The secret sauce in ZZ Top's biggest hit album

In this episode of the Behind The Song podcast, join Janda as she digs into the unexpected success of Elton John's "Bennie and the Jets." Released in 1973 on the landmark album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, this quirky tune tells the story of a fictional all-girl band, a response with lyrics written by Bernie Taupin to the glam-rock craze at the time. Discover how a happy accident—a misplaced piano chord—led to a unique “faked-live” sound for the entire recording, and how radio play in Detroit turned a pretty odd song into a chart-topping hit. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s a heavy metal homecoming! In this bonus episode of the Behind The Song podcast, Janda and Christian talk about the “Back To The Beginning” Black Sabbath reunion concert taking place this summer in the band’s origin city of Birmingham, England. It’s a bittersweet event, considering Ozzy Osbourne’s health challenges, a goodbye to fans with the OG lineup of Sabbath getting together one last time - along with a packed lineup featuring Metallica, members of Guns ‘N Roses, and many more. Listen in as the Behind The Song podcast team reflect on the unique influences that shaped Black Sabbath in their industrial hometown, and how they in turn used that environment to pioneer the heavy metal sound. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Becoming Led Zeppelin is not just a documentary; it’s a celebration of the famously private band’s legacy, carefully told by the band members themselves. Listen in as Janda and Christian talk about why this film is a must-watch in the new bonus episode of the Behind The Song podcast! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It took David Bowie until his 4th album to find his footing as an artist. Hunky Dory, released in 1971, is a collection of songs written after he realized that he wasn’t really one thing or another when it came to musical styles. Certainly not a folk musician, which is what he was pigeonholed as up to that point. In many ways, this is where rock’s greatest chameleon began to evolve. It took his first trip to America to change the way he approached his songwriting, and when he returned home to England after that US tour, he sat down at the piano to give a voice to the musical styles colliding within him. And at just 24 years old, he wrote the song that would foreshadow the rest of his life and career, “Changes.” Get into the story in this episode of the Behind The Song podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This Valentine’s Day, the Behind The Song podcast team has a sweet list of songs for you! Join Janda and Christian as they each discuss their five top classic rock love songs, based on two sets of criteria: songs about real people, and how a song makes you feel. Who made their list? Listen and find out! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices