PAST 10s: A Top 10 Time Machine - Music of the 70s, 80s and More

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PAST 10s: A Top 10 Time Machine - Music of the 70s, 80s and More

70s and 80s Music Fans! It’s PAST TENS: A Top 10 Time Machine! The podcast that looks back at a past list of top 10 hits and breaks down the winners, losers and WTF moments. With Michael ”Milt” Wolfe and David Yas ([email protected])Lots of fun revisiting the music of the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and beyond.The best 80s songs of all time. The best 70s songs of all time. The best cover songs. The best TV themes. The best movie soundtracks. The best cowbell songs. The worst songs of all time. The best mashups of all time. The best rock of the 70s and 80s. The best hip-hop of the 70s and 80s.

  1. 299

    The Greatest Guitar Solos of All Time

    Dave and Milt plug into one of rock nerd-dom’s favorite barstool arguments: Rolling Stone’s freshly dropped list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Solos Ever. Naturally, they treat it less like gospel and more like a karaoke machine somebody spilled beer on. Using the list as a launching pad, the boys unveil their own rankings, judging solos not by how many fingers caught fire, but by the stuff that actually matters — memorability, emotional punch, whether the solo lifts the song into another zip code, and whether it makes you involuntarily air-guitar while driving a Honda Civic through Dedham. Before the countdown, they detour into the baffling world of the new Michael Jackson biopic, debating what the filmmakers left out, why critics and audiences seem to be watching completely different movies, and whether the smarter move would’ve been focusing tightly on the Quincy Jones years instead of trying to cram an entire galaxy into one film. There’s also a shoutout to fill-in co-host Deirdre, plus Dave proudly announces that son Griffin has officially been accepted to Temple Medical School — proving at least one member of the family made responsible life choices. Then the amps crank up. Their combined Top 10 rips through The Cars’ “Just What I Needed,” AC/DC’s “You Shook Me All Night Long,” Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody,” Skynyrd’s “Free Bird,” Van Halen’s “Eruption,” Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven,” Eddie Van Halen’s face-melting cameo on “Beat It,” and the Eagles’ “Hotel California.” But when the smoke clears, the #1 slot ends in a dead heat between Prince casually humiliating every mortal guitarist during “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” at the Rock Hall ceremony and The Knack’s gloriously unhinged “My Sharona” solo — because apparently subtlety was not invited to this episode. Topics 00:59 Star Wars banter 01:28 Michael biopic debate 06:25 Shoutouts and announcements 08:14 Rolling Stone solos list 11:12 Ranking criteria and format 14:38 Number 10 The Cars 19:31 Number 9 AC DC 23:34 Number 8 Queen 26:48 Jazz Fest tangent 28:45 Number 7 Free Bird 33:15 Number 6 Eruption 38:46 Play date misquotes quiz 45:15 Myth Quotes Wrapup 47:03 Stairway Solo Debate 52:02 Beat It Eddie Story 56:17 Hotel California Duel 01:01:28 Tie Twist And Also Rans 01:02:08 Runner Ups Rapid Fire 01:16:27 Prince Hall Of Fame Solo 01:21:12 My Sharona Takes Top Spot 01:28:12 Final Thoughts And Signoff

  2. 298

    The Hits – and the Glitz – of 1979

    Milt’s off living his best life at Jazz Fest, so Dave taps in Deirdre McCarthy as guest co-pilot, and—folks—we fire up the time machine to May 5, 1979. It’s Laverne & Shirley on TV, Alien in theaters, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy on nightstands, and questionable taste on the Billboard charts. We run the Top 10 gauntlet: Sister Sledge (“He’s the Greatest Dancer”), Cher (“Take Me Home”), Wings (“Goodnight Tonight”), Chic (“I Want Your Love”), Village People (“In the Navy”), Suzi Quatro & Chris Norman (“Stumblin’ In”), Amii Stewart (“Knock on Wood”), Frank Mills (the baffling “Music Box Dancer”), Blondie (“Heart of Glass”), and Peaches & Herb (“Reunited”). Deirdre does not suffer fools—or B-sides—lightly. Dave connects the dots (yes, “Greatest Dancer” → Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It), dives into Cher lore, detours through Happy Days for Leather Tuscadero trivia, and throws in a military-themed Playdate Quiz because… of course he does. Final rulings: Deirdre crowns “Heart of Glass,” Dave rides with “Stumblin’ In.” Both agree “Music Box Dancer” gets launched into the sun, along with a Wings deep cut, replaced by Good Times Roll and Dave’s deeply personal Superman nostalgia pick. Overall grade: generous C-minus. Plus plugs for Face-to-Face Pro and the usual “call us, maybe” contact spiel. Timestamps (because we’re professionals):   Topics 00:41 Meet Deirdre McCarthy 03:07 Face to Face Pro Plug 03:37 AI and Communication Edge 04:59 Time Machine to 1979 06:07 Setting the 1979 Scene 07:02 Movies and Nostalgia 11:22 Books and True Crime 13:02 Top 10 Begins (No. 10) 13:56 Sister Sledge Sample Talk 18:18 Cher Disco Era (No. 9) 20:31 Cher Deep Dive Trivia 29:13 Wings Mystery Hit (No. 8) 31:20 Spinal Tap and Beatles Talk 35:49 Chic Returns (No. 7) 39:09 Village People (No. 6) 43:05 Military Play Date Quiz 48:02 Club Song Memories 48:44 Metallica to Marley (sure, why not) 50:50 Billy Joel and Civil War (again, sure) 53:19 “Stumblin’ In” at Five 54:25 Leather Tuscadero Detour 01:03:46 “Knock on Wood” Disco Peak 01:09:34 The Music Box Dancer Crisis 01:13:16 “Heart of Glass” Debate 01:23:21 “Reunited” Slow Dance Story 01:27:38 Winners, Losers, and Substitutions 01:37:18 Wrap-Up and Farewell

  3. 297

    The Hits of ‘87, UK Style

    Dave and Milt open with banter about expensive VIP options, coffee vs. tea, and then discuss the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame class heavy with British performers (Phil Collins solo, Billy Idol, Oasis, Iron Maiden, Joy Division/New Order, Sade), plus Wu-Tang Clan and Luther Vandross, and hip-hop influence picks like Queen Latifah and MC Lyte. Inspired by the Brit-heavy class, they switch the podcast format to the UK singles chart for week ending 18 April 1987, counting down: “Living in a Box” by Living in a Box, Fine Young Cannibals’ cover of Buzzcocks’ “Ever Fallen in Love,” U2’s “With or Without You,” Terence Trent D’Arby’s “If You Let Me Stay,” Mel and Kim’s “Respectable” (with Mel’s illness and death noted), Janet Jackson’s “Let’s Wait Awhile” (plus an AI cover discussion), Judy Boucher’s “Can’t Be With You Tonight” (Lovers Rock), Club Nouveau’s “Lean on Me,” Madonna’s “La Isla Bonita” (and her British-accent phase), and charity supergroup Ferry Aid’s “Let It Be” for the Herald of Free Enterprise disaster. They name “With or Without You” best, swap out songs for Whitesnake and Bon Jovi, grade the week as mediocre, and note Milt may miss next week due to Jazz Fest in New Orleans.   Topics 00:52 Cold Open British Bits 01:39 Podcast Intro And Coffee Talk 03:32 Hall Of Fame Brits Takeover 08:28 Time Machine To UK 1987 10:45 Number 10 Living In A Box 16:18 Band Name Song Name Tangent 25:08 Number 9 Fine Young Cannibals Cover 34:00 Number 8 U2 With Or Without You 35:57 Bono’s Balancing Act 37:27 With or Without You in TV 38:30 U2 Concert War Stories 41:43 Terrence Trent D’Arby Hype 45:30 Name Change and Fallout 48:10 Mel and Kim UK Pop Factory 52:43 Long Distance Defecation 01:00:06 Janet Jackson and AI Cover 01:08:38 Lovers Rock One Hit Wonder 01:14:00 Lean On Me Remake 01:15:53 Tyson and Don King Story 01:19:48 La Isla Bonita Breakdown 01:23:17 Madonna British Accent Clip 01:26:31 Ferry Aid Let It Be Explained 01:33:28 Charity Singles Then and Now 01:35:53 Top 10 Recap Beatles Voices 01:37:35 Winners and Substitutions 01:46:00 Time Machine Verdict and Wrap

  4. 296

    The Michael Jackson Deep Dive

    Dave and Milt crack open a special Past Tens where the subject is none other than the human moonwalk, Michael Jackson—timed nicely with the looming biopic that’s about to remind everyone just how absurdly dominant this guy was. We’re talking voice, moves, mystique, and that little side project with Quincy Jones that somehow turned into the most unfair three-album heater in pop history. Ground rules: solo MJ only. Sorry, Jackson 5—you’ll always have “ABC,” but you’re sitting this one out. From there, it’s ten categories and approximately 47 friendly arguments. “Most Well-Known Song” turns into a heavyweight bout—“Billie Jean” vs. “Thriller”—with no judges and plenty of yelling. “Where It Began” gives us the early runway (“Rockin’ Robin,” “Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough”), while “Mountain Moment” is basically the peak of the peak (“Beat It,” complete with Eddie Van Halen shredding like he wandered in from another genre, and “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’” doing…whatever that song does, which is everything). We dig for “Deep Cuts” (including a sneaky collab with Lenny Kravitz and a Wiz-adjacent pull), hit the “Chill Moments” (cue gospel chills and emotional uppercuts), and try to pick “Best Lyrics” without just defaulting to that line from “Billie Jean” (we fail, sort of). “Most Overrated” gets spicy—brace yourself if you’re a “Human Nature” defender—before we hit live performances, covers (including a left-field Billie Eilish acoustic moment), and pop culture usage featuring the holy trinity: Weird Al Yankovic, Eddie Murphy, and The Simpsons doing what The Simpsons does. It’s part appreciation, part chaos, part “how is one catalog this stacked?”—and yes, we know, it’s complicated. But for 90 minutes, we’re staying in our lane: the music, the moments, and the madness. Topics (a.k.a. the roadmap before we inevitably go off-road) 00:00 Glove Salute Cold Open  00:28 Welcome to Past Tens 01:21 Caffeine, Coffee, Gum, and questionable life choices 03:30 Biopic trailer hype meter: irresponsibly high 05:59 Rules, categories, and future disagreements 11:28 Most Known Song: “Billie Jean” vs. “Thriller” (fight) 17:52 Where It Began: baby steps to global takeover 23:58 Mountain Moment: peak MJ is somehow multiple peaks 33:17 Deep Cuts + The Wiz detour you didn’t ask for 39:42 Chill Moments: gospel, goosebumps, repeat 45:44 Halfway Quiz Tease (we promise it’s fun) 46:20 The Spock Song Premise (…just go with it) 47:43 MJ Titles Rapid Fire (hold onto your verbs) 49:49 Harder clues, deeper cuts, mild confusion 52:44 Best Lyric: “Billie Jean” does it again 58:15 “Billie Jean” lore + tangents we refuse to cut 01:01:27 Most Overrated: here come the angry emails 01:08:48 Best Live Performances: Motown 25 says hello 01:16:01 Best Covers: unexpected contenders 01:20:49 Pop Culture Moments: parodies, cameos, immortality 01:26:34 Wrap-up + Listener Mail (you keep us honest-ish)    

  5. 295

    Hits of '82: The Fire & The Fever

    Dave and Milt fire up the Top 10 Time Machine and land squarely in April 3, 1982—a week where the Falklands War is just getting started, Space Shuttle Columbia is touching down in the desert like it missed its exit, Michael Jordan is hitting that NCAA shot, and America is somehow supporting both Porky's and Chariots of Fire at the same time. A simpler, weirder time. The boys break down a Top 10 that is equal parts iconic and “wait… really?”—from Key Largo (featuring a sidebar into Bertie Higgins’ unexpected second act as a political hype man), to Pac-Man Fever (because yes, we once made hit songs about video games and no one stopped us), to Rick Springfield doing Rick Springfield things—plus a completely unnecessary but deeply committed detour into French lyrics in pop music. Elsewhere, the The J. Geils Band bring the camera clicks with “Freeze-Frame,” Vangelis makes jogging feel important with “Chariots of Fire,” and Olivia Newton-John sneaks in with a perfectly fine song riding the coattails of her other perfectly fine global takeover. Then it gets serious: Stevie Wonder shows up with “That Girl,” the The Go-Go’s officially announce their arrival with “We Got the Beat” (your winner of the week, because of course), Journey slow-dance their way into prom history with “Open Arms” (plus a quick check-in on Mariah Carey absolutely oversinging it years later), and Joan Jett closes the whole thing out by grabbing rock ‘n roll by the collar and not asking permission. Meanwhile, a listener drops a Long Distance Defecation™ on a serial grocery-store-aisle-blocker, set to Move It On Over by George Thorogood—because nothing says passive-aggressive rage like a blues-rock classic. Final verdict: the chart earns a C (some heavy hitters, some absolute nonsense), “We Got the Beat” takes the crown, and the guys tease an upcoming all-substitutions episode—listener-voted, because democracy occasionally works. ⏱️ Timecodes (aka Organized Chaos) 00:00 Cold Open Chaos 00:25 Show Premise Introductions 00:53 Two Tired Hosts Banter 01:45 Bruce Lyric Debate 03:37 Callbacks and Listener Shoutouts 05:12 Time Machine Set to 1982 06:17 Week in History Rundown 14:05 Countdown Begins (#10) 14:52 “Key Largo” Breakdown 19:22 “Do the Donald” Detour (…yep) 23:22 “Pac-Man Fever” + Arcade Nostalgia 31:19 Donkey Kong, Copyright Theft, and Wreck-It Ralph 35:14 Rick Springfield Hour (Featuring French??) 48:14 “Freeze-Frame” Debate 57:01 “Chariots of Fire” Hits Different 01:01:34 Long Distance Defecation™ 01:10:13 Olivia’s Victory Lap 01:15:15 Stevie Wonder Chart Oddities 01:22:35 Go-Go’s Breakthrough Moment 01:23:39 “We Got the Beat” Deep Dive (Winner) 01:30:56 “Open Arms” and Camp Slow Dances 01:34:29 Journey → Mariah Pipeline 01:39:04 Joan Jett Owns #1 01:46:22 Recap and Picks 01:49:18 Substitution Episode Tease 01:52:11 Ratings and Sign-Off  

  6. 294

    The Best Opening Lines of ’70s Songs

    Dave and Milt are doing what they do best: arguing about music like it matters (because it does). This time, they’re counting down their favorite opening lines from 1970s songs — with Milt, naturally, gravitating toward lines that drop you immediately into a vibe, a scene, or a full-blown attitude problem. They go back and forth like two guys at a bar who won’t let the other finish a sentence, firing off picks like “Life in the Fast Lane,” “Renegade,” “Won’t Get Fooled Again,” “He’s Misstra Know-It-All,” “Easy,” “Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding,” “It’s Only Rock ’n Roll,” “I Shot the Sheriff,” “Kodachrome,” “Stayin’ Alive,” and “Thunder Road.” Dave lands the plane with his #1 — “Dream On” — because of course he does. Meanwhile, Milt zigged where no one zagged, crowning “Rapper’s Delight” as his top dog, because subtlety is overrated. Plus: a Playdate quiz fueled by listener suggestions, featuring killer openings like “Werewolves of London,” “Sir Duke,” and “Is She Really Going Out With Him?” — because nothing says “fun” like being put on the spot about lyrics you definitely thought you knew.   Topics 01:03 Listener Shoutout Joe 03:48 New Segment and Emails 04:47 Proud Dad: Adrian Sings 06:46 Countdown Setup Seventies Openers 07:30 How We Picked Lyrics 11:20 Number 10 Picks Eagles and Styx 19:48 Number 9 Picks The Who and Stevie 28:07 Number 8 Picks Billy Joel and Lionel 36:43 Pump It Up Meaning 38:03 Elvis Costello Lyrics 40:28 Podcast Banter Break 42:06 Elton John Epic Medley 47:07 Stones vs Critics 50:32 I Shot the Sheriff 54:00 Play Date Quiz 01:02:50 Joy to the World 01:05:36 Steely Dan Story 01:09:58 Kodachrome Kickoff 01:10:38 Nostalgia Parody Talk 01:12:20 April Fools Banter 01:13:12 Staying Alive Breakdown 01:16:28 Cheese Jokes And TikTok 01:19:10 Radar Love Rush 01:21:45 Black Dog Pure Rock 01:25:26 Forever In Blue Jeans 01:29:40 Thunder Road Scene Setting 01:35:00 Dream On Reflection 01:38:45 Rappers Delight Finale 01:42:47 Wrap Up And Listener Mail

  7. 293

    The Hits of 1977: Casey Kasem, Eat Your Heart Out

    Dave and Milt ride the Past 10s time machine to the week ending March 19, 1977, riffing on questionable water-park hygiene, a 44‑hour hijacking, FDA rules for “mixed nuts,” the Mary Tyler Moore finale giving birth to Three’s Company and Eight Is Enough, and the cultural moment of Annie Hall, M*A*S*H, Trinity, and Roots. They count down Billboard’s Top 10, spotlighting Fleetwood Mac’s first Top 10 hit “Go Your Own Way,” Thelma Houston’s Motown disco breakthrough “Don’t Leave Me This Way,” and Bob Seger’s “Night Moves” (plus its later video cameo and a “night cheese” riff). They groan through softer fare like David Soul, Mary McGregor, and Kenny Nolan, then debut a new listener segment, the “long distance defecation,” featuring Joe Mason’s Philly heartbreak and a Rolling Stones “Get Off My Cloud” dedication.    Topics 00:23 Past Tens Intro 00:55 Big Arch Burger Debate 02:17 New Segment Tease 03:31 Arriving in 1977 04:29 Week in History Rundown 08:28 Mixed Nuts and Chex Mix 10:35 TV Birthdays and Annie Hall 14:27 Number 10 Fleetwood Mac 19:34 Demos Ads and Music Immortality 24:45 Number 9 Thelma Houston 31:07 ChatGPT Fail and Threads Talk 34:04 Number 8 David Soul 37:42 David Soul Aftermath 38:24 Cigarettes Then and Now 39:49 Torn Between Two Lovers 43:44 Meatballs Soundtrack Detour 46:35 Made for TV Movie Promo 48:15 I Like Dreaming Roast 51:42 Kenny Nolan Secret Hits 54:12 Long Distance Defecation 58:22 Get Off My Cloud Storytime 01:05:42 Dancing Queen Still Rules 01:11:42 Night Moves Deep Dive 01:20:05 Night Cheese and Copyright 01:22:22 Comedy Song Rights 01:23:43 Seeger Bar Challenge 01:27:13 Rich Girl Breakdown 01:30:10 Calling Oates Hotline 01:33:56 Grinch Girl Parody 01:35:17 Lake Street Dive Cover 01:37:08 Fly Like an Eagle Deep Dive 01:44:22 Evergreen At Number One 01:47:56 Winners And Substitutions 01:58:48 Time Machine Rating 02:02:55 Long Distance Dedication

  8. 292

    Worst Remakes; Best Sleepers, WTFs & More From 300 Episodes

    Dave and Milt (the Chart Meister, not the Chart Master) celebrate what might be their 300th episode—give or take a few missed weeks and some lazy counting—by ditching the usual Billboard time-travel format and revisiting excerpts from their very first Past Tens episode from June 2019. They roast their early scripted, nervous energy, debate why certain catchphrases and categories stuck (Bad Remake, What the Fuck Were We Thinking, Never Heard Of It), and reminisce about recording in a Boston studio before switching to Zoom during COVID. Along the way they revisit early obsessions with Casey Kasem, grim “long distance dedication” letters, the terrifying TV movie Special Bulletin, awful and unnecessary covers, forgotten chart oddities, and beloved surprise discoveries like the Osmonds’ “Down by the Lazy River.” They close with a nostalgia debate, a fake monetization pitch, and promises of “300 more.”   Topics 02:00 Is This Episode 300?  02:52 Origin Story Enemy Lines 03:49 Anniversary Format Explained 06:02 Podcast Bits And Signposts 07:13 Replaying Episode One Intro 09:04 Early Nerves And No Scripts 12:42 Influences Hit Parade Rewatchables 15:16 Chartmeister Origins 17:46 Casey Kasem Dedication Clip 22:20 Pop Culture Flashback Special Bulletin 27:59 Bad Remakes Return 31:50 Guns N Roses Covers 32:59 Madonna Cover Disaster 33:44 Early Podcast Tech Chaos 35:55 Worst Hits Hall of Shame 40:53 Never Heard Of Gems 44:46 Osmonds Lazy River Surprise 46:48 Variety Show Flashback 51:24 Wild Trivia and Song Stories 56:17 Happy Days Nostalgia Theory 01:02:59 Anniversary Wrap and Goodbye

  9. 291

    Hits of 1984: Here Comes the Rock Again

    Dave and Milt jump into the Billboard Rock Tracks chart for the week ending March 10, 1984. They set the scene with Splash, Dallas, and Ed Koch’s Mayor, then count down the rock top 10: Yes “Leave It,” Van Halen “Panama,” Eurythmics “Here Comes the Rain Again,” Pretenders “Middle of the Road,” John Lennon “Nobody Told Me,” 38 Special “Back Where You Belong,” Kenny Loggins “Footloose,” Manfred Mann’s Earth Band “Runner,” Christine McVie “Got a Hold on Me,” and Van Halen “Jump.” They debate best song (leaning “Panama”), run a “back” title lightning quiz, and do substitutions: Milt swaps out “Runner” for Genesis “It’s Gonna Get Better,” while Dave replaces 38 Special with Genesis “Illegal Alien,” noting its later embarrassment.    Topics 00:00 Cold Open Chaos 00:22 Welcome To Past Tens 00:48 McDonalds CEO Big Arch 02:51 Listener Shoutouts 05:42 Susanna Hoffs Meetup 08:04 Time Jump To 1984 08:50 Rock Charts Explained 10:21 Spinal Tap And Oscars 13:27 This Week In 1984 16:16 Number 10 Yes Leave It 21:31 A Cappella Tangent 26:07 Number 9 Van Halen Panama 30:34 DLR Aging And Legacy 36:58 Number 8 Eurythmics 39:59 Crude Banter Reset 40:49 Here Comes the Rain Again 42:06 Depression and Meaning 43:04 Middle of the Road 45:05 Pretenders Backstory 51:19 Lennon Nobody Told Me 54:54 AI Hallucination Rant 56:43 Pluribus Turkish Cover 01:00:00 38 Special Back Where 01:05:54 Back Title Quiz 01:14:17 Footloose Hall Debate 01:18:01 Genre Wars and Prince 01:18:57 Kenny Loggins Case 01:20:30 Footloose Fame Burden 01:22:24 Runner Eighties Excess 01:26:55 Christine McVie Spotlight 01:32:20 Jump and Van Halen 01:37:18 Triple Jump Mashup 01:39:17 Winners and Recap 01:41:49 Substitution and Wilhelm 01:43:46 Genesis Deep Cuts 01:47:30 Illegal Alien Debate 01:52:50 Time Machine Verdict 01:54:51 Wrap Up and Farewell

  10. 290

    Fame? Fame! Ranking 80s & 90s Stars for the Rock Hall

    Dave and Milt open with shout-outs to a five-star review from the mysterious “BeanieGirl6” and an email from listener Jack (now in Houston) defending Edward Bear and sharing trivia about Roberta Flack’s inspiration. They then rank the 2025 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 17 nominees by “worthiness,” focusing on their top 10 while also predicting who will be inducted, using athlete analogies and ChatGPT-generated sandwich comps. Their top 10 includes Iron Maiden (#10, their biggest disagreement), Joy Division/New Order, Billy Idol, Pink, Oasis, Wu-Tang Clan, Black Crowes, INXS, Phil Collins (solo), and Mariah Carey. They briefly discuss the seven left out—Jeff Buckley, New Edition, Melissa Etheridge, Lauryn Hill, Shakira, Luther Vandross, and Sade—debating genre boundaries and noting snubs like the B-52s, Coldplay, and Devo.   Topics 00:52 Listener Reviews Mailbag 05:28 Rock Hall Premise 08:08 Take Us to the Iron Maiden 16:19 Old Band, New Order 22:59 Idle Thoughts on Billy  29:51 ‘P!nk,’ We Exclaim! 36:35 Water, Water Everywhere, but an Oasis? 42:05 Wu-Tang: Not Your Grandparents’ Clan 47:18 Back in Black Crowes 51:22 Peak Value And Sandwich Talk 53:55 Hey Hall, What You Need is INXS 01:00:34 Phil Collins: I Don’t Care Anymore. Or do I? 01:06:03 Also Rans Quick Hits 01:06:21 Jeff Buckley? Hallelujah! New Edition? WTF? 01:09:52 Melissa And Lauryn’s Mild Adventure 01:14:18 Shakira Don’t Lie; Luther Doesn’t Play, All the Marquis Love Sade 01:22:39 Hello, Diva! Mariah Carey 01:29:15 Wrap Up And Snubs. And Cheese.

  11. 289

    The Hits of 1973: Rockin’ Crocodiles; Lovin’ Trains; Coverin’ Stones

    Dave and the Chartmeister Michael “Milt” Wolfe review the Billboard Top 10 for the week ending March 10, 1973, after chatting about Milt’s trip to Savannah, snow in Massachusetts, and assorted pop-culture tangents. They cover period context including Dark Side of the Moon’s U.S. release, the “Great Michigan pizza funeral,” KISS’s first makeup show, and the death of Grateful Dead member Pigpen. The countdown includes Jermaine Jackson’s “Daddy’s Home,” John Denver’s “Rocky Mountain High,” Dr. Hook’s “Cover of the Rolling Stone,” Elton John’s “Crocodile Rock,” Deodato’s “Also Sprach Zarathustra (2001),” the O’Jays’ “Love Train,” the Spinners’ “Could It Be I’m Falling in Love,” Edward Bear’s “Last Song,” “Dueling Banjos,” and Roberta Flack’s “Killing Me Softly.” They pick weekly winners, swap out songs for Steely Dan’s “Reelin’ in the Years” and the Moody Blues’ “I’m Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band),” run a train-themed riddle game, grade the week a B, and preview a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominees episode.   Topics 00:26 Hosts Return And Updates 02:24 Savannah Vs Snow Talk 05:09 Time Machine To 1973 06:40 Week In History Highlights 10:59 Pop Culture Backdrop 15:06 Top 10 Begins Number 10 23:46 John Denver Rocky Mountain High 29:16 Dr Hook Cover Of Rolling Stone 37:39 Elton John Crocodile Rock 40:24 Silly Song Breakdown 41:34 Funky 2001 Theme 45:59 Walk On Music Talk 51:03 Love Train Origins 53:32 Love Train In Pop Culture 57:06 Train Riddle Playdate 01:10:39 Spinners Philly Soul 01:14:32 Paul Stanley Soul Covers 01:17:52 Kiss Makeup Debate 01:19:29 Edward Bear Deep Dive 01:23:55 Dueling Banjos Origins 01:32:45 Roberta Flack Breakdown 01:38:53 Recap and Awards 01:41:33 Substitutions and Swaps 01:50:55 Week Grade and Wrap 01:54:34 Next Week Tease

  12. 288

    Greatest First Lines of ’80s Songs

    Dave records an episode of the Past Tens: Top 10 Time Machine podcast without co-host Milt (who is away on a winter trip or something) and brings on his brother Adam Yas as guest co-host. Each present a personal top 10 list of the greatest opening lines of 1980s songs, alternating picks and briefly discussing why each first line stands out. Adam explains his criteria: lyrical quality, vocal delivery, the artistic statement/arrival moment for the artist, and whether the line opens a great song. They discuss and play clips of selections including Wall of Voodoo’s “Mexican Radio” (Adam’s #10), De La Soul’s “Me Myself and I” (Dave’s #10), Madonna’s “Like a Virgin” (Adam’s #9), ’Til Tuesday’s “Voices Carry” (Dave’s #9, with Dave recalling seeing Amy Mann perform in Boston), Motörhead’s “Ace of Spades” (Adam’s #8, discovered via The Young Ones), Dennis DeYoung’s “Desert Moon” (Dave’s #8), Duran Duran’s “Rio” (Adam’s #7, including discussion of Patrick Nagel’s cover art and the band’s image), Elton John’s “Kiss the Bride” (Dave’s #7), Guns N’ Roses’ “Welcome to the Jungle” (Adam’s #6, framed as a major cultural turning point), Neneh Cherry’s “Buffalo Stance” (Dave’s #6, with background on her family), Run-DMC’s “King of Rock” (Adam’s #5, plus Adam’s middle-school lip-sync story), Poison’s “Fallen Angel” (Dave’s #5), Jane’s Addiction’s “Mountain Song” (Adam’s #4, with Perry Farrell’s impact and Lollapalooza mentioned), Foreigner’s “Jukebox Hero” (Dave’s #4), The Ramones’ “I Wanna Be Sedated” (Adam’s #3, noting their late-’70s origin but US soundtrack release in 1980), Kim Carnes’ “Bette Davis Eyes” (Dave’s #3, with Dave clarifying “Harlow gold” and dedicating it to their late father), David Bowie’s “Let’s Dance” (Adam’s #2, highlighting Bowie’s reinvention with Nile Rodgers and Stevie Ray Vaughan), AC/DC’s “You Shook Me All Night Long” (Dave’s #2), Prince’s “When Doves Cry” (Adam’s #1), and The Outfield’s “Your Love” (Dave’s #1, including the connection to Adam’s own song character named Josie).   They also touch on music history and influence (e.g., Guns N’ Roses and Nirvana, Run-DMC bridging rap and rock, Lemmy’s documentary and WWII memorabilia, and Amy Mann’s Magnolia-era acclaim). Adam plugs his work (adamyas.com, album Gender of the Holy Spirit, and Leather Feather on Spotify, including “Evolve”). Before leaving, Adam lists honorable mentions: Tears for Fears’ “Everybody Wants to Rule the World,” Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean,” The Smiths’ “How Soon Is Now?,” Def Leppard’s “Rock of Ages,” Bonnie Tyler’s “Total Eclipse of the Heart” (noting Jim Steinman), and Dexys Midnight Runners’ “Come On Eileen.”    Email us at [email protected] Visit www.timemachinepod.com www.adamyas.com Leather Feather on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6S7jPIPY15GXpdyqAXSVpZ   Topics 00:00 Welcome to Past Tens + Adam Yas Fills In for Milt 02:03 Today’s Topic: Greatest First Lines of ’80s Songs (Rules & Criteria) 05:26 #10 Picks: Wall of Voodoo “Mexican Radio” vs De La Soul “Me, Myself and I” 12:04 #9 Picks: Madonna “Like a Virgin” vs ’Til Tuesday “Voices Carry” 20:44 #8 Picks: Motörhead “Ace of Spades” vs Dennis DeYoung “Desert Moon” 30:16 Ballads, Heartstrings & What Makes a Line Work 33:31 #7 Picks: Duran Duran “Rio” vs Elton John “Kiss the Bride” 44:29 #6 Pick: Guns N’ Roses “Welcome to the Jungle” and Changing Rock’s Direction 53:01 Neneh Cherry’s “Buffalo Stance” — forgotten hip-hop gem & iconic first line 56:33 Adam’s #5: Run-DMC “King of Rock” — rap vs rock, plus the lip-sync contest story 01:04:54 Dave’s #5: Poison “Fallen Angel” — hair metal story-song guilty pleasure 01:08:26 Adam’s #4: Jane’s Addiction “Mountain Song” — danger, artistry, and Perry Farrell’s impact 01:13:57 Dave’s #4: Foreigner “Jukebox Hero” — painting the picture of teenage rock dreams 01:16:27 Adam’s #3: Ramones “I Wanna Be Sedated” — punk history & what makes a great frontman 01:21:15 Dave’s #3: Kim Carnes “Bette Davis Eyes” — decoding “Harlow gold” & a tribute to Dad 01:23:37 Adam’s #2: David Bowie “Let’s Dance” — reinvention, Nile Rodgers, and pop perfection 01:28:05 Dave’s #2: AC/DC “You Shook Me All Night Long” — the ultimate sing-along opener 01:31:55 #1s & wrap-up: Prince “When Doves Cry” vs The Outfield “Your Love,” honorable mentions, and sign-off

  13. 287

    10 Most Iconic Rock-Hip Hop Jams with Author Steven Blush

    This week on Past Tens: A Top 10 Time Machine, Milt and Dave crank the amps, lace up the shell-tops, and dive headfirst into one of the great musical collisions of the last 50 years: when rock and hip hop stopped flirting… and started throwing punches together. Our guest is Steven Blush — rock journalist, historian, and author of When Rock Met Hip Hop. The guy knows this terrain cold. We’re talking real-deal moments where guitars and 808s didn’t just coexist — they rewired the culture. We start with Rapture by Blondie — because yes, Debbie Harry walked so a lot of crossovers could run. Then we move into Rock Box by Run-DMC, which basically kicked the studio door off its hinges. From there? Chaos. Beautiful chaos. We hit the Def Jam Recordings origin story. The Beastie Boys pivot from punk brats to rap juggernauts with No Sleep Till Brooklyn. Rick Rubin running dual sessions like a mad scientist. Guitars. Regrets. Comebacks. We get into Walk This Way and how it resurrected Aerosmith. Then the volume somehow goes even higher with Anthrax and Public Enemy, Biohazard and Onyx, the rise of nu metal via Faith No More, and the politically explosive force of Rage Against the Machine. And yes — we land the plane (or maybe stage-dive it) with Jump Around by House of Pain, a song that has probably caused more minor arena injuries than any other track of the ’90s. Blush brings the receipts — stories, context, perspective — and we do what we always do: connect the dots, argue about legacy, and try not to blow out the speakers. Because this wasn’t just a genre mashup. It was a cultural jailbreak. Plug in. Turn it up. And come time-travel with us. GET THE BOOK: https://a.co/d/0gARAtdT Topics 00:44 Special Guest: Steven Blush 02:32 Steven Blush's Musical Journey 08:11 The Evolution of Rock and Hip Hop 29:56 The Birth of Def Jam 33:53 Beastie Boys' Breakthrough 38:02 Rick Rubin's Dual Studio Sessions 38:18 Guitar Contributions and Regrets 39:23 Beastie Boys' Rock Appeal 39:54 The Evolution of Beastie Boys 42:07 The Impact of 'Walk This Way' 43:40 Aerosmith's Comeback 50:43 Anthrax and Public Enemy Collaboration 55:10 Biohazard and Onyx Fusion 57:43 Faith No More and the Rise of Nu Metal 01:02:16 Rage Against the Machine's Influence 01:06:12 House of Pain's 'Jump Around' 01:10:48 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

  14. 286

    1970s Best Records: Re-doing the Grammys

    Dave and Milt take a nostalgic trip back to the 1970s, evaluating and re-evaluating the Grammy winners for Record of the Year. From the soulful sounds of Simon & Garfunkel to the infectious disco beats of the Bee Gees, they discuss, debate, and sometimes disagree with the original Grammy choices, offering their own takes on who should have taken home the iconic golden gramophone. The duo also touches on nostalgic personal anecdotes, Oscar trivia, and future podcast plans.    Topics 01:53 Listener Mail and Music Trivia 03:31 Grammy Awards Recap 05:59 1970 Grammy Redo 14:52 1971 Grammy Redo 21:31 1972 Grammy Redo 27:40 1973 Grammy Redo 33:42 1974 Grammy Redo 41:10 Oscar Snubs Quiz 46:40 Discussing Movie Snubs and Tom Hanks' Performances 49:02 Scorsese's Goodfellas vs. Dances with Wolves 49:55 Amy Adams' Oscar Nominations and Brokeback Mountain 52:45 1975 Grammy Redo 59:06 1976 Grammy Redo 01:10:44 1978 Grammy Redo 01:18:43 1979 Grammy Redo 01:26:26 Upcoming Special Pod

  15. 285

    The Shagadelic Tunes of 1965

    Dave and Milt hop back into the Past Tens time machine and land in February 1965—a time when the Billboard Top 10 didn’t mess around. This is peak-era stuff: songs you know, artists you trust, and records that somehow still sound better than half the things clogging your algorithm today. As always, the guys do more than just count them down. They break apart the songs, talk about where they hit in their own musical DNA, and wander into side streets involving movies, memories, and the occasional “how did we get here?” tangent. The chart itself is loaded: Sam Cooke, Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, The Righteous Brothers, The Kinks—basically a greatest-hits album disguised as a single week in ’65. Somewhere along the way, a perfectly reasonable discussion turns into a full-blown “sweet” song playdate, because once you open that door, you’re not closing it quietly. The episode wraps with debates about longevity, covers that worked (and didn’t), and the usual Past Tens soul-searching about which songs are truly immortal—and which ones just had a really good run.   Topics  00:00 – Welcome to Past Tens (set your dials accordingly) 01:17 – Listener Feedback & Shoutouts 04:09 – Time Machine Locked In: February 1965 05:30 – What 1965 Looked Like Outside the Radio 15:55 – Countdown Begins (no wasted notes) 34:06 – Sweet Talkin’ Woman – ELO 39:45 – My Girl – The Temptations (yes, that moment) 48:35 – All Day and All of the Night – The Kinks 57:24 – Love Potion No. 9 – The Searchers 01:06:07 – Hold What You’ve Got – Joe Tex 01:11:31 – This Diamond Ring – Gary Lewis & The Playboys 01:13:21 – The Ed Sullivan Show Question 01:14:02 – Gary Lewis’ Chart Run 01:14:55 – Al Kooper’s Vision for This Diamond Ring 01:16:49 – The Name Game – Shirley Ellis 01:24:12 – Petula Clark Takes Us Downtown 01:30:12 – The Righteous Brothers and That Vocal 01:36:11 – Covers, Substitutions, and Tough Calls 01:38:47 – Final Thoughts, Personal Stories, and Why 1965 Still Wins  

  16. 284

    The Animated Movie Draft

    We took Past Tens on the road for the first-ever Animated Movie Draft, recorded from a friend’s house in Vermont—which immediately set the tone: cozy, loud, slightly unhinged, and absolutely competitive. Four teams entered, rules were explained (and immediately bent), and chaos followed. The teams: No Capes (Andy and David), How to Train Your Landau (Addie and Dylan), Ka-rin & Stumpy (Milt and Karen), and Everything’s Fein (Michael and Nicole). The mission: draft the greatest animated movies of all time while filling specific categories—pre-1980s, franchise films, musicals, and wildcards—without completely losing your mind or your credibility. What follows is exactly what you’d expect: big swings, loud objections, wildly personal logic, and a whole lot of “HOW was that still available?” Along the way we veer into childhood crushes, Disney World ride hot takes, Pixar debates, Broadway adaptations, and the eternal question of whether nostalgia is doing way too much heavy lifting. The draft board fills up with absolute heavyweights—Toy Story, Shrek, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Charlotte’s Web—plus a few picks that inspire stunned silence and/or yelling. Somehow, through all of it, one team quietly puts together a monster draft and walks away with a surprise win that no one fully saw coming (including them). It’s loud. It’s nostalgic. It’s opinionated. It’s friends arguing about cartoons like it matters—which, obviously, it does. Topics 00:14 Recording on Location in Vermont 00:51 Drafting the Greatest Animated Movies 03:19 Team Introductions and Draft Rules 09:51 First Round Picks 15:58 Second Round Picks 28:40 Third Round Picks 36:40 Peter Pan and Childhood Crushes 37:58 Disney World Ride Experiences 39:12 Drafting Disney and Pixar Films 40:37 Ratatouille and Modern Disney Rides 42:39 Musicals and Broadway Adaptations 45:39 Final Draft Picks 49:53 Honorable Mentions 01:01:03 Judging and Announcing the Winner  

  17. 283

    Hits of 1984: I Guess That’s Why They Call it Past 10s

    Dave and Milt crack open the Billboard Top 10 from January 14, 1984 — a chart absolutely stacked with heavy hitters like Lionel Richie, Michael Jackson, Duran Duran, Culture Club, Elton John, and more. It’s pop perfection, power ballads, synth hooks, and at least one harmonica discussion that gets wildly out of hand. Along the way, the guys dig into the songs, the lyrics, and the cultural moment — plus listener emails, high-school flashbacks, and a true story of Dave weaponizing song lyrics. There’s serious love for classics like “Owner of a Lonely Heart” and “Say Say Say,” plus some healthy debate when Milt swaps out “Break My Stride” for Chaka Khan’s “Ain’t Nobody,” and Dave pulls an audible by replacing “Talking in Your Sleep” with early-era U2. Expect deep dives, dumb tangents (baseball makes a surprise appearance), TikTok-era song revivals, harmonica legends, and the usual combination of nostalgia, nitpicking, and laughs that probably goes on five minutes longer than planned — as it should. Chapters: 01:59 Listener Mail 09:43 Back to 1984 14:21 The Countdown Begins 35:56 Harmonica Jealousy (Yes, Really) 37:40 Elton John Gets the Blues 42:55 “Break My Stride” (or Does It?) 45:33 Songs That Refuse to Die on TikTok 55:21 Olivia Newton-John Curveball 01:01:46 Duran Duran Era Begins 01:19:22 “Owner of a Lonely Heart” 01:25:54 McCartney + MJ 01:34:12 The Substitution Chaos 01:44:51 Final Thoughts & What’s Next  

  18. 282

    Who’s Your Grammy? Re-Doing The Best-Record Awards of the 80s

    Dave and Milt fire up the DeLorean and head straight for the 1980s—specifically, the Grammy Awards’ Record of the Year decisions, many of which now feel… let’s say debatable. With equal parts reverence and side-eye, the guys re-litigate whether the Grammys nailed it, blew it, or flat-out whiffed. Spirited debates, personal memories, a few “wait—that won??” moments, and plenty of good-natured sniping as each year gets put back on trial. Along the way, there are trivia detours, surprise segments, and the occasional musical sacred cow being gently (or not so gently) tipped over. It’s nostalgia with receipts—and just enough wisdom earned the hard way. Topics 01:27 Listener love, Spotify Wrapped, and setting the mood 03:07 The Grammys do-over: ground rules and grievances 04:14 1980 Record of the Year on the stand 13:43 1981: justice served… or appealed 21:34 1982: vibes vs. legacy 28:50 1983: hits, hindsight, and head-scratching 35:37 1984: peak ’80s energy 41:29 Playdate: Grammy trivia chaos 48:05 1985: the year that wouldn’t behave 48:57 Nominees under the microscope 50:09 Tina Turner reminds everyone who’s boss 51:28 Iconic ’80s hits and cultural whiplash 54:43 1986: the nominees speak for themselves 57:55 USA for Africa takes the trophy 01:06:30 1987: a crowded field 01:08:14 Steve Winwood’s surprise victory lap 01:14:41 1988: tough calls and tougher opinions 01:16:36 Graceland and the controversy that won’t die 01:21:56 1989: joy, confusion, and whistling 01:23:23 Bobby McFerrin sparks debate 01:26:29 Michael Jackson vs. Tracy Chapman (and why this is hard) 01:33:56 Final verdicts, revised history, and closing arguments  

  19. 281

    The Top 10 Songs of 2025 (& Their Cosmic Twins of the Past)

    Hop in the Time Machine and buckle up, because in this episode of Past Tens, Dave and Milt do what they do best: stare directly into the pop-culture sun and ask, “So… how did we get here?” The fellas break down Billboard’s Top 10 songs of 2025 — praising the bangers, questioning the head-scratchers, and revisiting a few familiar names that refuse to leave the charts (looking at you, Bruno). Along the way, they dig into artist backstories, chart momentum, and whether these songs are future classics… or just temporarily living rent-free in our brains. As always, there’s a twist: every modern hit gets paired with an older song that shares its DNA — same vibe, same arc, same “I’ve heard this before but can’t quite place it” energy. Is pop music evolving, looping, or just wearing a new jacket? Dave and Milt investigate. Expect karaoke stories, party chaos, musical crescendos, country-rap identity crises, unexpected love songs, and at least one moment where someone asks, “Wait… how old is that guy?” It’s nostalgia, analysis, laughs, and just enough musical snobbery to feel like home. Topics (or: Things We Somehow Spent 90 Minutes Talking About) 01:02 – Karaoke and party highlights (regrets were made) 03:16 – Credit cards, cookies, and adult responsibility creeping in 03:50 – Reflecting on past music trends (and how we swore this wouldn’t happen again) 04:29 – The Top Songs of 2025, with a nostalgic twist 10:22 – Chappell Roan, Pink Pony Club, and the long road to overnight success 21:28 – Bruno Mars & ROSÉ: APT. and the art of pop precision 29:41 – Post Malone & Morgan Wallen: I Had Some Help (did they though?) 33:44 – Alex Warren: influencer → musician → wait, this kinda works 40:53 – Benson Boone and the beauty of a well-timed emotional explosion 44:01 – Music tastes, aging, and coming to terms with both 44:38 – The science of crescendos (aka “why this song suddenly slaps”) 47:32 – Billie Eilish and her ongoing evolution 52:02 – The Cure, because somehow they always come up 54:12 – Teddy Swims and vocal gymnastics 01:00:24 – Country-rap, reinvention, and genre identity crises 01:06:12 – Kendrick Lamar’s unexpected love song moment 01:15:33 – Bruno Mars & Lady Gaga: when pop royalty teams up 01:24:25 – Final thoughts, year-end reflections, and closing the book on 2025

  20. 280

    Best of 2025: The Second Annual 'Tennies'

    Live from the glamorous crossroads of America (a Best Western in Sheboygan, Michigan), Dave and Milt roll out the red carpet—or at least a slightly wrinkled hallway runner—for the Second Annual Tennies, our totally prestigious, minimally regulated awards honoring the very best moments of the podcast year that was. This is the episode where we look back, point, laugh, occasionally wince, and then laugh harder. We hand out trophies (imaginary, but emotionally heavy) for categories like Best Guest, Worst Tale of Woe, Best Use of Creepy AI, and—because we are who we are—the highly competitive Best Penis Joke. It’s a night filled with surprise guest appearances, unnecessary musical detours, tech hiccups that absolutely should not have happened, and stories that somehow got more awkward with time. Between heartfelt moments, holiday chatter, listener emails, and Milt doing things that can only be described as “very Milt,” the Tennies once again prove that when you give two guys microphones and zero adult supervision, magic—questionable, chaotic magic—can still happen. Topics 01:29 – Opening Monologue: Big Energy, Questionable Confidence 04:30 – Best Use of Creepy AI (We’re Sorry, Humanity) 12:22 – Best Guest (Actual Talent Appears) 17:39 – Worst Tale of Woe (Pain + Time = Comedy) 20:38 – Best Invention (Patent Pending, Probably Not) 23:43 – Best Time Machiner Email 34:10 – Parenting Jokes We Immediately Regretted 34:29 – The Susanna Hoffs Concert That Broke Our Brains 35:44 – Best Machiner Email: Champion Emerges 37:21 – Dreams, Delusions, and Podcast Therapy 39:47 – Classic Milt Moments (A Deep Bench) 43:18 – Things We Definitely Didn’t See Coming 53:53 – Rapid-Fire Chaos 56:48 – (We don’t mean to be dicks, but …) Best Penis Jokes  

  21. 279

    The Ultimate Holiday Trivia Challenge

    On this holiday-themed episode of Past Tens: A Top 10 Time Machine, Dave and Milt crank up the festive vibes with a full-blown pop-culture trivia throwdown—covering Christmas songs, movies, TV episodes, and other seasonal nonsense we all pretend not to love (but absolutely do). Along the way, they pause to address the elephant in the studio: the growing list of celebrities who’ve inconveniently passed away shortly after being mentioned on the pod. Is it coincidence? A curse? Or just the most unfortunate branding accident in podcasting history? (Welcome back to the Murder Pod™.) The trivia pulls heavily from ‘80s-style music bar trivia, beloved TV shows like The Office and Friends, and classic holiday films and specials—some heartwarming, some traumatic, all fair game. There’s also a little holiday housekeeping, a stroll down Past Tens memory lane, and a tease for next week’s Second Annual Tennies Awards, because yes, we are absolutely giving trophies to songs again. Festive? Yes. Educational? Occasionally. Slightly unhinged? Always. Topics: 00:00 Welcome back to Past Tens 02:02 Holiday vibes & trivia setup 04:24 The ongoing “Murder Pod” situation 10:17 Holiday pop-culture trivia kicks off 30:50 Christmas movie trivia (brace yourself) 31:44 Bill Murray’s many brothers in Scrooged 34:24 Broadway Christmas movies (somehow a thing) 35:19 Christmas Movie PTSD 36:28 Classic Christmas songs & TV nostalgia 37:51 The Office and Friends holiday episodes 46:05 The Star Wars Holiday Special and other mistakes 56:37 Bonus questions & the wrap-up

  22. 278

    Do You Know Where You Are? You're in 1988, Baby!

    Fire up the flux capacitor, because this episode of Past Tens: The Top 10 Time Machine drops Dave and Milt straight into December 1988—a moment in pop history when power ballads were mandatory, New Jack Swing was kicking down the door, and Welcome to the Jungle somehow coexisted with Two Hearts on the same chart. The guys break down the Billboard Top 10, taking respectful (and occasionally reckless) swings at songs from Guns N’ Roses, Bobby Brown, Phil Collins, Anita Baker, Poison, and more. Along the way: personal war stories from the era, cultural detours through VH1 lists and The Simpsons, and a spirited debate over which songs still slap—and which ones are just riding muscle memory. Also on the docket: Milt returns from the Dominican Republic with vacation tales, sunburns, and karaoke decisions that may not age well A pop quiz involving songs with the word “heart” (because 1988 loved feelings almost as much as synthesizers) Diane Warren doing Diane Warren things Chicago… late-period Chicago… that Chicago And yes, Every Rose Has Its Thorn, because of course it’s here It’s music analysis, nostalgia, gentle roasting, and genuine affection for a wildly eclectic Top 10—exactly the way December ’88 deserves.   Topics 00:00 – Welcome back to Past Tens 00:37 – Vacation tales, sunburns, and bad decisions abroad 03:04 – Karaoke: regrets may vary 04:32 – Strap in, time machine engaged 05:53 – Setting the scene: December 1988 12:43 – The Top 10 countdown begins 21:46 – Eddie Money goes full pop 29:37 – The Bangles flirt with psychedelic pop 35:34 – Guns N’ Roses kick in the door 40:39 – Welcome to the Jungle as an opening statement 41:35 – VH1’s “greatest hard rock song” debate 43:19 – The Simpsons enters the chat 45:48 – Phil Collins’ Two Hearts (and Buster) 48:27 – Phil Collins + Lamont Dozier = hit math 51:54 – Heart-themed song quiz (feelings everywhere) 01:05:03 – Boy Meets Girl: pure late-’80s yearning 01:10:25 – Anita Baker delivers, as always 01:14:56 – Late-era Chicago: brace yourself 01:16:11 – The “adult contemporary” era explained 01:17:03 – Diane Warren’s invisible fingerprints 01:21:03 – Bobby Brown and the New Jack Swing takeover 01:25:02 – Top 10 hits with spelling-bee energy 01:32:32 – Every Rose Has Its Thorn (yes, that one) 01:37:43 – Recaps, swaps, and second thoughts 01:40:07 – Final thoughts and the ride home  

  23. 277

    Duran Duran, Fountains of Wayne: The Starter Kit

    On this very special episode of Past Tens, your beloved hosts — one recovering from surgery, the other recovering from life — roll out something brand new: The Starter Kit. Think of it as the musical tasting menu nobody asked for but absolutely needed. We each pick a band. We give you the essentials. You pretend to take notes. Everybody wins. Dave kicks things off with Duran Duran, because nothing says “starter kit” like a band that basically invented the MTV era and then refused to leave. Yes, we hit Hungry Like the Wolf — the song that launched a thousand hair products — but we also dig into the weird, wonderful, and criminally underrated corners of their catalog. Then Milt, bless him, grabs his power-pop heart and heads straight into Fountains of Wayne, a band that somehow packed more storytelling into three-minute pop songs than most novelists manage in 400 pages. And yes, we go far beyond Stacy’s Mom. (If you know what I mean. And I think you do.) It’s all here: music geekery, nostalgia, sideways humor, and the occasional moment where we accidentally sound like we know what we’re talking about. Episode Breakdown (aka: Pretending This Is a Real Show With Structure) 00:00 – Welcome! 00:43 – Health updates and the Past Tens community proving once again they’re nicer than we deserve 01:25 – Surgery stories — because nothing pairs with pop music like anesthesia flashbacks 05:27 – Listener shout-outs and general podcast tomfoolery 09:15 – Introducing The Starter Kit (trademark pending, MFers!) 14:19 – Dave’s Duran Duran Starter Kit: hits, deep cuts, Bond themes, oh my 45:16 – Surprise: Public Enemy’s “911 Is a Joke” enters the chat 46:12 – Best pop-culture use: The James Bond theme that actually slaps 49:24 – Milt opens the Fountains of Wayne vault 56:36 – The hits, the almost-hits, and the “why didn’t anyone listen to this?” tracks 58:13 – Hidden gems and critic candy 01:01:23 – The comedy, the lyrics, the stories — this band was funny on purpose 01:13:56 – Live performances and unexpected covers 01:20:41 – The legacy and why they still matter 01:28:00 – Wrap-up, listener love, and an open invitation to argue with us online  

  24. 276

    70s/80s Trash TV! The Battle of the Network Stars

    Ladies and gentlemen, what you are about to experience is nothing less than a rollicking romp through the gilded pantheon of televised tomfoolery! In this extraordinary edition of “Past Tens: The Top 10 Time Machine,” your indefatigable host Dave, with the unparalleled, inimitable chartmeister Milt sidelined by injury, in steps a stupendous subsititution, the incomparable Mark Gerber! The duo embark upon a triumphant return to that most spectacular, most ludicrous, most magnificently melodramatic of American institutions: The Battle of the Network Stars! Dave and Mark seize the moment, diving headlong into the swirling waters of nostalgia. They revisit — with the reverence of historians and the joi de vivre of carnival barkers — the unforgettable competitions of the '70s and '80s: the sinew-straining tug-of-war battles, the kayaking cataclysms that defied physics, the controversies that shook the nation, and the races that left audiences gasping for breath. Marvel as Debbie Allen storms back from adversity on the obstacle course! Tremble as kayak after kayak — piloted by celebrities who had no business in watercraft — spirals into beautifully chaotic disaster! Relive the titanic clash between Gabe Kaplan and Robert Conrad, a showdown that echoed through the annals of competitive fluff! And through it all, you’ll hear the resonant ghost of Howard Cosell himself, narrating each triumph and tragedy with Olympian gravitas and trademark incredulity. This is no mere recap, friends — it is a celebration of Trash TV in its purest, most incandescent form. A reminder of why this bizarre, charming, star-studded spectacle remains etched into the hearts of millions.   Topics 00:53 Declaring the Golden Age of Trash TV 01:12 Enter Mark Gerber — a man ready for battle 02:28 Time Machine engaged: Destination, Network Stars 04:35 Celebrity titans reviewed 10:23 The Voice of God: Cosell’s commentary 13:54 Countdown ignites 26:39 Crystal vs. Letterman — an unlikely duel 32:34 Debbie Allen triumphs heroically 36:02 Ow! Injuries aplenty 36:49 Debbie Allen’s unquenchable spirit 37:03 Celebrity connections revealed 38:25 Mark Harmon: athlete among mortals 40:02 “Summer School” reveries 42:48 Kayaks of chaos 1:00:02 Tug of war tension mounts 1:07:21 The climactic heave-ho 1:08:30 A plunge into Real People 1:10:36 CBS vs. NBC — a struggle for the ages 1:15:45 Cosell’s iconic crowning moments 1:30:28 Conrad vs. Kaplan: The myth, the matchup 1:38:09 A wistful farewell to the magic of Network Stars  

  25. 275

    Ultimate 1980s Music Trivia!

    Just when you think you know the answers to 80s music trivia, we start changing the questions. Here you go, Machiners. 5 rounds. 5 questions each round.  Choose wisely.

  26. 274

    Hits of 1981: Getting Physical

    Strap in, Time Travelers — Dave and Milt are firing up the chart-powered DeLorean and punching in the week of November 21, 1981, a glorious moment when MTV was still shiny and new, Hall & Oates ruled with feathered fists, and your boombox was probably eating AA batteries like Milt eats pretzels. We kick things off with the Hill Street Blues theme — because nothing says “Let’s rock!” like a soft-focus keyboard stroll through cop drama melancholy — and roll straight into gems like the Stones’ “Start Me Up” and ONJ’s gym-class megabanger “Physical.” Along the way, we unpack the significance of each track, including the ones we love, the ones we pretend to love, and the ones we loudly and publicly shame. Naturally, the listener mailbag makes an appearance: grievances, duet arguments, strong opinions delivered politely (and occasionally not). We even dive into the “Should this have been Top 10?” cul-de-sac, where great songs go to be judged and mocked with affection. And yes — we address our brief hiatus, courtesy of Milt’s upcoming surgery, which he insists is “minor,” yet has somehow required him to create a 14-page Google Doc labeled “My Brave Journey.” Timecoded Play-By-Play 00:00 – Welcome back to Past Tens, the podcast that keeps the time machine running on sarcasm and soft rock. 00:34 – Boogie Nights and the fine art of fake rock songs. 02:14 – Listener mail: duet debates, arguments, and emotional damage. 10:16 – Time Machine locked on Nov. 21, 1981. Hold onto your parachute pants. 20:31 – The Hill Street Blues theme wanders in with a soft jazz shrug. 39:31 – Monica’s haircut catastrophe. Blame the ’80s. 41:46 – The Police take the stage. Sting begins brooding. 42:40 – The origin story of The Police — including Sting’s hair, which absolutely deserves its own prequel. 47:12 – The Office vs. The Police: musical connections you didn’t ask for. 52:20 – Little River Band tries to rock. It goes… okay. 58:36 – Bob Seger goes live and proves he only needs two chords and a throat made of sandpaper. 01:04:16 – Listener trivia time: where humiliation meets celebration. 01:16:48 – Air Supply floats in with a cloud made of soft rock and perms. 01:19:28 – The Stones drop their last great song — Dave said it, fight him. 01:22:39 – Stones music video analysis: men running in place and wearing things they shouldn’t. 01:24:03 – Early demos of “Start Me Up,” before it became a sports-arena mandatory. 01:25:09 – Commercial success, i.e., the part where Mick bought another house. 01:26:48 – Trivia bonding — yes, it’s adorable. 01:27:37 – Foreigner melts faces with “Waiting for a Girl Like You.” 01:32:38 – Hall & Oates slap on the trench coats for “Private Eyes.” 01:40:54 – Olivia Newton-John gets physical, and so do we. 01:45:47 – Looking back at 1981: the hits, the misses, the hair. 01:58:36 – Sign-off and a preview of things to come… after Milt survives his lifetime-movie surgery arc.

  27. 273

    The Greatest Duets of All Time

    There once were two hosts, Milt and Dave, Whose duets made the time charts behave. From Loggins and Nicks, To Bowie’s slick mix, They delivered the hits that we crave. They told tales of songs that still shine, Shared memories, both yours and mine. From the gems underplayed, To the legends they made, Each chorus a perfect design. Then came a fast lightning round— More duets, more magic they found! With laughter and cheer, They wrapped up the year, In sweet, two-part harmony sound. 🎙️   topics 00:59:10 Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson — Say Say Say 01:00:05 Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper — Shallow 01:01:20 Barbra Streisand & Barry Gibb — Guilty 01:02:10 Johnny Cash & June Carter — Jackson 01:03:05 Michael Jackson & Janet Jackson — Jam (Heavy D cameo love) 01:04:05 David Bowie & Bing Crosby — Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy (improbable and perfect) 01:05:10 Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell — Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing 01:05:45 Natalie Cole (with Dad) — Unforgettable (goosebumps/AI-free tears) 01:06:15 Stevie Nicks & Don Henley — Leather and Lace (this was the wedding duet!) 01:07:00 JAY-Z & Alicia Keys — Empire State of Mind (NY anthem; Boston politely nods) 01:09:00 The Jacksons & Mick Jagger — State of Shock (Freddie demo rabbit hole unlocked) 01:11:00 Don Henley & Axl Rose — I Will Not Go Quietly (this pairing weirdly slaps) 01:14:00 Kenny Loggins & Steve Perry — Don’t Fight It (ambiguously great duo) The Official Top 10 (ranked) Queen & David Bowie — Under Pressure Stevie Nicks & Tom Petty — Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around Barbra Streisand & Neil Diamond — You Don’t Bring Me Flowers Meat Loaf & Ellen Foley — Paradise by the Dashboard Light Tina Turner & Bryan Adams — It’s Only Love Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell — Ain’t No Mountain High Enough John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John — You’re The One That I Want Elton John & Kiki Dee — Don’t Go Breaking My Heart Philip Bailey & Phil Collins — Easy Lover Kenny Loggins & Stevie Nicks — Whenever I Call You “Friend” Running bits & quotables “This podcast is a duet. End of list.” “You don’t bring me McDonald’s Diet Coke anymore. It’s over.” “Nerds Gummy Clusters: the Reese’s Cup of candy collabs.” “Grease’s flying car? My only note: call the tower.” Homework for Time Travelers Hit us with your missing duets (yes, we know, Endless Love fans). Nominate a “Worst Duets Ever” for the inevitable roast episode. If you have the Freddie + MJ ‘State of Shock’ demo link, share it. We’re already halfway down that rabbit hole. Keep the harmony coming Email: [email protected] Site: TimeMachinePod.com (updated every time we post; still rocking the cheese-fries photo)  

  28. 272

    1990 Tunes: When Ice Was Cool

    Strap in, time travelers — Dave and Milt are firing up the Time Machine and heading straight back to a world of ripped jeans, Aqua Net, and questionable rap credibility. It’s November 3, 1990, and the Billboard Top 10 is a glorious mashup of hair metal hangovers, pop perfection, and one dude named Vanilla who made us all say “Yo, VIP, let’s kick it.” Cool, Vanilla. Wax those chumps, bro. The guys chew over Warrant’s sticky-sweet “Cherry Pie” (spoiler: it’s aged like a dessert left in the sun), Janet Jackson’s rock-star moment with “Black Cat,” and, yes, the cultural phenomenon that was “Ice Ice Baby.” There’s a detour into bar mitzvah memories, a look at early-’90s musical growing pains, and even a round of trivia celebrating songs that kick off with iconic sound effects. Expect the usual blend of nostalgia, nonsense, and “Wait, that was this year?” revelations. It’s another totally rad trip through time with your favorite chart-chomping duo. Episode Breakdown: 00:00 – Welcome to Past Tens 01:15 – Weekend shenanigans 04:54 – Remembering MTV’s Remote Control 06:37 – November 1990: a magical, mulleted time 15:34 – The countdown begins 37:47 – That one wildly inappropriate wedding song 39:13 – Alias and the slow death of hair metal 40:07 – New Jack Swing is here to stay 42:04 – Teen slang and nonsense words (we blame Color Me Badd) 43:29 – Babyface and the silky sound of After 7 49:34 – MC Hammer: Can’t touch his chart dominance 57:33 – James Ingram makes everyone cry 01:08:20 – Janet shreds with Black Cat 01:18:20 – The Sound Effects Song Quiz begins 01:22:39 – Somehow, Billie Eilish and The Office show up 01:24:03 – From Love in an Elevator to Civil War: sound effects galore 01:29:57 – The inevitable Ice Ice Baby moment 01:36:46 – What happens when AI meets pop music 01:38:32 – Countdown recap 01:51:57 – Dave and Milt say goodbye (until the next time warp)

  29. 271

    Remembering MTV’s Remote Control!

    Dave and Milt reminisce about MTV's cultural impact following the announcement of its shutdown after 44 years. They share personal stories and memories from appearing on the classic MTV game show 'Remote Control.' Dave and Milt each recount their episodes, including detailed behind-the-scenes antics, their interactions with other contestants, and hilarious moments with Colin Quinn and other cast members. They even encounter a young Adam Sandler. The duo wraps up by honoring MTV's significant influence in their formative years and its transformation over time. SEE THE VIDEO: https://youtu.be/-p9ejRP97Bc?si=vSNrff8QYA09-Bpu Topics 00:57 Remembering MTV's Legacy 03:56 MTV's Remote Control Game Show 11:24 Auditioning for Remote Control 16:15 Milt's Episode on Remote Control 31:57 Behind the Scenes and Final Thoughts 42:28 A Day of Filming: The Struggles and Surprises 44:55 The MTV Play Date: Trivia Time 50:09 Dave's MTV Experience: A Memorable Journey 51:48 The Game Show: Highs and Lows 58:18 Behind the Scenes: Funny and Awkward Moments 01:14:41 Reflecting on the MTV Days 01:18:02 Conclusion: Nostalgia and Farewell

  30. 270

    The 1973 Albums Draft

    Fire up the time machine, because Dave and Milt are cranking it to 1973—the year rock gods walked among us. Joined by fellow music geeks Scott Ziegler and David Kaufer, the crew dives headfirst into a snake draft of pure, analog glory. From Billy Joel finding his voice on Piano Man to Elton painting the sky on Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, and from Pink Floyd’s cosmic masterpiece Dark Side of the Moon to Zeppelin’s mythic Houses of the Holy—this draft’s got more classic riffs than your uncle’s record shelf. Expect heated debates, shameless nostalgia, and more name-dropping than a ‘70s liner note. There’s strategy, there’s sentiment, and yes—there’s a few questionable picks that’ll have you yelling at your cassette player. The guys also round things out with movie soundtracks and TV themes from ‘73, because apparently, we couldn’t stop humming even when the radio was off. PROGRAMMING NOTE: Here's the 2021 episode where Milt and Dave rank the top 10 editions of Schoolhouse Rock (a 1973 debut): https://timemachinepod.podbean.com/e/top-10-of-schoolhouse-rock-recalling-the-kitsch/   Topics 00:00 – Cue the time machine and the dad jokes 01:23 – The rock draft begins (and chaos follows) 11:07 – First-round fireworks: everyone wants Floyd 33:52 – Aerosmith enters the chat 40:15 – George Harrison quietly crushes 44:40 – Elvis says “Aloha,” literally 57:19 – American Graffiti brings the feels 01:24:16 – Paul Simon rhymes his way home 01:39:32 – Honorable mentions and a few dishonorable omissions

  31. 269

    1980s Albums:Time to Play the Game

    Strap in, Time Travelers—because this week on Past Tens: The Top 10 Time Machine, Dave and the Chartmeister himself, Milt, are punching the flux capacitor back to October 18, 1980. That’s right: the hair was feathered, the collars were popped, and the Billboard Top 200 albums were stacked with pure, uncut classic rock and pop cocaine (the musical kind). We’re talkin’: AC/DC at their thunderstruck peak, The Stones proving they’re still cockroaches of rock, The Cars running you down with new-wave horsepower, George Benson smooth enough to butter your bagel, Pat Benatar telling you “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” before you even loaded the Nerf gun, and the Doobies trying to figure out if they’re yacht rock or biker bar blues. Oh, and don’t sleep on Olivia Newton-John and ELO building Xanadu out of neon tubes, Diana Ross finding disco Chic, Babs hanging with the Bee Gees, and Queen dropping The Game that still puts other bands in checkmate. Along the way, Dave and Milt roast, reminisce, and occasionally sound like two guys who’ve had one too many Zimas. Expect hot takes, random tangents, and—of course—our weekly “Substitution,” where we bench one of the charted albums and sneak in a criminally under-loved record. So grab your Members Only jacket, fire up the turntable, and join us for a ride through a truly transformative year in music. Episode Breakdown 00:00 – Welcome to the madness 00:27 – Meet your musical time pilots: Dave & Milt 02:03 – What this pod is and why you’re stuck with it 04:20 – October 18, 1980: cue the DeLorean 14:16 – Deep dive on the Top 10 albums 52:12 – Band tensions, soap operas, and shifting sounds 54:28 – Doobies: breaking up, making up, and reuniting again 54:35 – Movie soundtrack corner: iconic scenes & tunes 57:30 – Musical Brothers Quiz (fight night edition) 01:07:10 – Xanadu: soundtrack, roller skates, and ELO lasers 01:14:58 – Diana Ross meets Chic: disco still lives! 01:21:52 – Babs & the Bee Gees: polyester heaven 01:27:26 – Queen’s The Game: play it loud 01:34:51 – Top 10 recap + substitution smackdown 01:42:23 – Caddyshack soundtrack, gophers, and final thoughts

  32. 268

    Rock This Way: The Jams of 1986

    Break out the Jordache jeans and slap bracelets—we’re firing up the Past Tens DeLorean and crash-landing straight into October 4th, 1986. Hosts Dave and Adam are your snarky tour guides through the Billboard Top 10, a week where Lionel Richie was literally defying gravity, Tina Turner was calling out “Typical Males” (present company excluded… maybe), and Run-DMC teamed up with Aerosmith to smash a wall and music history all at once. Adam admits to surviving a Lionel Richie concert back in the day (dancing on the ceiling, not covered by health insurance), we deep-dive Janet Jackson’s pop domination, and we wonder aloud if Carl Anderson and Gloria Loring’s “Friends and Lovers” was written for a daytime soap opera—or by one. Plus, there’s a Juno Awards trivia smackdown, some righteous Canadian music history, and our patented “swap-a-song” gimmick. It’s nostalgia, pop-culture snark, and synthesizer-drenched storytelling—Past Tens style. Find Adam Yas music at www.adamyas.com Topics 00:00 — Cold Open: Welcome to Past Tens—seatbelts optional, sarcasm mandatory. 00:26 — Meet the Hosts: Dave and Adam: like Hall & Oates, but with more bad puns. 03:54 — Confession Time: Adam cops to seeing Lionel Richie live in ’86. Yes, he’s fine. 06:59 — Pop Culture Check-In: Shoulder pads, Top Gun, and too much Aqua Net. 17:06 — Countdown Kickoff: The Billboard Top 10 begins—cue drum machines. 36:55 — Walk This Way: How Run-DMC and Aerosmith blew up MTV (and a wall). 38:20 — The Collab Heard ‘Round the World: Rap + Rock = mind blown. 42:05 — Studio Secrets: Steven Tyler screaming into the void… for art. 44:55 — MTV Controversy: Rock, rap, and race colliding on your TV screen. 53:12 — Phil Collins at Live Aid: Because Phil had to be everywhere. 57:42 — Stacey Q Spotlight: Two of hearts… but one too many listens. 01:11:37 — Oh, Canada: Glass Tiger teaches us “Don’t Forget Me (When I’m Gone).” 01:19:01 — Trivia Time: Dave vs. Adam in the Great Juno Awards Quiz. 01:19:45 — Sentimental Sidebar: A Nickelback tangent, with bonus dad stories. 01:26:32 — Janet Jackson Rules the World: Control, Rhythm Nation incoming. 01:34:31 — Friends and Lovers: A song that belongs on General Hospital. 01:39:24 — Huey Lewis & The News: “Stuck With You” and dad-rock glory. 01:44:29 — The Big Reveal: Top song of October 1986. Drumroll, please. 01:45:16 — Winner of the Week: Adam swaps out a Top 10 dud for a hidden gem. 01:56:57 — Closing Credits: The flux capacitor cools down—until next time.  

  33. 267

    The ’80s Songs That Went to 11

    We saw Spinal Tap 2, flipped the big red switch, and counted down the best 1980s songs that peaked at #11. Because these… go to 11. Also: sexy drummers, armadillos, and Milt trying to make Kenny Loggins a sports anthem (again). Quick Hit Summary Mini-review of Spinal Tap 2 (Paul! Elton! Still loud.) Countdown: our blended Top 10 “peaked at #11” bangers from the ’80s Playdate: 11 questions about… 11 (of course) A respectable pile of “also-rans” that just missed the podium Chapter Guide 00:00 – Cold open / mic check / Past Tens roll call 06:05 – Fire up the Time Machine 07:06 – What we’re doing: ’80s songs that peaked at #11 (Spinal Tap salute) Tap Talk 07:50 – Spinal Tap 2 quick take: tone matched, laughs landed 09:45 – Cameos: Paul McCartney (charming), Elton John (scene-stealer) 10:55 – Aging rockers, commitments vibes, and a very funny new drummer 12:40 – Why sequels usually whiff and why this one didn’t The Countdown — The ’80s Songs That Went to 11 #11 – 00:15:00 Thompson Twins – “Doctor! Doctor!” (1984) Second-British-Invasion synth-pop sugar rush. “How was this not Top 10?” energy. #10 – 00:16:00 Gary U.S. Bonds – “This Little Girl” (1981) Boss-built boomerang: written/produced by Springsteen & Stevie Van Zandt; Clarence on sax. Roots-rock strut with comeback swagger. #9 – 00:22:00 Sheila E. – “A Love Bizarre” (1985) Prince pixie dust, 12-minute club glide, percussion queen doing queen things. #8 – 00:27:00 Michael Jackson – “Another Part of Me” (1987) From the Captain EO era: Quincy groove, Disney cheese, undeniable bounce. #7 – 00:34:00 The Contours – “Do You Love Me” (re-charted 1988) Dirty Dancing rocket fuel: Motown growl makes the Catskills naughty again. Playdate – 00:43:00 11 Questions about “11” (Kyrie, Larkin/Rollins, 7-Eleven’s rogue lowercase n, Swingers, Messier, Bledsoe & Edelman, Ocean’s Eleven = Matt Damon, Marshall amps, Eleven = Millie Bobby Brown, Jeter wore 11 in the minors, etc.) #6 – 00:52:00 Kenny Loggins – “This Is It” (1980) Blue-eyed soul with Michael McDonald cosign; NCAA montage hall-of-famer. #5 – 00:57:00 Loverboy – “Hot Girls in Love” (1983) Aerosol, hooks, and harmless himbo energy. Dumb? Sure. Fun? Absolutely. #4 – 01:01:00 Prince – “I Wanna Be Your Lover” (1980) Pre-Purple Rain princelet: falsetto glide, post-disco snap, future royalty loading. #3 – 01:07:00 Bryan Adams – “Somebody” (1985) Reckless sweet spot: denim-rock churner with live-aid mojo. Ballad break = beer run. #2 – 01:11:00 Go-Go’s – “Head Over Heels” (1984) Pop truffle perfection. Jane Wiedlin piano break = pure dopamine. #1 – 01:26:00 Stevie Nicks – “Edge of Seventeen” (1981) The white-wing-dove war cry. Signature solo cut. A Top 10 snub so egregious it should be a congressional hearing. Also-Rans & Near-Misses (rapid fire) Stevie Wonder – “I Ain’t Gonna Stand for It” Bangles – “Walking Down Your Street” Little River Band – “The Other Guy” (The Other Guys synergy!) Toto – “I’ll Be Over You” Debbie Gibson – “Electric Youth” (Dave votes yes; Milt files an appeal) Soul II Soul – “Keep On Movin’” (Milt’s neo-soul crush) Benny Mardones – “Into the Night” (we heard you, Internet) The Police – “Spirits in the Material World” Paul Davis – “Cool Night” (yacht softness) Naked Eyes – “Promises, Promises” Dead or Alive – “You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)” If this episode made your dial go to 11, share it with a friend, drop a 5-star on Apple/Spotify, and come argue with us at timemachinepod.com or [email protected]. Rock responsibly, Time Travelers.  

  34. 266

    Hot Dam! The Glam of 1975

    Fire up the Time Machine, people—Dave and Milt are going full throttle back to ’75, and it’s a funky, feathered-hair free-for-all. On this Past Tens episode, your fearless hosts trash-talk, gush, and generally geek out over Billboard’s Top 10 from September 27, 1975. Bad Company growls, Sweet glitters, and somewhere in there Dave derails the whole thing with a personal “I almost died in a hospital gown” story. Milt, ever the Chartmeister historian, connects the dots between these jams and the cultural circus of the mid-’70s, while Dave sprinkles in snarky asides, dad jokes, and a rant or two about sandwiches. They bounce between rock, funk, country, and schmaltz, drop a few under-the-radar nuggets, and even debate whether Glen Campbell’s Broadway references were about, y’know… actual Broadway. Then it’s Playdate time: Dave throws down a Generation X Rock Hall challenge that makes Milt sweat. By the end, they’re arguing about whether this whole lineup deserves a permanent plaque in the Time Machine Hall of Fame—or just a polite golf clap. Timestamps for your nostalgic pleasure: 00:00 – Past Tens roll call 00:25 – Sandwich rambling commences 01:34 – Dave’s hospital misadventure 06:05 – Time Machine ignition 07:06 – Top 10 countdown starts 13:52 – Bad Company brings the thunder 20:59 – Sweet turns the glam up to 11 28:56 – Freddie Fender’s tear-stained road trip 34:52 – Famous Freds ranked (because why not?) 35:12 – Fender deep dive 36:01 – Janis Ian breaks every heart in the room 40:23 – Seventeen-year-old angst songs dissected 48:31 – Barry Manilow achieves… let’s call it a musical climax 54:09 – Gen X Rock Hall face-off 01:04:19 – “Run Joey Run” and the tragedy of teen melodrama 01:12:22 – The Isley Brothers get funky 01:14:19 – Disney, algorithms, and mild outrage 01:14:53 – Tragic news + media gripes 01:19:10 – Glen Campbell mysteries solved (or not) 01:22:54 – Bowie goes funky chic 01:29:06 – John Denver’s swan song 01:33:12 – Wrap-up, wisecracks, and reflection

  35. 265

    The Flicks of ‘91: Milt In Tights

    Milt and Dave fired up the Time Machine and landed smack in September of 1991, when mullets were plentiful and Blockbuster late fees could bankrupt you. We’re running down the box-office champs—from Arnold blowing stuff up in Terminator 2 to Billy Crystal roping cattle in City Slickers, with pit stops at Woody Harrelson’s baby-faced cameo in Doc Hollywood and the horror sequels nobody really asked for. Along the way, we: Trade war stories about seeing these flicks in sticky-floored theaters. Act out scenes like idiots (you’re welcome). Dish out Rotten Tomatoes scores and wildly unfair judgments. Wonder aloud why The Commitments still slaps and why Dead Again deserved more love. Debate whether Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves is epic or just Kevin Costner cosplaying with a bad accent. And yes—some of these movies aged like fine wine (T2), while others… let’s just say they’ve turned to vinegar (Child’s Play 3, I’m looking at you). Episode Breakdown 00:00 – Bickering & Banter 01:19 – Dave apologizes for… something. Again. 02:17 – Nostalgia bomb: our ’91 movie memories 03:56 – The countdown begins 07:20 – The Commitments review 17:27 – Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves 27:44 – City Slickers 38:40 – The Doctor 45:47 – Child’s Play 3 (spoiler: nope) 47:03 – Box office chatter & that weird UK crime link 51:40 – Doc Hollywood + baby Woody Harrelson 58:25 – Hot Shots! (Charlie Sheen’s golden era) 01:08:10 – Terminator 2 drops the hammer 01:16:40 – Dead Again review 01:23:09 – Freddy’s Dead autopsy 01:31:28 – Winner of the Week & closing thoughts It’s loud, it’s nostalgic, it’s a little snarky—just another ride in the Top 10 Time Machine.

  36. 264

    Good Times, Bad Fiddles: Hits of '79

    It’s time travel, disco balls, and questionable fashion choices as Dave, Milt, and our buddy Adam Ya Ooh Ya Yas crack open the Billboard Top 10 from September 8, 1979. What holds up? What makes us cringe? What still makes us want to roller-skate in short-shorts? We’ve got opinions. Expect heated debates on “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” vs. “My Sharona,” detours into random trivia, and the usual cocktail of nostalgia, snark, and stories you didn’t ask for but can’t stop listening to. Spoiler: Bruce makes an accidental cameo. Highlights include: 🎲 Dave stumbles into Lady Gaga while prepping for ’79. Don’t ask. 🎬 Licorice Pizza, John Peters, and other Hollywood detours. 🎤 Yacht Rock therapy session. 🎻 Devil vs. Fiddle Showdown. ⚡ ELO teaches us not to bring them down (but we do anyway). 💍 Celebrity marriages, Taylor Swift tangents, and Bar Mitzvah flashbacks. 🎶 Chic’s “Good Times” and why it’s secretly behind everything. 🎸 The Knack still smacking us with “My Sharona.” And of course, the Past Tens patented Substitution Segment™—where we rip out one of the so-called “hits” and jam in a better one from that week. Then we slap a grade on the whole list like we’re back in homeroom. Settle in. This episode’s longer than a disco 12-inch single.

  37. 263

    Top 10 Simpsons Episodes with Author Alan Siegel

    Dave and Milt welcome Alan Siegel — yes, that Alan Siegel, the guy who literally wrote the book Stupid TV: Be More Funny – How The Golden Era of The Simpsons Changed Television and America Forever. If you thought you loved The Simpsons, wait until you hear Alan dissect his top 10 episodes with a surgeon’s precision and a fanboy’s heart. We’re talking Radio Bart, Bart Sells His Soul, Marge vs. The Monorail, and the rest of the Mount Rushmore of Springfield. These aren’t just funny episodes — they’re cultural autopsies of America served up with Duff Beer and a Sideshow Bob cackle. Along the way we get trivia nuggets, writer shoutouts, and Alan’s camp stories (yes, summer camp connects here — don’t ask, just listen). Bottom line: it’s a nerdy lovefest for the show that taught us how to laugh at society, politics, and ourselves — long before Twitter ruined jokes forever. Topics 00:54 Special Guest: Alan Siegel 01:20 The Simpsons: A Shared Passion 02:09 Alan’s Summer Camp Connection 04:09 How Alan Ended Up at The Ringer 07:28 Why The Simpsons Still Rules 09:20 Bart Sells His Soul 13:41 Homer at the Bat 44:19 Smooth Segue (or not) 44:38 Itchy & Scratchy & Marge 46:10 Simpsons as Social Commentary 48:06 Simpsons the Fortune Teller 50:27 Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie 54:19 Fan Interaction, Simpsons Style 57:10 Marge vs. the Monorail 01:04:04 Homer the Heretic 01:08:33 Last Exit to Springfield 01:13:11 Lisa’s Substitute 01:18:12 Mr. Plow 01:21:49 Simpsons Trivia + Wrap-Up

  38. 262

    1982 Hits: American Fools

    It’s August 21, 1982, and Dave and Milt are back in the Time Machine, swimming in the Billboard Top 10 like it’s the world’s most awkward pool party. Chicago is apologizing all over the place with “Hard to Say I’m Sorry,” Fleetwood Mac is politely asking you to “Hold Me,” and Survivor is still living off that “Eye of the Tiger” Rocky money. Along the way, we detour into soda-related TikTok challenges (yes, apparently Sprite is dangerous now), celebrity death news (spoiler: not good news), and listener emails that range from insightful to “are you sure you hit send on the right show?” You’ll also get trivia, remakes, a live “Kids in America” cameo from Billy Joe Armstrong, and a heated swap-out session where we boot some Top 10 squatters in favor of better songs from the same era. We break down Chicago’s yacht-rock-adjacent apology, Fleetwood Mac’s post-breakup awkward magic, and Steve Miller’s “Abracadabra” (spoiler: it’s about bras). Then it’s all Mellencamp all the time—his name changes, his childhood surgery, his failed acting gigs, and yes, the time Mark Wahlberg tried to rap “Hurt So Good” for reasons unknown to mankind. By the time we get to “Eye of the Tiger,” we’ve covered Paul Anka swing covers, the movie Swingers (which is not about what you think), and every ridiculous tangent your mother warned you about. We close with some song swaps, listener feedback, and a reflection on how the early ’80s somehow made both syrupy ballads and aggressive workout anthems coexist on the same chart without anyone’s head exploding. Topics  00:24 – Banter and Soda Talk 01:10 – The Sprite Challenge: Darwinism in a Can 02:14 – Pop Culture News & Celebrity Deaths 04:11 – Listener Emails (Some of Which We Actually Read) 06:02 – Music Trivia and Useless but Fun Facts 07:28 – Countdown Recap + Air Supply: The Musical NyQuil 10:06 – Chicago’s Over-Apologetic Hit 18:46 – Fleetwood Mac’s Polite Cry for Affection 29:19 – Steve Miller’s “Abracadabra” (Yes, Really) 39:29 – Mellencamp Evolution: From Cougar to Heartland Icon 42:01 – Wahlberg Raps Mellencamp (You’ve Been Warned) 44:25 – Pulp Fiction & The Soul Theory (Because Why Not) 46:56 – Top 10 Recap of August 21, 1982 48:52 – “Eye of the Tiger”: From Rocky to Ringtone 54:45 – Paul Anka Swings the Tiger 56:35 – Swingers: False Advertising 58:32 – Song Substitutions & Why We’re Right 01:15:58 – Closing Thoughts & Open Season on Feedback

  39. 261

    A Vacation to the Hits of 1982

    Break out the confetti and questionable fashion choices—we’re turning six! To mark the occasion, Dave and Milt jump into their chart-shaped time machine and land smack in the neon glow of 1982, where Paul McCartney was still cranking out hits, Air Supply hadn’t yet exhausted their supply of feelings, and the Go-Go’s were busy corrupting the youth on VHS tape. You’ll get chart commentary, deep cuts of trivia, unsolicited opinions, and a listener email so good it made us want to binge a Billy Joel documentary (and maybe some Billy Joel himself). Also: CSN takes a nap, REO regrets an album, and we discover something called Johnny Aloha which... yeah, you’ll just have to listen. Oh, and there’s a game at the end where Milt tries to identify artists from insane lists Dave cooked up in a fever dream. It’s harder than it sounds. Topics & Timestamps: 01:06 – 🎂 Past 10s turns 6! (No cake. Just vibes.) 02:06 – 📬 Listener Mail: Billy Joel, Hawaiian covers, and other detours 07:35 – 🧪 Playing with podcast formats because we can 09:46 – 📻 Countdown begins: Billboard Top 10 of 1982 20:26 – 🎹 Paul McCartney takes it away (but where?) 28:30 – 🎶 Crosby, Stills & Nash still got it... kinda 34:17 – 🏖 The Go-Go’s go on Vacation and never come back 42:08 – 📉 Why that band broke up (and maybe deserved it) 42:42 – 🌺 Johnny Aloha: Hawaiian covers for people who hate normal covers 44:34 – 📼 That infamous Go-Go’s hotel video 46:50 – 👙 Sydney Sweeney controversy (because of course) 50:40 – 🚫 REO Speedwagon wishes this album never happened 56:15 – 💔 The rise and soft-rock fall of Air Supply 01:03:25 – 🎲 Play Date: The music trivia game you didn’t know you needed 01:18:08 – 🧠 Wrap-up and tease for next week (it’s gonna be good)

  40. 260

    Scenes From A Billy Joel Documentary

    Dave and Milt welcome two top-shelf Billy Joelologists: Scott Eckstein and Russ Flicker. We crack open the emotional songbook that is the HBO Max doc And So It Goes—a title that screams “quiet devastation,” like only Billy can. We’re not just talking about Uptown Girl and Glass Houses. We go deep: the musical shapeshifting, the very Jewish energy, the marriages that aged like milk, the loyal bandmates that got canned, and the critics who never really got him (but oh, how we do). You'll hear memories of epic Billy concerts, emotional gut-punch lyrics, underloved deep cuts, and hot takes on everything from “tonic and gin” to “Scenes from an Italian Restaurant” being the Bohemian Rhapsody of Long Island. It’s a love letter. It’s a roast. It’s a nuanced nosedive into the joy, the ache, and the genius of one of pop music’s most fascinating contradictions: a guy who made stadiums weep and critics wince. Come for the legacy, stay for the therapy session. Topics 00:00 – 🎙️ Welcome to Past Tens, where we tell time by top tens 00:37 – 🥂 The “tonic and gin” debate no one asked for, but here we are 01:04 – 👏 Shout-outs to our guests and Billy buffs 02:04 – 📽️ Quick primer on And So It Goes (spoiler: not a rom-com) 03:00 – 🧠 Meet the Billy Braintrust: Scott and Russ 03:58 – 🎹 First concerts, last rows, and Piano Man magic 09:41 – 🔥 10 Hot Takes on the Billy Joel Doc 10:12 – 🥊 Early career struggles and Long Island angst 21:04 – 💔 Elizabeth Weber: The wife, the manager, the mystery 30:38 – 🧐 Lyrics that are both literal and metaphorical (very Billy) 38:33 – ✡️ Billy’s Jewishness: subtle, strong, and always there 44:49 – 🎭 Style chameleon: from ballads to barroom bangers 47:49 – 📰 Why critics never got him (and why we always did) 51:37 – 👶 The surprising multi-gen appeal of Billy Joel 58:10 – 🗽 Billy and New York: a love story with traffic 01:04:46 – 🧾 Legacy and the unfair critic treatment 01:10:19 – 🎧 Hidden gems and forgotten tracks 01:19:04 – 🤐 What the doc left out (and what we won’t) 01:26:48 – 🫶 Final thoughts on a complicated icon

  41. 259

    The 1972 Albums Draft

    Hop in the Top Ten Time Machine as Dave and Milt, joined by certified grooveologists Al and Ira, crank the dials back to 1972 — a year when rock was raw, soul was deep, and at least one guy was wearing glitter and singing about space. It's time for the ABCs of Rock Draft, where our fab four draft their dream teams of albums released in this musically stacked year. Expect legends like Bowie, Wonder, and the Eagles to fly off the board early — but don't be surprised when someone grabs the Sanford and Son theme or gets misty over a reggae soundtrack. There’s glam, grit, gospel, and a live J. Geils record that might punch you in the face. Along the way: hot takes, deep tracks, accidental revelations, and one AI-generated roast session. By the end, you'll either be nostalgic for bell bottoms or in awe of how many stone-cold classics dropped in '72. Either way, you're gonna want to stick around for the final picks, the albums that got left behind, and ChatGPT’s judgment from on high. Topics 00:00 Banter & Buildup 01:55 Let the Draft Begin 02:29 Meet the Contenders: Al & Ira 05:46 Draft Order Shenanigans 10:51 Round 1: The Big Guns 20:00 Round 2: Hits, Heat, and Head-Scratchers 38:13 Acoustic Nostalgia & Campfire Vibes 39:27 T-Rex and the Rise of Glam 42:44 Deep Dive: Neil Young’s Harvest 46:01 The Grateful Dead Get Loose (Live!) 50:51 Reggae Break: The Harder They Come 53:37 Elton Drops a Honky Chateau 55:31 Mott the Hoople = Chaos & Charisma 01:00:34 J. Geils Goes Full Throttle 01:02:53 Al Green Soothes the Soul 01:06:13 Curtis Mayfield’s Superfly Soars 01:08:18 Aretha Channels Power & Grace 01:11:29 Yes Trips the Psychedelic Light Fantastic 01:12:13 Unearthing the Deep Cuts 01:13:11 Surprise Album That Shouldn’t Work (But Does) 01:14:30 Billy Preston Meets Ed Sullivan 01:17:22 Cue the Godfather Theme (Respectfully) 01:19:06 Doobie Bros Do Their Thing 01:21:44 Final Picks: Scraps or Steals? 01:25:33 The Ones That Got Away 01:33:21 ChatGPT Renders Its Verdict 01:39:05 Closing Thoughts, Goodbyes, and Maybe One More Riff  

  42. 258

    The Past Tens Riff-Off

    In this highly scientific and not at all petty episode of Past Tens, Dave and Milt throw down in the only arena that really matters anymore: pop culture debates. It’s the Past Tens Riff-Off, where no sacred cow is safe, every cow is delicious, and every opinion is shouted like it’s 1986 and you just lost your cassingles collection. The format? Timed debates. The stakes? Imaginary. The judgment? Left up to you, our dear listeners with way too much time on your hands. From Freddie Mercury vs. Mick Jagger (tight pants vs. tighter pants) to the eternal dilemma of whether a hot dog is a sandwich (it’s not, calm down), Dave and Milt spar over music, movies, TV, theme park rides, game show hosts, and more. Along the way, you’ll hear grunts, woos, awkward impersonations, and the occasional moment of clarity. Then you vote on our Facebook page to settle the debates because we’re way too biased to be trusted. Timestamps for your convenience (or if you’re hate-skimming): 00:00 – Welcome to Past Tens (you know the drill) 00:56 – Warning: Musical debates ahead 01:56 – The Riff-Off explained (kind of) 05:43 – Debate 1: Freddie Mercury vs. Mick Jagger (glam vs. strut) 11:26 – Debate 2: Pirates of the Caribbean vs. Space Mountain (eyeliner vs. nausea) 18:40 – Debate 3: Chrissie Hynde vs. Stevie Nicks (scowl vs. shawl) 24:20 – Debate 4: Top Gun ‘86 vs. Maverick ‘22 (volleyball vs. trauma) 29:52 – Debate 5: “Holiday Road” vs. “I’m Alright” (Lindsey Buckingham tries, Kenny Loggins is alright) 35:36 – Coin flips and shameless begging for votes 36:26 – Debate 6: Trebek vs. Sajak (intellect vs. wheel-spinning) 41:35 – Debate 7: “Woo” vs. “Uh!” (James Brown intensifies) 47:44 – Debate 8: Al Michaels vs. John Madden (miracle calls vs. turducken) 53:07 – Debate 9: “Come On Eileen” vs. “Turning Japanese” (one-hit wonderland) 58:45 – Final Debate: Is a hot dog a sandwich? (Yes, we're doing this.) 01:06:53 – Wrap-up and wild speculation about future episodes

  43. 257

    The Simply Red-Hot Hits of 1986

    Strap into the time machine and set the dial for July 1986, a time when Top Gun ruled the box office, synthesizers ruled the airwaves, and Kenny Loggins ruled… something. In this episode, Milt and Dave wade knee-deep through the Billboard Top 10 from a summer that gave us everything from Loggins' “Danger Zone” (still trying to make aviator sunglasses cool) to Simply Red’s “Holding Back the Years” (still holding back… the energy). Expect the usual: unsolicited nostalgia, suspiciously convenient personal stories, and yes, Milt somehow manages to rhyme “Spinal Tap” with “Trader Joe’s nap.” Don’t ask. Highlights include: A passionate defense of Janet Jackson’s “Nasty,” because someone had to. A soul-searching breakdown of Billy Ocean’s “There’ll Be Sad Songs (To Make You Cry),” which succeeds. It does indeed break down. Two grown men pretending to know the difference between Howard Jones and Howard Johnson. And the moment Peter Gabriel’s “Sledgehammer” rolls in and flattens the competition like, well, a sledgehammer. Plus: Johnny-themed trivia (because there are apparently way more songs about guys named Johnny than anyone needed), some light shade thrown at the Fabulous Thunderbirds, and a very necessary refreshing of the chart — where Dave and Milt save the Top 10 from itself by swapping in some ‘80s underdogs. Topics 00:00 - Banter: Naps, snacks, and fake bands (aka our wheelhouse) 10:47 - Listener mail, podcast gripes, and people who claim to like our show 20:18 - Blues-rock? In this economy? A look at the Fabulous Thunderbirds 37:59 - The mandatory Howard Jones detour, because optimism was a thing once 45:43 - “Danger Zone” drops in on a fighter jet and a synth budget 57:23 - Peter Gabriel brings the big weird with “Sledgehammer” 01:07:30 - “Who’s Johnny?” is asked, and not answered 01:14:59 - All-Johnny trivia. Johnny dangerously. Johnny repetitively. 01:26:51 - Janet Jackson says “No” like only she can 01:35:12 - Billy Ocean does that thing where he makes us cry on purpose 01:43:45 - Genesis makes a surprise cameo because, of course 01:59:18 - A tearful goodbye with Simply Red and his emotional rollercoaster  

  44. 256

    The Best Fake Bands of All Time

    Dave and Milt crank the amp to 11 and count down the greatest fake bands of all time. That’s right—no chart-toppers, no world tours, no actual existence. Just the fictional bands that somehow managed to rock harder than most real ones. We open with a little School of Rock, because if Jack Black doesn’t make your fake band list, you’re doing life wrong. From there, it’s a nostalgic jam session through cinematic and small-screen legends like The Commitments, The Blues Brothers, The Wonders, and—of course—the loudest band in England that’s not actually from England: Spinal Tap. Along the way, we unpack listener mail (someone really had feelings about Dr. Teeth), share stories of interns who may or may not be trapped in a basement recording kazoo solos, and ask the big questions—like how many blues brothers is too many? And is Stillwater the best band that never opened for The Allman Brothers? You’ll hear music clips, trivia drops, obscure references (you’re welcome, Christopher Guest fans), and—brace yourselves—a tease for the new Spinal Tap movie. Yes, it's happening. No, we don’t fully understand it either. So if you’ve ever air-guitared to That Thing You Do, quoted A Mighty Wind unprompted, or shouted "Shama-lama-ding-dong" in polite company… this one’s for you. Timestamps (for those who prefer structure in their musical mayhem): 00:00 – Welcome to Past Tens: We’re faking it today 01:25 – Listener mail: Love, hate, and one impassioned defense of Jem and the Holograms 03:38 – The countdown begins (cue dramatic VH1 voiceover) 10:25 – #10: School of Rock – Let’s rock, let’s rock… today 18:42 – #9: The Folksmen – Three-part harmony, one-part folk satire 25:06 – #8: Stillwater – It’s all happening (and surprisingly soulful) 33:11 – #7: Dr. Teeth & the Electric Mayhem – Muppets who shred 38:26 – #6: Otis Day & the Knights – Oh yes, we do mind if you dance with our dates 45:19 – #5: The Commitments – Soul power straight outta Dublin 48:19 – Intern tales & unlicensed musical ambition 49:08 – The Commitments, part deux – We really liked this one 52:15 – Flight of the Conchords – New Zealand’s 4th most popular parody folk duo 58:20 – The Wonders – That thing they did? Still slaps 01:06:59 – The Blues Brothers – Suited up and still cool 01:11:50 – Honorable mentions: yes, Jesse & the Rippers made the cut 01:26:13 – Spinal Tap – Stonehenge, baby. Always Stonehenge 01:35:13 – Closing thoughts and shameless plugs

  45. 255

    1975: Captain Davetastic and the Brown Dirt Milt-Boy

    Are you still reading these silly show notes? Honestly, bless your heart. You're a true Time Machiner. Or you’re just really bored at work. Anyway, on this week's episode, Dave and Milt climb into the Time Machine and rocket back to June 21, 1975 — the land of lava lamps, fringe vests, and an absolutely bonkers Billboard Top 10 Albums chart. We’re talkin’ Elton, Earth, Wind & Fire, The Beach Boys, and even Alice Cooper giving us all the Welcome-to-My-Nightmare vibes (spoiler: it’s not a lullaby). But wait — Milt’s back from Africa! That’s right, our Chartmeister went on a literal safari. Lions. Giraffes. Possibly cursed sand. He’s got stories, and Dave is mildly concerned for his health and sanity. Oh, and intern Jack "The Fact Machine" Nathanson drops in to host a chaotic 80s music trivia quiz that somehow leads to Warrant, Mr. Roboto, David Lee Roth, and yes, Michael Bolton co-writing a KISS song. You can't make this stuff up. The episode ends (because it has to) with the boys politely kicking some albums off the list and replacing them with stuff they actually like. Sorry, Chicago, but y’all were in your weird phase. 🕰️ Time-Stamps for the Attention-Deficit Among Us (Click if you’re one of those “just the hits” people) 00:00 – We’re back, baby 00:41 – Milt vs. The Jungle 01:15 – Yes, we had tech issues again 05:55 – Let’s actually talk about music 08:03 – Pele kicks a ball in America 13:00 – Tobey Maguire gets older, Jaws gets scarier 15:45 – The main event: Albums, baby! 16:09 – America’s greatest hits (no, literally) 24:47 – The Beach Boys sell out (but in a good way) 31:16 – Chicago tries weird stuff 36:41 – BTO does more than just takin’ care of biz 43:19 – Doobie Brothers before the McDonald era (prepare for harmonies) 48:30 – TRIVIA: It gets heated 50:27 – Warrant, Yes, Cinderella, Idol, Roth, Bolton(?!), Wolfgang Van Halen... it’s a TRIP 01:01:04 – Alice Cooper makes us question bedtime 01:12:15 – Tommy, can you hear me? 01:21:03 – Paul McCartney gets interplanetary with “Venus and Mars” 01:28:36 – And finally, Captain Fantastic sails in like only Elton can

  46. 254

    Your Song

    Dave, recording from a writer's retreat in Papoose Pond, Maine, taps into the power of music to evoke memories and tell stories. Dave engages with fellow retreat participants and listeners from the ‘Machine Nation’ community to share meaningful songs and the personal stories behind them. The episode features a variety of musical tastes—from The Cars' 'Just What I Needed' and Jay-Z’s 'Song Cry,' to Jefferson Starship’s 'Jane' and Otis Redding’s 'Sitting on the Dock of the Bay.' Each guest narrates why their selected song holds special significance, creating a rich tapestry of music-inspired memories, ranging from first breakups and nostalgic summers to family bonding moments and poignant personal reflections. Special contributions from listeners include mentions of Tracy Chapman's 'Fast Car,' The B-52's 'Deadbeat Club,' and Simple Minds’ 'Don’t You (Forget About Me).' The episode concludes with reflections on the connections between music, memories, and personal growth.   Topics 01:10 Deirdre: The Cars - Just What I Needed 05:38 Phil: Jay-Z - Song Cry 08:57 Wren: Veruca Salt - The Gospel According to St. Me 11:48 Leslie: Don Henley - Boys of Summer 14:18 Buzz: Otis Redding: Sitting on the Dock of the Bay 16:03 Otis Redding's Tragic Story 17:27 Bev: Hold My Hand by Jess Glynne 19:02 Brendan: Jane by Jefferson Starship 23:38 Beth: Fast Car by Tracy Chapman 24:45 Michael Patrick Lewis: The Deadbeat Club by The B-52's 25:27 Mikey O: Don't You (Forget About Me) by Simple Minds 27:39 Professor David Gallant: What Was I Made For - Billie Eilish  

  47. 253

    For Brian: Top 10 Beach Boys Songs

    Milt is in Africa. Dave is at the beach, but just metaphorically as he counts down YOUR choices for the top 10 Beach Boys songs. RIP Brian Wilson.

  48. 252

    Motorin': The Hits of 1984

    In this radical episode of Past Tens: A Top 10 Time Machine, Dave and Milt hop in their DeLorean — flux capacitor fully operational — and set the date for June 16, 1984. They're not just cruising through the Billboard Top 10; they're living it like extras in Footloose. The episode kicks off with a heartfelt and totally tubular tribute to Dave’s late father — think The Karate Kid's Mr. Miyagi, but with better dad jokes. From there, it's a parade of parachute pants, popped collars, and personal memories as they discuss the artists who ruled the airwaves: Madonna, Bruce Springsteen, Duran Duran, and Cyndi Lauper — basically the Justice League of 1984 pop. Of course, it wouldn’t be Past Tens without a few twists. There's a Playdate Quiz that would stump even The NeverEnding Story's Atreyu, a musical mashup segment that’s more chaotic than Gremlins after midnight, and their signature song substitution game — think Indiana Jones swapping the idol for a bag of sand, but with Huey Lewis tracks. Some highlights: 00:54: A heartfelt memorial for Dave’s father, complete with more heart than Kevin Bacon dancing alone in a warehouse. 08:33: Pop Culture Highlights: Ghostbusters hit theaters, Purple Rain was on the horizon, and nobody put Baby in a corner (yet — Dirty Dancing was still a few years away). 15:22: Countdown kicks off — Night Ranger’s “Sister Christian” taught us all what "motoring" really means (spoiler: it’s not what your dad thinks). 38:01: Musical Mashups — imagine Footloose meets Thriller but performed by the cast of Revenge of the Nerds. 39:22: Laura Branigan’s “Self Control” — the unofficial soundtrack to sneaking out past curfew in 1984. 44:54: Huey Lewis reminds everyone that the heart of rock and roll is still beating — even if it’s wearing leg warmers. 59:33: Steve Perry’s “Oh Sherrie,” a ballad so powerful it could get E.T. to phone home twice. 01:19:50: Cyndi Lauper’s “Time After Time” — guaranteed to make even the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man misty-eyed. 01:23:15: Cyndi’s legendary ties to the wrestling world — she could literally have body-slammed a Goonie. Milt also teases his upcoming trip to Africa, though we're unclear whether he’ll be traveling by Toto song or Temple of Doom bridge. It’s a journey that’s equal parts nostalgia, musicology, and a John Hughes movie montage. Crank up your Walkman and join the ride — just don’t feed Milt after midnight.

  49. 251

    Top 10 Episodes of The Brady Bunch

    Dave and his family count down the undisputed top 10 episodes of The Brady Bunch. Joined by his brother Adam, uncle John, and cousin Mikey, they discuss memorable appearances by guest stars like Vincent Price and Davy Jones, iconic moments such as Marcia's broken nose, and the cultural impact of the show.    Topics 00:38 Special Episode Announcement 00:58 Family Introductions 02:58 Tribute to Sol 04:50 Top 10 Brady Bunch Episodes Countdown Begins 10:50 Episode 10: A Fist Full of Reasons 16:29 Episode 9: Our Son, The Man 24:03 Episode 8: The Tiki Caves 31:31 Episode 7: Pass the Tabu 38:39 Bobby's Hero: A Disturbing Episode 41:47 The Cincinnati Kids: A Family Adventure 47:01 Marcia's Nose: A Classic Brady Moment 52:36 Time to Change: The Brady Kids Sing 59:04 Johnny Bravo: Greg's Rock Star Dream 01:06:51 Getting Davy Jones: Marsha's Idol 01:17:15 Final Thoughts and Favorite Moments

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    Worst of the Best: The Dark Side of Iconic Artists

    Dave and Milt explore the forgettable songs of their favorite artists, sometimes referred to as the 'worst of the best.' Joined by special guests, including Dave's brother Adam and intern Jack, the group dives into infamous tracks from icons like Billy Joel, Michael Jackson, Aerosmith, and more. Throughout the spirited discussion, they reveal personal anecdotes, defend their controversial choices, and cleanse the palate with some of each artist's more celebrated works. Topics 00:49 The Concert Mishap 04:14 Special Guests and Family Matters 06:57 Introducing the Intern 08:32 Tonight's Topic: The Worst of the Best 11:17 Dave's First Pick: Bryan Adams 17:34 Adam's First Pick: Michael Jackson 24:02 Milt's First Pick: The Beatles 29:49 Dave's Second Pick: Aerosmith 35:42 Adam's Second Pick: Billy Joel 41:28 Milt's Second Pick: Stevie Wonder 44:33 Sentimental Tacky Crap 45:02 Stevie Wonder's Musical Elements 46:29 Billy Joel's Modern Woman 50:51 Guns N' Roses' November Rain 56:42 Prince's Struggle with Rap 01:12:39 Fleetwood Mac's Little Lies 01:19:26 Queen's Misstep with Hot Space 01:29:42 Concluding Thoughts and Farewells

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ABOUT THIS SHOW

70s and 80s Music Fans! It’s PAST TENS: A Top 10 Time Machine! The podcast that looks back at a past list of top 10 hits and breaks down the winners, losers and WTF moments. With Michael ”Milt” Wolfe and David Yas ([email protected])Lots of fun revisiting the music of the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and beyond.The best 80s songs of all time. The best 70s songs of all time. The best cover songs. The best TV themes. The best movie soundtracks. The best cowbell songs. The worst songs of all time. The best mashups of all time. The best rock of the 70s and 80s. The best hip-hop of the 70s and 80s.

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