I’ve been substituting NPR’s Fresh Air Podcast (links to iTunes Store) for music during my morning walk in to work. I have to say, it’s probably the most entertaining and insightful thing I’ve experienced since I first saw Jeopardy as a kid.

The topic’s range from politics to comedy to music and more. Recent interviews include Charlie Kaufman and Clint Eastwood, Tina Fey and Seth Meyers. Shopping for groceries last night, I listened to a segment detailing the success of Motown during the 60s following the Tina Fey interview. A few things I know now is that during 1966 a lot of their music was influenced by Bob Dylan and Motown was actively looking for artists that could bring Dylan’s vocal style to their label.

Probably the most interesting thing I learned though is that, in their search for that Dylan-esque sound, Motown happened upon a little Canadian band here in Toronto with some interesting band-members. From Wikipedia:

In 1964, James left the U.S. Naval Reserve after having begun to miss weekend training because it interfered with his music career.[1] Fleeing north to Toronto, Ontario in the summer of 1964, James, now using the stage name Big Jimmy, continued his musical career. His first band, formed with future Steppenwolf member Nick St. Nicholas was initially called the Sailor Boys but soon changed their name to the Mynah Birds. Bassist Bruce Palmer took over for St. Nicholas in early 1965, and the group soon released their first single, “Mynah Bird Hop” / “Mynah Bird Song” for Columbia Records of Canada.

James and Palmer soon formed a new Mynah Birds lineup with guitarists Tom Morgan and Xavier Taylor, and drummer Rick Mason. In early 1966, the Mynah Birds auditioned for the Motown label in Detroit. Morgan was unhappy with the label’s attitude towards the musicians and left, with Neil Young taking his place. With Young on board, the Mynah Birds returned to Motown to record an album, but their manager pocketed the advance money the label had given the band. The band fired their manager, who in turn told the label that James was AWOL. Motown told him to give himself up to the FBI, and the Mynah Birds’ album was shelved.

You read that right. At one point in time, Rick James and Neil Young were bandmates.

Bet you’re interested in Fresh Air now.