Episode 299 - Class is in Session

Take your seats, your TAs Joe and Kari are ready to go over this week's lecture by Professor Kinzer in Music Theory 101 all about drones, those unchanging pitches held for a number of beats or even notes repeated over and over for an extended amount of time. We'll talk about some prime examples, including one of Kari's favorite songs from the end of the decade and it's suave remix, a big UK hit from an female septet and the first pop hit from a legitimate mega singer-songwriter-producer superstar for the ages. And what does Indiana Jones have to do with it (no really, someone tell us).Plus, hear Joe and Kari's review of their recent Ladies' Night out!Send us Fan Mail

Stop screening your calls and PICK UP on this new episode of Hey! Remember the 80's? After some Tidbits about Jem and a daytime concert, you'll get the skinny on how to use a landline telephone (remember those?). Phones were BIG in the 80's, so naturally there are lots of SONGS about telephones, including a number one Dance hit from Cheyne, an attempted comeback from Village People, and a pre-fame Lisa Stansfield. In the final segment, you'll hear how Madonna and Prince met and FINALLY collaborated on a song that saw the light of day at the end of the decade. Send us Fan Mail

It's a mish mash of an episode with tidbits covering some recent songs with 80s flavor and a roundup of documentary news, including a "docu-concert" called The Phil Collins Story that mystified Kari and Joe even after several minutes of discussion.Then they talk new broadway musicals based on 80s movies, there's something for everyone... teenage vampires or lifelong female friendships (with music written by a 93 YEAR OLD MAN). Finally, there was a call on the Request Line for the classic and iconic song The Roof is on Fire, so Joe and Kari get into the history of that track by Rock Master Scott and the Dynamic Three. Join them for all the fun!Send us Fan Mail

Hello, hello, hello! Episode 296 is here, along with some documentary Tidbits! Then it's time for a new segment called Dance Chart Fun (aka Kari Got a New Chart Book). You'll hear about some big (and not so big) names that made it to the Dance Chart in the 80s. Was ABC trying to pivot from Dance in the late 80s? And why did they put a crazed, murderous Dennis the Menace type in their video?? You'll also hear about some crazy covers, an influential R&B group, and an unexpected Dance Chart entry from an unlikely Canadian rocker. Send us Fan Mail

Slowly but surely Kari and Joe are making their way through every song that peaked on the Hot 100 in the 80s between number 41 and number 100. In this edition, it's three songs from early 1980 and three from late 1989. Get ready for an all night thing, Cheap Trick paying homage to the Fab Four, The Jets paying homage to a malfunctioning drive-thru speaker and a soundtrack sequel song that never should have been raised from the dead.Also, did you ever think someone could make a song written by Prince boring AF? Find out which 80s artist said "hold my beer" and did just that. All that plus Harry Styles covering Tears for Fears, a review of the new Squeeze album and more meme culture and Twitter stan banter than you ever knew you wanted. Send us Fan Mail

Get ready for some SUPERsized tidbits! You wanna hear about the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominees... we got you! How about a review of the documentary Billy Idol Should Be Dead... hell yea, we got that too! Oh, what about Squeeze in the Radio 2 Piano Room... no problem. All that and morrrrrrrrrrrrrrrreeeeeeee can be found in this week's episode.Plus we promised you R&B Superstars and we keep our promises. We talk about Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes. What connection do they have to Katy's 50th birthday party? Who is Katy? Why was this party so epic? You gotta tune in to find out!!Send us Fan Mail

Hi there! Taking inspiration from a playlist by music guru and MP3 blog pioneer Matthew Perpetua, Joe and Kari are exploring songs with the "crazed energy or manic intensity" of a good ol 80s coke psychosis. Lindsey Buckingham was definitely (ALLEGEDLY) on something when he decided to record "I Want You". Go West also certainly (ALLEGEDLY) had a line for "party favors" in the "Call Me" video budget. And Bobby Brown... him, Slimer and Vigo were for sure (ALLEGEDLY) doing some skiing on the set of Ghostbusters II. Joe and Kari break down all the tea around these wild tracks and more!Also, let's talk about one of the cheesiest, and worst, soundtrack songs of the 80s. No disassemble. Bye there!Send us Fan Mail

Join Kari and Joe as they turn the pages on the February 4, 1984 issue of Billboard magazine. An Australian group is asking a computer for dating advice, R&B stations are getting Fresh and Genesis has got a ghost story to keep you up at night. We'll also sip on some cognac and nibble on bologna with Doug and the Slugs, get regretful with Deborah Allen and hear from both the DLR and SH versions of Van Halen!Plus, music documentary talk in tidbits, HRT90s style!Send us Fan Mail

It's time for an Adult Contemporary Education (topic courtesy of the one and only Dom.) Kari and Joe talk about AC gems that did not cross over to the Hot 100, or if they did, barely made a dent on that chart. The beautiful voices of Sade, Mica Paris, Barbra Streisand and Dionne Warwick are here to soothe you and there's also some MEN we cover as well (Kari throws salt over her shoulder, lights some sage, and grabs a crystal to cleanse her soul.)Plus, a large tidbit about the origin about one of Joe's favorite songs/most beautiful songs of the decade.Listen carefully, because there will be a pop quiz on this material next class! Send us Fan Mail

Join Kari and Joe to cover the second disc of Hits 80's, the crazy French compilation Joe bought at the Hollywood Bowl and then carted all along Hollywood Boulevard while he nearly froze to death (sarcasm). You will hear about Boys, and Boys and Girls, and Steps, and Change, and slinky, sexy, erotic funk. But most importantly, you will hear about a ROBOT who crashed a spaceship over the north pole and is calling to you, so be sure to answer the phone.Kari also gives a rundown of the 80s legends she saw in concert recently. You don't want to miss this episode!Send us Fan Mail