Obscure Music History

Looking at music from all angles is our specialty here, and this time we talk to Marc Cook - the producer of Monster Bait's pop punk extravaganza, The Fart Earthquake. What makes a producer tick? An investigation into novelty punk outfit Monster Bait, analysing shock humour, audience boundary‑testing, and the limits of critical goodwill. || This week special guests: Georgia Kirby, Brendan Kennedy, Liz Hayton, Erin Greenway! || Obscure Music History is a podcast investigating historic rarities and B-sides of unpopular music. Produced by Tom Hogan. "The Fart Earthquake", and all music from Obscure Music History, are available on streaming platforms. For more information, visit ObscureMusicHistory.com.

Enigmatic singer-songwriter Joshua Phoenix doesn't only give insight into his process, but also some advice for all young songwriters everywhere. We investigate his natural power over an audience with the live recording of his pop-acoustic ballad, "Then You Called My Name". A look at singer‑songwriter Joshua Phoenix and his emotionally direct single, exploring intimacy, authorship, and early‑2000s acoustic pop traditions. || Obscure Music History is a podcast investigating historic rarities and B-sides of unpopular music. Produced by Tom Hogan. "Then You Called My Name", and all music from Obscure Music History, are available on streaming platforms. For more information, visit ObscureMusicHistory.com.

This week we bring out the most controversial song we could find, due to it's horrific context which requires the use of excessive explicit language and lurid adult content. [WARNING: This episode has a disclaimer.] An account of jazz ensemble Val Dormand Quintet and their stylistically ambiguous recordings, examining how genre instability challenges archival classification. || This week's special guest: Jason L'Ecuyer! With special thanks to Hazel Kitson. || Obscure Music History is a podcast investigating historic rarities and B-sides of unpopular music. And it's a comedy! Produced by Tom Hogan. "Hug Me & Take My Honey", and all music from Obscure Music History, are available on all streaming platforms. For more information, visit ObscureMusicHistory.com.

We pull famous recluse, Rufus Grave, out of their hovel to discuss the moody balladeer's career, with special attention to the turmoil of success in creativity, and a song about an empathetic existential crisis; "No Alms For No Arms". A profile of balladeer Rufus Grave and his 1979 album, considering contradiction, excess, and how commercial failure can outlive commercial intent. || Obscure Music History is a podcast investigating historic rarities and B-sides of unpopular music. Produced by Tom Hogan. "No Alms For No Arms", and all music from Obscure Music History, are available on streaming platforms. For more information, visit ObscureMusicHistory.com

It's our first ever LIVE SHOW!!! The crowd was amazing in the concert hall, and really brought the house down as we interviewed Tommy Hoggins (no relation)about his angry dance soundtrack, "Go Go Go (Dance Dance Dance)"! A retrospective on soundtrack composer Tommy Hoggins and his ubiquitous dance single, investigating how functional pop music achieves cultural persistence. || Obscure Music History is a podcast investigating historic rarities and B-sides of unpopular music. Produced by Tom Hogan. "Go Go Go (Dance Dance Dance)", and all music from Obscure Music History, are available onall streaming platforms. For more information, visit ObscureMusicHistory.com. || You can view the Dance sequence for "Go Go Go (Dance Dance Dance)" at https://youtu.be/KwvdYNmG70A

We welcome back George Greggenmeyer to help solve the mystery of The Swooning's operatic metal prog masterpiece "Boneshaker". Greggenmeyer attacks the song from all angles, but even an academic genius needs to enlist help sometimes. An exploration of cult extreme band The Swooning and their album Boneshaker, tracing the legacy of confrontational noise music at the turn of the millennium. || Obscure Music History is a podcast investigating historic rarities and B-sides of unpopular music. Produced by Tom Hogan. "Boneshaker", and all music from Obscure Music History, are available on all streaming platforms. For more information, visit ObscureMusicHistory.com. || Guest voice and lyrics by Ellie Downing.

A discussion of rap crew K.o.K and their controversial single Pony Time, placing suburban fantasy, revolution imagery, and novelty rap within the mid‑1980s music landscape. The episode provides in-depth insight into the conceptual production, including a rap-genius line-by-line breakdown of Zag-F's opening verse... Don't say we didn't warn you. || Obscure Music History is a podcast investigating historic rarities and B-sides of unpopular music. Produced by Tom Hogan. "Pony Time", and all music from Obscure Music History, is available on all streaming platforms. Subscribe to the podcast from wherever you get your podcasts from! For more information, visit ObscureMusicHistory.com.

We ask charity stadium rock billionaire jerkface Mickey "King" Hickson if everything is really going to be alright, and he tells us: Yes. An investigation into charity‑era optimism Hickson’s 1984 single, examining how goodwill, spectacle, and sincerity converged during the peak of benefit records. || Obscure Music History is a podcast investigating the anthology of rarities and B-sides of unpopular music. Produced by Tom Hogan. "Everything's Gonna Be Alright", and all music from Obscure Music History, are available on all streaming platforms. For more information, visit ObscureMusicHistory.com.