The JOE ELLIOTT Show 15th August 2026 Playlist/Transcript

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Monday, 17th August 2026

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The Joe Elliott Show

Def Leppard singer Joe Elliott hosted another edition of his weekly radio show on 15th August on Planet Rock.

This week's show included songs by Creedence Clearwater Revival, Mick Ronson and Rush.

The full playlist is shown below and a full transcript.

The show is available using the On Demand feature. It is also repeated on Tuesdays at 9pm and Thursdays at 4am.

The Joe Elliott Show - 15th August 2026 Playlist

01 - Creedence Clearwater Revival - Up Around The Bend
02 - Hillbilly Vegas - Miss America
03 - Coverdale/Page - Shake My Tree
04 - Brian May - The Legend Of Eternia
05 - Wishbone Ash - Blowin' free
06 - Elton John - Madman Across The Water
07 - Mick Ronson - Billy Porter
08 - Babe Ruth - Wells Fargo
09 - Rush - Finding My Way
10 - Be Bop Deluxe - Maid In Heaven

The Joe Elliott Show - 15th August 2026 Transcript - (Transcribed by dltourhistory)

Show Intro

Evening all, and welcome once again to the Joe Elliott Show, right here on the wonderful Planet Rock.

How good it is to be with you once again. Got some great stuff lined up, as usual, as I'd like to say, because I really do pride myself on thinking that I do pick some pretty cool songs for the little hour that I have, and that's all we've got: 60 minutes. So let's get going.

One of the most recognizable voices in rock. This is Creedence Clearwater Revival.

Creedence Clearwater Revival

Back in 1983. We used to do a Creedence song called Travellin' Band. We played it in San Francisco.

Little did we know that, out in the audience, was the singer of that particular band, one Mr. John Fogerty, one of the greatest voices in rock. His son was such a big fan that he brought him to the gig, and little did he know that we were going to play one of his songs. Little did we know that he was in the building.

So when he came backstage, it was, how you might say, a mutual appreciation society. What a lovely chap.

It is, of course, Creedence Clearwater Revival from the album Cosmo's Factory, with Up Around the Bend.

Hillbilly Vegas

Now, earlier this week, I was talking to my good buddy and great guitarist, he of the Down-and-Outs, Mr. Paul Guerin, of course.

He was also the guitarist in the Quireboys, who would then evolve into the Black Eyed Sons. But it would appear they are no more because he has moved to America and he has joined a new band.

And I've heard this new band now. They've toured Europe and the UK before, and I do believe they're coming back, and they make a hell of a noise.

This is Hillbilly Vegas.

And before that, what a glorious racket they make. It is Hillbilly Vegas. The album is called A Little Bit of Vegas, the song we heard, Miss America. Good luck with that, Paul Guerin.

Coverdale/Page

I wonder if, like me, you ever thought that some of the riffs on that album were destined for the never-made follow-up to In Through the Out Door by Led Zeppelin.

It kind of would make sense that Mr. Jimmy Page would have a backlog of riffs and songs that never got used, and why let them go to waste? Because there's a very Zeppelin-esque feel to the intro of that particular tune, if not the whole song.

But it is Coverdale–Page from 1993, I think it was, the album of the same name. The song we heard: Shake My Tree.

Brian May

Now, also earlier this week, I was conversing with — excuse me a minute, I just dropped another name there. Let me just pick that up and put it back in my pocket.

Yes, Sir Dr. Brian May, who reminded me that he's just released a new song. And who am I not to play it?

So here we go, featuring Justin Hawkins from The Darkness. Here's Brian with one of the most over-the-top theatrical things that you're gonna hear all year.

And before that, it is credited to Brian May, The Darkness and Daniel Pemberton, and it's one of the most over-the-top theatrical rock releases of 2026.

It is based on the franchise of Masters of the Universe. It is the most brilliant The Legend of Eternia. Well done, Brian, and welcome back.

Wishbone Ash

Back in the days when there was such a thing as a rock disco, that song was guaranteed to fill the dance floor.

It is, of course, Wishbone Ash from that wonderful album that is Argus, with Blowing Free.

You are listening to the Joe Elliott Show, right here on the wonderful Planet Rock.

Coming up, we're gonna go across the water to meet a madman. But this time he has a special guest with him.

Elton John

And before that, the special guest that I mentioned before the break was Mick Ronson. It's Mick Ronson playing on an Elton John album, the title track of, in fact, Madman Across the Water.

But this is the alternative version that Mick played on that was never released until it came out on some Greatest Hits collection, I think, in about 1992. So it was literally in the vaults for 20, 21 years.

But it finally saw the light of day, and all those Mick Ronson fans are glad that it did.

Mick Ronson

The hit single that never was, but it came so close. 1975. It is Mick Ronson from his second solo album, Play Don't Worry.

The song is Billy Porter.

Babe Ruth

All right, just like their namesake, let's bat one at the park. This is Babe Ruth.

And before that, another track that got played to death at the Improvisions. It's Babe Ruth from their album First Base, with a wonderful bit of work called Wells Fargo.

Rush

Now, I mentioned rock discos earlier on, and our rock disco was Improvisions at the Sheffield Top Rank every Sunday night, DJ'd by a wonderful Mancunian called Charlie, who disappeared without trace.

If anybody knows where he is, answers on a postcard, please.

But he used to play that song week in, week out, and maybe after the third or fourth listen, me and my mates were going up to him and saying, Who is this?

And he'd say, They've been around for four years or so. The Canadian three-piece are really cool.

And that was my in to Rush, from their debut album of the same name.

We just heard the wonderful Finding My Way.

Show Outro

And that, my dear friends, is about it for this week.

Been a real pleasure, as always. I shall be back with you next week at exactly the same time, so please don't go anywhere.

Until then, I shall leave you with this.

Back to 1975. The album is Futurama, produced by Roy Thomas Baker, famous for all the Queen work and The Cars' debut album.

But this is Be-Bop Deluxe and Made in Heaven.

Until next week. See ya.