Stay ConnectedThe longest-running ’80s podcast—featuring interviews with music legends, movie stars, and MTV icons. Deep dives, debates, and Gen X nostalgia every week.
Hosted by Steve Spears and Brad Williams, the show blends sharp takes with insider stories from the people who lived it. From ’80s music and movies to MTV culture and pop culture history, each episode goes deeper than nostalgia to uncover what made the decade unforgettable.
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Episode 645: This week on the Stuck in the '80s Podcast, Steve, Brad and special guest Chuck Coverly celebrate the 40th anniversaries of Signals by Rush, New Gold Dream (81/82/83/84) by Simple Minds and The Nylon Curtain by Billy Joel.
There comes a point in every Gen Xer's life when you realize two things.
First, your favorite albums are celebrating milestone birthdays.
Second... you suddenly understand why comfortable shoes are so appealing.
This week on the Stuck in the '80s Podcast, Steve, Brad and returning guest co-host Chuck Coverly take a nostalgic look back at three albums that all reached the 40-year mark in the same month. While each came from a very different corner of the musical universe, all three helped define what made the early '80s such an exciting time to be discovering new music.
The journey begins with Signals, an album that found Rush embracing synthesizers without abandoning the musicianship that made the Canadian trio one of rock's most respected bands. Songs like Subdivisions captured the alienation of suburban adolescence while pointing toward a more modern sound that divided fans at the time but has only grown in stature.
Next comes New Gold Dream (81/82/83/84), the shimmering breakthrough that transformed Simple Minds from cult favorites into one of the defining acts of the decade. Long before "Don't You (Forget About Me)," this album showcased the band's cinematic ambition, atmospheric production and unmistakable style.
The discussion also revisits The Nylon Curtain, one of Billy Joel's most ambitious releases. While it may not contain as many blockbuster radio hits as some of his earlier work, many fans consider it his most mature and emotionally complex album, tackling themes that ranged from family and work to the anxieties of the Cold War era.
Throughout the conversation, Steve, Brad and Chuck compare memories of hearing these records for the first time, debate how they've aged over four decades and discuss why certain albums reveal new layers with every listen.
It's also a reminder that the early 1980s were remarkably diverse. Progressive rock, sophisticated new wave and thoughtful singer-songwriter pop all coexisted on record store shelves, giving listeners an astonishing range of musical experiences.
Whether you spent hours studying album covers, wore out your cassette copies or recently rediscovered these classics on streaming services, these records continue to reward repeat listens.
The Stuck in the '80s Podcast has spent nearly 20 years celebrating the music, movies, television and pop culture of the greatest decade ever. If you enjoy conversations like these, support the show on Patreon for bonus episodes, exclusive livestreams, behind-the-scenes stories and early access to special content.
If discussions about classic albums make you wish you had more people to geek out with, The 80s Cruise is waiting. Spend a week surrounded by fellow fans swapping stories about favorite deep cuts, unforgettable concerts and the records that changed their lives—all while enjoying performances from many of the artists who created those memories. Use promo code STUCK when booking your cabin and you'll receive a $250 cabin credit to make your voyage even more awesome.Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Olivia Newton-John didn't need the ’80s to become a star.
She entered the decade already famous thanks to a string of country-pop hits and a little 1978 movie called Grease.
But then the ’80s arrived, and Olivia Newton-John reinvented herself all over again.
In this classic Stuck in the ’80s interview, we talk with Olivia Newton-John about her music, movies and an extraordinary career that included two very different ’80s landmarks: Xanadu and “Physical.”
Released in 1980, Xanadu teamed Newton-John with Gene Kelly in a roller-skating musical fantasy that was not exactly greeted with universal acclaim.
The soundtrack was another story.
Newton-John's “Magic” reached No. 1, while the title track paired her with Electric Light Orchestra. The soundtrack also produced favorites including “Suddenly,” her duet with Cliff Richard.
Over the years, Xanadu itself underwent an unlikely transformation from notorious movie flop to beloved cult classic.
Funny how the ’80s work that way.
A year later, Newton-John completely transformed her image with Physical.
The title song became a phenomenon.
“Physical” spent 10 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it one of the biggest hits of the entire decade.
The accompanying music video — filled with headbands, workout clothes and aggressively exercised men — became an early MTV staple and helped make aerobics imagery an unavoidable part of ’80s pop culture.
The sweet-voiced singer who had once given us “Have You Never Been Mellow” was suddenly suggesting we get physical.
Message received.
Newton-John continued recording throughout the decade and reunited with John Travolta for 1983's Two of a Kind, which gave us another memorable hit, “Twist of Fate.”
In our Olivia Newton-John interview, she looks back on those projects and the remarkable ability to evolve that kept her relevant across multiple eras of popular music.
That's a big part of her appeal.
Depending on when you discovered Olivia Newton-John, she might be a country singer, Sandy from Grease, Kira from Xanadu or the woman who convinced an entire generation to start wearing headbands while exercising.
For us, she's all of them.
And we're hopelessly devoted.
Want to spend a week surrounded by ’80s music, stars and fellow fans? Join Stuck in the ’80s aboard The ’80s Cruise for trivia, live events, podcasts and plenty of other decade-inspired fun at sea.
Use promo code STUCK when booking to receive $250 in onboard credit.
Let's get nautical.
Nautical.
We apologize. It had to be done.Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
What songs, commercials and other pop culture touchstones trigger your nostalgia for the '80s? Brad and Steve reveal their darkest secrets on this episode. Also full seggies!
Stuck in the '80s is sponsored by The 80s Cruise. The 2023 lineup has been announced. Join Steve and Brad on the Royal Caribbean Navigator of the Seas on March 3-10 for a weeklong trip back to the '80s. The lineup includes: Devo, Bret Michaels, The Church, Kim Wilde, Morris Day and the Time, Howard Jones, Living Colour, Jody Watley, The Smithereens (with guest vocalist Marshall Crenshaw), Vixen, Tone Loc, Cutting Crew, Midge Ure, John Parr, Autograph, China Crisis and EXTC. Listen to this week's show to get a promo code that will get you $200 in cabin credit.
Our podcast is listener-supported via Patreon. Members get special swag and invitations to patron-only Zoom happy hours with the hosts of the podcast. Find out more at our official Patreon page.
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Kodo, Podo and Dar take a bow on the 40th anniversary of "The Beastmaster," a sword and sorcery movie that was beloved on cable networks in the '80s. Where does it rank among the competition? We talk about that and more, including full seggies.
Stuck in the '80s is sponsored by The 80s Cruise. The 2023 lineup has been announced. Join Steve and Brad on the Royal Caribbean Navigator of the Seas on March 3-10 for a weeklong trip back to the '80s. The lineup includes: Devo, Bret Michaels, The Church, Kim Wilde, Morris Day and the Time, Howard Jones, Living Colour, Jody Watley, The Smithereens (with guest vocalist Marshall Crenshaw), Vixen, Tone Loc, Cutting Crew, Midge Ure, John Parr, Autograph, China Crisis and EXTC. Listen to this week's show to get a promo code that will get you $200 in cabin credit.
Our podcast is listener-supported via Patreon. Members get special swag and invitations to patron-only Zoom happy hours with the hosts of the podcast. Find out more at our official Patreon page.
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
For Gen X movie fans, few actresses are as closely tied to the emotional awkwardness, humor and heartbreak of 1980s teen cinema as Diane Franklin. From the devastating emotional finale of The Last American Virgin to the quirky comedy of Better Off Dead, Franklin became one of the defining faces of the VHS era. This week on the Stuck in the ’80s Podcast, Spearsy sits down with Diane for a long-awaited conversation about her career, the legacy of her films and why audiences still connect so deeply with these movies decades later.
The interview begins with a deep dive into The Last American Virgin as the cult classic celebrates its 40th anniversary. Diane reflects on playing Karen and discusses the emotional complexity of a film that stood apart from many other teen sex comedies of the era thanks to its surprisingly honest and heartbreaking ending. Spearsy and Diane revisit how audiences reacted to the movie during the early 1980s and why its themes of friendship, rejection and growing up still resonate with viewers today.
The conversation also explores Better Off Dead, the surreal comedy starring John Cusack that gradually evolved into one of the most beloved cult movies of the MTV generation. Diane shares stories about working on the film, its quirky humor and the strange journey from overlooked comedy to endlessly quoted fan favorite on cable TV and VHS.
Along the way, Spearsy and Diane discuss the evolution of ’80s nostalgia culture, including modern revisits to franchises like Bill & Ted Face the Music and why audiences continue rediscovering the movies that captured the emotional chaos of adolescence before smartphones and social media changed everything.
If you love ’80s teen movies, cult comedies, VHS nostalgia and behind-the-scenes conversations with the actors who helped define Gen X cinema, this episode belongs in your playlist.
The Stuck in the ’80s Podcast has spent nearly 20 years celebrating the music, movies, television and pop culture of the greatest decade ever. Support the show on Patreon for bonus episodes, exclusive livestream hangouts, behind-the-scenes content and merch for longtime listeners.
And don’t forget: Spearsy and Brad will once again be part of The 80s Cruise, the ultimate floating celebration of ’80s music and nostalgia. Use promo code STUCK when booking your cabin to receive up to $250 in onboard cabin credit while sailing with fellow Gen X fans and enjoying performances and appearances from many of the decade’s biggest artists.Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
How well do you remember the chart-topping songs from 1988? How about the songs that only got to No. 2 on the chart but no further? This week, we look at more songs from 1988 that topped out at No. 2 on the chart, including hits by Richard Marx, Johnny Hates Jazz and the Mouth Breathers.
Stuck in the '80s is sponsored by The 80s Cruise. The 2023 lineup has been announced. Join Steve and Brad on the Royal Caribbean Navigator of the Seas on March 3-10 for a weeklong trip back to the '80s. The lineup includes: Devo, Bret Michaels, The Church, Kim Wilde, Morris Day and the Time, Howard Jones, Living Colour, Jody Watley, The Smithereens (with guest vocalist Marshall Crenshaw), Vixen, Tone Loc, Cutting Crew, Midge Ure, John Parr, Autograph, China Crisis and EXTC. Listen to this week's show to get a promo code that will get you $200 in cabin credit.
Our podcast is listener-supported via Patreon. Members get special swag and invitations to patron-only Zoom happy hours with the hosts of the podcast. Find out more at our official Patreon page.
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Few musicians embody the ambition, creativity and emotional depth of the 1980s quite like Midge Ure. As the frontman of Ultravox and a driving creative force behind both Live Aid and Band Aid, Ure helped shape not only the sound of the MTV era but also the idea that pop music could become a powerful force for social change. This week on the Stuck in the ’80s Podcast, Spearsy sits down with Midge for a thoughtful and wide-ranging conversation about music, creativity and the emotional role songs continue to play in people’s lives decades later.
During the interview, Midge reflects on the rise of Ultravox during the late 1970s and early 1980s and how the group helped define the sophisticated synth-driven sound that became central to the new wave era. Spearsy and Midge discuss iconic songs like Vienna and the emotional atmosphere that made Ultravox stand apart from many of the decade’s more disposable pop acts.
The conversation also revisits the creation of Band Aid and the legendary Live Aid concerts, two landmark cultural moments that demonstrated how musicians could unite audiences around humanitarian causes. Midge reflects on the overwhelming scale of those events, the behind-the-scenes challenges and the lasting legacy of music-driven activism during the MTV era.
Along the way, Spearsy and Midge discuss the 2022 tour with Howard Jones, modern touring life and why music continues serving as a healing and connective force during uncertain times. The conversation becomes deeply reflective at moments, touching on aging, creativity and the emotional bond artists form with audiences across generations.
If you love synth-pop, new wave, Live Aid history, MTV nostalgia and thoughtful conversations with one of the defining musicians of the 1980s, this episode belongs in your playlist.
The Stuck in the ’80s Podcast has spent nearly 20 years celebrating the music, movies, television and pop culture of the greatest decade ever. Support the show on Patreon for bonus episodes, exclusive livestream hangouts, behind-the-scenes content and merch for longtime listeners.
And don’t forget: Spearsy and Brad will once again be part of The 80s Cruise, the ultimate floating celebration of ’80s music and nostalgia. Use promo code STUCK when booking your cabin to receive up to $250 in onboard cabin credit while sailing with fellow Gen X fans and enjoying performances and appearances from many of the decade’s biggest artists.Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Our favorite '80s author Steven Manchester returns to the show to talk about his new book set in the summer of 1984 - "Lawn Darts and Lemonade." Plus, full seggies.
Stuck in the '80s is sponsored by The 80s Cruise. The 2023 lineup has been announced. Join Steve and Brad on the Royal Caribbean Navigator of the Seas on March 3-10 for a weeklong trip back to the '80s. The lineup includes: Devo, Bret Michaels, The Church, Kim Wilde, Morris Day and the Time, Howard Jones, Living Colour, Jody Watley, The Smithereens (with guest vocalist Marshall Crenshaw), Vixen, Tone Loc, Cutting Crew, Midge Ure, John Parr, Autograph, China Crisis and EXTC. Listen to this week's show to get a promo code that will get you $200 in cabin credit.
Our podcast is listener-supported via Patreon. Members get special swag and invitations to patron-only Zoom happy hours with the hosts of the podcast. Find out more at our official Patreon page.
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Did anyone seriously think a sequel to "Top Gun" was a good idea when you first heard about it a dozen years ago? Color us convinced in Tom Cruise's vision now that we've seen the final, amazing product. Here's our review of "Top Gun: Maverick."
Stuck in the '80s is sponsored by The 80s Cruise. The 2023 lineup has been announced. Join Steve and Brad on the Royal Caribbean Navigator of the Seas on March 3-10 for a weeklong trip back to the '80s. The lineup includes: Devo, Bret Michaels, The Church, Kim Wilde, Morris Day and the Time, Howard Jones, Living Colour, Jody Watley, The Smithereens (with guest vocalist Marshall Crenshaw), Vixen, Tone Loc, Cutting Crew, Midge Ure, John Parr, Autograph, China Crisis and EXTC. Listen to this week's show to get a promo code that will get you $200 in cabin credit.
Our podcast is listener-supported via Patreon. Members get special swag and invitations to patron-only Zoom happy hours with the hosts of the podcast. Find out more at our official Patreon page.
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
So many amazing albums were released 40 years ago in May 1982. This week, we honor two of them: "Special Forces" by 38 Special and "Combat Rock" by The Clash. Also, a review of the Cruel World music festival in Southern California.
Stuck in the '80s is sponsored by The 80s Cruise. The 2023 lineup has been announced. Join Steve and Brad on the Royal Caribbean Navigator of the Seas on March 3-10 for a weeklong trip back to the '80s. The lineup includes: Devo, Bret Michaels, The Church, Kim Wilde, Morris Day and the Time, Howard Jones, Living Colour, Jody Watley, The Smithereens (with guest vocalist Marshall Crenshaw), Vixen, Tone Loc, Cutting Crew, Midge Ure, John Parr, Autograph, China Crisis and EXTC. Listen to this week's show to get a promo code that will get you $200 in cabin credit.
Our podcast is listener-supported via Patreon. Members get special swag and invitations to patron-only Zoom happy hours with the hosts of the podcast. Find out more at our official Patreon page.
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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