You can dance, you can jive! We're having the time of our lives this week as we review and rank Arrival, the 1976 breakout record for Europop sensation ABBA! After winning Eurovision (4th time's the charm), the band had to prove to the world they were more than a One-Hit Waterloo Wonder. Their hooky melodies and intricate vocal harmonies led to the band's most important record yet, from royalty-approved Dancing Queen to Money, Money, Money. Learn how Arrival cemented the legacy of one of Sweden's biggest bands and turned ABBA into a household name, even decades after their heyday.

Here we go again.. James & Connor talk Mamma Mia opinions and ABBA faves before exploring the band's history. We'll learn all about Agnetha, Björn, Benny, and Anni-Frid, discover why the B is backwards, and talk about how exciting helicopter rides can be. From quirky exhibits in the ABBA museum to Voyage, the band's swansong virtual residency made of digital ABBAtars, this episode truly has it all. The Mixtaper is back to Take A Chance on Fact Or Spin as he teaches us about a mysterious benefactor, shy mics, and the tux tax. Tune in, because there's something in the air tonight!

Are you on Team Happy Hawaii or Team Why Did It Have To Be Me? What do you think the Tiger is? Are we WRONG about Mamma Mia?! Let us know your hottest ABBA takes in the comments or on socials. Follow for another record next week!

Keep Spinning at www.SpinItPod.com!

Thanks for listening!

0:00 Intro

5:57 About ABBA

19:56 About Arrival

33:07 Awards & Abbalades

35:28 Fact Or Spin

36:58 Their Songs Are Fit For Royalty

39:02 They Turned Down The Chance To Become Billionaires

41:46 They Used An Interesting Tax Loophole

43:50 They Had A Strict No-Eye-Contact-With-Mics Rule

46:22 Bjorn Took A Chance On Working Out

49:14 Album Art

52:04 When I Kissed The Teacher

54:17 Dancing Queen

58:01 My Love, My Life

59:25 Dum Dum Diddle

1:01:56 Knowing Me, Knowing You

1:03:27 Money, Money, Money

1:05:15 That's Me

1:06:17 Why Did It Have To Be Me?

1:08:14 Tiger

1:09:33 Arrival

1:10:39 Fernando

1:13:26 Happy Hawaii

1:14:44 Final Spin

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Hallelujah, We Love Him So! We're doing the Mess Around back to the earliest days of soul music with The Genius, Ray Charles, and his self-titled 1957 debut LP! After a childhood marked by tragedy, Ray Charles learned to read braille sheet music and arrange songs. After moving from coast to coast and back again to find work, Ray's intuition for melody and his passionate vocals finally started to land him on the charts and earn record deals. His eponymous album (later reissued as "Hallelujah, I Love Her So) features fourteen of his biggest early hits, from the wailing Drown In My Own Tears to the zip and pep of I've Got A Woman! He would change the course of music as we know it... but how does this early record compare?

After learning all about Charles' past, we invite The Mixtaper back for some Fact Or Spin! He'll teach us about Ray's affinity for chess, an improvised scramble that turned into a crossover pop hit, and we'll explore the fascinating world of limited edition postage stamps. Then we break down the album track by track and discover what exactly about his music makes him a legend. We'll talk nostalgia, famous covers, and anagrams as we learn to Care Rashly about Ray Charles this week!

Are any of these tracks sleeper hits for you? Did you look up all the interesting new stamps after the episode (like we did)? Had you ever heard the word "philatelic" before? Be honest. Like, subscribe, rate, comment, follow... do all the things and we'll see you next week for another album!

Keep Spinning at www.SpinItPod.com!

Thanks for listening!

0:00 Intro

3:17 About Ray Charles

11:34 About Hallelujah I Love Her So

18:40 Awards & Accolades

20:20 Fact Or Spin

21:13 He's A Chess Grandmaster

30:54 He Ran Out Of Songs

35:05 He Has Memory Expansion

37:58 He Has A Unique Stamp

47:44 Album Art

50:49 Ain't That Love

52:29 Drown In My Own Tears

55:12 Come Back Baby

56:57 Sinner's Prayer

58:12 Funny (But I Still Love You)

59:44 Losing Hand

1:01:05 A Fool For You

1:02:02 Hallelujah, I Love Her So

1:04:08 Mess Around

1:06:06 This Little Girl Of Mine

1:07:09 Mary Ann

1:08:16 Greenbacks

1:10:09 Don't You Know

1:11:15 I've Got A Woman

1:13:38 Final Spin

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We're dancing on the sand this week as we rank and review Rio, the sophomore album by Duran Duran and a staple of the early '80s New Romantics movement. Featuring some of the band's biggest hits in Hungry Like The Wolf, Save A Prayer, and the title track, this record also includes some cult classics like the ambient soundscape of The Chauffeur! Learn how the Fab Five leveraged provocative music videos to dominate MTV and lead the charge for the Second British Invasion. Rio is a meticulously constructed record, with a vibrant energy and a cigar-inspired aesthetic to match. How will they fare in our ratings?

James & Connor will talk about their love for early '80s music. Then we get into the band's sci-fi name origins, Girls On Film, and the three unrelated Taylors. The Mixtaper Mixtaper is back for Fact Or Spin, where we set sail on Drum The Cursed Yacht, flee some non-imminent bulls, and talk about the 1987 hit movie Mannequin. We learn all about the dangers of shooting videos in Antigua and Sri Lanka, discover the role Hungry Like The Wolf played in a grisly murder trial, and explore the loving intervention behind Hold Back The Rain. It's a one-of-a-kind episode for a one-of-a-kind band!

Would you ever wear such sharp earrings? How hungry do you think a wolf can get? Do you prefer the band's energetic new wave sound or the sweeping soundscape of The Chauffeur? Let us know in the comments and on social media!

Keep Spinning at www.SpinItPod.com!

Thanks for listening!

0:00 Intro

2:31 About Duran Duran

8:55 About Rio

19:03 Awards & Accolades

19:40 Fact Or Spin

21:09 Duran Dudrum

29:34 Duran Duryachtin'

33:51 Duran Durunning With The Bulls

36:29 Duran Durannequins

42:20 Album Art

44:31 Rio

47:36 My Own Way

50:00 Lonely In Your Nightmare

51:30 Hungry Like The Wolf

56:03 Hold Back The Rain

57:39 New Religion

59:07 Last Chance On The Stairway

1:00:07 Save A Prayer

1:02:42 The Chauffeur

1:04:17 Final Spin

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If you've been Waiting All Your Life for a follow-up to our Rascal Flatts episode (18), this is your time!! With the band officially re-formed and on their own redemption tour, we figured the Year Of Redemption was the perfect time to check out their self-titled debut album! After Me And My Gang pierced our nostalgic rose-colored glasses, we'll learn if getting right down to the DNA of Rascal Flatts' boy band-esque country sound can recalibrate our perceptions. After a fortuitous founding in a Nashville club, Jay, Gary, and Joe Don introduced themselves to the world with memorable tracks like Prayin' For Daylight, This Everyday Love, and I'm Movin' On. With sleek harmonies, hooky choruses, and a family-friendly polish, find out what's made the band so unreplicatable over the decades.

James & Connor will talk about why Me And My Gang went sideways and dive deeper into the band's founding. A lot has changed since Episode 18! We'll revisit Hot Chicken Takeover (RIP) and the creation of Spinny, and then talk about what Rascal Flatts has been up to for the last five years (and why reunion seemed so out of reach)! Then The Mixtaper shocks us during Fact Or Spin as we learn the expensive REAL origins behind the band's name, visit a secret supper club, and learn to Walk The Llama Llama... it's truly deep-cut, must-see Rascal Flatts lore. Some Say it's a redemption, I say... take a listen and decide for yourself this week.

Do you feel the Rascal Flatts nostalgia? Are you more into the rock-leaning Me And My Gang, or the sleek polish of their 2000 debut? Did you ever imagine they'd collab with the JONAS BROTHERS?! Let us know your rascaliest, flattest thoughts in the comments and on social media! Like and subscribe for more next week!

Keep Spinning at www.SpinItPod.com!

Thanks for listening!

0:00 Intro

0:26 Last Time: Me & My Gang

6:24 About Rascal Flatts (The Band)

8:44 About Rascal Flatts (The Album)

16:56 The Reunion!

19:50 Awards & Accolades

20:57 Fact Or Spin

22:22 They Are Rascal Flatts 2.0

27:46 Gary's Secret Supper Club

31:27 They Were Almost In The Emperor's New Groove

37:55 Jay DeMarcus Got Electrocuted

43:46 Album Art

44:19 Prayin' For Daylight

46:43 This Everyday Love

49:23 While You Loved Me

52:29 Some Say

54:03 See Me Through

56:28 One Good Love

57:59 It's Not Just Me

59:22 Waiting All My Life

1:00:41 From Time To Time

1:02:44 Long Slow Beautiful Dance

1:05:25 I'm Movin' On

1:07:42 Final Spin

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Lights, camera, action! March Madness is in full swing, and this year we're breaking down a bracket of 36 iconic MOVIE SOUNDTRACKS! With four quadrants representing different genres and showcasing four facets of a meaningful soundtrack, this lineup is guaranteed to set the scene, get your adrenaline pumping, and tug at your heartstrings. Our audience had the opportunity to rank and score each song to determine our winners, and James and Connor are here to see how their personal brackets held up to public opinion.

From the rich worlds of Middle Earth to a galaxy far, far away, from action heroes like Indiana Jones to James Bond, and from shark attacks to shower scares, this bracket has it all. We'll talk briefly about our experience with each movie and get to the bottom of what makes each score so special. We'll learn about iconic composers like John Williams, Hans Zimmer, and Alan Silvestri along the way! Each head-to-head matchup is a VERY close race, and every round is a chance at elimination. Who will rise to the top? Can we settle the score in 2026?!

Did the audience's votes match your own bracket? What movies did we over/underhype and what else would you like to see represented? Let us know in the comments and on socials! Happy March Madness!

Find playlists for each of these songs here:

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1Ni4rnoeOp4DePi0mvzVeL?si=355aa17a8be64ea7

YouTube - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYumnChiw_I-rd015bWlwULcKuxx-mbhX&si=q9Z79YAcUCH93hsE

Keep Spinning at www.SpinItPod.com!

Thanks for listening!

0:00 Intro

4:20 This Year's Bracket: Rules, Regions, And Voting

9:40 Opening Ceremony

12:57 Region One: Epic Worlds

13:46 Epic Worlds Round 1.1: Binary Sunset (Star Wars) vs. Test Drive (How To Train Your Dragon)

20:06 Epic Worlds Round 1.2: Welcome To Jurassic Park (Jurassic Park) vs. Now We Are Free (Gladiator)

24:48 Epic Worlds Round 1.3: Hedwig's Theme (Harry Potter) vs. The Medallion Calls (Pirates Of The Caribbean)

30:52 Epic Worlds Round 1.4: Concerning Hobbits (Lord Of The Rings) vs. Ripples In The Sand (Dune)

34:32 Epic Worlds: Round 2.1

37:22 Epic Worlds: Round 2.2

38:10 Epic Worlds: Round 3.1

40:08 Region Two: Action & Adventure

40:11 Action & Adventure Round 1.1: Desert Chase (Indiana Jones) vs. Komodo Dragon (James Bond: Skyfall)

45:08 Action & Adventure Round 1.2: Time (Inception) vs. Stairs And Rooftops (Mission Impossible: Fallout)

49:36 Action & Adventure Round 1.3: Portals (Avengers Endgame) vs. Storm Is Coming (Mad Max Fury Road)

54:01 Action & Adventure Round 1.4: Like A Dog Chasing Cars (The Dark Knight) vs. The Clock Tower (Back To The Future)

57:47 Action & Adventure: Round 2.1

58:35 Action & Adventure: Round 2.2

1:00:59 Action & Adventure: Round 3.1

1:03:28 Region Three: Tear Duct Titans

1:03:42 Tear Duct Titans Round 1.1: Rose (Titanic) vs. Flying Theme (E.T.)

1:08:05 Tear Duct Titans Round 1.2: No Time For Caution (Interstellar) vs. The Feather Theme (Forrest Gump)

1:11:06 Tear Duct Titans Round 1.3: The King Of Pride Rock (The Lion King) vs. Going The Distance (Rocky)

1:15:13 Tear Duct Titans Round 1.4: Married Life (Up) vs. Immolation (Schindler's List)

1:18:08 Tear Duct Titans: Round 2.1

1:19:12 Tear Duct Titans: Round 2.2

1:19:57 Tear Duct Titans: Round 3.1

1:21:07 Region Four: Fear & Tension

1:21:14 Fear & Tension Round 1.1: The Shark Approaches (Jaws) vs. Beau's Death Theme (A Quiet Place)

1:24:51 Fear & Tension Round 1.2: Supermarine (Dunkirk) vs. In Motion (The Social Network)

1:28:13 Fear & Tension Round 1.3: Trinity (Oppenheimer) vs. The Beast (Sicario)

1:31:03 Fear & Tension Round 1.4: The Murder (Psycho) vs. Tubular Bells (The Exorcist)

1:36:28 Fear & Tension: Round 2.1

1:36:59 Fear & Tension: Round 2.2

1:38:23 Fear & Tension: Round 3.1

1:39:54 The FINAL FOUR

1:40:11 Round 4.1

1:41:40 Round 4.2

1:44:04 The FINAL SHOWDOWN

1:47:37 Final Spin

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The Notorious B.I.G. lived his life Ready To Die, and he set out to prove it to the world with his 1994 debut album... Ready To Die. After walking away from a straight-A career to enter the world of drug dealing and rap, Christopher George Latore Wallace (or, as you may know him, Biggie Smalls) became THE dominant force in the thriving East Coast hip-hop scene. His music was unfiltered, witty, and raw. It didn't glamourize or sugarcoat his lifestyle, but also highlighted his lighthearted side. Crossover hits like Big Poppa and Juicy set Biggie up for incredible success... and then the unthinkable happened.

James & Connor will explore Biggie's role in the infamous East Coast vs. West Coast rivalry, his decaying friendship with Tupac Shakur, and the pair of unsolved murders that devastated the music world. We'll hear the story unfold through tracks like Things Done Changed and Who Shot Ya? The Mixtaper is back to tell us about some unfortunately realistic sound effects, a personal diss he took to heart, and some spoiled "mashed potatoes" during an Unbelievable round of Fact Or Spin. From opening heartbeat to final thud, we'll cover the clever lyrics, soulful samples, and unstoppable attitude that make up the only LP released during Biggie's abbreviated lifetime. Learn how he achieved rap immortality and Life After Death this week!

Are you a fan of the harder tracks or the pop crossover sounds? Will you ever hear Respect the same way? Where do you stand in the Biggie/Tupac rivalry? Let us know in the comments and on socials! Follow, like, and check out our website for more!

Keep Spinning at www.SpinItPod.com!

Thanks for listening!

0:00 Intro

2:01 About Biggie Smalls

10:51 About Ready To Die

16:55 Later Career

19:07 East Coast Vs. West Coast Rivalry

21:27 Tupac Murdered

23:35 Biggie Murdered

26:14 Awards & Accolades

27:02 Fact Or Spin

28:23 A Public Service Announcement

28:59 You Can Hear His... Explicit Activities

31:47 He Signed A Rapper While In Bed

34:12 Biggie Dissed His Teacher

36:49 His Mom Threw Out His Mashed Potatoes

39:29 Biggie Had His Own Restaurant

43:36 Album Art

44:36 Intro

46:13 Things Done Changed

47:19 Gimme The Loot

50:12 Machine Gun Funk

51:18 Warning

52:53 Ready To Die

54:04 One More Chance

57:00 F Me (Interlude)

59:05 The What

1:00:12 Juicy

1:04:24 Everyday Struggle

1:05:29 Me And My B****

1:07:04 Big Poppa

1:09:21 Respect

1:10:33 Friend Of Mine

1:12:00 Unbelievable

1:12:35 Suicidal Thoughts

1:14:57 Who Shot Ya?

1:16:47 Just Playing (Dreams)

1:18:12 Final Spin

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Hello? It's London Calling, the revolutionary third record by British punk pioneers The Clash! Widely regarded as one of the greatest albums of all time, the band writes on everything from nuclear meltdown to consumerism to the harsh realities of addiction, backed by a raw edge and a reggae-infused beat. We'll learn how Joe Strummer & co. rose to meet the musical moment, taking cues from friends and rivals like the Sex Pistols and The Ramones. From staples like Lost In The Supermarket to Train In Vain (a cut that almost missed the album altogether), find out what makes The Clash and their legacy such a force to be reckoned with.

We'll talk about our favorite Clash hits as we Rock The Casbah! Then The Hateful Mixtaper is bringing The Clampdown once more during Fact Or Spin, where we discover a marathon disappearance, child labor, and pogo grandmas... Rudie Can't Fail, but can our resident Dastard? Then we get Lost In The Supermarket with each track on this expansive double album as we explore everything from Spanish tourism to Over The Hedge! Curl up with your favorite Montgomery Clift movie and take a listen to this episode. Find out whether London Calling achieves Death Or Glory!

Is this double album worth the listen? What's the worst place to practice the drums? Should you stay or should you go?! (The answer is GO... but go to our socials and www.spinitpod.com for more!)

Keep Spinning at www.SpinItPod.com!

Thanks for listening!

0:00 Intro

2:49 About The Clash

14:03 About London Calling

22:40 Awards & Accolades

23:13 Fact Or Spin

24:23 Joe Strummer's Marathon Disappearing Act

27:39 They Gave Two Kids Career Opportunities

29:25 Topper Had A Unique Practice Space

33:23 Mick Jones Missed A Soundcheck To Teach Grandmas How To Pogo

39:54 Album Art

43:26 London Calling

48:55 Brand New Cadillac

50:23 Jimmy Jazz

51:56 Hateful

53:45 Rudie Can't Fail

55:37 Spanish Bombs

57:22 The Right Profile

1:00:18 Lost In The Supermarket

1:05:19 The Clampdown

1:08:31 The Guns Of Brixton

1:10:13 Wrong 'Em Boyo

1:11:30 Death Or Glory

1:13:33 Koka Kola

1:16:10 The Card Cheat

1:17:41 Lover's Rock

1:19:07 Four Horsemen

1:21:05 I'm Not Down

1:22:23 Revolution Rock

1:23:51 Train In Vain (Stand By Me)

1:26:09 Final Spin

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Tell 'em Kendrick did it... We're back to talk about Compton's own Kendrick Lamar and his 2025 record GNX! After we explored Damn back on episode 72, James felt like this Pulitzer Prize winner deserved a better score from Connor. We're back (reincarnated) in the Year Of Redemption to break down his shortest record yet (but one of his most expansive). After decimating Drake in a years-long feud with the astounding Not Like Us, GNX is Kendrick's attempt to move his career forward with songs of the confrontational, the introspective, and the catchy. He wrote more than 80 songs for the project, but only a dozen made the cut. Will it be the perfect combo to redeem his score?

James & Connor will debrief on our last Kendrick episode and get to the bottom of why we're back again. We relive the backwards concept album and catch up on our Kendrick listening habits. The Mixtaper is ready to Squabble Up with a new round of Fact Or Spin, featuring comfy socks, vault tracks, and a baffling reskin of a classic crunchy conundrum. From the vintage car on the cover to the final twist of Gloria, we'll touch every corner of this Album Of The Year nominee. Ain't no legends if his legends end, so find out why we think K Dot does (or doesn't) deserve the Greatest Of All Time!

Is this album a step up or a step back after Damn and Mr. Morale? Is SZA a dominant force for Favorite Feature or can one of the 9 other voices on this record compete? If you woke up lookin' for that broccoli, turn the TV Off and head to our socials or spinitpod.com for more!

Keep Spinning at www.SpinItPod.com!

Thanks for listening!

0:00 Intro

0:25 Last Time: Damn.

4:55 About Kendrick Lamar

7:31 Not Like Us / Drake Feud

11:48 About GNX

16:12 Awards & Accolades

17:25 Fact Or Spin

20:03 He Has An Interesting Rider

24:00 He Has An Unreleased Track With Prince

26:20 Kendrick Has A Supernatural Connection To Tupac

29:47 He Needs A Shepherd's Pie For Every Show

39:40 Album Art

40:53 Wacced Out Murals

43:36 Squabble Up

45:52 Luther (with SZA)

48:55 Man At The Garden

50:10 Hey Now (feat. Dody6)

51:47 Reincarnated

54:20 TV Off (feat. Lefty Gunplay)

56:26 Dodger Blue (feat. Wallie The Sensei, Siete7x, Roddy Ricch)

57:47 Peekaboo (feat. AZChike)

59:52 Heart Pt. 6

1:01:32 GNX (feat. Hitta J3, YoungThreat, Peysoh)

1:03:58 Gloria (with SZA)

1:05:50 Final Spin

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