Band Name Origins, Final Recordings, Shell’s Unlikely Beginnings, and Salty Language

Al and Marty, hosts of Fun Facts and Sidetracks, broadcast from their studio in a converted oil tanker and cover off music trivia, company history, the origins of word and lots more.

They explain where several bands got their names (including Radiohead, Motörhead, Simple Minds, Roxette, The Rolling Stones, The Pretenders, Judas Priest, Deep Purple, Jet, Panic! at the Disco, Death Cab for Cutie, Flock of Seagulls, Lady Gaga, Nazareth, and Franz Ferdinand).

They discuss notable artists’ final recorded songs or last material, including Otis Redding (“Sittin’ On The Dock of the Bay”), Janis Joplin (“Mercedes Benz”), Jim Morrison (“Riders on the Storm”), Elvis (“Way Down”), John Lennon (working on “Walking on Thin Ice” and demo “Grow Old with Me”), Amy Winehouse (“Body and Soul”), Freddie Mercury (“Mother Love”), Warren Zevon (“Keep Me in Your Heart”), Chris Cornell (“You Never Knew My Mind”), David Bowie’s “Blackstar” track (“Lazarus”), and Glen Campbell (“I’m Not Gonna Miss You”), plus last recordings by bands breaking up - Roxy Music’s “Avalon,” The Police’s 1986 tracks, The Beatles’ last full-group session “Because,” and Cream’s “Badge”. They then trace Shell from an 1833 London seashell/antiques business to bulk oil shipping, the first tanker through the Suez Canal, a 1907 merger with Royal Dutch, wartime roles, “Seven Sisters” status, and supertankers and end with an etymology segment linking “salary,” “salad,” “salsa,” “sausage,” “salami,” “sauce,” and “sauté” to salt.

00:00 Welcome and Setup

01:35 Band Names Origins

03:32 Deep Purple Sidetrack

04:09 More Name Inspirations

06:42 Last Songs Intro

07:08 Sudden Final Recordings

15:07 Lennon Sidetracks

19:30 Knowing It Was The End

23:04 Bowie and Gervais Story

25:58 Glen Campbell Farewell

26:41 Bands Final Tracks

27:06 Guest Vocalist Discovery

27:53 Session Musicians Pay

28:38 Police Final Sessions

31:18 Police Live Memories

32:19 Beatles Last Recording

33:43 Cream Goodbye Album

35:05 Shell Origin Story

37:48 Oil Tankers And Branding

43:21 Wars And Seven Sisters

46:54 Modern Shell Mega Projects

50:49 Salt Words Etymology

54:54 Wrap Up And Farewell

If you have a fun fact you’d like us to share, send us an email to: funfactsandsidetracks@gmail.com or leave us a comment online at our social pages on Facebook or Instagram Thanks for listening and never be afraid to get sidetracked.

The boring disclaimer: We do try to double-check all of the facts we talk about. If something isn’t quite correct, we humbly apologise. Credit to our many sources including, A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs, Tim from Kicking Harold, Mental Floss, Wikipedia and so many more.

If you have a fun fact you’d like us to share, send us an email to: funfactsandsidetracks@gmail.com or leave us a comment online at our social pages on Facebook or Instagram Thanks for listening and never be afraid to get sidetracked.

The boring disclaimer: We do try to double-check all of the facts we talk about. If something isn’t quite correct, we humbly apologise. Credit to our many sources including, A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs, Tim from Kicking Harold, Mental Floss, Wikipedia and so many more.

Al and Marty share stories behind famous songs: Split Enz’s “Six Months in a Leaky Boat”, allegedly pulled from UK radio during the Falklands War; Mart adds trivia about migrating on the SS Canberra, later used as a Falklands hospital ship. They discuss alleged inspirations and feuds including Taylor Swift/Katy Perry, “Uptown Girl,” “Black Velvet,” Peter Gabriel’s “In Your Eyes,” Toto’s “Rosanna,” Pink’s “So What,” Johnny Cash’s “I Walk the Line,” Carly Simon’s “You’re So Vain,” Alanis Morissette’s “You Oughta Know,” multiple songs about Courtney Love, Clapton’s songs about Pattie Boyd, Phil Collins’ “In the Air Tonight,” Elvis’ “Heartbreak Hotel,” Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline,” and Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit.”

They cover origins of English town-name suffixes (Saxon, Viking, Roman), outline the Hearst media empire and Patty Hearst’s kidnapping/conviction/pardon, and end with a Pulp Fiction fact: DeVito’s company helped finance it, and Vincent/Jules nod to Twins.

If you have a fun fact you’d like us to share, send us an email to: funfactsandsidetracks@gmail.com or leave us a comment online at our social pages on Facebook or Instagram Thanks for listening and never be afraid to get sidetracked.

The boring disclaimer: We do try to double-check all of the facts we talk about. If something isn’t quite correct, we humbly apologise. Credit to our many sources including, A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs, Tim from Kicking Harold, Mental Floss, Wikipedia and so many more.

Episode 10 Timeline

Season Two Kick-off: Cracking covers, Ketchup and the Card Calendar

Al and Marty return for season two of “Fun Facts and Sidetracks,” describing the show as light, non-political conversation about music, movies, history, and anything that makes them laugh.

00:00 Season 2 Kick-off: What This Show’s About (Fun Facts, Sidetracks & No Politics)

01:21 Cover Versions 101: Why Covers Matter & What Counts as a Cover

02:48 From Slavery Songs to Ram Jam: The Wild History of “Black Betty”

03:43 Personal Faves: Joe Cocker, Beatles Covers & Making a Song Your Own

06:35 Deep Cuts & Classics: Ian Moss, Amy Winehouse, Talking Heads, Hendrix & More

13:22 When Covers Become Samples: Grammys, Pop Hits & “Sampling the Samples”

15:23 Listener Picks + Fun Facts: “Yesterday” as the Most-Covered Song Ever

21:00 New Segment: Famous Companies—The Origin Story of Heinz

23:36 57 Varieties & Superfactories: Heinz’s Branding, Worker Benefits & Growth

26:38 Heinz in Wartime & Royal Approval: Beans for the Queen

27:35 Ketchup Goes to Space: NASA, ISS, and Bean Jokes

29:48 Corporate Shake-Ups: Burger King CEO, McDonald’s Split & Kraft Heinz Merger

31:25 Challenger Anniversary Sparks a Time Travel Chat

34:00 Mind-Bending Timeline Facts: Dinosaurs, Mammoths & Ancient Civilizations

41:54 Deck of Cards = A Calendar? The Hidden Math & Fortune-Telling Origins

52:51 Sampling Gone Wrong: P. Diddy, Sting & $2,000-a-Day Royalties

54:39 Wrap-Up: Send Your Fun Facts & Favourite Covers

Check out some of our favourite covers:

Ray Charles – Eleanor Rigby (Check out the kooky set design and dancers too.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kK2HF-5-b-Q

Ian Moss (Cold Chisel) - Georgia

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhFXjzRRv4w&list=RDNhFXjzRRv4w&start_radio=1

Spiderbait – Black Betty

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nU1VfYYKMDk&list=RDnU1VfYYKMDk&start_radio=1

The Lemonheads – Mrs Robinson

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2C0sANgB9Qk&list=RD2C0sANgB9Qk&start_radio=1

David Byrne – Don’t fence me in

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuMvkNDuOuQ&list=RDuuMvkNDuOuQ&start_radio=1

The White Stripes – I just don’t know what to do with myself

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzDG0jA3XVY

If you have a fun fact you’d like us to share, send us an email to: funfactsandsidetracks@gmail.com or leave us a comment online at our social pages on Facebook or Instagram Thanks for listening and never be afraid to get sidetracked.

The boring disclaimer: We do try to double-check all of the facts we talk about. If something isn’t quite correct, we humbly apologise. Credit to our many sources including, A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs, Tim from Kicking Harold, Mental Floss, Wikipedia and so many more.

Exploring the Wonders of Japan & Diving into Iconic Pop Culture Memories

In this engaging episode of Fun Facts and Sidetracks, Marty and Al discuss Marty's recent trip to Japan. They celebrate their podcast's ninth birthday and delve into nostalgic pop culture, recalling old shows like HR PufnStuf and Banana Splits. They discuss the Mandela Effect, revealing misremembered movie quotes, and share fascinating behind-the-scenes stories from the Rocky franchise's music selection. The episode wraps up with an entertaining story of a bar incident involving undercover cops and a detailed retelling of the legendary 'Rumble in the Jungle' fight between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman.

00:00 Welcome to Fun Facts and Sidetracks

00:31 Mart's Adventures in Japan

02:06 Podcast Milestone: Ninth Birthday

02:23 Listener Feedback and Nostalgia

05:14 The Mandela Effect Explained

09:21 Rocky and the Eye of the Tiger

14:48 A Crazy Bar Story

20:12 Unbelievable Coincidences

21:00 Listener Requests: Muhammad Ali

21:27 The Legend of Muhammad Ali

23:34 Ali's Iconic Fights

25:31 Ali's Legacy and Personal Life

36:14 Debbie Harry's Surprising Shopping Trip

37:49 Wrapping Up and Listener Engagement

If you have a fun fact you’d like us to share, send us an email to: funfactsandsidetracks@gmail.com or leave us a comment online at our social pages on Facebook or Instagram Thanks for listening and never be afraid to get sidetracked.

The boring disclaimer: We do try to double-check all of the facts we talk about. If something isn’t quite correct, we humbly apologise. Credit to our many sources including, A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs, Tim from Kicking Harold, Mental Floss, Wikipedia and so many more.

Music regrets and a gig to forget: From Court Cases to Space Elevators

In this episode of 'Fun Facts and Sidetracks,' hosts Marty and Al explore the controversial world of music plagiarism, discussing famous cases such as George Harrison's 'My Sweet Lord' vs. The Chiffons' 'He's So Fine', Vanilla Ice vs. Queen and David Bowie, and many others. The episode delves into the nuances of creativity, subconscious influences, and some downright weird aspects of music litigation.

The boys then shift to share fascinating facts about the history of flight, from the first hot air balloons to the rapid progression from the Wright brothers' first flight to the moon landing, and even talk about future concepts like Japan's space elevator. As usual Mart has a hilarious stories about a gig he’d rather forget and the lively English-style pub parties at his home in suburban Brisbane.

00:00 Welcome to Fun Facts and Sidetracks

00:27 Exploring Famous Plagiarism Cases in Music

01:07 The George Harrison vs. The Chiffons Case

04:09 Vanilla Ice and the Under Pressure Controversy

04:46 John Fogarty Sued for Sounding Like Himself

05:40 Blurred Lines and Marvin Gaye's Legacy

06:58 The Rolling Stones vs. The Verve

07:52 Ghostbusters and Huey Lewis

09:43 The Beatles and Chuck Berry

11:38 A Regrettable Job Experience

17:57 Fun Facts About Flight

19:42 Man Lands on the Moon: A Giant Leap in 66 Years

20:32 The International Space Station: Orbiting Every 90 Minutes

21:28 NASA's Countdown: Inspired by a Silent Movie

22:29 Bert Hinkler Museum: A Tribute to Aviation

26:25 Space Elevator: The Future of Space Travel

30:26 Growing Up as a 10 Pound Pom in Australia

32:26 Building Bars and Boxing Day Parties

37:15 Conclusion

If you have a fun fact you’d like us to share, send us an email to: funfactsandsidetracks@gmail.com or leave us a comment online at our social pages on Facebook or Instagram Thanks for listening and never be afraid to get sidetracked.

The boring disclaimer: We do try to double-check all of the facts we talk about. If something isn’t quite correct, we humbly apologise. Credit to our many sources including, A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs, Tim from Kicking Harold, Mental Floss, Wikipedia and so many more.

Fun Facts and Sidetracks: The Ones That Got Away, Surprising Celebrity Babysitters and Stolen Inventions

In this episode of 'Fun Facts and Sidetracks,' Al and Marty discuss famous songs that were initially intended for other artists, including tracks by The Supremes, Kylie Minogue, Seal, and Kenny Loggins. They delve into amusing and surprising stories about celebrity babysitters such as Alice Cooper babysitting Keanu Reeves and Cher babysitting Anthony from the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Additionally, the episode explores intriguing facts about famous buildings like the Eiffel Tower and the Great Wall of China, and uncovers the true origins of well-known inventions, revealing famous figures like Thomas Edison who capitalized on others' innovations. The hosts wrap up with a discussion on LEGO and other noteworthy inventions.

00:00 Introduction and Greetings

00:55 The Ones That Got Away: Iconic Songs Rejected by Artists

09:12 Celebrity Babysitters: Unexpected Connections

15:56 Hollywood Connections: Keifer Sutherland and Gwyneth Paltrow

16:57 Builder's Journey: From Music to Construction

18:07 Famous Buildings Around the World

22:38 Lego: The Ultimate Building Block

25:32 Famous Inventions and Their True Origins

32:06 Wrapping Up: From Supremes to Eiffel Tower

If you have a fun fact you’d like us to share, send us an email to: funfactsandsidetracks@gmail.com or leave us a comment online at our social pages on Facebook or Instagram Thanks for listening and never be afraid to get sidetracked.

The boring disclaimer: We do try to double-check all of the facts we talk about. If something isn’t quite correct, we humbly apologise. Credit to our many sources including, A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs, Tim from Kicking Harold, Mental Floss, Wikipedia and so many more.

If you have a fun fact you’d like us to share, send us an email to: funfactsandsidetracks@gmail.com or leave us a comment online at our social pages on Facebook or Instagram Thanks for listening and never be afraid to get sidetracked.

The boring disclaimer: We do try to double-check all of the facts we talk about. If something isn’t quite correct, we humbly apologise. Credit to our many sources including, A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs, Tim from Kicking Harold, Mental Floss, Wikipedia and so many more.