Hall of Songs

Well, it was bound to happen. The voting process in Hall of Songs finally resulted in some possible chicanery. One of our hosts has to address it, and he does so with equal parts frustration and ... well, you should listen. Did any songs get into our prestigious hall of fame for songs? Listen to find out. But please, hit play on this one. It's a ride. Then head over to hallofsongs.com for mor...

For some, 1975 is a banner year for music. It's the year artists grasp the full capability of the studio recording with monumental tracks like "Born to Run" and "Bohemian Rhapsody." It's also the year the dance floor heats up with disco standouts from KC & The Sunshine Band and Donna Summer. Plus, a familiar face returns with a terrific album, and a new face emerg...

In Hall of Songs, we attempt to determine the greatest songs of all-time through listener votes. But after our listeners elected no songs to our prestigious song hall of fame the last time out, what would happen after introducing a bunch of songs from 1974? Would the early and mid-1970s continue to be a black hole? Could a 1967 song finally sneak into the hall after several rounds of waiting? What...

Every couple months or so, we decide to nominate a few more songs for Hall of Songs induction. We call it the Veterans Committee. For this episode, we entertain tracks released between 1971 and '74, including a monster Rod Stewart hit, a psyched-out trip by the Isley Brothers, and a few more. We also chat about some songs from this period that we just plain love. Yes, the Beatles find their w...

If there's a word that describes the music of 1974, it's "influential." Some of the year's best songs, which Tim and Chris have nominated for the Hall of Songs, are among the most important ever written. In this episode we talk about the roots of electronic music and modern dance pop, plus styles that weren't fully embraced for another generation or two. Join us, then...

Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, The Beatles, Bill Withers, Elton John, Dolly Parton. These are names of people. They're also names of people whose songs are currently on the Hall of Songs ballot. Did any of their songs get into our prestigious Hall of Songs, joining 42 other tunes? Listen to find out! Tim and Chris are back after a monthlong break to discuss the results and look ahead to the...

 On Hall of Songs, the 1970s have truly arrived. Tim and Chris unveil their picks for the 12 best tunes of 1973, a wild year where musicians continue to stretch the limits of popular song. There's the sneering punk of the New York Dolls and the lush dancefloor proto-disco of "TSOP." Then there are massive stars who will come to define the decade: Elton John, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wond...

After our 1972 episode, we asked you to vote for the songs that you thought were worthy of the Hall of Songs. After that election ... we have results. But we're not giving anything away. Not this time! (You'll have to listen to find out more.) That said, we will say that a few songs that we expected better of are either off the ballot or very close to their end. Which songs? Again, you&a...

Subjectively, this was one of our favorite years to discuss. In this episode of Hall of Songs, Tim and Chris get to talk about some of their favorite artists and styles of music as 1972 brings a wealth of new sounds to the growing tapestry of rock 'n' roll. Which 12 songs will we decide are the best of this year? Listen, then vote at hallofsongs.com for the songs that you think should be...

Yes, there are new inductees in the Hall of Songs. Maybe they're the songs you most expected after listening to the 1971 episode. But the big news is what's on the other side of the ballot: Tim and Chris discuss some shocking cuts -- songs that didn't get enough support to stay on the ballot any longer. Listen, then visit our website at hallofsongs.com. Then come back for our 1972 e...

In this very special bonus episode, Tim and Chris put their heads together and come up with their shared top-10 albums of all-time, in advance of the WXPN (AAA public radio station 88.5 FM in Philadelphia) 2021 All-Time Greatest Albums countdown. Plus, the pair invite Ted Koerth, a friend of the podcast and a pretty knowledgeable guy himself, so they can all reveal their personal top-10 albums. Mu...

Chris and Tim spend Thanksgiving night talking about the iconic Thanksgiving 1976 concert by The Band at Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco. Known as "The Last Waltz," it was the final concert for the classic lineup of The Band and would become a 1978 documentary film directed by Martin Scorsese. In this episode, Chris and Tim discuss the state of The Band, Robbie Robertson's infa...

 We had to narrow down an insane pool of contenders from 1971 to 12 nominees for the Hall of Songs. This is the year of landmark releases by Marvin Gaye, Carole King, Joni Mitchell, the Who, and Sly and the Family Stone. Plus there's Harry Nilsson, the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Joni Mitchell, and David Bowie. And that's just scratching the surface. In this episode, you...

It's a thrilling episode of Hall of Songs, in which Tim and Chris discuss the results of the latest round of voting. One song definitely gets into the Hall, and that makes one of us very happy. Any more songs? You'll have to listen to find out.  Listen, then visit our website at hallofsongs.com. Then come back for our 1971 episode and, after that, vote for the songs that you think should...

"You Can't Always Get What You Want." "Bridge Over Troubled Water." Big songs, but we didn't nominate them for the Hall of Songs before. Now we have. We come together as the Veterans Committee to put four more tunes on the ballot for the Hall of Songs. Join us as we discuss these songs from 1967 to '70, then talk about some personal favorites ... including the Be...

We're in a new decade on Hall of Songs, the podcast that attempts to determine the greatest songs of all-time. 1970 brings us new fare from artists we've previously featured, like the Beatles and the Jackson 5. It also showcases some new sounds in music, from the bulky heavy rock of Black Sabbath to the rhythmic vibes of Curtis Mayfield. Listen to the episode for our picks for the greate...

It's time to induct new songs into the Hall of Songs, bringing the total to 36. Is it finally time for the Temptations' "My Girl"? Did the Beatles or Elvis Presley get a third song in? What about Otis Redding or Aretha Franklin? Maybe The Jackson 5? Join Tim (and only Tim) for this results show. That's right, Chris isn't around for this one. We'll talk about it. ...

You may have some questions after our 1969 picks for Hall of Songs nominees. Sure, you'll hear some of the biggest songs of all-time, including selections by the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and new stars like Creedence Clearwater Revival and Led Zeppelin, but we had to throw in some controversy this time around. Get ready for a year of big rock and pop hits, massive soul jams, and pioneering...

Recently, and for the first time, Tim opted not to reward the Doors' "Light My Fire" with entrance into the Hall of Songs via the Golden Vote. "Prove me wrong," he told listeners, who were tasked with another election including songs from 1968, '67, '66, and '65. So ... did the listeners prove Tim wrong? Tim and Chris talk about the Hall of Songs election re...

In this bonus episode, we welcome in Kevin Goldstein, baseball writer (fangraphs.com) and podcaster (Chin Music, blogs.fangraphs.com/category/chin-music), who talks at length about the music that he loves. Then, we chat about songs that he would entertain for the Hall of Songs, along with the tunes he'd strike off the list completely. Consider Kevin our palate cleanser, coming in to lay down...

In this episode of Hall of Songs, we talk about 1968, when a number of artists who, after all the experimentation and studio trickery of the mid-1960s, start looking backwards and create old-fashioned rock and or roll. For example, we present songs by the Rolling Stones, The Band and Big Brother and the Holding Company. We nominate 12 songs for the Hall of Songs in this episode; along with the art...

Coming into this election we had 29 Hall of Songs inductees. How many more will get in? Well, this is an interesting one. Join Tim and Chris as they discuss a wild election concerning songs from 1964 to '67. Plus, they'll have a debate about one tune teetering on the brink of induction. Will it get the Golden Vote? Listen to find out, then read up on our experiment at hallofsongs.com. Ho...

Lists of the greatest songs of all-time will typically feature a few songs from 1967 at the very top. These are the songs we're talking about in this episode of Hall of Songs, from "Respect" by Aretha Franklin to "A Day in the Life" by the Beatles. Plus, it's the year Jimi Hendrix becomes a star, proving a lone guitarist can change the way we hear rock 'n' r...

That's right: A second Beatles song joins "I Want to Hold Your Hand" in the Hall of Songs. But which is it? "Ticket to Ride"? "Yesterday"? "In My Life"? "Tomorrow Never Knows"? Plus, another artist gets its second Hall of Songs inductee, and Tim and Chris also discuss the newest version of Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. L...

OK, maybe we didn't get it right the first time. This is our chance to right some wrongs. We nominate a couple songs from the 1963-66 years for the Hall of Songs, including a big-time Beatles record. Plus, we talk about songs that we just plain love from this era, like a trio from Wilson Pickett. Visit our website at hallofsongs.com and follow us on social media at @hallofsongs. Hosts: Tim Ma...