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

Dave and Milt (the Chart Meister, not the Chart Master) celebrate what might be their 300th episode—give or take a few missed weeks and some lazy counting—by ditching the usual Billboard time-travel format and revisiting excerpts from their very first Past Tens episode from June 2019. They roast their early scripted, nervous energy, debate why certain catchphrases and categories stuck (Bad Remake, What the Fuck Were We Thinking, Never Heard Of It), and reminisce about recording in a Boston studio before switching to Zoom during COVID. Along the way they revisit early obsessions with Casey Kasem, grim “long distance dedication” letters, the terrifying TV movie Special Bulletin, awful and unnecessary covers, forgotten chart oddities, and beloved surprise discoveries like the Osmonds’ “Down by the Lazy River.” They close with a nostalgia debate, a fake monetization pitch, and promises of “300 more.”   Topics 02:00 Is This Episode 300?  02:52 Origin Story Enemy Lines 03:49 Anniversary Format Explained 06:02 Podcast Bits And Signposts 07:13 Replaying Episode One Intro 09:04 Early Nerves And No Scripts 12:42 Influences Hit Parade Rewatchables 15:16 Chartmeister Origins 17:46 Casey Kasem Dedication Clip 22:20 Pop Culture Flashback Special Bulletin 27:59 Bad Remakes Return 31:50 Guns N Roses Covers 32:59 Madonna Cover Disaster 33:44 Early Podcast Tech Chaos 35:55 Worst Hits Hall of Shame 40:53 Never Heard Of Gems 44:46 Osmonds Lazy River Surprise 46:48 Variety Show Flashback 51:24 Wild Trivia and Song Stories 56:17 Happy Days Nostalgia Theory 01:02:59 Anniversary Wrap and Goodbye

Dave and Milt jump into the Billboard Rock Tracks chart for the week ending March 10, 1984. They set the scene with Splash, Dallas, and Ed Koch’s Mayor, then count down the rock top 10: Yes “Leave It,” Van Halen “Panama,” Eurythmics “Here Comes the Rain Again,” Pretenders “Middle of the Road,” John Lennon “Nobody Told Me,” 38 Special “Back Where You Belong,” Kenny Loggins “Footloose,” Manfred Mann’s Earth Band “Runner,” Christine McVie “Got a Hold on Me,” and Van Halen “Jump.” They debate best song (leaning “Panama”), run a “back” title lightning quiz, and do substitutions: Milt swaps out “Runner” for Genesis “It’s Gonna Get Better,” while Dave replaces 38 Special with Genesis “Illegal Alien,” noting its later embarrassment.    Topics 00:00 Cold Open Chaos 00:22 Welcome To Past Tens 00:48 McDonalds CEO Big Arch 02:51 Listener Shoutouts 05:42 Susanna Hoffs Meetup 08:04 Time Jump To 1984 08:50 Rock Charts Explained 10:21 Spinal Tap And Oscars 13:27 This Week In 1984 16:16 Number 10 Yes Leave It 21:31 A Cappella Tangent 26:07 Number 9 Van Halen Panama 30:34 DLR Aging And Legacy 36:58 Number 8 Eurythmics 39:59 Crude Banter Reset 40:49 Here Comes the Rain Again 42:06 Depression and Meaning 43:04 Middle of the Road 45:05 Pretenders Backstory 51:19 Lennon Nobody Told Me 54:54 AI Hallucination Rant 56:43 Pluribus Turkish Cover 01:00:00 38 Special Back Where 01:05:54 Back Title Quiz 01:14:17 Footloose Hall Debate 01:18:01 Genre Wars and Prince 01:18:57 Kenny Loggins Case 01:20:30 Footloose Fame Burden 01:22:24 Runner Eighties Excess 01:26:55 Christine McVie Spotlight 01:32:20 Jump and Van Halen 01:37:18 Triple Jump Mashup 01:39:17 Winners and Recap 01:41:49 Substitution and Wilhelm 01:43:46 Genesis Deep Cuts 01:47:30 Illegal Alien Debate 01:52:50 Time Machine Verdict 01:54:51 Wrap Up and Farewell

Dave and Milt open with shout-outs to a five-star review from the mysterious “BeanieGirl6” and an email from listener Jack (now in Houston) defending Edward Bear and sharing trivia about Roberta Flack’s inspiration. They then rank the 2025 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 17 nominees by “worthiness,” focusing on their top 10 while also predicting who will be inducted, using athlete analogies and ChatGPT-generated sandwich comps. Their top 10 includes Iron Maiden (#10, their biggest disagreement), Joy Division/New Order, Billy Idol, Pink, Oasis, Wu-Tang Clan, Black Crowes, INXS, Phil Collins (solo), and Mariah Carey. They briefly discuss the seven left out—Jeff Buckley, New Edition, Melissa Etheridge, Lauryn Hill, Shakira, Luther Vandross, and Sade—debating genre boundaries and noting snubs like the B-52s, Coldplay, and Devo.   Topics 00:52 Listener Reviews Mailbag 05:28 Rock Hall Premise 08:08 Take Us to the Iron Maiden 16:19 Old Band, New Order 22:59 Idle Thoughts on Billy  29:51 ‘P!nk,’ We Exclaim! 36:35 Water, Water Everywhere, but an Oasis? 42:05 Wu-Tang: Not Your Grandparents’ Clan 47:18 Back in Black Crowes 51:22 Peak Value And Sandwich Talk 53:55 Hey Hall, What You Need is INXS 01:00:34 Phil Collins: I Don’t Care Anymore. Or do I? 01:06:03 Also Rans Quick Hits 01:06:21 Jeff Buckley? Hallelujah! New Edition? WTF? 01:09:52 Melissa And Lauryn’s Mild Adventure 01:14:18 Shakira Don’t Lie; Luther Doesn’t Play, All the Marquis Love Sade 01:22:39 Hello, Diva! Mariah Carey 01:29:15 Wrap Up And Snubs. And Cheese.

Dave and the Chartmeister Michael “Milt” Wolfe review the Billboard Top 10 for the week ending March 10, 1973, after chatting about Milt’s trip to Savannah, snow in Massachusetts, and assorted pop-culture tangents. They cover period context including Dark Side of the Moon’s U.S. release, the “Great Michigan pizza funeral,” KISS’s first makeup show, and the death of Grateful Dead member Pigpen. The countdown includes Jermaine Jackson’s “Daddy’s Home,” John Denver’s “Rocky Mountain High,” Dr. Hook’s “Cover of the Rolling Stone,” Elton John’s “Crocodile Rock,” Deodato’s “Also Sprach Zarathustra (2001),” the O’Jays’ “Love Train,” the Spinners’ “Could It Be I’m Falling in Love,” Edward Bear’s “Last Song,” “Dueling Banjos,” and Roberta Flack’s “Killing Me Softly.” They pick weekly winners, swap out songs for Steely Dan’s “Reelin’ in the Years” and the Moody Blues’ “I’m Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band),” run a train-themed riddle game, grade the week a B, and preview a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominees episode.   Topics 00:26 Hosts Return And Updates 02:24 Savannah Vs Snow Talk 05:09 Time Machine To 1973 06:40 Week In History Highlights 10:59 Pop Culture Backdrop 15:06 Top 10 Begins Number 10 23:46 John Denver Rocky Mountain High 29:16 Dr Hook Cover Of Rolling Stone 37:39 Elton John Crocodile Rock 40:24 Silly Song Breakdown 41:34 Funky 2001 Theme 45:59 Walk On Music Talk 51:03 Love Train Origins 53:32 Love Train In Pop Culture 57:06 Train Riddle Playdate 01:10:39 Spinners Philly Soul 01:14:32 Paul Stanley Soul Covers 01:17:52 Kiss Makeup Debate 01:19:29 Edward Bear Deep Dive 01:23:55 Dueling Banjos Origins 01:32:45 Roberta Flack Breakdown 01:38:53 Recap and Awards 01:41:33 Substitutions and Swaps 01:50:55 Week Grade and Wrap 01:54:34 Next Week Tease

Dave records an episode of the Past Tens: Top 10 Time Machine podcast without co-host Milt (who is away on a winter trip or something) and brings on his brother Adam Yas as guest co-host. Each present a personal top 10 list of the greatest opening lines of 1980s songs, alternating picks and briefly discussing why each first line stands out. Adam explains his criteria: lyrical quality, vocal delivery, the artistic statement/arrival moment for the artist, and whether the line opens a great song. They discuss and play clips of selections including Wall of Voodoo’s “Mexican Radio” (Adam’s #10), De La Soul’s “Me Myself and I” (Dave’s #10), Madonna’s “Like a Virgin” (Adam’s #9), ’Til Tuesday’s “Voices Carry” (Dave’s #9, with Dave recalling seeing Amy Mann perform in Boston), Motörhead’s “Ace of Spades” (Adam’s #8, discovered via The Young Ones), Dennis DeYoung’s “Desert Moon” (Dave’s #8), Duran Duran’s “Rio” (Adam’s #7, including discussion of Patrick Nagel’s cover art and the band’s image), Elton John’s “Kiss the Bride” (Dave’s #7), Guns N’ Roses’ “Welcome to the Jungle” (Adam’s #6, framed as a major cultural turning point), Neneh Cherry’s “Buffalo Stance” (Dave’s #6, with background on her family), Run-DMC’s “King of Rock” (Adam’s #5, plus Adam’s middle-school lip-sync story), Poison’s “Fallen Angel” (Dave’s #5), Jane’s Addiction’s “Mountain Song” (Adam’s #4, with Perry Farrell’s impact and Lollapalooza mentioned), Foreigner’s “Jukebox Hero” (Dave’s #4), The Ramones’ “I Wanna Be Sedated” (Adam’s #3, noting their late-’70s origin but US soundtrack release in 1980), Kim Carnes’ “Bette Davis Eyes” (Dave’s #3, with Dave clarifying “Harlow gold” and dedicating it to their late father), David Bowie’s “Let’s Dance” (Adam’s #2, highlighting Bowie’s reinvention with Nile Rodgers and Stevie Ray Vaughan), AC/DC’s “You Shook Me All Night Long” (Dave’s #2), Prince’s “When Doves Cry” (Adam’s #1), and The Outfield’s “Your Love” (Dave’s #1, including the connection to Adam’s own song character named Josie).   They also touch on music history and influence (e.g., Guns N’ Roses and Nirvana, Run-DMC bridging rap and rock, Lemmy’s documentary and WWII memorabilia, and Amy Mann’s Magnolia-era acclaim). Adam plugs his work (adamyas.com, album Gender of the Holy Spirit, and Leather Feather on Spotify, including “Evolve”). Before leaving, Adam lists honorable mentions: Tears for Fears’ “Everybody Wants to Rule the World,” Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean,” The Smiths’ “How Soon Is Now?,” Def Leppard’s “Rock of Ages,” Bonnie Tyler’s “Total Eclipse of the Heart” (noting Jim Steinman), and Dexys Midnight Runners’ “Come On Eileen.”    Email us at toptentimemachine@gmail.com Visit www.timemachinepod.com www.adamyas.com Leather Feather on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6S7jPIPY15GXpdyqAXSVpZ   Topics 00:00 Welcome to Past Tens + Adam Yas Fills In for Milt 02:03 Today’s Topic: Greatest First Lines of ’80s Songs (Rules & Criteria) 05:26 #10 Picks: Wall of Voodoo “Mexican Radio” vs De La Soul “Me, Myself and I” 12:04 #9 Picks: Madonna “Like a Virgin” vs ’Til Tuesday “Voices Carry” 20:44 #8 Picks: Motörhead “Ace of Spades” vs Dennis DeYoung “Desert Moon” 30:16 Ballads, Heartstrings & What Makes a Line Work 33:31 #7 Picks: Duran Duran “Rio” vs Elton John “Kiss the Bride” 44:29 #6 Pick: Guns N’ Roses “Welcome to the Jungle” and Changing Rock’s Direction 53:01 Neneh Cherry’s “Buffalo Stance” — forgotten hip-hop gem & iconic first line 56:33 Adam’s #5: Run-DMC “King of Rock” — rap vs rock, plus the lip-sync contest story 01:04:54 Dave’s #5: Poison “Fallen Angel” — hair metal story-song guilty pleasure 01:08:26 Adam’s #4: Jane’s Addiction “Mountain Song” — danger, artistry, and Perry Farrell’s impact 01:13:57 Dave’s #4: Foreigner “Jukebox Hero” — painting the picture of teenage rock dreams 01:16:27 Adam’s #3: Ramones “I Wanna Be Sedated” — punk history & what makes a great frontman 01:21:15 Dave’s #3: Kim Carnes “Bette Davis Eyes” — decoding “Harlow gold” & a tribute to Dad 01:23:37 Adam’s #2: David Bowie “Let’s Dance” — reinvention, Nile Rodgers, and pop perfection 01:28:05 Dave’s #2: AC/DC “You Shook Me All Night Long” — the ultimate sing-along opener 01:31:55 #1s & wrap-up: Prince “When Doves Cry” vs The Outfield “Your Love,” honorable mentions, and sign-off

This week on Past Tens: A Top 10 Time Machine, Milt and Dave crank the amps, lace up the shell-tops, and dive headfirst into one of the great musical collisions of the last 50 years: when rock and hip hop stopped flirting… and started throwing punches together. Our guest is Steven Blush — rock journalist, historian, and author of When Rock Met Hip Hop. The guy knows this terrain cold. We’re talking real-deal moments where guitars and 808s didn’t just coexist — they rewired the culture. We start with Rapture by Blondie — because yes, Debbie Harry walked so a lot of crossovers could run. Then we move into Rock Box by Run-DMC, which basically kicked the studio door off its hinges. From there? Chaos. Beautiful chaos. We hit the Def Jam Recordings origin story. The Beastie Boys pivot from punk brats to rap juggernauts with No Sleep Till Brooklyn. Rick Rubin running dual sessions like a mad scientist. Guitars. Regrets. Comebacks. We get into Walk This Way and how it resurrected Aerosmith. Then the volume somehow goes even higher with Anthrax and Public Enemy, Biohazard and Onyx, the rise of nu metal via Faith No More, and the politically explosive force of Rage Against the Machine. And yes — we land the plane (or maybe stage-dive it) with Jump Around by House of Pain, a song that has probably caused more minor arena injuries than any other track of the ’90s. Blush brings the receipts — stories, context, perspective — and we do what we always do: connect the dots, argue about legacy, and try not to blow out the speakers. Because this wasn’t just a genre mashup. It was a cultural jailbreak. Plug in. Turn it up. And come time-travel with us. GET THE BOOK: https://a.co/d/0gARAtdT Topics 00:44 Special Guest: Steven Blush 02:32 Steven Blush's Musical Journey 08:11 The Evolution of Rock and Hip Hop 29:56 The Birth of Def Jam 33:53 Beastie Boys' Breakthrough 38:02 Rick Rubin's Dual Studio Sessions 38:18 Guitar Contributions and Regrets 39:23 Beastie Boys' Rock Appeal 39:54 The Evolution of Beastie Boys 42:07 The Impact of 'Walk This Way' 43:40 Aerosmith's Comeback 50:43 Anthrax and Public Enemy Collaboration 55:10 Biohazard and Onyx Fusion 57:43 Faith No More and the Rise of Nu Metal 01:02:16 Rage Against the Machine's Influence 01:06:12 House of Pain's 'Jump Around' 01:10:48 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Dave and Milt take a nostalgic trip back to the 1970s, evaluating and re-evaluating the Grammy winners for Record of the Year. From the soulful sounds of Simon & Garfunkel to the infectious disco beats of the Bee Gees, they discuss, debate, and sometimes disagree with the original Grammy choices, offering their own takes on who should have taken home the iconic golden gramophone. The duo also touches on nostalgic personal anecdotes, Oscar trivia, and future podcast plans.    Topics 01:53 Listener Mail and Music Trivia 03:31 Grammy Awards Recap 05:59 1970 Grammy Redo 14:52 1971 Grammy Redo 21:31 1972 Grammy Redo 27:40 1973 Grammy Redo 33:42 1974 Grammy Redo 41:10 Oscar Snubs Quiz 46:40 Discussing Movie Snubs and Tom Hanks' Performances 49:02 Scorsese's Goodfellas vs. Dances with Wolves 49:55 Amy Adams' Oscar Nominations and Brokeback Mountain 52:45 1975 Grammy Redo 59:06 1976 Grammy Redo 01:10:44 1978 Grammy Redo 01:18:43 1979 Grammy Redo 01:26:26 Upcoming Special Pod

Dave and Milt hop back into the Past Tens time machine and land in February 1965—a time when the Billboard Top 10 didn’t mess around. This is peak-era stuff: songs you know, artists you trust, and records that somehow still sound better than half the things clogging your algorithm today. As always, the guys do more than just count them down. They break apart the songs, talk about where they hit in their own musical DNA, and wander into side streets involving movies, memories, and the occasional “how did we get here?” tangent. The chart itself is loaded: Sam Cooke, Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, The Righteous Brothers, The Kinks—basically a greatest-hits album disguised as a single week in ’65. Somewhere along the way, a perfectly reasonable discussion turns into a full-blown “sweet” song playdate, because once you open that door, you’re not closing it quietly. The episode wraps with debates about longevity, covers that worked (and didn’t), and the usual Past Tens soul-searching about which songs are truly immortal—and which ones just had a really good run.   Topics  00:00 – Welcome to Past Tens (set your dials accordingly) 01:17 – Listener Feedback & Shoutouts 04:09 – Time Machine Locked In: February 1965 05:30 – What 1965 Looked Like Outside the Radio 15:55 – Countdown Begins (no wasted notes) 34:06 – Sweet Talkin’ Woman – ELO 39:45 – My Girl – The Temptations (yes, that moment) 48:35 – All Day and All of the Night – The Kinks 57:24 – Love Potion No. 9 – The Searchers 01:06:07 – Hold What You’ve Got – Joe Tex 01:11:31 – This Diamond Ring – Gary Lewis & The Playboys 01:13:21 – The Ed Sullivan Show Question 01:14:02 – Gary Lewis’ Chart Run 01:14:55 – Al Kooper’s Vision for This Diamond Ring 01:16:49 – The Name Game – Shirley Ellis 01:24:12 – Petula Clark Takes Us Downtown 01:30:12 – The Righteous Brothers and That Vocal 01:36:11 – Covers, Substitutions, and Tough Calls 01:38:47 – Final Thoughts, Personal Stories, and Why 1965 Still Wins  

We took Past Tens on the road for the first-ever Animated Movie Draft, recorded from a friend’s house in Vermont—which immediately set the tone: cozy, loud, slightly unhinged, and absolutely competitive. Four teams entered, rules were explained (and immediately bent), and chaos followed. The teams: No Capes (Andy and David), How to Train Your Landau (Addie and Dylan), Ka-rin & Stumpy (Milt and Karen), and Everything’s Fein (Michael and Nicole). The mission: draft the greatest animated movies of all time while filling specific categories—pre-1980s, franchise films, musicals, and wildcards—without completely losing your mind or your credibility. What follows is exactly what you’d expect: big swings, loud objections, wildly personal logic, and a whole lot of “HOW was that still available?” Along the way we veer into childhood crushes, Disney World ride hot takes, Pixar debates, Broadway adaptations, and the eternal question of whether nostalgia is doing way too much heavy lifting. The draft board fills up with absolute heavyweights—Toy Story, Shrek, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Charlotte’s Web—plus a few picks that inspire stunned silence and/or yelling. Somehow, through all of it, one team quietly puts together a monster draft and walks away with a surprise win that no one fully saw coming (including them). It’s loud. It’s nostalgic. It’s opinionated. It’s friends arguing about cartoons like it matters—which, obviously, it does. Topics 00:14 Recording on Location in Vermont 00:51 Drafting the Greatest Animated Movies 03:19 Team Introductions and Draft Rules 09:51 First Round Picks 15:58 Second Round Picks 28:40 Third Round Picks 36:40 Peter Pan and Childhood Crushes 37:58 Disney World Ride Experiences 39:12 Drafting Disney and Pixar Films 40:37 Ratatouille and Modern Disney Rides 42:39 Musicals and Broadway Adaptations 45:39 Final Draft Picks 49:53 Honorable Mentions 01:01:03 Judging and Announcing the Winner  

Dave and Milt crack open the Billboard Top 10 from January 14, 1984 — a chart absolutely stacked with heavy hitters like Lionel Richie, Michael Jackson, Duran Duran, Culture Club, Elton John, and more. It’s pop perfection, power ballads, synth hooks, and at least one harmonica discussion that gets wildly out of hand. Along the way, the guys dig into the songs, the lyrics, and the cultural moment — plus listener emails, high-school flashbacks, and a true story of Dave weaponizing song lyrics. There’s serious love for classics like “Owner of a Lonely Heart” and “Say Say Say,” plus some healthy debate when Milt swaps out “Break My Stride” for Chaka Khan’s “Ain’t Nobody,” and Dave pulls an audible by replacing “Talking in Your Sleep” with early-era U2. Expect deep dives, dumb tangents (baseball makes a surprise appearance), TikTok-era song revivals, harmonica legends, and the usual combination of nostalgia, nitpicking, and laughs that probably goes on five minutes longer than planned — as it should. Chapters: 01:59 Listener Mail 09:43 Back to 1984 14:21 The Countdown Begins 35:56 Harmonica Jealousy (Yes, Really) 37:40 Elton John Gets the Blues 42:55 “Break My Stride” (or Does It?) 45:33 Songs That Refuse to Die on TikTok 55:21 Olivia Newton-John Curveball 01:01:46 Duran Duran Era Begins 01:19:22 “Owner of a Lonely Heart” 01:25:54 McCartney + MJ 01:34:12 The Substitution Chaos 01:44:51 Final Thoughts & What’s Next  

Dave and Milt fire up the DeLorean and head straight for the 1980s—specifically, the Grammy Awards’ Record of the Year decisions, many of which now feel… let’s say debatable. With equal parts reverence and side-eye, the guys re-litigate whether the Grammys nailed it, blew it, or flat-out whiffed. Spirited debates, personal memories, a few “wait—that won??” moments, and plenty of good-natured sniping as each year gets put back on trial. Along the way, there are trivia detours, surprise segments, and the occasional musical sacred cow being gently (or not so gently) tipped over. It’s nostalgia with receipts—and just enough wisdom earned the hard way. Topics 01:27 Listener love, Spotify Wrapped, and setting the mood 03:07 The Grammys do-over: ground rules and grievances 04:14 1980 Record of the Year on the stand 13:43 1981: justice served… or appealed 21:34 1982: vibes vs. legacy 28:50 1983: hits, hindsight, and head-scratching 35:37 1984: peak ’80s energy 41:29 Playdate: Grammy trivia chaos 48:05 1985: the year that wouldn’t behave 48:57 Nominees under the microscope 50:09 Tina Turner reminds everyone who’s boss 51:28 Iconic ’80s hits and cultural whiplash 54:43 1986: the nominees speak for themselves 57:55 USA for Africa takes the trophy 01:06:30 1987: a crowded field 01:08:14 Steve Winwood’s surprise victory lap 01:14:41 1988: tough calls and tougher opinions 01:16:36 Graceland and the controversy that won’t die 01:21:56 1989: joy, confusion, and whistling 01:23:23 Bobby McFerrin sparks debate 01:26:29 Michael Jackson vs. Tracy Chapman (and why this is hard) 01:33:56 Final verdicts, revised history, and closing arguments  

Hop in the Time Machine and buckle up, because in this episode of Past Tens, Dave and Milt do what they do best: stare directly into the pop-culture sun and ask, “So… how did we get here?” The fellas break down Billboard’s Top 10 songs of 2025 — praising the bangers, questioning the head-scratchers, and revisiting a few familiar names that refuse to leave the charts (looking at you, Bruno). Along the way, they dig into artist backstories, chart momentum, and whether these songs are future classics… or just temporarily living rent-free in our brains. As always, there’s a twist: every modern hit gets paired with an older song that shares its DNA — same vibe, same arc, same “I’ve heard this before but can’t quite place it” energy. Is pop music evolving, looping, or just wearing a new jacket? Dave and Milt investigate. Expect karaoke stories, party chaos, musical crescendos, country-rap identity crises, unexpected love songs, and at least one moment where someone asks, “Wait… how old is that guy?” It’s nostalgia, analysis, laughs, and just enough musical snobbery to feel like home. Topics (or: Things We Somehow Spent 90 Minutes Talking About) 01:02 – Karaoke and party highlights (regrets were made) 03:16 – Credit cards, cookies, and adult responsibility creeping in 03:50 – Reflecting on past music trends (and how we swore this wouldn’t happen again) 04:29 – The Top Songs of 2025, with a nostalgic twist 10:22 – Chappell Roan, Pink Pony Club, and the long road to overnight success 21:28 – Bruno Mars & ROSÉ: APT. and the art of pop precision 29:41 – Post Malone & Morgan Wallen: I Had Some Help (did they though?) 33:44 – Alex Warren: influencer → musician → wait, this kinda works 40:53 – Benson Boone and the beauty of a well-timed emotional explosion 44:01 – Music tastes, aging, and coming to terms with both 44:38 – The science of crescendos (aka “why this song suddenly slaps”) 47:32 – Billie Eilish and her ongoing evolution 52:02 – The Cure, because somehow they always come up 54:12 – Teddy Swims and vocal gymnastics 01:00:24 – Country-rap, reinvention, and genre identity crises 01:06:12 – Kendrick Lamar’s unexpected love song moment 01:15:33 – Bruno Mars & Lady Gaga: when pop royalty teams up 01:24:25 – Final thoughts, year-end reflections, and closing the book on 2025

Live from the glamorous crossroads of America (a Best Western in Sheboygan, Michigan), Dave and Milt roll out the red carpet—or at least a slightly wrinkled hallway runner—for the Second Annual Tennies, our totally prestigious, minimally regulated awards honoring the very best moments of the podcast year that was. This is the episode where we look back, point, laugh, occasionally wince, and then laugh harder. We hand out trophies (imaginary, but emotionally heavy) for categories like Best Guest, Worst Tale of Woe, Best Use of Creepy AI, and—because we are who we are—the highly competitive Best Penis Joke. It’s a night filled with surprise guest appearances, unnecessary musical detours, tech hiccups that absolutely should not have happened, and stories that somehow got more awkward with time. Between heartfelt moments, holiday chatter, listener emails, and Milt doing things that can only be described as “very Milt,” the Tennies once again prove that when you give two guys microphones and zero adult supervision, magic—questionable, chaotic magic—can still happen. Topics 01:29 – Opening Monologue: Big Energy, Questionable Confidence 04:30 – Best Use of Creepy AI (We’re Sorry, Humanity) 12:22 – Best Guest (Actual Talent Appears) 17:39 – Worst Tale of Woe (Pain + Time = Comedy) 20:38 – Best Invention (Patent Pending, Probably Not) 23:43 – Best Time Machiner Email 34:10 – Parenting Jokes We Immediately Regretted 34:29 – The Susanna Hoffs Concert That Broke Our Brains 35:44 – Best Machiner Email: Champion Emerges 37:21 – Dreams, Delusions, and Podcast Therapy 39:47 – Classic Milt Moments (A Deep Bench) 43:18 – Things We Definitely Didn’t See Coming 53:53 – Rapid-Fire Chaos 56:48 – (We don’t mean to be dicks, but …) Best Penis Jokes  

On this holiday-themed episode of Past Tens: A Top 10 Time Machine, Dave and Milt crank up the festive vibes with a full-blown pop-culture trivia throwdown—covering Christmas songs, movies, TV episodes, and other seasonal nonsense we all pretend not to love (but absolutely do). Along the way, they pause to address the elephant in the studio: the growing list of celebrities who’ve inconveniently passed away shortly after being mentioned on the pod. Is it coincidence? A curse? Or just the most unfortunate branding accident in podcasting history? (Welcome back to the Murder Pod™.) The trivia pulls heavily from ‘80s-style music bar trivia, beloved TV shows like The Office and Friends, and classic holiday films and specials—some heartwarming, some traumatic, all fair game. There’s also a little holiday housekeeping, a stroll down Past Tens memory lane, and a tease for next week’s Second Annual Tennies Awards, because yes, we are absolutely giving trophies to songs again. Festive? Yes. Educational? Occasionally. Slightly unhinged? Always. Topics: 00:00 Welcome back to Past Tens 02:02 Holiday vibes & trivia setup 04:24 The ongoing “Murder Pod” situation 10:17 Holiday pop-culture trivia kicks off 30:50 Christmas movie trivia (brace yourself) 31:44 Bill Murray’s many brothers in Scrooged 34:24 Broadway Christmas movies (somehow a thing) 35:19 Christmas Movie PTSD 36:28 Classic Christmas songs & TV nostalgia 37:51 The Office and Friends holiday episodes 46:05 The Star Wars Holiday Special and other mistakes 56:37 Bonus questions & the wrap-up

Fire up the flux capacitor, because this episode of Past Tens: The Top 10 Time Machine drops Dave and Milt straight into December 1988—a moment in pop history when power ballads were mandatory, New Jack Swing was kicking down the door, and Welcome to the Jungle somehow coexisted with Two Hearts on the same chart. The guys break down the Billboard Top 10, taking respectful (and occasionally reckless) swings at songs from Guns N’ Roses, Bobby Brown, Phil Collins, Anita Baker, Poison, and more. Along the way: personal war stories from the era, cultural detours through VH1 lists and The Simpsons, and a spirited debate over which songs still slap—and which ones are just riding muscle memory. Also on the docket: Milt returns from the Dominican Republic with vacation tales, sunburns, and karaoke decisions that may not age well A pop quiz involving songs with the word “heart” (because 1988 loved feelings almost as much as synthesizers) Diane Warren doing Diane Warren things Chicago… late-period Chicago… that Chicago And yes, Every Rose Has Its Thorn, because of course it’s here It’s music analysis, nostalgia, gentle roasting, and genuine affection for a wildly eclectic Top 10—exactly the way December ’88 deserves.   Topics 00:00 – Welcome back to Past Tens 00:37 – Vacation tales, sunburns, and bad decisions abroad 03:04 – Karaoke: regrets may vary 04:32 – Strap in, time machine engaged 05:53 – Setting the scene: December 1988 12:43 – The Top 10 countdown begins 21:46 – Eddie Money goes full pop 29:37 – The Bangles flirt with psychedelic pop 35:34 – Guns N’ Roses kick in the door 40:39 – Welcome to the Jungle as an opening statement 41:35 – VH1’s “greatest hard rock song” debate 43:19 – The Simpsons enters the chat 45:48 – Phil Collins’ Two Hearts (and Buster) 48:27 – Phil Collins + Lamont Dozier = hit math 51:54 – Heart-themed song quiz (feelings everywhere) 01:05:03 – Boy Meets Girl: pure late-’80s yearning 01:10:25 – Anita Baker delivers, as always 01:14:56 – Late-era Chicago: brace yourself 01:16:11 – The “adult contemporary” era explained 01:17:03 – Diane Warren’s invisible fingerprints 01:21:03 – Bobby Brown and the New Jack Swing takeover 01:25:02 – Top 10 hits with spelling-bee energy 01:32:32 – Every Rose Has Its Thorn (yes, that one) 01:37:43 – Recaps, swaps, and second thoughts 01:40:07 – Final thoughts and the ride home  

On this very special episode of Past Tens, your beloved hosts — one recovering from surgery, the other recovering from life — roll out something brand new: The Starter Kit. Think of it as the musical tasting menu nobody asked for but absolutely needed. We each pick a band. We give you the essentials. You pretend to take notes. Everybody wins. Dave kicks things off with Duran Duran, because nothing says “starter kit” like a band that basically invented the MTV era and then refused to leave. Yes, we hit Hungry Like the Wolf — the song that launched a thousand hair products — but we also dig into the weird, wonderful, and criminally underrated corners of their catalog. Then Milt, bless him, grabs his power-pop heart and heads straight into Fountains of Wayne, a band that somehow packed more storytelling into three-minute pop songs than most novelists manage in 400 pages. And yes, we go far beyond Stacy’s Mom. (If you know what I mean. And I think you do.) It’s all here: music geekery, nostalgia, sideways humor, and the occasional moment where we accidentally sound like we know what we’re talking about. Episode Breakdown (aka: Pretending This Is a Real Show With Structure) 00:00 – Welcome! 00:43 – Health updates and the Past Tens community proving once again they’re nicer than we deserve 01:25 – Surgery stories — because nothing pairs with pop music like anesthesia flashbacks 05:27 – Listener shout-outs and general podcast tomfoolery 09:15 – Introducing The Starter Kit (trademark pending, MFers!) 14:19 – Dave’s Duran Duran Starter Kit: hits, deep cuts, Bond themes, oh my 45:16 – Surprise: Public Enemy’s “911 Is a Joke” enters the chat 46:12 – Best pop-culture use: The James Bond theme that actually slaps 49:24 – Milt opens the Fountains of Wayne vault 56:36 – The hits, the almost-hits, and the “why didn’t anyone listen to this?” tracks 58:13 – Hidden gems and critic candy 01:01:23 – The comedy, the lyrics, the stories — this band was funny on purpose 01:13:56 – Live performances and unexpected covers 01:20:41 – The legacy and why they still matter 01:28:00 – Wrap-up, listener love, and an open invitation to argue with us online  

Ladies and gentlemen, what you are about to experience is nothing less than a rollicking romp through the gilded pantheon of televised tomfoolery! In this extraordinary edition of “Past Tens: The Top 10 Time Machine,” your indefatigable host Dave, with the unparalleled, inimitable chartmeister Milt sidelined by injury, in steps a stupendous subsititution, the incomparable Mark Gerber! The duo embark upon a triumphant return to that most spectacular, most ludicrous, most magnificently melodramatic of American institutions: The Battle of the Network Stars! Dave and Mark seize the moment, diving headlong into the swirling waters of nostalgia. They revisit — with the reverence of historians and the joi de vivre of carnival barkers — the unforgettable competitions of the '70s and '80s: the sinew-straining tug-of-war battles, the kayaking cataclysms that defied physics, the controversies that shook the nation, and the races that left audiences gasping for breath. Marvel as Debbie Allen storms back from adversity on the obstacle course! Tremble as kayak after kayak — piloted by celebrities who had no business in watercraft — spirals into beautifully chaotic disaster! Relive the titanic clash between Gabe Kaplan and Robert Conrad, a showdown that echoed through the annals of competitive fluff! And through it all, you’ll hear the resonant ghost of Howard Cosell himself, narrating each triumph and tragedy with Olympian gravitas and trademark incredulity. This is no mere recap, friends — it is a celebration of Trash TV in its purest, most incandescent form. A reminder of why this bizarre, charming, star-studded spectacle remains etched into the hearts of millions.   Topics 00:53 Declaring the Golden Age of Trash TV 01:12 Enter Mark Gerber — a man ready for battle 02:28 Time Machine engaged: Destination, Network Stars 04:35 Celebrity titans reviewed 10:23 The Voice of God: Cosell’s commentary 13:54 Countdown ignites 26:39 Crystal vs. Letterman — an unlikely duel 32:34 Debbie Allen triumphs heroically 36:02 Ow! Injuries aplenty 36:49 Debbie Allen’s unquenchable spirit 37:03 Celebrity connections revealed 38:25 Mark Harmon: athlete among mortals 40:02 “Summer School” reveries 42:48 Kayaks of chaos 1:00:02 Tug of war tension mounts 1:07:21 The climactic heave-ho 1:08:30 A plunge into Real People 1:10:36 CBS vs. NBC — a struggle for the ages 1:15:45 Cosell’s iconic crowning moments 1:30:28 Conrad vs. Kaplan: The myth, the matchup 1:38:09 A wistful farewell to the magic of Network Stars  

Just when you think you know the answers to 80s music trivia, we start changing the questions. Here you go, Machiners. 5 rounds. 5 questions each round.  Choose wisely.

Strap in, Time Travelers — Dave and Milt are firing up the chart-powered DeLorean and punching in the week of November 21, 1981, a glorious moment when MTV was still shiny and new, Hall & Oates ruled with feathered fists, and your boombox was probably eating AA batteries like Milt eats pretzels. We kick things off with the Hill Street Blues theme — because nothing says “Let’s rock!” like a soft-focus keyboard stroll through cop drama melancholy — and roll straight into gems like the Stones’ “Start Me Up” and ONJ’s gym-class megabanger “Physical.” Along the way, we unpack the significance of each track, including the ones we love, the ones we pretend to love, and the ones we loudly and publicly shame. Naturally, the listener mailbag makes an appearance: grievances, duet arguments, strong opinions delivered politely (and occasionally not). We even dive into the “Should this have been Top 10?” cul-de-sac, where great songs go to be judged and mocked with affection. And yes — we address our brief hiatus, courtesy of Milt’s upcoming surgery, which he insists is “minor,” yet has somehow required him to create a 14-page Google Doc labeled “My Brave Journey.” Timecoded Play-By-Play 00:00 – Welcome back to Past Tens, the podcast that keeps the time machine running on sarcasm and soft rock. 00:34 – Boogie Nights and the fine art of fake rock songs. 02:14 – Listener mail: duet debates, arguments, and emotional damage. 10:16 – Time Machine locked on Nov. 21, 1981. Hold onto your parachute pants. 20:31 – The Hill Street Blues theme wanders in with a soft jazz shrug. 39:31 – Monica’s haircut catastrophe. Blame the ’80s. 41:46 – The Police take the stage. Sting begins brooding. 42:40 – The origin story of The Police — including Sting’s hair, which absolutely deserves its own prequel. 47:12 – The Office vs. The Police: musical connections you didn’t ask for. 52:20 – Little River Band tries to rock. It goes… okay. 58:36 – Bob Seger goes live and proves he only needs two chords and a throat made of sandpaper. 01:04:16 – Listener trivia time: where humiliation meets celebration. 01:16:48 – Air Supply floats in with a cloud made of soft rock and perms. 01:19:28 – The Stones drop their last great song — Dave said it, fight him. 01:22:39 – Stones music video analysis: men running in place and wearing things they shouldn’t. 01:24:03 – Early demos of “Start Me Up,” before it became a sports-arena mandatory. 01:25:09 – Commercial success, i.e., the part where Mick bought another house. 01:26:48 – Trivia bonding — yes, it’s adorable. 01:27:37 – Foreigner melts faces with “Waiting for a Girl Like You.” 01:32:38 – Hall & Oates slap on the trench coats for “Private Eyes.” 01:40:54 – Olivia Newton-John gets physical, and so do we. 01:45:47 – Looking back at 1981: the hits, the misses, the hair. 01:58:36 – Sign-off and a preview of things to come… after Milt survives his lifetime-movie surgery arc.

There once were two hosts, Milt and Dave, Whose duets made the time charts behave. From Loggins and Nicks, To Bowie’s slick mix, They delivered the hits that we crave. They told tales of songs that still shine, Shared memories, both yours and mine. From the gems underplayed, To the legends they made, Each chorus a perfect design. Then came a fast lightning round— More duets, more magic they found! With laughter and cheer, They wrapped up the year, In sweet, two-part harmony sound. 🎙️   topics 00:59:10 Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson — Say Say Say 01:00:05 Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper — Shallow 01:01:20 Barbra Streisand & Barry Gibb — Guilty 01:02:10 Johnny Cash & June Carter — Jackson 01:03:05 Michael Jackson & Janet Jackson — Jam (Heavy D cameo love) 01:04:05 David Bowie & Bing Crosby — Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy (improbable and perfect) 01:05:10 Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell — Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing 01:05:45 Natalie Cole (with Dad) — Unforgettable (goosebumps/AI-free tears) 01:06:15 Stevie Nicks & Don Henley — Leather and Lace (this was the wedding duet!) 01:07:00 JAY-Z & Alicia Keys — Empire State of Mind (NY anthem; Boston politely nods) 01:09:00 The Jacksons & Mick Jagger — State of Shock (Freddie demo rabbit hole unlocked) 01:11:00 Don Henley & Axl Rose — I Will Not Go Quietly (this pairing weirdly slaps) 01:14:00 Kenny Loggins & Steve Perry — Don’t Fight It (ambiguously great duo) The Official Top 10 (ranked) Queen & David Bowie — Under Pressure Stevie Nicks & Tom Petty — Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around Barbra Streisand & Neil Diamond — You Don’t Bring Me Flowers Meat Loaf & Ellen Foley — Paradise by the Dashboard Light Tina Turner & Bryan Adams — It’s Only Love Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell — Ain’t No Mountain High Enough John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John — You’re The One That I Want Elton John & Kiki Dee — Don’t Go Breaking My Heart Philip Bailey & Phil Collins — Easy Lover Kenny Loggins & Stevie Nicks — Whenever I Call You “Friend” Running bits & quotables “This podcast is a duet. End of list.” “You don’t bring me McDonald’s Diet Coke anymore. It’s over.” “Nerds Gummy Clusters: the Reese’s Cup of candy collabs.” “Grease’s flying car? My only note: call the tower.” Homework for Time Travelers Hit us with your missing duets (yes, we know, Endless Love fans). Nominate a “Worst Duets Ever” for the inevitable roast episode. If you have the Freddie + MJ ‘State of Shock’ demo link, share it. We’re already halfway down that rabbit hole. Keep the harmony coming Email: Top10TimeMachine@gmail.com Site: TimeMachinePod.com (updated every time we post; still rocking the cheese-fries photo)