Out of the Main

Were there ghosts in the music machine back in the 70s and 80s? Most certainly…more than you know. This week, John and Tom share their favorite ghost stories: uncredited session performances on some of music’s most famous tracks, no less — and likely, some of which you never knew were there! 

It's Halloween in May! (or something)

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Part 2 of our exploration into the storied career of Rick Springfield examines the post-heyday chapter. Tom was shocked how much he liked a certain three-album run from this era of his story. Perhaps you will be too!

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How well do you really know Rick Springfield? What about Tim Pierce, Mike Baird, Jerry Hey, Richard Page and Tommy Funderburk? There’s a lot to like and a lot that gets unfairly dismissed about the man with more than 20 charting hit singles to his name. If all you think of when you hear “Rick Springfield” is “Jessie’s Girl,” allow Tom and John to open your eyes and ears to the depths beneath the surface…

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Tom and John take a tour through the long and storied careers of Richard Page and Steve George. Beginning with their early careers as session vocalists, through the three-record run Pages had, all the way through the game-changing band that was Mr. Mister. Quite the evolution for two of music’s hardest-working but underrated geniuses.

J-M Sutcliffe, vocalist and guitarist with Super db, joins the podcast to discuss the band’s history, influences and trajectory. Of course, the boys can’t resist talking about “single-note” rhythm guitar, an essential element of smooth, west-coast-influenced pop rock. With notes of funk, R&B and yacht rock, Super db’s hooks and rhythms are irresistible, so treat yourself if you haven’t already! Who doesn’t like a band of brothers resurrecting the sounds of the 70s and 80s?!

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Kevin Sucher, founder and vocalist with yacht rock tribute band The Docksiders, joins Out of the Main to help John and Tom finish off the madness that was their March 2025 tournament of champions: The Vinyl Four!

What was the biggest, baddest, most important album from (roughly) 1975 to 1985 in (mostly) the genres we cover on the podcast? Tune in to hear our picks, and leave your disputes and corrections in the comments on Facebook or X!

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The Road to the Vinyl Four continues apace. On the line: What is the “biggest” album of our era? 

This week’s guest judge: Russ Fitzpatrick, vocalist with Page99.

Next up: The Sibilant 16! (?)

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The Road to the Vinyl Four continues in earnest. This March, we’ll finally settle the score: What is the “biggest” album of our era? 

This week’s guest judge: Tom Bieniewicz, lead singer of August Red.

Let’s do this!

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Take these five _____________ and rank them in order from worst to first. Pretty simple concept…let’s see if the boys can handle it!

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This is the last of the preliminary regional brackets to set up the March madness that will be our Vinyl Four tournament! Coming next month: the conclusion of our 64-album tournament to crown the “biggest” album between (roughly) 1975 and 1985 in (mostly) the genres we cover! 

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In our final episode of Season 5 — and just in time for the Christmas season — Chris Christian returns to the podcast to walk John and Tom through the genesis (🛎️), history and timeline of Christian Contemporary Music, or CCM. One of the most interesting musical icons we’ve ever had the pleasure and privilege to interview, Chris is a treasure trove of information, fun facts and backstories. 

Listener Mike rejoins the pod for a totally unscripted, casual conversation, tackling a range of musical topics near and dear to the hearts of the people who love music from what we consider “The Golden Era.” As the kids say, “Real ones know.” Dive in to follow along!

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You’ve heard the music, you’ve seen the movie, now hear the stories behind the story! Garret Price, Director of HBO’s “Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary,” joins Tom and John to provide all of the background, origin stories, and behind-the-scenes intel that went into the making of a spectacular docKumentary about the music this podcast was founded to explore!

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Tom and John take a break from the sophistication — or DO they?! — to do an album focus episode on Huey Lewis and the News’ Sports album. A Bob Clearmountain joint, there just might be more to this album than you’ve given it credit for. Only one way to find out!

John and Tom are on the road (again) to The Vinyl Four, marching toward madness that will conclude next season. Follow along (and yell at your podcast player) as they go through the third of four first-round brackets to find the most important/consequential/impactful/enduring record of our time!

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$upporter Jonathan returns to Out of the Main to walk John and Tom through the history, music and talent that was The Manhattan Transfer. Are they a Buried Treasure of the yacht rock era? With roots in 1930s jazz and influence that continues to this day, let’s pay tribute to one of the truly under-appreciated artists of our time. And if you’re like Tom, and you never quite “got it,” consider this your reason to reconsider.

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Who are some artists that did an “about face” — whether over time or overnight, a band or solo artist who so dramatically changed their sound that the two versions of themselves are practically unrecognizable with one another?

For example: The David Foster Chicago versus Pre-David-Foster or Pre- and Post-Michael-McDonald Doobie Brothers. 

IN FACT, finally adjudicated and rendered: Was Evil David Foster really ever evil?

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Happy Halloween, Out of the Mainers! It’s time for a Halloween Special, and you’re all invited to the party! Now, to make the playlist…

Playlists Referenced:

Bruce Blackman, co-founder of Starbuck, is back with big news! Fresh off of the release of his new three-record/CD box set, “Moonlight Feels Right, the Collection: 1975-2023,” Bruce brings fresh tales from the creative front lines. With stories that date back to 1970, include another band name altogether, and run right up to the day he got contacted by a record label in the 2020s, Bruce shares it all!

Mentioned on the Pod:

This week John and Tom devote an entire episode to music, artists, albums or songs that may be off your radar…but shouldn’t be. What did we find? Tune in to find out!

What about you: What would you like to share that might be “off our radar?”

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It was always going to come to this: finally, an episode on “prog.” We’ve been touching on “progressive rock” almost from the beginning, with crossovers that include yacht rock acts like Ambrosia. But what is prog rock, and how is it defined? More importantly, for our purposes: Which prog rock artists of the 70s made the successful turn into the 80s and continued to stand the test of the time they were now in? Let’s explore…

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Once again, John and Tom go searching for the perfect album side. Will Boston’s Third Stage, Side 1, pass muster?

Leave us your comments and observations on Facebook!

PLUS: What would you say is the perfect album SIDE…just a side; not the whole album. In fact, perhaps (like those we’ve taken on so far) the other side is decidedly NOT perfect, which makes your pick all the more spot-on for “perfect album side!”

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The tournament continues. John and Tom return to the hi-fi highways on their way toward the Road to the Vinyl Four. Join us for a tournament featuring 64 of the best and most important albums from 1975 to 1985 (roughly), to be concluded in March 2025.

Did they get it right? Were there any upsets and Cinderella stories? You be the judge. Next time, we’re inviting guests to take it from here…

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Who are the best front men and women of our time? No, not today…not of all time…but of “our” time. Think mid-70s to mid-80s. No solo acts allowed. Stay within the genres we cover.

John and Tom each choose their top 10. Now let’s hear yours!

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On the heels of the release of his first new album in 46 years, Dane Donohue returns to the podcast to celebrate and discuss the release of “L.A. Rainbow.” Tune in to hear all about his production collaboration with none other than John Nixon himself. A story that began in 1978 finally gets its encore.

Don’t miss our prior interviews with Dane to hear all about the entire story:

At long last and by persistent listener request, John and Tom run down the debut Toto album (aka “Toto I” to some) and bask in the genius that started it all. Tune in for John and Tom’s analysis of the first in the legendary group’s deep catalogue, and follow along the track-by-track dissection and discussion. As always, leave us your own thoughts on this record on Facebook when/where we post the episode announcement! 

Mark Donnelly returns to the podcast last week to finish off our in-depth coverage of the history of Journey. This week, he and the guys rank all of the studio albums during the Steve Perry years to jointly determine which of this section of the catalogue reigns supreme. As we did with our Prince ratings earlier in the season, we invite you to play along and offer your own personal scorings.

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Mark Donnelly, on loan to us from Fireworks Magazine across the pond, joins the podcast to help educate us and our listeners on the history of the band Journey — one of the greatest to come out of the era we love. From the days before Steve Perry (including connections to Santana and Steve Miller Band), through the Steve Perry heyday, and beyond to present day (including Schon’s stint in Bad English), we’ll cover it all…and hopefully share a few buried treasures along the way…

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Songwriter Kenny Nolan, the man behind the pen for so many hit songs from the 1970s to today, joins Tom and John to discuss the art and history of songwriting, starting with “My Eyes Adored You,” which Frankie Valli took to number one. Hear how “Lady Marmalade” was born, learn what came of his lyric “Blue Eyes in Georgia,” and maybe even offer a “Penny for Your Thoughts,” among much. much more!

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Courtesy of our friends at Seeker Music, John and Tom got a sneak preview of the August 1 release of the original Christopher Cross album, remixed in Dolby Atmos Spatial Audio. The guys are joined by engineer, mixer, composer, and multi-instrumentalist J Clark of Infrasonic Sound, who walks us through the process, techniques and intended outcomes of remixing a timeless masterpiece for modern audial technology.

Celebrating the 45th anniversary of Christopher Cross’s critically acclaimed eponymous debut album, Seeker Music has actually released two new versions of the album on streaming: this Dolby Atmos Spatial Audio version mixed by J Clark, and a remastered version by world renowned mastering engineer, Bernie Grundman. 

The tournament begins! John and Tom take to the hi-fi highways on their way toward the Road to the Vinyl Four. Join us for a tournament featuring 64 of the best and most important albums from 1975 to 1985 (roughly), to be concluded in March 2025. John and Tom kick it off by tackling the first-round matchups in one of the regions, to be determined at random. 

Did they get it right? Were there any upsets and Cinderella stories? You be the judge. Next time, we’re inviting guests to take it from here…

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Picking up where we left off last week, counting up from six to ten...

John and Tom recount the first 10 videos ever played on MTV, providing our recollections, reactions, and a bit o’ analysis, as we try to remember these classics…and to see which have stood the test of time!

Where were you on August 1, 1981? Were you watching the launch of MTV?

John and Tom recount the first 10 videos ever played on MTV, providing our recollections, reactions, and a bit o’ analysis, as we try to remember these classics…and to see which have stood the test of time!

You surely remember by now the first video ever to air on MTV; but do you remember the second through tenth?

Tune in to take a journey back in time with us!

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This week, the boys take on AI and ponder the effect it will have on the music business. While artificial intelligence is not entirely new to the recording process, what is happening today just might expedite what began around the turn of the millennium: the slow death march of the record business toward obsolescence. Does AI have some redeeming qualities? Should we embrace this modern march toward progress as we did in the 1980s? Are John and Tom just two old guys shaking their fists at the clouds? Tune in to find out!

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Tom and John make a playlist for their summer listening pleasure (and yours). BUT, this is not just a pick your favorite summer jams and construct the ultimate playlist. Instead, Tom and John each present the other with head-to-head matchups, and only one song survives. In a variation of “Death Is Not an Option,” there are some real heartbreakers in these matchups, and we are forced to choose the impossible. Who makes the cut? Tune in to find out!

How much do you know about Nile Rodgers? Some may not even know the name. Some may know him as accomplished rhythm guitarist. But how much do you really know about his prolific catalogue as a producer and first-call session cat? There’s a lot we didn’t know about this six-time-Grammy-winning hall-of-famer, and maybe much for you to discover as well. 

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Tom and John kick off a multi-episode tournament that will conclude in March 2025: The Vinyl Four!

We have created a bracket of 64 albums that represent, in our view, the most influential albums, not of ALL time, but of OUR time: essentially 1975 to 1985, sticking mostly within AOR pop rock. Throughout this season and the beginning of next, we’ll invite guest judges on to help us arrive at the biggest album of the era, as selected by lovers of music from the 70s and 80s. Who will emerge as The Vinyl Four? Follow the vinyl-brick road to find out!

Lightning Round References:

Just in time for outdoor live concert season, Tom surprised John with a fun question to ponder: What songs are more famous for their live versions than the original studio version?

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Known to modern yacht rockers as Ole Borud’s bass player, Lars-Erik Dahle joins the podcast to walk listeners through some of the most iconic bass lines in yacht rock and beyond. Lars-Erik brings his axe with him to demonstrate live what some of these licks are and who his favorite bassists are. After spending three weeks focusing on the drums, Tom is more than happy to turn our attention to the rhythm section’s “better half.”

He's back! In what has become an annual tradition, the great session drummer Tris Imboden returns to the podcast, this time to walk Tom and John through a behind-the-scenes look at a typical session from the golden era. From before you even get the call, all the way through to collecting the Grammy, what goes into cutting the tracks that live on in memoriam forever?

Tune in this week to hear the general story, as well as specific memories Tris shares that may shed some new light on old classics we've known our entire lives!

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Picking up where they left off last week, John and Tom continue their microanalysis of the snare drum sound, specifically the advent, evolution and ultimate weaponization of the “gated” snare. What is gated reverb? How was it invented/discovered? Where did it all go so tragically wrong? Is it actually an art form to be embrace?

All of that and more, as Out of the Main goes Out of the Gate!

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Maybe it could be argued that we scrutinize some things TOO closely, but there is a strong case to be made that the sound of the snare drum in a mix is “the” defining characteristic of the overall song, in many ways. 

To explore and demonstrate that theory in action, John and Tom take listeners on an expedition through time — from the proto-yacht era of the early 70s to the more synthetic sounds of the mid-80s — to see how technology, playing styles and music production in general evolve over the decades, with special emphasis on the snare. Climb aboard and join us on this journey to study “The Evolution of Snare Sounds.”

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Tom and John each choose an album they feel deserves wider recognition, and run down why these treasures should be unburied and more widely celebrated. Any album at all — as long as it has ties in topically to the era we love. Though chosen completely at random, you won’t believe the crossovers between Tom’s treasure and John’s jewel! 

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The Docksiders’ Kevin and Erin Sucher, fresh off the release of their new album “The Timeless Journey,” rejoin the podcast to discuss the many amazing stories behind the release of their new record. You won’t believe some of the stories that went into the making of this record, and you won’t believe how good it sounds when it all comes together! Let’s catch up with the Docksiders, still making their scene on the Vegas strip!

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Listener Jonathan returns to the podcast (as all Supporters are welcome to do) to take an in-depth review of perhaps the most influential jazz album of all time: Miles Davis’s 1959 masterpiece “Kind of Blue.”

• What’s the story?
• What makes this recording so groundbreaking and so influential? 
• What is modal music?
• What does the track-by-track analysis reveal?
• What are the connections to yacht rock? 
• Why were so many yacht rockers so enamored with the jazz convention?
• How does all of this lead to Steely Dan (in more ways than one!)

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Tom and John, still residing in the Minneapolis area, take an expedition through the Prince album archives, from 1979’s “Prince” to 1989’s “Batman.” Follow along and score along, as they allot points to each album (out of a total of 100) to determine which of the 10 albums in this remarkable run gets the highest score in aggregate...and which gets the lowest. 

Has there ever been a more impressive 10-album run? 

Is there a more accomplished artist in the history of modern music than Prince Rogers Nelson?

Unmoored from the harbors of Marina del Rey, the yacht gets trailered to The Land of a Thousand Lakes this week, where John and Tom go exploring for the history, sonic markers and artists that made up “The Minneapolis Sound” of the late 70s and 1980s. What made this sound great? Let’s dive in!

Here we go! Rick Such and Eddy Cabello from Inside MusiCast are here to help us settle this thing once and for all! Who will match up as the perfect pair in the finals of the Toto Invitational Tournament Spectacular?

Tune in...follow along...one song will soon have its “One Shining Moment!”

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