Rock N Roll Archaeology

Deeper Digs returns after clearing out a week to release

This week the Muses chat with Modern Muse and influencer Devyn Crimson ! Devyn is a model, actress, fashion muse, writer, and dancer based out of Chicago. She also works as the social media manager for the legendary rock n roll groupie, Miss Pamela Des Barres’, fashion brand– GroupieU. We discuss Devyn’s love of fashion and music, her amazing youtube channel where she does fantastic tutorials and recreations of favourite 60’s and 70’s muses, life with her musician boyfriend, her new Etsy shop for more amazing podcasts!

Shelley and Christian dig deep into friend of the show Meredith Ochs' latest book, Aretha: The Queen of Soul - A Life in Photographs.  Since the book is filled with photos, along with three essays by Ms. Ochs, we decide to play as many disparate songs by the Diva of divas to showcase just how amazing Aretha really was during her lifetime. Aretha Franklin’s voice was legendary, unforgettable: deeply rooted in gospel, yet versatile enough to brilliantly interpret R&B, rock, soul, pop, and jazz standards, it fueled a six-decade career. Her vocal wallop was a mix of preaching, rebuke, and elation. From the languorous “I Never Loved a Man (the Way That I Love You),” to the funky “Chain of Fools,” to the fiercely feminist “Think,” to the definitive, demanding version of Otis Redding’s “Respect,” Franklin’s songs played out against the tumultuous sociopolitical backdrop of the late ’60s like a soundtrack meant to set things right. Her accolades were many: she received the Kennedy Center honor in 1994, won 18 Grammys, was the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and performed for presidents and the Pope. Illustrated with 85 photos, and with insightful text from noted radio personality and author Meredith Ochs, Aretha explores the diva’s life, from her formative years growing up in Detroit, to her singing and recording career from the 1950s until her untimely death in 2018, to her numerous honors, awards, and causes, including her advocacy for civil rights and the arts. Get the book Disclaimer: The views expressed here by Shelley Sorenson are made in her capacity as a private citizen, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the San Francisco Public Library or the City of San Francisco. Call us at 650-822-ROCK or email at: info@rocknrollarchaeology.com

Chapter 17 of Rock N Roll Archaeology is bookended by a couple of Simon & Garfunkel albums: “Bookends” from the spring of 1968; and “Bridge Over Troubled Water” from January of 1970.  Our story takes place mostly in New York City: a city big enough to spawn two very different, very talented--and very influential--artists: Paul Simon and Lou Reed.  We skip work on a cold January afternoon to catch a movie: Mike Nichols’ “The Graduate.” It’s a generation milestone of a film, and Simon & Garfunkel’s music is a big part of that; what’s more, we argue, it’s a different kind of soundtrack, something new in film and popular culture.  We meet Tom Wilson, the first African-American staff producer at Columbia Records.  Tom oversaw the first two Simon & Garfunkel albums. We follow him for a little while and he leads us to...Lou Reed and the Velvet Underground. We get to know Lou and the Velvets, and the scene from which they sprang: Andy Warhol’s Factory. We meet a Factory hang-around, an angry young woman with good reasons to be angry, but she takes it way too far, with tragic consequences.  And we’ll meet the first Punk Rock band: The MC5, and the revolutionary political milieu they occupied. Wayne Kramer of the MC5 has some things to say about that, and about a fateful MC5 gig at the Fillmore East.   Finally, we’ll meet one of our favorite artists ever, who came from the same scene as the MC5: Iggy Pop. We say “Amen” to Iggy Pop.  We wrap it back around to Simon & Garfunkel, and their take on the anger and disappointment, on the turmoil of the late 1960s. An offer of comfort and healing is the first big Pop hit of the 1970s. Listen to episodes 1-16 of Rock N Roll Archaeology, as well as all the other great podcasts at www.pantheonpodcasts.com

Pantheon is proud to present Pamela Des Barres first hosted podcast series, “Miss Pamela’s Pajama Party” Join Miss Pamela as she tells tales from her diary, has fun interviewing special guests, and shares her love of rock n roll. Kicking back in their PJs this week, Miss Pamela sits down with up and coming singer, songwriter and musician .  They talk about a kiss, music, faith, and more.  Sie Sie plays four songs live: Holy Lightning. Hard Working Man, Harvard & Stone and Joe Walsh. Despite her infamy as “the World’s Most Famous Groupie” or “Queen of the Groupies,” Pamela Des Barres has many other facets, fascinations and unique talents. Known mostly for her heady dalliances and friendships with classic rock’s elite dandies in the 60s and 70s, she presciently kept copious diaries about those madcap revolutionary days and nights. Pamela has written four books, I’m With the Band, Take Another Little Piece of My Heart, (autobiographies) Rock Bottom: Dark Moments in Music Babylon, and most recently, Let’s Spend the Night Together: Backstage Secrets of Rock Muses and Supergroupies. She has been teaching ongoing women’s writing workshops in Los Angeles and all over the country for twelve years, inspiring like-minded dolls to share their desire, stories and ideas in a totally safe environment. She calls these writing parties “Groupie Therapy.” And as an ordained minister, Pamela performs unique one-of-a-kind rock & roll weddings! For more on Miss Pamela including her writings, appearances and more visit:  https://pameladesbarres.net