Robert Plant’s got a flopper.

And that’s not just a punchline. It’s the spark for a deep dive into the chaotic, beautiful world of musical collaboration.

In this episode of Tracks on Trial, hosts Sam George (Spain), Amy Jo (USA), and Andy Smith (Australia) explore the magic that happens when creative worlds collide, and the disasters that sometimes follow. From country and Americana partnerships to unexpected cross-genre duets, they put the art of collaboration under the microscope (and occasionally, on trial).

This week’s discussion includes:

• Why authenticity makes or breaks musical partnerships.
• The African and folk roots that shaped country and Americana.
• When artistic chemistry ignites genius, and when it blows up spectacularly.
• Robert Plant and Alison Krauss: brilliance, balance… and a few flops.
• How collaboration fuels innovation across genres, from Nashville to New Orleans to Newcastle.

Witty, insightful, and occasionally chaotic, this episode celebrates the risk and reward of working together, because sometimes the best collaborations are built on a little bit of chaos.

Tracks on Trial - the global music podcast where every song (and artist) faces judgment.

Subscribe, listen, and tell us your verdict: was it a Topper or a Flopper?

Welcome to the debut episode of Tracks on Trial, the global music podcast where three hosts from three continents bring their most beloved songs into the courtroom of sound.

This week’s theme: Songs We Can’t Live Without.

Join Sam George (Spain), Amy Jo (USA), and Andy Smith (Australia) as they put their personal favourites on the stand. From a-ha’s timeless pop craftsmanship and Oasis’s anthemic energy, to Rage Against the Machine’s revolutionary fire, Alter Bridge’s emotional power, and The Cadillac Three's southern swagger.

In this episode:

• How music shapes identity and life experience across cultures.
• Why authenticity and musicianship still matter in an age of algorithms.
• The emotional power of great production and orchestration.
• The lasting legacy of 80s music and its influence on today’s artists.
• What Rage Against the Machine and Alter Bridge reveal about the evolution of modern rock.
• How country songwriting, pop nostalgia, and heavy riffs can all connect us in different ways.

From viral hits to deep cuts, every song faces cross-examination, and the final verdict: Topper or Flopper.

Tracks on Trial is where global perspectives meet shared passion. Smart, funny, and fiercely musical, it’s the show where no track escapes judgment, and every listener finds something new to love.

Subscribe on Spotify, Apple, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts, and tell us which songs you can’t live without.

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