Spin It! The Record Ranking Podcast

The sun is shining in the sky, there ain't a cloud in sight, and we're spending this beautiful new day with Out Of The Blue, the sweeping, shimmering double-LP by Electric Light Orchestra! In their attempt to bring light orchestra arrangements to the rock music world as a spiritual successor to The Beatles, the record features a diverse array of instruments and effects on big hits like Turn To Stone, Sweet Talkin' Woman, and the infamous Mr. Blue Sky! It's also one of the first prominent musical appearances of the vocoder. Find out if Jeff Lynne, Bev Bevan, and company can harness harmony, brass, and strings to win us over.James & Connor talk about our own limited ELO experience, discover the difference between ELO 2 and ELO Part II, and clap our hands (if we're happy and we know it). We find out how the band dominated the live touring circuit with their special effects and million-dollar UFO, and The Mixtaper has explosive facts about fruity cello solos, pigs, and the longest bathroom break in rock history (if we can Believe Him Now). From its rhythmic opening to the Concerto for a Rainy Day and beyond, learn all about ELO with us!What do YOU hear at the end of Mr. Blue Sky? Did you know what OK stood for? What songs would be your most under- and appropriately-rated? Let us know in the comments and on socials, and be sure to like and follow for more next time!Keep Spinning at www.SpinItPod.com!Thanks for listening!0:00 Intro4:59 About Electric Light Orchestra11:47 About Out Of The Blue16:08 The ELO Spaceship Stage22:16 Awards & Accolades22:56 Fact Or Spin24:01 ELO Had An Alien Encounter29:03 Knock Knock... An Orange Cello Solo34:25 They're The Least Dangerous Rock Band In Britain38:29 Emergency Pig Cellists41:34 Bev Bevan Temporarily Joined Another Band43:22 The Longest Bathroom Break In Rock History47:20 Album Art48:14 Turn To Stone50:52 It's Over52:21 Sweet Talkin' Woman54:13 Across The Border55:46 Night In The City56:34 Starlight58:02 Jungle59:12 Believe Me Now59:22 Steppin' Out1:00:32 Standin' In The Rain (Concerto For A Rainy Day)1:02:02 Big Wheels1:02:34 Summer And Lightning1:03:22 Mr. Blue Sky1:06:26 Sweet Is The Night1:07:43 The Whale1:09:07 Birmingham Blues1:10:12 Wild West Hero1:12:26 Final Spin

We want you to stay, and this week we're all Bittersuite and Blue with Billie Eilish's monumental 2024 album HIT ME HARD AND SOFT! After Ocean Eyes took the whisper-pop world by storm, and after setting various "youngest artist ever to..." records, Billie Eilish and her brother Finneas crafted a rollercoaster of an album that features Grammy-winning hits like Wildflower and the nostalgic Birds Of A Feather! Will this album change preconceptions and win over our hesitant ballad guy??James and Connor discuss our typical music ecosystems and emo-pop sensibilities, learn about the origin of her middle name(s), and figure out how many Phinneases we know. We'll cross paths with major hits like What Was I Made For?, get Spirited Away into Ghibli movies, and more! Our resident Bad Guy, The Mixtaper, is back with facts about llama dimensions, celebrity misconceptions, and Michael Scott for Fact Or Spin. Then, we'll explore the record end to end-- and maybe we could eat it for Lunch.What would you change your middle name to if the options were unlimited? Where does this roller coaster record corkscrew for you? And can you think of any other Phineai we forgot to mention?! Let us know in the comments and on socials! Like and follow for more music soon!Keep Spinning at www.SpinItPod.com!Thanks for listening!0:00 Intro3:40 About Billie Eilish19:02 About Hit Me Hard And Soft26:44 Awards & Accolades28:04 Fact Or Spin29:20 Maurice The Executive Producer33:57 She Was Baffled By Bono37:07 She Thought The Spice Girls Were Not Real People40:59 She Had To Fulfill A Special Request For My Strange Addiction44:47 Album Art47:14 Skinny52:01 Lunch55:54 Chihiro58:25 Birds Of A Feather1:01:48 Wildflower1:03:53 The Greatest1:06:31 L'amour De Ma Vie1:09:46 The Diner1:12:05 Bittersuite1:13:53 Blue1:16:06 Final Spin

Darlin', we'll take care of you Along The Way with the audience-recommended album Darlin' Oh Darlin', by contemporary folk family The Hunts! These seven Virginia siblings got their start playing the fiddle in a family band (Von Trapp style), and evolved into an atmospheric, instrumentally-diverse powerhouse of love songs written by committee. Tracks like the half-title track and Peace Be Still turned into significant hits for the group! Find out how this band (new to both of us) fares in our respective rankings!James & Connor learn about the family's rich history, from touring to engineering degrees. We'll talk about the merits and evolution of "stomp clap hey" music in the early 20-teens, discover the Victorian home studio the band used for the record, and their breakthrough placement on Starbucks' nationwide playlist. Heaven Knows what The Mixtaper has in store, with royal facts about the Queen, the Hunts Parliament, and a good old-fashioned county fair salmon toss. You've got to hear it to believe it!Be honest, how far do you think you could throw the salmon?? Are we just overconfident? Are there enough Darlin's on this album? Too many? Let us know in the comments and on social media! Be sure to follow for more riveting shutter insights next time!Keep Spinning at www.SpinItPod.com!Thanks for listening!0:00 Intro2:10 About The Hunts9:03 About Darlin' Oh Darlin'12:49 Awards & Accolades13:10 Fact Or Spin14:46 A Riverdance For The Queen19:40 By Royal Decree: Cheese And Crackers27:48 The House Of Hunt31:00 The Wimbledon Salmon-Tossing Win41:05 Album Art42:42 Darlin'47:43 Along The Way49:27 Peace Be Still51:02 Heaven Knows52:18 Travel54:01 Far55:04 Love Of Mine56:14 Standing Small56:55 Flowers And Jars58:09 Years58:39 Oh Darlin'1:00:38 Final Spin

Where's the party? Look no further than Connor's latest pick: True Blue by one of pop music's biggest legends, Madonna! After the Material Girl shook the music world with Like A Virgin, her 1986 "love album" delivered significant hits like Papa Don't Preach and La Isla Bonita! From her humble beginning to her musical theater days, we'll learn how Madonna Opened Her Heart to stir up controversy, evolve culture, and make straight-up dance bops. It's a piece the podcast has been missing. How will James compare her score with his previous Madonna rankings?The Mixtaper is squaring off against Connor again with riveting facts about disastrous deliveries, dragons (amphitheres? wyrms? Whatever.), desecration, and a special round of Cher Bingo! Then we'll compare songs to video games, analyze vapidity, and learn about the film White Heat as we break down this record in all its '80s pop glory! Love Makes The World Go Round, and we love Madonna, so... maybe Spin It Makes The World Go Round after all. Is this a strong Madonna album? Does it stir up enough controversy, or is it a reasonable follow-up to the iconic LaV? Let us know your hot takes in the comments, or pop on over (Papa on over!) to our social media for more!Keep Spinning at www.SpinItPod.com!Thanks for listening!0:00 Intro7:13 About Madonna17:29 About True Blue24:37 Awards & Accolades26:25 Fact Or Spin27:25 Madonna Is A Material Girl (Who Can't Live In A Material World)31:32 Madonna Doesn't Need Anyone To Rescue Her37:46 She Disrespected La Isla Bonita42:23 Cher Bingo: Who's That Girl?52:23 Album Art55:57 Papa Don't Preach58:18 Open Your Heart1:00:34 White Heat1:02:39 Live To Tell1:04:23 Where's The Party1:06:46 True Blue1:08:36 La Isla Bonita1:11:26 Jimmy Jimmy1:13:49 Love Makes The World Go Round1:15:03 True Blue (The Color Mix) & La Isla Bonita Extended Remix1:16:09 Final Spin

The power's out in the hearts of man.. We're attending a Funeral with Arcade Fire's ice-cold concept album about life, death, change, and memory. From the opening Neighborhood suite (about devastating blizzards, space dogs, and time marching on), to mournful ballads like Crown Of Love and Haiti, we'll learn about the real-life events that inspired this album and explore the intricate symbolism that weaves throughout each track. It kicked off an incredibly successful career in the world of experimental, artsy indie rock, but how will it land on the Spin It score sheet?James & Connor are talking birthday episodes! We walk through our familiarity (or lack thereof) with the band, find out why the original lineup quit mid-show, the band's activism, and more. The Mixtaper is a danger to arcades everywhere as we go house hunting through each neighborhood, with bobblehead thievery, a vertically inconvenient show, and hot dog girls. You won't want to miss this episode, so get In The Backseat and come along with us!Which neighborhood are you living in? What elements of this concept album work the best for you? Do you think you could handle a personal travelling mariachi band? Let us know in the comments and on socials! Connor's picking our next record, so get ready for another special episode next time!Keep Spinning at www.SpinItPod.com!Thanks for listening!0:00 Intro3:56 About Arcade Fire7:25 About Funeral17:04 Awards & Accolades18:35 Fact Or Spin20:18 Neighborhood #1 (Bobblehead Theivery)24:12 Neighborhood #2 (A Vertically Inconvenient Show)28:02 Neighborhood #3 (A Night Of Neckties, Hotdog Girls, and Magic)32:39 Neighborhood #4 (7 Kettles)38:27 Album Art41:50 Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)44:44 Neighborhood #2 (Laika)47:22 Une Année Sans Lumière48:48 Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)51:40 Neighborhood #4 (7 Kettles)52:48 Crown Of Love54:00 Wake Up56:51 Haiti58:58 Rebellion (Lies)1:01:38 In The Backseat1:04:02 Final Spin

Welcome To The Jungle! We've got fun and games, and an Appetite For Destruction with Guns N' Roses powerful debut album! From the green grass of Paradise City to the screaming energy of the Night Train, the record features some of the band's biggest hits. We'll learn about their Guns AND Rose beginnings (it's more literal than you think), get into their endless bad ideas, and explore everything from Slash's iconic top hat to the decade-long making of Chinese Democracy. This album features gripping guitar solos, lyrics that are the essence of sex, drugs, & rock n' roll, and authentic moans... How will one of Connor's favorite metal bands score?James & Connor talk about our GNR history, from marching bands to Guitar Hero. We criticize apostrophes, "ta," and more. The Mixtaper has an Appetite For Deception, as he's Out Ta Get Us with facts about a home zoo, a famous bedtime story, and the Mind-Boggling Tale Of Buckethead. Get your pooper scoopers ready. Our way, Axl Rose's way, Anything Goes on this wild episode as we kick off the Year Of Missing Pieces! Do you like the Guns side or the Roses side of the album better? Does Sweet Child O' Mine get stuck in your head? Will you ever be able to listen to Rocket Queen the same way again?? Let us know what's in your Paradise City on social media or at www.SpinItPod.com, and follow for more episodes (now biweekly)!Keep Spinning at www.SpinItPod.com!Thanks for listening!0:00 Intro0:25 The Year Of Missing Pieces3:40 About Guns N' Roses9:49 About Appetite For Destruction24:13 Awards & Accolades25:07 Fact Or Spin26:27 Fast Fired Facts: ApPETite For Destruction35:59 Slash Got A Famous Bedtime Story39:19 Porn, Poop, And Chicken Coops: The Mind-Boggling Tale Of Buckethead45:30 Someone Lost A Seat On A Plane To A Hat53:07 Slash Is A Bit Of An Artist56:30 Album Art59:26 Welcome To The Jungle1:03:46 It's So Easy1:05:19 Nightrain1:07:05 Out Ta Get Me1:09:19 Mr. Brownstone1:10:28 Paradise City1:13:44 My Michelle1:15:09 Think About You1:16:08 Sweet Child O' Mine1:19:05 You're Crazy1:20:42 Anything Goes1:21:56 Rocket Queen1:24:01 Final Spin

We have an announcement to make! After five straight years without missing a Friday release, we're making a change: we're going biweekly and releasing new episodes every other week. It'll still be the same podcast you know and love, just on a different schedule. We're hoping it will free us up to keep doing deep research and solid editing, while giving us some breathing room for big changes in our personal lives. And who knows, with more energy we might just be able to crank out more bonus content this year, too! Thanks for five great (nonstop) years, and we can't wait to see what the next era of Spin It has in store!Keep Spinning at www.SpinItPod.com!Thanks for listening!

Sunrise doesn't last all morning, but maybe it'll stay around a bit longer for our episode on All Things Must Pass, the trailblazing triple album by former Beatle George Harrison! The Beatles passed up on a hefty number of George's songs over the years, and with their breakup he was free to create like never before! His proper debut solo record blends genres, explores spirituality, and piques interest like few records can. With Phil Spector's wall of sound production style backing up folk- and Hindu-inspired rock, All Things Must Pass is George at his finest.This week we're learning British slang, asking What Is Life, and Letting It Down! Will this solo record rise above Connor's Beatles score? If you really wanna know George, we'll cover his musical past (all the way back to the womb), his beloved Friar Park home, and his final message to the world. The Mixtaper is back with George Harrispins about thieving monkeys, botanical inquest, and trap shooting! Then we'll get a little Wah-Wah and a LOT of slide guitar as we focus up on this record, right down to the special Apple Jam ending!Which gnome are you? What's your favorite ex-Beatle solo album? Have you ever used the term "flumbertyjack" before? Let us know! And be sure to follow for the shocking end to the Year Of Redemption next week! Thanks for five great years and counting!Keep Spinning at www.SpinItPod.com!Thanks for listening!0:00 Intro3:32 About George Harrison11:29 About All Things Must Pass21:32 Awards & Accolades22:21 Fact Or Spin23:34 George Harrisunflower28:19 George Harrison Of A Gun31:35 George Harrigibbonson35:45 George Harripython42:52 Album Art44:11 I'd Have You Anytime46:31 My Sweet Lord49:17 Wah-Wah51:38 Isn't It A Pity53:15 What Is Life55:28 If Not For You56:20 Behind That Locked Door56:38 Let It Down57:45 Run Of The Mill, I Live For You58:02 Beware Of Darkness58:43 Apple Scruffs1:01:26 Ballad Of Sir Frankie Crisp (Let It Roll), Awaiting On You All1:02:03 All Things Must Pass1:05:01 I Dig Love1:06:16 Art Of Dying, Isn't It A Pity - Version Two1:06:59 Hear Me Lord1:08:39 Apple Jam1:11:49 Final Spin