Toronto Mike'd: The Official Toronto Mike Podcast - The Contest: Toronto Mike'd #950

Episode Date: November 17, 2021

Mike is joined by five FOTMs, each going to bat for a year they deem to be the best in recorded music history. Judge Beck presides.

Toronto Mike is brought to you by the Yes, We Are Open podcast, a Moneris podcast production telling the stories of Canadian small businesses and their perseverance in the face of overwhelming adversity. Subscribe to this podcast at yesweareopenpodcast.com. Welcome to episode 950 of Toronto Mic'd. Proudly brought to you by Great Lakes Brewery. A fiercely independent craft brewery who believes in supporting communities, good times and brewing amazing beer. Order online for free local home delivery in the GTA. Chef Drop. Access top chef and restaurant prepared meal kits shipped across Southern Ontario.

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And Mike Majeski of Remax Specialist Majeski Group, who's ripping up the GTA real estate scene. Learn more at realestatelove.ca. I'm Mike from torontomike.com. And joining me this week are a number of FOTMs as we debate the best year in music. Welcome FOTMs. Thank you very much.

Time for applause. Thank you for having us. I'll insert it in post here. Let's okay, one by one, because this is an audio medium here. Who do I begin with? Let's begin with the judge, and then I'll speak to the judge about exactly what is the premise, what exactly is the purpose of this special episode 950 of Toronto Mic'd. Bec, you're our judge today.

I feel very honoured to have been selected for this very important debate. I have big shoes to fill. Lieve Femke has set a high bar for judging. I just hope I can even reach halfway to that bar. Well, Lieve Femke was banned from judging. So if you can make it through without being banned, you've won. Excellent. I will do my best. Hopefully that doesn't mean mike has to win

the bar is very low uh is what we're saying here so beck we look forward to uh your contributions tonight and at the end of this i don't know 60 to 90 minutes uh you're going to announce a winner one of us and i'm one of them i should point out so i'm an fotm as well so we each are we're going to introduce and we're going to learn the years we're all representing but we're going to basically come to the table and go to bat for a year that we deem the best in recorded music so these are the years in which the best albums were released do i have that right, Beck? Yes, absolutely. Okay, so without further ado, let's go in chronological order with the intros and then we'll jump right into this. I'll also point out to the listenership

that not only will these FOTMs be defending their year, but then they get to throw to a song that was released in their year and we get to enjoy that jam together. So we're going to hear at least six good jams here tonight. All right. In fact, I think this gentleman. Actually, I'm going to save this for when he actually does it.

But let's just meet the man. This is the VP of sales. VP of sales, how are you doing, buddy? I am good. How are you? Oh, those pipes. I'm feeling insecure already. What a set of pipes.

Okay. What year are you going to bat for tonight? I am covering the year 1971. 1971. Okay. Now I have more to say about that. And that's 50 years ago this year. 50 years ago. And I have some things to say, but I'm going to save it for when it's your turn, but you'll be up first. But next up I see in the chronological order, is it Moose Grumpy? That is Moose Grumpy from 1984.

1984. Black Stations, White Stations. How are you doing, Moose Grumpy? I'm doing great. How are you? Good. Good to see you. Good to see you.

This is like a mini TMLX. I love it. Okay. We should do this more often. Next up I see is the woman who needs a nickname and doesn't yet have one, but Stephanie Wilkinson. How are you doing, Steph? I'm good. How are you? Good. What year are you going to bat for? Well, I'm going to bat for the only year there is. So I'm going for 1985. for the only year there is.

So I'm going for 1985. The drive of 85. I got lots of nostalgia for 85. I'm looking forward to it. Good stuff. And then next up we have YYZ Gord. How you doing Gord? Doing well.

Thanks. Glad you got my name right. Appreciate it. Because I'm afraid of you. That's why. I don't want to screw it up okay what is the year that you were going to bat for tonight i'm gonna do the best year of the 1980s 1987 1980 oh that's the year the jays collapsed down the stretch i don't like thinking of that in music not in sports that's a different show mike okay that'll be the next that'll be the next episode we do like this. Okay, now we leave. So again, we have somebody in the 70s, VPS sales, and we have three of you in the 80s.

The next up is actually me, and I'm going to bat for 1991. So that'll be the year that I try to defend here. Not defend, I guess. What's another way of saying it? I'm just going to bat for that year, I guess. I'm going to put forward evidence that that's the best year in recorded music.

Can you present your case? Look at you. Are you a lawyer by any chance? YYZ Gord? No. Because I need one. Langer, how are you doing? I'm great, thanks. Langer, I are you doing? I'm great, thanks. Langer, I'm going to tell you right now

that you actually picked my second favorite year in recorded music, so I suspect you'll finish second in this competition. But what year are you going to bat for tonight? Well, your year is my second favorite year as well. They say that the music during your teenage years is your favorite music. So I'm going with 1994.

So the latest year chronologically. So that probably means everyone else here is much older than me. Yeah, that's got to be true. Would you reveal your... Actually, you know what? I was just going to ask for proof of ID here because I'm suspicious.

Hold your driver's licenses to the camera? Let's all read our social insurance numbers. So on that note, Langer brings up something I was going to bring up now anyways, which is, in fact, I was reading in Slate. There was an article in Slate, and I'm going to read it exactly. I copied and pasted

the paragraph. It says, between the ages of 12 and 22, our brains undergo rapid neurological development, and the music we love during that decade seems to get wired into our lobes for good. When we make neural connections to a song, we also create a strong memory trace that becomes laden with heightened emotion, thanks partly to, and these are big words, I'm having trouble here, a surfeit of pubertal growth hormones.

Those hormones tell our brains that everything is incredibly important, especially the songs that form the soundtrack to our teenage dreams and embarrassments. And this is something that segues nicely into you, VP of Sales, since you're starting us off. I suspect you're the only one here who's going to bat for a year

in which you are actually not even alive. That's correct. I was not alive in 1971. I was minus three years old. But I think this music was kind of drilled into me because my parents played a lot of that stuff when I was growing up and I was exposed to it. I kind of came to popular music later than a lot of kids. I didn't have siblings, so I was kind of on my own

and what I discovered was largely my parents' music collection. Sounds like you were brainwashed. I was. I was. And that's okay. Well, we'll be the judge. No, sorry, Beck will be the judge of that. Beck will be the judge of okay. Well, we'll be the judge. No, sorry. Beck will be the judge of that. Okay. Don't jump to conclusions.

So I don't have any. I think what I do basically is I pass the mic to you, VP, and you can start making your case as to why 1971 is the best year recorded music. I might interject here and there. In fact, the other FOTMs on this Zoom, I also give them the rights if they want to, I don't know, put up their hand and say,

or just say something, blurt it out, go ahead. You don't have to be quiet to other people. I welcome it. You know what? I welcome it. I know Langer's got some zingers locked up, loaded up there for... I got a few for Langer, believe me.

Believe me. All right, so without further ado, VP of Sales, why was 1971 the best year in recorded music? Alright, so first of all, to my esteemed defenders of musical years, I offer you my utmost respect and gratitude. We're here

talking about music, and that's incredible. Because, as the great Eric Alper once said, without naming the film, what is one quote that gives it away? So my year is 1971, which I consider to be the greatest in music history. I'll spend the next 10-ish minutes giving you some of the key reasons why. I could easily fill 90 minutes.

71 was a monster year. For some historical perspective here, obviously we were 50 years out from 71, so we've had plenty of time for think pieces, documentaries, historical re-evaluations, and the mythology that's built up around that music. The later years may not have that luxury, and it's quite possible that when we get 50 years down the road from those years, we'll look back at them with similar reverence.

I exclude 1994, of course, Langer. It's important to note that the music business in 1971 is very different than it was even a decade later and massively different than it is today. Are you sure this is a 10-minute speech? Do I need to clear the rest of my night or what? You're fine. You're fine. I'm just studying the context. Let's all settle down.

Did everyone else do this type of homework? I just You're fine. I'm just studying the context. Let's all settle down. Did everyone else do this type of homework? I just want to know if I'm in big trouble tonight. I thought we only had 10 minutes including this song. Right. Like, first of all,

that is true. So I will just, and I'm not going to use a stopwatch, so there's this, you know, but I trust that you know that your song plus your verbiage here,

10 minutes or less. Okay. Okay. Well, we're good we're good it should be done before 2071 rolls around there's a soccer match at nine o'clock i'd like to watch oh yeah yeah yeah all right so um music and publishing was often spread across multiple different companies labels would put out compilations or unreleased tracks without the artist's permission. So there was a lot of stuff that just kind of got put out. And there's also much less emphasis on touring and much more

on recording. So several artists would release multiple albums per year. Elton John and Anne Murray had three albums come out that year. Elvis had five albums, four Merle Haggard albums, the list goes on. For me, the biggest reason 71 is the greatest year in music is you've got a massive collision of styles and genres with several important debuts, which resulted in an overwhelming output. And it also produced some of the greatest albums ever recorded, which I'll talk about at the end. So it's quantity and quality. And I'm just going to give you a firehose of information now for the next 10 or so minutes.

So 71, you've got early rock and rollers still putting out music. and I'm just going to give you a fire hose of information now for the next 10 or so minutes. So, 71, you've got early rock and rollers still putting out music. So, Bill Haley and the Comets, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley, all putting out music. Okay, but good music? Yeah, I mean, you know, maybe Bill Haley and his Comets

71 album is not the best, but they're there. They're in the mix. Does he do a remix of Rock Around the Clock? I think it's only remixes of Rock Around the Clock by 71. You've got some of the greatest jazz musicians evolving into Latin jazz and fusion. Miles Davis, Charles Mingus, Keith Jarrett all put out amazing albums in 71. You've got more avant-garde artists like Alice Coltrane, Weather Report, the Mahavishnu Orchestra. We're coming out of the 60s, so two years out from Woodstock.

So you've got holdovers from the Summer of Love, like The Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, CCR. They're all putting out great stuff. Country music, you've got prolific outputs from Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Conway Twitty, George Jones, all killer stuff. We're getting blues music still from B.B. King, who had Live from Cook County Jail, which is one of the best

blues albums of all time. Are you suggesting the other years don't have a variety of genres? Just like the other years? No, I'm not. But what I'm saying is that all of these great artists who are Hall of Fame artists in many cases are all putting out

classic stuff. We may again look back at 2013 and the country music output and say that was some of the best stuff of all time. But 71 had it.

Before you get to the kick-ass albums released in 71, and I don't doubt there are several, in the spirit of Brother Bill, good FOTM, I need to ask you one important question. Were you there? I was not there. I was not there. I feel like I was there in spirit,

but I was not physically there. I think this is more difficult for you because I think the rest of us literally lived it and we felt it and we were soaking it in in real time. Where you're going back and it's like arguing, I mean, really, it's tougher, I think, when you didn't live it in real time. Yeah, I don't know.

I lived it and it was underwhelming. I was in my crib and I don't remember any of this. Well, there you go. Yeah, no, I don't feel that at all. I feel like I did live it because I listened to that music in my formative years. So, you know, this is my 87, 88, you know. Okay, so all that stuff aside,

the pop and rock scene in 71 is exploding. Beatles break up in 70 and all four members launched solo careers and all four of them put out music in 71. So George Harrison puts out all things must pass in 1970, but two huge singles come out early in 71. My sweet Lord and what is life? Ringo doesn't put it out of an early in 71, My Sweet Lord and What Is Life. Ringo doesn't put out an album in 71, but It Don't Come Easy is a single, and it hits

number four in the U.S., number one in Canada. Imagine by John Lennon comes out in September. The single goes to number three in the U.S., and number one in Canada. And in May, Paul McCartney puts out Ram with his wife Linda, featuring Uncle Albert and Admiral Halsey, which is a number one hit,

and then follows it up in December with the debut of Wings with Wildlife. Formative year for progressive rock, so Emerson, Lake, and Palmer put out their second album. Genesis adds Phil Collins and Steve Hackett to the lineup, and they put out Nursery Crime. Aqualung by Jethro Tull. Low Spark of High Heeled Boys by Traffic. Two albums by Yes. We also get Metal from Pink Floyd, which is really their transitional album from the Sid Barrett years

to the progressive band that they became with Dark Side of the Moon a couple of years later. And then some people, definitely not purists, but for the sake of time i'm going to do this might include include kraut rock kraut no the kraut rock uh in this category uh and so we got a hugely influential album from can the german band uh called tago which is a huge influence on a lot of 90s bands including radiohead how we doing you're doing great i'm going to ask Beck, though,

our judge, who I trust completely here, for a brief ruling, a real quick ruling here. Beck, I was thinking these albums should be released in your calendar year. I was looking at, for mine, it's 1991. I was researching albums

released in 91. It's not when singles peak on the charts or anything like that. Am I off base here, Beck? No, that was my thinking as well. I just want BP of Sales to know that Ringo releasing an album in 70 and having it hit the... No, no, no. Ringo didn't put out an album in 70, but he did put out a single in 71.

Okay. All right. I'm obviously trying to poke some holes in you so I become the victor here and believe me I stuck with that I looked only at albums that came out in 70 or 71 rather but there is some contextual stuff that I think is important that we're going to talk about

for sure because only Gord was there and he was apparently crapping in his diapers. Stephanie's raised her hand too. Oh, you were there, Steph? Oh, you look fantastic. Apparently I don't, but you do. All right, so tell me where you're at, VP. Fantastic, you're doing a great job. And it's tough to go first too. But you've got me sweating over here because I realize you did more homework than I did. I'm getting sweaty. I'm getting scared here.

It's okay. You're going to kill it. Only because in post, I'm going to edit all the stuff you said. That's right. The defense of 1971 is like an early Genesis song. Way too long. There's too much gold. You just can't handle it.

That's all is there anything you want to say to your year before you uh set up the jam we're going to hear from 1971 is there anything i want to say to my year right uh yeah i mean it was uh it's just an incredible year of classic music that um I think can't be touched. You know, I, again, massive respect to every other year. There's great music in all of them. But 71 is just, is just a monster. So hard rock and metal, Alice Cooper puts out Love It To Death with I'm 18 on it. Thin Lizzy, their debut album comes out.

Master of Reality by Black Sabbath comes out, which was originally panned by critics, but it's probably recognized as one of the most influential hard rock records of all time. Who's Next by The Who. Maybe one of the top two or three pure rock records of all time. Behind Blue Eyes, Baba O'Reilly, Won't Get Fooled Again. Same album, 1971.

Wow. Is somebody writing this down? I hope so. There's this cosmic gumbo of hard rock and metal, which also includes glam rock. You might throw Alice Cooper into that mix. T-Rex is probably the proto-glam rock band. So we get Electric Warrior in 1971

with Jeepster, Mambo Son, Get It On. Now we're getting into the classic stuff here. 71 is a banner year for singer-songwriters. We get Cold Spring Harbor by Billy Joel. We get Carly Simon's self-titled debut. We get Mudslide Slim and the Blue Horizon by James Taylor.

We've got Teaser in the Firecat by Cat Stevens. We've got David Crosby's debut solo album, Tupelo Honey by Van Morrison. The self-titled debuts from Bonnie Raitt and John Prine. Do we have to name every album from our years too? I am naming every album from 1971, Gord. It's only up to February. I'm just trying to paint a picture here,

and I think you're getting it. I think I like this approach. I think this is similar to what my approach will be, where I'll paint a picture of the monster albums that come out during the year 1991. You're writing this down, Beck? Monster albums came out in 1991. That'll blow everybody's minds. You're writing this down, Beck. Monster albums came out in 1991 that'll blow everybody's minds. You're doing a great job,

VP. And just to finish off the singer-songwriter category, we get three albums, actually, sorry, four albums from Elton John in 1971. We get the soundtrack to a French film called Friends, which only has one good song on it, but it's a good song.

He releases a live album from a concert he recorded in 1970, and then two massive studio albums, Tumbleweed Connection, which is kind of his Americana album, and Madman Across the Water featuring Levon, and Tiny Fucking Dancer. Tiny Fucking Dancer comes out in 1971, okay? I should stop there. Hold me closer, Tony Danza.

That's cute. I feel bad going on because I could just drop the mic there, but I'm not going to. I can't do it. We also got a hugely influential album by Nick Drake, Right or Later, featuring Northern Sky and Fly. Big, huge. Soul and Funk.

We're going to talk Soul and Funk now. Maggot Brain, Parliament. Hang on, you're fine. Soundtrack to Shaft, Isaac Hay uh out al green gets next to you two live albums from cool in the gang three james brown albums uh roots by curtis mayfield and maybe the biggest one there's a riot going on by sly and the family stone okay now we're going to check in in Canada. Yes. Canada had a huge year, 1971. Leonard Cohen, Songs of Love and Hate, featuring famous Blue Raincoat. The Hoots by the band, Life is a Carnival. Three albums from Anne Murray.

Okay? Three albums. Buffy St. Marie. April Wine's self-titled debut. Lighthouse. Crowbar. Incredible stuff. See, bonus points for dropping some FOTMs in there. Lighthouse. Crowbar. Incredible stuff. Bonus points for dropping some FOTMs in there. That's right.

Okay. The list goes on and on. I could do 90 minutes just on 71. I'm not going to do it. I'm going to cut myself off. You haven't already? I thought it was 90 minutes already. Gordon wants to know

I need Beck. Can you rule Beck? If someone goes over 10 minutes, do you dock points? No, but I think it just means that we have to be lenient with the others. We can't cut them off either. I'm almost done. I promise I'm almost done.

I hope you're taking all of the banter into account, too, because that's eating into my time. All right. Please continue, VP. Okay. I'm going to wrap up with the absolute classics from 71. Langer, this is for you. Rod Stewart, Every Picture Tells a Story.

Maggie Mae. Fantastic. Fantastic song. Rod Stewart's Every Picture Tells a Story. Maggie Mae. Fantastic. Fantastic song. Rod Stewart's also in The Faces. They also put out two big albums in 71, including the single Stay With Me. What a year for Rod Stewart. Wow. Give it up for my man Rod. Did I mention I was hanging with Rachel Hunter the other day?

I did hear that. That's pretty exciting. That's a true story. David Bowie, Hunky Dory. Changes, Life on Mars, Queen Bitch. Say no more. Tapestry by Carole King. Wow. I feel the earth move.

It's too late. You've got a friend. Get ready for this one. Marvin Gaye, What's Going On? Okay. I'm sorry. I'm sorry I had to do that.e, What's Going On? Okay. I'm sorry. I'm sorry I had to do that. Wow.

But it's there. Okay. I'm just getting warmed up here. Rolling Stone, Sticky Fingers. Okay. Okay. Joni Mitchell, Blue. I'm so sorry.

I'm so sorry. Led Zeppelin, Four. Stairway to Heaven. I could have played Stairway to Heaven Zeppelin 4. Stairway to Heaven. I could have played Stairway to Heaven. I should have played Stairway to Heaven. You wouldn't have had to hear me talk, but we got Zeppelin 4. And then finally, I will leave you with this. The album from which I've chosen my song, representing 1971.

This man was born in West Virginia. He joined the Navy at 17 spent 9 years wrote songs in his spare time moved to LA after he left the Navy tried to start a music career got discovered by Booker T. Jones of Booker T. and the MGs and put out his debut album

Just As I Am 1971 Mike, my esteemed colleagues I give you Bill Withers' Grandma's hands Clapped in church on Sunday morning Grandma's hands Played a tambourine so well Grandma's hands Used to issue out a warning She'd say, Billy, don't you run so fast

Might fall on a piece of glass Might be snakes there in that grass grandma's grandma's hey sue the local unwed mother grandma's hey used to ache sometimes and swell. Grandma's pain used to lift her face and tell her she'd say, baby, grandma, understand that you really love that man. Put yourself in Jesus hands, grandma's pain. BP, great song, great choice. And you did a great job here, buddy. I think you made a great case for 1971. Thank you. Thank you very much.

I'm seeing a lot of complaints in the chat that I went too long, and I accept those complaints. You know, it was, what can I tell you? It was a banner year for music, and I just couldn't leave it out. And your song is really short. It is. It is. And I should also tell the other FOTMs on the Zoom here that I've decided that we're going to do kind of what I do during jam kickings,

where I bring it down after a little bit, and we chatter over it to kind of save a little time. But good job, buddy. A round of applause for VP of Sales. Thank you. Thank you. Yeah. Clapping doesn't work on zoom. Okay. After that, I think I need a drink. Well, crack one open. You know what? In fact, maybe during the moose grumpy jam, I'm going to run up to the fridge and grab myself a great lakes beer as well. Cause I need a drink

too after that. So 1971. I think I need a drink before I start. What are you drinking there, Moose? It's a different kind of alcohol than GLB. That's allowed, don't worry. We don't have a sponsor. That's wine? Red wine, yeah. Red wine. Did that come out in 1984?

Not on my list. Oh, it was 85, right? Yeah. Points for Stephanie. Okay, so Moose, the mic is yours. Tell us why 1984 was the best year in recorded music. Well, I'm going to start with my explanation because I think the VP just put us all to shame. I misunderstood the assignment assignment and I was selling

84's music, not just albums. With a little hint at pop culture. So, um, first off, Mike has a little clip that I'd like to offer the judge for a little bit of flair. As if I were...

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Thank you, Mike. Sorry I played it a little early. I got excited. No, I didn't hit the post. What can I say? August 31st, 1984, Moses Seimer's hand hit the button, and Christopher Ward and J.D. Roberts, now known as John Roberts, welcomed us to the MuchMusic universe, which for all of the FOTMs and the music we're talking about,

except for VP, we got most of it from MuchMusic. We also were rushing home at the end of school to watch Toronto Rocks with John Major and some of the videos we were watching then was Born in the USA with Bruce, no last name required, Time After Time with Cyndi Lauper, Boys of Summer with Don Henley, Karma Chameleon with Boy George bringing us the Culture Club and someone new to all of us that we're fascinated by his look, his style. Take on Me by A-Ha, the wonderful video hand-drawn.

Wow. Who else did we see that year? The Cars brought us You Might Think and Drive from Heartbreak City, which was a new introductory to Cars for all of us. We're Not Going to Take It from Twisted Sister was in 1984. Wow. Ghostbusters with Ray Parker Jr., which also links to the movies that we saw that year

with music in it, such as Footloose and Sixteen Candles. We saw ZZ Top with Legs, fascinated with the long beards and the car. And the legs. And the legs. 84 brought us the explosion of English New Wave. Some favorites of mine came out that year with Tears for Fears, Depeche Mode, Brodsky Beat, Talk Talk, Bananarama, Thompson Twins. Um, now there'll be an argument made that 84 wasn't a big year for them

if you listen to English music, because all of English music, typically their charts were a year ahead of us. When I visited England in Steph's year of 85, I listened to a lot of music that we didn't hear until 86 here. But on Canadian US charts, these songs were popular and these groups were popular in 84. Yes, but we got Platinum Blonde first. True. So we got platinum blonde first. True. So we got that going for us.

We celebrating that? Shout out to future FOTM Mark Holmes, who I think Cam Gordon's mom delivered in a hospital. There's some story there. Now, Now one artist that is difficult to talk to we have to separate the man from the music is Thriller album was released before 84 but Thriller itself

was a big hit in 84 and the video was also what we were all watching on MuchMusic that year and that leads to a song The video was also what we were all watching on MuchMusic that year. And that leads to a song that I really enjoy, a one-hit wonder, Rockwell, Somebody's Watching Me, who had MJ as his hook or his backup vocals. And Cam Gordon, fun fact, shout out.

Rockwell was the son of Barry Gordon and the grandson of Smokey Robinson and couldn't get a record deal until he got Michael Jackson to do the hook on his song. And I really started diving deep into the Cam Gordon fun facts. And don't forget, if you have any geography corners, Esri likes that. Yeah, I'm working on that. that yeah i'm working working on that um charday smooth operator was from 1984 and the fun fact is that charday is a group not a person great band great fact i love it it's like pandemic friday all over again did she change her name to charday after well you know i didn't do all the research, Gorn. Tyler, VP of sales. Does Tyler know? I was starting a leader in thing out there. VP of sales kicked out some Alice Cooper,

and he's got the same story. Also a band. Nina with 99 Luftballons was in 84. Love that song. And then in November of 1984, at a small little studio in London, a bunch of guys that all kind of knew each other got together, do a song written by Bob Geldof and Midge Ear, called Do They Know It's Christmas?

called Do They Know It's Christmas? A little fun story for myself was I was on the starting edge of teenage years for this influential year, and I had a new step-grandfather who lived in England and was not young by any means, but he wanted to relate to his new young granddaughter. So he decided mid-year would be the one

the kids were all about, and studied up on Midyear for a year, watched every show he could on English television until I came to visit in 85, so he could sit down and talk to me about Midyear, and I said, oh, that's the guy in the Do They Know It's Christmas video? So I'm much more knowledgeable now, but at the time it was... He might have done better with Duran Duran. Any points off for cancelled songs? No, I don't think so.

Although you're a year off, I think you get loose points because Thriller came out in 83. I said the album came out in 83, but the song was 84. I'm just saying. Are you saying cancelled songs or cancelled artists? Both.

MJ, all they can do is remove that episode of The Simpsons from Disney+. And they've already done that. Well, look, Gordon's got MJ right there over his shoulder. Right, bad, right. But it says bad right next to him, so it's okay.

That's right. So, in the studio Right, bad, right. But it says bad right next to him, so it's okay. Yeah, that's right. That's okay. So in the studio on November 25th, 84, McCartney, Bowie, Sting, Bono, Phil Collins, the guys from Spandau Ballet, Duran Duran, Bananarama, Boy George, George Michael, and a bunch of other groups that went on to be anonymous got together and they released that album on December, that single on December 3rd.

So a little over a week to get the album out. And of course it went on to spawn another huge event, but that's in Steph's year. So I'm not allowed to talk about it. And also, really quickly, in the background over Steph's shoulder, I'm I'm watching, uh, the breakfast club. That's her year, not mine. She knows how to, it's probably from some of the music's probably from 84.

That's right. But that's fantastic. Yeah. Great job by the way. So far, Moose, uh, you're doing fantastic.

So then I come to the albums of the year. Cause like I said, didn't understand the assignment. So that year brought us some of the hugest, iconic albums. We had Van Halen, 1984, with Jump in Panama as the hits. Madonna, Like a Virgin. Bruce Springsteen, Born in the USA. Wow.

And the final album, which leads into my choice, I think I've stayed well under Tyler's 90 minutes, had three giant hits and a movie, and I think goes down to one of the greatest songwriters and guitarists that we ever had. And it's nice and long, so I'm going to get myself a Great Lakes beer. Here we go. Here we go. I never meant to call you in your sorrow

I never meant to call you in pain I don't want to walk around and see you laughing I only want to see you laughing in the purple rain Purple rain, purple rain Purple rain, purple rain Purple rain, purple rain All we want to see you painting in the purple rain I think we should shut it down right now. I don't know how we beat Moose Grumpy with this jam.

That's a lot of trust leaving us here with the microphones live. Well, you're off. Are you going to listen to this before you put it out there? Nope. Can I just add my last two cents on the Purple Rain that I totally forgot going in? It's still playing in the background, so you've got six and a half minutes to tell me about it. We had three major hits of When Doves Cry cry let's go crazy and purple rain but it also spawned another fun fact two of his backup singers uh sheila e and morris day went on to have huge

hits that year um of their own just by virtue of being in that. Right. Of course. Right. And The Time, right? That's The Time. Yeah, Morris Day and The Time. Right. Which he didn't like that very much, right? No. I don't think he liked that.

But there's a great edition at the end of Jay and Silent Bob, too. I'm going to crack open my Great Lakes beer. I have an octopus. What are you drinking, Langer? I've got a burstst New England Pale Ale. I like the Burst very much, actually. Here's a Octopus Wants to Fight, my five-year-old's favorite Great Lakes beer.

Not that she drinks it, but she likes the octopus. All right. So we're going to take a moment. I'm just going to thank while I'm enjoying my octopus. Thank you, Great Lakes Beer. I wish you guys were here, but we'll have a TMLX in person soon, and we'll have Great Lakes Beer when we do that. And hopefully, like last time, we also get Palma Pasta.

So much love to Palma Pasta. Go to palmapasta.com. I'm holding for the camera that you guys are not getting a Moneris-branded wireless speaker. And I wonder if FOTML Grego will be disappointed he's not a part of this. He's probably listening now going, I missed out on this great He got his own episode.

That is very true. That is very true. So what would you do if I gave you a Moneris branded speaker? Well, of course, you'd listen to the Yes We Are Open podcast, which he hosts.

In fact, the first episode of the series features somebody on the Zoom call. Is that right, Stephanie Wilkinson? Yes, it is. And you did a great job, you and Al chatting. So I was going to say Al travels the country, but he didn't have to travel very far to interview you. No, no, we didn't have too far to go this time, but I saw this week he travels to Saskatchewan. So, yes.

And season two, I think he's planning on going out west. Well, hopefully it's not as floody when he does that, but I do know that right now that we get to hear him in Saskatchewan, that's the Paris of the Prairies. Do you guys know that? Did you know that Beck? Yes I did. Alright. Beck's a big hip fan.

And what year is that? Okay let me do this from memory. I'm going to say that was 1990 Oh was that 94? My second favorite year? I say that was 1990. Oh, was that 94? My second favorite year? I think it was 94. Yeah. All right.

Well, luckily there's a better hip album that came out in 91, but we'll talk about that later. Everybody, of course, listen to it. I'm talking over Langer, so he can't make any good points there. Yes, We Are Open is available wherever you get your podcasts. Go to yesweareopenpodcast.com. And you guys, man, I hope you're taking advantage of the promo codes from ChefDrop. You go to chefdrop.ca and you use the promo code FOTM50,

FOTM50, and you get 50 bucks off your first order. And that's an incredible deal. And it's delicious and it arrives at your door. I highly recommend it. And I hope all the FOTMs are using the promo code. I love talking with this Prince Jam in the background. It's perfect actually for that. But Ridley Funeral Home, pillars of the community since 1921. Much love to the good people there. McKay CEO Forums. They got a podcast called the CEO Edge Podcast.

And you can hear new episodes on, I posted on torontomike.com every week. Um, Nancy McKay has these fireside chats with CEOs and inspiring thought leaders. And it's a, it's a great podcast. This is key. Okay. We're going to talk about this and then we're going to pass the mic to

Stephanie Wilkinson again. But Mike Majeski. Mike Majeski's bought... He's bought 200. I want to get the right number here. Stand by. I'm letting the prints finish in the background here. He's bought 200 beautiful full-size Christmas trees and you can get one. All you have to do is make a donation to the Daily Bread Food Bank. Go to your email and write him, mike at realestatelove.ca.

Put Christmas tree in the subject line and let Mike know you're going to make a donation to the Daily Bread Food Bank and you'd love one of those 200 beautiful full-size Christmas trees he's got. You can pick these trees up at Mimico November 27, November 28, December 4, or December 5. I forgot Prince has this long extra here. It's pretty damn cool, though. So I'll just wrap up by telling you all that StickerU.com, great stickers, great quality,

and you can get more than that, decals and badges. I still have my TMLX4 StickerU badge somewhere. But good choice, Moose Grumpy. Purple Rain is one of the greatest songs of all time. Hard to compete with that. So while it... Not 71. Right.

All right, Steph. While it... I forgot it's a seven-hour song, so it's actually still going. But as it wraps up, Steph, I pass the mic to you. 1985 is your year. Yeah, 1985 is my year. And if you can see over my shoulder um the breakfast

club uh a big movie from 1985 is just finishing up so um i started it when um when vp started well played um so that that's just to sort of set the stage that, you know, in 1985, we also had some great movies. John Hughes was on his way up. He had had 16 Candles the year before and was sort of making his way, you know, into the world of pop culture. But where I'm going back and where I'm saying that I'm defending and fighting for 1985 starts with the end of 1984 and how Moose Grumpy, how she had started with the Band-Aid, the group that got together at the end of November 1984, and within a week had launched Do They Know It's Christmas?

And that was the beginning of all these big brains, these big music brains getting together and being in one room for one cause. And that was the Ethiopian, 1983 to 1985. Famine relief. Famine relief. That's the word. So you've got this rising at the beginning of 1985. So on January 1st, the Billboard 100 had it at number 20 and rising. So I'm kind of starting with something that started of January, you've got the U.S. Grammys. And the day after the Grammys on January 21st, 1985, you've got Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie had already got together.

They'd already written the USA for Africa. And they had got all the people who had been at the Grammys the night before they got all of them they had the Bruce Springsteen they had they had everybody there and they put together their movie their their song um uh we are the world and all those egos in one room for one cause. And that made, at the time, that made, where is it here? $63 million off of that album, off of that song. Just to go back, Band-Aid, in their initial release of the first version, I'm not going to talk about the one they did in 1989, 2004, and then again in 2014.

But they came up with, that came up with $24 million. two songs, a lot of people, one cause, raising money for the world and getting their music and them out there. I mean, I think without Band-Aid, we may not never have learned really too much about a lot of the, the artists that were in that, that was a bit of a stepping stone for them. And then of course, I mean, I think somebody should do some sort of deep dive on this. But I was waiting for there was Northern Lights, you know, a little known, a little known group of people got together in February 1985. Speaking of Mark Holmes and Platinum Blonde, he got out of that limo.

I saw him get out of that limo. Yeah, he got out of that limo. I saw him get out of that limo. Yeah, he got out of that limo. Yeah. In his white boots. Leona Boyd had that fur. Right. Think about that. There was a moment in time

when you could show up for this famine relief recording wearing like a fur, you could have a limo and a fur jacket. That's an amazing moment in time. That is the 80s. That is the 80s. Yeah. Oh, time. That is the 80s. That is the 80s. Yeah. Oh, yeah.

That's the 80s, all right. I heard either. Yeah. Do we blame Reagan for this? Again, you've got all those great Canadians in one room for, you know, for one day to come up with. I don't want to be a stickler here. On one room, except for Bruce Colburn,

who they recorded in Germany and they flew it back. Bruce, Bruce, you got to get over here. Was that your geography corner, Mike? I think it was Hamburg. Was it Hamburg? Do they remember? Anyway.

Thank you, Esri. Shout out to Mike mike ragonski nice yeah um so so there's three songs um a lot of people and by this point i mean by the time they're released those three were all released within three months of each other and fun fact about all those artists, not one of them ever talked about how the music of 1971 influenced them. Oh yeah? You can prove that? Beck, this is some beautiful prose from Stephanie Wilkinson

about humanitarian causes. Does it help her cause, though? Does it help Stephanie Wilkinson? I haven't heard an album yet that was released in 1980. It was okay, I guess. Is that enough to carry the year? She's not done yet.

This is just her opening and it's a pretty strong opening. She's going to set a new record here. Okay. She can't talk about any albums because I think VP covered them all. Didn't he do 71 through 91? Please continue, Stephanie Wilkinson.

So I continue by saying that 1985 is the best year for music because in July we had Live Aid, and that brought, again, everybody together in in the states in the U.S. but it brought everybody everybody and that raised where did that number that number now is staggering at about 150 at the time they raised 150 million dollars So I think that's why 1985, it really is the best year for music. It was a year that everybody came together. I mean, I can go on about, you know,

how the Brat Pack was, how that started. Right. But my interpretation of this assignment was, why is this the best year for music? This is the best year for music. This is the best year. Because of these charity relief singles that raised a lot of money for good causes. Yeah. No, that's your argument. these charity relief singles that raised a lot of money for good causes. Yeah.

That's your argument. You presented it very clearly, passionately. You're going to lose, but it was a good effort. One little year. My kids charity. Then perhaps that can lead into my jam. I did do a full episode, YYZ

Gord, about Toronto Miracle. Okay? How does a man who hates charity devote an entire episode to that great cause? He just hates famine in Africa. It's very focused. I don't think that's true. You really need a deep dive into Live Aid. You have so many fun facts you haven't explored there, Steph.

Oh, yeah. No, I know. I wish I know. I wish I did. So why was Leonard Cohen not invited to Tears Are Not Enough? That is the ultimate deep dive. Now, please. You need to get David Foster.

Oh. I mean, David Foster talks about everything. Do you have a hook up there? Because I have questions for you. I'm having trouble getting Terry David Mulligan, okay? He's a very busy man. He says he's into it, but he's a very busy man. So when I get TDM locked and loaded, then I'm going to pursue David Foster.

Stephanie Wilkinson, please tell us about the jam we're going to hear from 1985. Well, simply the jam just matched my movie and it was also so that when we went on to the next year, I wouldn't be

forgot. Hey, hey, hey, hey Won't you come see above me I'll be alone Dancing, you know it, baby Tell me your troubles and doubts Giving me everything, inside and out And love's strange, so we learn the dark Think of the tender things that we were working on Slow change may pull us apart

When I'm not getting into your heart, baby Don't you forget about me Don't, don't, don't, don't Don't you forget about me Will you stand up for me Okay, trivia time for you, Stephanie Wilkinson. And I know you'll know, but I'm going to ask it anyways. Who was supposed to record this song for Breakfast Club? I don't know.

Does anyone else on the panel know who was supposed to record this song for the Breakfast Club? That in your 10-page notes, Mike? Somewhere up here. It's in the hair up here. Was it Billy Idol? It was Billy Idol. Correct, VPSA.

Wow. That's a mind blow. Yeah. In fact, Billy did record a version of the song at some point. But yeah, it was supposed to be... It was written for Billy Idol. And these Scottish cats took on

the challenge. And I'm trying to remember why Billy couldn't do it. Was it because he had a car accident? Did he have a motorcycle crash or something? Or maybe that was a different instance. Oh no, that's when he was supposed to be the character in Terminator 2 who goes after Arnold.

Who's that? Robert what? What's his name? Patrick. Robert Patrick. Well, that was supposed to be... I think that was supposed to be also Billy Idol, but that's when he had the motorcycle crash

and couldn't do that one. Oh. I think so. Shout out to Billy Idol who's still with us. But this is a great jam, Steph, and brings back a

lot of the nostalgic fuzzies. I love it. It's a great movie. Oh, I was going to say,

fun fact, I saw Billy Idol two years ago in Vegas perform. Oh, wow. I was going to say, you saw

him at the slot machine. And what, perform. I was going to say, you saw him at the slot machine. And did he still have it? Or did he ever have it? He was sounding a little rough, but he gave it his all. Did you never listen to

Rebel Yell, the single? I mean, I had that 45, and I think I played the hell out of it. What a jam. Pretty sure you would have had it in 1984, too. And that Vital Idol was a really important

album. Well, that was like a Greatest Hits Vital Idol, so I almost wonder if that counts, but I don't think Greatest Hits counts. I think it was an album that was released in 1987. Disqualified for being a Greatest Hits compilation, but I don't think greatest hits count. I think it was an album that was released in 1987. Disqualified for being a greatest hits compilation. But a great album, though. Dude, I love it.

And that's got the, because the Moany Moany version I like is that live version with Stevens, what's his name? Why am I forgetting the name of his guitarist? Steve Stevens. Steve Stevens, right. Fun fact about Moi Moni. Yep. I think I was in grade 12, and it was a yearbook assembly.

And so they were just sort of putting up on the screen some, you know, montages of stuff that was going to go into the yearbook and had it set to music. And it was set to moni moni and the principal and many of the teachers did not know the unofficial version right so so was that banned in all of our high schools like was that banned in every high school or it was after that yearbook assembly okay so in yyz gore i can't believe i'm gonna say this but i loved vital idol like i loved that compilation after the yearbook assembly. Okay, so in YYZ Gord, I can't believe I'm going to say this, but I loved Vital Idol.

I loved that compilation and the songs on that. And that is a 1987 release. Tell us more about the great year that was 1987. YYZ Gord. I will. Glad you're starting on my side, Mike. Let me start with something that the plurality of the folks on this call can agree

to that the 1980s were the best years for music so we've got uh three out of six uh a clear plurality um we extended they were 10 years for music or some of the year i'm not sure is that clear but please continue and if we go even further, the 80s were really the jumping off point in setting the foundation for the 1990s. So if you take that together, we've got the clear majority of us all agreeing that 1987 is a pivotal year for music. So I'm going to start with pop. And we've mentioned some of the bad features from that year, Michael Jackson, which at the time we cannot downplay the significance of the album. May or may not before he became a really bad person, but the bad, the single, Man in the Mirror, Smooth Criminal, Number one candidate in the US, sold 35 million copies, released August 31st, 1987.

Another monster album, George Michael, Faith. His debut solo album also released in October 1987. 20 million copies worldwide. Faith, I Want Your Sex. That really was the maturity of him transitioning from the years of Wham, breaking free, and showing his power as a solo artist.

Hold on. Gord, I gotta say this quickly before we move on. C-c-c-c-c-come on! Yeah, just, I'll take any more support, Mike, you want. Just keep Vital Idol and Faith. Have I convinced you yet?

If you want to go even another monster album, just almost as many copies or same as Faith, released in June 1987, Whitney Houston, her second album, Whitney, which had Want to Dance with Somebody, which is her most popular song on Spotify currently. In the pop era, probably less significant, but certainly a trend that started that year.

We had Tiffany and Debbie Gibson, both with their debut albums. And I think We're Alone Now, which definitely prefer the cover version than the original. Okay, and remember, Moany Moany is by the same artist

Tommy and the Shondells what is that guy Tommy and the Shondells Tommy James and the Shondells you put out a great album in 71 by the way I'm sure it was on that list pop really wasn't my thing but I couldn't ignore it.

So I'm going to look sort of at transition from pop to alternative. And In Excess Kick was a giant album. Went to number one in Canada that year, number three in the U.S. Released in October of that year, Devil Inside, Need You Tonight, really quintessential In Excess songs that are still fundamental today and also carry on into the 90s. And if we want to look at the top of the independent charts, alternate charts, U2 released Joshua Tree on March 9th, 1987, which also went number one in Canada and the US.

It's where the streets have no name, which some have read has been classified as the single greatest stadium rock sound ever recorded from 1987. So you've got the new wave elements, but then you've got the strong guitar sounds that carried us into the 90s. If we look at the alternative, I'm going going to, I'm going down the CFNY's top 102 of, or top 87 of 87. Number one was U2's Joshua Tree we already talked about. Number two, New Order, Substance. Substance, 1987. really when many of the songs that we take that are sort of beloved new order songs really took off and got some pop features in the U S. So it was the biggest selling album to that date for,

for the U S had some remixes, a blue Monday, perfect kiss shell shock with our love triangles. So really that carrying on at that alternate or that the, I'm not the judge Gord. Remember that Beck is the judge gourd remember that beck is the judge sorry uh rem document was number two a significant release from them it's the end of the world the one i know uh depeche mode music for the masses again carrying that depeche mode from the early 80s a

little bit more maturity uh the six albums of six of their album they're most successful in the u.s to date had strange love little 15 beyond the wheel listen to that didn't it's hardy this morning and it still stands out a really significant cult album is number five electric wildflower love removal machine couldn't have snow removal machine without cult electric which i believe was also released in 1987 if I'm not wrong. The Smiths had their final studio album released with The Smiths.

They also were now number six in those charts. Another problematic artist on your list, Gordon. That's true. A little less problematic than Michael, but he's certainly not a saint. And also in that compilation frame,

this also released Louder Than Bombs, which was a double compilation album, which had all of their hits. It was certainly one of my favorite albums at the time. Cure released Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me, their seventh album. That was the first time they went platinum in the US. Just Like Heaven, Why Can't I Be You,

Echo of the Bunnymen, we're getting down to nine on the charts, continuing in that new wave phase. Are you going to read all 87 of these, Gord? No, I'm going to stop at 10, which is... Actually, I'm not going to give you 10 for a second. So that kind of encapsulates the alternative charts, which you've got that mix of of new wave and emerging guitar sounds we've got some really significant canadian emerging acts

blue rodeo outskirts was released in 87 that's number 10 on the cfy charts um with try which is still a quintessential song and i think we got a fotm there mike is i'm not mistaken well he wasn't on that jam but he is in the band now mike boguski and i will say that um that is the song i danced with my mother at at my wedding so shout out to try okay i just need the judge on my side i think i've got you now mike but yeah you know what i'm thinking you might finish third losing her you know if you keep going you're going to finish third in this contest. You're doing well. There's no 90s without the 80s. And the 80s happened.

By that reasoning, BP's going to win. Thank you. The 80s were recovering from the 70s. So in the Canadian, we've also got Northern Pikes with their first studio album, Big Blue Skies, The Things I Do for Money, Teen Land, real significant songs. Another FOTM in that band.

More FOTM, 5440, Show Me, their third album, One Gun, One Day in Your Life, one of my favorite 5440 songs. The Reostatics had their debut album, which was called The Greatest Hits. Fun fact about that album, it was released in 1987 with 1 000 albums compressed they sold out one all 1 000 albums and it wasn't available again until 1991 when they re-released it is that the one with the ballad of wendell clark is that on that it does have the ballad of wendell clark exactly shout out to old mill donuts so we've got if you look at all of those bands those are powerhouse bands that were significant in the 80s

and carried us through to the 90s. If you look at emerging international artists, Sinead O'Connor had her first album with Lion and the Cobra with the massive song Troy, which blows anything away. Just for Mike, Public Enemy, Yo Bum Rush, The Show, their debut album was also released in February 10th, 1987. And Time Bomb is on that. So yeah, the show, their debut album was also released in February 10th, 1987. And Time Bomb is on that, so yeah, good choice, Gord.

Goo Goo Dolls had their debut album, Jane's Addiction had their debut live album, and Dinosaur Jr. also had their significant album, You're Living All Over Dream, which is their second album, but also critically acclaimed. As we've talked about... Before you...

I'm not throwing to anything yet okay you're not throwing no you keep going i thought you were throwing your jam i'm gonna say before you throw your jam let me know and then we're gonna get like we're gonna do a temperature check on some of the other fotms here okay uh just since we went down problematic christmas songs uh very significant release uh fairy tale of new york was recorded or released on 23rd of november 1987 as a single uh it was released an album the following year i have a question this is important because i've been having a lot of soul searching on this myself okay so that's actually my favorite

christmas song of all time but it drops the f-bomb the bad one that's not the one i like is it appropriate can i still like the song if if it's got such a problematic lyric in it? I need to know. Because it also exists with a certain Dire Straits song I quite like. I think you can like this song. I think if they're singing it today, I hope they wouldn't use that word. But hopefully you're not singing it when they sing it. No, no.

I mean, I have good practice with this. I don't think they're saying it mean-spiritedly, though. It's kind of. Well, you scumbag, you maggot, and then it goes from there. So she's obviously pissed at the guy. But do they get some relaxation here in the rule set because they're British? Like maybe, I don't know, like maybe. It doesn't mean cigarette, if that's what you're trying to say. No.

But they drop that, the C word drops on morning radio in Britain. And I won't even say the C word. Yes, they're much more liberal with their words and their grammar in Britain. It's authentic dialogue to the time and place.

I still like it, I still listen to it. I don't think. Certainly, very significant Christmas album and fun fact, that was from Ireland's favorite band, The Post. That's my Esri geography corner as well. That's a good callback. I like that.

I like that. You're doing great. Can we do a quick temperature check and then come right back to you, Gord, real quick here. Moose Grumpy, you've already kind of delivered your defense of 1984. What did you think of, well, we already know what you thought of VP of Sales. You thought he was too long. But what did you think of Steph and Gord here?

Well, I'm having trouble processing some of Gord's because for how influential the Smiths and the Cure was in my life, that that was the Smiths' last album. I'm not prepared to process that information because I can't possibly be that old. And Steph's I just love because that's all close to my heart. I could do the two-hour deep dive on Live Aid. So it was very much a part of my world. And Steph, how's Gord doing here? He's muted. There we go. I think he's doing great. I'm, I'm interested in, you know, it's like 1987 was a big, you know,

one of the influential years of my life as well. So listening to these songs, although I didn't listen to CFNY, a lot of it, you know, I think back. What did you listen to? Back then? Yeah, in 1987. I think I was probably Chum FM. Okay, because I was CFTR in 1987.

Yes. I think I was beyond CFTR. I think CFTR, I was CKOC. Yeah, I turned out to CKOC. And CKOC, 1050, and CFTR were probably more the

84, 85, 86. And then I found Chum FM and I started listening to FM. But Chum FM, isn't it around 85 or 86 that they go top 40? They change their formats. That was probably right around

that would have been right around the time that Roger, Rick and Marilyn. Exactly. I was probably a little late to the table on that one, but that's what I listened to them. I know that VP of Sales is from from the hammer right that that's right you're from the hammer correct

and uh of course daniel lenoir was influential on that joshua tree album and uh we should just shout him out here and that and even though i didn't pick 1987 i just want to say that was a very important album in my life, The Joshua Tree. Actually, VP, what do you think of Gord? How's he doing? I think Gord's doing great. He's on a roll. I think he's followed my template, which is great. He's gone deep on details.

I'm a little worried about his time, but he's doing great. How did Moose and Stephanie do? I thought they were fantastic. I think they both put up in passion defenses of their years, which were really fun, nice years for music and should fall like second, third in the board.

Well, I was going to ask, how do you feel about your chances at this point? I feel great. The court hasn't finished yet, but then we have the 290s guys. We're probably going to bring the heat at the end, but I feel pretty strong. And Steph, you think you still can win this thing? It's the culmination. Okay, that's a very cryptic answer, but I'm going to crack that code and say you're scared.

I think you're frightened. That's okay. I'm not scared. I'm not scared because I still think that it's the best point of bringing all those minds, all that music, all that into Three Suns. Beck's got a tough decision. Beck, I feel for you that at the end of this, and I mean, you haven't even heard the greatest year yet because that's 1991. I feel like this is tough for you. Moose, do you think you still got this thing?

You can win this thing? I'm wondering if my genre of music is going to be at a challenge here. I know Beck is a fan of a lot of groups that yourself and Langer are going to bring. True that. Right, Langer are going to bring. True that.

Right, Langer? I would hope that Beck is not judging just on her musical taste, though. 84 was a pretty poppy year, but at the same time had some of the biggest albums ever. I have pages of notes. I'm not missing a thing.

I believe you. I trust you fully. This is evidence of my impartiality and taking notes so that i don't forget and i'm right back everybody is doing a fantastic job i'm really enjoying it beck if you fuck up i'm gonna bring in leave a fumka for the next one so all right back to you gourd okay so I've gone through the albums there's so many great songs to choose from when the streets have no name Troy love a little sheen face smooth

criminal try from blue rodeo it's really hard to find one song that encapsulate everything but like can you send that can you click on the link I sent you I need a needle. So as you may or may not know, 1987 is also famous for Rick Astley's. I'm never going to give you up off his debut album released November 16th, 1987, Whenever You Need Somebody. Famous at the time and more famous since for Rickrolling.

We all just got Rickrolled. Gord, I thought you were going to introduce your real song and then I was going to play that one. That's the plan. Didn't that sound like I was doing that? No, you got to introduce the real song. I did introduce it. Anyway, sorry.

Introduce your real song now. I thought it would be better if I actually sold the real one now. It's okay. See, it's tough when it's live, right? Everyone thinks this is easy. You know, knowing that Mike's not going to, editor Mike is not going to show up in this episode. You got to really be on your toes because there's no editing happening here.

I think we got everybody on that. I'm seeing some validation, at least. We were all enjoying the Rick Roll. So, as I said, it was difficult to find one song that captures 1987 well, and instead of going for the best, I found one song that really encapsulates that combination of that transition from New Wave, which is powerful throughout the 1980s, to powerful

guitar sound. And I chose Dinosaur Jr. and what I think is one of the best cover songs ever. It's a fun fact, it's a cover song of a song that was released in May 1987, and they released the cover version of it in december 14 1987. guitar solo Show me how you do that trick The one that makes me scream, she said The one that makes me laugh, she said I threw her arms around my neck Show me how you do it I'm not sure I realized how close together the two releases were.

Yeah, I didn't realize it until I did the research, but it's quite a turnaround on that. And we haven't said it yet, but this is a Cure song. Correct. From Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me. Right. Okay, I like to see your game. You kind of got a three for one, right? Because you got the Rick Astley in there,

and then you also got this cover of the original in All Are From 1987. I think that just proves how important that year is. It's time to rest my case, I think. And I do think this is one of those bands I look at and I say, oh, that's where grunge comes from. Like, you can kind of spot these bands coming up in the mid to late 80s and say, oh, look at that.

Like, whether it be Sonic Youth or it be this or the... Yeah, there's a whole bunch. Yeah, fantastic. Keep on selling it, Mike. I'll appreciate it. This is the most abrupt end of any song ever, so, yeah. Right, it just sort of falls off the cliff here, but I'll fade it down elegantly because Editor Mike is

on holidays this week, but thank you so much YYZ Gord. You did a great job. I don't know if we applauded for everybody, but here you go. Clap, clap, clap, clap. Alright, guys, this is going to be a bit weird because I'm just going to talk about why 1991 is actually the greatest year in terms

of album releases. And I will just talk about some of the albums that come out in 1991. You guys ready? Yeah. I can't hear you. Are you ready? Woo! Why not?

Yes! Why not, Langer says, because Langer's scared. Langer knows I'm going to go big here and he's going to be left with... Although, again, Langer, you're going to finish second, so feel good about that. Okay. Langer knows I'm going to go big here and he's going to be left with... Although again, Langer, you're going to finish second, so feel good about that. Okay, so where do I begin? How about a little album from Soundgarden

called Bad Motor Finger? Anybody here like Jesus Christ pose? Sure. Yeah, Bad Motor Finger. I think I could win it. I can shut this down right now and I think I've got it. What are my favorite Soundgarden album.

It kicks ass. That came out in 1991. Hey, any Pearl Jam fans here? I'm going to assume all of you. Pearl Jam's 10 came out in 1991. Are you kidding me? Black, even flow. I could just, I mean, the whole damn album's fantastic.

But here's a fun fact about Pearl. Also overplayed. You know why it's fucking overplayed? Because it's good. That's how you get overplayed. Okay, take notes. Pearl Jam's 10 was put onto the Rolling Stone list. They had a top 500 of all time that they compiled.

Pearl Jam's 10 is on that damn list. One of the greatest albums of all time as per Rolling Stones. And what can I say about Pearl Jam's 10? I feel like it's done. Beck loves Pearl Jam's 10 and she knows it. I can see Beck, you love Pearl Jam's 10. Well, guess what else came out in 1991? You ready for this? Another song that's on Rolling Stone's top 500 of all time. Quite highly ranked. It's in the top 10. Nirvana's Nevermind. Wow.

Nirvana's Nevermind came out in 1991. Lithium, I could go on. Holy smokes. They basically get credit for a resurgence amongst Gen Xers like us in terms of pop punk culture and this whole grunge movement we all refer to. I'm not done yet. Public Enemy came up earlier.

I think it was YYZ Gord. 1987. Right, Yo! Bum Rush the Show, which is my fourth favorite Public Enemy album, and it's a good one. But in 1991, the enemy strikes, it was called Apocalypse 91, the enemy strikes it was called apocalypse 91 the enemy strikes black that gave us can't trust it by the time i get to arizona a whole bunch of great jams came out of that but public enemy one of their great albums came out in 1991 teenage fan club

bandwagon-esque really that was 1991 it was, Screamadelica. That's on the Rolling Stones top 500 of all time. What else can I... That one's an iconic album unto itself. But Red Hot Chili... Wait a minute. These notes can't be correct. Red Hot Chili Peppers, Blood Sugar, Sex Magic. That came out in 1991? That's also on that Rolling Stone list. Holy smokes. Under the Bridge. Oh, where do I go from here? Any hard rock fans in the audience? Metallica's Black Album comes out in 1991.

That's right. Enter Sandman. They're all done. It's over. Holy moly. Holy. I feel like Betty in Going Down the Road. I've been watching a lot of that.

It's like, oh, what are we going to do? Oh, we're not going to be able to pay our rent. Okay, REM. One of their finest albums is Out of Time. That's the one that gives you Losing My Religion. That came out in 19... That can't be true. All these albums could not have come out in 1991.

Dilla Soul is Dead came out in 91. The first Smashing Pumpkins album, Gish. What? I'm almost done here, but Guns N' Roses, both your user illusions came out in, of course, they came out the same day. Of course, they came out in 1991. Don't Cry, November Rain.

Hip Hop Heads, A Tribe Called Quests, Low End Theory. One of my favorite hip hop albums of all all time that gave a scenario and more that's also on the rolling stones top 500 of all time that came out in 1991 i gotta take a moment here let me just get a sip of my uh octopus here now gourd i mentioned i gave you props for the U2 album, Joshua Tree. Like, how do you follow that up, right? Like, I don't even know what you do. You put out the Joshua Tree.

Yeah, they did the rattle and hum thing, but that was a lot of covers and a lot of, you know, they redid some songs. It doesn't really count as a proper studio album. But what is their follow-up? Oh, yeah. 1991 gave us Octung Baby. That gave us one. That's on the Rolling Stones top 500 too. Boyz II Men 2 came out.

That's on the Rolling Stones top 500. LL Cool J's Mama Said Knock You Out. My Bloody Valentine's Loveless, that came out in 1991. That's on the Rolling Stones top 500. Do you guys know how I close every damn episode of this podcast? We're almost at episode, what are we, 950? Do you know what I played to close out 950 episodes of

this thing? I'll tell you what I play. I play Rosie and Gray from one of my favorite albums of all time. Did you know Shakespeare, My Butt, from Lowest to the Low came out in 1991? Did you know that? That's a fact. That's a fact.

Where's that on the Rolling Stone list? That's on the chart attack list. Okay. I think Cam Gordon assembled that list. Okay.

We're almost done here. I'm about to play a song. It's over. I can see it in Beck's eyes. This is over. I almost feel bad for taking candy from a baby here.

But I will shout out some Canadian bands. I want to shout out the Dream Warriors. I love the Dream Warriors. They recorded this album and DJed Ron Nelson some Canadian bands. I want to show the dream warriors. I love the dream warriors. They recorded this album and DJ Ron Nelson's basement. He's a great FOTM. This is of course,

I'm speaking of, and now the legacy begins. That came out in 1991, massive attacks, blue lines. That's on the Rolling Stone 500. That came out in 1991 and one more album. I'll speak to,

I'll kick out this jam, and then I'll just let Langer do his thing because I'm a polite guy, and then I'll take the first place prize from Beck. But here's the album I want to speak of. I think it might be the best Tragically Hip album of all time. Beck, do you like the Tragically Hip? A little bit.

A little bit, eh? A little bit. I could put forward a pretty good argument. The greatest Tragically Hip album of all time came out in 1991. What song should I play? Beck may like them, but Judge Beck is completely unbiased and doesn't have a opinion. Exactly.

Thank you, YRZGord. I appreciate it. I think I can speak over the long intro of this song when I just say, Beck, you know what you got to do. You know what you got to do. Does your mother tell you things? Long, long, when I'm gone. Who you talking to?

She telling you I'm wrong It's a great mistake I'm wide awake Driving's rained out Weatherman with fingers in the sky Pokes it out, pulls it in Don't know why

Same mistake It's been a long time running It's been a long time coming Well, what the way Rest in peace, Cordowny. Langer, do you want to call it, man? I kind of want to go do some other things. Maybe read the kids a book or something. You want to call it a night, buddy? I can't talk over this song.

Sacrilegious, right? That's how good 1991 was. You can't even talk over this song. And I'm with you, buddy. But you think it's worthwhile? Do you bother proceeding here? Well, I think for everything you said about 1991, 1994 had an answer for it.

Well, don't start it yet here i want to say hello to stephanie wilkinson's canine what's your dog's name you're muted this is clark clark named after wendell of course no named after clark and No. Named after Clark and Addison in the corner that Wrigley Field's at. I thought, you know, out of my mind, it was, of course, I was thinking Hero of the Day, Metallica, their best album. The Black album came out in 1991. Oh, Clark.

Hello, Clark. Clark. Moose, how did I do? Do you still think you have a shot Well Gordon and I were just discussing That you know there was Other radio stations than 102.1 In 91

I did mention the low end Theory And you missed the yellow tape How could you miss the yellow tape. How could you miss the yellow tape? Oh, thank you, Gordon. Gordon, of course, being the big album that they made with the money they won in the contest, of course. Gordon was not 91, but the yellow tape was.

No, but the yellow tape was 91. And again, just more fuel for my fire. Thank you so much. It was a tape, not an album. Well, I didn't even bring it up. Gordon did. I think it didn't even bring it up. Gord did. I think it would qualify, would it not? Let me talk to the VP of sales for a moment.

He's literally weeping, I think. Are you crying there? You know it's over, right? I mean, when you hear long time running in the background, you're like, why do I bother? Yeah, is he frozen or is he weeping? I can't tell with the VP of sales. He's frozen.

He's stuck in 1971. Zoom sucked in 71. He's left the Zoom. This is what, ladies and gentlemen, I'm not going to edit this live on the floor. VP of sales heard my case for 1991 and left the Zoom. He doesn't want to be around. He's out.

He doesn't want to be around for the coronation ceremony when Beck announces the winner. It's like this twin game of musical debates. You are eliminated. Right. Now, before we pass the baton to Langer, because you know what? I'm a fair man. I'm going to give him a shot.

What did you think of... I guess I don't want to taint the ecosystem. Never mind. I was going to ask Beck about that song, but then you guys will say, you'll cry foul if I do that. So let me just go straight to Langer. Langer. And remember, I'm a big fan of the 1994 albums. I was looking at the list.

I love a lot of those. Tell us why you think 1994 was better than 1991, because that's the real question here tonight. It really is. I think I want to congratulate everyone for giving it their best shot it was pretty cute what you guys did but really it is a two-horse race between 1991 and 1994 um i'm gonna go gregatsky here and go around the world and talk about some different albums that came out and like i said everything that came out in 91, there was an answer to it in 94. So my radio station of choice in the 90s was CFNY.

So there's going to be very little opera in my list. But some of the more general albums that came out in 94, Pink Floyd had The Division Bell, Rolling Stones, Aerosmith. We had debuts from Hootie and the Blowfish, which apparently was a big album. And Warren G, Regulate, came out that year too. Shout out to the Yacht Rock song that inspired that jam. Yes. In terms of music from the U.S., I'll list some albums that came out, and then I'll talk about why 1994 was better before I get into some of the other ones.

So we had Jar of Flies from Alice in Chains. The best video ever created, Mike, was what? The best video ever is Sober by Tool. Tool Sober by Tool. Tool Sober. No. Ill Communication, Beastie Boys, came out in 94. Beck Mellow Gold.

We had albums from Dinosaur Jr. and Frank Black, Grant Lee Buffalo. Hole, Live Through This. That album. Kurt Cobain was killed seven days before it was released. Live Throwing Copper came out that year. Albums from Liz Phair, Meat Puppets, Nine Inch Nails, Downward Spiral

had Closer on it and a couple other good songs. Best Unplugged album ever. Nirvana Unplugged was released in 1994. We had albums from Pavement and Sonic Youth. One of the bands you mentioned before, Mike, Soundgarden, Super Unknown, came out in 94, which had Spoonman on it and a couple other songs.

Pearl Jam's third album, Vitalogy, came out in 94. Stone Temple Pilots, Purple. Pearl Jam's third album, Vitality, came out in 94. Stone Temple Pilots, Purple. Offspring Smash, the best-selling independent label album of all time, came out in 94. Toravus had Under the Pink. In terms of debuts, just out of American bands, Cake. Green Day had Dookie.

Guster, one of the most underrated bands of all time, Jeff Buckley's Grace, his only album, Marilyn Manson's debut, Sponge, Stabbing Westward, The Toadies, Veruca Salt, and Weezer with Buddy Holly and Sweater Song. All of those were just debuts. And shout out to Rick Okasik, who came up, I think it was Moose Grumpy's argument, shouted out the cars. Yep. So that's just the American music that was released in 1994. So why was 94 such a great year? There were a lot of notable occurrences that year.

So Nancy Kerrigan's knee became a hot topic for the news. White Broncos driving down highways in Los Angeles also became very popular. And like I mentioned before, the unsolved mystery of Kurt Cobain's murder. Okay, if I can interrupt here, because I heard you say it the first time, and I got to stop now.

You said Kurt Cobain was killed, okay? We all look at each other like killed by himself, right? What are you suggesting here? Oh, well, it's a mystery.

Is it? It seems pretty clear to me. Scholars will be debating this for years to come. Oh, really? They're not debating it now? Oh, Langer, are you going to tell me that they didn't land on the moon? It's the same scholars that are denying vaccines.

9-11 was an inside job. Langer, what are your thoughts on the vaccines? Yeah, yeah, whatever. Okay. Beck, arey taking notes soundtracks that came out that year so the reality bite soundtrack which repopularized my shirona um the crow soundtrack which was fantastic which had dead souls by nine inch nail which was a joy division cover fantastic um some people will have enjoyed the Lion King soundtrack that came out that year.

And also, like you said before, the best soundtrack of all time. Judgment Night. Which one? Pulp Fiction came out, right? Pulp Fiction. Right, but not Judgment Night. No. Moving over to the united kingdom so the nice thing about uh music out of the united

kingdom then um was brit pop was starting up that cool britannia movement was starting up and it was taking us to that next level taking away from like manchester and shoegaze taking it to the next level so we had albums from in spiral in Spiral Carpets, Devil Hopping, had Saturn V on it, Killing Joke, Massive Attack, Morrissey, Elvis Costello, Pop Will Eat Itself, Pulp had the album called Hers, which had Do You Remember the First Time? That was really the beginning of this new Brit pop kind of movement. was really the beginning of this new Brit pop kind of movement.

A little band called Suede had an album, Dog Man Star. The Cranberries out of Ireland had a album that went seven times platinum in the U.S. called No Need to Argue, which had Zombie and Ode to My Family on it, which was fantastic. Good album. Another album, Stone Roses, Second Coming. So unpopular opinion. I think that album was better than their debut album. Had fantastic songs on it.

Love Spreads, probably the best one. That came out in 94. And there was also the beginning of this PR-created feud between Oasis and Blur. So both bands had an album coming out that year. Blur had Parklife and Oasis had their debut album, Definitely Maybe. So really there was, that battle was over before it started. Oasis may have had the more catchy songs, but Blur by far,

the better band, better musicians. Other debuts, we got the first Bush album, which here was called Bush X, Portishead Dummy, and Shen Seven's first album came out that year too. There were some good compilations that came out that year too. So you probably remember If I Was a Carpenter, which was a Carpenter's tributeations that came out that year too So you probably remember

If I Was a Carpenter Which was a Carpenter's tribute album Came out in 94 Oh that has the Sonic Youth one on it right With the Superstar That's a haunting cover of Superstar The Woodstock 94

Obviously came out in 94 Let her come around That's right they said Woodstock 94 obviously came out in 94. That's right. They said, oh, a brown cow, right? Yeah, yeah, that's right. That's right. And he's got the mud.

I remember the mud would be like stuck on his hand as he's strumming. Lung at them, yeah. Yeah. That was the good Woodstock reunion. Sorry, go on. The best compilation of 94 was the CFNY 102.1 New Music Search, which had Trouble Charger's Red on it and Killjoy's Dana. Is that the one that Lois Lolo won but didn't win?

With Gamble? With Gamble? I thought the Gamble one was the head happy. So that's 93. Okay. Yeah. And that's the one where, as you might remember, the infamous discovery that Hayden's take was really... Hayden sang on happy.

No. No. Wait a minute. Take part of me? Yeah, that was actually not Hayden singing on take. That was the deal. It was the guy from Head. Noah Cannon. Noah Cannon. Yes, Noah. Mince. Right. Noah. Yeah, right.

Because Canning is the other guy. Brendan Canning. Yes, it's Noah Mince. Yes. Yes. Yes. Who went to Thor and Lee High School of Stew and Cam. Don't you remember? We heard it 76 fucking times. And you killed it.

I murdered it to go camping. Haven't you heard the hype? Don't believe the hype, Lang. You're doing a great job, buddy. Keep going. Sorry. Thank you. One of the best things about 94, some of these artists that you talked about before, elected not

to release an album that year, just in reverence of the year 1994. Time the fuck out. You're going to start celebrating bands who did not release material in 1994? Listen to me. The Beatles?

Arguably the biggest bands. We've already talked about them here. The two biggest bands of the 80s and 90s. U2. So prior to 1994, they came out with Aptung Baby in 91 and Zoropa in 93, both fantastic. Skipped a couple years

because they weren't going to destroy the legacy of 1994. And what did they release in 97? Pong. Just terrible. Is that discotheque? Is that on there? They were working on discotheque for three years. We will admit, though,

what a fucking follow-up to the Joshua Tree, Octung Baby was, right? Like, Octung Baby, fully loaded. They almost broke up, you know? They went to East Berlin, and they were like, let's see if we can even, like, why together there was a huge a moment where you two was done and then they suddenly i think it was one they wrote one and they said oh we gotta fucking stay together and now we get octagon baby what an album 1991 thanks lang are you doing a great job buddy and you're saying that and you're saying in 1994 they started writing that piece of crap. No, they started that January 1st, 95.

Lang, are you ready to set up your jam? You've done a hell of a job convincing us. I haven't even gotten to Canada yet. One more band. You only... The biggest band in the 80s and 90s. Again, they had Violator in 1990. Songs of Faith and Devotion in 93.

Huge, awesome albums. They skipped 94. And what did they print out after that Ultra are you still talking about bands that did not release material 94 your album rhythm was 94 it turned all these good bands back he's just trying to confuse you by naming great bands

that did not release material 94 you're not buying this are you no I'm not buying it at all your album rhythm was broken later you're docking points right Beck absolutely year on 94. You're not buying this, are you? No, I'm not buying it at all. Your album was Broken Langer. You're docking points, right, Beck? Absolutely. You know what, Langer? If I were you and I were doing 94, I would just say one word and then I'd just say I'm done.

I'd just say Rusty and I'd be gone. That would be it. Rusty did not release an album in 94. Oh, what year was Fluke? I didn't do homework in 95. Okay, well, I didn't do homework in 94. My excuse. Please continue. All right, so I'm moving to Canada now.

And we had the benefit of having CanCon rules. So there were a lot of albums played on Canadian radio that the Americans just didn't have the opportunity to hear. We kind of all know the reasons why. But before I get to to that the reason why the year 1994 was the best for for music was because i think um this was a couple years before this you know new metal with limp biscuit and those kinds of terrible bands came out um the the record the radio industry was consolidating and and you ended up with program directors.

Rather than one program director per radio station, it was just one program director for a bunch of radio stations. And if that guy happened to like Limp Bizkit, well, every bloody radio station in the U.S. was playing that stupid music. So that's why a lot of good music was shut out and a lot of canadian music just didn't even make it in the states um you know you talked a lot about albums that came out 91 and grunge and alternative and it was really kind of getting its its feet wet there and just trying to find its rhythm you're right never mind in 10 and bad motor finger just just just testing the waters here let's see right and all the subsequent albums from those bands were better and it was before they all started selling out so really 94 was the pinnacle of alternative grunge and before it went terrible um canadian bands so some of the

bands that that had debuts in 94 the kill joys had had their album Starry. Trouble Charger came out with NC-17. Our Lady Peace had Naveed. And Moist came out with Silver. And one of your favorite bands, Mike, the Gandarvas, So Bubble and Inertia was released in 94.

Yeah, 94 sounds like a hell of a year. Hell of a year. Some bands that came out with subsequent albums, not their debuts, Barenaked Ladies, Maybe You Should Drive. Maybe not a great album, but it was released in 94.

So why are you bringing it up if it's not a great album? Like, come on now. You're here to tell it. I ran down a list of amazing, critically acclaimed albums that came out in 1991. And you're saying, oh, not a great album, but it did come out. We're not doing quantity.

We're not doing quantity, sorry. We're doing quality here, Langer. Come on. I think you're arguing why it's not a great year. It had some good albums, but it's not a great year. I'm turning around on this. I think Gord's going to finish second. Yeah.

Sarah McLachlan, Stumbling Towards Ecstasy. Oh, yeah. Hold on, buddy. Hold on. I think that was one of the songs on it. Yeah. It was a great song on Fumbling Towards Ecstasy. Hold On was my favorite.

5440 came out with Smiling Buddha Cabaret. Yeah, it's a big one. Which had Blame Your Parents and an appropriate song for this group here, Assaholic. Rhymes with Orange had Trapped in the Machine, which had Toy Train and She Forgot to Laugh. Pure, Generation Six Pack had Anna is a Speed Freak and Denial on it. Love both of those jams.

Some fantastic albums coming up. I'm in my final stretch here. Sloan came out with Twice Removed. Wow. Had Coax Me, People in the Sky. Fantastic stuff. And Chart Attack would tell you that might be the best Canadians album of all time. Yeah.

Head. Lowercase H, uppercase h head right album jerk an album full of single word song titles um some of the songs on it were answers and happy and yeah they made that album with $100,000 that they won from the CFMI contest. Right. So speaking of that, Lowest of the Low came out with their second album, Hallucigenia. Songs on it, Pistol, Gamble, Dogs of February. Fantastic. Black Monday.

Yep. The album that I think is the second best album that was released in 94. Number two. We talked about Tragically Hip. And Day for Night came out in 94. It went six times platinum in Canada. Just fantastic. It had Grace 2 on it and Nautical Disaster.

And probably the best song on it is Scared. Yeah. Which is what all of you should be right now but tell me this riddle me this Batman is that a better album than road apples no that hesitation is all I needed to hear buddy thank you so much I think I grow more confident

in your case the more you talk because you keep going on and on And on the judges asleep All these bands I'm talking about in 94 had all matured And perfected their sound So you can argue That individual songs may have been

Better in earlier albums But the entirety of the album Was better in 94 than in any previous And lastly The song that I've chosen the entirety of the album was better in 94 than in any previous year. And lastly, the song that I've chosen for us to listen to today is from a band called, out of Winnipeg, called The Watchmen. The album was called In the Trees, and it had some fantastic songs on it. Wiser, Boneyard Tree, fantastic singles, but I think the best song in 1994 is this one called guitar solo I'm in bedroom season It's not like five years ago

Completely over my body Is that just the place that I want you to be? Look at the pictures you've gotten Like signals from oncoming cars We're covered in a cake from the last time I know it sounds weird, we collected in jars Is that just the place that I wanna be? Oh, can't you see it's a lie fine and me? Please don't make this thing up for me Beautiful selection, Michael Lang.

That's a great song. I think I've seen The Watchmen more than any other band in concert. I've seen them all around Ontario, never outside of Ontario. I think The Watchmen is probably the band that you've had the most members of. Yeah, you're right. Because I've had three of the four.

And the fourth has agreed to come on. I'm just trying to spread them out a little bit. Hey, how many times, if you had to guess, Langer, how many times do you think you've seen The Watchmen? Fifteen. Yeah.

Good for you, buddy. Really do. And do you think they, do you think The Watchmen stole Stu Stone's truck? No, but they probably know the guy that did. All right, keep going, buddy, while this song's in the background here. So this was their second album.

The first one with Ken Tizard as a bass player. Fantastic. The video is kind of iconic as well. If you've seen the video, you know what it's about. And it's a beautiful song. No argument here. Stephanie, what do you think of Langer's presentation?

Has he made a good case for 1994? Well, he made a good case for, you know, what songs weren't, what albums weren't good. No, he did a great job of telling you all the great artists who did not record and drop an album in 1994 in reverence of 1994 correct this year's too good clear the track um but no i thought you did a good job what do you think moose grumpy how did uh how did langanger do here? I'm relieved that Lieve Funke had to be relieved

of her judging duties because she wouldn't have been able to finish for us tonight because Langer took us way past her bedtime, so I'm glad we had Beck to be able to do this for us. What is Lieve Funke's bedtime? Because as we speak, I'm just going to tell you it's almost exactly 8 o'clock p.m. Eastern

time. I think Juan just tucked her in and it's almost exactly 8 o'clock p.m. Eastern Time. I think Juan just tucked her in and she's all settled. I can visualize this, Juan tucking her in. Good night, Lieve. Now, I did see the Dutch won a big World Cup qualifier tonight, and I think they're on to the World Cup. So she might be out celebrating the Netherlands returning to the World Cup. She had gone to the gym and she had to get home to eat.

We tried for a judge pop-in, but she couldn't join us this evening. Oh, she has an exciting life. That is for sure. Why YZ Gord? How did Langer do? I think there was a little too much quantity and not enough quality. But he did make up for it with that song. It was a really good song

and an artist who decided it was a good thing to record in that year. Well, every year has got good songs. And he opened up that conspiracy thing. He lost me right there. Yeah, Langer, can we talk about that? I don't think he's got good songs. And he opened up that conspiracy thing. He lost me right there. Yeah, Langer, can we talk about that? I don't think he's going to recover. Was it Courtney Love, do you think,

was behind the murder of Kurt Cobain? Like, what do you think? And I'm surprised that a smart guy like you would kind of, like, believe these conspiracy theories. I don't know. We'll leave it to the experts. How about that? The experts are done. They said it's suicide.

It's a clear suicide. The Kurt Cobain killed himself. I was doing some research in the gaping amount of time we had there and the FBI had to come out and make a statement this year due to the letters that they've received from conspiracy theory people

wanting to know if this was a suicide or a death. So I think we need to see some handwriting samples. Langer. That's a thank you. Thank you for that. Now, VP of Sales, before I turn the

mic back to Beck, our esteemed judge tonight, how do you think Langer did? Pretty good, right? Look, Langer, I love you. I think you did a fantastic job of filling time. There was a lot of filibustering. There was some disinformation, which concerned me.

And you had a great song pick. Thank you for that. Good song. I hope you enjoy third or fourth place, wherever you're at. I thought everyone chose a good song. I'll say everybody chose a good jam. I enjoyed every song I heard on this episode,

including the one we're going to hear at the end from Shakespeare, My Butt, a fantastic album released in 1991. All right, Beck. Unless you have any final words, Langer, I don't mean to cut you off. Do you have any final words for Beck before I get her decision?

No, I'm just going to say mic drop. That's all you got to say. Okay, that's all you got. All right. Beck, don't say anything yet because I'm going to play a drum roll. Okay? An exciting new audio element arrives on Toronto Mic.

Better late than never. It's like a morning zoo type sound effect. Okay. Beck, is this a difficult decision or is this pretty much a slam dunk? What are your thoughts at this time? It is incredibly difficult. I want to – I was going to ask if I could reserve my decision and give it to you in a few days.

I need to go over my notes. No, that's bullshit, Beck. We gave you this gig and you're going to do it. I just want to shout out Stephanie Wilkinson for rocking the Toronto Mike hoodie. Of course, Gord's wearing a Toronto Mike t-shirt. And Beck, I don't want to say it because if people hear the judge...

Oh, Langer's got the Lost Indy City. Shout out to FOTMP Fowler. But I don't want to tell the listenership that the judge is wearing a shirt for the guy who went to bat for 1991. Because in a moment when we hear 1991 won, people are going to roll their eyes and go, well, you know, of course. Okay. So, Beck, do you have an answer? Do you have a winner in your head? Everyone's a winner.

Oh, bullshit. Everybody's a winner, I think. I am going to come to a decision, but I just want to commend everybody for the quality of the research, the passion with which they delivered their arguments, the song selections have all been outstanding. Everybody was pulling at my heartstrings,

taking me back down memory lane of, you know, Tiny Dancer and even Tiffany and Debbie Gibson and it was Amazing Had so much fun

But there's Yes someone squeaked ahead Oh someone squeaked Are you ready? I'm going to play the drum roll And then we're going to get the winner Are you ready? Okay I can do it

I committed to this I will do it I committed to this, I will do it Alright 1991 Yes! Oh, come on Fixed, fixed, fixed The fix is in

The fix is in You're going to need to defend that decision. Oh my god. Come on, the peanut gallery. Quiet in the peanut gallery. I've got the notes. For the record though, on the record here, this could be used as evidence in a court of law.

Please tell us. This is legit, right? I won legitimately. Not because I'm hosting the show or you're wearing my t-shirt or whatever. I won. No, because I'm hosting the show or you're wearing my t-shirt or whatever. I won. No, I got it. You squeaked it out. I don't think it was a slam dunk.

Everybody did a really great job. It's 1991. He played the hip. It was the hip. So who's the non-host that won? You don't have to answer that question, Peck. So who's the non-host that won? You don't have to answer that question, Beck. Hey, Mike, what school did you go to?

Somebody cut his mic, please. Mute Langer there. Beck, I trust you. You're a straight-up judge. If I did not win, you would have said, okay, 1995, or you would have gone with 71, or you would have gone with 87, or you would have gone even with 94. But based on what you heard tonight, you've decided, and you're

sober of sound mind and body, you've decided that 1991 won. That's what I went to bat for. Therefore, I am the winner. Becky did a great job as judge. A round of applause to Beck. Everybody for Beck. I feel like I'm going to get food over here.

The judge did say that she was getting tipsy in the chat. I'll just point out. That's a good point, actually. That only helps you. That only helps you appreciate music. Okay, before I play another great song from 1991, does anyone else have any remarks they want

to share? Anybody want to congratulate me on my victory Stephanie how about you we'll start with Stephanie everybody gets one more moment here before I play some lowest of the low and we say goodbye tonight Steph how was it I love this 1991 there was like I definitely learned a lot tonight I learned it was great I still think 1985 was a watershed year but you know

excellent okay how about you moose grumpy uh tonight was great it was a almost a little reminder of the pandemic friday days getting together with some friends and talking music so it was a nice little uh tonight. Thank you very much. On that note, will everybody on this Zoom, and there's only five of you, but will you be, wait, one, two, three, four, five. There's actually six of you. I forgot to count the judge. Will you be joining the FOTM Zoom that we're going to do on,

I think it's December 9th. Make sure you DM me or write me and get the Zoom link because we have a, something magical is going to happen in that holiday Zoom. And I want as many FOTMs as want to come out to be on that Zoom. So, okay. So thank you for reminding me of that, Moose Grumpy. Gord, any final remarks before we hear Shakespeare, my bud?

It was a lot of fun. If I'm going to lose to anyone, I'm happy to lose to the one that was fixed for all along so well said well said VP of sales you had a tough challenge because nobody on this I mean except for diaper gourd over there and maybe diaper Steph which I still need to see her ID to verify if that's true. But nobody remembers 1971, which I think makes it tougher. But you did a hell of a job, buddy. What did you think of tonight?

Thank you. Yeah, it was a ton of fun. This was great. I think everyone did a great job, even Langer. It's tough to lose. I felt like I had the numbers and the will of the people behind me but I got to respect the judge's

decision and so I say a hearty congratulations to you Mike and then the last word I leave to Langer Langer what say you at this hour it was a tough loss so congratulations to you the fix was it all we tough loss, so congratulations to you. The fix was in all

along. We all knew it, so what can you do? Congratulations especially to Tyler for not embarrassing yourself too much. Well done. Well, all that really matters at the end of this is that I had a good time.

Let me just tell you, I had a blast. Like I enjoyed some tasty beer and I heard some good songs and I just enjoyed every minute of this. So yeah, I won. But that's not really what I'm excited about at this time. I'm just happy we all got together, shared some good music and some good memories of good music. So thank you guys for doing this. Thank you. Thank you. doing this. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you. And thank you, Beck, for your excellent judging. You got it right. So no complaints, no complaints on my end.

And that Langer's not bitter. Langer's not coming to the next TMLX and that'll end that streak because he says I've had enough oh that may get all happy and Rush Mike Rush Mike is going to be ecstatic and that brings us to the end of our 950th show

you can follow me on Twitter I'm at Toronto Mike our friends at Great Lakes Brewery are at Great Lakes Beer Chef Drop is at Get Chef Brewery are at Great Lakes Beer. Chef Drop is at Get Chef Drop. Moneris is at Moneris. McKay's CEO Forums are at McKay's CEO Forums.

Palma Pasta is at Palma Pasta. Sticker U is at Sticker U. Ridley Funeral Home, they're at Ridley FH. And Mike Majeski of Remax Specialist Majeski Group with the 200 beautiful Christmas trees. He's not on Twitter. He's on Instagram at Majeski Group Homes. See you all tomorrow and my special

guest is Dan Matheson. Making 71 rules. You've been under my skin for more than 8 years. This podcast has been produced by TMDS and accelerated by Rome Phone. Rome Phone brings you the most reliable virtual phone service to run your business and protect your home number from unwanted calls. Visit RomePhone.ca to get started.