Finally, The Old Man is back with more of his unique perspective on pop of the past. This time he looks at the hits of a month in which brutalizing house guests meant box office. There's gothiness, CanCon, returning teen idols, a song to look for a murderer in an odd Pacific Northwest town by, a rapping, crying soccer star, and a hit that is practi…

This time Roger looks back at a time when Sam Malone + Thomas Magnum + Carey Mahoney = blockbuster. The hits of the moment included a Ray Charles cover by a Tipper Gore target, a military exercise, a matrimonial anthem, lovers who show varying degrees of devotion, accompaniment for women writhing on automobiles, and an operatic rocker meeting the r…

Another one so soon? Roger's really pressing to get even close to caught up, so here he is again to talk about the hits of the month Bo Derek became a thing. There's punk destruction, sappy closing credits music, mixed feelings about the wireless, counterintuitive action, a band's other dirty-minded hit, and a twangy boat trip. Explore on YouTube: …

This time Roger looks back at the CanUKUS hits from the month when the movies helped make Jack Skellington and Rudy Ruettiger household names. The charts featured some bedroom boasting, reefer-fueled madness, anti-consumerist Swedish rap, an icon's first major pop hit, possibly the best disco hit of the 90s, and that song that those guys on that sh…

Finally, Roger returns with an episode about the hits of the month when Madonna truly began her legend. There's two songs sort of about coke, a victim of the prejudices of the time, superstar indulgent pretentiousness, British wedding music, and political wrestling. https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDWLXjsOJPQlNQW_EpDr7O9JXah8_lZrM&si=Eji6cKXrFq_…

Roger is way behind on the chart shows, and the latest attempt to catch up begins 51 years ago. There's a tale of a post-apocalyptic Big Apple, a legend's shockingly successful genitalia joke, an ode to a biker chick, primitive electronic music, the prog beginnings of a metal legend, and one of the biggest downers to ever hit #1. Get out of the roa…

For his latest celebration of Spooky Season, Roger changes things up. First, he invites his comedian brother on to discuss this year's subject. And second, that subject is not a TV show but rather a theatrically released movie: 1986's Trick or Treat, the story of a teenage boy who brings his favorite heavy metal singer back to life by playing a rec…

This time Roger looks at the hits from a time when America's final answer for entertainment was watching a kid who saw dead people. There was room boomin', love seekin', bottom droppin', view sharin', war profiteerin', and farewell smoochin'. You will have my love if you listen to this one.YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDWLXjsOJPQmPRZ…

This time Roger looks back 35 years to a month when the Brat Pack went west and Public Enemy went to prison...for a few hours. The hits of the day included second-generation reggae, a fine Springsteen knockoff, a revived Motown chestnut, a solo Go-Go (not that one), and a guy who could, and perhaps should, have been a superstar. Oh, and Roger tries…

This time Roger goes back to a time when he was about a month away from starting kindergarten. While a shark gobbled up moviegoers' dollars, radios were playing songs about a nobody dreaming of a glittery future, the danger of firearms (by a band from the American South, no less), blabbermouth vegetation, a horse that definitely did have a name, se…

Roger's two months behind, but the comeback begins with a look at the hits of the summer Will Smith punched an alien and some Scots clones a sheep. There was bilingual rap, a thwarted tryst, a teenage torch singer, a tune to drop from the ceiling by, and some Eastern dabbling from the child of a child star. This episode loves you all.YouTube playli…

The tournament to crown the most Uneasy Riderish US Top 40 hit continues with a bracket containing songs about school kids, songs by school kids, good days, wishes, girls, losers, sunshine, units of time, being famous, self-identification, breakfast, trailers and more. You'll enjoy this one even if you don't wear Abercrombie and Fitch. YouTube play…

This time Roger goes back to the beginning of the 2nd Star Wars summer to check out the charts. He finds some metal about a plane that almost crashed, fake siblings kicking it old school, a punk who can't get service, music for a cosmic beach party, a one-hit wonder with a pedigree, an intentionally "stupid" movie theme, and a guy who went from yac…

This time Roger travels back to those simpler days when 25 years on the British throne was seen as an impressive accomplishment and we were in the final days of people finding words like "lightsaber" and "Wookiee" kind of odd. On the charts, you had some Caribbean calypso via South America and the Netherlands, a yacht rocker initiating the "relatio…

This time Roger goes back to a time when a guy named Johnny announced his retirement and started a war. On the charts, you had droney jealousy, successful soundalikes, old lust, funny cheese, a pop masterpiece, an Italian guy who didn't sing opera, and a dated come-on. Everything you need is on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDWLXjsOJP…

This time Roger looks at a time when moviegoers felt the need for speed, while TV viewers wondered why there was a dead guy in the shower. The chart hits of the day included a returning rock original, musty Britishness, some seaworthy Swiss pop, metalheads showing their compassionate side, a top-tier one hit wonder, bland "country," and multiple st…

In 1978 space and aliens were the hottest trend in pop culture. They were dominating the movies, and the TV and music industries wanted in on it too. This is how we ended up with Karen and Richard Carpenter meeting some far out extraterrestrial beings played by...a blow-dried All American type and a buxom blonde sitcom star. Will the Carpenters tea…

Roger continues to run behind on his episodes, but while he works on his current Turn On Tune In Rock Out Episode, he's offering one of his Patreon-only Microdose episodes for free in exchange for your patience. To accompany the Halloween episode about punk-themed TV episodes, he had a look at the time John Belushi got his favorite LA punk band boo…

This time Roger goes back to a time when a Swedish quartet was winning with an ode to a big historic loss. On the charts, a tune about a hot-button issue was flopping, while more successful songs included a paean to sex in the sand, a tearjerker by a funnyman who would later be accused of consuming a rodent, an invitation to deception, a tribute to…

This time Roger goes back four score and eight April Fool's Days. While moviegoers were being introduced to a fat man in a little coat, the charts contained a trip-hop ode to uniqueness, a Britpop awakening, a cover of a Japanese translation, a premium 90s party-starter, and some all-star metaphorical engineering. Learn about it all on YouTube: htt…

This time Roger goes back to a month when one of the countries whose charts we cover was on the brink of war over a land with more sheep than people. The hits of the day included some Irish patronizing, romantic crime, a very cold breakup, music for slow-motion beach running, a song with lofty ambitions, and a girl, standing in front of a boy, aski…

Yes, the Old Man isn't flying solo for once, as he's invited music instructor and classically trained singer Lynda Quigg to join him on this look back at the hits from the very early end of my chart timeline. (Oh yeah, she's my wife as well). She provides a different and more technical perspective to this week's songs. Find out how the person hired…

Roger goes back 25 years to the heart of Titanic mania. While Jack and Rose were enjoying themselves in that old timey car, the charts featured jumpy fruit, stars gathering to promote public broadcasting, a song that includes 70s television in ideal romantic scenarios, one about making out with the weather, and one requesting an FBI investigation i…

This time Roger looks back to a time when over four dozen Americans were enjoying their regained freedom, and two of the decade's biggest TV dramas were making their debuts. On the charts, you had the national breakthrough of a local legend, a plea for some truly special education, some sexy sleuthing, an unremarkable booty call, a pop superstar go…

The search for the most odd and unique American Top 40 hit continues with the second first-round bracket. The songs here are about moms and dads and life and death and God and such. There are big names aplenty, along with the usual one hit wonders. But which 16 songs will move on? Listen to the contenders on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?li…

This time Roger goes back to a time of heavy weather and heavy messages in sitcoms (don't make Doobie Brothers bootlegs, kids). On the charts, there were TWO songs about alien encounters, as well as an instrumental that doesn't really live up to either half of its title, a diss of the diminutive, a description of how Jamaican girls show out, and a …

This time Roger goes back to Boxing Day 1992, when Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson were yelling at each other at a theater near you. Hits this week included a posthumous gem from a legend, a rock star dissing certain elements of his audience, a 90s icon in her first incarnation, an alt-rock cover of a song from an angsty 60s movie, an interesting tra…

This time Roger goes back to the month Chevy Chase went overboard on his Christmas decorating. On the charts there was an ode to the Almighty, songs about birth and what leads to it, rock going rave, and a group that would soon take a lot of blame putting their own blame on precipitation. Learn more on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLD…

Roger's way behind, but the push to catch up by the first days of 2023 begins in 1971. While America was crying for a football player, the charts contained a breakup mashup, a peace allegory from a Satanic source, a guitar genius, a calming poem, an ode to powerlessness, and a comedian's dairy-based Western ballad. See and hear it all on YouTube: h…

The Old Man's running behind, but he's starting his attempt to catch up with a look at the month that Montreal became the most infamous city in professional wrestling. On the charts, you had an electronic music innovator teaming with a rap legend, some Newfoundland optimism, an Aussie little sister, a confession of romantic crime, a soul loverman's…

This time Roger looks at a month when a 300-plus pound man became a Chicago sports legend. On the CanUKUS charts, there was a tribute to a religious martyr, a sad boy classic, metaphorical demolition and construction, and a future movie star taking his Latin lover stereotype character to the club. Plus there's a song good enough to make the Old Man…

It's scary season again, and Roger marks the occasion this year by looking back at when the King of Shock Rock got 90 minutes of network TV to promote his new LP. He pushed his typical cartoon horror act to new heights, and to help him do so he brought in the chairman of cinematic chills himself, Vincent Price! So how scary is it? Roger tells you, …

This episode takes us back to the month Lawrence Olivier first asked Dustin Hoffman whether or not it was safe. The hits of the day included a song to watch a Romanian tumble by, some experimental Germans, a soul smoothie, the ballad of a maritime tragedy, a lesson in American geography, hustling waterfowl, and a request for blue-eyed soul. The You…

Roger goes back to that magical container of lost long playing records and finds a concept album that attracted some big names in British and American rock, headlined by Alice Cooper and half of The Who. It was a collection of songs about a space hero and his battle with a race of insatiable female aliens. Somehow, it never caught on, but the Old M…

On this one Roger goes back to the fall without a Fall Classic to talk about the hits of the time. There's some spacey trip-hop, brats British and American, a modern murder ballad, one of the combatants in the Battle of Britpop, an African superstar, and the late great Coolio. Watch and listen on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDWLXjsO…

The time has come for the 1990s to crown its own champion of pop peculiarity. This episode covers the first 32 contenders and whittles them down to 16. Warning: this bracket contains mature themes. Adultery, glorification and shaming of body parts, BDSM, masturbation, one-night stands, and public acts of a oral nature. We’re talking about sex, baby…

This time Roger goes back to the month a 139-year sports winning street was ended, and boomer nostalgia was big at the box office. The hits includes a tribute to an industry in a slump, an audio bike ride, a Hollywood superstar's little bro, a request for personal space, and a pair of songs that accompanied a Pittsburgh welder's pursuit of a dream.…

This time Roger goes back to the month the movies asked "Where were you in '62?" and musicians and automobiles were a dangerous mix. The hits of the day included a tale of cheating spouses, a fictional dogfight, wild times on tour, an icon's response to being passed over for Paul Anka, rock against racism, and some influential nonsense. See and hea…

This time Roger goes back to the first summer of the 90s and finds charts containing jazzy rap, hair metal and hair metallish coattail riders, a blind man who cares more than he should, looks that deceive, and a cover of a band's 78th best song. Oh, and there's also opera about a guy who's keeping a secret as if his life depends on it...because it …

This time Roger looks at what was on the charts during a month of iconic movies and terrible sequels. There were comedic TV tributes, Brits delving into American history, issue-oriented folk pop, retro acts, and song to make you think and pump your fist simultaneously. All you need to follow along is on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL…

This time Roger looks at a month when disco was literally blowing up and people were going to the movie house to see a haunted house. On the charts, there was a danceable dirge, a self-pitying single man, some regional obscenities, a Fleetwood Mac-assisted ode to aspiring musicians, masked cowboy mockery, and a soda pitchman's one (and mercifully o…

In the 60s, London Bridge didn't quite fall down, but it was torn down, bought by an American chainsaw tycoon, and rebuilt in Arizona. And NBC turned it into a TV special starring Carlton Banks' favorite singer, along with a bunch of movie and TV stars and pop's top brother-sister act of the day. Roger watched it, and he's going to tell you all abo…

Roger's running a month behind, but he's still here, and this episode completes his second journey through all the years from 1970-1999. In the month when dinosaurs ruled the box office, the charts featured some remixed cartoon crooning, a lot of concern for our world, a Eurovision winner, hippieish hip-hop, and the crowning achievement of Swedish …

This time Roger goes back to a time when Gremlins and Ghostbusters were about to hit the screens and metal fans tore up the world's most famous arena. On the charts, there was a story of escaping bigotry for a better life, a big band throwing something together to fulfill a contract, swinging mood swings, an exhausted dark lord, rock and jazz legen…

This time we go back 44 years to look at songs that were not quite hits. You might even say they were not quite not quite hits. Among them were a tale of a publicity stunt gone wrong, a legend trying to cope with disco, an ex-glam musician hitting the floor, and two different takes on country music. YouTube has more: https://youtube.com/playlist?li…

This time Roger goes back to a time when a geologist claimed to be Jesus and Bewitched was still making new episodes for some reason. The hits of the day included a retro raveup, a tale of a kid from the American southwest who goes whatever the old timey version of viral is, the Chicano national anthem, a street racing story, some modified Poe, and…

This week Roger goes back to the month to when the world got a glimpse of Darth Vader's childhood and Erica Kane finally got what was coming to her. On the charts, there was the latest from one of Florida's greatest gifts to the world, a dance hit driven by pants and puppetry, a boy band's confusing request, a New Kid becoming a man, a cover of som…

Roger starts the road to 200 episodes by going back to a time when Sonny went from ex-Mr. Cher to newly elected Mr. Mayor. On the charts, there were songs about flawless romance, childbirth, taking sex more seriously, regret tinged with Catholic guilt, the darkness within us all, and how amazingly great the world around us is. Listen and learn on Y…

Somehow, Roger has made it to 100 shows. To celebrate, he presents a dramatic conclusion over 2 1/2 years in the making. What's the oddest hit of the 80s: The Curly Shuffle or 19? And as if that weren't enough, he's going to start all over with a 90s tourney, beginning now with the announcement of all 256 entries. There's a short yet informative Yo…

This time Roger looks at the month the world was introduced to group of Knights who were fond of uttering a particular nonsensical syllable. On the charts, there was a celebration of birth control, a song about a vehicular encounter in which birth control would be useful, a song that made a dairy product sound dirty, and oh yes, a song about a hook…