All Time Top Ten

From humble beginnings in Brooklyn, a young Carole King burst on to the Brill Building scene with enough ambition to match her undeniable songwriting talent. Together with partner and then husband Gerry Goffin, they wrote the soundtrack to the lives of millions throughout the 1960’s, writing dozens of hits for such iconic girl groups as The Chiffons, The Shirelles and The Cookies, not to mention a who’s who of great singers and bands from the era, including The Drifters, The Beatles, Aretha Franklin, Dusty Springfield, Herman’s Hermits, The Monkees, The Animals and more. Who could have foreseen that this prolific period was a warm up act for her solo career, which came into full flower with 1971’s Tapestry album. Carole deserves all of the praise and love she gets in this week’s tribute podcast, and special guest Joe Lavelle and last-minute-foisted guest Shannon Hurley help showcase why Carole King is one of our greatest living songwriters. Joe can be found sometimes writing and performing at LA’s “Write Club” showcase. Find out more here:
 https://www.facebook.com/WRITECLUBLosAngeles/ Shannon and Ben’s electro-pop project Lovers & Poets has a new single out - a cover of the theme to Barbarella. Listen here: 
https://loversandpoets.bandcamp.com Stream this playlist on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/user/alltimetopten/playlist/0Z6SOKeg9bRavRQUU5OY6O?si=X5nnk1NiQvqEge3CISMB9A

All hail the mighty synthesizer! Around the world, from the late 70's to the mid 80's, the main attraction for a huge percentage of popular music was the dulcet tones of a warm analog Roland, Fairlight, Oberheim or Moog synth, performed by weirdos with crazy hair and insane levels of songwriting talent. The heyday of Synth Pop was the sound of the future, but with musicality and songs that are and always will be timeless. All Time Top Ten is proud to welcome back the Numbers Girl herself, in the guise of singer/songwriter and synth junkie Shannon Hurley, who helps break down the best songs from a specific time and place in the history of pop music, songs that still sound great and vital in 2018. Shannon and Ben are excited to release a new recording as Lovers & Poets. Listen to their cover of the the theme from "Barbarella" at their Bandcamp page: https://loversandpoets.bandcamp.com Stream this playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/alltimetopten/playlist/44phKz8WqdLc2jK9oYWuJ8?si=lQfBGrHNQKyUcJ55nn67ww Check out the Top Ten Classic Synth Pop Hits video playlist on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeGTJOFSIgU&list=PL2Sj57_93sScCTXE6zoeqe9C-XpMJl7rn Get yer ATTT T-Shirts! https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/alltimetopten/episodes/2018-10-07T17_22_09-07_00

We're feeling goofy this week, and we think the main reason is our resident Goof-In-Chief David Daskal is back in Goodlist Studios for the first time in quite a while. Along with his gal-pal, David has brought with him an idea. An idea for a podcast. The playlist that was spawned from this idea will blow more than a few minds, including your humble host's. We've all had that song we've been singing for years and since we can remember, we've always assumed it was a certain artist or band. Now it's 2018 and truth bombs are falling from the cosmos in the way of Top Ten Cases Of Musical Mistaken Identity. Once you know the truth, you'll never hear these songs the same way again. If you're lucky, you learn something new everyday, here's hoping we supply that lesson with this week's podcast. David wants you all to know about his recent appearance on the super-rad-sounding podcast Alphabetallica. Listen here to witness David's take on the Metallica track "Holier Than Thou": https://metallicapodcast.podbean.com/e/69-holier-than-thou-wdavid-daskal/ As you'll hear as a special announcement on this week's podcast, GoodList Media is fast developing an ATTT spin-off podcast called Pop Culture Worst To First, premiering October 29th. Follow PCWTF on Facebook, and soon it will be everywhere. https://www.facebook.com/Pop-Culture-Worst-To-First-2048391832050633/?ref=bookmarks Stream this playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/alltimetopten/playlist/0gp7cJnebGIlMerszbx96j?si=8yCUpoWlRtW4H_PyZ-kycA

If you're as tired of the daily news onslaught as we are, if you're suffering from outrage fatigue and are worried that you're starting to not give a crap about anything, this week's playlist could not have come soon enough. At the time of this writing the US midterm elections are a scant 6 weeks away and the deadline to register to vote in some states is just days away. This is the first time in 2 years that we're going to have any real say about what's going on in Washington. Do we want to change the current situation? There's really only one way to do that at the moment - we gotta vote our asses off. Pal Of The Pod Ryan Stockstad is back to help count down the songs you need to hear - songs to motivate, galvanize, and inspire you to get up off your ass and help us start turning this damn thing around. People all over the country are being deleted from voter rolls for seemingly no reason. Even if you're registered, you need to confirm your status as such. There are a number of helpful sites that can tell you in a matter of seconds whether or not you're still registered. Try https://votesaveamerica.com for this info and more. Ryan's YouTube series Halloween Horror Picks is gearing up for a new season of horror film reviews. Get caught up on previous seasons here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVRiDw73ddw&list=PLi45zQyp9B6FkqCHlxqndk3iLU0qEOx5M Stream this playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/alltimetopten/playlist/4tTfLShPtYEsMn29IMdX9F?si=mhoqt1pGRba1tRzmVXxguQ

Just when we thought we had progressed as a society, far enough that Dr. King's dream of universal brotherhood was within our grasp, we had to go and take a giant leap backward. In 2018 racists, bigots, white nationalists, white supremacists, alt-right neo-nazis and the rest of the scum are rising to the surface, emboldened and empowered enough to march in the streets, with no sheets covering up their pitiful faces. These days there's a sinister element where it feels like the progress we made has been thwarted. In truth we're just getting started on the road to having what Peter Tosh so eloquently asked for - equal rights and justice. We here at ATTT are as proud as we can be to be joined by Nyaze and Mel of the fearless Woke With Kids Podcast, a weekly dissection of current events as told through the lens of an unapologetically enlightened couple working on carving out a better society for their two kids in this crazy world. While we count down the greatest songs against racism, much is discussed and believe it or not, there's a ton of laughs. ATTT host Ben Eisen was a guest on the latest episode of WWK, which you can download at all of the places. Here's the Soundcloud link: https://soundcloud.com/wokewithkids/ep-103-burn-your-nikes-confirming-kavanaugh-when-to-pull-your-gun-on-a-white-man?utm_source=soundcloud&utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=facebook Stream this playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/alltimetopten/playlist/4TM6NeuYv8oOJt0edU7sYm?si=d9u-l9eUSxubnfyb8il0VA

In 2018, to be an American is to be paranoid, vindictive, and fearful. We don't trust each other and 40% of the country lives in a bubble of misinformation from conservative media, where their viewpoint is shielded from honest dialogue by a steady diet of scapegoating, fear-mongering and straight up BS. Someone needs to tell it like it is. In that spirit, ATTT feels it's our patriotic duty to do yet another volume of songs about people that repulse us, aka the worst people in the world - liars, con-artists, megalomaniacs and racists. These are people that exemplify their hero, our current president. Thankfully for this go-around we have a little help from our friends Charley T and the mighty Rick Torres of the LA-based punk rock titans Dirtycakes. These gents help keep things fun so we don't get caught in a rabbit-hole of despair; and they bring the fire & fury, enough to keep us going for another week and determined to get the vote out on November 6th and start turning this damn thing around. Testify! Dirtycakes is in studio and on tour, coming soon to your town to rock your face off. Find out more and listen to some killer tunes here: https://dirtycakesband.bandcamp.com Stream this playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/alltimetopten/playlist/7opz5dh4TaUKp5IHq6L7Ui?si=gFLnauDcS4-G1yWff_ZBIA If you want more here's the archive links to Songs For Donald Trump Volumes 1 & 2: https://www.mixcloud.com/beneisen/episode-234-top-ten-songs-for-donald-trump-wmike-vanessa-axelsen/ https://www.mixcloud.com/beneisen/episode-279-top-ten-songs-for-donald-trump-vol-2-wnina-jo-smith-rain-perry/

Where does the time go? It's September and the US midterm elections are 2 minuscule months away. Are we sitting on our hands? Hell no. We here at ATTT are fired up to vote, and to encourage other like-minded people (aka people who give a shit) to get out and vote this November. We're doing our part by helping you fill up your music players with empowering, righteous-anger-filled music to inspire you to make the most of this moment and be that change that we all want to see. First things first, there's been a lot of talk about women, and their role in this fight. We think it's everything. All across the country there are badass women of all stripes running for office, tearing down the patriarchy and working to make this world a better one, one elected position at a time. This is why it was a no-brainer to make Top Ten Feminist Anthems Volume 2 the kick-off episode for this month of pull-no-punches episodes. The HBIC of this show is our very own Rock N Roll Librarian Summer Blake, who helps count down another set of tunes about female empowerment to get your fist in the air and your voice amped up to 11. If you missed Feminist Anthems Volume 1, check it out here: https://www.mixcloud.com/beneisen/episode-292-top-ten-feminist-anthems-wvanessa-narad-axelsen-candi-bartlett/ Stream this playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/alltimetopten/playlist/68Xog2jd0s5T4EngAZbPew?si=HXXwDsnuSBCe5YvGe4yuvA

We know you don't need any reminding, but it is the end of August and if you're of student age and you're not already back in school, you will be soon. It's a fact of life. It's also a fact that there are a metric ton of great songs about teachers, students, classrooms, principals, homework and detention. We here at ATTT could think of no better guest to educate the masses on music than Pal Of The Pod Jeff Axelrod (hey that rhymes!) who just so happened to be in LA on break from his new teaching gig - in China! Jeff regales with stories on what it's like being a teaching newbie jumping right into the deep end, teaching English to middle school kids in China. Along the way Jeff and Ben play some of their favorite songs for going back to school. Listen up, because we don't want to have to fail you. Keep up with how Jeff's adventures in the Far East are going at his blog: http://adventures.chinateachingnewbie.com Stream this playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/alltimetopten/playlist/26TLLQTVvOTlZTYY0JC83A?si=PvniubymQgq4uHxvXkpl7w

If you're a songwriter itching to make a statement about humanity or looking to tell a tall tale, animals can be a perfect muse. Throughout music history, we've heard from the old blues masters on down through modern indie rock and everything in between - fish, reptiles, mammals, birds, insects and amphibians make great subjects for some of the best songs ever made. Enter guitarist, songwriter and all-around swell fella Geoff Pearlman. Geoff and Ben crack open an entire zoo's worth of informative, goofy, whimsical and sublime tunes about our brothers, sisters and cousins in the animal kingdom. We hope we did them proud. Programming note 1 - Since we recently covered Songs About Cats And Dogs, our feline and canine friends will not be heard from this time around. Programming note 2 - Big time thanks to Shannon Hurley for mastering the hell out of this episode. Let us know if the sound quality is an improvement. Geoff Pearlman's music and other goings-on in his career can be accessed here: https://geoffpearlman.bandcamp.com Stream this playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/alltimetopten/playlist/4FMHHGq67QGu6Z6bbmW1K7?si=7xddUkTKQVayDiaDrFhQVg

What's the point of writing this blurb about existentialism in music when we're all gonna die anyway? Stream this playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/alltimetopten/playlist/57weIATvVr0cCqsrC33fxD?si=-jz-a094QmiETqesTJUyBg Listen to Existential Songs Volumes 1 & 2: https://www.mixcloud.com/beneisen/episode-228-top-ten-existential-songs-volume-1-wgabe-scalone/ https://www.mixcloud.com/beneisen/episode-274-top-ten-existential-songs-volume-2-wgabe-scalone/

The 3rd and final episode taped while on assignment in Wisconsin tackles the godfathers of heavy metal. Inarguably the most commercially successful metal band in history and perhaps it's most creative and vital, Metallica broke through in the mid 80's like a buzzsaw, taking the genre to dizzying new heights. When it came time for their turn as the "biggest band in the world" in 1991, they seized the opportunity to put a heavy metal album in the hands of seemingly every kid in America. Metallica was and is still a force to be reckoned with and ATTT is proud to welcome 2 of Ben's brothers and a childhood friend to the podcast to talk about the heaviest band of all time and metal's crowning achievement. Special thanks to guests Abe and Ira Eisen as well as our pal Eric for an epic show that gets to all of the essentials. Stream this playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/alltimetopten/playlist/0c6qCJm3oi6uRsEGdzthkr?si=g8dqCyb1RJWBOlHQAGcNWA

As the Divine Ms. M will tell you, you got to have friends to make the day last long. In this uncertain and vicious world that's overrun with liars and cheats, a good friend or two can mean the difference between joy and despair. In that spirit, Ben is joined by some of his oldest friends in the world for a podcast that features songs that explore the many-layered facets to friendship, while jumping genres faster than you can say "I love you, man." Top Ten Songs About Friendship is the 2nd of 3 podcasts that were taped while Ben was on assignment in Wisconsin, and this week's show is a nostalgic trip with 3 pals with dozens of years of friendship behind it. We hope you share it with some of your besties, BFFs, buds, pals, chums, casual acquaintances, and that dude you barely know. Stream this playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/alltimetopten/playlist/40dsCnlDdUZcDO5cIkDLhs?si=KpviBIJhTzyA7HPMA2oxkw DJ & Dixie's band Body Futures has a new album out for your enjoyment. Listen here: https://bodyfutures.bandcamp.com DJ and Chris's band IfIHadAHiFi is hard at work another stellar noise rock masterpiece. Find out more here: https://ifihadahifi.bandcamp.com Chris' band The Glacial Speed has stuff for you to check out as well: https://theglacialspeed.bandcamp.com

Doo-wop music of the 50s and early 60s was born on the mean streets of New York City. Borrowing from pop, jazz and blues; groups began popping up all over The Big Apple with that signature doo-wop sound - tight 4 or 5-part harmonies, nonsense syllables, simple rhythms and little to no instrumentation. Doo-wop started out of stripped-down necessity - basically its the kind of group that literally any 4 or 5 people could form, as long as they could sing. As the genre progressed throughout the 50's it began to get more sophisticated and branched off to other regions and incorporated more styles and arrangements. By the time the genre had seen it's decline in the 60's, it had laid the groundwork for rock n roll, soul and all the great sounds to come out of Detroit and Liverpool. For that we owe it to doo-wop to give it it's own episode of ATTT. Of course we have our ace in the hole, Paul Eisen, aka Ben's dad, who lived in NYC in the 50's and was an impressionable pre-teen and teenager during doo-wop's heyday. You can bet he has an opinion or two on what he considers his #1 favorite style of music, as he has been a devoted fan since the beginning. Stream this playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/alltimetopten/playlist/5dtmsijnoxuSsM1ImX8mNZ?si=PW4dR09sSPiTKzmtCbTIXQ

For whatever reason, the law of bands is that they have to break up, except for U2. U2 will be around when Imagine Dragons is being inducted into the Rock N Roll Hall Of Fame. For the most part, all good things do come to an end, including some of the best bands, groups, and awesome-music-making-partnerships of all time. What we'd love is for some of our faves to come back and reunite. However, since this is our rock n roll fantasy, we want these reunions to be more than just your typical headlining slot at Coachella, we want this to be a REAL reunion, as in the bands in question would be an active band again, with new music. Another caveat for this particular list is that the reunion is 'technically' possible, as in, the band's original or classic lineup has to all be alive. So it's something that, while not likely, could indeed actually happen for real. Ben has enlisted the services of bass player, producer and engineer extraordinaire Steve Deutsch to help think up some ridiculous never-will-happen-in-a-million-years scenarios and dream about what will never be... or will it? Steve is always working on new music, including with his current band Milk The Clock. Listen here: https://www.facebook.com/Milk-The-Clock-1425025780906688/ Stream this playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/alltimetopten/playlist/694gem5IkDbOhtffZ5sUHN?si=9vi79M8gTBKgRTIdXSBK5w

In the wake of the devastation that rap rock and nu metal left on rock n roll in the late 90s, a new sound emerged in the early-mid 2000s. Bands from all over the world began popping up with such diverse influences as punk rock, new wave, progressive rock, garage rock and EDM to give rock n roll one last gasp of life before the banjos killed it forever. Some call it the 'death rattle'. Some who are less cynical would call it an exciting time to be a fan of rock, while the hipsters called it whatever was the most contrarian term they could think of. For our purposes this week, we're calling it 'indie rock', and it has nothing to do with what record label you were signed to. The bands on this list didn't have a ton in common, other than the fact that they were a brief antidote to the dumbed down metal and bummer rock of 2000-2009. Heck, some of these bands scored hits on the pop charts, which seems impossible in 2018. Pal Of The Pod Chrissy Olsen is a big fan of this era, and she joins ATTT to help count down the first volume of the best bands in the scene that stretched from the Pacific Northwest to the UK. Stream this playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/alltimetopten/playlist/09EAcCvO7hONyDqbAJIEjc?si=HHKEqspyQN-q8LITsQrBwQ