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Finest Worksongs is a music commentary and history podcast hosted by Matt Lail and Matt Stevens. The podcast is dedicated to discussing ”great albums” and delving into the music and history of the artists behind them. The hosts often reminisce about their 80s childhoods, providing a nostalgic lens through which they explore the chosen albums. While the podcast covers a wide range of musical genres and artists, their discussions often center around seminal albums, exploring their impact, production, and the context in which they were created. They also have ”Summer Jamz” episodes where they focus on a single song instead of an entire album. ”Finest Worksongs” has been recognized in local media, being named one of Raleigh’s Top Podcasts by Raleigh Magazine and voted ”Best Local Podcast” in Wake Living Magazine’s Reader’s Choice Awards. The podcast concluded its regular episodes in early 2025 with its 129th episode, a listener’s choice discussion on The Replacements’ ”Let It Be.”
Episodes
Monday Mar 20, 2023
Monday Mar 20, 2023
First, let's get something out of the way. This is an album podcast. It always will be, first and foremost. Therein lies some limitations around how to talk about some of the early pioneers of rock and roll and pop music. Many of them "released" albums that were nothing more than a collection of disparate singles. Or they loosely put together a collection of songs, threw a cover on it and called in an "album." Elvis Presley was no different. However, with "From Elvis in Memphis," The King had an opportunity to present a new version of himself -- one buoyed by his recent comeback TV success. And instead of crooning for screaming fans, Elvis instead sang for himself, eschewing soundtracks and going back, in many ways, to his roots. This "Memphis sound" Elvis is full of soul, country, gospel and blues -- all the things that made him HIM. The results are a gutsy album of perhaps Elvis at his best. And the last song on the original release was a heartfelt ode to the disenfranchised that was – and still is – perhaps his greatest song: "In the Ghetto."
You can listen to From Elvis in Memphis on iTunes, Spotify, Tidal, YouTube, and Amazon.
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