In Episode 352 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin explores the “curse” of second live albums, arguing that follow-ups by bands like The Who, Motörhead and Metallica often disappoint due to poor timing, diminished excitement, or messy circumstances compared to their first live releases.

1. The Who – “Who Are You”
2. Motörhead – “Eat the Rich”
3. Metallica – “Fuel”
4. Foghat – “Drivin’ Wheel”
5. Judas Priest – “Love Bites”

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In Episode 351 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin traverses some of rock and metal’s greatest comeback albums, highlighting how artists rebound through critical acclaim, commercial success, adversity, or long absences.

1. Angel Witch – “Witching Hour”
2. Ozzy Osbourne – “Steal Way (The Night)”
3. Uriah Heep – “Too Scared to Run”
4. Kiss – “Young and Wasted”
5. AC/DC – “Are You Ready”

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In Episode 350 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin explores albums recorded in Canada, highlighting how Vancouver studios like Little Mountain became a major destination for international rock bands while Toronto and other Canadian locations hosted surprisingly fewer notable recordings.

1. AC/DC – “Fire Your Guns”
2. Thin Lizzy – “Opium Trail”
3. Budgie – “I’m a Faker Too”
4. Rainbow – “Power”
5. Rush – “Cut to the Chase”

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In Episode 349 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin contrasts his previous celebration of career-defining concert records by spotlighting “live albums that meant little," from messy hybrids and poorly timed releases to reputation-denting misfires that felt unnecessary, undercooked, or simply forgettable within their bands’ catalogs.

1. Ozzy Osbourne – “Symptom of the Universe”
2. Rolling Stones – “Twenty Flight Rock”
3. Rainbow – “Kill the King”
4. The Clash – “I Fought the Law”
5. The Eagles – “The Long Run”

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In Episode 348 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin examines bands like Kiss, Foghat and others whose live albums either broke them commercially, became their bestsellers, defined their reputations, or even marked their creative peak.

1. Kiss – “Strutter”
2. Foghat – “Fool for the City”
3. UFO – “Mother Mary”
4. Pat Travers Band – “Heat in the Street”
5. Peter Frampton – “It’s a Plain Shame”

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In Episode 347 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin explores the intriguing phenomenon of major bands like Rush, Iron Maiden, and Nirvana whose beloved early albums—often packed with staple songs and fan favorites—surprisingly underperformed commercially compared to their later multi-platinum successes.

1. Rush – “Finding My Way”
2. Iron Maiden – “Phantom of the Opera”
3. Cheap Trick – “Hot Love”
4. Nirvana – “Swap Meet”
5. Def Leppard – “It Don’t Matter”

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In Episode 346 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin traces the parallel career arcs of Kate Bush and Peter Gabriel, comparing their conservative early albums, synchronized creative peaks, shared technologies and collaborators, commercial high points, and eventual semi-retirement marked by long gaps, home studios, and artistic mystique.

1. Peter Gabriel – “Modern Love”
2. Kate Bush – “Delius”
3. Peter Gabriel – “Mercy Street”
4. Kate Bush – “Snowed in at Wheeler Street”
5. Peter Gabriel – “Intruder”

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In Episode 345 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin explores surprisingly famous rock stars across metal, prog, and punkrock who—despite major influence, acclaim, and ticket-selling power—never earned a single U.S. gold record.

1. Scorpions – “Top of the Bill”
2. Status Quo – “Down Down”
3. Porcupine Tree – “Shallow”
4. The Replacements – “I Don’t Know”
5. Motörhead – “(Don’t Need) Religion”

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In Episode 344 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin explores how famously British and international bands—from Yes and Black Sabbath to Bowie, Foreigner, and Peter Gabriel—gradually absorbed American members, not to “become American,” but through creative instinct, convenience, touring realities, and fresh energy that subtly reshaped their sound and identity.

1. Yes – “Cut from the Stars”
2. Foreigner – “Lonely Children”
3. Sepultura – “Unconscious”
4. Rainbow – “Freedom Fighter”
5. Peter Gabriel – “The Family and the Fishing Net”

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In Episode 342 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin contemplates the unusual choice of albums where the title track appears last, and examines what that placement says about the songs and albums, using examples from Slayer, Alice in Chains, David Bowie, and more.

1. Slayer – “Seasons in the Abyss”
2. Nazareth – “No Mean City”
3. Alice in Chains – “Black Gives Way to Blue”
4. April Wine – “The Whole World’s Going Crazy”
5. David Bowie – “Heathen (Rays)”

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In Episode 343 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin explores the most surprising and often baffling musical “biggest left turns,” spotlighting bands that radically and unexpectedly reinvented their sound—from punk to prog, metal to synth-pop, and rock to funk—often defying logic, trends, and their own pasts.

1. The Saints – “See You in Paradise”
2. Alice Cooper – “Leather Boots”
3. The Meat Puppets – “Paradise”
4. The Tubes – “Tip of My Tongue”
5. Rush – “Lock and Key”

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