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.

Music History
Music Commentary
126
History in Five Songs 195: Paying Your Dues
Paying Your Dues Black Sabbath – “Hand of Doom” Van Halen – “On Fire” Rush – “Best I Can” The Clash – “Safe European Home” Starz – “Subway Terror”
38 min
127
History in Five Songs 194: Making Bass Interesting
In Ep. 194, Martin gets into the bands who were 'Making Bass Interesting'
32 min
128
History in Five Songs 193: Bad Drum Sounds
Which five bands had some really 'Bad Drum Sounds'? Cheap Trick – “Dream Police” Black Sabbath – “Digital Bitch” Paul McCartney and Wings – “Band on the Run" Husker Du – “These Important Years” King Diamond – “Welcome Home”
33 min
129
History in Five Songs 192: Good Drum Sounds
What top five bands bring 'Good Drum Sounds?'
33 min
130
History in Five Songs 191: Bands with Outside L...
Here is episode 191, Martin gets into Bands with Outside Lyricists Cream – “Take It Back” King Crimson – “Cat Food” Blue Oyster Cult – “Black Blade” Grateful Dead – “Shakedown Street” Max Webster – “America’s Veins”
31 min
131
History in Five Songs 190: Bad Song Title Bands
Which bands have the top 5 bad song titles?
37 min
132
History in Five Songs 189: History of Annoying ...
In this episode Martin gets into the five band names that are annoying!
35 min
133
History in Five Songs 188: Third Album, New Band
Which artists on their Third Album, had a New Band
35 min
134
History in Five Songs 187: Second Album, New Band
In this episode Martin explains which bands with their Second Album had a new Band
35 min
135
History in Five Songs 186: The Pasha Sound
Here in episode 186, Martin explains the top five songs with 'The Pasha Sound'
32 min
136
History in Five Songs 185: Famous Last Words
In episode 185, Martin gets into the five songs with 'Famous Last Words' 1. Joy Division – “Decades” 2. Dio – “In Dreams” 3. Pantera – “I’ll Cast a Shadow” 4. The Grateful Dead – “I Will Take You Home” 5. Dead Boys – “Ain’t It Fun”
30 min
137
History in Five Songs 184: Was Hair Metal Born ...
In episode 184 Martin gets into the top five songs that answer the question - 'Was hair metal born in Canada?'April Wine – “Hot on the Wheels of Love”Streetheart – “Fight to Survive”Loverboy – “Lucky Ones”Coney Hatch – “We Got the Night”Helix – “When the Hammer Falls”
30 min
138
History in Five Songs 183: Punk Explained Right...
Here in episode 183 Punk is Explained Right AwayThe Boomtown Rats – “Lookin’ After No. 1” The Adverts – “One Chord Wonders”The Jam – “Art School” The Saints – “(I’m) Stranded” The Ramones – “Blitzkrieg Bop”
30 min
139
History in Five Songs 182: Sounds Like “Kashmir”
In this episode Martin gets into songs that Sound Like “Kashmir”Genesis – “Squonk” Robert Plant – “Slow Dancer”Bonham – “Wait for You”Whitesnake – “Judgment Day”The Tea Party – “Fire in the Head”
28 min
140
History in Five Songs 181: Best Album Titles
Here in episode 181, Martin gives you his top five 'Best Album Titles'Soundgarden – “Rusty Cage” MC5 – “Borderline”Hawkwind – “D-Rider”Black Sabbath – “Sabbra Cadabra”Aerosmith – “Sick as a Dog”
35 min
141
History in Five Songs 180: Worst Album Titles
Here in 180, Martin lays out the top five Worst Album TitlesAC/DC – “Demon Fire”Metallica – “Moth into Flame”Deep Purple – “A Touch Away”Pete Townshend – “Slit Skirts” Adam and the Ants – “The Day I Met God”
35 min
142
History in Five Songs 179: New Romantic: An Alt...
Here is episode 179 Martin explains the new romantic top five: An Alternate PathRoxy Music – “More Than This”China Crisis – “Wishful Thinking”Rush – “The Big Money”Terence Trent D’Arby – “Wishing Well”The Del Lords – “Judas Kiss”
31 min
143
History in Five Songs 178: Snowglobe Bands
In this episode Martin explains why these five are the top 'Snowglobe Bands'
35 min
144
History in Five Songs 177: Title Track Weirdness
In this episode, Martin talks about Title Track WeirdnessBlack Sabbath – “The Mob Rules” Blue Oyster Cult – “Shadow of California” Rush – “Jacob’s Ladder” Rainbow – “Difficult to Cure”Led Zeppelin – “Houses of the Holy”
29 min
145
History in Five Songs 176: Rock ‘n’ Roll Medley
Episode 176: Rock ‘n’ Roll Medley Uriah Heep – “Rock ‘n’ Roll Medley” ZZ Top – “Back Door Medley” Queen – “Jailhouse Rock” Twisted Sister – “It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll (But I Like It)” Led Zeppelin – “Whole Lotta Love”
34 min
146
History in Five Songs 175: Stand Alone Singles
Let's find out which 'Stand Alone Singles' make the top five!Rolling Stones – “Honky Tonk Women"The Who – “Join Together”Sweet – “Ballroom Blitz”The Clash – “Complete Control”The Cure – “Boys Don’t Cry”
31 min
147
History in Five Songs 174: That Undeniable Song
Five Songs that are 'That Undeniable Song'Aerosmith – “Walk This Way”Madness – “Our House”Pantera – “Cowboys from Hell”Helix – “Billy Oxygen”Alice Cooper – “School’s Out”
32 min
148
History in Five Songs 173: That One Massive Album
In this episode Matin details bands with 'That One Massive Album' Pink Floyd – “On the Run” AC/DC – “Have a Drink on Me” Whitesnake – “Children of the Night” Guns N’ Roses – “Think About You” Metallica – “Through the Never
30 min
149
History in Five Songs 172: Started as Psych
In 172 Martin explains the top five songs that 'Started as Psych' Status Quo – “Mr. Mind Detector” Golden Earring – “I’ve Just Lost Somebody” Deep Purple – “Love Help Me” Genesis – “In the Beginning” Pink Floyd – “Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun”
29 min
150
History in Five Songs 171: Chorus First
Here in episode 171, Martin talks about the top five songs that are 'Chorus First' Judas Priest – “Living After Midnight” Twisted Sister – “I Wanna Rock” Cheap Trick – “Dream Police” Aerosmith – “Back in the Saddle” Guns N’ Roses – “Paradise City” 0:31 – 1:01
31 min