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

Dave and Milt fire up the time machine to revisit Billboard’s Top 10 for the week ending September 10, 1988, amid banter about insomnia, last week’s “Freedom Rock” episode (and Finley the wonderdog), and some period trivia (Hurricane Gilbert, Jerry Lewis’s telethon, Kevin Bacon marrying Kyra Sedgwick, and Elm Street 4 topping the box office). They debate Kenny Loggins’ Caddyshack II soundtrack hit, declare fatigue with “Don’t Worry, Be Happy,” praise New Edition’s Jimmy Jam/Terry Lewis upgrade, and note Taylor Dayne’s ballad getting blocked at #3. “Fast Car” is lauded as the week’s enduring masterpiece, while Van Halen’s Sammy-era “When It’s Love” gets torched. George Michael’s “Monkey” sparks a primate-song quiz, Huey’s “Perfect World” gets a reappraisal, Robert Palmer’s “Simply Irresistible” earns affectionate mockery, and Guns N’ Roses’ “Sweet Child O’ Mine” closes the countdown. Winners/substitutions: Dave picks “Monkey,” Milt picks “Fast Car,” they boot “When It’s Love” for Rod Stewart’s “Forever Young,” and swap out “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” for “Parents Just Don’t Understand.” Topics 01:19 Insomnia and Sleep Hacks 03:18 Freedom Rock Recap 05:26 Back to Regular Pod 05:57 Time Travel to 1988 07:14 This Week in History 10:31 Movies and TV Talk 14:48 Countdown Begins Number 10 15:30 Kenny Loggins Caddyshack II 22:10 Bobby McFerrin Overplayed 30:39 New Edition Jam and Lewis 37:05 Touchdown Dance Story 38:13 New Edition Hall Debate 40:21 Taylor Dayne Deep Dive 43:51 Tig Notaro Taylor Tale 49:01 Fast Car Breakdown 55:06 Tufts Alumni Trivia 57:47 Van Halen Love Ballad 01:05:08 George Michael Monkey 01:11:33 Primate Songs Quiz 01:16:57 Perfect World Deep Dive 01:20:49 Huey Memories and No Apologies 01:23:26 Perfect World Movie Detour 01:24:36 Simply Irresistible Breakdown 01:27:52 Prince Song and Estate Talk 01:31:46 Sweet Child O Mine Analysis 01:37:44 Ticket Tales and Live Shows 01:41:20 Recap and Winner Debate 01:45:39 Substitutions Forever Young 01:49:13 Fresh Prince Surprise Pick

Dave and Milt record in person at Casa Wolfe for a special Past 10s episode that ditches the usual Billboard Top 10 format to start a “Freedom Rock” breakdown, inspired by the endlessly replayed 1987 TV ad. They explain the compilation’s formats (four LPs, three cassettes, or two CDs; 40 songs) and begin covering the first 10 tracks in order, rating each with ChatGPT’s absurd “Freedom Rock score” of 1–5 vans, plus … Footloose! Seinfeld! Vans! Vomiting! Let’s go! Topics 00:42 Podcast Setup at Casa Wolfe 02:36 Freedom Rock Ad Flashback 03:14 Compilation CD Culture 08:07 Freedom Rock Breakdown Plan 09:51 Track 1 Turn Turn Turn 12:44 Finley the Dog Arrives 15:48 Track 2 Change the World 21:17 Track 3 Locomotive Breath 27:07 Track 4 Old Dixie Down 33:31 Track 5 War Protest Anthem 40:03 Mic in Dog Bowl 41:32 Santana Black Magic Woman 47:02 Nilsson Jump Into Fire 55:06 Smoke on Water Story 01:00:06 Vomit Van Memories 01:04:04 United We Stand Roast 01:07:59 One Tin Soldier Billy Jack 01:15:06 Wrap Up Guest Invite

Dave and Milt riff on Taco Bell shtick, Dolly Parton’s legacy, a listener spat sparked by Professor David Gallant’s harsh Rock Hall takes, and Dave’s front-row Squeeze concert (plus a grim Adam Ant review). The time machine lands on the Billboard Top 10 for August 18, 1973, with context on Nixon’s first televised Watergate address, DJ Kool Herc’s early hip-hop party, a Soap Box Derby cheating scandal, and the blaxploitation film Coffy. They run through the Top 10—pick winners (Croce and McCartney), do a touch/feel-themed playdate quiz, and swap out songs for Led Zeppelin’s Over the Hills and Far Away and Joe Walsh’s Rocky Mountain Way. Topics 01:08 Crunchwrap Shtick 02:15 Dolly Parton Tribute 06:03 Squeeze Concert Recap 10:57 Machiner Grievances 14:06 Time Travel Setup 1973 15:18 Week in History 1973 20:59 No 10 Chicago 26:00 No 9 Uneasy Rider 34:34 No 8 Delta Dawn 40:56 Gilbert O'Sullivan Deep Cut 42:38 Get Down Meaning Debate 44:18 Finley Couch Rules 45:07 Ali Photo Surprise 46:50 Bad Bad Leroy Brown 51:37 Croce Tragedy Legacy 56:30 Let's Get It On Origins 01:02:28 Gaye Lawsuit Drama 01:06:14 Morning After Movie Hit 01:13:18 Brady Bunch Detour 01:15:37 Brother Louie Context 01:18:42 Louis Flashback Bit 01:19:58 Brother Louie Origins 01:22:29 Live And Let Die Deep Dive 01:27:10 Bond Movie Scene Clip 01:31:13 Diana Ross Number One 01:36:04 Touchy Feely Play Date 01:41:29 Recap And Awards 01:44:18 Substitution Picks 01:52:52 Wrap Up And Plugs

Dave and Milt reveal the listeners’ survey-driven top 10 forgotten ’80s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame-worthy artists, noting the oddly neat result that—like the ’70s episode—about 10 acts clear a “put them in” majority threshold. The B-52s brought the beehives, The camp, the kitsch, the fun, But was weirdness enough when all was said and done? Steve Winwood had that golden voice, From Traffic to MTV, “Higher Love” was cool but twice-inducted? Must he be? Then Mötley Crüe came crashing in, With hairspray, booze and flame, They filled arenas, scared your mom—But does excess equal fame? Tracy Chapman, quiet and fierce, Had songs that cut straight through, “Fast Car” somehow never gets old- is her résumé enough for you? Toto had chops to spare, “Africa,” “Rosanna,” too, The session-player super-team—Though critics often said, “Not you.” Eric B. & Rakim changed how rappers rap, Rakim rewrote the rules, Their influence towers over their charts—Does innovation trump record sales and pools? Rick Springfield was Jesse’s jealous friend, A heartthrob with a hook, He had more hits than some recall— But does the Hall give soap stars a look? The Smiths inspired gloomy souls With Morrissey and Marr, Influential? Undeniably. But four albums—does that get you far? Bryan Adams rocked the summer nights, With raspy, fist-pump flair, A mountain full of radio hits— Is that true rarefied air? DEVO wore the flowerpots, And warned that we devolve, Can they whip the Hall of Fame? A mystery to solve. Don Henley left the Eagles’ nest and did some solo stuff; “Boys of Summer,” “Dirty Laundry” Hmmm - is it enough? Sonic Youth made guitars sound Like power tools from Mars, Alt-rock owes them plenty—But are they truly stars? Huey Lewis & The News had heart, and hooks galore, In the 80s they were everywhere—can they knock down the door? Scorpions rocked us like a hurricane, And whistled winds of change, Would seeing them enshrined be juuust a little strange? The Bangles walked like Egyptians and harmonies were their ace, More than just an ’80s novelty—Though longevity hurts their case. Robert Palmer dressed impeccably, And made addiction chic, Soul, rock, funk and Power Station—But too brief and sleek? Kenny Loggins owned the cinema: “Footloose,” “Danger Zone,” But solo Hall credentials? That’s harder to condone. INXS had Hutchence, And Kick was wall-to-wall, A global band with sex and hooks—Is it now time for the Hall? Tears for Fears ruled everybody’s world, With brains behind the sheen, Big songs, ambitious albums—But is their catalog pristine? And finally there’s Sting, all tantric cool, With jazz where rock had been, The Police already punched his ticket— Can Gordo punch it again? Topics 01:29 Survey SAYS… 04:09 The Final Countdown 04:30 Starting With A Bang(le) 07:43 INXS INdaHOF? … not yet 10:35 Be Originals. Be Standouts. B-52s. 14:24 Toto Rides the Yacht 18:25 This Was Supposed to be the Summer of Bryan! 23:37 Show Steve Some Higher Love 25:36 Frampton: Show Him the Way 26:28 Loggins. He’s All Right… 29:09 Did I Say Messina? 30:14 Building the Perfect Henley Debate 32:50 Huey Wants A New Plug 35:30 Also Ran Rundown 37:06 Are You Smiths or Are You Out? 38:53 The Sting of #1

Dave and Milt reveal results from a listener poll rating which ’70s artists deserve Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction, after briefly sharing comments on last week’s 1983 substitution episode (including an Ally McBeal/Robert Downey Jr. “Every Breath You Take” clip). Using a 1–5 scoring system, they count down the top 10 Hall “snubs” and also-rans. Topics 00:37 Sticks Snack Debate 02:15 Survey Results Setup 02:43 Listener Comments Roundup 10:59 How The Voting Worked 13:54 Countdown Begins Barry White 17:07 Number Nine The Monkees 21:47 Number Eight America 24:44 Number Seven Supertramp 26:59 Supertramp Debate 28:42 Chic Snub Explained 31:24 Top Five Gap 31:53 Meat Loaf Case 35:57 Styx Surprise Pick 40:25 Boston No Brainer 43:36 Commodores Momentum 47:25 Near Miss Rankings 49:17 Diana Ross Number One 52:37 Wrap Up And Next Decade

Dave and Milt introduce an episode built around listener survey results rewriting the Billboard Top 10 for July 30, 1983, after voters overwhelmingly chose to boot Sergio Mendes’ “Never Gonna Let You Go.” They preview covering survey comments next week, plug pod617.com, and detour into Dave interviewing Battle of the Network Stars captain Greg Evigan on a Beatles podcast. The listener-created countdown replaces the original Top 10 with your choices, with anecdotes about ads, lyrics, MTV videos, and chart history. They pick winners, kick out “Saved by Zero” and “I’m Still Standing,” and shout out near-misses like Jackson Browne’s “Lawyers in Love.” Topics 02:00 Getting Older Hangovers 04:43 Battle Network Stars Clip 08:55 Survey Top 10 Setup 10:12 Songs Voted Off 13:08 Listener Countdown Begins 13:36 Saved by Zero Deep Dive 27:07 Promises Promises Facts 34:40 Faithfully Breakdown 41:07 Prince Clears Purple Rain 41:49 Tambourine Jealousy Story 42:10 Bryan Adams Writes Heaven 42:41 Earnestness Debate Faithfully 44:51 Steve Perry Sopranos Holdout 49:46 Cuts Like a Knife Breakdown 52:37 Na Nas And Video Trivia 54:32 Billy Joel Stiletto Connection 56:37 Cheers Coach And Brady Bits 58:34 R E M Radio Free Europe 01:05:04 Hall Of Fame Top Five 01:05:46 Elton Im Still Standing 01:13:56 Def Leppard Rock Of Ages 01:22:00 Def Leppard Live Hits 01:22:37 Mellencamp Concert Talk 01:23:14 Sharp Dressed Man 01:25:04 Eliminator Sound Shift 01:28:24 Iconic Cars Debate 01:30:31 Weezy Top Mashup 01:32:56 White Wedding Origins 01:36:14 Punk Roots Doc 01:40:51 Prince Wins Vote 01:43:05 1999 Chart History 01:45:26 Shared Vocals Breakdown 01:47:29 New Master Remix 01:50:08 Recap And Winners 01:52:26 Kickouts And Near Misses 01:56:29 Ferryman Deep Cut 02:03:19 Wrap Up And Plugs

Dave and Milt detour from Billboard to TV, counting down the top 10 shows for a week in July 1983 while arguing about pie, cheesecake calories, and why Five Guys “small” fries aren’t small. They plug a survey to rewrite the July ’83 Hot 100 top 10 using songs that never made the real top 10 ( https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GFG7SWG ) The TV list includes Simon & Simon, The A-Team, Hill Street Blues, Newhart, Cagney & Lacey, 60 Minutes, The Jeffersons, Trapper John, M.D., Hart to Hart, and the #1 “show” being ABC’s movie presentation of Dr. No. A theme-song playdate adds Dynasty, 9 to 5, That’s Incredible, Archie Bunker’s Place, Gloria, Falcon Crest, Magnum P.I., The Fall Guy, and Real People, plus spoofs from SNL, Family Guy, and Mad TV. HELP US RE-DO THE TOP 10 FOR JULY 30, 1983. TAKE THE SURVEY: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GFG7SWG Topics 01:00 Is Cheesecake Pie? 03:07 Listener Survey Instructions ( https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GFG7SWG ) 06:52 Top TV Shows Setup 33:05 Veronica Hamel Shoutout 33:37 Newhart Theme and Finale 36:29 Bob Newhart Timeless Comedy 42:07 Cagney and Lacey Breakdown 43:56 Promos Parodies and Emmys 50:16 Play Date Theme Quiz 59:29 Real People Flashback 01:03:03 60 Minutes Legacy 01:03:51 Journalism Trust Crisis 01:04:53 Andy Rooney Near Miss 01:05:57 SNL 60 Minutes Spoof 01:07:50 Morley Safer Bits 01:09:04 The Jeffersons Spotlight 01:13:14 Names That Disappeared 01:14:37 Trapper John MD Talk 01:19:51 Hart to Hart Recap 01:24:29 TV Then vs Now 01:26:34 Dr No Tops Ratings 01:30:38 Wrap Up and Plugs

Dave and Milt celebrate seven years of Past 10s the only way they know how: by embarrassing themselves with old stories, reading listener shout-outs, and convincing everyone to fill out another substitution poll (vote here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GFG7SWG ) for an upcoming listener-driven episode. Then it's into the Past Tens time machine for the Billboard Top 10 from the week ending July 30, 1983—a summer that gave us the Pine Tar Game, the debut of Friday Night Videos, National Lampoon's Vacation ruling the box office, and one of the strongest countdowns of the decade. Along the way, the guys move into Madness' "Our House," marvel at the Prince fingerprints all over Stevie Nicks' "Stand Back," salute Donna Summer's comeback, and take a deep dive into Michael Jackson's "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'"—including the history behind that famous "mama-say, mama-sa, ma-ma-ko-sa" lyric. They revisit the surreal world of Eurythmics' "Sweet Dreams," untangle the title confusion surrounding Duran Duran's "Is There Something I Should Know?", and explain why Sergio Mendes' "Never Gonna Let You Go" may secretly be one of the most ridiculously complicated pop songs ever to crack the Top 10. They also relive the Flashdance phenomenon, explore the real-life inspiration behind Eddy Grant's "Electric Avenue," and debate whether The Police's "Every Breath You Take" is one of the greatest pop songs ever—or simply the most misunderstood stalker anthem in music history. As always, there are plenty of detours, including Boston's chart dominance, a restroom-attendant story you won't see coming, an Eddie Murphy tangent, a round of ridiculous song questions, and another installment of the increasingly absurd Play Date Quiz. In the end, Dave crowns Duran Duran the champion of the week, while Milt gives the nod to Michael Jackson, wrapping up another trip through one of pop music's greatest summers. THE SURVEY: Help us re-write this top 10 with songs that were on the charts this week in 1983 but never hit the top 10! CLICK HERE: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GFG7SWG Topics 00:38 Podcast Anniversary 03:49 Listener Shoutouts 10:00 Substitution Survey Returns 12:01 Time Travel to 1983 13:08 Week in History Context 20:59 No 10 Our House 30:29 No 9 Stand Back 38:21 South Park Mocks Stevie 40:54 Donna Summer Reinvents 42:42 Restroom Attendant Story 47:04 Boston Chart Kings 49:22 MJ Favorite Debate 52:04 Wanna Be Startin Deep Dive 59:23 Eurythmics Sweet Dreams 01:05:58 Duran Duran Title Confusion 01:11:18 Play Date Quiz Begins 01:13:47 Absurd Song Questions 01:17:44 Lightning Round Finish 01:18:56 Never Gonna Let You Go 01:20:38 Complexity Explained 01:24:56 Flashdance What a Feeling 01:29:09 Eddie Murphy Detour 01:31:31 Electric Avenue Origins 01:37:46 Every Breath You Take 01:41:24 Police Band Tensions 01:44:51 Recap Winner and Wrap

If you thought we were done talking about 1976… think again. Dave and Milt kick things off by emptying the mailbag from our "all substitutions" listener episode, reading your comments, handing out a few well-deserved shout-outs, and revealing the song listeners were most eager to kick to the curb: "Misty Blue." That officially closes the book on one of our favorite summer experiments. Then it's off to the movies as the guys head back to July 1986 and count down the biggest box office hits lighting up America's theaters. Along the way they break down budgets, box office grosses, taglines, Rotten Tomatoes scores, Siskel & Ebert reviews, and—because we can't help ourselves—the Seven Degrees of Kevin Bacon connection for every film. As always, the conversation goes well beyond the numbers. Dave and Milt debate which movies have aged like fine wine (and which haven't), make passionate cases for the underrated Running Scared and Ruthless People, revisit Top Gun's massive cultural impact—including Quentin Tarantino's infamous interpretation of the movie—and test each other with a fun 1986 movie tagline trivia game. It's another nostalgia-filled trip back to the summer of '86, packed with laughs, rabbit holes, and enough movie memories to make you want to hit the last Blockbuster on the planet, wherever it is. Topics 00:31 Nicole Kidman Movie Ritual 02:08 Scary Movies and Listener Shoutout 03:32 1976 Survey Feedback 11:47 Wrapping the 1976 Marathon 13:17 July 1986 Movie Countdown Begins 14:54 Number 10 Great Mouse Detective 20:53 Number 9 About Last Night 29:22 Number 8 Ferris Bueller Day Off 37:22 Ferris Bueller Debate 38:19 Ebert Regret Reviews 39:16 Kevin Bacon Detour 40:11 Legal Eagles Trailer 41:20 Legal Eagles Verdict 44:51 Bowfinger Side Argument 46:07 Running Scared Breakdown 47:54 Running Scared Bits 53:51 Tagline Trivia Game 01:00:29 Aliens Deep Dive 01:05:18 Siskel Ebert On Aliens 01:07:54 Top Gun Tease 01:08:27 Top Gun Breakdown 01:11:09 Ratings and Soundtrack 01:13:31 Tarantino Top Gun Theory 01:16:24 Sequel Gap Trivia 01:18:40 Back to School Rewind 01:26:55 Ruthless People Rediscovered 01:33:35 Karate Kid Part II Debate 01:40:03 Wrap Up and Next Pods

ave and Milt revisit the week ending July 10, 1976, letting listeners vote on a replacement Billboard Top 10 drawn from 25 Hot 100 songs that never reached the top 10. They count down the survey results including the majesty of Steely Dan; the funk of Parliament; the whimsy of ABBA; and a poppy Queen. Once and for all, what were the Doobies doing dancing with Rerun on TV? Why is Milt talking about his hot buns? Did Billie Joe and Bobbie Sue get away with it or die in a hail of bullets? WHAT WILL BE THE NEW #1? Click, listen and also hear Milt’s raggedy rap about friendship. Topics 02:22 Listener Vote Explained 05:30 Back To July 1976 06:30 Number 10 Kid Charlemagne 17:19 Number 9 Give Up The Funk 26:00 Number 8 Mamma Mia 34:32 Number 7 Take The Money Run 36:31 Bonnie and Clyde Lyrics 37:27 Joker Mashup Demo 38:51 Greatest Hits Rant 39:33 Run DMC Sampling 41:10 AI Guy Trailer 43:25 Office and Hot Buns 46:15 Frampton Live Phenomenon 49:42 High Fidelity and Simpsons 53:17 Queen Best Friend 59:40 Friend Songs Quiz 01:06:46 Fleetwood Mac Say You Love Me 01:11:39 Canadian Cover and Licensing 01:13:04 Countdown Shock Setup 01:14:14 Doobie Brothers Pivot 01:18:41 Whats Happening Clip 01:24:34 Crazy On You Breakdown 01:27:43 Classic Rock Radio Stats 01:33:47 Boys Back In Town 01:40:16 Top Ten Recap 01:41:29 Winners And Referee 01:43:27 Substitution Picks 01:51:41 Wrap And Socials

Dave and Milt announce a listener survey to vote on a new “substitution” Top 10 for the July 10, 1976 chart as part of their bicentennial-week trilogy, sharing shout-outs (including a Spotify playlist by Jason Hedman) and an email from Richard Holmes in Hawaii. For this episode they instead count up the Billboard Hot 100 “bottom 10” (positions 91–100) for that week, discussing each track’s background: Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr.’s “I Hope We Get to Love in Time,” John Handy’s jazz crossover “Hard Work,” Eagles-adjacent Fool’s Gold “Rain Oh Rain,” The Outlaws’ CB-themed “Breaker, Breaker,” Donna Valery’s “Will You Love Me Tomorrow,” The Isley Brothers’ “Who Loves You Better,” Bill Cosby’s Barry White parody “Yes, Yes, Yes,” DJ Rogers’ “Say You Love Me,” Michel Polnareff’s film theme “Lipstick,” and Henry Gross’s dog tribute “Shannon,” tying it to Casey Kasem’s infamous “Snuggles” outtake. SURVEY! HELP US RE-DO THE TOP 10 FOR THIS WEEK IN 1976 https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/S2C3GRM Topics 00:55 Listener Survey Trilogy 03:51 Shoutouts and Hawaii Email 06:47 Bottom 10 Concept Setup 10:12 No 91 McCoo and Davis 19:34 No 92 John Handy Funk Jazz 25:54 No 93 Fool's Gold Eagles Vibes 31:22 No 94 Outlaws CB Craze 38:49 No 95 Dana Valery Cover 41:36 Whats My Line Clip 44:04 Donna Valerie Debrief 44:42 Isley Brothers At 96 47:03 Lyrics Guessing Game 48:29 Cosby Parody Unease 53:17 DJ Rogers Soul Ballad 57:27 Lipstick Movie Theme 01:04:16 Shannon And Snuggles 01:12:23 Recap And Farewell

This week on Past Tens, we celebrate America's 200th birthday the only way we know how—by firing up the musical time machine and heading back to the Billboard Top 10 for Bicentennial week, ending July 10, 1976. But first, there are pressing matters to address. Why has Burger King effectively been outlawed in Milt's house? Did Thelma the bird finally convince her babies to leave the nest? And perhaps most importantly, was Milt secretly replaced by AI on last week's episode? Listener feedback pours in, and we tackle it all. Then we unveil something brand new for the show: our first-ever Listener Substitution Survey. We've picked 25 songs that made the charts but never cracked the Top 10, and we're turning the decision over to you. Vote for your favorites, and in two weeks we'll count down an all-listener-selected Top 10. Once we're back in July of '76, it's a packed week. We revisit the daring Entebbe rescue, note the birth of Fred Savage, remember The Omen terrifying moviegoers, and somehow discover that the Miss Universe Pageant was America's favorite TV show. The countdown itself is loaded with stories. We talk about Hall & Oates finally breaking through with "Sara Smile," the wonderfully confusing album cover that had everyone doing a double take, Gary Wright's "Love Is Alive," Dorothy Moore's "Misty Blue," the Brothers Johnson's arrival, and Captain & Tennille at the height of their powers. Along the way we uncover gems like Joe Pesci recording a Beatles cover, Andrea True's unlikely path from adult films to disco stardom, Quincy Jones' fingerprints all over the charts, and the bass line connection to "Billie Jean." We also review Questlove's terrific new Earth, Wind & Fire documentary, argue about spoken-word intros, answer songs, and musical ripoffs, laugh over some truly questionable 1970s comedy, and, after all is said and done, crown Hall & Oates' "Sara Smile" as the clear winner of the week. We finish by giving this chart our official rating—solidly in Bee Gees territory—and remind everyone to cast their vote in the Listener Substitution Survey before next week's results are locked in. VOTE FOR OUR UPCOMING ALL-SUBSTITUTION EPISODE (What songs SHOULD have made the top 10 this week?): https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/S2C3GRM Topics 00:50 Fast Food Banter 02:55 Thelma Bird Update 04:32 Last Week Pod Fallout 06:35 Listener Mail Highlights 09:41 Listener Substitution Survey 12:29 Bicentennial Week Setup 14:30 1976 News And Pop Culture 20:49 Concert Tragedy Detour 23:29 Top 10 Begins Beatles At 10 33:32 Hall And Oates Breakthrough 36:40 Androgynous Album Cover 39:07 Why Sarah Smile Works 41:00 Gary Wright Rediscovered 42:11 Love Is Alive Backstory 47:37 Dorothy Moore Misty Blue 51:35 Paul McCartney Diss Track 56:37 Linda on the B Side 59:17 Questlove Rock Doc Review 01:08:34 Andrea True Disco Scandal 01:15:39 Captain and Tennille Remake 01:17:58 Answer Songs and Ripoffs 01:19:32 Captain and Tennille TV 01:20:56 Corny Hat Comedy 01:22:59 Shop Around Revisit 01:23:31 Brothers Johnson Breakout 01:25:26 Quincy Jones Connections 01:27:46 Billie Jean Bass Reveal 01:31:20 Kiss and Say Goodbye 01:34:48 Spoken Word Intros 01:39:05 Afternoon Delight Scandal 01:43:30 Pop Culture Karaoke Clips 01:48:12 Recap and Winner 01:52:06 Ratings and Farewell

Things take a turn for the cosmic. Thanks to a special introduction from our old pal George Clooney, we learn that Elon Musk has apparently purchased Past Tens, folded it into SpaceX, and blasted Dave and Milt into separate pods orbiting somewhere above Earth. Fortunately, we were able to transmit this episode back to civilization before running out of Tang. The mission? Count down our picks for the most underrated songs of the 1970s. Now, whenever you do a list like this, you've got to define your terms. Milt comes out firing with a whole taxonomy of underratedness. Some songs were overshadowed by bigger hits. Some were unfairly dismissed by critics. Others were forgotten despite being huge at the time. And a few are simply masterpieces that never got the attention they deserved. Milt's list includes Bruce Springsteen's epic New York City Serenade, Player's silky smooth Baby Come Back, Joe Tex's forgotten smash I Gotcha, Sniff 'n' the Tears' Driver's Seat, and Stevie Wonder's breathtaking As. As for Dave, he took a different route. He championed the Bay City Rollers' terrific cover of I Only Want to Be with You, Aerosmith's bluesy rocker Chip Away at the Stone, the criminally overlooked studio version of the Jackson 5's Going Back to Indiana, Devo's wonderfully weird Uncontrollable Urge—complete with a story involving Mark Mothersbaugh and John Lennon—and Dr. Hook's Sylvia's Mother, penned by none other than Shel Silverstein. Along the way, listener Al Nadel checks in with some underrated gems of his own, and we spend a little time wondering whether NASA, SpaceX, Matt Damon, or literally anybody is coming to rescue us. So grab your headphones, fire up the oxygen generator, and join us for a journey through some of the most overlooked songs of the decade that gave us disco, punk, yacht rock, and bell-bottoms. Topics 00:00 – George Clooney Cold Open From Orbit 02:02 – Establishing the Rules of "Underrated" 02:50 – Our Number Five Picks 06:32 – Number Four Selections 10:57 – The Forgotten Hit Category 12:41 – Listener Al Nadel's Picks 14:43 – Jackson 5 Deep Cut Spotlight 16:51 – Songs That Should Have Been Bigger 18:30 – Devo's New Wave Masterpiece 20:49 – The Number One Showdown 24:18 – Final Transmission From Space

Dave and Milt hop into the Past 10s time machine and travel back to the Billboard Top 10 for the week ending June 14, 1986. But before they even hit the charts, they celebrate the emotional madness of the Knicks’ incredible Finals comeback, debate why sports are better when you suffer and celebrate with others, and give some love to the loyal Past 10s listeners. Once the time machine lands in 1986, Dave and Milt set the scene: the nation is still processing the Challenger disaster report, a roller coaster called Mindbender makes terrifying headlines, Diego Maradona’s infamous “Hand of God” moment is just days away, and future stars Shia LaBeouf and the Olsen twins are entering the world. Meanwhile, Back to School rules the box office and The... ahem... Cosby Show sits atop television. The countdown kicks off with Level 42’s “Something About You,” a song that instantly becomes a contender for the crown. The discussion of Mike + The Mechanics’ “All I Need Is a Miracle” turns into a deep dive on Mike Rutherford’s post-Genesis success, Paul Carrack’s unforgettable voice, and the age-old question: Is this actually a miracle of a song? The answer depends on which host you ask. The debate somehow spirals into a passionate rant about Miracle Whip, because this is Past Tense. Howard Jones’ “No One Is to Blame” brings up Phil Collins’ production magic and embarrassing high-school dance memories, while George Michael’s beautiful “A Different Corner” launches a wildly entertaining George-themed riddle contest and a rapid-fire celebration of famous Georges from throughout pop culture. Whitney Houston’s “The Greatest Love of All” creates a debate about the George Benson original and inspires a trip to the world of Randy Watson and Sexual Chocolate from Coming to America. The crew then tackles The Jets’ “Crush on You,” Billy Ocean’s “There’ll Be Sad Songs (To Make You Cry)” — which receives one of Dave’s classic passionate critiques — and Nu Shooz’ “I Can’t Wait,” including the fascinating story of how a remix transformed a little-known demo into a massive dance hit. A quick detour into celebrity Knicks fans leads into Madonna’s haunting “Live to Tell,” a discussion of Christopher Walken and the dark movie At Close Range, before the chart reaches the #1 song: Patti LaBelle and Michael McDonald’s “On My Own.” Throughout the episode, intern Jason provides fresh ears, song grades, and a younger perspective, including his own Substitution pick. When the final votes are tallied, Dave and Jason crown Level 42’s “Something About You” as the champion of the week, while Milt goes with Madonna’s “Live to Tell.” The Substitution songs also spark debate, with Dave bringing in Art of Noise’s “Peter Gunn” and Jason adding Simple Minds’ “All the Things She Said.” Throw in cold-open jokes, music snobbery, random tangents, nostalgia, and a little Miracle Whip controversy, and you have another unforgettable ride in the Past Tense time machine. Topics 00:18 Knicks Finals Chaos 04:30 Shared Experience Talk 06:56 Listener Shoutouts 08:11 Time Machine Setup 09:53 June 1986 Context 16:12 Birthdays Movies TV 20:24 Top 10 Begins Level 42 30:48 Mike Plus Mechanics 33:59 Mike Rutherford Reboot 35:16 Carrack Live Memory Lane 36:57 Miracle Song Debate 40:34 Miracle Whip Rant 41:44 Intern Jason Rates The Track 43:20 HoJo, PhilCo 49:18 Prom Night Stories 52:01 George Michael Deep Cut 58:17 Famous Georges Riddle Game 01:07:09 George Trivia Mashup 01:11:27 Whitney Song Debate 01:16:54 Randy Watson Parody 01:21:01 Jets Family Hit 01:29:11 Billy Ocean Rant 01:35:38 Nu Shooz Club Remix 01:39:24 Demo Breakdown 01:40:05 New Shoes Backstory 01:41:05 Song Ratings Debate 01:41:48 Knicks Celeb Tangent 01:44:19 Madonna Live to Tell 01:47:53 Walken Movie Talk 01:52:21 Number One On My Own 01:56:52 Recap and Birthdays 01:58:24 Winner and Substitution 02:06:15 Interns Song Swap 02:08:36 Wrap Up and Farewell

This week on Past Tens, Dave and Milt welcome a fresh face to the show: new intern Jason, a Tulane University student possibly as obsessed with music as the Past Tens bozos. Jason talks about catching A$AP Rocky's "Don't Be Dumb" Tour at TD Garden, surviving the madness of Jazz Fest, and introduces Dave and Milt to the wonderfully bizarre world of YouTube legend Nardwuar . Meanwhile, Dave finally crosses a major movie off the bucket list, sharing his thoughts after watching 2001: A Space Odyssey for the very first time. Verdict? Beautiful to look at... but maybe HAL could've picked up the pace a little. Then it's time for the main event: THE GREATEST SCREAMS IN ROCK HISTORY From primal soul howls to arena-rock shrieks, the guys count down the ten most unforgettable screams ever put on tape. SPOILER ALERT… Here’s the list below. … 🙂 ;) 3 … 2 … 1 … … #10 Little Richard — Good Golly, Miss Molly #9 Wilson Pickett — Land of 1000 Dances #8 Aerosmith — Dream On #7 James Brown — Get Up Offa That Thing #6 Guns N' Roses — Welcome to the Jungle (yes, THAT 17-second scream) #5 Led Zeppelin — Immigrant Song #4 The Beatles — Can't Buy Me Love #3 The Beatles — Revolution T-#1 The Who — Won't Get Fooled Again T-#1 Joe Cocker — With a Little Help From My Friends Along the way, the guys debate what actually qualifies as a great scream, pay tribute to rock's greatest vocal acrobats, and rip through a stack of worthy also-rans. As if that wasn't enough, they squeeze in a quick three-round snake draft of the greatest vocalists of all time, with names like Freddie Mercury, Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, Ray Charles, Frank Sinatra, Sting, Chris Martin, and Carole King coming off the board. Hayley Williams gets some well-deserved love, too. It's loud. It's ridiculous. It's exactly the kind of thing that happens when you put three music nerds in a room and ask, "Yeah, but who had the BEST scream?" Chapter Markers 00:20 — Meet the New Intern 03:13 — Jason's Concert Stories 06:18 — Dave Finally Watches 2001 11:20 — Ground Rules for Great Screams 14:25 — #10 Little Richard 18:35 — #9 Wilson Pickett 22:33 — #8 Aerosmith 27:54 — #7 James Brown 32:44 — #6 Guns N' Roses 37:17 — Mini Vocalist Draft Setup 39:21 — Snake Draft Begins 39:35 — Round One Picks 41:52 — Round Two Shakeup 46:00 — Final Pick Debate 48:40 — Back to the Countdown 51:36 — Beatles Scream Spotlight 54:55 — Revolution, Sellouts & Rock Arguments 59:32 — Also-Rans Rapid Fire 1:09:33 — The Tied #1 Revealed 1:14:58 — Wrap-Up & Plugs

Dave and Milt crank up the Time Machine and head back to the week ending May 30, 1970, but not before detouring through spam-text “pig slaughtering” scams, listener banter, and a recap of Stephen Colbert’s farewell show, complete with Jack White, Eminem, and a fire-marshal joke that somehow made perfect sense. Meanwhile, Milt delivers a major life update: Thelma the bird has likely become a mother, making him a proud and slightly obsessed bird granddad. Once the charts arrive, it’s a heavyweight showdown. The guys rave about classics like “Let It Be,” “Vehicle,” “The Letter,” “Up Around the Bend,” “Cecilia,” and “American Woman,” while taking a considerably dimmer view of “Which Way You Goin’ Billy?,” “Love on a Two-Way Street,” and “Everything Is Beautiful.” Along the way they uncover a Jay-Z sample connection, debate the mystery of Cecilia vs. Celia, call an old 800 number, wander into cheesesteak territory, and somehow find room for Claudia Schiffer, the Butthole Surfers, and The Lego Movie. The episode also features a Beatles lyric quiz (A-to-Y edition), spirited arguments over Beatles minutiae, and a pair of chart substitutions as Sly & the Family Stone’s “I Want to Take You Higher” and Mountain’s “Mississippi Queen” earn honorary spots in the lineup. In the end, “Cecilia” and “Let It Be” emerge as the week’s champions, and the chart earns a final grade of “Bee Gees Plus”—which, in highly scientific Past Tens terms, is pretty darn good. Topics 00:53 Wrong Number Scam Texts 03:38 Nicknames and Listener Banter 04:22 Colbert Finale Recap 07:47 Time Machine to May 1970 09:35 Bird Granddad and News 16:02 #10 – Let It Be Deep Dive 28:48 #9 – Vehicle and Horn-Rock Greatness 38:38 #8 – Tyrone Davis Soul Stop 41:59 Soul Vibes Warning 42:39 #7 – Joe Cocker’s The Letter 45:35 Mad Dogs & Englishmen Grit 47:47 Beatles A-to-Y Quiz 56:34 Trippy Beatles Debate 58:35 Poppy Family Deep Cut 01:02:20 Seasons in the Sun Tangent 01:05:33 #6 – CCR’s Up Around the Bend 01:12:03 Calling the Old 800 Number 01:15:11 #5 – Simon & Garfunkel’s Cecilia 01:18:33 Celia vs. Cecilia Mystery 01:20:17 Cheesesteak Saint Debate 01:21:11 Legendary Cheesesteak Duel 01:21:58 #3 Countdown Begins 01:25:26 Jay-Z Sample Surprise 01:27:14 Moments Name Change Story 01:30:38 #2 Countdown Spot 01:31:32 American Woman Origin Story 01:33:50 Dreams and Claudia Schiffer 01:37:10 Butthole Surfers Detour 01:40:20 #1 Song Revealed 01:42:06 Everything Is Beautiful Roast Session 01:44:27 Lego Movie Comparison 01:45:59 Top 10 Recap 01:47:32 Winner of the Week 01:49:38 Righting a Musical Wrong 01:56:32 Past Tens Grade Debate 02:00:57 Sign-Off and Plugs

Dave and Milt hit record for a special edition of Past 10s marking the end of an era: the final episode of Stephen Colbert’s Late Show. But instead of hopping into the Billboard Hot 100 time machine, the boys pivot to late-night television, counting down their Top 10 Gen X-era talk-show hosts — complete with favorite moments, grudges, nostalgia, and the occasional completely unnecessary tangent. Along the way: Michael speed-runs a Chinese-food dinner before airtime, Dave delivers another riveting update on the bird building a nest outside Milt’s house, and the guys take a crack at the famously weird “Colbert Questionnaire,” revealing opinions on smells, mottos, Journey songs, the afterlife, and apparently Die Hard. The countdown itself becomes a love letter to late-night TV history, featuring Bill Maher at #10, Samantha Bee at #9, John Oliver at #8, Jimmy Fallon at #7, Conan O'Brien at #6, Jimmy Kimmel at #5, and the King himself, Johnny Carson, landing at #4. Then things get controversial: Jon Stewart and Colbert tie for #2, before the ultimate crown goes to gap-toothed genius David Letterman at #1. Naturally, there are arguments over the near-misses and “also-rans,” including Jay Leno narrowly missing the Top 10 at #11, plus shout-outs to James Corden, Craig Ferguson, Seth Meyers, Chelsea Handler, Arsenio Hall, Dennis Miller, Joan Rivers, and Larry King. By the end, the guys are emotionally preparing for Colbert’s finale, reflecting on what late-night TV used to mean when everybody actually watched the same thing at the same time — and wondering whether anybody under 30 even knows who Carson is. Topics 00:00 Cold Open Live Audience 00:59 Knicks Night Chinese Food 02:44 Bird Nest Update 03:54 Tonight Colbert Finale 06:29 Top 10 Setup Rules 08:39 Number 10 Bill Maher 15:52 Number 9 Samantha Bee 21:17 Number 8 John Oliver 28:27 Number 7 Jimmy Fallon 37:00 Number 6 Conan OBrien 44:53 Colbert Questionnaire Game 46:31 Rapid Fire Favorites 49:08 Afterlife and Die Hard 50:44 Smells and Memories 52:43 Journey Pick and Life Motto 54:24 Kimmel at Number Five 01:00:09 Carson at Number Four 01:06:06 Jon Stewart Tie for Two 01:12:57 Colbert Legacy and Farewell 01:18:25 Also Rans Countdown 01:22:40 Letterman Takes Number One 01:29:09 Wrap Up and Sign Off

Dave and Milt fire up the Top 10 Time Machine and head straight for the week ending May 20, 1989 — but this time they ditch the Hot 100 in favor of the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart, because apparently Aqua Net, guitar riffs, and sleeveless denim vests deserved their own economy. Along the way, they revisit a bizarrely packed week in history featuring Gorbachev’s visit to China, the disappearance of Costa Rica’s golden toad, the death of Gilda Radner, and the cultural majesty of See No Evil, Hear No Evil and the Jessica McClure “Baby Jessica” TV movie nobody asked for but everybody watched anyway. The chart itself is pure late-’80s rock-radio chaos: Saraya crashes in at #10, Richard Marx somehow counts as “rock,” The Outfield keeps “Voices of Babylon” alive long after civilization moved on, and Queen storms in with “I Want It All” while Freddie Mercury quietly battled the illness the public still didn’t know about. Great White shows up with their hit cover and sparks a surprisingly dark detour into the Jack Russell saga and the horrifying Station nightclub fire story. Elsewhere, Dave and Milt debate whether a bologna bagel is cuisine or a cry for help, obsess over backyard bird nests, argue guitar solos, and somehow spend actual airtime discussing “cricket knickers.” There’s also a Play Date quiz built around songs featuring “once” and “twice,” because this podcast remains the only show brave enough to pivot from Tom Petty to adverb trivia without warning. The second half of the countdown brings arena-rock comfort food from The Doobie Brothers, The Cult’s swaggering “Fire Woman,” Stevie Nicks’ “Rooms on Fire,” and John Cougar Mellencamp’s “Pop Singer,” which launches a rant about the music industry, authenticity, and probably at least one guy in a blazer named Chip. At #1, Tom Petty’s “I Won’t Back Down” becomes the centerpiece for stories about songwriting, arson, stubbornness, and why Sam Smith accidentally wandered into the conversation. Naturally, there are substitutions, sidebars, forgotten MTV memories, Living Colour and XTC love, and approximately 19 moments where the show completely leaves the rails before somehow steering itself back to the countdown. In other words: exactly the kind of episode you’d expect from two middle-aged men willingly spending two hours inside the cultural fever dream that was spring 1989. Topics 00:00 The Coldest of Opens 01:04 Bird Nest Obsession 03:37 Guitar Solo Feedback 05:36 Bologna Bagel Debate 06:05 Time Machine to 1989 07:05 Hey Day Memories 08:14 Week in History 1989 17:41 Back to the Charts 17:54 Number 10 Saraya 23:42 Saraya Name Confusion 26:13 Number 9 Richard Marx 32:26 Snickers and Snacks 33:54 Number 8 The Outfield 37:33 Outfield Albums and Legacy 38:13 Cricket Knickers Comedy 40:12 Voices of Babylon Verdict 40:41 Queen I Want It All 41:06 Freddie’s Hidden Illness 41:45 Song Breakdown and Charts 48:14 Great White Cover Hit 49:32 Jack Russell Chaos Backstory 53:31 Station Nightclub Tragedy 59:55 Play Date Once and Twice Quiz 01:06:24 Doobie Brothers Comeback 01:09:52 New Doobies and Nostalgia 01:14:43 The Cult Fire Woman 01:16:13 Fire Woman Breakdown 01:17:32 Cult Legacy And Grunge 01:19:26 Rooms On Fire Story 01:21:42 Stevie Vocal Quirks 01:24:40 Pop Singer Industry Rant 01:28:21 ChatGPT Pop List Game 01:31:05 I Wont Back Down Origins 01:33:28 Petty Songwriting And Arson 01:35:58 Sam Smith Similarity 01:39:27 Chart Recap And Picks 01:42:12 Substitution XTC And Living Colour 01:52:23 Wrap Up And Sign Off

Dave and Milt plug into one of rock nerd-dom’s favorite barstool arguments: Rolling Stone’s freshly dropped list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Solos Ever. Naturally, they treat it less like gospel and more like a karaoke machine somebody spilled beer on. Using the list as a launching pad, the boys unveil their own rankings, judging solos not by how many fingers caught fire, but by the stuff that actually matters — memorability, emotional punch, whether the solo lifts the song into another zip code, and whether it makes you involuntarily air-guitar while driving a Honda Civic through Dedham. Before the countdown, they detour into the baffling world of the new Michael Jackson biopic, debating what the filmmakers left out, why critics and audiences seem to be watching completely different movies, and whether the smarter move would’ve been focusing tightly on the Quincy Jones years instead of trying to cram an entire galaxy into one film. There’s also a shoutout to fill-in co-host Deirdre, plus Dave proudly announces that son Griffin has officially been accepted to Temple Medical School — proving at least one member of the family made responsible life choices. Then the amps crank up. Their combined Top 10 rips through The Cars’ “Just What I Needed,” AC/DC’s “You Shook Me All Night Long,” Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody,” Skynyrd’s “Free Bird,” Van Halen’s “Eruption,” Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven,” Eddie Van Halen’s face-melting cameo on “Beat It,” and the Eagles’ “Hotel California.” But when the smoke clears, the #1 slot ends in a dead heat between Prince casually humiliating every mortal guitarist during “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” at the Rock Hall ceremony and The Knack’s gloriously unhinged “My Sharona” solo — because apparently subtlety was not invited to this episode. Topics 00:59 Star Wars banter 01:28 Michael biopic debate 06:25 Shoutouts and announcements 08:14 Rolling Stone solos list 11:12 Ranking criteria and format 14:38 Number 10 The Cars 19:31 Number 9 AC DC 23:34 Number 8 Queen 26:48 Jazz Fest tangent 28:45 Number 7 Free Bird 33:15 Number 6 Eruption 38:46 Play date misquotes quiz 45:15 Myth Quotes Wrapup 47:03 Stairway Solo Debate 52:02 Beat It Eddie Story 56:17 Hotel California Duel 01:01:28 Tie Twist And Also Rans 01:02:08 Runner Ups Rapid Fire 01:16:27 Prince Hall Of Fame Solo 01:21:12 My Sharona Takes Top Spot 01:28:12 Final Thoughts And Signoff

Milt’s off living his best life at Jazz Fest, so Dave taps in Deirdre McCarthy as guest co-pilot, and—folks—we fire up the time machine to May 5, 1979. It’s Laverne & Shirley on TV, Alien in theaters, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy on nightstands, and questionable taste on the Billboard charts. We run the Top 10 gauntlet: Sister Sledge (“He’s the Greatest Dancer”), Cher (“Take Me Home”), Wings (“Goodnight Tonight”), Chic (“I Want Your Love”), Village People (“In the Navy”), Suzi Quatro & Chris Norman (“Stumblin’ In”), Amii Stewart (“Knock on Wood”), Frank Mills (the baffling “Music Box Dancer”), Blondie (“Heart of Glass”), and Peaches & Herb (“Reunited”). Deirdre does not suffer fools—or B-sides—lightly. Dave connects the dots (yes, “Greatest Dancer” → Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It), dives into Cher lore, detours through Happy Days for Leather Tuscadero trivia, and throws in a military-themed Playdate Quiz because… of course he does. Final rulings: Deirdre crowns “Heart of Glass,” Dave rides with “Stumblin’ In.” Both agree “Music Box Dancer” gets launched into the sun, along with a Wings deep cut, replaced by Good Times Roll and Dave’s deeply personal Superman nostalgia pick. Overall grade: generous C-minus. Plus plugs for Face-to-Face Pro and the usual “call us, maybe” contact spiel. Timestamps (because we’re professionals): Topics 00:41 Meet Deirdre McCarthy 03:07 Face to Face Pro Plug 03:37 AI and Communication Edge 04:59 Time Machine to 1979 06:07 Setting the 1979 Scene 07:02 Movies and Nostalgia 11:22 Books and True Crime 13:02 Top 10 Begins (No. 10) 13:56 Sister Sledge Sample Talk 18:18 Cher Disco Era (No. 9) 20:31 Cher Deep Dive Trivia 29:13 Wings Mystery Hit (No. 8) 31:20 Spinal Tap and Beatles Talk 35:49 Chic Returns (No. 7) 39:09 Village People (No. 6) 43:05 Military Play Date Quiz 48:02 Club Song Memories 48:44 Metallica to Marley (sure, why not) 50:50 Billy Joel and Civil War (again, sure) 53:19 “Stumblin’ In” at Five 54:25 Leather Tuscadero Detour 01:03:46 “Knock on Wood” Disco Peak 01:09:34 The Music Box Dancer Crisis 01:13:16 “Heart of Glass” Debate 01:23:21 “Reunited” Slow Dance Story 01:27:38 Winners, Losers, and Substitutions 01:37:18 Wrap-Up and Farewell