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

david@pod617.com

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 (david@pod617.com) 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. 1D AGO

    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

    30 min
  2. JUN 6

    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.

    1h 50m
  3. MAY 16

    Back to School: The Hits of 1990

    Milt and Dave revisit the billboard top 10 hits from May 19, 1990, a significant date marking their college graduation. The duo analyzes, critiques, and discusses the lasting impact of songs like 'Vogue' by Madonna, 'Nothing Compares 2 U' by Sinéad O'Connor, and 'Poison' by Bell Biv Devoe. They also humorously reminisce about their younger days and milestone moments while navigating the chart. Additionally, the episode includes special segments such as the 'Substitution' where each host replaces a chart song with another hit from the same period. Highlights include debates over which hits have truly stood the test of time and personal anecdotes from their college years. Don't miss this nostalgic deep dive into the music of 1990.   Topics 00:21 Cheesesteak Challenge and Jazz Fest Highlights 01:40 Public Pooping Debate 03:21 Donovan McNabb Bathroom Encounter 05:09 College Memories and Listener Shoutouts 07:04 Time Machine to 1990 16:02 Aerosmith's 'What It Takes' 23:46 Roxette's 'It Must Have Been Love' 30:09 Bell Biv DeVoe's 'Poison' 36:10 Beatles' Hidden Messages and Radio Show Scares 37:38 Bell Biv DeVoe and the 2023 Winter Classic 41:25 Calloway Brothers and Their Musical Journey 47:42 Janet Jackson's 'Alright' and Its Samples 57:04 The Worst Song We've Ever Covered 01:01:46 Wilson Phillips' Cheesy but Comforting Hit 01:07:03 Heart's Controversial Story Song 01:12:02 The Mystery of Jacob A. 01:12:32 Analyzing Iconic Lyrics 01:13:16 The Story Behind 'Nothing Compares 2 U' 01:19:39 SNL and Pop Culture Moments 01:21:41 Madonna's 'Vogue' and Its Impact 01:26:24 Top 10 Songs Recap 01:32:06 Musical Substitutions and Reflections 01:40:04 Final Thoughts and Farewell

    1h 46m
  4. MAY 2

    The Hits of 1969. Right On.

    Right on, brothers and sisters! In this righteous trip of Past 10s: A Top 10 Time Machine, cosmic cats Dave and Milt take a far-out journey back to the Billboard Top 10 hits of May 3, 1969. From Glen Campbell’s heartfelt “Galveston” to the celestial vibes of “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In” by The Fifth Dimension, our mellow duo raps about the stories behind the tunes, their cultural mojo, and whether they still groove today, man. ✨ They dig deep into the righteous jam “Time is Tight” by Booker T. & the M.G.’s and blow your mind with a trippy quiz on wild and woolly story songs. So tune in, turn on, and drop into some sonic bliss while the fellas lay down the good vibes and mind-expanding history from the Age of Aquarius. 🌀 Cosmic Time Breakdown: 00:00 – Peaceful Intro & Friendly Vibes 01:29 – Guest Shoutout & Nineties Flashback 02:13 – Jazz Fest Vibes & Pearl Jam Jammin’ 04:20 – 1969: Enter the Time Machine, baby 05:24 – Countin’ Down the Top 10 Trip Tunes 12:38 – Glen Campbell’s Soulful “Galveston” 19:47 – Simon & Garfunkel’s Heavy “The Boxer” 29:46 – Play Date: A Far-Out Story Song Quiz 34:19 – Digging the Tale of “A Boy Named Sue” 35:18 – Songs That Tell It Like It Is 40:17 – TV Themes That Blew Our Minds 41:18 – The Ventures: Instrumental Pioneers 56:51 – Booker T. & the M.G.’s: Tight Time Vibes 01:09:53 – Blood, Sweat & Tears, Jazz Rock Wizards 01:11:03 – Grammys Got You Down? Let’s Rap 01:11:58 – Woodstock & Choosing the Cosmic Path 01:12:20 – Tracing the Roots of B.S.&T. 01:12:54 – Podcast Lingo & Pop Culture Trips 01:13:38 – Brenda Holloway’s Soulful Influence 01:14:39 – Groovy Variety Shows & Wacky TV 01:19:04 – The Cowsills & the Hair-y Revolution 01:25:46 – The Isley Brothers Bring the Funk 01:31:24 – “Aquarius” Shines Its Golden Light 01:35:48 – Reflection Time & Final Vibes 🌈

    1h 50m
    4.9
    out of 5
    69 Ratings

    About

    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 (david@pod617.com) 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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