Deep cuts, warm arguments, permanent favorites.
The gist
Permanent Record Podcast treats beloved records and music-adjacent obsessions as artifacts worth arguing over, laughing about, and revisiting carefully. Brian and Sarah move from Depeche Mode concert videos to James Bond themes, Christmas singles, synth acts, and listener-community rituals with collector-level attention.
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About Permanent Record Podcast
Permanent Record Podcast is a long-running music conversation about the records, videos, singles, and side paths that earn permanent space in a collection. Brian and Sarah approach 70s and 80s music with the habits of serious fans: release dates matter, old reviews matter, a middle-eight can matter a lot. The show is relaxed, but it is never careless. One episode may follow Depeche Mode through home video concert releases, weighing song placement, live arrangements, and the changing appeal of album tracks. Another may treat a James Bond theme as a miniature history lesson, moving from Paul McCartney’s recording sessions to the oddball pleasure of a reggae section. The hosts are funny without turning the music into a joke. Their disagreements tend to sharpen the listening rather than flatten it. Holiday episodes bring out a radio-DJ streak, with Christmas songs, reissues, listener notes, and stories about meeting Brandon Routh, Rachael Leigh Cook, and Jane Seymour. The show also keeps one ear on newer synth-pop and related scenes. Conversations with Rob Rowe and Blaklight connect White Weights, VHXRR, Cause and Effect, and current recording choices to the older records that shaped the hosts’ taste. That mix gives the series a distinct texture: archival affection on one side, living fandom on the other. Milestone chatter, Bowie Bingo announcements, and Blue Zone studio asides make the audience community part of the atmosphere. The tone can be silly. Then it gets exact. A passing joke about a dining-room studio may sit beside a close reading of why a particular Depeche Mode song should have made a set list. Permanent Record Podcast is best when it lets those modes coexist, treating pop music as memory, craft, format, argument, and friendship all at once.
Made for: For listeners who care about 70s and 80s albums, synth-pop, music videos, concert releases, and the small details that make pop history personal. It especially suits fans who enjoy long, conversational criticism with humor and collector energy.
What sets it apart: The show pairs affectionate fan memory with unusually granular attention to versions, videos, reviews, song choices, and release context. Its bonus interviews and community rituals keep a retro-music format connected to current artists and active listeners.
In their own words
Brian and Sarah are your hosts for this look back at albums from the New Wave and Classic Rock genres-- albums which have earned a permanent spot in their record collection. The hosts start the discussion with a history of the album, followed by their personal history with it. Over the course of two episodes, they do a track-by-track review of the album and the videos that accompany the singles. They conclude by each giving the album a final review and rating of zero to 100 record adapters. Join Brian and Sarah in this fun look back at the hits-- along with some misses-- of the 70s and 80s!
Why you'd press play
Brian and Sarah turn a reggae bridge, a concert set list, or synth texture into friendly litigation.
Press play if you want
- to hear the tiny musical choice behind your strongest opinion get a fair hearing
- your Depeche Mode deep cuts discussed by people who remember exactly when their favorites changed
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Episodes
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PRP 007 Mini-Broadcast: Episode 9 – Live and Let Die (with Robbie Sims)
Hidden gemPermanent Record Podcast's PRP 007 mini-broadcast opens with a custom Bond-theme mashup by Will Crudson of Scant Regard and welcomes Robbie Sims back to talk about James Bond music.
Apr 1, 2026·1h 32m·5 clips - 2
In Conversation with Rob Rowe: WHITEWAITS/VHXRR/Cause and Effect (2026)
Brian and Sarah interview Rob Rowe about his new White Weights album 'Dusk Becomes Dawn' and announce a giveaway.
Mar 19, 2026·1h 52m - 3
In Conversation with Blaklight (2026)
Hidden gemPermanent Record Podcast's bonus 2026 conversation with Blacklight centers on The Haunting of Us, the band's live plans, and a release slate that runs from March to December.
Mar 6, 2026·1h 28m·5 clips - 4
Depeche Mode: Home Video Concert Releases (Part 5)
Richard Blade and co-host discuss reaching episode 199 of Permanent Record, reflecting on the podcast's history and upcoming 200th episode milestone.
Feb 19, 2026·1h 33m - 5
Depeche Mode: Home Video Concert Releases (Part 4)
Richard Blade and co-host discuss moving their podcast studio and introduce a series on Depeche Mode home video concert releases.
Jan 28, 2026·1h 23m - 6
2025 Xmas Special 2: PRP Xmas Radio Reissue and Meeting Brandon Routh and Rachael Leigh Cook for Xmas
Brian and Sarah host a Christmas special replaying their 2023 episode featuring favorite Christmas songs and DJ-style commentary.
Dec 21, 2025·1h 44m - 7
2025 Xmas Special 1: Paul McCartney Deluxe Reissue and Meeting Jane Seymour for Xmas
Hidden gemPermanent Record revisits Paul McCartney's "Wonderful Christmastime," a 1979 holiday single that the hosts call divisive, synthetic, and still central to their Christmas playlist.
Dec 17, 2025·1h 10m·2 clips - 8
In Conversation with Chris Trapper
Dec 10, 2025·2h 4m - 9
Depeche Mode: Home Video Concert Releases (Part 3) and Bowie Bingo Announcement
Hidden gemRichard Blade and Sarah compare Depeche Mode’s Touring the Angel release to the Fila Forum crowd in Milan and Blue Leech’s editing.
Dec 2, 2025·1h 29m·2 clips - 10
2025 Festive Bowie Bingo Announcement
Nov 28, 2025·5m - 11
In Conversation with Rob Rowe and Von Hertzog (VH x RR) – New EP "101"
Hidden gemVHXRR's EP "101" is built from five films — "The Matrix," "The Terminator," "Ex Machina," "Vanilla Sky," and "Blade Runner" — with AI and current tech fears as the backdrop.
Nov 21, 2025·1h 34m·2 clips - 12
Depeche Mode: Home Video Concert Releases (Part 2)
Nov 9, 2025·1h 16m - 13
Depeche Mode: Home Video Concert Releases (Part 1)
Oct 28, 2025·1h 32m - 14
PRP/Synthpop Symphony Crossover: Red Flag Part 2 (with DJ Matt Williams)
Oct 3, 2025·1h 47m - 15
PRP/Synthpop Symphony Crossover: Red Flag Part 1 (with DJ Matt Williams)
Sep 27, 2025·1h 30m - 16
End of Summer Special 2025 (Part 2) – The Alarm & Duran Duran
Sep 8, 2025·1h 21m - 17
End of Summer Special 2025 (Part 1) - The Power Station & Bananarama
Sep 3, 2025·1h 20m - 18
Depeche Mode - Speak & Spell (1981) Part 5 (Featuring Will Crewdson)
Aug 16, 2025·2h 37m - 19
Depeche Mode - Speak & Spell (1981) Part 4
Jul 11, 2025·1h 36m - 20
Depeche Mode - Speak & Spell (1981) Part 3
Jun 14, 2025·1h 49m - 21
Bonus Episode: Colours of Ever - Live at Stone Turtle House Concerts (June 5, 2025)
Jun 8, 2025·45m - 22
April 2025 Concert Report (Kylie Minogue, Alison Moyet) and State of the Podcast
May 18, 2025·1h 19m - 23
Concert Report: Richard Blade/ABC/Howard Jones (2025)
Mar 7, 2025·1h 29m - 24
The NewlyPod Game
Feb 21, 2025·1h 16m - 25
Depeche Mode - Speak & Spell (1981) - Part 2
Feb 15, 2025·1h 34m - 26
PRP 007 Mini-Broadcast: Episode 8 – Diamonds Are Forever
Jan 20, 2025·1h 19m - 27
PRP Holiday Hotline: Musical Christmas Memories
Dec 16, 2024·4h 16m - 28
Depeche Mode – Speak & Spell (1981) Part 1 – Second Half
Nov 28, 2024·1h 28m - 29
Depeche Mode - Speak and Spell (1981) Part 1 - First Half
Nov 22, 2024·1h 26m - 30
Happy Birthday to Us: The Cure – "Songs of a Lost World" (2024) and State of the Podcast
Nov 4, 2024·40m - 31
Depeche Mode - Speak & Spell (1981) - Part 0 - "End of Summer Special" featuring Brad Page and Eric Miller
Sep 28, 2024·3h 36m - 32
80s Supergroup Fantasy Draft
Sep 2, 2024·1h 48m - 33
Concert Report: Totally Tubular Festival (2024)
Aug 6, 2024·1h 2m - 34
In Conversation With Billy Vera (Part 2)
Jul 29, 2024·1h 45m - 35
In Conversation With Billy Vera (Part 1)
Richard Blade introduces a two-part interview with legendary performer Billy Vera on the Permanent Record Podcast.
Jul 15, 2024·1h 52m - 36
Simple Minds – New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84) (1982) - Part 4
Jun 23, 2024·1h 49m - 37
Simple Minds – New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84) (1982) - Part 3
May 25, 2024·1h 27m - 38
In Conversation With Will Crewdson (Scant Regard, Adam Ant, et al)
Brian and Sarah interview guitarist Will Crewdson about his career with Scant Regard and Adam Ant.
May 5, 2024·1h 10m - 39
Permanent Record Podcast Trivia Showdown 2024
Apr 24, 2024·1h 26m - 40
Brian's Birthday Bowie Bingo Bash and Trivia Showdown Deadline
Mar 29, 2024·10m - 41
Simple Minds – New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84) (1982) - Part 2
Mar 23, 2024·2h 6m - 42
In Conversation With Jackie Clary on "The Greatest Night in Pop" Netflix documentary (2024)
Sarah from Permanent Record Podcast interviews Jackie Clary about the Netflix documentary 'The Greatest Night in Pop' covering the 1985 'We Are the World' recording session.
Feb 18, 2024·1h 40m - 43
Simple Minds – New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84) (1982) - Part 1
Jan 27, 2024·1h 31m - 44
PRP Christmas 2023
Dec 10, 2023·1h 17m - 45
Erasure - Chorus (1991) (Featuring Andrew Dineley of "Art on Your Sleeve") - Part 3
Dec 2, 2023·2h 31m - 46
PRP Mini Concert Memories #8: Chris Trapper & Jeffrey Gaines 10-17-2023; Queen + Adam Lambert 10-18-2023; Depeche Mode 10-23-2023 and 10-25-2023
Oct 30, 2023·1h 24m - 47
Erasure - Chorus (1991) (Featuring Andrew Dineley of "Art on Your Sleeve") - Part 2
Oct 21, 2023·1h 20m - 48
Erasure - Chorus (1991) (Featuring Andrew Dineley of "Art on Your Sleeve") - Part 1
Oct 7, 2023·1h 20m - 49
PRP Mini Concert Memories #7 – Duran Duran (9-7-2023) with Craig Smith (The Pods & Sods Network) and featuring Gavin Hogg and Simon Galloway (Giddy Carousel of Pop)
Brian and Sarah introduce an episode of Permanent Record Podcast where they discuss Duran Duran with guest Craig Smith and later surprise guests Gavin Hogg and Simon Galloway.
Sep 17, 2023·1h 31m