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 130: Elevated by a Cover ...
In episode 130, Martin talks about how songs Elevated by a Cover Version with these five songs: 1. Queensryche – “Gonna Get Close to You”  2. Blue Oyster Cult – “White Flags”  3. Great White – “Face the Day”  4. Nazareth – “This Flight Tonight”  5. April Wine – “21st Century Schizoid Man”  To connect or learn more about Martin head over to: www.martinpopoff.com This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts.
37 min
127
History in Five Songs 129: Those electronic dru...
In episode 129, Martin talks about how ‘Those electronic drums sound good.’ with these five songs: 1. Golden Earring – “When the Lady Smiles”  2. Ratt – “Wanted Man”  3. Highway Chile – “Power and the Force”  4. ZZ Top – “Antenna Head”  5. Tank – “First They Killed the Father”  To connect or learn more about Martin head over to: www.martinpopoff.com This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts.
35 min
128
History in Five Songs 128: Metallica or Megadet...
In episode 128, Martin talks about Metallica or Megadeth? In 1990. with these five songs: 1. Metallica – “Metal Militia”  2. Megadeth – “Devil’s Island”  3. Metallica – “Disposable Heroes”  4. Metallica – “The Frayed Ends of Sanity”  5. Megadeth – “Hangar 18”  To connect or learn more about Martin head over to: www.martinpopoff.com This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts.
29 min
129
History in Five Songs 127: British Metal in the...
In episode 127, Martin talks about British Metal in the ‘90s with these five songs: 1. Skyclad – “Bury Me”  2. Cathedral – “Utopian Blaster”  3. Napalm Death – “Greed Killing”  4. Paradise Lost – “Hallowed Land”  5. My Dying Bride – “A Kiss to Remember”  To connect or learn more about Martin head over to: www.martinpopoff.com This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts.
34 min
130
History in Five Songs 126: Kerrang!’s Top 100 A...
In episode 126, Martin talks about Kerrang!’s Top 100 Albums… in Issue #4 with these five songs: 1. Rush – “Something for Nothing”  2. Iron Maiden – “Phantom of the Opera”  3. Status Quo – “Backwater”  4. Pink Floyd – “Us and Them”  5. Rainbow – “Light in the Black”  To connect or learn more about Martin head over to: www.martinpopoff.com This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts.
27 min
131
History in Five Songs 125: Kerrang!’s Top 100 S...
In episode 125, Martin talks about Kerrang!’s Top 100 Songs… in Issue #1 with these five songs: 1. Girlschool – “Race with the Devil”  2. Triumph – “I Live for the Weekend”  3. Molly Hatchet – “Boogie No More”  4. Boston – “More Than a Feeling” 5. AC/DC – “Whole Lotta Rosie”  To connect or learn more about Martin head over to: www.martinpopoff.com This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts.
33 min
132
History in Five Songs 124: Re-Recording the Old...
In episode 124, Martin talks about Re-Recording the Old Hits with these five songs: 1. Uriah Heep – “Bird of Prey”  2. Yes – “Fly from Here, Pt. 1: We Can Fly”  3. Queensryche – “Empire”  4. ZZ Top – “La Grange”  (from The Six Pack box set) 5. Peter Gabriel – “Red Rain”  To connect or learn more about Martin head over to: www.martinpopoff.com This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts.
32 min
133
History in Five Songs 123: Legendary Albums Not...
In episode 123, Martin talks about Legendary Albums Not Certified with these five songs: 1. Scorpions – “The Sails of Charon”  2. Motörhead – “Shoot You in the Back”  3. Rainbow – “Starstruck”  4. Iron Maiden – “Phantom of the Opera”  5. Judas Priest – “The Ripper”  To connect or learn more about Martin head over to: www.martinpopoff.com This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts.
38 min
134
History in Five Songs 122: Best NWOBHM Bands NOW!
In episode 122, Martin talks about the Best NWOBHM Bands NOW! with these five songs: 1. Venom – “100 Miles to Hell”  2. Saxon – “The Secret of Flight”  3. Iron Maiden – “Speed of Light”  4. Tokyo Blade – “Burning Rain”  5. Angel Witch – “Death from Andromeda”  To connect or learn more about Martin head over to: www.martinpopoff.com This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts.
31 min
135
History in Five Songs 121: Greatest Hits Plus
In episode 121, Martin talks about Greatest Hits Plus with these five songs: 1. Van Halen – “Me Wise Magic”  2. Aerosmith – “Chip Away the Stone”  3. AC/DC – “Who Made Who”  4. Motley Crue – “Primal Scream”  5. Poison – “Sexual Thing”  To connect or learn more about Martin head over to: www.martinpopoff.com This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts.
35 min
136
History in Five Songs 120: Made for Japan
In episode 120, Martin talks about Made for Japan with these five songs: 1. Deep Purple – “Space Truckin’”  2. UFO – “Stopped by a Bullet”  3. Tokyo Blade – “Sunrise in Tokyo”  4. Alcatrazz – “Hiroshima Mon Amour” 5. Loudness – “Like Hell”  To connect or learn more about Martin head over to: www.martinpopoff.com This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts.
35 min
137
History in Five Songs 119: Reggae in Hard Rock
In episode 119, Martin talks about Reggae in Hard Rock with these five songs: 1. Led Zeppelin – “D’yer Mak’er”  2. Pat Travers Band – “Crash and Burn”  3. Rush – “Between the Wheels”  4. Thin Lizzy – “Half Caste”  5. Scorpions – “As Soon as the Good Times Roll”  To connect or learn more about Martin head over to: www.martinpopoff.com This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts.
32 min
138
History in Five Songs 118: Hair Metal’s Twiligh...
In episode 118, Martin talks about Hair Metal’s Twilight Years with these five songs: 1. Kiss – “Spit”  2. Slaughter – “Searchin’”  3. Bulletboys – “Laughing with the Dead”  4. Extreme – “Cupid’s Dead”  5. Love/Hate – “Yucca Man” To connect or learn more about Martin head over to: www.martinpopoff.com This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts.
28 min
139
History in Five Songs 117: The Birth of Post-Punk
In episode 117, Martin talks about The Birth of Post-Punk with these five songs: 1. Magazine – “Cut Out Shapes”  2. Siouxsie and the Banshees – “Jigsaw Feeling”  3. Gang of Four – “Not Great Men”  4. Joy Division – “Interzone”  5. The Cure – “Play for Today”  To connect or learn more about Martin head over to: www.martinpopoff.com This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts.
31 min
140
History in Five Songs 116: Recording Badly on P...
In episode 116, Martin talks about Recording Badly on Purpose with these five songs: 1. The Stooges – “1970”  2. Motörhead – “Damage Case”  3. The Damned – “Liar”  4. Gillan – “Hadely Bop Bop”  5. Venom – “Raise the Dead”  To connect or learn more about Martin head over to: www.martinpopoff.com This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts.
36 min
141
History in Five Songs 115: Best First Songs Ever
In episode 115, Martin talks about the Best Songs Ever with these five songs: 1. Uriah Heep – “Gypsy”  2. Max Webster – “Hangover”  3. Ramones – “Blitzkreig Bop”  4. Montrose – “Rock the Nation”  5. Angel – “Tower”  To connect or learn more about Martin head over to: www.martinpopoff.com This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts.
30 min
142
History in Five Songs 114: Anthem
In episode 114, Martin talks about anthems with these five songs: 1. Kiss – “All Hell’s Breakin’ Lose”  2. Judas Priest – “Take on the World”  3. Saxon – “Play It Loud”  4. Sammy Hagar – “There’s Only One Way to Rock” 5. Scorpions – “Don’t Stop at the Top”  To connect or learn more about Martin head over to: www.martinpopoff.com This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts.
31 min
143
History in Five Songs 113: The Last Great NWOBH...
In episode 113, Martin talks about The Last Great NWOBHM Albums with these five songs: 1. Samson – “Love Hungry”  2. Iron Maiden – “Back in the Village”  3. Chateaux – “Highly Strung”  4. Grim Reaper – “Never Coming Back”  5. Heavy Pettin’ – “Northwinds”  To connect or learn more about Martin head over to: www.martinpopoff.com This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts.
27 min
144
History in Five Songs 112: Self-Produced Albums
In episode 112, Martin talks about Self-Produced Albums with these five songs: 1. Uriah Heep – “One Way or Another”  2. Queen – “White Man”  3. Yes – “Release, Release”  4. AC/DC – “Guns for Hire”  5. Accept – “Aiming High”  To connect or learn more about Martin head over to: www.martinpopoff.com This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts.
29 min
145
History in Five Songs 111: You didn't have to b...
In episode 111, You didn’t have to be there with these five songs: 1. The Hounds – “Workin' on My Cool”  2. King’s X – “Talk to You”  3. Last Crack – “Energy Mind”  4. The Tea Party – “Fire in the Head”  5. Helix – “Billy Oxygen”  To connect or learn more about Martin head over to: www.martinpopoff.com This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts.
34 min
146
History in Five Songs 110: You had to be there.
In episode 110, you had to be there... with these five songs: 1. The Brigands – “(Would I Still Be) Her Big Man”  2. Joe Ely – “Lord of the Highway”  3. The Vibrators – “Petrol”  4. Iron Maiden – “Hallowed by Thy Name”  5. Highway Chile – “Going Blind”  To connect or learn more about Martin head over to: www.martinpopoff.com This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts.
35 min
147
History in Five Songs 109: Best Last Songs Ever
In episode 109 Martin talks about the Best Last Songs Ever with these five songs: 1. Thin Lizzy – “Heart Attack”  2. Rush – “The Garden”  3. David Bowie – “I Can’t Give Everything Away”  4. Nirvana – “All Apologies”  5. Led Zeppelin – “I’m Gonna Crawl”  To connect or learn more about Martin head over to: www.martinpopoff.com This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts.
28 min
148
History in Five Songs 108: How Bands Deal with ...
In episode 108 Martin talks about How Bands Deal with Loss with these five songs: 1. The Last in Line – “Sword from the Stone”  2. Voivod – “Polaroids”  3. Metallica – “The Shortest Straw”  4. Rush – “Ghost Rider”  5. Queen – “Made in Heaven”  To connect or learn more about Martin head over to: www.martinpopoff.com This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts.
30 min
149
History in Five Songs 107: One and Done
In episode 107 Martin talks One and Done with these five songs: 1. Katmandu – “Love Hurts”  2. Salty Dog – “Slow Daze”  3. Pride & Glory – “Horse Called War”  4. Green River – “Porkfist”  5. Sex Pistols – “Problems”  To connect or learn more about Martin head over to: www.martinpopoff.com This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts.
33 min
150
History in Five Songs 106: Over the Top
In episode 106 Martin talks about 'OTT' with these five songs: 1. Motörhead – “Over the Top”  2. Raven – “Faster Than the Speed of Light”  3. Exciter – “Heavy Metal Maniac”  4. Nitro – “O.F.R.”  5. Emperor – “The Loss and Curse of Reverence” To connect or learn more about Martin head over to: www.martinpopoff.com This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts.
30 min