Bill and Frank’s Guilt-Free Pleasures

This song has been frequented requested from listeners, and finally we are honouring that request (this one's especially for you, Maureen!). Frank is a huge fan of this song, while Bill is a bit more reticent about naming this as a guilt-free pleasure. Despite our differences and sharp disagreements, this podcast manages to survive the episode. We follow the history of Poison in general and this s...

Dave Kitchen returns to discuss the song that birthed the freestyle movement!  Our episode picture is Sara at the roller rink 🛼

We just cannot get enough of Billy Joel's "Uptown Girl." From the message that the common person has a shot at the seeming unattainable other to the infectious early 1960s throwback vibes, we are all in! We walk through a brief history of Billy Joel and the story behind the song (it involves Elle MacPherson, Christie Brinkley, and Whitney Houston!). We also give a detailed analysis of the tune its...

We are thrilled to have Rich Terfry (a.k.a. Buck 65) join us to talk about Anne Murray's "Snowbird." Anne Murray is a Canadian musical legend who has sold over 55 million records and it all started with "Snowbird." We cover the story of the song, its writer (Gene MacLellan), and we take a deep dive (as only Rich Terfry can do!) into our analysis of the song. Stay for a pretty epic mixtape to close...

There are many great Spice Girls songs, but there is only one that altered the trajectory of our musical tastes as cynical young adults in the 1990s. One could argue (and we do) that the whole concept of a "guilt-free pleasure" was born when "Stop" was released. It may have been the first single to not top the U.K. charts for the Spice Girls, but it is nevertheless (arguably) their greatest sonic...

It's our annual Holiday greeting mini-episode! We thought we would change things up and bring in our good friend Dave Kitchen for our theme of "Depressmas" - songs that bring in the sadness of the season. It's short and (bitter)sweet! Merry Christmas, everyone. You have a home here at Bill & Frank's Guilt-Free Pleasures! Links: I Believe in Father Christmas music video The Cat Carol music vide...

Christmas has come early for Frank as we are finally doing his favourite holiday tune! We discuss the enduring popularity of this juggernaut, the competing stories behind it's beginning, the unrelenting anger of Mariah fans on Twitter, and the click of reindeer.  Helpful Links: Official Video   Other Official Video (Black and White Version) Official Video with Unreleased Footage Recent Official Vi...

Jeffrey Osborne needs to be talked about more. An incredible voice with incredible tunes. And "On The Wings Of Love" is our absolute favourite.  Links:  Mixtape Top of the Pops video Questlove Interview You can find us on Instagram , Facebook , and our website . You can email us at BandFGuiltFree@gmail.com , too. Feel free to rate and review us wherever you listen! Here is our Spotify playlist fea...

We are starting from the start in this week’s episode. And we may not know what that means, but we do know that it is a fundamental fact that everyone is working for the weekend. We take you through a brief history of Loverboy and dig deep as we examine their most enduring hit. C’mon baby let’s go! Links: official video mixtape You can find us on Instagram , Facebook , and our website . You can em...

As Frank says, there's a "danceable menacing feel" to the Cameo's "Word Up" It demands that you get down. No psychological romance here from sucker DJs! Music Video  Top of the Pops Mixtape You can find us on Instagram , Facebook , and our website . You can email us at BandFGuiltFree@gmail.com , too. Feel free to rate and review us wherever you listen! Here is our Spotify playlist featuring every...

This took everything we had in the guilt-free pleasure tank, but it was worth it. Here is our episode on Canada's charity single for the Ethiopian famine, inspired by a phone call from Quincy Jones who was inspired by Bob Geldof who was inspired by a Canadian news piece. Everything came full circle.  Official Video Slightly Longer Video with better picture The Documentary Our Mixtape Quebec's Char...

We've waited long enough. We're bringing our podcast to the shore and throwing away the oars to declare our love for REO Speedwagon! We discuss the history behind "Can't Fight This Feeling" and link it to our Brandy Hallmark movie. Leave your candle in the window for us! Official Video Original Video Mixtape You can find us on Instagram , Facebook , and our website . You can email us at BandFGuilt...

Frank finally gets the chance to talk (and talk) about New Jack Swing. And we finally get to the bottom of just what Johnny Gill's "Rub You The Right Way" is all about. Original video Johnny Gills legendary Arsenio Hall performance Our mixtape You can find us on Instagram , Facebook , and our website . You can email us at BandFGuiltFree@gmail.com , too. Feel free to rate and review us wherever you...

The spookiest episode of the year arrives with a song John Oates says is about the dangers of New York City. We're not so sure about that, but whether it's a dracula or a city or a person you ought not to date, this song will strike fear into your heart! We walk you through a brief history of Darryl Hall and John Oates, from ducking a shootout in Philadelphia as teenagers to the unfortunate end of...

We make some magic for you in this week's episode. Kitch returns for #17 and Frank desperately battles to not only keep his position on the show, but also to argue for the existence of good witches. And we have lots to say and celebrate about America (the band, not the country) and their 1982 hit song. Official Video Our Mixtape You can find us on Instagram , Facebook , and our website . You can e...

Do you remember this song? We not only remember it, but at least one of us spent night upon night for a good stretch of his life calling out "Save me!" and thinking about what he lost. We hope you enjoy our trip through "Mary's Prayer" and we hope you gain a new appreciation for Danny Wilson. Music Video Mixtape You can find us on Instagram , Facebook , and our website . You can email us at BandFG...

You may not remember many phone numbers from your youth, but I guarantee if you have ever heard this song, you have not forgotten Jenny's number. We take a tour through the writing of the song and dispel popular myths surrounding the track. We analyse the lyrics and attempt to answer the unanswerable questions surrounding the song's events. Frank also details how he prepared for his own phone call...

Brandy deserves a better life than the one in which she finds herself. We are here to call that sailor man to account for playing loose and fast with her heart, and to propose both a Hallmark musical movie mixtape to right the wrongs we find in this heart-wrenching and beautiful song. Thank you for joining us! Official Animated Video   Performance Video Acapella Version The Log Drivers Waltz You c...

And from out of left field, here’s our episode on Taco’s “Puttin’ On The Ritz.” It is both a fascinating and terrifying cover of Irving Berlin’s famous track, and we are here to guide you through it! You can find us on Instagram , Facebook , and our website . You can email us at BandFGuiltFree@gmail.com , too. Feel free to rate and review us wherever you listen! Here is our Spotify playlist featur...

"Invisible Touch" comes at a time when Genesis was at their commercial peak. Not only did this become their only Billboard Hot 100 #1 hit, but it also found itself on the charts with songs by almost all other present and former members of the band. The song certainly has its haters, but you will not hear hatred from us: we love "Invisible Touch," although Bill must find a way to deal with the invi...

If you get a chance to watch Lisa Stansfield sing at Apollo (you can see that here ), you can see why her singing can win everyone over, especially on the hit single "All Around The World." In this episode, Frank gives us his best Barry White impression and Bill recounts the story of how Stansfield ended up slapping Prince.  Thank you for joining us! Mixtape Official Video Apollo Barry White duet...

King Harvest's biggest hit was written as a response to a violent world - one that had nearly killed songwriter Sherman Kelly on a beach in St. Croix. We dive into the story behind the song, examine what makes this track so special (a toilet brush, for example), and then Bill takes Frank for a trip through the many versions of the song released over the past forty years. Oh - and Frank discusses w...

Like so many of the sitcoms we grew up watching, we have finally made our Very Special Episode.  Dave Kitchen joins us for the 16th time and brings us “Toy Soldiers” by Martika. Step by step and heart to heart, we bring you everything we’ve got as we plum the depths of (goth?) dance pop and drug addiction. Official Video Mixtape You can find us on Instagram , Facebook , and our website . You can e...

"Ride Like The Wind" is both yachty and naughty: a smooth song about an outlaw who has escaped hanging for the murder of ten men. In our (limited) knowledge of the so-called genre, we believe this is the only yacht rock song that dares to deal with this subject matter. Truth be told, the song is so enjoyable that it is hard to imagine that it is about anything else but a good time - and what a goo...

Listen folks: sometimes a peach is just a peach. In today's episode we dive into the history of this anthem to a tender fruit. We didn't realize we would be diving into the world of ninjas, LSD, and two string basses. Thank you for joining us! Peaches official video Mixtape You can find us on Instagram , Facebook , and our website . You can email us at BandFGuiltFree@gmail.com , too. Feel free to...