The Chart Side of the Moon Edition
Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon is one of the most played, purchased and praised albums of all time. Yet its enduring legacy might be...
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Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia
What makes a song a smash? Talent? Luck? Timing? All that—and more. Chris Molanphy, pop-chart analyst and author of Slate’s “Why Is This Song No. 1?” series, tells tales from a half-century...
Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia Podcast Guide
Listen to Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia, a Music podcast by Slate Podcasts. Stream 218 episodes in English, follow new audio stories, and play episodes online on Radio and Podcast.
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Browse this show under Music podcasts.
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Episodes
20 of 218 episodesDon’t Fear the Repeat Edition
We’re all familiar with the concept of a one-hit wonder, but what about artists who hit it big a second time—and never again? This week on H...
More Than a Feeling Edition
If you were watching cable TV around midday at the turn of the millennium, there’s a good chance you saw a commercial for a compilation CD c...
Near-Miss Hits: ’70s Edition
In 1979, Sister Sledge changed the sound of wedding receptions forever with “We Are Family.” Believe it or not, the Chic-penned banger never...
Dancing With Himself Edition
The opening riff of “White Wedding” is instantly recognizable—a skittering, syncopated guitar line quickly swallowed by pummeling drums. But...
Introducing History Daily: "The Launch of MTV"
Hit Parade is on a brief break, but if you need a daily dose of fascinating stories, check out History Daily. Host Lindsay Graham (the histo...
The Queen of Disco Edition Part 2 (Encore)
Donna Summer was a hit-maker for two decades and a dance floor deity for more than three. Her collaborations with Giorgio Moroder and Pete B...
The Queen of Disco Edition Part 1 (Encore)
Donna Summer was a hit-maker for two decades and a dance floor deity for more than three. Her collaborations with Giorgio Moroder and Pete B...
Feet on the Ground, Reaching for the Stars Edition Part 2
The 100th episode of Hit Parade has put host Chris Molanphy in a reflective mood. So in Part 2, he unfurls the story of the late, great Amer...
Feet on the Ground, Reaching for the Stars Edition Part 1
To mark Hit Parade’s 100th episode, host Chris Molanphy is doing something he’s never done: He’s going to talk about himself—and just how ne...
Country Roads and Summer Nights Edition Part 2
These days, country and pop acts regularly invade each other’s territory. But in Nashville during the 1970s, “crossover” was a dirty word. T...
Country Roads and Summer Nights Edition Part 1
These days, country and pop acts regularly invade each other’s territory. But in Nashville during the 1970s, “crossover” was a dirty word. T...
Starman to Blackstar Edition Part 2
Chameleon: That’s long been the word used to describe David Bowie, pop music’s shapeshifting extraterrestrial. He shifted personas, genres,...
Starman to Blackstar Edition Part 1
Chameleon: That’s long been the word used to describe David Bowie, pop music’s shapeshifting extraterrestrial. He shifted personas, genres,...
The Bridge: Slate’s Music Club 2025
The Slate Music Club returns, in this special year-end edition of Hit Parade’s The Bridge! Host Chris Molanphy joins New York Times pop musi...
Hooked to the Silver Screen Edition Part 2
If you need confirmation of Hollywood’s vast influence on mass culture, look no further than the pop charts. From the 1937 classic Snow Whit...
Hooked to the Silver Screen Edition Part 1
If you need confirmation of Hollywood’s vast influence on mass culture, look no further than the pop charts. From the 1937 classic Snow Whit...
Pour Some Sugar on Me Edition Part 2
When you hear the term “superproducer,” names like George Martin, Quincy Jones, Max Martin, Pharrell Williams or Missy Elliott might come to...
Pour Some Sugar on Me Edition Part 1
When you hear the term “superproducer,” names like George Martin, Quincy Jones, Max Martin, Pharrell Williams or Missy Elliott might come to...
The Slate Culture Gift Guide
Hark, the holiday season is upon us—and with it, the most solemn of festive traditions: a gift guide! In this video and podcast special, Sla...