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PODCAST

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

music music history

All Episodes

38:37

History in Five Songs Episode 293: Am I too much of a...

History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff ·

2025/02/04

In Episode 293, Martin pontificates on his punk snobbery and its impact on his journey into hardcore, reflecting on the punkiest songs, his evolving music tastes, and the roadblocks he faces as a self-identified '77 punk enthusiast.Sham 69 – “Borstal Breakout” The Damned – “Burglar” The Saints – “Erotic Neurotic” Brian James – “Becoming a Nuisance” U.K. Subs – “Brand New Age” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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33:10

History in Five Songs Episode 292: The Mack Attack

History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff ·

2025/01/28

In Episode 292 of History in Five Songs, Martin delves into the unique production style of Reinhold "Mac" Mack, tracing his early career and distinctive sound, particularly through his work with bands like Queen, Electric Light Orchestra, and Rainbow, while highlighting the influence of his engineering techniques on iconic rock records.Electric Light Orchestra – “Confusion” Queen – “Dragon Attack” Sparks – “Tips for Teens” Billy Squier – “Lonely Is the Night” Black Sabbath – “Computer

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47:25

History in Five Songs Episode 291: The Five Greatest...

History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff ·

2025/01/21

In Episode 291 of History in Five Songs, Martin considers why Aerosmith's "Draw the Line" and other killer songs deserve their places as one of the five greatest rock songs of all time, analyzing their powerful riffs, unique production, and energetic vocal performances.Aerosmith – “Draw the Line” Status Quo – “Too Far Gone” The Grateful Dead – “France” Adrian Belew – “1967” Queen – “Bohemian Rhapsody” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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33:47

History in Five Songs Episode 290: Two Songs in One

History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff ·

2025/01/14

In Episode 290 of History in Five Songs, Martin has a look at the concept of "two songs in one," highlighting tracks from artists like The Beatles, Yes, and Judas Priest that seamlessly shift between distinct musical sections, often blending different genres or themes within a single song.The Beatles – “Cry Baby Cry" Yes – “I’ve Seen All Good People” Judas Priest – “Dying to Meet You” Van Halen – “Drop Dead Legs” Black Sabbath – “Symptom of the Universe” Learn more about your ad choices

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36:28

History in Five Songs Episode 289: False Endings

History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff ·

2025/01/08

In Episode 289 of History in Five Songs, Martin Popoff plays with the concept of "false endings" in music, examining iconic songs that deceive listeners into thinking the track is over, only to resume with additional riffs, reprises, or unexpected shifts.Wings – “Let ‘Em In” Rush – “Big Money” Pantera – “Hollow” Manowar – “Blood of the Kings” The Tubes – “White Punks on Dope” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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42:05

History in Five Songs Episode 288: Gillan, Rainbow,...

History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff ·

2025/01/01

In Episode 288, Martin delves into the influence of bands like Gillan, Rainbow, and Whitesnake on the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM), examining their evolution from cult favorites to guilty pleasures, with a focus on how these acts navigated mainstream success while maintaining their heavy metal integrity. Rainbow – “Eyes of the World” Whitesnake – “Ready an’ Willing” Gillan – “Future Shock" Rainbow – “Death Alley Driver” Whitesnake – “Standing in the Shadow” Learn more about your

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43:37

History in Five Songs Episode 287: Where do I start?

History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff ·

2024/12/23

In Episode 287, Martin wrestles with the challenging question of "where to start" when diving into a band's extensive catalog, discussing strategies like starting with the latest or best album, while also reflecting on how listener preferences, social media, and music algorithms shape the listening experience. Judas Priest – “Giants in the Sky” The Clash – “Clampdown” Queen – “Don’t Stop Me Now” The Cure – “Accuracy” Killing Joke – “The Gathering” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit

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34:11

History in Five Songs Episode 286: A New Theory on...

History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff ·

2024/12/17

In Episode 286, Martin posits a new theory about the origins of punk, arguing that it was less a reaction to progressive rock or metal and more a result of a growing disillusionment with established UK rock institutions from the 1960s. Ringo Starr – “Snookeroo” The Kinks – “Have Another Drink” Led Zeppelin – “The Crunge” The Who – “However Much I Booze” The Rolling Stones – “Dancing with Mr. D.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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37:47

History in Five Songs Episode 285: Vocal Intros

History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff ·

2024/12/10

In Episode 285, Martin delves into the world of vocal intros, exploring how different artists use unique vocal openings to set the tone for their songs, from crowd participation and bluesy phrases to iconic calls and dramatic showcases of vocal prowess.Max Webster – “The Party” Led Zeppelin – “I Can’t Quit You Baby” Last Crack – “Love or Surrender” Status Quo – “Most of the Time” Queen – “You Take My Breath Away” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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38:26

History in Five Songs Episode 284: Bands Ruined by...

History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff ·

2024/12/03

In Episode 284, Martin laments bands that were negatively impacted by the rise of hair metal, examining how their attempts to adapt to the trend led to commercial failure and a shift in their musical identity.Krokus – “Out to Lunch” Uriah Heep – “Party Time” April Wine – “Hard Rock Kid” Cheap Trick – “I Can’t Understand It” Blue Öyster Cult – “Make Rock Not War” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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39:40

History in Five Songs Episode 283: Totally Invested...

History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff ·

2024/11/26

In Episode 283, Martin recognizes bands that take their title tracks seriously, showcasing how these songs often define albums by being the standout tracks, iconic hits, or even the only memorable song from the album.Alice Cooper – “School’s Out” Accept – “Breaker” Dio – “Dream Evil” Judas Priest – “Killing Machine” AC/DC – “Stiff Upper Lip” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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38:28

History in Five Songs Episode 282: Not Big on Title...

History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff ·

2024/11/19

In Episode 282, Martin explores bands that show little interest in title tracks, who often bypass or subvert traditional title track conventions in favor of other creative approaches. Van Halen – “Could This Be Magic?” Blue Oyster Cult – “Mirrors” April Wine – “Future Tense” UFO – “No Place to Run” Led Zeppelin – “Houses of the Holy” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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35:09

History in Five Songs Episode 281: Early Rush Songs...

History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff ·

2024/11/12

In Episode 281, Martin explores early Rush songs through the lens of mortality, focusing on lyrics from the band's first five albums that reflect themes of aging, existential reflection, and the inevitability of time passing. Rush – “Finding My Way” Rush – “Rivendell” Rush – “I Think I’m Going Bald” Rush – “2112” Rush – “A Farewell to Kings” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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33:53

History in Five Songs Episode 280: Heaviest Canadian...

History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff ·

2024/11/05

In Episode 280, Martin probes the heaviest Canadian albums of the 1970s, presenting a ranking based on five impactful songs from ten notable bands, highlighting the unique sound and musical evolution of Canadian rock during that era. Rush – “Working Man” Trooper – “All of the Time” Teaze – “Rockin’ with the Music” Goddo – “Let That Lizard Loose” Moxy – “Rock Baby” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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39:31

History in Five Song 279: Which bands do comedy?

History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff ·

2024/10/29

In Episode 279, Martin explores the comedic side of classic rock, categorizing bands by their approach to humor and showcasing how elements of comedy—or the lack thereof—are woven into their music and lyrics.Slayer – “Cast Down" Morrissey – “I Have Forgiven Jesus” Gillan – “Sacre Bleu” Iggy Pop – “Eggs on Plate” The Tubes – “Wild Women of Wongo” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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37:35

History in Five Song 278: Sacred Songs I’ve Always...

History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff ·

2024/10/22

In Episode 278, Martin rants about why certain tracks, despite their popularity, just don’t resonate with him. Throughout, he delves into the difference between fan-revered “sacred songs” and mainstream hits, questioning whether the songs deemed sacred truly deserve their status. Deep Purple – “Child in Time” Iron Maiden – “Run to the Hills” Ted Nugent – “Stranglehold” Black Sabbath – “Paranoid” Led Zeppelin – “Stairway to Heaven” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit

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37:51

History in Five Songs 277: Missed the Boat on an '80s...

History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff ·

2024/10/15

In Episode 277, “Missed the Boat on an Eighties Live Album,” the host discusses iconic bands from the 80s, such as Van Halen, Def Leppard, and The Police, who may have missed significant opportunities by not releasing live albums during their prime, potentially leaving money and legacy on the table. Van Halen – “Drop Dead Legs” Def Leppard – “Stagefright” Aerosmith – “Permanent Vacation” Alice Cooper – “Lock Me Up” Dio – “Just Another Day” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit

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39:34

History in Five Songs 276: Live Albums: The...

History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff ·

2024/10/08

In Episode 276 of History in Five Songs, Martin explores the rise and fall of live albums across five decades, from their golden age in the 1970s to their fading significance in the 2000s. He dives into the cultural and commercial shifts that led to the decline, sharing stories of iconic albums from Kiss, Thin Lizzy, and more, while unpacking how live recordings once captured the essence of rock but lost their impact over time. Kiss – “Black Diamond” Thin Lizzy – “Got to Give It Up” AC/DC – “Who

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42:30

History in Five Songs 275: Which Deep Purple era has...

History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff ·

2024/10/02

In Episode 275 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin dives into the different eras of Deep Purple, analyzing which period boasts the best song intros and how these intros reflect the band’s internal dynamics and evolving leadership. Through an exploration of Deep Purple’s iconic tracks, from Chasing Shadows to Highway Star, Martin uncovers the stories behind the music, highlighting the band’s creative interplay and the way intros capture the essence of their musical journey.Deep

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37:07

History in Five Songs 274: Exiled Rockers on Fire

History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff ·

2024/09/24

In Episode 274, Martin explores the creative and commercial journeys of rockers who left or were exiled from their iconic bands, including Hugh Cornwell, Roger Waters, and Ozzy Osbourne. The episode delves into their “second catalogs” and how these artists forged successful solo careers, often fueled by bad blood and a desire to prove themselves. Hugh Cornwell – “Red Rose” Roger Waters – “Picture That” Ozzy Osbourne – “Flying High Again” Rainbow – “Self Portrait” Operation: Mindcrime – “Taking

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