Bill and Frank’s Guilt-Free Pleasures

Episode

• 
  Roxette: "Joyride" (For Benjamin) 25.07.2026 59mnt

  Hot Tamale Pearson and Cold Fish Huizer are not stealing a car this week, but we are nevertheless taking you on a "Joyride!" Inspired by a sweet love note from songwriter (and vocalist) Per Gessle, "Joyride" represents Roxette at their peak powers: Per’s lyrically surprising verses, Marie Fredriksson’s powerhouse chorus, and a video for the ages. No wonder its namesake album is one of the best selling in Germany’s history. Special thanks to Benjamin for recommending this one. (Sorry it took us so long!) Links Note: We found out after the recording of this episode that there are two different versions of the video. We've included both links below: Original Video Updated Remastered Video Thank you for listening! Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, etc., or send us an email at BandFGuiltFree@gmail.com! We’d love your feedback—please rate and review on the podcast provider of your choice, and don’t forget to share our podcast with your friends! We have lots of episodes - stay awhile and listen to some more ;) Our theme music is by the incredibly talented Ian McGlynn
• 
  Tiffany: "I Think We're Alone Now" (The Dawn of Mall Pop) 18.07.2026 1j

  How has it taken us this long to finally cover Tiffany’s massive number-one hit? Well, here we are! Recorded when she was only 14, this track officially marked the first number-one song by an artist born in the 1970s, ushering in a whole new generation of teen pop royalty. Whether you’re Team Tiffany or Team Debbie, join us as we celebrate the dawn of mall pop. Links: Official Music Video Tiffany on Star Search at 12 years old! Robin Sparkles: "Let's Go To The Mall" Megapythod vs. Gatoroid Full House dance clip Umbrella Academy dance scene Thank you for listening! Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, etc., or send us an email at BandFGuiltFree@gmail.com! We’d love your feedback—please rate and review on the podcast provider of your choice, and don’t forget to share our podcast with your friends! We have lots of episodes - stay awhile and listen to some more ;) Our theme music is by the incredibly talented Ian McGlynn
• 
  En Vogue: "Free Your Mind" (Um-Dahs and Cowbells) 11.07.2026 1j 4mnt

  Who would’ve guessed the R&B queens of En Vogue could rock this hard? But rock hard they do on this track off their sophomore album, proving they were genre-defying powerhouses. We’re diving into the history, the heavy riffs, and the enduring legacy of an anthem whose message still resonates today (unfortunately). Free Your Mind, and the rest will follow! Links: Official Video  Live Performance  Calhoun Tubbs Thank you for listening! Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, etc., or send us an email at BandFGuiltFree@gmail.com! We’d love your feedback—please rate and review on the podcast provider of your choice, and don’t forget to share our podcast with your friends! We have lots of episodes - stay awhile and listen to some more ;) Our theme music is by the incredibly talented Ian McGlynn
• 
  Journey: "Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)" 04.07.2026 1j 19mnt

  There are a lot of different Journey songs that we could have picked, but “Separate Ways” packs a special punch. It is certainly anthemic, but it’s more complicated when considering its musical and lyrical content. And its music video is legendary. Links: Official Video Cillian Murphy reading W.B. Yeats VH1 Behind The Music Thank you for listening! Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, etc., or send us an email at BandFGuiltFree@gmail.com! We’d love your feedback—please rate and review on the podcast provider of your choice, and don’t forget to share our podcast with your friends! We have lots of episodes - stay awhile and listen to some more ;) Our theme music is by the incredibly talented Ian McGlynn
• 
  Celine Dion and Peabo Bryson: "Beauty and the Beast" (with Tabitha VandenEnden) 28.06.2026 1j 34mnt

  Tabitha VandenEnden returns to help us pay tribute to Peabo Bryson and dive deep into the 1991 classic, "Beauty and the Beast." It is quite the journey! Be our guest as we explore the history and analysis of the song, discuss Gaston's false economy, question whether the Beast looked better before the transformation (he does), and see if we can keep this whole episode on the rails. Links: Official Video Dance Scene from the movie Howard trailer Ariana Grande and John Legend Video Dance Scene from Live Action Movie (turn it up - it's low!) Thank you for listening! Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, etc., or send us an email at BandFGuiltFree@gmail.com! We’d love your feedback—please rate and review on the podcast provider of your choice, and don’t forget to share our podcast with your friends! We have lots of episodes - stay awhile and listen to some more ;) Our theme music is by the incredibly talented Ian McGlynn.  
• 
  Chesney Hawkes: "The One and Only" (For Lara) 20.06.2026 1j 7mnt

  This week's episode was a big hit in the UK but not so much in our own continent. Nevertheless, it has endured in our memory and in the the playlist of the cool people we know. One of them is a listener who recommended this song! We take a look at Chesney's life that led him to getting a number one hit at only 19 years of age. We also discuss how this tune helped us accept ourselves, and we hope, dear listener, you will also use this song as your own mantra. Links: UK Video International Video Doc Hollywood Video Doc Hollywood Opening Scene Thank you for listening! Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, etc., or send us an email at BandFGuiltFree@gmail.com! We’d love your feedback—please rate and review on the podcast provider of your choice, and don’t forget to share our podcast with your friends! We have lots of episodes - stay awhile and listen to some more ;) Our theme music is by the incredibly talented Ian McGlynn.
• 
  Cutting Crew: "(I Just) Died In Your Arms Tonight" (with Dave Kitchen) 13.06.2026 1j 15mnt

  Dave Kitchen joins us for a wild episode that involves a go-go gadget trenchcoat, a sorryfans website, la petite morte, journals that should have never been written, and the introduction of a new genre: drama rock.  Links: Official Video (Lesser seen UK Version) Official Video (US Version) Thank you for listening! Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, etc., or send us an email at BandFGuiltFree@gmail.com! We’d love your feedback—please rate and review on the podcast provider of your choice, and don’t forget to share our podcast with your friends! We have lots of episodes - stay awhile and listen to some more ;) Our theme music is by the incredibly talented Ian McGlynn.
• 
  Parachute Club: "Rise Up" (Share your power) 06.06.2026 1j 2mnt

  This week we are bringing you one of the key bands to come out of the Queen West music scene. They may not have had quite the same success outside of Canada, but that doesn't diminish the quality of their music. So if you've never heard The Parachute Club, prepare to be lifted up. If you have heard the band, then you know that you're in for a good time! Despite the meanness of Bryan Adams manager, we are all going to Rise Up for an incredible guilt-free pleasure! Links Official Video McCain Commercial Behind the Vinyl with Lorraine Segato Thank you for listening! Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, etc., or send us an email at BandFGuiltFree@gmail.com! We’d love your feedback—please rate and review on the podcast provider of your choice, and don’t forget to share our podcast with your friends! We have lots of episodes - stay awhile and listen to some more ;) Our theme music is by the incredibly talented Ian McGlynn.
• 
  Chicago: "Look Away" (Thumbs Up!) 30.05.2026 1j 14mnt

  Get ready to embrace your inner 80s ballad lover as we take a deep dive into the history, production, and legacy of Chicago's massive 1988 single, "Look Away." We unpack the details of how Diane Warren's heartbreak anthem climbed its way to number one but also set the stage for our own relationship woes. Come join us, open your hearts, and get guilt-free! Links: Original Video Diane Warren live version (with "I Get Weak") Thank you for listening! Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, etc., or send us an email at BandFGuiltFree@gmail.com! We’d love your feedback—please rate and review on the podcast provider of your choice, and don’t forget to share our podcast with your friends! We have lots of episodes - stay awhile and listen to some more ;) Our theme music is by the incredibly talented Ian McGlynn.
• 
  Kenny Rogers: "The Gambler" (Don Schlitz cracks an eggs of knowledge on our heads) 24.05.2026 1j 16mnt

  It is hard to imagine a time when "You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em" didn't exist. We are are now considering (especially with the advent of quantum mechanics) that perhaps it has existed for time eternal. There is so much to discuss with Kenny Rogers' "The Gambler." There's the story of its writing (rest in peace, Don Schlitz). There's many versions. There's the dead muppet (!). There's the punchouts in all those TV movies. And there's the many lessons to be found in the lyrics. Join us as we work through these and so much more in what we feel is one of the greatest songs of all time. Links: Original Video Hee Haw Version Muppet Version Lionel and Kenny Gambler 3 punchout Coward of the County fight scene Thank you for listening! Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, etc., or send us an email at BandFGuiltFree@gmail.com! We’d love your feedback—please rate and review on the podcast provider of your choice, and don’t forget to share our podcast with your friends! We have lots of episodes - stay awhile and listen to some more ;) Our theme music is by the incredibly talented Ian McGlynn.    
• 
  Kim Carnes: "Betty Davis Eyes" (not the boogie-woogie version)Links 16.05.2026 56mnt

  This song knows how to make podcast pros like us blush. "Betty Davis Eyes" was a gigantic hit when it arrived in 1981. We discuss it's history, its legacy, and our varying degrees of comfort with the subject matter. Links: Video Thank you for listening! Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, etc., or send us an email at BandFGuiltFree@gmail.com! We’d love your feedback—please rate and review on the podcast provider of your choice, and don’t forget to share our podcast with your friends! We have lots of episodes - stay awhile and listen to some more ;) Our theme music is by the incredibly talented Ian McGlynn.
• 
  Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warnes: "Up Where We Belong" (Honey & Vinegar) 09.05.2026 1j 11mnt

  Like Richard Gere and Debra Winger's characters in "An Officer and a Gentleman", "Up Where We Belong" had to persevere against the odds to become the massive hit that it is. We discuss Joe Cocker's redemption, Jennifer Warnes selflessness, the power of a "Sloppy Joe" piano, and so much more. Links: Still Standing Here Today Grammy Performance Official Video Academy Award Performance 1992 Performance Final Performance Thank you for listening! Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, etc., or send us an email at BandFGuiltFree@gmail.com! We’d love your feedback—please rate and review on the podcast provider of your choice, and don’t forget to share our podcast with your friends! We have lots of episodes - stay awhile and listen to some more ;) Our theme music is by the incredibly talented Ian McGlynn.
• 
  Whitesnake: "Here I Go Again" (Fancy Tough Guy Music) 02.05.2026 1j 1mnt

  We finally delve into the iconic rock anthem "Here I Go Again" by Whitesnake, a song that has a far more interesting background than neither of us could have imagined. Despite Robert Plant’s insistence that David Coverdale should be called David “Cover singer,” this huge hit is major part of rock n’ roll and music video history – and yes, we will be talking about Tawny Kitaen, too. Like Bill’s calculus class, this episode features a lot of tangents and as Holden Caulfield says, the digressions can be the most interesting parts. This recording was a lot of fun for us. We hope you enjoy it as much as we did! Videos links: Original Version 87 Version Thank you for listening! Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, etc., or send us an email at BandFGuiltFree@gmail.com! We’d love your feedback—please rate and review on the podcast provider of your choice, and don’t forget to share our podcast with your friends! We have lots of episodes - stay awhile and listen to some more ;) Our theme music is by the incredibly talented Ian McGlynn.
• 
  The Traveling Wilburys: "Handle With Care" (In memory of Frank's computer screen) 25.04.2026 58mnt

  The greatest supergroup EVER! We discuss how it all came together and why this song means so much to us still today. Links: Official Video Concert for George Version The True History of The Traveling Wilburys Thank you for listening! Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, etc., or send us an email at BandFGuiltFree@gmail.com! We’d love your feedback—please rate and review on the podcast provider of your choice, and don’t forget to share our podcast with your friends! We have lots of episodes - stay awhile and listen to some more ;) Our theme music is by the incredibly talented Ian McGlynn.
• 
  Yvonne Keeley & Scott Fitzgerald & James Cromwell: "If I Had Words" (from "Babe") 18.04.2026 55mnt

  This one is a special one for Bill. We hope you enjoy our trip through If I Had Words, beginning with Camille Saint-Saëns' (Organ) Symphony No. 3 in 1886 and arriving at the movie "Babe" in 1995.   Yvonne Keeley & Scott Fitzgerald Video James Cromwell Version Mice Version Thank you for listening! Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, etc., or send us an email at BandFGuiltFree@gmail.com! We’d love your feedback—please rate and review on the podcast provider of your choice, and don’t forget to share our podcast with your friends! We have lots of episodes - stay awhile and listen to some more ;) Our theme music is by the incredibly talented Ian McGlynn.
• 
  Lionel Richie: "Hello" (He starts with "I Love You") 11.04.2026 1j 6mnt

  Only Lionel could lead with "I love you" when finding the girl of his dreams. We discuss why he can pull this off and why "Hello" is so amazing. We also do so much more! Get ready for an emotional ride.  Links: The Number Ones by Tom Briehan The Epic Music Video Singing with Jimmy Fallon Thank you for listening! Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, etc., or send us an email at BandFGuiltFree@gmail.com! We’d love your feedback—please rate and review on the podcast provider of your choice, and don’t forget to share our podcast with your friends! We have lots of episodes - stay awhile and listen to some more ;) Our theme music is by the incredibly talented Ian McGlynn.
• 
  Calloway: "I Wanna Be Rich" (and have just a little love, peace and happiness) 04.04.2026 55mnt

  It's refreshing to hear the bold honesty of Calloway. What do they want? They want to be rich! (And also for/full of love, peace, and happiness.) For this episode, we discuss money, lots and lots of money, we explore some incredible categories (the Hallmark movie is back!), and we also dive into the history of Calloway. From what we've learned, they got their wish in the end. Links:   Official Video In Living Color Version New Version Flute Edit Thank you for listening! Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, etc., or send us an email at BandFGuiltFree@gmail.com! We’d love your feedback—please rate and review, and don’t forget to share our podcast with your friends! Our platonic love theme music is by the incredibly talented Ian McGlynn.
• 
  David Foster: "Love Theme from St. Elmo's Fire" (from a Ski Movie Villain) 28.03.2026 1j

  We’ve never tried this before, but we’re going for it: today’s song is an instrumental. We kept a slight safety net, since a version with lyrics does exist, but the 'Love Theme from St. Elmo’s Fire' is best known for the way its keys, synths, and sax evoke their own kind of poetry. Join us for a journey involving dewy meadows, aggressive unicorns, and ski movie villains. Buckle up, friends. Link:  Promotional Video Thank you for listening! Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, etc., or send us an email at BandFGuiltFree@gmail.com! We’d love your feedback—please rate and review, and don’t forget to share our podcast with your friends! Our platonic love theme music is by the incredibly talented Ian McGlynn.
• 
  Joe Jackson: "Steppin' Out" (with Dave Kitchen) 21.03.2026 1j 10mnt

  Dave Kitchen brings us what he feels to be a "quintessential guilt-free pleasure." Joe Jackson's "Steppin' Out" is undeniably of its time, but what a glorious time that was. We discuss the backstory of the song as well give a close reading of its lyrics. We also discuss the New York City of 1982, which is nearly a world away from the NYC of today. Be prepared to be transported back to another time as we step out into the night! Links: Music Video Live version with original drum machine Thank you for listening! Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, etc., or send us an email at BandFGuiltFree@gmail.com! 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.
• 
  Lou Bega: "Mambo No. 5" (Hi Monica!) 14.03.2026 55mnt

  This is a big moment for Frank - he's been wanting to do Lou Bega's giant signature tune for a long time. Bill isn't nearly as enthused, but this is not Hate Month, and so it's time to let a little bit of Angela, Pamela, Sandra, Rita, Monica, Erica, Tina, Sandra, Mary, and Jessica into our lives. Ladies and gentleman: here is our episode on "Mambo No. 5!" Link: Official Video Thank you for listening! Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, etc., or send us an email at BandFGuiltFree@gmail.com! 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.