Out of the Main

Hello, Mr. Radio! You can’t have a podcast about music artistry and sophistication and not cover Jeff Lynne at some point. In Part One of our two-part episode, John and Tom explore the career of Jeff Lynne — before during and after Electric Light Orchestra. Tune in to learn the tricks of the trade, the science behind the madness, and the man behind some of the most interesting music in history. Su...

Did the art of the solo in pop/rock music peak between 1975 and 1985? And why did it become something of a lost art thereafter? John and Tom discuss the history and importance of the solo (any instrument) in modern music history, each sharing five of their favorite solos for purposes of demonstration and admiration.  What do you think are the elements of a quintessential solo in pop/rock music? An...

Where does Ned Doheny fit into this ongoing conversation? Might he be one of four on yacht rock’s Mt. Rushmore of under-the-radar solo acts?  With that often “proto”-identifying sound…definite embrace of the yachty R&B vibes…that omnipresent acoustic guitar rooting down the rhythms? He’s a bit of an enigma, which is why Tom and John took a deeper dive 🛎️ into the life, career and musical styli...

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) Listen and Subscribe: ⁠Find the podcast platform of your choice...

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! Listen and Subscribe: ⁠Find the podcast platform of your choice here⁠ . Referenced and Related: ⁠⁠ Playlist of songs featured on Out of the Main ⁠⁠ ⁠ John’s Spotify Yacht Rock Playlis...

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 s...

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. N.B.: The Inside Musicast interview with Richard Page, Steve Ge...

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...

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 corr...

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! (?) Listen and Subscribe: ⁠Find the podcast platform of your choice here⁠ . Referenced and Related: ⁠⁠ Playlist of songs featured on Out of the Main ⁠⁠ ⁠ John’s Spotify Yacht Rock Playlist ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ Tom’s Spotify Ya...

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! Listen and Subscribe: ⁠Find the podcast platform of your choice here⁠ . Referenced and Related: ⁠⁠ Playlist of songs featured on Out of the Main ⁠⁠ ⁠ John’s Spotify Yacht Rock Playlis...

Take these five _____________ and rank them in order from worst to first. Pretty simple concept…let’s see if the boys can handle it! Listen and Subscribe: ⁠Find the podcast platform of your choice here⁠ . Referenced and Related: ⁠⁠ Playlist of songs featured on Out of the Main ⁠⁠ ⁠ John’s Spotify Yacht Rock Playlist ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ Tom’s Spotify Yacht Rock Playlist ⁠⁠⁠⁠ Intro/outro: Stock Music “We’re Here”...

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!  Listen and Subscribe: ⁠Find the podcast platform of your choice here⁠ . Referenced and Related: ⁠⁠ Playlist of songs featu...

Is yacht rock “bullshlt?” Well, we don’t think so…but it appears that Rick Beato may. In his recent reaction video that dropped during our inter-season break , he voiced his opinion on the Yacht Rock Dockumentary and the “genre” more generally. Did he get it right? Or do John and Tom — Heavens to Murgatroyd! — disagree with their podcasting idol? “We’d love to hear your thoughts. Leave us a commen...

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.  And D...

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! Listen and Subscribe: ⁠Find the podcast platform of your choice here⁠ . Referenced and Related: ⁠⁠ Playlist of songs featured on Ou...

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! Listen and Subscribe: ⁠Find the podcast platfo...

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! Check out: A deep dive into the collaborative networks of Yacht Rock , the nerdy abstract Tom references in Found at Sea. Listen and Subs...

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! Listen and Subscribe: ⁠ Find the podcast platform of your choice here ⁠ . Referenced and Related: ⁠⁠ Pl...

$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...

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 F...

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: Halloween on the Yacht 80s Halloween Party Listen and Subscribe: ⁠ Find the podcast platform of your choice here ⁠ . Referenced and Related: ⁠⁠ Playlist of songs featured on Out of the Main ⁠⁠ ⁠ John’s Spotify Yacht Rock Playlist ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ Tom’s...

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...

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?” Listen and Subscribe: ⁠ Find the podcast platform of your choice here ⁠ . References and Related: ⁠⁠ Playlist of songs featured on Out of the Main ⁠⁠ ⁠ John’...

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...