Have ventured into the world of podcasts with a little effort of my own. It’s on 80s music, so unlikely to be of much interest here, but I am looking for other recommended music podcasts – especially ones that do interviews, to compare and contrast.
What are the best ones out there? I already listen to The Hustle (and regularly chat with the host, Jon) and Rockenteurs. Any other goodies you would recommend?
For mine, so far i’ve had the pleasure of interviewing Langer/Winstanley, Hugh Padgham, Stephen Lipson, Chris Hughes and many others (did a whole season of interviews relating to Tears For Fears) and I am looking to check out the competition! (albeit from a much lower level…)
[Would also be grateful for any feedback on my little effort..cheers]
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/80sography-80s-music-one-artist-at-a-time/id1486104117
Hi @bixieface I am a huge fan of 80s music and will definitely be checking out your podcast. The Rockonteurs one recently with Roland Orzabal was great. Also one with Nick Heyward on the Gigs Stories podcast was one of the most open and honest interviews I’ve ever heard with a pop person. We did our own 80s cast here before Christmas. They all somehow helped with articles I’ve written here on Thompson Twins, Tears for Fears and Nick Heyward https://www.toppermost.co.uk/
If you ever want to make The Associates a subject please let me know…
Just found you on Spotify…
Thanks, Dave – I’ve enjoyed deep diving your blog in the past; hugely impressive.
Be interested in your thoughts on my Tears For Fears season. Thought the Roland interview with Gary and Guy was fascinating.
Just followed on Spotify – looking forward to giving them a listen.
Looks like a terrific podcast, looking forward to listening.
As I usually do at this point, I’d recommend the Chart Music: The TOTP podcast, which does exactly that, it looks at old episodes of Top Of The Pops in forensic detail, with some fine wit in evidence at times. Personally I find the first 30/45 mins a bit too in jokey and heavy going but the rest is really good, great if Taylor Parkes is a guest.
Another shout for Chart Music, especially when Taylor Parkes is guesting. The most recent Christmas episode is a great starting point.
Oh, and there is only one episode per month and it goes for 4-6 hours!
With you both on that – should’ve mentioned it. No other pod makes me laugh so loud so often – Taylor Parkes for PM; he is the twisted, dark poet of pop.
Chart Music is wondrous, and there’s 60 episodes to listen back too. Currently i’m 2.5 hours into 6+ hours of episodes 60 and still talking about the first song in this episode of Top of the Pops (Dexys/1983) Essential.
Taylor is about the same age as me and we share many musical parallels, however his ability to hit the nail on the head is truly exceptional. Dozens of times he’s voiced my exact thoughts with far more wit and insight than I’m capable of. He hints at various demons he has to keep at bay, but I’m quite surprised that he hasn’t landed himself an on-air gig that gives him more visibility.
It’s also worth recognising the superb video playlists that Al assembles for each episode. They are an amazing resource.
I’m a big fan of Taylor Parkes and your summary is perfect. Never known such an incisive wit. Find his extended put down of Toyah in one episode and marvel.
I hope he’s OK though…as you say, he seems to experience mental health related(?) difficulties. Wish he did his own podcast sometimes, it might be one I’d actually be willing to pay for.
Sodajerker interviews with songwriters are excellent,
Another vote for Sodajerker, the presenters are enthusiastic, informed and not overbearing, which is a great combo.
Thank you for this recommendation, it really is a superb podcast & they are excellent interviewers.
Highlights have been the Ian Broudie & Declan McKenna ones so far, both really fascinating. I should point out I have not yet done some of the big hitters as I am saving these. Cannot wait for the Graham Gouldman one
The Rockonteurs interview with Noel Gallagher was excellent. I came away with a whole new regard for him.
If you like 80s music, bixieface, you need Back to Now in your life. Each week’s guest (Pete Paphides, Sian Pattenden, Alexis Petridis etc) discuss a different edition of Now That’s What I Call Music.
Jim Irvin’s podcast you’re not on the list. People discuss their favourite albums, usually ones that sit outside the “greatest albums” lists.
We Buy Records is also good. Pretty self-explanitary.
Also Rock’s Backpages, DavidBowie Albumtoalbum, and Back To Now, Chart Music as already mentioned.
The first series of Transmissions, the Joy Division/New Order one was also very good
Does anyone have any good classical music podcasts recommendations at all?
And also Martin Newell’s Oddcaste on mixcloud as well
Adding to the chorus of Back To Now, We Buy Records, and one not mentioned yet: The Giddy Carousel of Pop (whoch casts an eye over an issue of Smash Hits).
Also AlbumToAlbum (David Bowie) and Nothing Is Real (The Fabs).
I hear great things about Nothing Is Real. No other podcasts are necessary.
Yes, Nothing is Real is fantastic, if you are a Beatles fan.
Well, my favourite music journalist is Swedish Fredrik Strage, and he has a very good podcast called “Hemma hos Strage” (“At Home with Strage”) where he invites artists into his own home for some relaxed conversation and playing of some of their favourite records.
Most of the episodes (especially these days of course) are with Swedish artists, in Swedish. But during the years he’s had guests like Rufus Wainwright, Lydia Lunch, Michael Stipe, Eek-A-Mouse, Bobby Gillespie, Richie Ramone, Brett Anderson, Hot Chip, Father John Misty, Douglas McCarthy (Nitzer Ebb), Corey Taylor (Slipknot), Michael Schenker (Scorpions), Låpsley, Michael Monroe, Peter Perrett (The Only Ones), Perry Farrell (Jane’s Addiction) and Samuel Herring (Future Islands) in his home for tea and a long chat in English as well. Some guests are of course better than others but most episodes that I’ve heard have been very interesting and entertaining. Give the English-speaking episodes a try here:
https://podtail.com/podcast/hemma-hos-strage/
Another vote for Sodajerker on Songwriting.
If I remember correctly (they’ve been going quite a while now) they originally were looking for a way to promote their own songs. I can’t remember their first few interviews, but Neil Finn got involved pretty early, then Johnny Marr, Billy Bragg etc. Word must’ve got around among musicians that these guys were thoughtful, asked good questions about their most recent output, and not too pushy to elicit the usual anecdotes. Haven’t listened for a while, but that initial momentum – where they couldn’t quite believe it had taken off so well – gave the whole thing a humble and relatable vibe which I assume remains.
Worth the price of admission alone is Neil Sedaka talking of consulting with his “houseman, Phillipe” about swearing on one of his songs.
They were just guests on Word In Your Ear – and have been going for 10 years. Not sure if they’ve had any success as songwriters in their own right – seems rather rude to ask and sure enough Mark & Dave didn’t ask! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIAdp4wVlX4
There are some 80s popsters here and I’ll definitely check out your Podcast. Most of my favourites have been mentioned here I see – lots of love for The Giddy Carousel of Pop (and not just because I’ve been allowed out of The Dumper to ride the Carousel a couple of times) – and I’m a fully paid up Pop Crazed devotee of the afforementioned Chart Music Podcast – a massively deep dive which is very rude, very funny, sometimes heartbreaking and hugely inspiring and insightful – and all about POP and what that really meant to those of us growing in the 70s, 80s and 90s.
I’ll chuck in Martyn Ware’s ‘Electronically Yours’ which has some really good guests and always interesting to hear how artists talk amoung their peers rather than a journalist or amateur podcaster.
Another one is the C86 Podcast which has a vast array of guests from 80s Indie pop and way beyond – the interviewer is a bit frustrating – he seems determined to persue the exact same banal line of questioning no matter who he’s interviewing (he’s fucking obsessed by The Smiths, John Peel and the Enterprise Allowance Scheme) and his questions are often so rambling they are longer than his guests answers – but it’s worth persevering when he has a good guest he does get some really interesting stuff out of them.
I second Martyn Ware’s ‘Electronically Yours’, although he does have a slightly annoying habit of cutting across an interviewer to tell an early Human League anecdote.
Did you know he worked with Tina Turner 😉
Oh yes, the C86 podcast! His line of questioning (“bands have a five year narrative” etc) is bordering on the obsessively samey, and I can only put the occasional rambling down to nerves. Amazingly he does seem to get some good interviews. But the one with Lindy Morrison ( Go Betweens) is brilliant when she loses the plot sonewhat with him towards the end.
Oh man – bless him he seems a nice guy but that “bands have a five year narrative” NO THEY DON’T! ARRGGHH!! – the other one is “There’s alls these documentaries now about the Wedding Present for instance”…no matter who he’s interviewing. Not heard the Lindy one yet – blimey!. He got a brilliant interview with David R.Edwards from Datblygu which I think may well be the last in depth interview before he died, and the Alan McGee one is really good because he was already a fan of the Podcast so he’s not thrown by the questions. The other really good one was Sonic Boom aka Peter Kember from Spacemen 3 – one of those conversations you’d just not hear on broadcast radio which is why Podcasts are ace.
Ware – thirded. Interesting and often very funny.
Some great recommendations here. Some I was already aware of. When do you guys find the time to listen to all these though?
Well I don’t know how the pandemic affected you Dave but I’ve certainly not been short of time to listen to Podcasts since March 2020
I’m surprised that no one has mentioned “The Album Years” by Steven Wilson and Tim Bowness…
https://stevenwilsonhq.com/sw/new-steven-wilson-tim-bowness-podcast-the-album-years/
There’s a couple of seasons, with each episode discussing the key albums of a particular year. Both are huge music fans (of all genres) and so it’s highly entertaining. There’s no actual music clips in the podcast, but they provide a Spotify playlist.
Tim and I have a mutual friend, and I know him to be an absolute music nut. He’d fit right in round here.
My only minor niggle with the AY podcast is the occasional “oh, yes, that’s a good one”. I prefer my podcasts to be a bit more forensic. They’d probably be improved by being twice as long.
I know what you mean – I do get the feeling that they really struggle to edit them down to an hour or so.
I like The Album Years, but it would be 3 times as good if they could play short samples of the songs they are discussing. I know that’s not possible, but it often comes down to two guys listing albums/songs I’ve never heard, and me scurrying off to Spotify to listen.
If you are looking for a podcast on eighties music, here’s one:
😉
We have done this many times here, few already mentioned also:
That Record Got Me High
I am the Eggpod (Beatles)
Is it Rolling, Bob? (Dylan)
The Beatles Naked
What is music? (initially Manic St Preachers, now also Muse)
None But the Brave (Springsteen)
Oh and Nothing is Real of course @DrJ Forensic fabs fare with a couple of great guys.
A couple of recommendations for classical music podcasts, both of which manage to work for both newcomers to the music wanting to know more about it, and those who are already immersed in it.
Aria Code explores opera by discussing specific areas with different guests in each episode. It’s introduced by Renaissance woman Rhiannon Giddens
Sticky Notes is a labour of love by young American conductor Joshua Weilerstein. There are well over 100 episodes and counting. He has occasional guests but mostly it’s him enthusiastically and knowledgeably discussing and analysing a real range of classical music pieces and composers. God knows how he finds the time whilst also being a busy working musician.
Thanks for that!
I see a few on here have mentioned the Rockonteurs podcast…I’ve listened to quite a few of these and while they are sometimes good I do find Guy Pratt a bit of an acquired taste.
Gary Kemp is very smart and erudite – but I suspect the Podcats wouldn’t exist without his shouty, overbearing bass player mate. Two interviewers doesn’t really work on Zoom as Hepworth & Ellen prove every week by talking over each other when trying to interview their guests. That said, the episode with Marianne Faithfull might change your view of Mr Pratt.
Yes that’s probably very true about Guy Pratt (even if I wouldn’t want to be stuck in a lift with him) and I’ll definitely give the Marianne Faithful one a listen.
Not sure about that. I’ve watched a lot of them, and for the most part Ellen lets Hepworth do most of the heavy lifting.
The Hep’s attic does give me a severe case of vinyl envy though.
Ellen talks over Hepworth when he is just about to ask a question, he also interrupts guests who are clearly midflow, just about to come onto an interesting point. Hepworth is a good interviewer. He shuts up when necessary and lets the interview continue if it’s going well. Generally though, regarding Ellen and Hepworth, it’s Hepworth whose contributions are the most interesting. Ellen more often repeats some old point you’ve heard before. That said I do enjoy Word In Your Attic, despite the irritations, as long as it’s a good subject, John Aizlewood was great. Toyah was awful. Sometimes I just switch off because I can tell this person is dull. Toyah was kind of fascinating in a car crash way, likewise Geldof, who I’ve always thought was quite mad and after his recent appearance I am even more convinced. When I was at school we all thought he was such a tiresome gobby prick. That would be in the Rats heyday.
Ellen also goes through phases of finding everything Hepworth says vastly amusing, or of great import. And it isn’t.
Yes, the Word in Your Ear podcast with John Aizelwood was pretty good.
I also enjoyed WIYE podcasts with Simon Garfield, Chris Welch and Robin Denselow.
Thanks for all the recommendations – some i’ve heard, some I haven’t – will check them all out.
I’ve mentioned it on other threads, but fans of The Fall should give the Oh Brother podcast a listen. It’s Paul & Steve Hanley interviewing people involved in the band & it’s superb.
Failing that I would recommend the below music ones;
– Transmissions: The Definitive Story of Joy Division & New Order (as mentioned already in this thread, but it is superb)
– Song Exploder (this depends on if you are interested in the song, but if you are they are fascinating. BiG Theif discussing Cattails & the Carly Rae Jepsen ones are excellent.)
– James Acaster’s Perfect Sounds (can be a bit hit & miss but is only 25 mins long so no big drama if a miss)
– Inheritance Tracks (The BBCR4 one. 8 minutes of someone discussing 2 tracks. It’s great)
– Desert Island Discs (the obvious one, but i only discovered it about 18 months ago & am now an avid listener. I have done more than a hundred of them from the archives & find the Kirsty Young ones particularly brilliant (although Lauren is a great host too). I have a great playlist of songs I have discovered whilst listening to it which I would not know otherwise so you can’t grumble at that)
Add Soul Music to the BBC R4 list. 163 episodes (each 30 mins.) with five more to come in the current series.
I did not know about this. I will investigate. Thank you @fentonsteve
If you can get through the episode on Lean On Me without moist eyes, you’re doing better than me.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000q3kg
Love this podcast thank you. 100% agreement on the Lean On Me episode, it must have got very dusty in the room as i kept getting something in my eye!
This weeks episode has introduced me to Mountain Man covering ‘Take Me Home, Country Roads’ which has blown me away somewhat! Thank you for the recommendation 🙂
The License Fee is worth it for this alone. Not that you need one for Radio 4, but you know what I mean.
Not really a podcast as such, but Mark Nevin’s Dad Pill on Boogaloo Radio is very enjoyable, with tons of AW-friendly guests, including in recent weeks Tot Taylor, Dr Robert, Gary Crowley, Ron Sexsmith, The Korgis, Leo Sayer – and many more.
My current music podcasts are:
Folk On Foot – folkonfoot.podbean.com/feed.xml
“Matthew Bannister goes walking with some of the UK’s top folk musicians, in the landscapes that have inspired them. Includes exclusive performances of their music on location.” When it’s good, it’s excellent. Can occasionally be a bit dull,
Framework Radio – feeds.feedburner.com/frameworkradio
“phonography, field-recording, the art of sound-hunting. Open your ears and listen.”
Afropop Worldwide – feeds.feedburner.com/afropop/podcast
Headphone Commute – feeds.feedburner.com/headphonecommutepodcast
“Free mixes created by and exclusively for Headphone Commute.”
In The Studio – podcasts.files.bbci.co.uk/p05c17wy.rss
“In the Studio takes you into the minds of the world’s most creative people, with unprecedented access.”
Music Life – podcasts.files.bbci.co.uk/w13xttxd.rss
“Where music stars discuss how they make their music.”
Roots To The Future – Anchor.fm/s/63d111f0/podcast/rss
“A Dive into the thriving UK jazz scene brought to you by pioneering talent development organisation Tomorrow’s Warriors, hosted by award-winning singer-songwriter Cherise.”
Word Podcast – feeds2.feedburner.com/wordpodcast
“David Hepworth, Mark Ellen and chums cast an occasionally jaundiced eye over the goings on in the world of music and entertainment.”
World Service Music Documentaries – podcasts.files.bbci.co.uk/p02nrwqn.rss
“All the BBC World Service music podcasts gathered into one place. New documentaries will be added intermittently. Only available in the UK.”
My current favourite is What Had Happened Was, where Open Mike Eagle devotes an entire series to interviewing one guest. The first series was Prince Paul, the (recently finished) second was El-P from Company Flow/Run the Jewels. Obviously it works best if you know the work of the guests, but they’ve both had long varied careers.
Black Music in Europe: A Hidden History.
Another excellent BBC Radio 4 series, which is not strictly speaking a podcast, but can become one if you can operate get_iPlayer.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09kg57l/episodes/guide