Great rock feuds of Manchester, TV comedy & the man who invented the pop song

Great rock feuds of Manchester, TV comedy & the man who invented the pop song

July 5, 2026 · 50 min · Episode 934

About this episode

The episode discusses various rock feuds, the history of pop music, and the impact of TV comedy on musicians.

This week’s penalty shoot-out of news sorts the surefire hits from the over-the-bar misses. That final score again …  … what Morrissey’s only gone and done now  … when your logo’s worth than your songs  … Taylor Swift’s wedding and how Sly Stone got there first  … do musicians care about awards? … Divine Comedy, Jonathan Richman, Fountains of Wayne, Zappa: why are ‘humorous’ records so divisive? … happy 200th birthday Stephen Foster, the man who invented the pop song! … and cover versions of his songs you’ll know - Hard Times Come Again No More (Dylan, Springsteen, Emmylou Harris), Beautiful Dreamer (the Beatles), My Old Kentucky Home (Randy Newman), Oh Susannah (James Taylor), Camptown Races and many more  … why comic actors are funnier on TV than in films  … the delicious melancholy of songs about going home  … when did musicians ‘go pro’? Did the Clash or the Faces consider themselves ‘professionals’? … Oasis, New Order, the Hollies, Herman’s Hermits, Corrie, Man City/Man U, the Smiths: why is Manchester Feud Central?  … plus Margot, Jerry & the take-away curry, and birthday guest Guy Constant. Help us to keep The Longest Continuous…

People in this episode

Hosts: Mark Ellen, David Hepworth, Alex Gold

Guest: Guy Constant

Topics covered

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Divine Comedy, Fountains of Wayne, Zappa, Oasis, New Order, The Hollies, Herman’s Hermits, Corrie, Man City, Man U

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