Hit Parade | Music History and Music ...

What makes a song a smash? Talent? Luck? Timing? All that—and more. Chris Molanphy, pop-chart analyst and author of Slate’s “Why Is This Song No. 1?” series, tells tales from a half-century of chart history. Through storytelling, trivia and song snippets, Chris dissects how that song you love—or hate—dominated the airwaves, made its way to the top of the charts and shaped your memories forever.


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Music History
Music Commentary
51
Lenny on Mars Edition Part 1
59 min
52
Yes We Can Can Edition Part 2
37 min
53
Yes We Can Can Edition Part 1
47 min
54
Champagne Supernova Edition Part 2
54 min
55
Champagne Supernova Edition Part 1
64 min
56
The British Are Charting Edition Part 2
50 min
57
The British Are Charting Edition Part 1
65 min
58
Raise Your Glass Edition Part 2
34 min
59
Raise Your Glass Edition Part 1
48 min
60
A Little Love and Some Tenderness Edition Part 2
44 min
61
A Little Love and Some Tenderness Edition Part 1
53 min
62
Thinking About Tomorrow Edition Part 2
39 min
63
Thinking About Tomorrow Edition Part 1
44 min
64
Hits of the Year Edition Part 2
92 min
65
Decoder Ring: The New Age Hit Machine
25 min
66
Hits of the Year Edition Part 1
45 min
67
Angry Young Men Edition Part 2
52 min
68
Angry Young Men Edition Part 1
65 min
69
Give Up the Funk Edition Part 2
48 min
70
Give Up the Funk Edition Part 1
48 min
71
At Last, My Legacy Has Come Along Edition Part 2
59 min
72
At Last, My Legacy Has Come Along Edition Part 1
What is a “legacy hit”? A chart flop back in the day that’s now a classic—from “Tiny Dancer” to “What I Like About You”
55 min
73
Still Billy Joel to Me Part 2
42 min
74
Still Billy Joel to Me Part 1
56 min
75
Point of No Return Part 2
45 min