The Mild Mannered Army

The Mild Mannered Army

By paullairdMusicMusic CommentaryMusic History
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The Mild Mannered Army episodes

  • The Mild Mannered Army Episode 27 - Tracks of Our Years 2001

    Welcome back to the MMA.  This episode sees Nick Amies take us back to a pivotal year in his life, 2001.  As ever there are 12 tracks that we discuss as we attempt to make sense of our histories.  This was a year of real change for Nick, in more ways than one.  He shares his personal story and uses the music to soundtrack who he was, where he was, and how he coped.


    Our theme music is Magenta Moon (Part II) by Line Noise and it is used under licence from Free Music Archive.

    We do not own the short music clips in the episode and they should be considered as used under "fair use" classification.

    1 hr 54 min
  • The Mild Mannered Army Episode 26 - Tracks of our Years with Hadley Freeman

    Episode: Hadley Freeman – A Journey Through the Music of 1989

    In this episode of The Mild Mannered Army, host Paul Laird is joined by acclaimed author and journalist Hadley Freeman for a long-form conversation about the music that defined 1989. Known for her witty insights and deep cultural commentary, Hadley takes us on a nostalgic journey through the songs that shaped her world during that transformative year.

    From Madonna’s iconic Like a Prayer to Prince’s eccentric Batdance, from the infectious pop of Boy Meets Girl and Milli Vanilli to the rebellious edge of Guns N’ Roses and Neneh Cherry, this episode revisits the eclectic soundtrack of a year that bridged the '80s and '90s. Together, we explore the stories behind these songs, their cultural significance, and the personal connections that make them timeless.

    Tracks Discussed:
    • Like a Prayer – Madonna
    • Waiting for a Star to Fall – Boy Meets Girl
    • Girl You Know It's True – Milli Vanilli
    • Batdance – Prince
    • You Got It – New Kids on the Block
    • Patience – Guns N’ Roses
    • Buffalo Stance – Neneh Cherry
    • Pictures of You – The Cure
    • We Didn’t Start the Fire – Billy Joel
    • Smooth Criminal – Michael Jackson
    • Stand – REM
      • Links:
      • Hadley Freeman’s books:
        • House of Glass: The Story and Secrets of a Twentieth-Century Jewish Family
        • Life Moves Pretty Fast: The Lessons We Learned from Eighties Movies
        • The Meaning of Sunglasses: And a Guide to Almost All Things Fashionable
        • Paul Laird’s book: The Birth and Impact of Britpop
          • Fair Use Statement:

          This episode features brief audio clips from songs discussed for the purposes of commentary and critique. All music clips are used under fair use for educational and discussion purposes.

          Join us for this vibrant trip down memory lane, celebrating the music of 1989 with one of the sharpest cultural commentators of our time.

          1 hr 44 min
        • The Mild Mannered Army Episode 25 - Tracks of Our Years 1981

          The Mild Mannered Army Podcast – 1981: The Year Pop Exploded

          In this episode, Paul and Nick take a deep dive into the music of 1981—a year that saw the explosion of synth-pop, the rise of the New Romantics, and a blend of post-punk experimentation with mainstream chart success.

          Join us as we share our memories of 1981, a year filled with iconic fashion, unforgettable performances, and groundbreaking music. We explore the tracks and artists that defined the era, from shimmering synth melodies to rebellious rhythms and everything in between.

          Artists Featured:

          Soft Cell, The Human League, The Specials, The Go-Go’s, Duran Duran, Adam and the Ants, U2, Depeche Mode, Heaven 17, Altered Images, Grace Jones, and even Shakin’ Stevens (because no trip to 1981 would be complete without him).

          Expect plenty of nostalgia, debate, and more than a few guilty pleasures as we celebrate one of the most exciting years in pop history.

          Tracks Used:

          We’ve compiled all the music featured in this episode on a Spotify playlist—take a listen and relive the sounds of 1981:
          Spotify Playlist

          Fair Use Statement:

          This podcast may include short clips of music used under the principles of fair use for the purpose of commentary, critique, and education. We respect and celebrate the original artists and encourage listeners to explore and support their work.

          Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review The Mild Mannered Army wherever you listen to podcasts, and follow us on social media for updates on future episodes!

           

          2 hr 1 min
        • The Mild Mannered Army Episode 24 - Tracks of Our Years 1973

          Episode 25 of The Mild Mannered Army is the second in our "Tracks of Our Years" strand.  This week it's my turn to pick twelve songs from a pivotal year in my life - my birth year of 1973.  Join Nick and I as we discuss the songs, the artists, and the memories from that year.


          Theme music is Magenta Moon (Part II) by Line noise from the Free Music Archive.

          You can follow us on X; 

          @TracksOurYears @MildManneredMix

          1 hr 58 min
        • The Mild Mannered Army Episode 23 - Tracks of Our Years 1972

          We're ba-ack.  Join Nick Amies and I as we take a journey through the tracks of our years...the music that was providing the soundtrack to our lives.  In this weeks episode we are going back to 1972 when Mama and Papa Amies welcomed little baby Nick into the world.  Nick has selected 12 tracks he loves from his birth year...join us on this deep dive into an epic year for music.


          Paul Laird is the author of "The Birth and Impact of Britpop" - the definitive story of the Britpop era.  He is also a regular contributor to BBC Radio Scotland on pop culture.  He writes for Our Sound Music.

          https://www.amazon.co.uk/Birth-Impact-Britpop-Mis-Shapes-Scenesters/dp/1399017470/ref=sr_1_1?crid=19QSKQ9DMWWCM&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.xmF5GdAmkTi23Js71kHZFw.IfKiY7vtyJFmf7NkVER8BT8RnqWtIx2KW9sgh7ETqCg&dib_tag=se&keywords=the+birth+and+impact+of+britpop&nsdOptOutParam=true&qid=1727957358&sprefix=the+birth+and+impact+o%2Caps%2C79&sr=8-1


          Nick Amies is a journalist, author, screenwriter, and cultural commentator.  Nick has written books on Oasis, as well as novels set in the nineties "indie" scene.

          https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Nick-Amies/author/B00D85RSQ8?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1727957302&sr=8-1&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

           

          1 hr 27 min
        • The Mild Mannered Army - Inside No.9 (Episode 1)
          Ahoy.  Something a little different...before going ahead and setting up a dedicated podcast for this mad idea I have decided to give a taster on this channel.  I am joined by two Twitter chums to discuss and debate "Inside No.9"; episode by episode.  I hadn't ever seen a single minute of it and they were, at best, casual observers.  Here we are then, three strangers discussing a television show they don't really know anything about for reasons that none of us can really explain.
          1 hr 20 min
        • The Mild Mannered Army Episode 22 - Graeme Armstrong "The Young Team"

          I am joined by author Graeme Armstrong to discuss his debut novel "The Young Team".  Inspired by his own experiences of gang culture in North Lanarkshire Graeme has produced a debut novel that has generated real excitement and that looks set to be viewed as a classic in time.  With themes of family, identity, love, loss and belonging running throughout the tales of life as part of the Young Team this is a book that captures you, excites you, disturbs you and challenges you.  

          47 min
        • The Mild Mannered Army Episode 21 - Rick McMurray (Ash)

          A treat as I am joined, in the Filmhouse bar, by Rick McMurray from Ash to discuss 25 years of...teenage wildlife.  This is a real delight with Rick and I talking Top Trumps, Iron Maiden, the perfect set-list and almost everything else along the way.  Teenage Wildlife is available right now on CD, vinyl and a few limited edition formats of both are still available too.  You know what to do.

          41 min
        • The Mild Mannered Army Episode 20 - In Her Room interview with James Cook

          Former Britpop star James Cook follows up his fantastic memoir "Memory Songs" with a new book that deals with his experience of being the father of a child with non-verbal autism and how music helped him to connect with her.  James is open and honest about his experiences and the things he has learned on his journey.  The book is available from Blink and, right now, we would encourage you to order a copy from your nearest independent book shop.

          41 min
        • The Mild Mannered Army Episode 19 - Stephen Street

          In this episode I am joined by the legendary music producer Stephen Street.  Over his career Stephen has worked with some of the best known, best loved and iconic bands and artists in popular music; The Smiths, The Triffids, Blur, The Cranberries and Sleeper are just a few of those.  Here we discuss all of those bands and Stephen's memories of working with them.  This is a real treat...enjoy it!

          41 min

        About The Mild Mannered Army

        From the publisher's feed

        The Mild Mannered Army podcast invites music lovers to embark on a journey through the soundtracks of our lives. Hosted by authors Paul Laird and Nick Amies, the show delivers deep dives into classic…