The Perfect Album Side Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

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We kick off the new year debating whether music before 1996 truly hits harder and why easier tools may not equal better songs. Then we switch gears for a spirited soundtrack trivia run, crowning the top five best-sellers and arguing about Grease, Dirty Dancing and the Bee Gees.

• tech lowering barriers while raising noise
• the lost magic of bands in garages
• why friction and scarcity shaped taste
• record stores, ticket lines and shared rituals
• AI tools like Suno and creative shortcuts
• rock’s roots in regional sound migrations
• the new Black Crowes and Stones comparisons
• the highest selling movie soundtracks since 1970

One idea.  Six songs.  Infinite possibilities...

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What makes a Christmas song timeless? We set ourselves a deceptively hard challenge: pick the single most iconic holiday track from each decade, starting with the 1960s and ending in the 2010s, then fuse them into one perfect album side. Right away a pattern emerged—so many beloved songs weren’t immediate smashes. They took years to climb, re-entered charts as rules changed, and found new life through radio, TV specials, movies, and, later, streaming.

We start with Darlene Love’s Christmas (Baby Please Come Home), released on the day of JFK’s assassination and later crowned by time, then square it against Burl Ives’ Holly Jolly Christmas, seared into memory by Rankin/Bass. In the 70s, Lennon and Ono’s Happy Xmas reframed the “Christmas song” as purposeful protest while McCartney’s Simply Having A Wonderful Christmas Time perfected the carefree synth sleigh-ride. The 80s deliver spectacle and sentiment: Band Aid’s Do They Know It’s Christmas birthed charity supergroups and Live Aid, while Wham’s Last Christmas kept quietly climbing until it nearly topped the chart four decades later.

The 2000s were a tougher hunt, but they showcase platform power. Faith Hill’s Where Are You Christmas rides the Grinch soundtrack into perennial status as Britney’s My Only Wish (This Year) evolves from TRL-era fluff to streaming favorite. Then the 2010s give us precision nostalgia: Kelly Clarkson’s Underneath The Tree, crafted with Greg Kurstin to echo Phil Spector’s wall of sound, stands shoulder to shoulder with Mariah Carey’s All I Want For Christmas Is You, the modern juggernaut that finally reached No. 1 decades after release and returns every year like clockwork.

By the end, we’ve got a front-to-back holiday playlist with a story: how classics are born, forgotten, revived, and ultimately adopted as tradition. Hit play, then tell us your decade winners, the sleepers we missed, and the holiday deep cuts you swear by. If you enjoy the show, follow, share with a friend, and leave a quick review—it helps more listeners find their new favorite December soundtrack.

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Side A: Big hits or deep cuts: what makes a better concert? We’ll break down the eternal setlist struggle, share our own show stories, and somehow end up talking about Alf’s favorite songs and the Golden Girls’ hidden love for obscure B-sides. It’s all in here.

Side B: Sitcoms! We’ll tell you which ones still crack us up and which need a laugh track just to survive. Also, yes, Alf and the Golden Girls make another cameo—because why not?

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What happens when some of the most legendary musicians of all time team up to form a new band? In this episode, we dive into the world of supergroups—the epic collisions of rock royalty that gave us unforgettable anthems, crazy backstage stories, and music that defined entire generations. You’ll hear about the highs, the lows, and the riffs that melted faces, as we build a Perfect Album Side featuring some of the greatest supergroups ever. We’re talking musical icons trading solos, unexpected alliances, and that lightning-in-a-bottle magic that only comes from a gathering of true rock gods. Join us as we celebrate the mighty supergroup and pick the tunes that made these collaborations legendary.

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In this PAS Single, we’re diving deep into two big topics. On Side A, we celebrate those rare albums that are so perfect you never hit skip—classic records that flow seamlessly from start to finish. Then, on Side B, we trade music for football and debate who deserves a spot on the Mount Rushmore of NFL running backs. From record-breaking rushers to game-changing greats, it’s all about the legends who defined the ground game. Two sides, one great episode!

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This week’s PAS Single packs two hot topics onto one record. On Side A, we ask the question that splits fans down the middle: at what point does a band stop being the band you love? If there’s no Zep left in Led Zeppelin, or the Crowes have lost their feathers, are you really still rocking out to the same group? Then, on Side B, we chisel away at the Mount Rushmore of chicks who rock, and let’s just say the debate gets almost as intense as a guitar solo from you-know-who. It’s two sides of musical mayhem you won’t want to miss.

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In this week’s episode, we tackle the ultimate music calendar challenge: piecing together a Perfect Album Side that takes you from a sleepy Sunday to a rowdy Saturday. Along the way, we’ll dive into the quirks and chaos behind some of the most iconic tracks tied to specific days of the week. Spoiler alert: it’s got everything—wild recording stories, ménage à trois, break-ins, Jerry Lewis, and even a few unexpected twists. If you think you know your weekdays, think again. Tune in, laugh a little, and find out which day of the week truly delivers the best tunes...

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Tear down this wall…but don’t tear down this podcast ! In this episode, we’re rolling back to 1987 to pick six standout tracks that defined the year. From a blockbuster soundtrack anthem to a debut that blew the doors off the charts, we’ll argue over which songs truly hit the right note. There’s a one-hit wonder, a killer music video, and a wildcard choice that might just leave you saying, “Whoa, that’s totally ‘87!”

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Bienvenido! Benvenuto! Willkommen! In any language, great music always hits the right way! This week on The Perfect Album Side Podcast, we explore the most iconic foreign-language songs—the ones that speak differently but sound exactly right.

Ever wondered why a song you don’t understand gets stuck in your head like that one embarrassing high school memory? We dive into the global hits that took over the world, from unexpected origins to accidental karaoke disasters. Along the way, we argue over viral sensations, question some musical life choices, and probably mispronounce a few things.

Tune in for laughs, surprises, and proof that great music needs no translation!

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Simple.  Succinct.  Easy. Clear.  Complete. This week's episode of The Perfect Album Side Podcast focuses on iconic songs with One Word titles.  One. Word.   What tunes are coming to mind? Lots to choose from, so we are looking at song from July 1987 onward.   This is a good one.  The laughs are plentiful, and the nuggets, oh man the nuggets!   Lots of hyperbole in this episode too…and oh yeah, the number 1 hits are everywhere!  Tune in for Iconic Songs with One Word Titles.  One. Word.   

One idea.  Six songs.  Infinite possibilities...