James Gadsen and Steve Gadd were both great drummers of the 1970s, but despite the

similarities in their names, they were not related.

Gad's son does not actually mean son of Gad, though when you hear either of these guys,

you probably say, oh my gad.

Welcome to Strong Songs, a podcast about music. I'm your host, Kirk Hamilton, and I'm so glad you've joined me to talk about music played

by James Gadsen, music played by Steve Gadd, and I can't think of a third guy whose name

works.

Strong Songs is proudly listener supported, which means that each season I can't think of a third guy whose name worse. Strong Songs is proudly listener-supported,

which means that each season I can focus on making this show as good as possible

without worrying about anything else.

Thank you so much to everyone who supports this show on Patreon

for helping me keep this whole thing going.

It's time for the season 7 finale, which will focus on a songwriter whose striking simple

clarity can sometimes seem to belie his brilliance.

But he was truly brilliant, and I'm excited to get into why.

So let's mute the drums, plug in the whirly, and hit it.

Music plug in the whirley and hit it. I love a complicated song.

I mean, you're listening to this show.

You know I love a complicated song.

In a lot of ways, complicated music is paradoxically easy.

It requires a lot of technical knowledge to make and understand, sure, but once you have that knowledge and skill, the complexity can become a perfectly interesting and valid end unto itself.

I love a complicated musician, too. I'm sure we all do.

...