Episodes

  • History in Five Songs Episode 315: Metal Classics That Sold Nothing

    History in Five Songs Episode 315: Metal Classics That Sold Nothing
    Jul 8 2025
    In Episode 315 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin dives deep into the fascinating world of heavy metal albums that never achieved gold certification, spotlighting legendary but commercially underperforming releases from Black Sabbath, Angel Witch, Slayer, Venom, Mercyful Fate, and more — proving that critical acclaim and genre-defining influence don't always come with big sales. Black Sabbath – “Hot Line” Angel Witch – “Atlantis” Venom – “Sacrifice” Savatage – “On the Run” Scorpions – “Pictured Life” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    38 mins
  • History in Five Songs Episode 313: What did you do during hair metal?

    History in Five Songs Episode 313: What did you do during hair metal?
    Jun 24 2025
    In Episode 313 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin delves into how a wide range of hard rock and metal bands navigated the hair metal era—from those who ignored it entirely, to those who subtly adapted, stayed the course, or went in completely bizarre directions. Black Sabbath – “Call of the Wild” Scorpions – “Hit Between the Eyes” Queen – “Pain Is So Close to Pleasure” Kiss – “Good Girl Gone Bad” Starz – “Rock Six Times” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    36 mins
  • History in Five Songs Episode 312: Unexpected AOR Albums

    History in Five Songs Episode 312: Unexpected AOR Albums
    Jun 17 2025
    In Episode 312 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin explores a curious subset of rock history—unexpected AOR albums—by spotlighting bands like Heart and Yes that made surprising forays into glossy, radio-friendly territory during the early ’80s, blurring the lines between prog, pop, and proto–hair metal. Heart – “Heavy Heart” Yes – “City of Love” Blue Öyster Cult – “Eyes on Fire” Golden Earring – “Enough Is Enough” Sammy Hagar – “Remote Love” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    36 mins
  • History in Five Songs Episode 311: Covers, not grunge, killed hair metal.

    History in Five Songs Episode 311: Covers, not grunge, killed hair metal.
    Jun 10 2025
    In Episode 311 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin argues that the real nail in hair metal's coffin wasn’t grunge, but the wave of uninspired cover songs that undermined the genre’s credibility and alienated metal purists from the very start. Quiet Riot – “Cum on Feel the Noize” Great White – “Gimme Some Lovin’” Mötley Crüe – “Smokin’ in the Boys Room” Twisted Sister – “Leader of the Pack” Poison – “Your Mama Don’t Dance” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    37 mins
  • History in Five Songs Episode 310: Struggling with the Greatest New Wave Bands

    History in Five Songs Episode 310: Struggling with the Greatest New Wave Bands
    Jun 3 2025
    In Episode 310 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin wrestles with defining the genre and counts down his five favorite—yet genre-challengingly eclectic—new wave bands, kicking off with the Boomtown Rats and Devo in a tightly-defined 1979-focused episode. The Boomtown Rats – “Keep it Up” Devo – “Blockhead” The Police – “No Time This Time” The Jam – “Girl on the Phone” XTC – “Scissor Man” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    39 mins
  • History in Five Songs Episode 309: New Wave’s Pub Rock Problem

    History in Five Songs Episode 309: New Wave’s Pub Rock Problem
    May 27 2025
    In Episode 309 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin delves into the theory that traditional, conservative pub rock diluted the innovation of New Wave, highlighting how artists like Elvis Costello, Joe Jackson, and Rockpile carried this "pub rock problem" into a genre otherwise defined by its creative and edgy origins. Elvis Costello – “The Beat” Joe Jackson – “Kinda Kute” Rockpile – “A Knife and a Fork” Talking Heads – “New Feeling” Patti Smith – “Space Monkey” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    39 mins
  • History in Five Songs Episode 308: Who invented new wave?

    History in Five Songs Episode 308: Who invented new wave?
    May 20 2025
    In Episode 308 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin dives into the murky origins of new wave music, exploring whether bands like Velvet Underground and Roxy Music truly helped invent the genre—or if new wave simply evolved without a clear starting point. Velvet Underground – “Some Kinda Love” Roxy Music – “All I Want Is You” Iggy Pop – “Sister Midnight” David Bowie – “Word on a Wing” The Sex Pistols – “No Feelings” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    33 mins