History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff
History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff is the show that aims to make grand and often oddball hard rock and heavy metal points through a narrative built upon the tiny idea of a quintet of songs. Buttressed with illustrative clips, Martin argues quickly and succinctly why these songs - and the specific sections of these tracks - support his mad professor premise, from the wobbly invention of an “American” heavy metal, to the influence of Led Zeppelin in hair metal or to more succinct topics like tapping and twin leads. The songs serve as bricks, but Martin slathers plenty of mortar. At the end, hopefully he has a sturdy house in which this week’s theory can reside unbothered by the elements. At approximately 7000, Martin has had published in books more record reviews than anybody in the history of music writing across all genres. Additionally, Martin has penned approximately 85 books on hard rock, heavy metal, classic rock and record collecting. Proud part of Pantheon - the podcast network for music lovers.
1
History in Five Songs Episode 286: A New Theory...
In Episode 286, Martin posits a new theory about the origins of punk, arguing that it was less a reaction to progressive rock or metal and more a result of a growing disillusionment with established UK rock institutions from the 1960s.
28 min
2
History in Five Songs Episode 285: Vocal Intros
In Episode 285, Martin delves into the world of vocal intros, exploring how different artists use unique vocal openings to set the tone for their songs, from crowd participation and bluesy phrases to iconic calls and dramatic showcases of vocal prowess.
32 min
3
History in Five Songs Episode 284: Bands Ruined...
In Episode 284, Martin laments bands that were negatively impacted by the rise of hair metal, examining how their attempts to adapt to the trend led to commercial failure and a shift in their musical identity.
33 min
4
History in Five Songs Episode 283: Totally Inve...
In Episode 283, Martin recognizes bands that take their title tracks seriously, showcasing how these songs often define albums by being the standout tracks, iconic hits, or even the only memorable song from the album.
34 min
5
History in Five Songs Episode 282: Not Big on T...
In Episode 282, Martin explores bands that show little interest in title tracks, who often bypass or subvert traditional title track conventions in favor of other creative approaches.
33 min
6
History in Five Songs Episode 281: Early Rush S...
In Episode 281, Martin explores early Rush songs through the lens of mortality, focusing on lyrics from the band's first five albums that reflect themes of aging, existential reflection, and the inevitability of time passing.
29 min
7
History in Five Songs Episode 280: Heaviest Can...
In Episode 280, Martin probes the heaviest Canadian albums of the 1970s, presenting a ranking based on five impactful songs from ten notable bands, highlighting the unique sound and musical evolution of Canadian rock during that era.
28 min
8
History in Five Songs 279: Which bands do comedy?
In Episode 279, Martin explores the comedic side of classic rock, categorizing bands by their approach to humor and showcasing how elements of comedy—or the lack thereof—are woven into their music and lyrics.
34 min
9
History in Five Songs 278: Sacred Songs I’ve Al...
In Episode 278, Martin rants about why certain tracks, despite their popularity, just don’t resonate with him. Throughout, he delves into the difference between fan-revered “sacred songs” and mainstream hits, questioning whether the songs deemed sacred truly deserve their status.
32 min
10
History in Five Songs 277: Missed the Boat on a...
In Episode 277, Martin discusses iconic bands from the '80s (including Van Halen, Def Leppard, and The Police) who may have missed significant opportunities by not releasing live albums during their prime, potentially leaving money and legacy on the table.
32 min
11
History in Five Songs 276: Live Albums: The Dec...
In Episode 276 of History in Five Songs, Martin explores the rise and fall of live albums across five decades, from their golden age in the 1970s to their fading significance in the 2000s. He dives into the cultural and commercial shifts that led to the decline, sharing stories of iconic albums from Kiss, Thin Lizzy, and more, while unpacking how live recordings once captured the essence of rock but lost their impact over time.
34 min
12
History in Five Songs 275: Which Deep Purple er...
In Episode 275 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin dives into the different eras of Deep Purple, analyzing which period boasts the best song intros and how these intros reflect the band’s internal dynamics and evolving leadership. Through an exploration of Deep Purple’s iconic tracks, from Chasing Shadows to Highway Star, Martin uncovers the stories behind the music, highlighting the band’s creative interplay and the way intros capture the essence of their musical journey.
37 min
13
History in Five Songs 274: Exiled Rockers on Fire
In Episode 274, Martin explores the creative and commercial journeys of rockers who left or were exiled from their iconic bands, including Hugh Cornwell, Roger Waters, and Mick Jones. The episode delves into their “second catalogs” and how these artists forged successful solo careers, often fueled by bad blood and a desire to prove themselves.
31 min
14
History in Five Songs 273: 1979 was the worst y...
In Episode 273, Martin dives into why 1979 was the worst year for rock music, exploring the disappointments from major bands like Blue Öyster Cult, Aerosmith, and Kiss, and discussing how shifts in the industry and musical trends shaped this rocky year.
32 min
15
History in Five Songs 272: Late-to-Arrive Hair ...
In Episode 272, Martin dives into the world of hair metal bands that emerged on the scene just as the grunge era began, exploring how these groups struggled to gain traction and achieve success. The episode highlights artists like Lillian Axe and Ugly Kid Joe, who found themselves at the tail end of the hair metal trend, navigating a music industry shifting towards new sounds and styles.
33 min
16
History in Five Songs 271: More Famous Last Words
In Episode 271, Martin dives into a collection of poignant final tracks and lyrics by various artists, exploring their prophetic or emotional significance, whether they were truly the last songs on an album or just the last words left to us.
30 min
17
History in Five Songs 270: LP Band to CD Band S...
In Episode 270, Martin explores the transition of bands from the LP to CD era, focusing on how the shift in format around 1990 affected album production, with insights into the contrasting approaches in different countries and the resulting changes in music dynamics and album length.
32 min
18
History in Five Songs 269: Old Band, New Guy, N...
In Episode 269, Martin discusses 'new guys' that comes into 'old bands,' injecting new life into the band and sending them into the fray of the new wave of British heavy metal.
32 min
19
History in Five Songs 268: UFO Spotted Over the...
In Episode 268, Martin discusses the various ways UFO and the band members work their way through the new wave of British heavy metal.
33 min
20
History in Five Songs 267: Locating the Rolling...
In Episode 267, Martin discerns just when the Rolling Stones locked in the sound they became famous for.
32 min
21
History in Five Songs 266: Is Black Sabbath pro...
In Episode 266, Martin wonders aloud if any of Black Sabbath's catalog constitutes progressive metal.
30 min
22
History in Five Songs 265: Why did the NWOBHM f...
In Episode 265, Martin questions and explores why the New Wave of British Heavy Metal 'failed.'
37 min
23
History in Five Songs 264: Peter Gabriel Makes ...
In Episode 264, Martin gives concrete examples of how Peter Gabriel, directly and indirectly, improves other musicians' artistic outputs.
33 min
24
History in Five Songs 263: Genesis and the Wor...
In Episode 263, Martin gets tangential and melts your brain talking about Genesis' shelved concept album about the worst year in history, 536 A.D.
31 min
25
History in Five Songs 262: Shocker: The Old Ban...
In Episode 262, Martin makes the bold claim that the 'old bands' invented hair metal.
33 min