Out of the Main

S7.E18: We Don’t Make ‘em Like They Used To

Take a trip back in time with the guys to compare and contrast how music was made in the glory days to the way it’s made now. Were things better back in “our day”? Are mo

S7.E17: You Don’t Know Richard Marx

Listener Jorn cashes in his chit as $upporter Jorn to rejoin the podcast, this time to make the case that one Richard Marx is anything BUT the pin-up balladeer with great

S7.E16: Rank + Review the Records: Steely Dan

We must’ve lost our marbles! Because this week we are apportioning precious rubies (baby)—100 each, from John and Tom—to the Steely Dan catalog, from Can’t Buy a Thrill u

S7.E15: Dane Donohue, California Gold

Dane Donohue returns! The first member of the Four-Time Guest Club, Dane is back to talk another album with us—this time, his third full-length LP, “California Gold,” dro

S7.E14.b: The Joy of Sax (Vol. II)

Back for our second session of group sax! Let’s pick up right where we left off last week… We’ve covered the session sax cats for 7 seasons. But what about the sax playe

S7.E14.a: The Joy of Sax (Vol. I)

Look who’s coming to dinner! Listener Mike is back, and this time he’s here to talk about the joy of group sax! We’ve covered the session sax cats for 7 seasons. But wha

S7.E13: The Lore and Canon of Laurel Canyon

Tom and John return to a topic they’ve mentioned in passing scores of times over the course of our first seven seasons (assuming everyone was familiar with the lore and c

S7.E12: Toto Under Cover

Let’s talk about "Toto Songs that Weren’t.” The Toto Multiverse examined, explored and explained through the prism of songs we grew up on that were actually some version

S7.E11: A Showcase of Mistaken Identities

The on-again off-again game show convention is on again! John hosts the show this week, challenging Tom to a full show of brain teasers and trivial trivia. First up: Name

S7.E10: Stairways

“Dude, this is their Stairway.” Have you ever heard or considered such a statement? Well, John and Tom have…and continue to do so in great and detail in the latest episod

S7.E9: Flow State

The guys do a deep dive 🛎️ album-focus episode on Keith Urban’s new yacht-rock-inspired “Flow State” album. Curious what your thoughts are. Let us know “in the comments”…

S7.E8: Dudettes (80s Remix)

You’re familiar with Loggins and Messina, of course. Hall and Oates. Seals and Crofts. Famous “dudettes” of the 70s, as previously covered here on the pod (with the assis

S7.E7: The History of Drum Machines

Just as they did last episode with respect to synths, John and Tom take a tour through the history of drum machines (and the like) throughout modern music history. This o

S7.E6: The History of Synths

John takes Tom on a trip down memory lane, chronicling the history and evolution of the use of synthesizers in pop and rock music, with particular emphasis on the 1970s a

S7.E5: One-Hit Wonders, 1976-1984

Let’s talk one-hit-wonders, starting with the 50th anniversary of the single-hitting chart toppers of 1976. Then, let’s fast forward to “the day the boat sank” — 1984. Wh

S7.E4: Battle Royale: REO vs. Supertramp

In a first for the pod, the guys pit two albums of the era up against each other, in a 10-round, knock-down-drag-out, winner-take-all Battle Royale fight to the finish! W

S7.E3B: Lightning (Final) Round

Once again, we ran out of time last week to get to the Lightning Round, so we’re releasing another interim episode this week. John and Tom provide their final reflections

S7.E3: NCAA, Round 2 and Finals! (Video Podcast)

Round 2 also happens to be the Sleeve Sixteen, Final Four, and Championship Game all in one! Tom and John finish out the 2026 NCAA tournament, just in time to conclude th

S7.E2B: NCAA, Lightning Round 1

Well, we ran out of time last week to get to the usual Lightning Round stuff, so we’re releasing an interim episode this week to cover the ground we failed to hoe in the

S7.E2: The 2026 NCAA Tournament! (Video Podcast)

It’s March! There’s madness! Around these parts, March brings the usual—an NCAA Tournament! NCAA, this year, stands for the Nixon Competition of Album Artwork. Listen alo