Takin' A Walk - Music History with Buzz Knight

Buzz Knight on Takin’ A Walk: A Look at Music History for the Week of 12-8

Date: December 8, 2025
Host: Buzz Knight | Guest: Harry Jacobs (“Master/Maestro of Music Mayhem”)

Episode Overview

This edition of Takin' A Walk’s “This Week in Music History” revisits pivotal and emotional moments in music history for the week of December 8th. Buzz Knight and recurring guest Harry Jacobs (“Master of Music Mayhem”) recall iconic losses, major releases, and the enduring cultural impact of artists and albums—from John Lennon’s assassination and the legacy of Otis Redding to Beatles rarities, memorabilia tales, and the soundtrack moments that defined eras. With a warm, nostalgic, and conversational tone, Buzz and Harry blend deep musical knowledge with personal anecdotes and lighthearted banter.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Remembering John Lennon: December 8, 1980

• Event: The assassination of John Lennon outside The Dakota in NYC.

  • Harry frames December 8 as a “tough note” in music history, recounting the day’s tragic events and Mark David Chapman’s motives ([04:56]).
  • Personal recollections from both hosts—where they were and how they learned the news.
    Harry: “I remember my grandmother waking me and telling me… just being in shock.” ([06:26])
    Buzz: “I was with my wife to be… And our annoying neighbor Neil was actually the one who told us.” ([06:40]–[08:02])
  • Reflections on Lennon’s enduring impact as an artist and activist, and speculation on what he'd be doing in today’s world ([08:18]).

  “The impact that Lennon had as an activist, as an artist… was second to none. And this cut short a life for no reason other than a mental health issue.”
  —Harry Jacobs ([08:33])

• Visiting The Dakota & Strawberry Fields:

  • Buzz describes the haunting experience of seeing the actual entrance and the mixed mood of mourning and celebration at Strawberry Fields in Central Park ([09:24]–[11:10]).
  • Notable for capturing how physical places tied to history continue to evoke strong emotions.

2. The Beatles in the 1990s: ‘Free as a Bird’ Release

• Event: Release of “Free as a Bird” (Dec 1995), the first new Beatles music in 24 years ([11:10]).

  • Buzz talks through initial skepticism, growing appreciation, and subsequent ambivalence to later “unearthed” Beatles releases ([11:45]–[13:04]).

  “I was cool at first with ‘Free as a Bird’… Now, over time, I'm like, enough of this. Can we leave the band for what we remember them for?”
  —Buzz Knight ([12:28])

  • Harry: Global curiosity, but found the song underwhelming. Questions its legacy—“Not Ticket to Ride… will it stand the test of time?… Not really.” ([13:04])

3. Beatles Collectibles & Memorabilia

• Discussion: Fan “tchotchkes” sent out with Anthology albums in the ‘90s (pins quoting Beatles lyrics)—Harry still has a stash ([14:03]–[15:25]).

  • Buzz’s anecdote about inheriting a Beatles ukulele, almost selling it for $2,500, then holding out and seeing its value plummet over time ([15:40]–[18:18]).
  • Light-hearted pitch to listeners for offers on Beatles memorabilia ([18:24]).

  “Let this be a lesson… as the full collection is where it's going to be worth something… My Beatles ukulele went from $2,500 to not even $75.”
  —Buzz Knight ([18:17])

4. Music History Events Rundown (December 8–14)

a. The Blues Brothers’ SNL Debut (Dec 9)

• Harry traces their rise from SNL skit to bona fide band, thanks to Howard Shore’s encouragement and contributions from legendary musicians ([19:25]–[22:19]).

• Backstory of the “Briefcase Full of Blues” album and the impact of the film—one of the most expensive comedies due to car chases and Belushi’s behavior ([23:17]).

  “The whole Blues Brothers thing led to the movie, which was one of the most expensive… they wrecked 60 old police cars…”
  —Harry Jacobs ([23:16])

• Memorable mention of John Belushi’s acrobatics and influence on Chris Farley ([22:12]–[22:19]).

b. Otis Redding’s Plane Crash (Dec 10, 1967)

• Crash near Madison, Wisconsin—Redding had just recorded “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay” three days earlier ([25:29]).

  • He planned to re-record vocals and redo the whistling—the released version was raw.
  • Noted for his genre-crossing Monterey Pop performance and behind-the-scenes production work ([26:05]).

  “‘(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay,’ I think, stands the test of time.”
  —Buzz Knight ([26:05])

c. Wings Over America: Paul McCartney’s Triple Live Album (Dec 10, 1976)

• Discussion of its rushed release due to a bootleg, McCartney’s obsessive work ethic, and the rarity of triple live albums ([26:14]–[27:25]).

  • Bootleg story: “Wings from Wings” in colored vinyl is now a rare collectible.

  “McCartney sat and listened to every single one, picked the best one… made the entire album sound like it was one night from 8,000 hours of recordings…”
  —Harry Jacobs ([27:25])

d. More Notable Events

• Beatles hit #1 with ‘I Feel Fine’; Genesis releases ‘Foxtrot’ (1972): Reflections on their evolution and prog rock love ([29:15]).

  • Memorable concert experiences and appreciation for both Peter Gabriel and post-Gabriel eras.

• Marconi’s First Transatlantic Radio Signal (Dec 12, 1901):

  • Playful quip from Harry about Buzz working “afternoon drive for Marconi” ([31:13]–[31:42]).

• Jimi Hendrix Records ‘Foxy Lady’ (Dec 13, 1966):

  • Song’s aggressive style, legendary Monterey Pop performance, and Hendrix’s signature guitar-burning antics ([32:00]–[32:56]).

• David Bowie Releases ‘Hunky Dory’ (Dec 1971):

  • Both hosts confess lack of familiarity with the deeper cuts, but recall “Changes” and “Life on Mars” ([33:16]–[34:27]).

• The Clash Releases ‘London Calling’ (Dec 14, 1979):

  • Double album, hidden track “Train in Vain”—a clever twist ([34:31]).

• ‘Saturday Night Fever’ Premiere (Dec 14, 1977):

  • Impact on disco culture, John Travolta, and the Bee Gees. Reminiscence on the once-maligned soundtrack now acclaimed for its strong songs ([35:01]–[36:45]).

  “I mean, I'm gonna admit… me in the anti-disco, anti-pop mode that I was… kind of pushed that aside. But now, especially all those Bee Gees songs… Love them.”
  —Buzz Knight ([36:23])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “December 8th was the day that John Lennon was shot… on so many levels, it’s just so awful.” —Harry Jacobs ([04:56])
• “We don’t hear ‘Free as a Bird’ anywhere… Will it stand the test of time? Not really.” —Harry Jacobs ([13:04])
• “[The Blues Brothers] was a skit on SNL… but it was kind of a blues R&B supergroup at the time.” —Harry Jacobs ([20:43])
• “McCartney mixed it himself… took 90 hours of music out of 8,000…” —Harry Jacobs ([27:25])
• “I'm embarrassed with this one, by the way… ‘Changes’ and ‘Life on Mars’ we certainly know.” —Buzz Knight, on Bowie’s ‘Hunky Dory’ ([34:08])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• John Lennon’s Tragic Death & Personal Recollections: [04:56]–[11:10]
• Beatles – ‘Free As a Bird’ Release & Beatles Memorabilia: [11:10]–[18:24]
• Blues Brothers’ SNL Debut to Supergroup & Film: [19:25]–[23:17]
• Otis Redding’s Final Days: [25:29]–[26:14]
• Wings Over America – Triple Live Album Story: [26:14]–[27:25]
• Genesis, Early and Late: [29:15]–[31:13]
• Jimi Hendrix/Foxy Lady: [32:00]–[32:56]
• Bowie’s ‘Hunky Dory’: [33:16]–[34:27]
• The Clash: ‘London Calling’, ‘Train in Vain’: [34:31]–[34:56]
• Saturday Night Fever: Bee Gees & Cultural Impact: [35:01]–[36:45]

Tone & Style

Conversational, knowledgeable, nostalgic, with humor and a spirit of genuine musical fandom. Hosts share both critical perspective and personal memories, making the musical history relevant, lively, and at times gently self-deprecating.

Summary for Listeners

This episode is a heartfelt guided walk through some of music's most important (and personal) December anniversaries, blending firsthand memories, collector tales, and musicological deep dives. You'll learn not just what happened, but why it still matters—and what it felt like to live through these milestones. Whether you're a collector, a historian, or just a music lover, Buzz and Harry’s friendly debate and stories bring history to life.