Robert Margouleff Shapes Sounds

Robert Margouleff Shapes Sounds

Author: Dave Sloan and Holly Cantos - 80s Music Podcast May 29, 2026 Duration: 55:51
In the late 1960s, pioneering electronic musician Robert Margouleff and his musical partner Malcolm Cecil built something unlike anything the world had heard: TONTO — The Original New Timbral Orchestra — a sprawling, one-of-a-kind synthesizer system that would go on to reshape the sound of popular music for decades to come. A Grammy winner for his work on Stevie Wonder's Innervisions, Robert joins us in studio on the What Difference Does It Make Podcast to share the stories behind one of the most creative partnerships in music history. He takes us inside the making of Stevie's most celebrated run of records — Music of My Mind, Talking Book, Innervisions, and Fulfillingness' First Finale — and reveals how TONTO's revolutionary sonic palette helped define that era. He also produced Devo's commercial breakthrough Freedom of Choice, one of the defining 80s music albums that helped bring synth-driven pop to the mainstream, and collaborated with Billy Preston and The Isley Brothers, cementing his place as one of the most influential figures behind the boards of his generation. It's all captured in his memoir, Shaping Sounds: Stevie Wonder, Devo, The Synth Revolution And My Life Behind The Music — and today, he's here to bring it to life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For anyone who lived through it, or for those who just love the sounds that defined it, the 1980s were a musical lightning strike. The (Mostly) 80s Music Podcast: What Difference Does It Make? is a deep, personal excavation of that era, hosted by Dave Sloan and Holly Cantos. This isn't a simple nostalgia trip or a countdown of chart-toppers. Instead, Dave and Holly use their genuine expertise and passion to guide conversations with the very people who created the decade's soundtrack. You'll hear directly from the artists, producers, engineers, and label insiders, getting the stories behind the songs that you won't find in a standard biography. Each episode feels like an intimate backstage pass, uncovering the creative decisions, the industry shifts, and the personal anecdotes that explain why this music still resonates so powerfully today. The podcast thrives on specificity-maybe one week features a synth-pop pioneer explaining the gear behind their iconic sound, while another sits down with a session musician who played on a dozen classic albums. It’s a celebration of craft and context, asking and answering the question embedded in its title: what difference did these people and their work truly make? Listening feels like joining a detailed, enthusiastic conversation between friends who just happen to have incredible guests. The result is a richly layered portrait of a decade, built one fascinating story at a time.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

A (Mostly) 80s Music Podcast: What Difference Does It Make?
Podcast Episodes
Paul Myers and John Candy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:41
Paul Myers has just completed his Canadian trilogy. Previously, he authored the definitive biographies on Barenaked Ladies and Kids In The Hall. He now takes on one of the most popular Canadians ever, with his latest boo…
Thanksgiving Music Favorites [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:10
We talk turkey....and pie...and candy and occasionally about songs that make us think about Thanksgiving. This Thanksgiving episode from 2018 reminds us of how fortunate we are to have food, friends and music in our live…
Russell Hitchcock Gives Us Fifty Years of Air Supply [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:16
Russell Hitchcock, the legendary lead singer of Air Supply, is having quite a moment. With over 100 million records sold worldwide, the band is soon to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and an Air Supply feat…
Nöthin' But A Good Time: The '80s Hard Rock Explosion [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:11:46
Thanks in small part to the band Spinal Tap, November 11 (11/11, get it?), has been decreed National Metal Day. To honor this majestic day we present to you, Nöthin' But A Good Time: The Uncensored History of the '80s Ha…
Halloween Music Remastered 80s style [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:43
It's not a repeat if you haven't heard it before, so this is the perfect time to revisit Dave's favorite holiday and the one Holly tolerates because candy is involved. We talk about our favorite Halloween songs and movie…
Eric Vetro Knows How To Sing Like The Stars [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:05
Eric Vetro is a true Hollywood story with a twist. A small town boy from Gloversville, New York has big Hollywood dreams to sing. The twist is that he does not become a star, but he now trains the biggest Hollywood stars…
Warren Zanes Delivers Us To Nebraska [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:49
Warren Zanes' recent career trajectory has landed him in Nebraska…specifically, Bruce Springsteen's 1982 album, Nebraska. Warren’s book, Deliver Me from Nowhere: The Making of Bruce Springsteen's Nebraska, was released i…
Rain Parade Have A Crashing Dream [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:52
Matt Piucci and Steven Roback from Rain Parade join the podcast to celebrate the reissue of their second album, Crashing Dream, which is loaded with extras and live tracks. We chat with Matt and Steven about the origins…
Moon Unit Teas Up KROQ 80s Music [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:03
As we conclude our year-long look at the music played on radio station KROQ in Los Angeles in 1988, we turn to the one-and- only Moon Unit Zappa. Moon's been busy, as her ⁠Moon Unit Tea⁠ business is thriving, and her mem…