Bill and Frank’s Guilt-Free Pleasures

Erasure: "A Little Respect" (A Morning Episode)

In this episode, we record in the early morning to celebrate a song that embodies both power and vulnerability: ‘A Little Respect’ by Erasure. Join us as we embrace the early hour to discuss the profound nature of Erasure's anthemic ode to love, vulnerability, and acceptance. The dynamic between Bell and Clarke, with Clarke’s meticulous compositions (and impressive previous history) complemented by Bell’s soaring vocals (and soulful lyrics), set the stage for a powerful partnership that has spanned nearly four decades. We hope you catch the joyful vibe.
Links:
Official Video
That live version from the early 1990s
Bjorn Again Version
Wheatus Version
Yazoo's Only You
Depeche Mode with a happy Vince ClarkeThank you for being part of our journey! Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, or via email at BandFGuiltFree@gmail.com (we'll start a newsletter if you sent us your email!). We’d love your feedback—please rate and review, and don’t forget to share our podcast with your friends!
Our theme music is by the incredibly talented Ian McGlynn.

In Memoriam: Our friend Kahlin Homes on Sugar Ray's "Fly"

Our friend Kahlin passed away this week and we are heartbroken. To honour her memory, we wanted to do our small part and re-post the episode she did with us from December 2023. This episode was a ton of fun and we hope you can feel it when you listen, too. We also hope you can hear the joy in Kahlin's voice and the laughter that fills the room as she reminisces about what Sugar Ray meant to her grade 6 heart in the late 90s. We love you, Kahlin!

Pat Benatar: "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" (catch the zeitgeist)

We discuss Pat Benatar's memorable anthem "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" and it's unlikely beginnings - at a pillow punching therapy session in Toronto. We also discuss our own misadventures with punching and what it means to be in the cultural zeitgeist. 
Thank you for listening! You can find us on Instagram, Facebook, and our website. You can email us at BandFGuiltFree@gmail.com, too. We'd love to hear from you. Please rate and review us wherever you listen, but more importantly - share our show with your friends!
Our theme music is by the incredibly talented Ian McGlynn
 

Neil Diamond: "Sweet Caroline" (with Dan Ducroix and the Flugelhorn)

"There are two types of people in this world: Those who like Neil Diamond, and those who don't." - Dr. Bob Wiley, author of the renowned memoir Death Therapy.
As Dr. Bob suggests, you can divide the world into two (hopefully unequal) parts. You’ll find Bill and Frank on the bright side of the world where Neil Diamond is adored. This episode sees the return of Dan Ducroix, who fell in love with the music of Neil Diamond over 25 years ago, leading him for a brief period to emulate the 1970s style of the smouldering version of Neil. He may have abandoned the belt buckles and mutton chops, but not his love for the music of the Jewish Elvis. We celebrate the most ubiquitous (ubonkquitous?) of the Diamond catalogue: "Sweet Caroline." We discuss not only the history of the song, but also reflect on singalong culture and dangers of writing a song inspired by E.T.
Thank you for listening! You can find us on Instagram, Facebook, and our website. You can email us at BandFGuiltFree@gmail.com, too. We'd love to hear from you. Please rate and review us wherever you listen, but more importantly - share our show with your friends!
Our theme music is by the incredibly talented Ian McGlynn
 

The Stampeders: "Sweet City Woman" (Pour Mon Ami)

“Sweet City Woman” is a quintessential Canadian song - it contains both English and French lyrics and it celebrates Toronto while using the language of the countryside. In this week’s episode, Frank attempts (and fails) to rename the podcast, we bring back Mel Bourque to help us understand the French version of the song, and we determine if we have Canadian accents  
Links:
"Official" Video
SCTV Canadian Film
Going Down The Road - Yonge St
Thank you for listening! You can find us on Instagram, Facebook, and our website. You can email us at BandFGuiltFree@gmail.com, too. We'd love to hear from you. Please rate and review us wherever you listen, but more importantly - share our show with your friends!
Our theme music is by the incredibly talented Ian McGlynn

Roy Orbinson: "You Got It" (A voice out of time)

It's hard to believe that this is a song from 1989 as Roy Orbison is an icon from the early days of Rock n' Roll, and his voice sounds just as powerful as it did 30 years before. We are glad to bring this song to you. We hope you (like us) are transcended to a higher plain when you hear his voice!
Official Video
Clips of the recording process of You Got It
You can find us on Instagram, Facebook, and our website. You can email us at BandFGuiltFree@gmail.com, too. We'd love to hear from you. Please rate and review us wherever you listen, but more importantly - share our show with your friends!
Our theme music is by the incredibly talented Ian McGlynn.

The Whispers: "Rock Steady" (with a side of Sun Chips)

There is something thrilling about a long-established band having a hit late in their career. They say pop music is for the youth of the day, so seeing a group of 40-year-olds continue to run with the wildebeests warms the heart. The Whispers proved that they can certainly “Rock Steady” with their younger peers. It also certainly didn’t hurt to be gifted an incredible jam by the soon-to-be legendary songwriting team of Babyface and L.A. Reid. We’re glad you’ve joined us for our celebration of The Whispers legendary hit, “Rock Steady!”
Links:
Official Video
Babyface Demo
Babyface live performance
Babyface's Re-imagined "Rock Steady"
You can find us on Instagram, Facebook, and our website. You can email us at BandFGuiltFree@gmail.com, too. We'd love to hear from you. Please rate and review us wherever you listen, but more importantly - share our show with your friends!
Our theme music is by the incredibly talented Ian McGlynn.

The Cure: "Friday I'm In Love" (Kitch's 20th!)

In today’s milestone episode, we celebrate Dave Kitchen's 20th appearance on Bill and Frank's Guilt-Free Pleasures, featuring The Cure’s iconic “Friday I’m in Love.” We recall the polarizing debates amongst our peers at the high school cafeteria over whether The Cure sold out (they didn't!), and Kitch brings us back to recognizing the unique duality of The Cure, reminding us how the band has regularly oscillated between pop elegance and goth melancholy. (Stay tuned to the very end for a very special version of "A Whole New World" featuring Frank with some backing vocals by Bill.)
Links:
Official Video
Natalie Imbruglia's Version
You can find us on Instagram, Facebook, and our website. You can email us at BandFGuiltFree@gmail.com, too. We'd love to hear from you. Please rate and review us wherever you listen, but more importantly - share our show with your friends!
Our theme music is by the incredibly talented Ian McGlynn.
 

Taylor Dayne: "Love Will Lead You Back" (Maximum Dayne)

In today’s episode, we revisit the 80s pop sensation Taylor Dane and her iconic hit "Love Will Lead You Back." We delve into Dane’s overlooked legacy (seven top 10 hits over two albums!) and explore the emotional power of Frank’s favourite Taylor Dayne song. Even though Bill would have preferred to discuss “Tell it To My Heart” instead, he shares his evolving appreciation for today’s song, while Frank highlights its themes of hope and love's resilience – as well as somehow once again recounting the time he went 4-for-4 from the three-point line during a ninth-grade basketball game. “Love Will Lead You Back” brings back lots of memories and forces us to come to terms with our own relationship breakdowns. Despite all these complicated feelings, love still leads us back to bringing these songs to you each week!
Links:
Official Video
Tig Notaro's story of meeting Taylor Dayne
You can find us on Instagram, Facebook, and our website. You can email us at BandFGuiltFree@gmail.com, too. We'd love to hear from you. Please rate and review us wherever you listen!
Our theme music is by the incredibly talented Ian McGlynn.
 

Glenn Medeiros: "Nothing's Gonna Change My Love For You"

In this week’s episode, we jump into a song that's more than just a nostalgic tune—it's a fascinating slice of pop culture with an equally intriguing backstory. Prepare to delve into “Nothing’s Gonna Change My Love For You,” a hit brought to life by Glenn Medeiros, whose music video might just be one of the most dangerous ever made—a song that sends us spiraling into conversations about love, nostalgia, and the odd memories we have tied to the Muppets.
We would like to also remind listeners just how much we appreciate their support and reaffirm the sentiment of this week’s featured track: that love in all its forms is something to be cherished—and nothing’s going to change that!
Links:
Official Video
You can find us on Instagram, Facebook, and our website. You can email us at BandFGuiltFree@gmail.com, too. We'd love to hear from you. Please rate and review us wherever you listen!
Our theme music is by the incredibly talented Ian McGlynn.