In the Spring of 1983, 'Til Tuesday transformed from a new band into the winners of Boston’s Rock & Rumble competition. After quickly securing a deal with Epic Records, they released their debut album Voices Carry. Thanks to regular airplay on MTV, the title track rose to #8 on the Billboard Hot 100. Sadly, this unique band could never again match the success of the song. This week, we’re joined by writer, musician, and Aimee Mann enthusiast Daniel Corey to discuss why we believe 'Til Tuesda...
Oct 11, 2023•49 min•Ep. 190
You know that awesome Bruce Springsteen song “On The Dark Side” that actually isn’t Bruce Springsteen at all? That’s John Cafferty & The Beaver Brown Band, and I’d venture to say that I’m not alone in thinking it was The Boss for many years. We HAD to bring in some experts to shed some light on this wild sound-alike, so this week, we’re joined by Hal Schwartz and Flynn McLean of the None But The Brave podcast. These Bruce enthusiasts help us decide if we should throw thunder on these beaver ...
Oct 04, 2023•58 min•Ep. 189
This week we take another break from podcasting to reunite the Fantastic Four of Chris Fafalios, Matt Kelly, Matt Milligan and Tony Hartman for another Fantasy Auction Draft. This time the topic is albums from 2003. Can you believe these releases are all 20 years old? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 27, 2023•1 hr 8 min
Despite the song’s lyrics that illustrate Meredith Brooks’ multitude of qualities and flaws, it’s the first line of the chorus of “Bitch” that turned heads in 1997. After a long music career that spanned three decades, this undeniably catchy pop song put the veteran singer and guitarist on the map. The song felt empowering and special when it came out, but how does it hold up now? And did Meredith turn out to be an artist we SHOULD actually be paying attention to? Just when we think we got her f...
Sep 20, 2023•33 min•Ep. 188
This week on One Hit Thunder, we’re joined by Wolves of Glendale keyboardist and vocalist Tom McGovern to explore the enigmatic world of The La’s and their timeless hit “There She Goes”. This episode is a tale of potential unfulfilled, as The La’s were seemingly destined for Britpop fame and fortune, only to be stymied by their own strange choices. Did The La’s bring the thunder despite getting in their own way time and time again? Stay tuned to find out. If you like the show, be sure to rate, r...
Sep 13, 2023•52 min•Ep. 187
In 1999, filmmaker Baz Luhrmann had an unexpected radio hit with “Everybody’s Free (To Wear Sunscreen)”, a near perfect spoken-word piece that offered god-tier level advice to graduating seniors. It’s hard to explain why this song works or how powerful it is without just breaking down every word of it, so we did just that. This week, we get deep, emotional, and honest, thanks to a commencement speech and a trip-hop beat. If you like the show, be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. Email us at o...
Sep 06, 2023•43 min•Ep. 186
Joining us this week is brilliant documentarian Taylor Morden, who’s currently immersed in the creation of his upcoming feature Getting Lost. The Lost television series was a phenomenon that left millions of viewers scratching their collective head each week. That sense of wonder continues even today, as both mine and Matt’s tiny little brains were blown at the fact that Malcolm David Kelley — aka Walt from Lost — is one half of the pop duo MKTO, who had a Top 20 hit with “Classic” in 2013. Did ...
Aug 30, 2023•57 min•Ep. 185
If you ever have to fight an enormous Russian who killed your friend, might we suggest popping Robert Tepper’s “No Easy Way Out” into the tape deck of your Lamborghini while you drive through the night and reflect on every single event that got you to that moment? This week, we’re joined by my friend and Punchline bandmate Steve Soboslai to discuss this animated singer whose passionate music should be the soundtrack to EVERY montage. If you like the show, be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. ...
Aug 23, 2023•33 min•Ep. 184
Do you like chess? How about musicals about chess? How about new wave meets hip-hop songs FROM musicals about chess? You don’t really need to answer that. Regardless, our Patreon voted for it, so we’re diving into the hit 1985 single from English actor Murray Head, “One Night In Bangkok”. Does this song make THESE hard men humble? Stay tuned to find out if it leaves us in despair or ecstasy. If you like the show, be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. Email us at onehitthunderpodcast@gmail.com....
Aug 16, 2023•39 min•Ep. 183
WELL MAYBE you thought this band was someone else. AND MAYBE you’re thinking “didn’t they have a few other hits?” The reality is that while Candlebox did well enough on Alternative Radio to get a main stage slot at Woodstock ’94, they only had one song that charted on the Billboard Hot 100. The powerful demo (yes, DEMO) “Far Behind” became their signature song, launching their debut album to quadruple platinum status. But did WE treat Candlebox bad? Join us and special guest Mike Soboslai to fin...
Aug 09, 2023•48 min•Ep. 182
How in the world are we closing in on 200 episodes without having yet discussed Mazzy Star and their dreamy hit “Fade Into You”? This iconic song is synonymous with the 90s, the soundtrack to millions of flannel laden make-out sessions and the countless broken hearts that followed. Here at One Hit Thunder, we thought it was strange that we never knew the wildly interesting story behind this band, so stay tuned to come out of the Mazzy darkness with us. If you like the show, be sure to rate, revi...
Aug 02, 2023•37 min•Ep. 181
Let’s get this out of the way right now: Melanie is technically a two hit wonder and an influential singer-songwriter powerhouse whose songs have been covered by some of the most beloved artists in music history. Despite all that, the average joe — aka all of us on this podcast — only know “Brand New Key”, the unintentionally sexual song that made a huge impression on many of us thanks to its association with a certain movie character on roller skates. This week, we couldn’t avoid our guest Matt...
Jul 26, 2023•43 min•Ep. 180
Do you remember the 1987 movie Hiding Out, in which Jon Cryer stars as a state’s witness who pretends to be a high school student to avoid getting killed by the mob? Probably not. Chances are that you DO remember the breakout song from the movie though — Pretty Poison’s “Catch Me (I’m Falling)”. This dance-pop hit cracked the Billboard Top 10 and was an MTV staple, but the group never even sniffed the success of this single again. Our Patreon voted for us to discuss this one, and we’d never let ...
Jul 19, 2023•34 min•Ep. 179
In 1997, a slick pop song from a Swedish actor-turned-musician cracked the Top 5 on the Billboard charts, lodging itself firmly onto grocery store and doctor’s office playlists for decades to come. We’re joined this week by One Hit Thunder veteran Paul Menotiades to discuss Eagle-Eye Cherry’s “Save Tonight”. Will Paul be able to stop us from throwing BLUNDER on Eagle-Eye’s very unique name? Stay tuned to find out. If you like the show, be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. Email us at onehitth...
Jul 12, 2023•43 min•Ep. 178
Did Looking Glass pretty much CREATE the yacht rock genre by writing a song about a man choosing his love of the sea over the love of a woman? “Brandy (You’re A Fine Girl)” made it all the way to the top of the Billboard charts in 1972, and the song stayed in the public consciousness ever since…except in the instance of this week’s guest PJ Caruso, who somehow didn’t know this song until he heard it in Guardians of the Galaxy. It’s hard to fathom how this is possible, but we’ll try to figure it ...
Jul 05, 2023•41 min•Ep. 177
The 1983 Albums Fantasy Auction Draft: A Tropical Island Musical Odyssey In a highly anticipated episode of the One Hit Thunder podcast, hosts Chris Fafalios and Matt Kelly, joined by special guests Tony Hartman and Matthew Milligan, embark on an exhilarating fantasy auction draft of albums from the iconic year of 1983. Adding an exciting twist, the stipulation for this episode is that the participants will be given a one-year vacation on a tropical island, where they can bring 20 of their close...
Jun 28, 2023•59 min
In just a few short years, Stacey Q went from riding elephants in the circus to having a Top 5 single on the Billboard charts. The popularity of “Two of Hearts” led to a plethora of television cameos, but unfortunately not another hit song. This week, we explore all things Q to decide if we “beat as one” in our fandom of Stacey. If you like the show, be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. Email us at onehitthunderpodcast@gmail.com. Also, follow us on our social media: Twitter: @1hitthunderpod ...
Jun 21, 2023•45 min•Ep. 176
Synth pioneer Gary Numan was overwhelmingly bashed by critics upon his surge to the top of the UK charts in the early 80s. Music writers may not have been ready for Numan’s futuristic sound, but fans surely were. By the time he decided to take a hiatus from touring, he was doing multiple nights at Wembley Arena, not to mention opening doors for acts such as The Human League, Depeche Mode, and OMD. This week, we’re joined by artist Matt Gondek to dive into all things Numan, especially his new wav...
Jun 14, 2023•51 min•Ep. 175
In the Fall of 1998, Shawn Mullins took the radio waves by storm with “Lullaby” — an unforgettable song about the woes of a young girl in Hollywood. With its spoken word verses and falsetto-laden choruses, the song’s meteoric rise on the charts rivaled the likes of Britney and Celine, cementing itself into our collective subconscious for decades to come. This week, we take a look at Mullins’ career to decide if he really dug his way into our Soul’s Core. If you like the show, be sure to rate, re...
Jun 07, 2023•36 min•Ep. 174
For some people, Thomas Dolby might be considered only a blip on the 80s music radar — the wild-haired, bespectacled Englishman with the song where someone yells “SCIENCE!” The more knowledgable music connoisseurs, however, know very well how much influence this new wave icon had and continues to have on legions of electronic music artists. This week, we’re joined by Huffamoose drummer Erik Johnson to discuss the long-term impact Dolby has had on music, the unforgettable music video for “She Bli...
May 31, 2023•58 min•Ep. 173
Marcy Playground’s “Sex & Candy” was a bonafide hit in 1997, spending an impressive 15 weeks at #1 on the Billboard Modern Rock Songs chart. Unfortunately, they were unable to come anywhere near the success of the song again. If you ask guitarist and vocalist John Wozniak, however, it was never his intention to write hit songs in the first place. This week, we play a game of dodgeball out on the Marcy Playground, as one of us is a fan and the other is not. Who thinks the band is disco super-...
May 24, 2023•41 min•Ep. 172
Calling the Queen of Bubblegum Pop a one hit wonder just feels wrong. To Carly Rae’s cult following, it feels like she has released hit after hit over the years. A quick internet search of her Billboard chart success, however, reveals the shocking truth… “Call Me Maybe” is really her only mainstream hit. Regardless, here at One Hit Thunder, we know that an incredible and prolific career rarely has anything to do with charts, and Carly Rae Jepsen is no exception to that rule. This week, we’re joi...
May 17, 2023•45 min•Ep. 171
Would YOU walk ten miles on your hands and knees? Would YOU wrestle with a lion and a grizzly bear? No? Well, maybe you’re just not TUFF ENUFF for those types of activities. This week, we dive into the 1986 hit from The Fabulous Thunderbirds, a long-running blues band that scored a surprise hit, thanks in part to it being featured in a Michael Keaton film. The song has since been woven into the soundtracks of our lives, often being used in commercials, movies, TV shows, and blooper reels. And no...
May 10, 2023•40 min•Ep. 170
At midnight on August 1st of 1981, MTV hit the airwaves. After an astronaut planted an MTV flag on the moon, viewers were immediately greeted by the opening notes of The Buggles’ prophetic anthem “Video Killed the Radio Star”. Today, we are joined by music critic and On A Related Note co-host Chris Dalla Riva to discuss this historic song, and if the pictures that came actually DID break his heart. If you like the show, be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. Email us at onehitthunderpodcast@gma...
May 03, 2023•52 min•Ep. 169
Filmmaker, director, and Valencia guitarist Brendan Walter was one of thirty-two students sued by the RIAA for downloading music while he was attending Drexel University, and we have to wonder if one of the songs he LimeWired was the 1996 Donna Lewis pop gem “I Love You Always Forever”. This Welsh artist took a nursery rhyme chorus and made Billboard history, which was clearly a magical time full of exotic sweetness that made an impact on Brendan as he laid under a blue sky with pure white stars...
Apr 26, 2023•53 min•Ep. 168
Last week, we talked about kissing the rain. This week, The Weather Girls are letting us know that the rain is actually MEN! Our Patreon members voted that we should discuss this early 80s gay anthem, and we couldn’t wait to do so. Will we throw thunder on this duo that was formerly known as Two Tons O’ Fun? Stay tuned to find out how we feel about the powerful voices that brought us “It’s Raining Men”! If you like the show, be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. Email us at onehitthunderpodcas...
Apr 19, 2023•32 min•Ep. 167
If not for a problematic movie trailer, this week’s guest would have entirely forgotten the existence of a massive 1997 single from Billie Myers. This hit exploded onto the radio — perhaps from being utilized in the second season of Dawson’s Creek — before it quickly fell off the charts and disappeared. In this episode, filmmaker and Horror Movie Night co-host Kyle Kuchta asks us ALL to “Kiss the Rain”! Donate to Kyle's Seed & Spark Campaign: https://seedandspark.com/fund/the-wound-within#st...
Apr 12, 2023•48 min•Ep. 166
In 1991, Extreme released “More Than Words”, an acoustic love ballad unlike any of the band’s previous output. Although A&M Records didn’t want to release the song as a single, the band’s insistence paid off. The song shot to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, and presumably resulted in a lot of babies named Nuno in years to come. This week, we’re joined by singer-songwriter Allie Goertz, and she’ll tell us how she feels (and if her love for Extreme is real!) Make sure to donate to Allie's Kicksta...
Apr 06, 2023•54 min•Ep. 165
This week, Chris and Matt are joined by frequent One Hit Thunder guests Matthew Milligan and Tony Hartman for the first ever FANTASY AUCTION DRAFT on the show! The guys were each allotted 100 THUNDER BUCKS to try to outbid the other guys in an attempt to create the ULTIMATE 1993 album collection. In a year that includes landmark releases from artists such as Nirvana, Wu-Tang Clan, Björk, Snoop Dogg, and Radiohead, the competition is FIERCE. Who will emerge with the best set of albums? Tune in to...
Mar 29, 2023•54 min
Never have our minds been as blown on One Hit Thunder as when we dove into the life and career of Michael Penn. From his famous siblings to his work on landmark films, Michael’s story couldn’t be further from the norm. But don’t even THINK about throwing the “nepotism” accusation around here…Penn is the real deal. This week, we dive into his catalog and discover that it’s NO MYTH that Michael Penn is undeniable thunder. If you like the show, be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. Email us at on...
Mar 22, 2023•35 min•Ep. 164
