Friday's Best Pop Song Ever

Todd rides a wave of 60s soft pop bliss with unlikely pop tunesmith Margo Guryan.

Guitarist Johnny Thunders death at 38 turned his song "You Can't Put Your Arms Into A memory" into something it was perhaps never meant to be.

Todd Interrogates this 1976 hit from multi-talented Linda Ronstadt sideman Andrew Gold.

Todd explores the career of songwriter John Carter through one of his most memorable contributions to the "Sunshine Pop" genre.

Todd journeys to the bottom of the charts to celebrate the criminally underappreciated girl group Reperata and the Delrons and their hit oddity "Captain of your Ship."

It's surprising that, of all the Prince covers out there, the one by 80s teen pop singer Martika is one of the most moving and artistic.

Todd explores the relationship between pub rock and punk rock through the story of Joe Strummer's pre-Clash band The 101ers.

Todd plays compare and contrast with the Police's "Every Breath You Take" and John Waite's soundalike hit from 1984. His conclusions just might surprise you.

No, not the Kelly Clarkson song, but rather Russ Ballard's more grammatically--if inconveniently--titled hit for numerous artists including Rainbow and Cherie Currie.

The Dutch folk-pop band Shocking Blue had far more up their sleeves than their one U.S. hit.

Todd digs into "Do Ya", a song made famous by ELO, but originated by Jeff Lynne's previous band, The Move

The question on the table is not whether Honeybus, a band largely unknown outside the UK, were any good (they were), but whether they could have been as big as the Beatles.

Todd examines the tragically brief career of Portland power pop revivalists The Exploding Hearts, whose "Modern Kicks" is a four minute, distortion soaked slice of punk pop bliss.

South Africa's first all woman band produces an international monster hit -- and Todd is here to unpack it.

Todd explores the complicated release history of this dance punk tune turned 80s radio mainstay.

Todd shines a light on Dara Puspita, an all-woman band from Indonesia who lived out the plot of countless 80s rock videos by playing their rock in defiance of an authoritarian regime bent on silencing them.

Todd investigate's Nita Rossi's cult hit and takes a detour to examine how the music of Burt Bacharach and John Barry shaped the adult pop sound of the late 60s.

Todd finds joy in Yuki's breakthrough Jpop hit.

Todd pulls the strings to see what's behind French poppet France Gall's Eurovision winning song and her working relationship with the "dirty old man of French Pop", Serge Gainsbourg.

Glam pop band Sweet spent several years under the thumb of powerful British songwriters Mike Chapman and Nicky Chinn. With "Fox on the Run", they finally came into their own.

Todd engages with Ally's anthemic dance pop masterpiece and takes on the phenomenon of European song competitions.

Todd puts on his thinking cap to consider Syd Straw's barn-busting cover of the dB's "Think Too Hard."

Todd spends perhaps a little TOO much time alone with this bubblegum hit from Tommy James and The Shondells, marveling at the vast number of cover versions it has inspired.

Todd exorcises the spooky brilliance of "Haunted", a song by The Pogues from the soundtrack of the film SID AND NANCY.

Todd considers Kirsty Maccoll's retro pop masterpiece and celebrates the life of this late and very lamented pop genius.

In this episode, Todd fortifies ourselves with this frothy Herman's Hermits hit from 1967 while examining the career of it's writer, Graham Gouldman, who later became a driving force in the group 10cc.

On this episode, host Todd Stadtman samples "A Glass of Champagne", a catchy little number by nautical British popsters Sailor.

In this episode, Todd discusses "Pretty Please", an epic rave-up from eccentric Los Angeles power poppers The Quick.

In the debut episode of FBPSE, host Todd Stadtman feasts our ears to "May My Heart Be Cast Into Stone", and unheralded classic by the Toys, a girl group from Jamaica, New York.

Todd considers Kirsty Maccoll's retro pop masterpiece and celebrates the life of this late and very lamented pop genius.