Reelin' In The Years (RITY)
Reelin' In The Years (RITY) is your weekly dose of music education! Enjoy a blend of Rock, Blues, and Americana. Plus stories about the songs and artists. Give it a listen! I promise you'll learn something! For more information on the show, visit reelinwithryan.com
American Folk Heroes: Episode 76 - April 3, 2026
On this week's edition of Reelin' In The Years... The Featured Five Theme is American Folk Heroes... Plus, Rock 'n' Roll muse - Annabella Corro - shares the true meaning behind "Spill The Wine"... Music from an artist who sadly took his own life by jumping from his hotel room window... The Byrds, Art Reynolds Singers, and Gene Parsons - What's the connection?... How Phil Spector - quite literally - took advantage of the "Be My Baby" recording sessions... New releases from Aerosmith, Joanne Shaw Taylor, The Black Keys, and more!... Deep tracks from Lou Reed, Miles Davis, The...
The CIA Theme: Episode 75 - Mar. 27, 2026
This week on Reelin' In The Years... The Featured Five Theme is Secret Agent Man: The CIA Theme... Plus, who was John Sinclair and how John Lennon had a role in getting him out of prison... A song written for the 1989 film, Say Anything, but was omitted from the movie... A song that was inspired by a ghostly visit from the songwriter's mother... Dickey Betts, Boz Scaggs, and a random grave - What's the connection?... Speaking of a ghost and a grave, how about a song about a headless soldier?... New Music from Johnny Blue Skies, Hiss Golden Messenger...
In Bloom: Episode 74 - Mar. 20, 2026
This week on Reelin'... The Featured Five Theme is In Bloom: The Spring Theme... Plus, music from a former mailman who used to write songs in his head during routes... A young and relatively unknown Angelina Jolie appeared on what band's album cover?... How a child running wild in a grocery store inspired the title of an Allman Bros. hit... A song written at the historic Lorraine Motel during a stormy night in Memphis... New music from The Altered Five Blues Band and St. Paul and The Broken Bones... Deep cuts from Elton John, Nina Simone, Billy Strings, and...
Maslow's Hierarchy Of Needs: Episode 73 - Mar. 13, 2026
On this episode of Reelin' In The Years... The Featured Five Theme is songs that correspond with the five levels of Maslow's Hierarchy Of Needs... A song that Van Morrison nailed in one take!... Idol turned Rival? Todd Rundgren's beef with John Lennon in the 70s... The song that was the end result of being stuck in Tulsa during a snowstorm... Who was Ann Cole and why didn't she follow the directions given by her music publisher?... New music from Tedeschi Trucks & The Red Clay Strays... Deep cuts from Jude Cole, Canned Heat, The Buckinghams, Eric Johnson, John Hiatt...
At The Diner: Episode 72 - Mar. 6, 2026
On this episode of Reelin' In The Years... The Featured Five Theme is At The Diner: Song titles that mention something you could probably order from the menu... Also, a cut from the newly released soundtrack to the McCartney documentary, Man On The Run... Music from an artist who had a habit of starting bar fights, unfortunately it cost him his life... A song that marked the final time CCR played together, but it's not even a CCR song... What song was recorded and released five different times in 1974?... New music from St. Paul & The Broken Bones - do...
Local On The 8s: Episode 71 - Feb. 27, 2026
This week on Reelin' In The Years... The Featured Five Theme is songs used as background music during the Local On The 8s Segment on The Weather Channel... Music from a band that's named after the psychological concept of Primal Therapy... What band is comprised of members from Wilco, Soul Asylum, The Jayhawks, and others?... What is an Albert Flasher and what does it have to do with radio broadcasting?... A rarity by R.E.M. that was nearly used in the film, Batman Returns... New music from Robert Plant, Robin Trower, and Vance Joy... Deep cuts from Hot...
The Silver Spoon: Episode 70 - Feb. 20, 2026
This week on Reelin' In The Years... The Featured Five Theme is The "Silver Spoon"... Plus, a song David Bowie wrote about actress, model, and Warhol superstar - Cyrinda Foxe... A hit by Badfinger that was first recorded at a slower tempo and was nearly not released... A song inspired by an awkward relationship between a father and his son... John Fogerty shares the story behind the 1969 CCR hit, "Fortunate Son"... That time when Roger McGuinn reunited with a few of his former Byrds bandmates... New music from The Black Crowes, and folk-pop singer/songwriter Noah Kahan... Deep cuts...
1 Is The Loneliest Number: Episode 69 - Feb. 13, 2026
On this episode of Reelin' In The Years... The Featured Five Theme is 1 Is The Loneliest Number: Bands or Artists who only released one album... That one time when Rick James & Neil Young played in the same band in the 1960s... Arthur Lee of the band - Love - explains the meaning behind "7 And 7 Is"... A track from the first album to win a Grammy for Best Americana Album in 2010... A song that was the end result of Darius Rucker being rude to a homeless man... Deep tracks from The Badlees, XTC, James Gang, Tift Merritt, Stevie Ray Vaughan...
Stage Fright: Episode 68 - Feb. 6, 2026
On this episode of Reelin' In The Years... The Featured Five Theme is Stage Fright... Music from a short-lived California band formed by Neil Young & Bob Mosley... A band that formed in 1970, but didn't release their debut album until '08... Music from a former professional boxer, who was a Middleweight Champion... Why Anne Murray's 1986 album, Something To Talk About, is missing a title track... New music from Mike Farris, Don West, and James McMurtry... Deep cuts from Bruce Hornsby, Warren Zevon, Faces, Don Henley & Elton John... For more info on the show, visit reelinwithryan.com
Units Of Measurement: Episode 67 - Jan. 30, 2026
On this episode of Reelin' In The Years... The Featured Five Theme is Units Of Measurement... The story behind the cover of Abandoned Luncheonette by Hall & Oates... How the discovery of lost Bob Dylan lyrics led to the formation of a supergroup... A song inspired by the tragic story of a delivery truck involved in a fatal crash... A song that's been played a million times on Pandora, but it's only earned the songwriter $17... Deep cuts from Sam Fender, Jakob Dylan and Eric Clapton, Faces, The Jayhawks, Steve Winwood, Wilco, Squeeze, and much more! For more info on the...
Author: Unknown: Episode 66 - Jan. 23, 2026
On this episode of Reelin' In The Years... The Featured Five Theme is Author: Unknown - Songs with an unknown origin... A song that features the longest sustained note of all songs to have ever charted in the U.S.... An R.E.M. song inspired by a torrential downpour that occurred in their hometown in 1983... The lead single from Badfinger's so-called comeback album, Airwaves, released '79... Paul McCartney shares the story behind the 1965 Beatles song, "Michelle."... New music from Goose, Don West, Thin Lizzy, and Little Feat!... Deep cuts from The Band, Dan Auerbach, The Clash, J.J...
7 Days A Week: Episode 65 - Jan. 16, 2026
This week on Reelin' In The Years... The Featured Five Theme is 7 Days A Week: Songs that mention each day of the week in the lyrics... Plus, a song by The Cure that drove frontman - Robert Smith - into a state of paranoia... New music from Carl Perkins - The same guy who sang "Blue Suede Shoes" and died in '98... Tom Petty's version of a song that was No. 1 Country hit for Roseanne Cash in Sept. 1985... A song by Eric Clapton and Van Morrison that expresses their thoughts on COVID-19... What blues song by T-Bone Walker inspired...
Flu Season: Episode 64 - Jan. 9, 2026
This week on Reelin' In The Years... The story behind those odd soundbites in Pink Floyd's song "The Great Gig In The Sky"... The time when Sonny Boy Williamson played in the UK with an 18-year-old Eric Clapton... The fascinating, but also sad story about the career of the late Charles Bradley... The Rolling Stones will give us their tribute to Italian actor, Mario Schifano... New music from The Black Keys and Larkin Poe. Plus we'll go deep with Santana, The Modern Lovers, Janis Joplin, Lake Street Dive, and more! For more information on the show, visit reelinwithryan.com<...
Goals: Episode 63 - Jan. 2, 2026
On this episode of Reelin' In The Years... The Featured Five Theme is "Goals": Songs that mention some sort of Goal in the lyrics... A Beatles song that's essentially a reworking of Del Shannon's "Runaway"... A song written for Aretha Franklin, but first recorded by Dusty Springfield... The lead single from Chuck Berry's twentieth and final studio album... Robert Plant talks about playing in Iceland in 1970 and how it inspired "Immigrant Song"... New music from John Butler, Spoon, and Los Straitjackets. Plus deep tracks from Jethro Tull,My Morning Jacket, CCR, Albert King, Procol Harum, and much more! For...
Dec. 26, 2025
On this episode of Reelin' In The Years... The Featured Five Theme is "You Say You Want A Revolution": Songs titles that include "revolution" in the title... A song by Squeeze that's loosely based on "White Punks On Dope" by The Tubes... What's the connection between the late actress - Carrie Fisher - and Elvis?... An Ike & Tina Turner song that was written by Tina's sister, Alline Bullock... An Eric Clapton song that features members of The Crickets & Stephen Stills... Gil Scott-Heron shares the actual meaning behind "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised"... Deep tracks from Van Morrison, Coco...
Dec. 19, 2025
This week on RITY... For The Featured Five Theme, I'm playing songs that mention Christmas, but are not Christmas songs... A Stones song that's based in the American South, but inspired by the Caipira people of Brazil... Burton Cummings of The Guess Who shares the backstory behind "These Eyes"... A song by The Goo Goo Dolls that Johnny Rzeznik wrote about MTV VJ Kennedy... A rare tribute to Peanut Butter done by The J. Geils Band in the mid 70s... Levon Helm's response to an Elton John song that's named after him... A Top 40 hit inspired by a series...
Dec. 12, 2025
This week on RITY... The Featured Five Theme is Does Your Conscience Bother You? Songs that mention a troubled conscience... Plus, a song written for a film that had to be retitled after an accidental death during filming... Which Tom Petty song was inspired by The Psychic Capital Of The World?... What Lou Reed tune was inspired by the viciousness of Andy Warhol?... A song title inspired by random phrases in the Sports section of a paper... Brand new solo music from Rob Thomas - lead singer of Matchbox Twenty... Deep cuts from B.B. King, Al Green, The...
Dec. 5, 2025
This week on RITY, the Featured Five Theme is "I'm Hypnotized": Songs that mention that phrase in the lyrics... Plus, music from a band that gained popularity thanks to a Miller commercial... One of the most expensive singles recorded - equivalent to $250K in '25... Donald Fagen of Steely Dan played with the band Poco in the late 70s?... New music from Marcus King, Kashus Culpepper, & Warren Haynes... Deep cuts from Little Feat, Paul Pena, Chuck Prophet, The Beatles, Lee Michaels, Steve Winwood, and more! For more infomation on the show, visit reelinwithryan.com
Nov. 28, 2025
This week on Reelin' In The Years... The Featured Five Theme is What's The Deal: The Shopping Theme... Also, music from a new rock supergroup that's fronted by Darius Rucker... Ronnie Spector's attempt at a comeback (thanks to George Harrison)... What song by The Police is an example of a mondegreen? Who is Sue Lawley?... A duo that chose a music career instead of working for their hometown tire manufacturer... New music from Christone "Kingfish" Ingram, and John Fogerty... Deep cuts Tom Petty, U2, Leo Kottke & Mike Gordon, Young Rascals, The Peter Frampton Band, and much more... For more...
Nov. 21, 2025
On this episode of Reelin' In The Years, the Featured Five Theme is songs that have fallen victim to an urban legend... Also, a Top 40 Hit from '68 by Status Quo that was written while sitting on the toilet!... How the band MC5 retaliated when a local dept. store refused to stock their record... Music from an artist whose career was tragically cut short due to a battle with cancer... A song by The Who about FM radio stations wanting similar sounding hit songs... Ah! böwakawa poussé, poussé - what does that mean?... New music from The Autumn Def...
Nov. 14, 2025
On this episode of Reelin', the Featured Five Theme is Kleptomania: Songs about stealing... Also, which Zeppelin song was inspired by a cottage that didn't have electricity nor running water?... When Paul McCartney recorded with John Bonham, but it took 38 years to be released... The mysterious death of singer Bobby Fuller - just an accident or mafia involvement?... Get Your Kicks On Route 66, because Getting Your Kicks On Route 40 doesn't sound as good... You've probably daydreamed about many things, but what about a wagon wheel?... Deep cuts from Luther Allison, The Great Society, Hindu Love Gods, Chris Stapleton, Gomez...
Nov. 7, 2025
On this episode of Reelin' In The Years, the Featured Five Theme is "Off In La La Land": Songs that include the phrase "la la" in the lyrics... Plus, a Vietnam War Protest song that was the end result of being awoken by a loud truck... What Beatles song inspired the melody for Chicago's "Saturday In The Park?"... Thank God the members of Lynyrd Skynyrd didn't listen to producer, Al Kooper!... The other version of "After Midnight" that Eric Clapton recorded for a beer commercial... A song Iggy Pop wrote about driving around the U.S. and Europe with...
Oct. 31, 2025
This week on Reelin'... The Featured Five Theme is The Graveyard Shift... Also, a CCR song inspired by John Fogerty's visit to a Fortune Teller in California... Music from a band named after the site of the first & second Battles Of Bull Run... Dickey Betts, The wife of Boz Scaggs, and a grave - What's the connection?... Which Blues Traveler album is a reference to Peter Pan & Neverland?... That time when Chrissie Hynde and Ray Davies attempted to get married... Plus, deep cuts from Joe Walsh, Rolling Stones, Buddy Guy, The Alarm, Jerry Garcia, Leftover Salmon, The Youngbloods, and...
Oct. 24, 2025
This week on RITY, the Featured Five Theme is Monsters... Plus, Phil Everly, a horror film, Warren Zevon, and how a joke became a Top 40 hit!... The composer Franz Liszt and the story behind Lisztomania... The true meaning behind "All She Wants To Do Is Dance"... What was Stevie Nicks doing in Sly Stone's bed? You could say "Dreams" were made... A song by The Doors that was inspired by the great soul food at Olivia's Place in Venice Beach... Deep cuts from Thee Shams, Huey Lewis, Santana, Bowie, The Who, Nickel Creek, Bad Company, Barclay James Harvest, The...
Oct. 17, 2025
This week on RITY, the Featured Five Theme is A Rock And A Hard Place: The Between Theme... Plus, the song D'yer Mak'er: it's meaning and how it's pronounced?... The tragic story of how a fallen Vietnam soldier inspired a big Motown hit... Burton Cummings and the origin of the Guess Who song, American Woman... A song by The Beatles that was inspired by hippies and Brian Epstein's wealth... Speaking of The Beatles, an American who was described as the "one-man Beatles"... Gil Scott-Heron will answer the question - Will the revolution be televised?... Deep cuts from The Hold...
Oct. 10, 2025
This week on Reelin'... The Featured Five Theme is "Under The Moonlight": Songs with that phrase in the lyrics... Plus, a song Lindsey Buckingham partially recorded while kneeling on his bathroom floor... Music from a band named after a bowling alley & bar in uptown Minneapolis... A song recorded when Huey Lewis visited the recording studio for the last time... The end result of John Lennon reading The Tibetan Book Of The Dead while high on LSD... Deep cuts from Leo Kottke, Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes, Dire Straits, Gov't Mule, Gregg Allman, Colin Hay, The Chambers Brothers, and more...
Oct. 3, 2025
This week on RITY, the Featured Five Theme is A Lack Of Productivity: Songs with titles that represent a waste of time... Plus, who were Ola Na Tungee & Miss Daisy Hawkins?... One of the first singles by a major act to be offered as a free mp3 download... What band was originally named after the Pogo comic strip character... The Beach Boys give us their response to "Be My Baby" by The Ronettes... What is a dishwalla?... Newer music from Pearl Jam... What's the Print Shop?... Deep cuts by Brandi Carlile, Steve Walsh, McKendree Spring, Ryan Adams, The Grateful...
Sept. 26, 2025
This week on RITY... The Featured Five Theme is Vacancy: The Hotels & Motels Theme... Plus, What is an Oast House and what does it have to do with Fleetwood Mac? The Beatles, Chuck Berry, and a lawsuit. The song that brought them TOGETHER... Memory Motel: It only has a 2.4 rating on Yelp, but it was special enough to inspire a Rolling Stones song... Gary Brooker - of Procol Harum - gives us his take on a George Harrison tune... Deep cuts from Tyler Childers, Tedeschi Trucks Band, REO Speedwagon, Barry Goudreau, Gary Moore, Joe Walsh, and much more! For...
Sept. 19, 2025
This week on Reelin'... The Featured Five Theme is Where The Wild Things Are: Songs with the word "wild" in the title... Also, Music from a band named after a chain of grocery stores in the south... SWLABR by Cream - What is that? How's it pronounced? What does it mean?... Who was Jimmie Nicol and what song by The Beatles did he inspire?... Most of us know of Jon Voight, but what about his brother - James?... Deep cuts from The Beach Boys, Joe Walsh, Muddy Waters, John Martyn, R.E.M., Tab Benoit, Taj Mahal, and much...
Sept. 12, 2025
This week on Reelin'... The mini theme is Loose Change: Songs titles that mention a type of coin... Plus, a song that Pete Townshend wrote in a mosquito-ridden swamp somewhere in Florida... What is stream of consciousness writing & how it inspired a Van Morrison song... Big Head Todd & The Monsters gives us a fresh take on a hit from 1972... That time when Boz Scaggs attempted to steal a song from a Blues Legend... Deep cuts from Peter Wolf, Al Kooper & Stephen Stills, The Doobies, Mumford & Sons, Alvin Lee & Mylon Lefevre, and much more! For more information on the show...
Sept. 5, 2025
This week on Reelin'... The mini theme is "Hey" Is For Horses... Also, Delbert McClinton & John Lennon - What's the connection?... A song by The Band that gets it's title from Minnie Pearl's middle name... What Neil Young album shares it's title with the slogan for Rust-Oleum?... Deep cuts from Drive-By Truckers, Bill Quateman, JJ Grey, John Hiatt, The Leaves, Mudcrutch, and more! For more info on the show, visit reelinwithryan.com
Aug. 22, 2025
This week on RITY... The mini theme is Dancing With The Dial: Songs that feature a radio tuning sound effect... Also, a brand new Zydeco tribute tune from The Rolling Stones... What exactly do you do down at the crossroads of Mississippi?... The sad story behind "The Way" by 90's rock group, Fastball... Members of Pink Floyd talk about a bizarre incident that occurred during a session at Abbey Road Studios... Deep cuts from Joe Bonamassa, Aerosmith, The Clash, Dire Straits, and much more! For more info on the show, visit reelinwithryan.com
Aug. 15, 2025
This week on RITY... The mini theme is "Return": Songs that feature that word in the lyrics... Plus, "Voodoo Chile" & "Voodoo Child" - What's the difference?... The true story behind "Hang On Sloopy" by The McCoys... A song by a guy who turned down offers to front Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple... Deep cuts from Toto, Wilco, Strawbs, Frampton, Jackson Browne, Taj Mahal, and much more! For info on the show, visit reelinwithryan.com
Aug. 8, 2025
This week on RITY... The mini theme is Shark Week!... Also, Robby Krieger - of The Doors - shares the true meaning behind the song, "Peace Frog"... The time that Cheap Trick was given a Gold Record that they didn't really earn... How a woman's dirty jokes inspired a hit for Hall & Oates... Plus, deep cuts from Illinois Speed Press, The Budos Band, Steve Earle, and more! For more info on the show, visit reelinwithryan.com
Aug. 1, 2025
This week on RITY... The mini theme is The "Dog" Days Of "Summer": Songs that mention those words in the lyrics... Plus, "The Fool On The Hill" by The Beatles wasn't inspired by an actual person!... A big hit by a guy who also wrote The Office theme... Drama Alert! Heart, Mushroom Records, and the story behind the group's second album - Magazine... Plus deep cuts from Dan Baird, The Bears, Los Lobos, and more! For more info on the show, visit reelinwithryan.com
July 25, 2025
This week on RITY... The mini theme is "Never Let You Go": Songs that mention that phrase in the lyrics... Also, a song that John Lennon wrote that represented his failed marriage to his first wife, Cynthia... Paul Davis and a song that he hated so much that it led him to leave the music business (it was his own song)... Eddie Van Halen, KISS, and "Christine Sixteen" - How they're connected... Deep tracks from Breathless, Vince Neil, Tarney/Spencer Band, Squeeze, Heartsfield, Bob Seger, and more! For more info on the show, visit reelinwithryan.com
July 18, 2025
This week on RITY... For the mini theme, I'm playing songs that were featured in the Superman film series that starred Christopher Reeve... Also, a song that Gregg Allman wrote on an ironing board cover using the charcoal from a match... The end result of a nixed Led Zeppelin reunion AND David Coverdale needing a break from Whitesnake... Deep cuts from Boston, Whiskeytown, Blues Traveler, America, Spooky Tooth, REO Speedwagon, and much more! For more info on the show, visit reelinwithryan.com
July 11, 2025
This week on RITY... The mini theme is 7-Eleven: A Trip To The Convenience Store... Plus, what was Big Pink and how was it affiliated with Bob Dylan and The Band?... Music by a group whose lead singer made a cameo appearance in Terminator 2... Who was Doctor Robert Freymann?... Deep cuts from Gamma, The Cure, The Rolling Stones, Dire Straits, and much more!... For more info on the show, visit reelinwithryan.com
Life, Liberty, and LIVE Music
Happy 4th! To celebrate, this week on RITY, it's nothing but some of the best LIVE performances of all-time. Plus, a few requests from listeners on Facebook. For more info on the show, visit reelinwithryan.com
June 27, 2025
This week on RITY... The mini theme is A Heat Advisory: Songs that mention a specific high outdoor temperature... Also, a Bob Dylan tune that was partially inspired by the emergence of Brood X cicadas in 1970... What were The Beatles trying to get into their lives?... Deep tracks from Ekoostik Hookah, Rival Sons, Chickenfoot, Humble Pie, Funkadelic, Traffic, U2, Jerry Garcia, and more! For more info on the show, visit reelinwithryan.com