Totally 80s and 90s Recall
by Totally 80s and 90s Recall
Join two Gen X dudes as they take a nostalgic look at all things 80s and 90s. From music and movies to television and pop culture, these friends of 35 years will take you on a trip back in time to review two of the most influential and awesome decades. Join them each week as they rewind back to the era of cassette tapes, big hair and Super Nintendo. New episodes drop every Tuesday.
Episodes
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Halloween Mix Tape; 80s and 90s Style
Welcome to a special Halloween bonus episode of the show! In this exclusive Saturday drop, Rob and Dave step away from their regular Tuesday routine to deliver a spooktacular 15-track mixtape featuring the absolute best eerie, haunting, and party-ready tracks from the 1980s and 1990s. Whether you...
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Scream (1996); What's Your Favorite Scary Movie?
In this 30th-anniversary retrospective, Dave, Rob, and Kurt slice through the legacy of Wes Craven’s 1996 slasher phenomenon, Scream. The guys re-examine how Kevin Williamson’s sharp, sub-genre-aware screenplay injected fresh blood into an exhausted 1990s horror landscape by weaponizing the rules...
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Late 90s MTV! The Rise of TRL in Times Square
Fire up the dial-up internet and dust off your CD collection—we’re throwing it back to the late 90s for a full tribute to MTV's TRL! Hosts Rob and Dave welcome Kurt along with pop-culture connoisseurs Alix and Allyson from Nostalgia Nerds to talk about the golden age of afternoon music…
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Silence of The Lambs (1991); Quid Pro Quo Clarice!
35 years after its release in 1991, The Silence of the Lambs remains a towering benchmark in psychological thriller history. This week, Dave, Rob, and Kurt take a deep dive into Jonathan Demme’s masterpiece to examine how it swept the "Big Five" Academy Awards and redefined the modern cinematic...
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1987 vs 1997; A Retro Music Rumble
In this week's episode, Dave and Rob step into the ring for another classic decade duel, breaking down two defining years in music history: 1987 and 1997. The guys kick off the debate by dissecting the Billboard Year-End Top 5 for each era. From 1987’s pop-rock peaks—featuring hits like The...
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90s Billboard Rock Hits; Vol. 2
On this week's episode, Dave takes the wheel and curates a nostalgia-fueled tracklist straight from the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks charts. To keep things interesting, Rob is stepping into the booth completely blind—hearing Dave’s selections for the very first time. The challenge is simple: Dave...
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You're So Money! Swingers (1996)
This week, Dave, Rob, and Kurt fire up the time machine and head back to 1996 to re-examine Doug Liman and Jon Favreau’s indie break-out hit, Swingers. The guys dive deep into the movie that catapulted Jon Favreau and Vince Vaughn into stardom, breaking down its sharp, fast-talking script,...
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1990 Billboard #1 Hits Draft
1990 was a massive transition year in music. The hair metal and synth-pop of the late 80s were handing the mic over to new jack swing, dance-pop, hip-hop, and big movie power ballads. With 26 distinct #1 hits throughout the year, the competition was fierce. This week, we welcomed special guests...
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1986 vs 1996: Ultimate 80s vs 90s Music Showdown!
The Battle of the Decades reaches a critical turning point as Rob and Dave cross into the back half of the 80s and 90s to go head-to-head over 1986 versus 1996. The year 1986 saw synth-pop, big hair rock, and iconic duets reign supreme on the Billboard charts—with heavy hitters like Whitney...
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Back To School (1986); Say It! Say It!
In this episode, Rob, Dave and Kurt dive headfirst into the peak-80s absurdity of Back to School, exploring how Rodney Dangerfield seamlessly translated his legendary stand-up persona into one of the biggest box office hits of 1986. They break down the film’s iconic comedic set pieces, Sam...
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Top 80s Hair Metal Songs; Side B
Break out the hairspray and crank the gain to ten—Rob and Dave are back in the studio for Volume 2 of our deep dive into 80s Hair Metal! This time, we’re counting down ten of our absolute favorite tracks from the golden era of big hair, leather pants, and face-melting guitar solos. Whether you’re...
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The Ultimate Movies of the 1980s
This week, Dave, Rob, and Kurt take on the ultimate pop-culture challenge: building a 45-movie master list that captures the pure magic of the 1980s. With each host bringing just 15 personal favorites to the table, the stage is set for a high-stakes tour through one of cinema's most iconic…
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Dare To Be Stupid; Why We Love Weird Al
From MTV’s golden age to the peak of grunge, "Weird Al" Yankovic didn't just parody pop culture—he defined it. In this episode, Dave and Rob dive deep into the accordion-fueled genius of Weird Al’s prime decades: the 1980s and 1990s They break down their top 10 favorite tracks across both…
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Best of the 90s; Top 10 Movie Soundtracks
Dust off your CD jewel cases and fire up the portable discman, because this week Dave and Rob are diving headfirst into nineties nostalgia with their top 10 favorite '90s movie soundtracks! The 1990s was the undisputed golden age of cinematic compilations—an era when a movie's tracklist could...
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Twister (1996); We're Heading to the Suck Zone!
Grab your pagers and strap on your safety harnesses, because Dave, Rob, and Kurt are teaming up with Jason to head straight into "the Suck Zone!" This week on the podcast, the guys are chasing down Jan de Bont’s 1996 disaster masterpiece, Twister. From the iconic, physics-defying flying cow to…
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Bon Jovi’s 'Slippery When Wet' (1986): The Hits, The Hair, & The History
Grab your hairspray and your jean jacket, because this week Dave and Rob are turning the clock back to 1986 to tackle one of the biggest rock albums of all time: Bon Jovi’s Slippery When Wet. With over 28 million copies sold worldwide, this powerhouse record gave us legendary anthems like "Livin'...
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1985 vs. 1995: Let’s Go Go get a Kiss From a Rose
What happens when you pit the neon-soaked, high-energy pop of the mid-80s against the smooth R&B and heavy hip-hop beats of the mid-90s? In this episode, Dave and Rob go head-to-head in the ultimate musical time-travel debate: 1985 vs. 1995. By pulling up the data and looking at the official top…
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Independence Day (1996); Times Up!
Fire up the F-18s and grab your ThinkPads, because we have officially reached the third and final movie in our Summer Blockbuster series! To close things out with a bang, we are covering the definitive 90s disaster masterpiece: Independence Day (1996). We dive deep into the glorious spectacle of...
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Terminator 2 Judgment Day (1991): "Hasta La Vista, Baby"
“I’ll be back.” Jump into this deep-dive on Terminator 2: Judgment Day as we unpack the groundbreaking effects, unforgettable one-liners, and behind-the-scenes secrets that made this 90s sci-fi classic one of the greatest sequels ever made. From the iconic canal chase to the explosive finale and...
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Raiders of the Lost Ark: Why Indiana Jones Still Rules the 80s
Do you like archaeology? What about Nazis? If you said yes to one or both of these choices, join Rob, Dave and Kurt this week as they take a look back at the action classic, Raiders of the Lost Ark. The crew uncovers the secrets behind Steven Spielberg and George Lucas’s legendary collaboration,...
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The 80s TV Commercials That Made Our Childhood
This week we are breaking down our absolute favorite ads from a decade where marketing wasn't just about selling a product—it was about embedding catchy jingles and unforgettable catchphrases directly into pop culture. From fast-food face-offs that asked the ultimate questions to hyperactive toy...
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Summer Hits of 1996; Tupac, Mariah and The Macarena
Dust off your pagers and grab a Surge soda! This week, Dave and Rob are hopping into the time machine and dialing the coordinates to June 9th, 1996. The box office was dominated by Mission: Impossible, the Macarena was slowly taking over the planet, and the Billboard Hot 100 was a wild mix of...
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Top Gun (1986)...I Feel The Need, The Need For Speed!!
This week, Dave, Rob, and Kurt are strapping into the cockpit to tackle Tony Scott’s 1986 pop-culture juggernaut, Top Gun. Listeners can expect the trio to break down how this high-octane blend of aerial choreography, synthesizers, and pure machismo defined an era of Hollywood filmmaking. Dave…
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1984 vs. 1994: Which Year Ruled the Billboard Hot 100?
This week, Rob and Dave are stepping into the musical time machine for the ultimate clash of titans. We are pitting the absolute best of the Billboard Hot 100 from 1984 against the heavy hitters of 1994. The guys break down the Year-End Top 5 for each era, look at the cultural shifts that defined...
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Fear (1996): Why This 90s Thriller Scares Us 4 Eva
Grab your frosted tips and your most questionable life choices, because this week Rob, Dave, and Kurt are stepping onto the roller coaster of madness that is Fear (1996) Is it a gritty psychological thriller about a father protecting his daughter? Or is it an accidental comedic masterpiece where…
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80s Horsepower: A Look at the Decades Most Famous Rides
We're revving up some 80s Horsepower! In this week's special nostalgia-packed episode, your favorite trio—Rob, Dave, and Kurt—are taking a deep dive into the most iconic, radical, and unforgettable vehicles that defined our childhoods. We aren't just talking about cars; we're covering everything...
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Aliens (1986): "Game Over, Man!" – Is this Rambo in Space?
Strap in, gear up, and prepare for a bug hunt. This week, Rob and Dave are joined by Kurt to dive into James Cameron’s 1986 powerhouse, Aliens—the sequel that traded a haunted house in space for a full-scale intergalactic war. The sequel cranked the volume to eleven, trading shadows for pulse...
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1996 Alt Rock Rewind: Is Grunge Dead?
1996 Alt Rock Rewind: Is Grunge Dead? Travel back to the peak of the 90s with Rob and Dave as they countdown the best Alternative songs of 1996. From the rise of Britpop and the explosion of Pop-Punk to the moody evolution of Post-Grunge, 1996 was a defining year for the airwaves. In this…
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Phil Collins vs. Genesis: The Ultimate 80s Pop War
Phil Collins vs. Genesis: Who truly ruled the 80s? This week on Totally 80s and 90s Recall, Rob and Dave tackle the ultimate pop-rock showdown: Phil Collins versus his own band, Genesis. In an era where Phil seemed to be everywhere at once, we break down the friendly—and highly lucrative—rivalry...
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Point Break: 100% Pure Adrenaline & 90s Perfection
"I am a F.B.I. Agent!" This week, we’re paddling out into the 50-year storm to revisit the 1991 adrenaline-fueled masterpiece, Point Break. It’s a film that shouldn’t work on paper—a Zen-philosophical surfing heist movie—yet it somehow redefined the action genre. From the high-stakes...
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80s Movie Songs: Our Top 10 Underrated Gems (No Danger Zone!)
Forget "Footloose" and "Danger Zone"—Dave and Rob are digging into the 80s movie deep cuts you forgot you loved. This isn't your average Top 10; it’s a high-octane countdown of the best "non-mainstream" tracks to ever grace the silver screen. In this episode, the guys bypass the obvious radio…
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1983 vs. 1993: Who Won the Billboard Hot 100? (Michael Jackson vs. Whitney Houston)
Is 1983 the greatest year in music history, or does 1993 take the crown? In this episode, we dive deep into the sonic rivalry between the neon-soaked 80s New Wave and the raw, rebellious 90s Alternative era. From the global takeover of Michael Jackson’s Thriller and the synth-pop hooks of The...
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Big Trouble in Little China: Cult Classic or Disaster?
Was Big Trouble in Little China the greatest cult classic of the 80s, or just a misunderstood martial arts masterpiece? In 1986, John Carpenter and Kurt Russell teamed up to create a genre-bending adventure that defied every box Hollywood tried to put it in. Join Rob, Kurt and Dave as they dive...
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Metallica: The Black Album - Genius Move or Ultimate Sell-Out?
Was Metallica’s The Black Album the moment they traded their souls, or the moment they became legends? In 1991, four guys from San Francisco changed the course of rock history forever. Join Rob and Dave as they crack open the CD binder to dissect Metallica’s self-titled masterpiece and explore…
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Top 10 Albums That Defined 90s Music
From the Seattle rain to the L.A. sunshine, today we are counting down the 10 albums that defined the 90s. Rob and Dave crack open the CD binder to dive headfirst into the 90s music landscape, revealing our personal top-ranked albums of the decade. (Listen to our breakdowns of these iconic…
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Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991): Was it Actually Good? | Totally 80s & 90s Recall
This week we're reviewing the 1991 Kevin Costner classic Robin Hood; Prince of Thieves. We'll travel back to 1194 to frantically help Costner look for his English accent. This high action darker take on Robin Hood was a global financial success earning over $390 million worldwide. Although...
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Why 80s Country Was the Best Kept Secret in Music
Dust off the rhinestones and fire up the jukebox, because 1980s country was where neon lights met steel guitars. The decade kicked off with outlaw grit still echoing from the 70s, but soon the airwaves filled with the polished swagger of artists like George Strait and Reba McEntire, who balanced...
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Wayne's World (1992): Is It Still The Ultimate 90s Comedy?
Dave, Rob, and Kurt are plugging in their guitars and cranking the volume to eleven as they drop the needle on 1992’s Wayne’s World, the movie that turned public access TV into a rock-and-roll religion. From the opening Bohemian Rhapsody headbang to the immortal cry of “Party on,” this episode...
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80s Heartbreak: The Ultimate Power Ballad & Breakup Anthems
Valentine’s Day is usually a parade of roses and power ballads, but Dave and Rob are taking a scenic detour through the heartbreak aisle. The 80s had a special talent for turning breakups into epic events, complete with echoing drums, pleading vocals, and choruses that felt designed for late…
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90s Booty Jams: Ranking Our Top 7 "Baby-Makers"
The 90s had a velvet-lit corner of the dance floor reserved for slow jams that knew exactly what they were doing. Rob and Dave are cracking open that time capsule this week, lining up their favorite Valentine-ready booty jams where the bassline lingered and the vocals whispered promises. Artists...
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January 1986 Rewind: Our Favorite Hits from the Billboard Hot 100
The week of January 27th, 1986 found the Billboard Hot 100 glowing like a neon strip of American pop confidence. Radio and record stores were in lockstep, and the charts reflected a nation humming along to big hooks and bigger personalities. Bruce Springsteen was still flying the blue collar flag...
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1991 Movie Draft: The Great Cinematic Showdown
We’re cracking open 1991 like a fresh VHS rental and drafting the very best films the year had to offer. Rob, Dave, and Kurt will go head to head, assembling their dream rosters from a cinematic moment that still hums with electricity. This was the year of Terminator 2: Judgment Day rewriting the...
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New Jack Swing: The Infectious Beat That Defined an Era
New Jack Swing kicked the door open in the late 80s and rearranged the furniture. Born at the crossroads of slick R&B vocals and the punchy swagger of hip hop beats, it fused polished melodies with drum machine snap, sampled funk, and a streetwise pulse. Teddy Riley was the mad scientist at the...
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1982 vs. 1992: The Billboard Hot 100 Showdown
In this episode, Rob and Dave fire up the musical time machine and pit 1982 against 1992, two years that changed the sound of pop in very different ways. They start by breaking down each year’s Billboard Top 5 hits, where synths, power ballads, and early MTV shine in ’82, while ’92 flexes with...
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80s Movie Bracket: The Grand Finale – Crowning the Greatest Film of the Decade
The lights are hot, the synths are humming, and the 80s Movie Bracket has reached its glorious endgame. Rob, Dave, and Kurt throw open the studio doors and welcome two heavy hitters of nostalgia, Jim from Children of the 80s and Giff from Pop Culture Yearbook, to help settle an argument that has...
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Christmas 2025: Ranking Our Top 10 Holiday Classics
Rob and Dave Pry open the Billboard Holiday 100 for the week of December 13, 2025, like two kids shaking a suspiciously heavy gift under the tree. They wander through the chart’s blizzard of seasonal contenders, pointing out the trends, oddities, and eyebrow-raising entries that somehow drifted...
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Home Alone (1990): Why This Is Still the Ultimate Holiday Movie
Dave, Rob, and Kurt settle into their studio chairs like a trio of over-caffeinated elves, ready to unwrap the 1990 holiday juggernaut that is Home Alone. Their conversation whirls through booby-trap brilliance, John Williams magic, and the curious physics of paint cans that apparently double as...
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80s & 90s Christmas: The Toys We Got, The Toys We Wanted
Christmas in the ’80s and ’90s had a magic all its own—equal parts neon lights, tinsel overload, and the warm glow of TV specials you had to catch live, or you missed them for the whole season. It was the era of mall Santas, department-store catalogs thick enough to use as booster seats, and the...
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The Dark Side of Christmas: Revisiting Scrooged (1988)
This week on Totally 80’s and 90’s Recall, Dave, Rob, and Kurt kick off the Christmas season with a look back at Scrooged from 1988—a darkly funny and totally 80s reimagining of A Christmas Carol. Starring Bill Murray as Frank Cross, a cold-hearted TV executive who learns the true meaning of...
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80s Video Games: Our Top 5 Arcade & Console Classics
In this episode, Rob and Dave are taking it all the way back to the golden age of gaming — the 1980s — when the arcade was the place to be. From the flashing lights and 8-bit soundtracks of Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, and Galaga to the quarters lined up on the cabinet waiting for your turn, the arcade...
About this show
Join two Gen X dudes as they take a nostalgic look at all things 80s and 90s. From music and movies to television and pop culture, these friends of 35 years will take you on a trip back in time to review two of the most influential and awesome decades. Join them each week as they rewind back to the era of cassette tapes, big hair and Super Nintendo. New episodes drop every Tuesday.
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Totally 80s and 90s Recall
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