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

Latest Episodes:

Annie Zaleski Counts Down The 1988 KROQ Hits Jul 18, 2025

Show notes

From her newly-released books on Cher and Taylor Swift, to her recent featured articles in the LA Times and The Onion's A.V. Club, it's clear Music Journalist Annie Zaleski has a lot on her plate.

Somehow, she found the time for us to discuss all that's going on in her world, as well as take a look back at the year 1988 and offer up her opinion on songs 60 to 51 from Los Angeles radio station KROQ’s year-end playlist.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lori Majewski Has A Lust For Lists Jul 11, 2025

Show notes

Lori Majewski is one of us, a true 80s music fan. Her career started with Lori sneaking into hotels and airports because she wanted to meet her favorite artists. She now rubs elbows with many of those same people.

Her book, Mad World: An Oral History of New Wave Artists and Songs That Defined the 1980s, celebrates the New Wave music phenomenon. You can hear her bring those stories to life every day on SiriusXM's 1st Wave. Her weekly feature, Lust For Lists, weaves together a playlist highlighting special events or themes from our favorite decade.

Lori now uses her super 80s music knowledge to share with us her thoughts on the music played on the World Famous KROQ in Los Angeles, as we take a look at the year 1988, and focus in on songs 70-61.

Sponsored by The 80s Cruise

Use promo code WDDIM for $250 of onboard credit

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Translator Goes Beyond Today Jun 20, 2025

Show notes

Translator was one of those bands on the precipice of breaking big in the 80s. Signed to local indie label 415 Records, they soon found themselves part of the big-time music business when their label signed a distribution deal with Columbia Records. In 1982, their single, "Everywhere That I'm Not”, became popular on the burgeoning college radio circuit.

In 1986, the band decided to call it quits, scheduling a hometown show to reward their ardent fan base with a final San Francisco show. This performance, along with two new songs, are now available on an LP entitled Translator--Beyond Today: Live at the Farm San Francisco 1986.

Lead singer/guitarist Steve Barton and drummer Dave Scheff join the podcast to look back at their 80s musical journey, as well as offer some insight into new developments within the band.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott McCaughey Gets His Oar On The Minus 5 Jun 06, 2025

Show notes

Imagine someone unfamiliar with Scott McCaughey, asking him the name of his band. It's not an easy question to answer.

Over a four decade career, indie rock cult hero, Scott McCaughey, has been a member of so many bands, including R.E.M., Young Fresh Fellows, Baseball Project, Filthy Friends, and Robyn Hitchcock & The Venus 3, to name a few. But The Minus 5 has remained one of the most enduring projects of his storied résumé.

And now, after a five year hiatus, The Minus 5 return with their album, Oar On, Penelope!.

Scott steps into our virtual studio, and we soon learn that the immediate, relatively unadorned, and somewhat more positive music on the album matches up perfectly with the man.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Murray Attaway Plays Tense Music May 30, 2025

Show notes

Murray Attaway, formerly of Guadalcanal Diary, one of college rock radio's favorite bands in the 80s, joins the podcast to talk about his new solo album, Tense Music Plays. It's the first album from Murray in more than 30 years, so we wanted to find out what he did upon dropping out of the music business, and what prompted his return.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Annie Zaleski Celebrates Cher May 16, 2025

Show notes

Whether it's Taylor Swift, Harry Styles, or Duran Duran, music journalist Annie Zaleski immerses herself in each project. Now Annie takes on a true icon: Cher. The book is called I Got You Babe: A Celebration Of Cher. This gives us a chance to revisit all our favorite Cher moments, from her variety show with Sonny, to her fashion sense, to her movies. Cher has always fascinated us, and so we turn to Annie to figure out why Cher means so much to us.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Suzanne Vega: Flying With Angels May 02, 2025

Show notes

Singer/Songwriter Suzanne Vega has been recording her songs of personal reflection and social issues for more than 40 years. Her latest record, Flying With Angels, is her first full-length album of new music in over a decade. Suzanne joins the podcast to talk about the album, family life, and getting her start playing the New York folk scene in the early 80s.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Vicki Peterson and John Cowsill: Long After The Fire Apr 25, 2025

Show notes

Vicki Peterson and John Cowsill have been married since 2003. Vicki is a member of The Bangles, along with her sister Debbi. John Cowsill is a member of the platinum-selling family band, The Cowsills. So it’s been a long time coming for Vicki and John to release their own debut Americana album, comprised of songs written by John’s late brothers, Barry and Bill Cowsill. The album is titled Long After The Fire, and is out now. The couple join our podcast, where they reminisce about singing in the family car, The Partridge Family, playing drums for another family band, called The Beach Boys, and creating their own music together.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Paul Rappaport Glides Over Hollywood Apr 18, 2025

Show notes

It's good to be Paul Rappaport. As the head of Rock Promotion at Columbia Records, Paul rubbed shoulders with the likes of The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, and Alice In Chains. It was Paul's creativity and enthusiasm that contributed to his success in getting his artists' music played on the radio. It's all documented in his book, Gliders Over Hollywood: Airships, Airplay And The Art Of Rock Promotion.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

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

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected