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Podcast episodes

Check latest episodes from History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff podcast

Histories Waiting for You

2026/04/21

In Episode 356 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin explores his personal “renaissance” of rediscovering music by using tools like Discogs and curated album runs to acquire and reconnect with the rich, often overlooked histories of bands—from The Pretenders and Siouxsie and the Banshees. He argues that diving into these back catalogs is one of the most rewarding ways to truly get into music. The Pretenders – “Popstar” Midge Ure – “Answers to Nothing” Pete Shelley – “I Surrender” Urban Verbs – “The Angry Young Men” Siouxsee and the Banshees – “Halloween” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Looks Great on Paper

2026/04/14

In Episode 355 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin grapples albums and bands that seemed perfect on paper due to hype, reunions, image, or pedigree, but ultimately fell short of expectations, leaving a lingering sense of disappointment despite initial excitement. Warrior Soul – “The Answer” Gamma – “Darkness to Light” Uriah Heep – “No Return” Tin Machine – “Under the God” Chequered Past – “A World Gone Wild” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

ZZ Top and Billy Idol as Doppelgangers

2026/04/07

In Episode 354 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin compares and contrasts ZZ Top and Billy Idol as unlikely “doppelgangers,” tracing how both evolved from distinct early roots into MTV-era, dance-infused rock superstars before eventually sliding into formula and diminishing returns. ZZ Top – “Balinese” Billy Idol – “Dancing with Myself” ZZ Top – “Got Me Under Pressure” Billy Idol – “The Loveless” ZZ Top – “Piece” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Clone Bands

2026/03/31

In Episode 353 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin moves through prog, metal, and rock, examining how artists from Rush to AC/DC and Led Zeppelin have inspired waves of soundalike acts. These bands are sometimes criticized and sometimes celebrated for keeping beloved styles alive. Crown Lands – “Context: Fearless Pt. 1” Primal Fear – “Chainbreaker” Four Horsemen – “Nobody Said It Was Easy” Enuff Znuff – “New Thing” Galactic Cowboys – “My School” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Curse of the Second Live Album

2026/03/31

In Episode 352 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin explores the “curse” of second live albums, arguing that follow-ups by bands like The Who, Motörhead and Metallica often disappoint due to poor timing, diminished excitement, or messy circumstances compared to their first live releases. The Who – “Who Are You” Motörhead – “Eat the Rich” Metallica – “Fuel” Foghat – “Drivin’ Wheel” Judas Priest – “Love Bites” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Greatest Comeback Albums

2026/03/24

In Episode 351 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin traverses some of rock and metal’s greatest comeback albums, highlighting how artists rebound through critical acclaim, commercial success, adversity, or long absences. Angel Witch – “Witching Hour” Ozzy Osbourne – “Steal Way (The Night)” Uriah Heep – “Too Scared to Run” Kiss – “Young and Wasted” AC/DC – “Are You Ready” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Recorded in Canada

2026/03/17

In Episode 350 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin explores albums recorded in Canada, highlighting how Vancouver studios like Little Mountain became a major destination for international rock bands while Toronto and other Canadian locations hosted surprisingly fewer notable recordings. AC/DC – “Fire Your Guns” Thin Lizzy – “Opium Trail” Budgie – “I’m a Faker Too” Rainbow – “Power” Rush – “Cut to the Chase” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Live Albums That Meant Little

2026/03/03

In Episode 349 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin contrasts his previous celebration of career-defining concert records by spotlighting “live albums that meant little," from messy hybrids and poorly timed releases to reputation-denting misfires that felt unnecessary, undercooked, or simply forgettable within their bands’ catalogs. Ozzy Osbourne – “Symptom of the Universe” Rolling Stones – “Twenty Flight Rock” Rainbow – “Kill the King” The Clash – “I Fought the Law” The Eagles – “The Long Run” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Peaked with a Live Album

2026/02/25

In Episode 348 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin examines bands like Kiss, Foghat and others whose live albums either broke them commercially, became their bestsellers, defined their reputations, or even marked their creative peak. Kiss – “Strutter” Foghat – “Fool for the City” UFO – “Mother Mary” Pat Travers Band – “Heat in the Street” Peter Frampton – “It’s a Plain Shame” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bands with Under-Performing Early Classics

2026/02/17

In Episode 347 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin explores the intriguing phenomenon of major bands like Rush, Iron Maiden, and Nirvana whose beloved early albums—often packed with staple songs and fan favorites—surprisingly underperformed commercially compared to their later multi-platinum successes. Rush – “Finding My Way” Iron Maiden – “Phantom of the Opera” Cheap Trick – “Hot Love” Nirvana – “Swap Meet” Def Leppard – “It Don’t Matter” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2026/02/10

In Episode 346 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin traces the parallel career arcs of Kate Bush and Peter Gabriel, comparing their conservative early albums, synchronized creative peaks, shared technologies and collaborators, commercial high points, and eventual semi-retirement marked by long gaps, home studios, and artistic mystique. Peter Gabriel – “Modern Love” Kate Bush – “Delius” Peter Gabriel – “Mercy Street” Kate Bush – “Snowed in at Wheeler Street” Peter Gabriel – “Intruder” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rock Stars with No Gold Records

2026/02/08

In Episode 345 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin explores surprisingly famous rock stars across metal, prog, and punkrock who—despite major influence, acclaim, and ticket-selling power—never earned a single U.S. gold record. Scorpions – “Top of the Bill” Status Quo – “Down Down” Porcupine Tree – “Shallow” The Replacements – “I Don’t Know” Motörhead – “(Don’t Need) Religion” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Infiltrated by Americans

2026/02/03

In Episode 344 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin explores how famously British and international bands—from Yes and Black Sabbath to Bowie, Foreigner, and Peter Gabriel—gradually absorbed American members, not to “become American,” but through creative instinct, convenience, touring realities, and fresh energy that subtly reshaped their sound and identity. Yes – “Cut from the Stars” Foreigner – “Lonely Children” Sepultura – “Unconscious” Rainbow – “Freedom Fighter” Peter Gabriel – “The Family and the Fishing Net” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Title Track as Last Track

2026/02/02

In Episode 342 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin contemplates the unusual choice of albums where the title track appears last, and examines what that placement says about the songs and albums, using examples from Slayer, Alice in Chains, David Bowie, and more. Slayer – “Seasons in the Abyss” Nazareth – “No Mean City” Alice in Chains – “Black Gives Way to Blue” April Wine – “The Whole World’s Going Crazy” David Bowie – “Heathen (Rays)” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Biggest Left Turns

2026/01/20

In Episode 343 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin explores the most surprising and often baffling musical “biggest left turns,” spotlighting bands that radically and unexpectedly reinvented their sound—from punk to prog, metal to synth-pop, and rock to funk—often defying logic, trends, and their own pasts. The Saints – “See You in Paradise” Alice Cooper – “Leather Boots” The Meat Puppets – “Paradise” The Tubes – “Tip of My Tongue” Rush – “Lock and Key” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Read History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff podcast reviews

4.6 out of 5

107 reviews

KW_77 2023/04/11

Love it

I’ve been listening to this pod for a while now and Martin’s breadth of knowledge across rock music is quite impressive. He packs more information int...

Enjoy Prog 2025/07/18

Bands Ruined by Funk

So if I don’t care for Atlantic Star, Chic or Peaches and Herb, it’s because I hate black people? C’mon, Martin, spare us your white guilt. It is poss...

Daddy Pickles! 2024/05/14

Blah.

Blah blah blah blah,blah, blah blah, blah blah,blah blah blah and a ton of weird mouth noises.

Jkb22008 2021/04/01

Guru of rock

Martin is second to none with his knowledge of 70s and beyond rock acts.

marked for life 2020/11/04

Different views

Of course i dont always agree, but martin is always informative and has opened me to music i didnt know about

BranDunlap 2020/10/10

New favorite

Thanks to Martin I have discovered a lot of great influential bands I was too young to appreciate growing up. I love this podcast and highly recommend...

Johnh76 2020/05/24

Martin is the historian of rock ‘n’ roll & metal

Martin‘s episodes are well researched and well thought out. The topics he picks are very interesting and I love the way that he explains everything, i...

abbatude 2020/05/17

Super interesting

Very well done with the obsessive love and care Martin P puts into all of his work. You’ll find yourself listening to a lot of topics that you didn’t...

cjoffitt64 2019/08/14

Great listen!!!!!

I have a lot of Martin’s books and have long admired his intimacy with the rock heroes of our times. This podcast is even more interesting than his bo...

rgl7194 2019/08/06

Review in five words: This is a great podcast!

Right up my musical alley, this podcast is short, sweet, and to the point, yet packs a ton of musical history and information into each episode's aver...

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