Hit Parade: The Bridge — "Cover Queens and The Boy Wonder"

Podcast: Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia
Host: Chris Molanphy (with T.J. Raphael and guest Becky)
Release Date: March 15, 2019

Episode Overview

This lively episode of Hit Parade: The Bridge explores the power and significance of cover songs—when they eclipse originals and reshape pop history. Host Chris Molanphy, joined by T.J. Raphael and later by listener Becky, breaks down legendary covers (including Tina Turner’s “Proud Mary”), pivots into timely Rock and Roll Hall of Fame news, and closes out with a spirited, trivia-packed segment focused on covers and Stevie Wonder. The tone is enthusiastic, educational, and rich in music-nerd camaraderie.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. When Covers Eclipse the Originals (00:27 – 05:21)

Main Songs Discussed:

• Ike & Tina Turner’s “Proud Mary” (original: Creedence Clearwater Revival)
• Aretha Franklin’s “Respect” (original: Otis Redding)
• Devo’s “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” (original: The Rolling Stones)
• Jimi Hendrix’s “All Along the Watchtower” (original: Bob Dylan)

Key Insights:

• Transformation as the Hallmark of a Great Cover: Chris points out that true greatness in a cover comes from transformation, not just duplication.
  • “Some of my favorite covers are the ones where the cover is truly transformational. And you’re right, then it kind of belongs to the other artist.” — Chris (01:58)
• Aretha’s "Respect": Many forget (or never knew) Aretha Franklin’s iconic hit was originally by Otis Redding.
  • “Her number one hit, Respect, is a song by Otis Redding. It was recorded first by Otis Redding.” — Chris (02:19)
  • “This story has been repeated so many times… But Otis reportedly said ‘that girl stole my song,’ and he said it admiringly.” — Chris (02:32)
• Covers as Cultural Shifts: Iconic covers (e.g., Hendrix’s version of "All Along the Watchtower") can reframe the work for future audiences.
  • “When you say ‘All Along the Watchtower,’ you don’t just think about Bob Dylan. You really think about both of them in a lot of ways.” — TJ Raphael (04:10)
• Dylan as a Cover Magnet: Bob Dylan’s songs have spawned numerous successful covers, themselves often transformed into hit standards.

2. Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductions and the Michael Jackson Controversy (05:22 – 08:48)

Inductees Announced:

• Def Leppard
• The Cure
• Stevie Nicks
• Radiohead
• Roxy Music
• The Zombies
• Janet Jackson

Key Insights:

• Predictions and Validation: Chris takes a tongue-in-cheek “victory lap” over Def Leppard’s induction, which he advocated for previously.

  • “Well, I'm not saying I did this single-handedly, but let's just say Def Leppard are getting inducted…” — Chris (05:50)

• Janet Jackson’s Induction Amidst Michael Jackson Controversy:

  • The episode is taped just after HBO’s documentary Leaving Neverland. Chris expresses hope that Janet’s moment won't be overshadowed by her brother’s scandal.
  • “As a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame voter myself, I voted for Janet Jackson proudly. I am excited for her. And I really hope that this moment... does not overshadow a moment that Janet has richly earned.” — Chris (06:46)

• Future Hall of Fame Hopes:

  • Chris muses about overdue inductees like Depeche Mode, The Smiths, and The Pixies.
  • “Perhaps this indicates that Depeche Mode would stand a chance if they were back on the ballot… The Pixies have still not been nominated…” — Chris (07:53)

3. Trivia Segment: Covers, Stevie Wonder, and Motown’s Political Legacy (09:07 – 17:56)

Guest: Becky (Slate Plus member, musician)

Structure:

• Becky answers three trivia questions (all correct!), then quizzes Chris.

Trivia Questions & Answers

1. First charted “Proud Mary” cover?

   • Answer: Solomon Burke (11:27)
   • “His [Burke’s] version only hit number 45, but it was the first cover to chart.” — Chris (11:44)

2. Stevie Wonder’s only 1960s Hot 100 #1 hit?

   • Answer: “Fingertips” (12:54)

3. Which 1970s Stevie Wonder album did NOT win the Grammy’s Album of the Year?

   • Answer: “Talking Book” (14:01)
   • “This 1972 album was surprisingly not nominated for album of the year. But all three of Stevie’s next studio albums were not only nominated, but won the prize back to back…” — Chris (14:12)

Bonus: Becky’s Question to Chris

• Motown’s Civil Rights Spoken Word Albums:
  • Motown recorded with Elaine Brown, Martin Luther King Jr., and Langston Hughes (D: all of the above) (15:40)
  • “Motown also had a spoken word label called Black Forum... works by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; Langston Hughes; and former Black Panther Party chairwoman Elaine Brown, among others.” — Becky (16:01)

Notable Moments & Quotes:

• “That girl stole my song.” — Attributed to Otis Redding about Aretha Franklin’s “Respect” (02:32)
• “When you say ‘All Along the Watchtower,’ you don’t just think about Bob Dylan. You really think about both of them in a lot of ways.” — TJ Raphael (04:10)
• “This stands as the only Hit Parade: The Bridge where all of the questions were answered correctly.” — Chris (17:43)

4. Preview: Next Full-Length Episode—Stevie Wonder (18:26 – End)

Focus:

• The next main episode will dig into the front half of Stevie Wonder’s career, from his time as a Motown child star through his epochal 1970s success.
• Acknowledges Wonder’s uniqueness as an artist and his transition from prodigy to pioneering adult musician.
  • “He began as a child star, and then he also made a move toward independence that is almost unprecedented… just epic success in the 1970s…” — Chris (19:12, summarized)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Intro and discussion of “Proud Mary” covers – 00:27
• Aretha Franklin’s “Respect” and transformative covers – 02:06
• Devo’s “Satisfaction” cover and iconic re-inventions – 03:28
• Dylan covers and “All Along the Watchtower” – 04:21
• Rock and Roll Hall of Fame overview – 05:22
• Janet Jackson and Michael Jackson controversy – 06:08
• Hall of Fame future predictions – 07:44
• Listener trivia segment begins – 09:07
• Trivia: “Proud Mary” covers – 11:12
• Trivia: Stevie Wonder’s first #1 – 12:08
• Trivia: Stevie Wonder 1970s albums – 13:24
• Motown, civil rights, and Black Forum label – 15:40
• Upcoming Stevie Wonder episode preview – 18:26

Notable Quotes

• “Some of my favorite covers are the ones where the cover is truly transformational. And you’re right, then it kind of belongs to the other artist.” — Chris (01:58)
• “That girl stole my song.” — Otis Redding on Aretha Franklin, relayed by Chris (02:32)
• “When you say ‘All Along the Watchtower,’... you really think about both of them in a lot of ways.” — TJ Raphael (04:10)
• “I am excited for her. And I really hope that this moment, when the culture is considering how it deals with the art of Michael Jackson in the wake of these revelations, I hope that that does not overshadow a moment that Janet has richly earned.” — Chris (06:46)
• “Motown also had a spoken word label called Black Forum, which was set up by [Berry] Gordy in 1970.” — Becky (16:01)
• “I love that song and I often share it on friends’ birthdays... it has basically unofficially become the black Happy Birthday song.” — Chris, on Stevie Wonder’s “Happy Birthday” (17:09)

Summary

This episode is a musicologist’s delight, exploring how great covers can become pop culture’s new “originals,” running the gamut from Tina Turner to Devo to Jimi Hendrix. Chris and TJ’s passionate conversation leads into a timely take on Rock and Roll Hall of Fame politics before the audience trivia segment punctuates the show with factoids about “Proud Mary,” Stevie Wonder, and the surprising political output of Motown. The episode closes with a preview of a deep-dive Stevie Wonder retrospective.

Perfect for listeners curious about chart history, transformative music moments, and the intersection of pop and culture, this episode stands out for both its trivia value and its conversational warmth.