Bill and Frank’s Guilt-Free Pleasures

ABC: ”When Smokey Sings” (We don’t hear violence)

Like ABC, we just couldn't stop talking about the voice of Smokey Robinson during this episode. When we finally do get around to talking about ABC's classic 1987 hit, we are able to finally decipher the lyrics to the song, and it turns out that Martin Fry is not fearing violence when he hears Smokey sing. Frank also brings perhaps our best plot to a Hallmark movie based on "When Smokey Sings." Thanks for listening!
Official Video
Smokey meets ABC
Our awesome mixtape
You can find us on Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, and our website. You can email us at BandFGuiltFree@gmail.com, too. Feel free to rate and review us wherever you listen!
Here is our Spotify playlist featuring every song we've featured.
Our theme music is by the incredibly talented Ian McGlynn.
 

Deep Blue Something: ”Breakfast At Tiffany’s” (A disagreement episode)

We are used to Frank bringing his grouchy pants to the occasional episode, but in a rare moment, it's actually Bill who brings his grievances to the table regarding this week's song choice. Deep Blue Something's (DBS's?) "Breakfast at Tiffany's" means a lot to Frank as it was the soundtrack to his mid-90s self-actualization, but for Bill it was a regular morning aural torture as he toiled away at the shoe store. Tune in to find out if our hosts' friendship can survive this examination of a classic pop tune from the 1995.
Video
Mixtape
You can find us on Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, and our website. You can email us at BandFGuiltFree@gmail.com, too. Feel free to rate and review us wherever you listen!
Here is our Spotify playlist featuring every song we've featured.
Our theme music is by the incredibly talented Ian McGlynn.
 

Def Leppard: ”Photograph” (with Chris Newkirk and Alex Yost of The Julies)

Chris Newkirk and Alex Yost of The Julies bring to us a special guilt-free pleasure for today's episode: Def Leppard's "Photograph." We put on our rock and roll clown faces and dig deep into the images that are evoked by this song both lyrically and musically. The Julies not only help us to understand the technical power of this song as well as its simple magic in making a sparkly and dreamy glam metal tune. 
Official Video
The Julies on Bandcamp
The Julies on Spotify
My Heaven is a Dancefloor music video
Our Photograph Mixtape
You can find us on Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, and our website. You can email us at BandFGuiltFree@gmail.com, too. Feel free to rate and review us wherever you listen!
Here is our Spotify playlist featuring every song we've featured.
Our theme music is by the incredibly talented Ian McGlynn.
 

Guns N’ Roses: ”November Rain”

Grandiose ambition, inflated egos, giant budgets, dangerous behaviour - no, these are not (necessarily) descriptors of our podcast but rather the words one thinks of when Guns N' Roses comes to mind. "November Rain" may be the sound of a band breaking up or simply the sound of Axl Rose's singular creative vision, but it has left an undeniable mark on our culture. Bill and Frank bring our friend Rick back to co-host and we also bring our own complicated relationships to this song. Grab your umbrella because we are about to take you through the cold November Rain!
Official video (viewed over 2 billion times!)
Our sprawling mixtape
Check out this sax cover of the song
You can find us on Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, and our website. You can email us at BandFGuiltFree@gmail.com, too. Feel free to rate and review us wherever you listen!
Here is our Spotify playlist featuring every song we've featured.
Our theme music is by the incredibly talented Ian McGlynn.

Janet Jackson: ”Escapade” (Minneapolis... Let’s Go!

We’ve never been on one, but we’re ready. Until then, we’ll let Janet Jackson take us on an “Escapade”!
Our Awesome Mixtape
Official Video
You can find us on Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, and our website. You can email us at BandFGuiltFree@gmail.com, too. Feel free to rate and review us wherever you listen!
Here is our Spotify playlist featuring every song we've featured.
Our theme music is by the incredibly talented Ian McGlynn.

England Dan and John Ford Coley: ”I’d Really Love To See You Tonight” (They’re not talking about the linen)

England Dan and John Ford Coley could probably only exist in the 70s. Not the most exciting group name, and certainly one of the least exciting album covers we've ever seen. But, oh man - that song. Truth be told, Bill and Frank may not be the most exciting people you've seen, and maybe we can only exist in podcast land for this moment in time. We hope we can make the same impact that England Dan and John  Ford Coley did. Today we celebrate one of the great soft rock hits of the 70s - a song you probably heard many times on the radio growing up but perhaps didn't know who was singing it. We dive into the history of the duo, discuss the power of "I'd Really Love To See You Tonight," and ask ourselves some honest questions of our own past and present romantic lives. 
Links:
Mixtape
Midnight Special Performance
You can find us on Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, and our website. You can email us at BandFGuiltFree@gmail.com, too. Feel free to rate and review us wherever you listen!
Here is our Spotify playlist featuring every song we've featured.
Our theme music is by the incredibly talented Ian McGlynn.

Rockwell: ”Somebody’s Watching Me” (Financial Malfeasance and Not Enjoying Tea)

Frank builds well, Bill maths well, and Rockwell rocks well. Whether you're listening to this before Halloween or after, we hope you enjoy our spooky episode! We cover the history of the song, acknowledge the challenges of following in your father’s footsteps, and discuss the seriousness of financial malfeasance. So sit back, relax, and enjoy your tea as we walk through “Somebody’s Watching Me!”
Official Video
Mixtape
You can find us on Instagram, Facebook, and our website. You can email us at BandFGuiltFree@gmail.com, too. Feel free to rate and review us wherever you listen!
Here is our Spotify playlist featuring every song we've featured.
Our theme music is by the incredibly talented Ian McGlynn.
Creative consulting by Chris Newkirk of The Julies.

Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes: ”(I’ve Had )The Time of My Life” (with Mike Balsom - Confessions of a Wedding DJ)

We have been looking forward to this episode for over a year. Mike Balsom is a Niagara legend who was a wedding DJ in the 80s and 90s. If you were at a reception during those decades, there's a good chance you will have been blessed with his mastery of the two turntables (but no microphone!). He brings to our episode the ultimate wedding dance floor filler song: "(I've Had) The Time of My Life" by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes. This is a landmark episode for us. Sit back and enjoy!
Helpful links:
Mixtape
Official Music Video

Johnny Rivers: ”Swayin’ to the Music (Slow Dancing)”

There are so many Johnny Rivers songs to choose from, but this is our special guilt-free pleasure. Due to it being released in our birth year, we don't have specific memories of how this was perceived when it first hit the radio, but we grew up with this song on - whether it be in the background at a family barbecue or playing in the car radio as we drove with the windows down. We hope this episode brings you back to a wonderful time and we also hope you will have a greater appreciation for the special talent that is Johnny Rivers!
Links:
Music video
Same music video but actually live!
Our mixtape
Thank you for listening! You can find us on Instagram, Facebook, and our website. You can email us at BandFGuiltFree@gmail.com, too. Feel free to rate and review us wherever you get your pods!
Here is our Spotify playlist featuring every song we've featured.
Our theme music is by the incredibly talented Ian McGlynn.
Creative consulting by Chris Newkirk of The Julies.
 

John Farnham: ”You’re The Voice” (Australia’s Unofficial National Anthem)

Frank has been excited to bring this song to the podcast for months! Although it was a significant hit in our home country of Canada in the 80s, it's been largely ignored (until now). For those who don't know yet, this is tune that is going to lift your spirits (and voices!) to the heavens and cause you to work for a positive change in this world. For those who do know, you are most likely from Oceania and you know this as the unofficial national anthem of Australia! Sit back and enjoy our dive in to the world of "You're the Voice" - forget Coldplay, this is the gold standard for whoa-oh-oh songs.
Links:
Hot Rod Riot Scene
Official Music Video
Sadie The Cleaning Lady
Thank you for listening! You can find us on Instagram, Facebook, and our website. You can email us at BandFGuiltFree@gmail.com, too. Feel free to rate and review us wherever you get your pods!
Here is our Spotify playlist featuring every song we've featured.
Our theme music is by the incredibly talented Ian McGlynn.
Creative consulting by Chris Newkirk of The Julies.