Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia

Slate Podcasts

What makes a song a smash? Talent? Luck? Timing? All that—and more. Chris Molanphy, pop-chart analyst and author of Slate’s “Why Is This Song No. 1?” series, tells tales from a half-century of chart history. Through storytelling, trivia and song snippets, Chris dissects how that song you love—or hate—dominated the airwaves, made its way to the top of the charts and shaped your memories forever.

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20 episodes
Updated July 25

Episodes20

Newest first

The Run This Town Edition
Jay-Z may have created a Blueprint for rap, but female collaborators were key to Hova’s path to the top of the charts.
July 25 · 39 min
The Chart Side of the Moon Edition
Pink Floyd’s deathless album has spent nearly a thousand weeks on the charts—and half a century in the hearts of high-school stoners.
July 16 · 57 min
Don’t Fear the Repeat Edition
Does lightning strike twice on the pop charts? Yes, but only for the luckiest and most patient—the two-hit wonders.
June 27 · 52 min
More Than a Feeling Edition
What is a power ballad? The chart-dominating, climaxing, cringy mini-melodramas go back further than you think—and don’t always involve spandex.
June 13 · 50 min
Near-Miss Hits: ’70s Edition
The cruelest numbers on the charts are No. 2, No. 11, and No. 41—but some hits that come up short wind up legendary.
May 30 · 35 min
Dancing With Himself Edition
Billy Idol reinvented punk for the MTV era, then clawed his way to the top of the charts by trying on multiple genres.
May 15 · 44 min
Introducing History Daily: "The Launch of MTV"
From host Lindsay Graham of American History Tellers and American Scandal
April 24 · 17 min
The Queen of Disco Edition Part 2 (Encore)
Donna Summer set chart benchmarks and managed to stay relevant for more than three decades. Why didn’t she get more respect from the rock establishment?
April 24 · 41 min
The Queen of Disco Edition Part 1 (Encore)
Donna Summer set chart benchmarks and managed to stay relevant for more than three decades. Why didn’t she get more respect from the rock establishment?
April 10 · 31 min
Feet on the Ground, Reaching for the Stars Edition Part 2
For Hit Parade’s 100th episode, Chris reflects on the nature of chart fandom—and salutes the countdown king.
March 27 · 52 min
Feet on the Ground, Reaching for the Stars Edition Part 1
For Hit Parade’s 100th episode, Chris reflects on the nature of chart fandom—and salutes the countdown king.
March 21 · 56 min
Country Roads and Summer Nights Edition Part 2
Before Grease and the Muppets, John Denver and Olivia Newton-John defined country-pop crossover in the 1970s.
February 27 · 55 min
Country Roads and Summer Nights Edition Part 1
Before Grease and the Muppets, John Denver and Olivia Newton-John defined country-pop crossover in the 1970s
February 14 · 1 hr 4 min
Starman to Blackstar Edition Part 2
How rock’s freakiest alien built his pop stardom through a series of ch-ch-ch-changes.
January 30 · 57 min
Starman to Blackstar Edition Part 1
How rock’s freakiest alien built his pop stardom through a series of ch-ch-ch-changes.
January 17 · 1 hr 4 min
The Bridge: Slate’s Music Club 2025
Our critics’ roundtable recaps how Bad Bunny became imperial, Geese took flight and a trio of Demon Hunters made K-pop golden.
Dec 26, 2025 · 40 min
Hooked to the Silver Screen Edition Part 2
A century of hit soundtracks—after Barbie, Wicked and KPop Demon Hunters, is movie music making a chart comeback?
Dec 26, 2025 · 52 min
Hooked to the Silver Screen Edition Part 1
A century of hit soundtracks—after Barbie, Wicked and KPop Demon Hunters, is movie music making a chart comeback?
Dec 12, 2025 · 1 hr 6 min
Pour Some Sugar on Me Edition Part 2
Mutt Lange built the sound of arena rock—then ruled the charts for decades.
Nov 28, 2025 · 53 min
Pour Some Sugar on Me Edition Part 1
Mutt Lange built the sound of arena rock—then ruled the charts for decades.
Nov 15, 2025 · 59 min

Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia

The Run This Town Edition

The Chart Side of the Moon Edition

Don’t Fear the Repeat Edition

More Than a Feeling Edition

Near-Miss Hits: ’70s Edition

Dancing With Himself Edition

Introducing History Daily: "The Launch of MTV"

The Queen of Disco Edition Part 2 (Encore)

The Queen of Disco Edition Part 1 (Encore)

Feet on the Ground, Reaching for the Stars Edition Part 2

Feet on the Ground, Reaching for the Stars Edition Part 1

Country Roads and Summer Nights Edition Part 2

Country Roads and Summer Nights Edition Part 1

Starman to Blackstar Edition Part 2

Starman to Blackstar Edition Part 1

The Bridge: Slate’s Music Club 2025

Hooked to the Silver Screen Edition Part 2

Hooked to the Silver Screen Edition Part 1

Pour Some Sugar on Me Edition Part 2

Pour Some Sugar on Me Edition Part 1