Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia by Slate Podcasts
What makes a song a smash? Talent? Luck? Timing? All that—and more. Chris Molanphy, pop-chart analyst and author of Slate’s “Why Is This Song No. 1?” series, tells tales from a half-century of chart history. Through storytelling, trivia and song snippets, Chris dissects how that song you love—or hate—dominated the airwaves, made its way to the top of the charts and shaped your memories forever.
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More episodes
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389 - Going to Graceland EditionFri, 30 Oct 2026
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388 - Near-Miss Hits: ‘80s EditionWed, 07 Oct 2026
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387 - Choosin’ Dolly EditionWed, 23 Sep 2026
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386 - Decoder Ring: Why Do Actors Act Like They Can Sing?Fri, 04 Sep 2026
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385 - The Harrisong EditionFri, 21 Aug 2026