Monday Music Club with Will Anderson

Few songs have traveled a more unlikely path to becoming a modern classic than Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah.” Written over several years, initially rejected by his record label, and transformed by a series of remarkable interpretations, the song eventually became one of the most beloved and recognizable compositions of our time.

This week on Monday Music Club, host Will Anderson welcomes acclaimed music journalist and author Alan Light, whose book The Holy or the Broken: Leonard Cohen, Jeff Buckley, and the Unlikely Ascent of “Hallelujah” tells the extraordinary story behind the song.

Along the way, we’ll explore Buckley’s complicated relationship with his father’s legacy, the evolution of his arrangement, and the cultural moments that propelled “Hallelujah” from an overlooked composition into a global phenomenon.

How did a song that Leonard Cohen struggled for years to finish, and that his own record label didn’t believe in, become a universal anthem? Join us for the fascinating, surprising, and sometimes heartbreaking story of “Hallelujah.”

Part of the Vox Media Podcast Network and produced by Figures Network.

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How did De La Soul change the sound of hip-hop? Could three MCs from Long Island challenge the genre’s conventions and redefine what rap could be? And could their debut album, 3 Feet High and Rising, become one of hip-hop’s most influential records? Absolutely. With their playful lyrics, inventive samples, and offbeat spirit, De La Soul helped open up a new world of possibilities for rap music.

On this episode of Monday Music Club, Will Anderson dives into the story of De La Soul, the groundbreaking group that helped reshape hip-hop and leave an indelible mark on music and culture. To explore their origins, creative vision, and lasting legacy, we’re joined by the man who chronicled their story in extraordinary depth: Marcus J. Moore, author of High and Rising: A Book About De La Soul.

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Could Bruce Springsteen save rock ’n’ roll? Was he the next Bob Dylan? And was Born to Run the ultimate rock album? Maybe. Maybe not. But for Bruce Springsteen, it was a make-or-break moment and possibly his last shot at success.

On this episode of Monday Music Club, Will Anderson dives into the making of Born to Run, the landmark album that helped turn Springsteen into a rock ’n’ roll icon. To explore the stories, struggles, and creative forces behind one of rock’s most celebrated albums, we’re joined by the man who chronicled this pivotal chapter of Springsteen’s career in extraordinary depth: Peter Ames Carlin, author of Tonight in Jungleland: The Making of Born to Run.

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In their own very different ways, Les Paul and Leo Fender revolutionized the sound, design, and possibilities of the electric guitar and their paths would lead to influence and riches beyond what either could have imagined.

But how much of the story we’ve been told is actually true? How much is fact, and how much is mythmaking, marketing, and legend?

On this episode of the Monday Music Club, Will Anderson is joined by Cory Wong to pull back the curtain on two towering figures, explore the rivalry and innovations that shaped modern guitar, and separate the history from the mythology.

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Before Spotify, Apple Music, and endless playlists, there was the MP3, and one mysterious music leaker who helped expose just how radically digital technology was about to change the music business. Will Anderson takes us back to the late ’90s and early 2000s, when music started escaping the CD and physical album, and a new world of file-sharing, leaks, and Napster sent the industry scrambling.

Vulture’s Jason P. Frank joins to unpack the mystery of the music leaker at the center of this story, how MP3s made it possible for music to spread instantly across the internet, and how Napster turned that possibility into a full-blown revolution. We’ll explore the excitement, controversy, and unintended consequences of a technology that made music easier to share than ever and forced record labels to confront a future they weren’t ready for.

From mysterious leaks to the rise of file-sharing, the MP3 era transformed how music was discovered, distributed, and consumed, laying the groundwork for the streaming world we live in today.

Part of the Vox Media Podcast Network and produced by Figures Network.

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Will Anderson explores the troubled genius behind the Beach Boys with David Leaf, author of Smile: The Rise, Fall, and Resurrection of Brian Wilson. Together, they delve into the extraordinary life and complicated legacy of Brian Wilson—the visionary behind some of the most influential music of the 20th century.

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Will Anderson is joined by "Switched on Pop" hosts Nate Sloan and Charlie Harding for a wide-ranging conversation about the songs, ideas, and curiosity that keep pop music moving forward. They dig into the origins of Switched on Pop, the evolution of their approach to listening and analysis, the case for pop optimism, and a game called “If you like__, then you’ll like___.” Will, Nate, and Charlie pick a song or album from the 70s, 80s, 90s and 00s and then a corresponding album from this year (or last) that a fan of that album would like!

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Before Motown became a musical empire, it was a scrappy little record label in Detroit with big dreams, limited resources, and something to prove. In this episode, Will Anderson explores how that happened with help from Otis Williams, founding member of the Temptations, to step inside the early days of Hitsville, USA—the people, the music, the ambition, and the magic that changed American culture forever.

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Stevie Nicks was already a star but she needed help bringing her music to life. “Silver Springs” became her opus: a deeply personal song born from her tumultuous relationship with Lindsey Buckingham and a heartfelt gift to her mother. But when the song was left off the record, it marked more than a creative decision. It was the beginning of the end.

In this episode Will Anderson is joined by Mark Blake, author of “Dreams: The Many Lives of Fleetwood Mac” to unpack the story behind “Silver Springs,” the complicated relationship that inspired it, and the decision that would become one of Fleetwood Mac’s most infamous moments.

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Before Elvis, Chuck Berry, or The Beatles, there was Sister Rosetta Tharpe. She’s a gospel superstar and electric-guitar pioneer whose bold sound helped lay the foundation for rock & roll.

Will Anderson tells the story of Tharpe’s remarkable rise, her complicated relationship with gospel music, and the ways history overlooked her contributions. He’s joined by Gayle Wald, author of Shout, Sister, Shout!, the definitive biography of Rosetta, to explore her lasting influence and the generations of artists who followed in her wake.

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Monday Music Club is a podcast about the defining moments that have shaped the way we hear the world. Each week, host Will Anderson explores the stories behind iconic songs, legendary artists, and the creative forces that have transformed music and culture.

Will first rose to prominence as the frontman of the alternative pop band Parachute, earning platinum- and gold-certified singles while touring sold-out venues around the world. That firsthand experience, paired with an endless curiosity about music and its rich history, gives him a unique perspective on the people, innovations and cultural shifts that have soundtracked our lives.

Whether you’re obsessed with music history, fascinated by the craft of songwriting, or simply looking to hear your favorite songs in a new way, Monday Music Club is where the conversation begins.

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