Music Is The Glue Podcast

Step back into the neon-soaked world of the 1980s as we celebrate the 40th anniversary of Miami Vice, the revolutionary TV show that forever changed how music and visuals work together in storytelling. From its $2 million per episode budget to its strict "no earth tones" color palette, this cultural phenomenon didn't just entertain – it transformed fashion, music integration, and television production in ways we still see today. The heart of our conversation explores how Miami Vice pioneered the use of popular music in television, creating what were essentially music videos within episodes. That iconic scene with Crockett and Tubbs dr...

Tony and Smitty return from their extended summer break with refreshed energy and a treasure trove of musical revelations that span decades and genres. The episode opens with a heartfelt dedication to Smitty's beloved dog, Miles Davis Smith, before diving into their signature "A to Z" segment featuring the letter "I." Smitty showcases the Isley Brothers' landmark 1975 album "The Heat Is On" – surprisingly their only Billboard 200 #1 despite their legendary status. The Ohio natives' masterful blend of funk anthems and sensual ballads continues influencing artists today through extensive sampling. Meanwhile, Tony reveals his lifelong connection to Iron Maiden, explaining how th...

After Tony & Smitty's regular feature, A To Z, where one host picks a CLASSIC Greatest Hits collection, and the other reveals a recent (for him) discovery of a more modern group, the hosts welcome 2 great guests (their first) to talk about an artist you probably haven't heard of, but will be a fan of by the time its done. Graham Wallace had a vision when founding Continued Sound Records - to rescue incredible music from obscurity. Ben Takis had a mission - to preserve his stepfather's musical legacy. When these two forces combined, magic happened. Listening to Kip Carmen...

When a Scottish band declared they "couldn't give a toss about teenage American school kids," they nearly missed recording what would become their defining anthem. The story behind the band's reluctant path to recording the song forms the captivating centerpiece of this episode, revealing how a wife's crucial advice transformed music history.

Tony and Smitty start by exploring a letter "G" in their record collections, unearthing fascinating tales along the way. Tony introduces an artist whose 1967 hit broke Beatles' records before she mysteriously vanished from public life for over 40 years. Meanwhile, Smitty connects his G pick to...

Have you ever wondered how tragedy can inspire art that transcends decades? In this episode, we journey through one of America's darkest chapters that unexpectedly sparked musical innovation, transforming grief into creative genius. We kick things off with our A to Z segment, letter F, where Smitty introduces The Foreign Exchange, revealing how their groundbreaking debut album "Connected" was created entirely through transatlantic digital exchanges between North Carolina and the Netherlands—one of music's first truly remote collaborations. Tony counters with another North Carolina band, exploring how their unconventional approach stood apart from guitar-heavy contemporaries of the 90s. Along th...

Ever wonder how a broken rib led to one of the most iconic songs of the 1980s? The story behind that song is just one of the fascinating revelations in this episode as we dive deep into the soundtrack that dominated the charts for an incredible 10-week run. Beyond just being a collection of songs for a movie about rebellious dancing teens, this soundtrack produced six Top 40 hits and launched careers—all inspired by a real Oklahoma town that had banned dancing since 1898!

We pull back the curtain on the casting process that almost saw Tom Cruise or...

The greatest hip-hop group of all time? That's a bold claim worth exploring. In this episode, Tony and Smitty dive deep into A Tribe Called Quest's groundbreaking 1990 debut album "People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm," examining how it revolutionized hip-hop with its jazz-infused production and laid-back approach.

When Q-Tip, Phife Dawg, Ali Shaheed Muhammad, and Jarobi White burst onto the scene from Queens, New York, the hip-hop landscape was dominated by aggressive sounds from artists like Public Enemy and Ice Cube. What made Tribe different was their willingness to venture into uncharted territory, creating a...

"Music is the Glue" isn't just a podcast title – it's a philosophy that guides Tony and Smitty through this engaging exploration of how melodies and rhythms connect us, even when everything else threatens to pull us apart. Their infectious enthusiasm for vinyl treasures kicks off with tales of recent record store hauls, from Miles Davis to MF Doom, showcasing the hosts' eclectic tastes.

The episode truly shines during their fascinating deep dive into Teddy Pendergrass, soul music's powerhouse vocalist whose story rivals any Hollywood drama. From his humble beginnings as a drummer for Harold Melvin and the Bl...

A wall between two musical worlds came crashing down in 1986 when Run-DMC and Aerosmith joined forces for "Walk This Way," forever altering the landscape of American music. Tony and Smitty take listeners back to this pivotal moment when a struggling rock band met an ascending rap group, creating a collaboration that would save one career while launching another into the mainstream.

Before diving into this genre-defining partnership, we kick things off with our A to Z segment featuring Babyface's groundbreaking debut album "Tender Lover" and the Beastie Boys' diamond-certified "Licensed to Ill." Both records represented watershed moments...

Dive into a fresh discussion about the wild world of music collections in our latest episode! When listeners offered feedback on Smitty's disorganized vinyl records, he took it to heart and has embarked on a mission to restore some order to his collection. Join us as we examine the emotional connections we have with our records and explore what it means to cherish and organize our music.

We introduce our fun “A to Z” segment, featuring 2 VERY different artists. See what we bring to the table from our respective collections. Next, we take a Deep Dive into the...

Tony & Smitty are lifelong music lovers and have been collecting vinyl records for years. They decided to start a podcast to talk about music & how it can bring us all together when nothing else can. In this episode, the guys simply introduce themselves, share some personal history & music favorites, and give a sneak peek of what to expect from the show.

Check us out to us on social media!

Your hosts: https://www.instagram.com/tmoney1968/ & https://www.instagram.com/smittys_soul_shack/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musicisthegluepodcast/

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