The Hits of ‘87, UK Style

The Hits of ‘87, UK Style

Author: David Yas & Michael ”Milt” Wolfe April 24, 2026 Duration: 1:48:59
Dave and Milt open with banter about expensive VIP options, coffee vs. tea, and then discuss the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame class heavy with British performers (Phil Collins solo, Billy Idol, Oasis, Iron Maiden, Joy Division/New Order, Sade), plus Wu-Tang Clan and Luther Vandross, and hip-hop influence picks like Queen Latifah and MC Lyte. Inspired by the Brit-heavy class, they switch the podcast format to the UK singles chart for week ending 18 April 1987, counting down: “Living in a Box” by Living in a Box, Fine Young Cannibals’ cover of Buzzcocks’ “Ever Fallen in Love,” U2’s “With or Without You,” Terence Trent D’Arby’s “If You Let Me Stay,” Mel and Kim’s “Respectable” (with Mel’s illness and death noted), Janet Jackson’s “Let’s Wait Awhile” (plus an AI cover discussion), Judy Boucher’s “Can’t Be With You Tonight” (Lovers Rock), Club Nouveau’s “Lean on Me,” Madonna’s “La Isla Bonita” (and her British-accent phase), and charity supergroup Ferry Aid’s “Let It Be” for the Herald of Free Enterprise disaster. They name “With or Without You” best, swap out songs for Whitesnake and Bon Jovi, grade the week as mediocre, and note Milt may miss next week due to Jazz Fest in New Orleans.   Topics 00:52 Cold Open British Bits 01:39 Podcast Intro And Coffee Talk 03:32 Hall Of Fame Brits Takeover 08:28 Time Machine To UK 1987 10:45 Number 10 Living In A Box 16:18 Band Name Song Name Tangent 25:08 Number 9 Fine Young Cannibals Cover 34:00 Number 8 U2 With Or Without You 35:57 Bono’s Balancing Act 37:27 With or Without You in TV 38:30 U2 Concert War Stories 41:43 Terrence Trent D’Arby Hype 45:30 Name Change and Fallout 48:10 Mel and Kim UK Pop Factory 52:43 Long Distance Defecation 01:00:06 Janet Jackson and AI Cover 01:08:38 Lovers Rock One Hit Wonder 01:14:00 Lean On Me Remake 01:15:53 Tyson and Don King Story 01:19:48 La Isla Bonita Breakdown 01:23:17 Madonna British Accent Clip 01:26:31 Ferry Aid Let It Be Explained 01:33:28 Charity Singles Then and Now 01:35:53 Top 10 Recap Beatles Voices 01:37:35 Winners and Substitutions 01:46:00 Time Machine Verdict and Wrap

For anyone who’s ever argued about a one-hit wonder or wondered what exactly made a chart-topper tick, there’s PAST 10s: A Top 10 Time Machine-Music of the 70s, 80s and More. Hosts Michael “Milt” Wolfe and David Yas don’t just play the hits; they dig into the actual top ten lists from decades past, serving up a blend of nostalgia and fresh commentary. Each episode is a deep dive into a specific chart, breaking down not just the winners but the curious also-rans and genuine oddities that shared the space. You’ll hear them analyze everything from the undeniable classics to those “how did that get there?” moments, all with a sense of camaraderie and genuine curiosity. While the core of the podcast revolves around the music of the 1970s and 1980s, they happily venture into the 90s and other eras, applying the same formula to themed lists like the greatest cover songs, iconic TV themes, and memorable movie soundtracks. It’s less a lecture and more like eavesdropping on a great conversation between two knowledgeable friends who love to unpack the stories behind the songs. The result is a consistently engaging listen that might make you revisit your old playlists with a new appreciation. Tune in for a weekly dose of musical archaeology that’s as much about the cultural context as it is about the melody.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

PAST 10s: A Top 10 Time Machine - Music of the 70s, 80s and More
Podcast Episodes
The Hits – and the Glitz – of 1979 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:39:30
Milt’s off living his best life at Jazz Fest, so Dave taps in Deirdre McCarthy as guest co-pilot, and—folks—we fire up the time machine to May 5, 1979. It’s Laverne & Shirley on TV, Alien in theaters, The Hitchhiker’s Gu…
The Michael Jackson Deep Dive [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:28:59
Dave and Milt crack open a special Past Tens where the subject is none other than the human moonwalk, Michael Jackson—timed nicely with the looming biopic that’s about to remind everyone just how absurdly dominant this g…
Hits of '82: The Fire & The Fever [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:57:29
Dave and Milt fire up the Top 10 Time Machine and land squarely in April 3, 1982—a week where the Falklands War is just getting started, Space Shuttle Columbia is touching down in the desert like it missed its exit, Mich…
The Best Opening Lines of ’70s Songs [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:45:25
Dave and Milt are doing what they do best: arguing about music like it matters (because it does). This time, they’re counting down their favorite opening lines from 1970s songs — with Milt, naturally, gravitating toward…
The Hits of 1977: Casey Kasem, Eat Your Heart Out [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:04:30
Dave and Milt ride the Past 10s time machine to the week ending March 19, 1977, riffing on questionable water-park hygiene, a 44‑hour hijacking, FDA rules for “mixed nuts,” the Mary Tyler Moore finale giving birth to Thr…
Worst Remakes; Best Sleepers, WTFs & More From 300 Episodes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:40
Dave and Milt (the Chart Meister, not the Chart Master) celebrate what might be their 300th episode—give or take a few missed weeks and some lazy counting—by ditching the usual Billboard time-travel format and revisiting…
Hits of 1984: Here Comes the Rock Again [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:57:17
Dave and Milt jump into the Billboard Rock Tracks chart for the week ending March 10, 1984. They set the scene with Splash, Dallas, and Ed Koch’s Mayor, then count down the rock top 10: Yes “Leave It,” Van Halen “Panama,…
Fame? Fame! Ranking 80s & 90s Stars for the Rock Hall [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:32:57
Dave and Milt open with shout-outs to a five-star review from the mysterious “BeanieGirl6” and an email from listener Jack (now in Houston) defending Edward Bear and sharing trivia about Roberta Flack’s inspiration. They…
Greatest First Lines of ’80s Songs [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:44:06
Dave records an episode of the Past Tens: Top 10 Time Machine podcast without co-host Milt (who is away on a winter trip or something) and brings on his brother Adam Yas as guest co-host. Each present a personal top 10 l…