Unsung Podcast

• Fishing for Luckies by The Wildhearts (Side A) - 354

  The Wildhearts could very well be one of the most chaotic, unpredictable, and underrated British rock bands ever. Ideal for unsung in a lot of ways, really. So this week and next, we'll we’re diving deep into their sound, history, and legacy. In this episode, we break down: Claims that they sound like The Beatles merged with Metallica The endless lineup changes, hiatuses and threats of legal action How Ginger Wildheart outsmarted the music industry before crowdfunding was even a thing Why touring is harder than ever for bands like The Wildhearts How they built a cult following despite never truly “making it” Episode Highlights & Timestamps 00:00 – Intro & Banter: Why we keep coming back to this band.13:00 – The Wildhearts' Unique Sound: The Beatles meets Metallica (or something even weirder).18:15 – Internal Chaos & Lineup Changes: A band that couldn’t stay together.28:05 – How Ginger Wildheart Outsmarted the Music Industry: Crowdfunding and business moves.39:50 – Why Touring Is Harder Than Ever: The death of mid-tier bands.45:00 – The Wildhearts’ Cult Status & Legacy: Why they never “made it” but still matter.51:00 – Final Thoughts & Outro: Would they even work in today’s industry?

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• The Fine Art of Original Sin by Ink & Dagger - 353

  We love it when we get a chance to talk about very influential bands who are extremely overlooked. It is, after all, the whole reason this podcast exists. And there are few as influential, and overlooked, as Ink & Dagger. Their albums aren't even on Bandcamp, let alone streaming sites. That probably tells you everything you need to know. Frankly, without Ink & Dagger, bands like Thursday, My Chemical Romance and a whole legion of post-hardcore/emo bands from the early 00s simply wouldn't exist. They gained a brief spike in popularity in the 2010s when they reformed with Geoff Rickly from Thursday on vocals, which ensured that their vital legacy got its day in the sun. Ink & Dagger were only active from 1995 to 2000, but were incredibly prolific in that short space of time, producing 4 EPs, 2 splits and 2 albums. Their sound evolved very quickly, and amongst all of that was relentless touring, a revolving door of band members (singer Sean McCabe and guitarist Don Devore remained the only consistent members) and at least a book or two's worth of insane on-the-road hijinks. The band agreed to disband in the year 2000 after their second album. But before they could even release that record, singer Sean McCabe passed away aged 27. A tragic exclamation point at the end of the band's short, crazy existence. If you like post-hardcore in any form but have never heard this band, well... prepare to be educated as, this week, we throw our focus on their debut album "The Fine Art of Original Sin".

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• Unsong: We Are the World by U.S.A. for Africa (Side B) - 352

  Well, here we are again, back in the trenches of musical altruism, digging through the chaos and cocaine fumes of We Are the World. In our final part of this double header, we examine the actual recording process—a night filled with megastars, massive egos, and the creeping existential dread of Bob Dylan. We cover: Lionel Richie’s unexpected side hustle as a musical firefighter, putting out diva-induced blazes. Quincy Jones' increasing exasperation as some of the greatest voices in music fail to hit their notes. Michael Jackson going off the deep end with Sheyla-Sheyla (which is absolutely, 100% real). Stevie Wonder offering to guide Ray Charles to the loo, leading to perhaps the only acceptable "blind leading the blind" joke in history. Prince skipping the whole thing to eat Mexican food down the road. Cindy Lauper causing technical difficulties by jingling like a Christmas tree made entirely of cheap jewellery. Diana Ross possibly being the most accidentally terrifying sweetheart of all time. Also: did this song actually make a difference? Or was it just the moment that finally convinced Michael Jackson he was the second coming? We get into all of that, while trying to decide whether the song is a masterpiece or just a very elaborate Pepsi advert. 00:00 Podcast Introduction and Banter 01:12 Podcast Admin and Patreon Promotion 04:42 Recording 'We Are the World': Setting the Scene 04:47 Quincy Jones and the Ensemble Choruses 07:03 Challenges and Tensions in the Studio 13:49 Prince's Absence and Sheila E's Disappointment 17:23 Final Takes and Notable Moments 25:14 Reflections and Aftermath 30:27 Michael Jackson's Missionary Phase 31:37 The Concept of an Artist's Imperial Moment 32:45 The Role of MTV and Charity Singles 34:09 Critiques and Controversies of Charity Campaigns 35:20 Bandaid vs. USA for Africa: Distribution and Impact 37:56 Political Complexities of Ethiopian Famine 44:08 Mismanagement and Consequences of Aid 47:02 USA for Africa's Long-Term Development Approach 49:53 Cultural Impact and Legacy of Charity Singles 52:39 Conclusion: Achievements and Lessons Learned

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• Unsong: We are the World by U.S.A. for Africa (Side A) - 351

  It’s 2025, and somehow, We Are The World is about to turn 40 years old. Time is a cruel joke. This week and next we'll be taking a deep dive into one of the biggest charity singles ever recorded. You know the one—Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan looking completely lost, and a very questionable Cyndi Lauper fashion choice. We cover: How this song was written in 10 days and recorded in one night (because the American Music Awards made it convenient). The absolute chaos of the recording session, including Lionel Richie trying to stay awake, Prince ghosting everyone, and Stevie Wonder insisting on singing in Swahili. Michael Jackson’s home studio, which included a chimpanzee, a Mynah bird that mimicked his voice, and a giant snake that terrified Lionel Richie. Why some artists hated the song, including Cyndi Lauper comparing it to a Pepsi commercial and Billy Joel thinking nobody actually liked it. What happened to the money, how We Are The World avoided Band Aid’s mistakes, and why Live Aid overshadowed it in the end. We also attempt to answer some crucial questions:Would a song like this even work today?Why does Quincy Jones always have the best stories?Has Bob Dylan ever looked more uncomfortable? Timestamps & Highlights 00:00 – Intro & Banter: Vikings, language learning, and Michael Christen (who?).02:00 – Patreon Plug: Give us money, or at least send the pod to a mortal enemy.06:47 – How "We Are The World" Came Together: The American Music Awards gave them a deadline, and chaos followed.16:54 – Artists Who Hated It (or Rejected It): Prince, Madonna, and Billy Joel’s existential crisis.27:20 – Michael Jackson’s Bizarre Recording Habits: A chimp, a bird, and a snake walk into a studio…36:00 – The Chaotic Recording Session: Bob Dylan, Huey Lewis, and why Quincy Jones had to babysit 40 superstars.47:00 – Stevie Wonder’s Swahili Suggestion: This actually happened.54:00 – What Happened to the Money?: How We Are The World handled charity better than Band Aid.1:06:30 – Live Aid & The Aftermath: How this song shaped charity singles forever.1:18:00 – Final Thoughts & Outro: The legacy of We Are The World, and who we’d put on a modern version. Join the Conversation! Which solo line would you claim if you were forced to sing on We Are The World? Should Bob Dylan have just walked out? Would a charity single like this even work in 2024? Tell us what you think, share the episode, and tag us if you’re spreading the good word. Support the Show!Want bonus episodes, early access, and a hand in what we cover next? Patreon is your friend. 👉 www.patreon.com/unsungpod Follow & Subscribe Threads: www.threads.net/unsungpod Instagram: www.instagram.com/unsungpod TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@unsungpod

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• Intros #2 with Grant Donaldson (Moni Jitchell, Civil Elegies) - 350

  In this episode we are joined by special guest Grant Donaldson from Moni Jitchell and Civil Eleigies, as he dives into some of his early musical influences. From Meatloaf's 'Bat Out of Hell 2' to ACDC's 'Back in Black' and Refused's 'The Shape of Punk to Come,' he discusses the impact these albums had on his life and musical development. Along the way, anecdotes, gig memories, and the pitfalls of mixing punk ideology with mainstream success provide some entertaining listening. 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 00:21 Grant's Musical Background 01:14 The Concept of Intros Episodes 04:20 Grant's Album Picks 04:43 Discussion on Meatloaf's Bat Out of Hell 2 24:26 Live Performances and Personal Anecdotes 39:02 Meatloaf's Chaotic Concert Incident 41:01 Uncredited Vocalist on 'I Would Do Anything for Love' 41:37 Grant's Chronological Music Journey 44:13 AC/DC's 'Back in Black' Album Deep Dive 58:57 Refused's 'The Shape of Punk to Come' 01:12:53 Refused's Legacy and Reunion 01:25:51 Conclusion and Farewell

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