The Track Star Podcast

• A History of Chess Records in 10 Songs ft. Steve Jordan, John Fogerty, David Remnick & Maya Rudolph

  This week on The Track Star Podcast, Jack explores the legacy of Chess Records with drummer, producer, and musical historian Steve Jordan. Steve breaks down the innovations of Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Willie Dixon, Etta James and more, explaining how Chicago reshaped the blues, how amplification transformed the guitar, why the Bo Diddley beat terrified the establishment, and how Chess marketed Black music into what became rock and roll. The episode also features John Fogerty and Maya Rudolph sharing personal stories about discovering Chess artists, and David Remnick describing how these records helped spark the British Invasion and influence the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. Listen to our this episode’s extended playlist: Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube Music New episodes of The Track Star Podcast every Wednesday. [Video available on Spotify and YouTube]

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• A History of Pop Songwriting in 10 Songs ft. Amy Allen and Charlie Puth

  This week we explore the craft of songwriting with Grammy-winning writer Amy Allen and global hitmaker Charlie Puth. Through songs from ABBA, The Beatles, Sheryl Crow, Dolly Parton, Britney Spears, and more, Amy breaks down how great melodies work while Charlie opens up about the accidents and instincts behind some of his biggest hits. Listen to our extended songwriting playlist: Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube Music New episodes of The Track Star Podcast every Wednesday. [Video available on Spotify and YouTube] Powered by Rivian. More Track Star content: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@track-star-show  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@trackstarshow  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trackstarshow  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/trackstarshow/

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• Testing Cameron Crowe’s Music Knowledge | The Track Star Podcast

  Cameron Crowe joins us for a wide-ranging conversation about his life as a rock journalist and filmmaker. From getting his first Rolling Stone cover at 16 to going on the road with Led Zeppelin, the Allman Brothers, and the Eagles, Crowe reflects on the artists who shaped his worldview and the relationships that inspired Almost Famous and helped shape his filmmaking career. He also shares a rare inside look at the Joni Mitchell film he’s been developing in close collaboration with Joni herself, shaped over years of deep, weekly conversations and time spent digging through her personal archives. Listen to our extended playlist for this episode: Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube Music New episodes of The Track Star Podcast every Wednesday![Video available on Spotify and YouTube]Powered by Rivian. More Track Star content: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@track-star-show TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@trackstarshow Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trackstarshow Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/trackstarshow

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• Common Breaks Down the 6 Songs That Shaped His Career

  Common is one of the most distinctive voices to emerge from Chicago, with a journey that runs from his early days as a Bulls ball boy when Jordan arrived, to becoming a defining rapper of the ’90s and 2000s, and eventually an award-winning actor. This episode follows that path through a six-song framework that lets him reflect on the moments that shaped his life and career. Along the way, we look at how hearing Illmatic early pushed him forward, how the Soulquarian movement at Electric Lady Studios shaped a crucial chapter of his life, and how performing “The Food” on Chappelle’s Show became a turning point in his artistic evolution. Listen to our extended Common playlist: Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube Music New episodes of The Track Star Podcast every Wednesday! [Video available on Spotify and YouTube] Powered by Rivian. More Track Star content: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@track-star-show TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@trackstarshow Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trackstarshow Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/trackstarshow/

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• The Grateful Dead Explained — 10 Songs That Trace the Dead’s Legacy

  With David Lemieux, the Grateful Dead’s official archivist and legacy manager, we trace how the band evolved from the psychedelic San Francisco scene of the late ’60s to the studio mastery of American Beauty and the arena triumph of Touch of Grey. Through 10 songs, this episode tells the story of a band that set the standard for what live rock music could be. Along the way, we look at how the Dead’s tape-trading culture, iconography, and intense fandom helped sustain their legacy for decades. Listen to our extended Grateful Dead playlist: Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube Music New episodes of The Track Star Podcast every Wednesday! [Video available on Spotify and YouTube] Powered by Rivian. More Track Star* content: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@track-star-show TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@trackstarshow Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trackstarshow Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/trackstarshow/

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