A (Mostly) 80s Music Podcast: What Difference Does It Make?

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Mark Goodman: Big 80s Icon Dec 11, 2020

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We couldn't be more delighted to talk with self-described "Big 80s Icon", Mark Goodman. Of course, we all know him as an MTV VJ, but his roots are in radio and so we dig into his start working small town markets, and moving on to free-form radio and what it was like to be in the eye of the hurricane during the beginning of MTV. You can currently hear Mark on the SiriusXM show "Debatable" which can be found on their Volume channel as well as 80s on 8.

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John Lennon 1980 Dec 04, 2020

Show notes

Like many significant moments in our lives, we remember where we were when we heard the devastating news about John Lennon. We tell our stories and then turn it over to a couple people that surrounded the event of December 8. Mark Goodman was on the air on New York radio station WPLJ on the evening of December 8, 1980 and photographer Bob Gruen was a family photographer for the Lennon family, capturing John and Yoko during the recording of Double Fantasy. We also talk with author Tim English. His new book "John Lennon: 1980 Playlist" does a deep dive into the music that captured John's attention in the year he created his new album after a five year self-imposed hiatus.

If you'd like to hear the music that inspired John we have a Spotify playlist for you.

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Jules Shear Slower and Unplugged Nov 27, 2020

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Jules Shear created a name for himself as a pop songwriter in the 80s writing Top 40 hits like "All Through The Night" for Cyndi Lauper and "If She Knew What She Wants" by The Bangles. He's also the originator of MTV's Unplugged series hosting and playing on the show in its first season back in 1989. He's been releasing his own classic material for nearly 40 years now. His just released album is entitled "Slower" and we sat down with Jules to discuss his songwriting process, Unplugged and of course, "Slower".

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Aerosmith at 50. Interview with author Richard Bienstock Nov 20, 2020

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November 6, 1970 marked the first ever gig for the band Aerosmith. It was played at Nipmuc Regional High School Gymnasium in Mendon, Massachusetts. To paraphrase "Walk This Way", we can easily imagine there were definitely at least "three young ladies in the school gym locker" that were staring at the band. The band continues to capture our attention so we talked with author Richard Bienstock to touch on just a few of the reasons on why we love this band. Richard is the author of "Aerosmith: The Ultimate Illustrated History of the Bad Boys From Boston". The book which came out ten years ago has recently been updated with additional material to celebrate their 50th anniversary.

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Strum and Thrum: The American Jangle Underground 1983-1987 Nov 13, 2020

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What Difference Does It Make celebrates the release of Strum and Thrum by talking with members of the Bangtails, The Ferrets, Great Plains, and The Darrows as well as Captured Tracks label head, Mike Sniper. The Strum & Thrum compilation includes an 80+ page booklet with an extensive oral history of the ‘80s indie scene and tons of archival images and ephemera. If you're wondering what "strum and thrum" means well so are most of the bands on this compilation. All we can say is that if you loved college rock from the 80s, this might just be the music you never knew you loved.

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Bob Gruen: Rock and Roll Photographer Nov 06, 2020

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Bob Gruen has snapped so many iconic photos of our rock and roll heroes from Tina Turner to John Lennon to Led Zeppelin to Green Day. His memoir is called "Right Place, Right Time". As Bob tells us, it's a matter of anticipation, patience and skill as well as being in the right place at the right time.. We touch on just a few of the amazing stories in his book including how he created a magical photo of Tina Turner, getting on the bus with the Sex Pistols and why he thinks Bob Dylan hates him.

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Dylan Jones: A New Romantic Oct 30, 2020

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Dylan Jones new book "Sweet Dreams: The Story Of The New Romantics" covers our sweet spot of music fandom 1975-1985 and so we have many questions. The book is not only an oral history of the music scene in the UK but a personal one for Dylan as he shares his experience as a clubbing "Blitz Kid". We start with Bowie and Roxy Music and and go up to Boy George and Live Aid. Dylan Jones has amassed hundreds of interviews and it's great to hear his insight into a music scene that has not received the recognition it so richly deserves.

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Eddie Van Halen Tribute Oct 09, 2020

Show notes

You don't need to know anything about the guitar to know that what Eddie Van Halen did when he placed his fingers on those strings was something totally unique. Holly and Dave do their best to unpack the impact he had on popular culture with his guitar playing. When they run out of words they call in their friends, SiriusXM personality, Mark Goodman and journalist Craig Rosen to give their perspective.

We made a Spotify playlist of some of our favorite Eddie Van Halen solos. You can hear it from our website

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Peter Himmelman presses on Oct 02, 2020

Show notes

Singer-Songwriter Peter Himmelman takes us on the journey that led to his latest album "Press On". We talk about the songwriting process and the discipline that Peter needs to keep pushing himself to become a better songwriter. We also touch on how his move to the east coast has affected his creation of new work, the frustration in his the inability to play in front of a live audience and his desire to one day start up a band again. Peter has his guitar with him and that makes for some fun improv songs. It's a great episode so press on and enjoy!

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BrownMark: Bassist for Prince and The Revolution Sep 25, 2020

Show notes

As we continue our talk with BrownMark, we get into his complex relationship with Prince, There are good and bad times in the studio and concert stage. BrownMark learns some valuable lessons about the music industry when he tries to create his own band, Mazarati, whom he believes could have been the black Guns 'n Roses.

We also talk about the future as BrownMark is already planning a sequel to his current book "My Life In The Purple Kingdom" published by the University of Minnesota Press and available now from your favorite independent bookstore.

Get three FREE months of Amazon Music courtesy of your 80s music aficionados at What Difference Does It Make

This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts.

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