The Bridge: Ballad of the Forgotten Hits

[This edition of my Hit Parade—“The Bridge” bonus series is available to Slate Plus subscribers only. A link to the episode show page is below. To sign up for Plus—and tell Slate that Hit Parade sent you!—visit slate.com/hitparadeplus.]

In this Slate Plus exclusive, Hit Parade host Chris Molanphy welcomes reissue producer, author and music historian Andy Zax for a deep dive into the jingoistic anthems, novelty tunes, and kitsch that ruled the airwaves in the 1960s. Zax—producer of Woodstock: Back to the Garden – The Definitive 50th Anniversary Archive—explains why the media remains fixated on the counterculture narrative, often overlooking the square and sentimental hits that defined much of the decade.

Also: Chris tests a Slate Plus listener’s music knowledge, gives them a chance to turn the tables with a question of their own, and offers a sneak peek at the next episode of Hit Parade. Slate Plus members can sign up for a chance to be our trivia contestant on a future episode here.

Podcast production by Kevin Bendis.