Songs About the Music Industry & Antibalas
What happens when artists take a look inward at the music business? Jim and Greg play the best Songs About the Music Industry. Then, they sit down with the dynamic Antibalas, an Afrobeat orchestra.
Songs About the Music Industry
Rock ‘n’ roll is all about railing against the "man." And for musicians, there's no bigger man than the record business. Some songs celebrate music's great A&R men and women or label heads. Many more skewer the suits. Here are Jim and Greg's favorites:
Greg
- Graham Parker, "Mercury Poisoning"
- Aimee Mann, "Nothing is Good Enough"
- Blackalicious, "Deception"
- Sex Pistols, "E.M.I."
Jim
- Public Enemy, "Caught, Can I Get a Witness"
- Patti Smith's cover of "So You Wanna Be a Rock ‘n’ Roll Star"
- Local H, "Laminate Man"
- Pink Floyd, "Have a Cigar"
Antibalas
Jim and Greg are joined by Antibalas, a Brooklyn-based afrobeat band. The 12-piece group has specialized in socially aware horn-heavy music inspired by afrobeat artists like Fela Kuti. They've recorded 6 albums, and have also collaborated with other artists like Mark Ronson and The Dap-Kings. The group spoke with Jim and Greg about the messages in their music, notable collaborations, and about how the changing music industry has impacted a band their size.
Featured Songs
- Nick Lowe, "I Love My Label," Jesus of Cool, Radar, 1978
- A Tribe Called Quest, "Show Business (feat. Diamond D, Lord Jamar and Sadat X)," The Low End Theory, Jive, 1991
- Graham Park and the Rumour, "Mercury Poisoning," Squeezing Out Sparks, Arista , 1979
- Public Enemy, "Caught, Can We Get a Witness," It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back, Def Jam, 1988
- Aimee Mann, "Nothing Is Good Enough," Magnolia, Warner Bros., 1999
- Patti Smith , "So You Want To Be (A Rock 'N' Roll Star)," Wave, Arista , 1979
- The Buggles, "Video Killed The Radio Star," The Age of Plastic, Island, 1980
- John Fogerty, "Vanz Kant Danz," Centerfield, Warner Bros., 1985
- Blackalicious, "Deception," Nia, Mo' Wax, 1999
- Local H, "Laminate Man," Pack Up the Cats, Island, 1998
- Sex Pistols, "E.M.I.," Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols, Virgin, 1977
- Pink Floyd, "Have a Cigar," Wish You Were Here, Harvest, 1975
- Antibalas, "Sa-re-Kon Kon," Antibalas, Daptone, 2012
- Antibalas, "Dirty Money," Antibalas, Daptone, 2012
- Fela Kuti and The Africa '70, "Let's Start (feat. Ginger Baker)," Live!, Signpost, 1971
- Fela Kuti, "Water Get No Enemy (feat. Sahr Ngaujah & Saycon Sengbloh)," FELA! (Original Broadway Cast Recording), Knitting Factory, 2010
- The Sway Machinery, "Purity and Danger," Purity and Danger, 3rd Generation, 2015
- Mark Ronson, "Uptown Funk (feat. Bruno Mars)," Uptown Special, RCA, 2015
- Jovanotti, "Melagioco (feat. Antibalas)," Lorenzo 2015 CC., Universal, 2015
- The Dap-Kings, "Casella Walk (feat. Bosco Mann)," Make It Good To Me (single), Daptone, 2002
- Antibalas, "Indictment," Who Is This America?, Ropeadope, 2004
- Antibalas, "Filibuster XXX," Security, ANTI-, 2007
- Antibalas, "Gold Rush," Where the Gods Are in Peace, Daptone, 2017
- Antibalas, "Gold Rush (Live on Sound Opinions)," Where the Gods Are in Peace, Daptone, 2017
- Chris Montez, "Call Me," Call Me (single), A&M, 1965
- Ry Cooder, "Paris, Texas," Paris, Texas (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack), Warner Bros., 1985
- Mayssa Karaa, "White Rabbit (Arabic Version)," American Hustle (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack), Sony Classical, 2013
- Jefferson Airplane, "Embryonic Journey," Surrealistic Pillow, RCA, 1967
- Ritchie Havens, "Follow," Mixed Bag, Verve, 1966
- Judy Collins, "Who Knows Where the Time Goes," Who Knows Where the Time Goes, Elektra, 1968
- Lulu, "To Sir With Love," To Sir With Love (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack), Fontana, 1967
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