Is This Shirt Slimming?

Some of the world's most engaging and unaccountable couplings from Robert Fripp and Toya Wilcox to the band formerly known as The Engaged Couples - ABBA. Our Album of the Week - A Laughing Death in Meatspace by Tropical F**k Storm. Beware the Shellfish Toxin.

It was destiny. The story of how Slimming's very own Chris Soulos ending up playing on The World Without by SJS. We chat with Stuart Stawman about creating the album, working with Talk Talk, Tina Turner and discovering that Robert Plant is 6'1" in height.

Studio 301 reopens in Sydney after a long career that began with a singing nun. Jon Bon Jovi's well swept studio floors, Keith Richards' drug bust and the girl with the faraway eyes. John Cougar Mellencamp - jerk or nice guy? Squeezing the Velvet Underground, and - the pubic mullet. What it means for your lifestyle and Brian Eno's Twitter account.

Only Entry Level Tribute Bands would require a curly blonde Art Garfunkel wig while Frankie Laine wore one rug only till his last day. It was a golden era for Italian American cowpokes until Freddy Mercury introduced ballet to Rock as confirmed by Sid Vicious aka Mr Ferocious.  And our new segment! Please don't f%$# my mother - the car.Find us at www.slimmingly.strikingly.comFor podcast production almost as good as this go to www.podcastmaker.com.au

What can you say about Bono that hasn't already been said by Bono? Did anyone ever buy the Lou Reed/Metallica collaboration? Is Mile Davis' cover of Guinevere really a cover? In the arena watching U2 with Malcolm Turnbull.For more information about how you can have a great podcast almost as good as this one please schlepp on down to this link.

What if Ethel Merman had influenced David Bowie's career, and what influence did Ethel have on Sinatra and why was her swear jar so important?

I've been having fun producing some new bits for the podcast. Here is a kind of trailer/recap of 2017. We are looking forward to a simply slimmingly 2018. Love Phil xx

It's our pleasure to welcome our guest Noel Summerville a mastering engineer in London. His motto is "Maximum Bass - All Frequencies" and he is a master of trouser-flapping bass. He has added that final magic mastering touch to records by The Clash, Sinead O'Connor, Elvis Costello, Kraftwerk, The White Stripes, S-Club 7, Jason Donovan and Napalm Death - amongst others.This week Sophie's Report looks at Liam Payme & Danielle Bergoli - whoever they are?!

While striving to take our podcast career seriously we discuss Westies, DJ Khaled, Tex Perkins, The Hollies and easy listening heavy rock with Nickelback.

And who is the black Michael Jackson? Bob Dylan gets down with a plumber, the death of the mp3 and why there's an easy listening elevator hit ready to break out of nearly every heavy metal number. Brought to you by the Dapto Foreskin Restoration Clinic.

Daring to go where other music podcasts  fear to tread we explore the controversies that surround Barry Manilow and those who  adore him. Are you a fanilow?Here's a link to the Spotify Playlist.

We are pleased to welcome our first guest, drummist, dj, trivia host and tribute band legend - Neil Rankin. He's drummed in tribute bands  The Australian Doors Show (as immortalised by Dave Graney), The Beatels and paid tribute to Bob Dylan, XTC and ABBA. You can click here for the Spotify playlist for almost all the music that we talk about. This episode features a special bonus double ending with Suspicious Minds-style fade out and fade back in. Is This Shirt Slimming - we gladly feast on the future to nourish the past.

While the 60s exploded through the mass media seeking out stoned naked hippies in Haight Ashbury, it was a little more subdued and awkward in Australia. Roselands hosted a glittering cavalcade of stars from The Master's Apprentices to Little Stevie Wonder. It was always 70 degrees by the Raindrop Fountain and the entertainment was always family friendly, except when Graham Kennedy dropped his duds.

Robbie Barnhill spent many years as the front-person of the Fun In Acapulco Musical Experience. We discuss the art of playing covers, what are the best songs and how every Yoko Ono fan in the world formed a band and became the B-52s.

Chris, Rob & Phil are brimful with love for music from the British Isles. Chris talks about barrelhouse piano with Rick Wakeman in Sydney, Rob on the time that his covers band Fun In Acapulco was supported by Tin Machine featuring David Bowie and Phil on the  dire financial state of Sydney mastering facilities.

Our newest member of the slimming team is introduced. Rob Barnhill. We're talking about all the great English music that became know as Britpop while liberally expanding the terms of reference. Even Slade and  the beer can throwing sharpies in seventies Sydney.

This episode is an exploration of a tiny corner of the Beatles nerdosphere - Ringo's latin drum parts. Chris, a self-confessed Beatles nerd, explores Latin rhythms  in the music, skiffle music and shares his dislike of Bob Dylan, something I don't quite understand but am willing to accept in the interests of long term friendly relations.

How Phil got over his Fear of Disco and how Chris stopped learning whole sides of prog rock albums. James Brown, Average White Band, Thorpie at Sunbury, Jeff Beck and much much more.

How The Monkees led to Frank Zappa, Captain Beefheart and Tim Buckley. Pleasant Valley Sunday described the  perfect world of suburban normality, behind which lay  the conga-line of crazies that were making music in Los Angeles at the time. The Monkees were One Direction on acid. They were deeply embedded in the craziness of the LA music scene.