Professor of Rock

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Rating
4.9
from
161 reviews
Categories
This podcast has
1540 episodes
Language
Explicit
No
Date created
2025/03/27
Latest episode
2026/02/06
Average duration
28 min.
Release period
1 days

Description

The ultimate rock music history podcast for fans of the greatest era of music. If you’ve ever wondered about the true stories behind your favorite songs, or wanted to hear directly from the legends who made them, Professor of Rock is your new go-to podcast. Hosted by music historian and superfan Adam Reader, this show brings the golden era of music back to life with exclusive interviews, behind-the-scenes stories, and deep dives into the songs that shaped our lives. This podcast uncovers how timeless tracks were made, the creative breakthroughs, the near-breakups, and the powerful moments that defined music history. Each episode is a masterclass in rock culture and nostalgia—whether it's a chart-topping ‘80s anthem, a one-hit wonder with a wild backstory, or a candid conversation with the legends themselves. Hear the Stories. Relive the Music. Only on Professor of Rock.

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Herman’s Hermits’ Unbelievable Run: Peter Noone on Beating the Beatles
2026/02/06
Up next an interview with an icon of 60s rock and roll, Peter Noone of Herman’s Hermits. Peter was only 15 years old when he became the singer behind Herman’s Hermits, who would go on to garner 18 hits, including an amazing 11 songs that hit the top 10 and several that went to #1. In fact, before Peter got to his 18th birthday he and Herman’s Hermits finished ahead of the Beatles on the Billboard year-end survey for top groups. It was on the strength of two big hits that kept his band in the top ten for 6 months! Including today’s song “I’m Henry the Eighth, I Am” that was actually from the year 1910… It caught on because it was so easy to sing and so easy to remember…It’s because the band repeated the same verse three times because they only knew the one verse, even though the song had numerous verses…it made “I’m Henry the Eighth, I Am” one of the most famous novelty songs ever… and the story of Mr’s Brown, You’ve got a lovely Daughter...The story is coming straight from the icon next on Professor of Rock. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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You Might Also Like: On Purpose with Jay Shetty
2026/02/06
Introducing NICK JONAS: The REAL Story Behind a Lifetime of Fame, His Inner Critic, and How Fatherhood Changed Everything from On Purpose with Jay Shetty. Follow the show: On Purpose with Jay Shetty What happens when success arrives before you truly know who you are. How do you learn to quiet the inner critic while becoming a better partner, parent, and person in the process? Today, Jay sits down with Nick Jonas for an intimate conversation about identity, purpose, and the inner work that comes with growing up in the spotlight. Nick opens up about what it was really like starting his career so young, dealing with rejection early on and growing up with the pressure of being labeled “the shy, creative one.” As the conversation unfolds, Nick shares how fatherhood, marriage, and health challenges have profoundly redefined his priorities. He reflects on the vulnerability of becoming a parent, the anxiety that comes with loving someone so deeply, and the grounding practices, movement, routine, and therapy that help him stay present. Through stories of his daughter’s early days, his evolving relationship with faith, and the inspiration behind his new music, Nick reveals how creativity became both a refuge and a mirror, allowing him to heal, grow, and speak more honestly than ever before. Jay and Nick discuss what it truly means to be a good partner, a present parent, and a kinder version of yourself, especially when life feels overwhelming. In this interview, you'll learn: How to Turn Life’s Hardest Seasons Into Creative Fuel How to Stay Grounded When You’ve Lived Life in the Spotlight How to Be a Present Partner Instead of a Defensive One How to Navigate Anxiety Without Letting It Define You How to Reconnect With the Fearless Version of Yourself How to Build Emotional Resilience Through Routine and Movement How to Show Up as a Better Parent by Healing Yourself First Wherever you are in your journey, know that it’s okay to slow down, ask better questions, and choose compassion over criticism. You’re allowed to evolve, outgrow old labels, and rewrite the way you speak to yourself.  Nick Jonas’ new album, Sunday Best, out February 6th: https://nickjonas.lnk.to/SundayBest With Love and Gratitude, Jay Shetty JAY’S DAILY WISDOM DELIVERED STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX Join 900,000+ readers discovering how small daily shifts create big life change with my free newsletter. Subscribe here.  Check out our Apple subscription to unlock bonus content of On Purpose! https://lnk.to/JayShettyPodcast  What We Discuss: 00:00 Intro 03:13 Who Is Nick Jonas Today? 05:02 Stepping Onto Broadway at Eight Years Old 07:00 What was It Really Like Growing Up in the Disney Spotlight? 08:40 Facing Financial Uncertainty as a Kid 11:08 Turning Deep Struggle Into Music 14:53 Finding Your Identity Beyond Labels 16:42 The Ongoing Journey of Self-Discovery 19:20 Why Early Exposure Became the Best Training Ground 22:16 Everyone Makes Mistakes 25:34 Recognizing and Quieting Your Inner Critic 31:53 Understanding the Unconditional Love of a Father 36:05 Staying Emotionally Strong for Your Family 40:18 The Moment He Fell for Priyanka Chopra 42:33 The Blending of Two Cultures  45:45 What His Wife Really Thinks 51:45 What Does it Mean to be a Good Husband? 54:50 Seeing the World Through a Child’s Eyes 58:06 The Fears That Come With Fatherhood 01:01:34 How Movement Helps Clear the Mind 01:03:53 Navigating Stressful Moments With Grace 01:08:04 Nick on Final Five Episode Resources: Nick Jonas | https://nickjonas.com/  Nick Jonas | https://www.instagram.com/nickjonas  Nick Jonas | https://www.tiktok.com/@nickjonas  Nick Jonas | https://www.youtube.com/user/NickJonasVEVO  Nick Jonas | https://x.com/nickjonas  Nick Jonas | https://www.facebook.com/nickjonas  Nick Jonas | https://nickjonas.tumblr.com/  Nick Jonas | https://www.snapchat.com/@jicknonas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to [email protected].
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The Forgotten Great Voice of Rock: Mickey Thomas on Jefferson Starship, Starship, and His Biggest Hits
2026/02/05
Coming up next, an interview with a man who is on a shortlist of the greatest singers in music history but he never gets his due. Mickey Thomas of Jefferson Starship and Starship... He’s had numerous hits, and his voice is so gritty, and his range is so high that he can go toe to toe with anybody. And up next, we cover his greatest hits, including the song that put him on the map. But it was a total accident. He was invited to sing backup for a famous guitarist on a song he’d written, but during the session, the famous producer said let’s have this rookie background singer try a take… The take was so amazing that it blew everyone away, and luckily, the engineer was recording. Even the famous gutiarst was like it’s your son,g brother. Soon after it flew up the charts but barely missed #1… and then decades later after it was used in a big movie, it finally hit #1. The song was Fooled Around and Fell in Love by Elvin Bishop. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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The Quiet Masterpieces of the ’80s: 8 Songs That Deserved More Love
2026/02/04
Today, we're shining a light on eight 80s classics that deserve way more recognition, but I'm not talking about hidden gems here. A lot of these were huge songs, but they were quietly great four decades later; these songs don't get the headlines. like the overplayed ones. So what happened? In most cases, they've been overshadowed by bigger hits from their band. But make no mistake, these are top-tier tracks. All timers. Including an awe-inspiring song On the Turning Away that emerged from one of rock's nastiest legal battles... probably one of the most notorious conflicts of the 80s. Then there's the perfectionist Lindsey Buckingham, who brought in one of rock's legendary drummers to record on his track... only to reject every single take and "roboticize" him by looping just 4 seconds of his drumming through the entire song. And I've also got the story of the Duran Duran music video that nearly got the band lynched by four thousand Buddhist monks... and then almost killed the guitarist when he contracted a tropical virus in a lagoon filled with elephants. From synth-pop gems to guitar-driven anthems, these are the quietly great songs that shaped the 80s. We give ‘em their due today. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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FROM THE VAULT: How Redbone’s “Come and Get Your Love” Became the Most Likable Song Ever
2026/02/03
The amazing story of the first all indigenous band Redbone and their ultra catchy 70s smash Come and Get Your Love. The band was compelled by a burning desire to put the spirituality and history of their ancestry in the forefront of their music... the band featured in this episode risked commercial acceptance...disregarded music industry conventionalism, and scored the first major pop hit by a group entirely made up of Indigenous Americans. The inspiring story is coming up NEXT on Professor of Rock. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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How 1955 and “Rock Around the Clock” Changed Music Forever
2026/02/02
It was the year that lit the flame of Rock and Roll. The charts were full of remakes of hit songs by black artists that were re-recorded by white singers that became a trick of the trade in the record business. It's FASCINATING music history. At one point 4 different versions of one famous song competed for #1. One of those led to the first crossover hit by blues legend Fats Domino, and helped him afford to buy a gold ring he bragged about on stage. Another was orchestrated by Alan Freed, the man who coined the phrase ‘rock n’ roll,’ but was later indicted for payola. The landmark track Only You by the iconic vocal group The Platters came out during this year and the hook to that song was created because of a hiccup that made the singer’s voice jolt, and that jolt made the song a classic. But, the most impactful quake that shook the landscape was caused by Rock Around the Clock, a song that was rescued from obscurity by the 9-year-old son of a famous actor who accidentally played the wrong side of a record, and that mistake became THEE anthem that established the Rock Era. Honestly, there’s a fascinating story around every track that came out during this pivotal year. Every song is a history lesson! Next on professor of rock. with Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry and Little Ricard to lead the way! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Why “Sabotage” Is the Beastie Boys’ Most Badass Song
2026/02/01
Todays song is a music revelation. it's a song story that will kick you in the teeth. This killer 90s song is epic. Coming up a song breakdown of The Beastie Boys at their best with their big fat classic.. Sabotage. It’s so ferocious you have to blast it whenever it comes on and then crank it up some more. It’s the most badass song of the decade it came from.. this high-octane assault on the ears almost didn’t make it. It sat on the shelf for a year. The band couldn’t think of any lyrics. Turns out, The Beastie-Boys were a little distracted. Their studio had a skate ramp and a basketball court and they were always messing around. Finally, two weeks before their deadline, their producer got so frustrated he YELLED AT them to finish one song. So in a moment of smart-ass inspiration, Ad Rock spit out a verse about how this producer was stifling their creativity by making them work. Turns out, that was all the Beastie Boys needed to turn what was supposed to be an instrumental track into the iconic hit Sabotage from their classic album Ill Communication. Plus there’s the hilarious music video to talk about as well. That’s a whole other story. We’re gonna break it all down for you with Ad Rock, MCA and Mike D… NEXT on Professor of Rock. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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The Comeback Tracks: Songs That Bombed Then BLEW UP.
2026/01/31
Alright, today, we’ve got a line-up of songs that were complete failures when they first came out… but fortune was with them. Because even though some of these tracks couldn't crack the charts to save their lives, they all became massive multi-million dollar money makers.  We've got a fascinating lineup of 'love failure songs' that initially stumbled but ultimately made massive comebacks, becoming multi-million dollar hits. This video also explores a heated band rivalry, showcasing the dramatic stories behind these musical 'comeback' triumphs. Including the story of Nick Drake who decades after his death scored a huge payday when his song was used in a Car Ad and he sold more records in a moth than he sold in 30 years combined. You'll hear about a psychedelic rivalry so intense it involved shotgun shells and restraining orders. Plus the cult classic Where is My Mind by Pixies that wasn’t released as a single, but thanks to an explosive movie spot in Fight Club it’s now getting licensing offers once a week… making the songwriter enough to retire. Then you’ve got the band Alabama 3, whose song became the theme song for one of HBO’s all-time biggest shows the Sopranos. And their manager completely screwed them… selling it for just $500. It raked in millions. But would they ever see any of it? Plus, there’s the B-side Tainted Love that nobody wanted that came out of nowhere to make 25 million. From family-friendly drug anthems like Lust For Life by Iggy Pop to obscure punk covers from the Cramps that went viral 40 years later, these are the songs that prove timing is everything. Let’s go. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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How Cyndi Lauper Turned Struggle Into a #1 Hit with “Time After Time”
2026/01/30
Everyone loves a great underdog story, and up next, we have one of the best from the 80s. Today’s Rookie artist Cyndi Lauper went through hell and back to get to the top. First of all, she lost her voice because of a collapsed vocal cord, and doctors said she’d never sing again. Then she got sued for $80K, which today would be like a quarter million. This forced her to declare bankruptcy and left her destitute. But Lauper kept going, she finally got a break with a label, but they didn’t believe in her songs, they pushed her to do cover songs from other artists, even though she was a great songwriter herself. After recording a bunch of covers, she rebelled and wrote a song with another up-and-coming artist from the band the Hooters that came from her TV GUIDE and an annoying alarm clock that kept malfunctioning and going off in her apartment. She even smashed it against a wall and threw it in the shower, but it kept ticking away. That ticking sound inspired one of the greatest #1 hits in history. Time After Time from her 80s classic album She's So Unusual. It became the most covered song of the decade and hundreds of artist have claimed it's the one song they wish they'd written. It was so good her producer would let anyone near the studio when she was working on it for fear someone would steal it. Up next, I have the co-writer to tell the story. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Three Dog Night’s Forgotten Reign: 21 Straight Hits with Chuck Negron
2026/01/29
Coming up next a lead singer from an underrated band that in their peak years from the late 60s to the mid 70s had More Gold records Than The Stones! Bigger Crowds Than Credence! And Fatter Purses Than Elvis! Chuck Negron's band, Three Dog Night had had a then record, 21 consecutive hit songs and up next he shares the story of several classics including a song...Pieces of April he recorded because the band needed one more song, only the rest of his band mates were out of town so he had to go in and record it himself but because he didn’t have his regular group and none his of session guys were available so he found out that the janitor played Cello and the studio’s secretary played guitar and so he Jerry rigged the song and it became a smash. Then there was the album cover that was so controversial he had to put a bandage over the cover and then there was the hit song called the show must go on that he covered and decided to change the lyrics but he was in such a hurry to get it recorded, he forgot to call the original singer for permission to change them and when the song came out he was livid… plus the song that was created for a failed children's tv show and because one of the biggest rock songs ever, Joy to the World. So many classics coming up next.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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How Rock Legends Turned Stuttering Into Iconic Songs
2026/01/28
Coming up, we shine a focus on the neurological condition known as stuttering…. Some spend a lifetime trying to get rid of it, others have learned to control it and become legendary performers. And then some have turned the condition into some of the biggest hits in rock history. In this episode, we explore how a stutter was turned into a clever art form, uniting a universal chorus of stammers that was beautiful. Including the song Lola that Kinks singer Ray Davies was writing when his toddler started singing along with him… the simple lyrics were like a nursery rhyme and they stuttered it together and that stutter by his toddler made it a classic. Then there’s the stutter that came from frustration when The Who's legendary singer Roger Daltrey, couldn’t get the timing of the vocal and lyrics right, so he had to stutter to make it fit. It became an all-time anthem. And then Randy Bachman, who wrote Ain't Seen Nothing Yet to mock his little brother’s speech impediment and it hit #1 in 12 countries and he even got a special award from the non-profit stuttering foundation. Let’s do it. Go to this exclusive web address right now to try ZipRecruiter FOR FREE: https://www.ziprecruiter.com/rock See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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MTV’s Most Explosive Moments: The Videos, the Stars, and the End of an Era
2026/01/27
Ladies and gentleman, rock and roll. From its inaugural blast off and moon landing on August 1, 1981 until the clock struck midnight on New Years Eve 1989, MTV and the 80s were a match made it heaven. The decade was no doubt the most important in the network’s history and was stacked with landmark moments. Famously opening with the Buggles’ “Video Killed the Radio Star,” MTV quickly became part of the fabric of our lives. It’s humble origins began with a very limited library of music videos, but it wasn’t long before the channel caught fire… and became the juggernaut that powered the lives of music lovers everywhere. As the “I Want My MTV” ad campaign hammered the brand into public consciousness, rock and pop stars came out of the woodwork to throw in their support. And as the decade unfolded, we were hit with music videos that revolutionized the medium and kept our eyes glued to the screen. Duran Duran’s Hungry Like the Wolf, Peter Gabriel’s Sledgehammer, Dire Strait’s Money For Nothing, Genesis with Land of Confusion, and Michael Jackson’s Thriller. The list goes on and on. And surrounding the never-ending line-up of videos were moments that put MTV down in pop cultural history: Madonna’s“Like a Virgin” performance at the 1984 MTV Video Music Awards, Live Aid coverage, the Run-DMC Aerosmith collab on Walk This Way, Motley Crue’s Home Sweet Home breaking Dial MTV, the debut of MTV Unplugged in 1989… But now over 44 years later. MTV has been unplugged once and for all. On December 31, 2025, the last of MTV’s dedicated 24-hour music television channels ceased global broadcasting, ending over four decades of continuous music programming. The shutdown affected 5 major channels (MTV Live, MTV Music, MTV 80s, MTV 90s, and MTV Hits). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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When Grunge Hit: Def Leppard’s Comeback Story with Joe Elliott
2026/01/26
Sometimes you ask a question, and there’s some mustard behind the answer. Today I talk with a legend who was riding as high as a band can in one moment, but then music got turned on its head, and this band, along with dozen’s of other,s were suddenly at a crossroads. Coming off one of the biggest albums ever, this band was in crisis going into a new decade… They lost two of their members. Their legendary guitarist and their so called 6th member, one of the greatest producers ever, as they gathered to put together their new record, all bets were that it was gonna be dark and brooding. That was certainly the mood, but instead this band put out a relentlessly upbeat album full of hard rock that was a pure adrenaline rush with a huge first single; the only problem was their timing was a bit off. Had this record come out even a year before, it would’ve been twice as big, but it dropped when GRUNGE had taken over the landscape and was threatening to take this band out. I pose the question decades later to their legendary frontman. What were you thinking when this musical movement that took out so many bands and threatened yours happened, and he spits a little fire my way… But his answer is priceless. Let’s do it. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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From Hits to Hate: The Most Mocked Songs in Rock History
2026/01/25
Some songs start as hits but end up as punchlines. Over-saturation, endless mocking, and viral internet culture can transform a former chart-topper into a pop culture punching bag. Today, we're counting down 6 tracks and artists that went from beloved… to the butt of the joke. We’ve got stories like the time Conan O'Brien teased Michael Bolton. So Bolton threatened to end Conan's life by sending a softball through his head at their next charity softball game. Or how about when the star of Titanic, the highest-grossing film of the 20th century, said that movie’s theme song My Heart Will Go On makes her throw up in her mouth every time she hears it… because fans won’t stop playing it for her! And then there’s the music journalist who was locked inside a listening booth at a Best Buy, and was forced to listen to We Built This City his magazine called “the worst ever”… for 24 hours straight. Plus, there’s What's Up, the song that is so annoying I'd rather be water boarded then list to it. We’re covering the rock era’s best musical punchlines. Let’s go! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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The Eerie Brilliance of Crash Test Dummies’ Only Hit
2026/01/24
So last week I showed this strange one-hit wonder Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm by the Crash Test Dummies, to my autistic son, and he was absolutely mesmerized. He has listened to it about 90 times since then, so it got me curious about a deep dive on it. It’s undeniably creepy but strangely comforting…Written about 3 different kids connected by the common thread of loneliness and suffering. It was inspired by true stories and events, and the singer delivers it in an unconventional style with a voice that many tried to imitate at the time it came out, but no one could do it. It made us all bristle with astonishment and wonder lead with the strangest meandering one-word chorus in history. It’s time to get to the bottom of this one. Let’s do it. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Podcast reviews

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4.9 out of 5
161 reviews
mrvvtbuilder 2026/01/24
Well done!
Outstanding Podcast! Easy to listen to and so very informative.
kelbaby1 2025/11/11
ELO
I sincerely appreciate the recognition of Jeff Lynne’s greatness in your review. I don’t feel you concentrated enough on Lynne’s gift of melody in his...
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chefjohnie 2025/11/22
Grammy Awards
Hi there my guy. I’ve had to find more of your stuff cuz I watched every YouTube video on your site there. Loved everyone. Your content w/ Ace Fre...
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Otho67 2025/11/05
Rock On!
Three chords and the truth. Enough said.
heath_bar25 2025/10/23
Incredible show
Incredible show from an incredible man. I happen to know him personally and he is truly the genius behind all he does. I’m a forever fan.
predsfan1068 2025/09/29
The Allman Brothers show
The song Ramblin Man has always been one of my favorite song due to the reference of Highway 41 which was the main road in my small hometown
RetiredLawyer2021 2025/09/03
Love this show!
I feel like I’ve been waiting my whole life for this show. Please never stop, Adam!
Bops63 2025/08/30
Jingles All the Way!!!
Loved the 80’s jingle recap. Would love to hear a 70’s edition. (…and don’t be afraid to channel your inner-Manilow!).
RHnat 2025/08/16
Wow !
I have learned so much about some of my favorite songs and artists! Thank you!
Jackiedo123 2025/08/12
Intros
The repetitive intros on the podcast and YouTube channel is too much, less is more. Like show but cut back on the intro. But I guess that is why fast ...
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