talk about New Jersey’s beloved son, Bruce “The Boss” Springsteen, from safe inside their closet in Pitman, New Jersey.
In this episode, Mike and Ezra talk about The Beach Boys, one of their favorite all-time albums, Pet Sounds, and Ezra learns about Grandad’s surfing rebel years growing up in Virginia Beach.
In this episode, Mike and Ezra talk about two greats in jazz history, Miles Davis and John Coltrane, and Ezra makes a new discovery about Mike’s musical history.
In this episode, Mike and Ezra talk about the great singer and songwriter Bob Dylan, his legendary Basement Tapes recordings with The Band, and wish him a happy 79th birthday!
In this episode, Mike and Ezra talk about their favorite Irish rockers, U2, the Live Bono Society, and talk to Uncle Matt about the story behind “Good Band! Good Band!
In this episode, Mike and Ezra take a “trip” to Memphis, TN, as they discuss the King of Rock & Roll, Elvis Presley, his beginnings at Sun Records, his beloved Graceland, and talk about some of the other pioneers of rock & roll.
In this episode, Mike and Ezra talk about another favorite of Ezra’s, the great Stevie Wonder, his beloved album Songs in the Key of Life, and even get to hear Ezra sing a little from the album.
In this episode, Mike and Ezra talk about The Beatles and The Kinks and the British Invasion and finally settle the debate over who was the better band from England.
In their inaugural episode, Mike and Ezra talk about Ezra's favorite band Arcade Fire and learn about the meaning of “Good Band! Good Band!