PODCAST · music
Out of the Main
by Tom Nixon and John Nixon
“Out of the Main” is a podcast celebrating one of the most proficient and accomplished eras of musicianship and studio production, including yacht rock, west coast AOR, and related sophisticated music from the 1970s and 80s. “Out of the Main” was launched by two of the era's biggest fans—both musicians themselves—who, like a growing wave of aficionados all around the world, have been exploring the history, the enjoyment, and now the future potential of the West Coast sound, even as it continues to this day. Join the revelry. Partake in the nostalgia. Tune in to artist interviews. Discover
Episodes
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S7.E14.b: The Joy of Sax (Vol. II)
Back for our second session of group sax! Let’s pick up right where we left off last week… We’ve covered the session sax cats for 7 seasons. But what about the sax players from our era that were permanent fixtures in their respective bands—and in some cases, inextricably cemented in the band’s...
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S7.E14.a: The Joy of Sax (Vol. I)
Look who’s coming to dinner! Listener Mike is back, and this time he’s here to talk about the joy of group sax! We’ve covered the session sax cats for 7 seasons. But what about the sax players from our era that were permanent fixtures in their respective bands—and in some cases, inextricably...
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S7.E13: The Lore and Canon of Laurel Canyon
Tom and John return to a topic they’ve mentioned in passing scores of times over the course of our first seven seasons (assuming everyone was familiar with the lore and canon of one of the most historic eras in modern music history). Is Laurel Canyon a place—or a movement? A sound, or a slice of...
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S7.E12: Toto Under Cover
Let’s talk about "Toto Songs that Weren’t.” The Toto Multiverse examined, explored and explained through the prism of songs we grew up on that were actually some version of Toto themselves: The Boz Universe, the Quincy Universe, and the Foster Universe. What percentage of songs did we listen to...
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S7.E11: A Showcase of Mistaken Identities
The on-again off-again game show convention is on again! John hosts the show this week, challenging Tom to a full show of brain teasers and trivial trivia. First up: Name that tune’s artist: Genesis or Phil Collins. After the commercial break a double-jeapardy showdown where Tom has to guess the...
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S7.E10: Stairways
“Dude, this is their Stairway.” Have you ever heard or considered such a statement? Well, John and Tom have…and continue to do so in great and detail in the latest episode of Out of the Main. Pick an artist, and identify their “Stairway to Heaven.” What are the parameters? Well, it’s part feel…
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S7.E9: Flow State
The guys do a deep dive 🛎️ album-focus episode on Keith Urban’s new yacht-rock-inspired “Flow State” album. Curious what your thoughts are. Let us know “in the comments”…Facebook, Substack, Twitter, wherever you find your outlet! DON’T FORGET: “The Inner Circle” - your opportunity as $upporters…
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S7.E8: Dudettes (80s Remix)
You’re familiar with Loggins and Messina, of course. Hall and Oates. Seals and Crofts. Famous “dudettes” of the 70s, as previously covered here on the pod (with the assistance of John O’Grady, who brought the term into our collective consciousness). Well what about the 80s? Did our other favorite...
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S7.E7: The History of Drum Machines
Just as they did last episode with respect to synths, John and Tom take a tour through the history of drum machines (and the like) throughout modern music history. This one doesn’t start in church, but otherwise, the similarities are eerie…though, perhaps not entirely unexpected. Once again: did…
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S7.E6: The History of Synths
John takes Tom on a trip down memory lane, chronicling the history and evolution of the use of synthesizers in pop and rock music, with particular emphasis on the 1970s and 80s. Where did it all begin? Our hypothesis just might surprise you! And when did synths peak throughout music history? (Our...
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S7.E5: One-Hit Wonders, 1976-1984
Let’s talk one-hit-wonders, starting with the 50th anniversary of the single-hitting chart toppers of 1976. Then, let’s fast forward to “the day the boat sank” — 1984. What makes a one-hit wonder a true flash in the pan? What was common to the wonders of 1976, then let’s look at 1984. Same…
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S7.E4: Battle Royale: REO vs. Supertramp
In a first for the pod, the guys pit two albums of the era up against each other, in a 10-round, knock-down-drag-out, winner-take-all Battle Royale fight to the finish! Who will be the last band standing? Well, that all depends on who you ask…and how you score. Come for the tale of the tape. Stay...
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S7.E3B: Lightning (Final) Round
Once again, we ran out of time last week to get to the Lightning Round, so we’re releasing another interim episode this week. John and Tom provide their final reflections on the matchup madness this March, wondering if we got it right, or if you all have nits to pick with the picks. What say you?...
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S7.E3: NCAA, Round 2 and Finals! (Video Podcast)
Round 2 also happens to be the Sleeve Sixteen, Final Four, and Championship Game all in one! Tom and John finish out the 2026 NCAA tournament, just in time to conclude the madness that is March. Reminder: Don’t forget to follow along on your device, as this is another video podcast episode. Who…
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S7.E2B: NCAA, Lightning Round 1
Well, we ran out of time last week to get to the usual Lightning Round stuff, so we’re releasing an interim episode this week to cover the ground we failed to hoe in the opening round. John and Tom reflect on the first week of the matchup madness, wondering if things may have taken a direction…
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S7.E2: The 2026 NCAA Tournament! (Video Podcast)
It’s March! There’s madness! Around these parts, March brings the usual—an NCAA Tournament! NCAA, this year, stands for the Nixon Competition of Album Artwork. Listen along and follow along as the boys run through the best album covers of the era we cover, eventually counting down to what they...
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S7.E1: Today in Yacht Rock
We’re back for Season 7! And we’ve brought a special guest with us! John and Tom finally get to unmask the hero who’s been doing yeoman’s work in the field of yacht rock for years: the man behind the Twitter/X handle, “Today in Yacht Rock!” Want to know what happened on this day in yacht rock—or...
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From the Archives: The Original Christmas Special (Rerun)
Bonus content for those who may have missed our very first holiday special, "A Very Yachty Christmas." From the original show notes: Our favorite convention from the late 70s and early 80s: Everything had a Christmas Special! And every year, they would rerun the same holiday special specials and…
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S6.E26: The All New Christmas Special!
The season finale to year six of Out of the Main features an all-new Christmas Special! We’ve done yacht rock Christmas, smooth Christmas, charity Christmas, CCM Christmas…what’s left? How about a trip down memory lane celebrating some of our favorite Christmas music — all genres — from the era…
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S6.E25: Perfect Album Side? - Duran Duran, Side 1
Back with another “Perfect Album Sides” episode, John and Tom discuss and dissect Duran Duran’s debut record, but wait—this gets confusing. We’ll look at the 1983 American reissue of the band’s 1981 premiere, which has difference mixes, different tracks, different track names, and different,...
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S6.E24: Strings Attached
What role did strings play in pop rock music (and the like) in the 70s and 80s, and how did that differ from what came before and what was to come after? Like most things, strings took on a new art form and played a new role during the slice of recorded music history we celebrate around here. By...
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S6.E23: Deeper Dive: Paul Davis
How much do you really know about the artist Paul Davis? Did you know, for example, that he once held the Guinness Record for most consecutive weeks in the top 40? Well, that’s just the tip of the iceberg! Join us this week for a deeper dive into Paul Davis, and see if you don’t just come away...
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S6.E22: This Is How You Duet
Did our favorite era of music also include the peak of the duet as well? When you think of all-time great duets, which songs come to mind? John and Tom discuss what makes for a great duet, in their view, and explore why the 70s and 80s were perhaps the Golden Age of the Duet (as was the case with...
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S6.E21: Three-Album Runs
The Rule of Three. Does it apply to albums from the golden era of rock and roll? Let’s explore! Sure to generate some discussion and debate, help us identify the Rise, Peak, and Fall in three-album runs from the 70s and 80s! N.B.: Give us your thoughts (and a follow!) on our Facebook page when we...
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S6.E20: Sleepwalking Again, with Ole Børud
Ole Børud rejoins the podcast, this time to give Tom, John and listeners of Out of the Main a sneak peek at Ole’s new record, dropping September 26th. “Sleepwalking Again” drops everywhere, and you should drop everything to give it a spin, stream, download…and pick up the physical format! Tune in...
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S6.E19: Buried Treasures, 80s Edition
By now you’re familiar with the concept of “buried treasures.” Well, as we coast out of summer and into fall, Tom and John provide their takes on an all-80s-inspired Buried Treasures episode (not yacht). They each approached it a bit differently, but tune in, if you care or dare! N.B.: Here’s…
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S6.E18: Feeling Plucky, with J-M Sutcliffe
Super db’s J-M Sutcliffe returns to the podcast, this time to demonstrate various rhythm guitar techniques, most notably the single-note palm mute that so permeates yacht rock and the like. Or, as Tom likes to call them, “the plucky plucks.” Want to see the plucky plucks in action? Be sure to…
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S6.E17: In Memoriam: Chuck Mangione
Accomplished trumpeteer and flugelhornist Tony Guerrero joins the podcast to help us remember the recently lost legend that was Chuck Mangione. Having had the opportunity to play with both Grant Geissman and Charles Meeks, the man knows of where he speaks! Tune in to help us celebrate the life of...
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S6.E16: Odds and Ends
Typically reserved for the end of the year, the decks needed clearing in July this year. Tom and John rifle through some stored up odds, ends and tidbits full of miscellany, potpourri and sundry. John spends most of his time re-litigating the Jeff Lynne content, as is his won’t. Listen and...
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S6.E15: ELO + Jeff Lynne, Part II
In Part Two of our two-part episode, John and Tom explore the rest of the timeline in ELO’s run and the later career of Jeff Lynne, both as solo artist and highly sought after producer. There most certainly was a “Jeff Lynne Signature Sound,” and we’ll dig through it all this week! Listen and...
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S6.E14: Artist Exploration: ELO + Jeff Lynne
Hello, Mr. Radio! You can’t have a podcast about music artistry and sophistication and not cover Jeff Lynne at some point. In Part One of our two-part episode, John and Tom explore the career of Jeff Lynne — before during and after Electric Light Orchestra. Tune in to learn the tricks of the…
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S6.E13: Flying Solo, Five on Five
Did the art of the solo in pop/rock music peak between 1975 and 1985? And why did it become something of a lost art thereafter? John and Tom discuss the history and importance of the solo (any instrument) in modern music history, each sharing five of their favorite solos for purposes of...
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S6.E12: Artist Focus: Ned Doheny
Where does Ned Doheny fit into this ongoing conversation? Might he be one of four on yacht rock’s Mt. Rushmore of under-the-radar solo acts? With that often “proto”-identifying sound…definite embrace of the yachty R&B vibes…that omnipresent acoustic guitar rooting down the rhythms? He’s a bit of…
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S6.E11: Ghost Stories
Were there ghosts in the music machine back in the 70s and 80s? Most certainly…more than you know. This week, John and Tom share their favorite ghost stories: uncredited session performances on some of music’s most famous tracks, no less — and likely, some of which you never knew were there! It's...
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S6.E10: You Still Don’t Know Rick Springfield
Part 2 of our exploration into the storied career of Rick Springfield examines the post-heyday chapter. Tom was shocked how much he liked a certain three-album run from this era of his story. Perhaps you will be too! Listen and Subscribe: Find the podcast platform of your choice here.…
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S6.E9: You Don’t Know Rick Springfield
How well do you really know Rick Springfield? What about Tim Pierce, Mike Baird, Jerry Hey, Richard Page and Tommy Funderburk? There’s a lot to like and a lot that gets unfairly dismissed about the man with more than 20 charting hit singles to his name. If all you think of when you hear “Rick...
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S6.E8: Turning the Pages
Tom and John take a tour through the long and storied careers of Richard Page and Steve George. Beginning with their early careers as session vocalists, through the three-record run Pages had, all the way through the game-changing band that was Mr. Mister. Quite the evolution for two of music’s...
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S6.E7: Modern Smooth, with Super db
J-M Sutcliffe, vocalist and guitarist with Super db, joins the podcast to discuss the band’s history, influences and trajectory. Of course, the boys can’t resist talking about “single-note” rhythm guitar, an essential element of smooth, west-coast-influenced pop rock. With notes of funk, R&B and...
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S6.E6: The End of the Road to the Vinyl Four
Kevin Sucher, founder and vocalist with yacht rock tribute band The Docksiders, joins Out of the Main to help John and Tom finish off the madness that was their March 2025 tournament of champions: The Vinyl Four! What was the biggest, baddest, most important album from (roughly) 1975 to 1985 in...
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S6.E5: The Madness Continues, Round of 32
The Road to the Vinyl Four continues apace. On the line: What is the “biggest” album of our era? This week’s guest judge: Russ Fitzpatrick, vocalist with Page99. Next up: The Sibilant 16! (?) Listen and Subscribe: Find the podcast platform of your choice here. Referenced and Related: Playlist...
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S6.E4: It’s March! Time for Some Madness!
The Road to the Vinyl Four continues in earnest. This March, we’ll finally settle the score: What is the “biggest” album of our era? This week’s guest judge: Tom Bieniewicz, lead singer of August Red. Let’s do this! Listen and Subscribe: Find the podcast platform of your choice here. Referenced...
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S6.E3: Take Five
Take these five _____________ and rank them in order from worst to first. Pretty simple concept…let’s see if the boys can handle it! Listen and Subscribe: Find the podcast platform of your choice here. Referenced and Related: Playlist of songs featured on Out of the Main John’s Spotify…
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S6.E2: The Vinyl Stretch
This is the last of the preliminary regional brackets to set up the March madness that will be our Vinyl Four tournament! Coming next month: the conclusion of our 64-album tournament to crown the “biggest” album between (roughly) 1975 and 1985 in (mostly) the genres we cover! Listen and…
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S6.E1: Reaction to Rick Beato Reaction Video
Is yacht rock “bullshlt?” Well, we don’t think so…but it appears that Rick Beato may. In his recent reaction video that dropped during our inter-season break, he voiced his opinion on the Yacht Rock Dockumentary and the “genre” more generally. Did he get it right? Or do John and Tom — Heavens to...
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S5.E46: Christmas with Chris Christian
In our final episode of Season 5 — and just in time for the Christmas season — Chris Christian returns to the podcast to walk John and Tom through the genesis (🛎️), history and timeline of Christian Contemporary Music, or CCM. One of the most interesting musical icons we’ve ever had the pleasure...
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S5.E45: Open (Listener) Mic Night
Listener Mike rejoins the pod for a totally unscripted, casual conversation, tackling a range of musical topics near and dear to the hearts of the people who love music from what we consider “The Golden Era.” As the kids say, “Real ones know.” Dive in to follow along! Listen and Subscribe: Find...
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S5.E44: Yacht Dock, with Garret Price
You’ve heard the music, you’ve seen the movie, now hear the stories behind the story! Garret Price, Director of HBO’s “Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary,” joins Tom and John to provide all of the background, origin stories, and behind-the-scenes intel that went into the making of a spectacular...
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S5.E43: Album Focus: Sports
Tom and John take a break from the sophistication — or DO they?! — to do an album focus episode on Huey Lewis and the News’ Sports album. A Bob Clearmountain joint, there just might be more to this album than you’ve given it credit for. Only one way to find out! Check out: A deep dive into the...
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S5.E42: On the Road (Again) to the Vinyl Four
John and Tom are on the road (again) to The Vinyl Four, marching toward madness that will conclude next season. Follow along (and yell at your podcast player) as they go through the third of four first-round brackets to find the most important/consequential/impactful/enduring record of our time!...
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S5.E41: The Manhattan Transfer, with Listener Jonathan
$upporter Jonathan returns to Out of the Main to walk John and Tom through the history, music and talent that was The Manhattan Transfer. Are they a Buried Treasure of the yacht rock era? With roots in 1930s jazz and influence that continues to this day, let’s pay tribute to one of the truly...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
“Out of the Main” is a podcast celebrating one of the most proficient and accomplished eras of musicianship and studio production, including yacht rock, west coast AOR, and related sophisticated music from the 1970s and 80s. “Out of the Main” was launched by two of the era's biggest fans—both musicians themselves—who, like a growing wave of aficionados all around the world, have been exploring the history, the enjoyment, and now the future potential of the West Coast sound, even as it continues to this day. Join the revelry. Partake in the nostalgia. Tune in to artist interviews. Discover
HOSTED BY
Tom Nixon and John Nixon
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Out of the Main have?
Out of the Main currently has 263 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Out of the Main about?
“Out of the Main” is a podcast celebrating one of the most proficient and accomplished eras of musicianship and studio production, including yacht rock, west coast AOR, and related sophisticated music from the 1970s and 80s. “Out of the Main” was launched by two of the era's biggest fans—both...
How often does Out of the Main release new episodes?
Out of the Main publishes regularly with 263 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Out of the Main?
You can listen to Out of the Main on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Out of the Main?
Out of the Main is created and hosted by Tom Nixon and John Nixon.
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