June 23, 2026

Class of 1981

Class of 1981

Send us Fan Mail Hop into the passenger seat and pull out your hairspray—the Back in Time Brothers are taking you on a high-octane trip back to 1981! In this episode, DJ Paulie and his brother Lou breakdown the historic pop culture, tectonic news shifts, and blockbusters that defined the dawn of the neon decade. From major world events to head-turning Hollywood hits, the guys look back at a year where the cultural landscape changed forever. Plus, DJ Britt joins the studio to count down the To...

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Send us Fan Mail

Hop into the passenger seat and pull out your hairspray—the Back in Time Brothers are taking you on a high-octane trip back to 1981!

In this episode, DJ Paulie and his brother Lou breakdown the historic pop culture, tectonic news shifts, and blockbusters that defined the dawn of the neon decade. From major world events to head-turning Hollywood hits, the guys look back at a year where the cultural landscape changed forever.

Plus, DJ Britt joins the studio to count down the Top 5 Albums of the Class of '81. We're spinning double-tracks from the absolute bangers that ruled the airwaves:

The J. Geils Band – Freeze-Frame
Rick James – Street Songs
Foreigner – 4
Stevie Nicks – Bella Donna
The Go-Go’s – Beauty and the Beat

What’s Packed in the Trunk This Week:

1981 Newsroom: The swearing-in of Ronald Reagan, the dramatic release of the Iranian hostages, the shocking assassination attempts on both the President and Pope John Paul II, and the monumental Supreme Court appointment of Sandra Day O'Connor.
Box Office Blitz: A look back at the top-grossing films, including the birth of an icon in Raiders of the Lost Ark, comedy gold like Stripes and Arthur, and the terrifying slasher sequels of Halloween II and Friday the 13th Part 2.
The Golden Era of TV: Celebrating the launch of MTV, the shoulder-pad glory of Dynasty, the gritty realism of Hill Street Blues, and the absolute madness of the Smurfs morning cartoon takeover.
Rock Talk (The Dark Side): Todd Snyder drops by to unearth the wildest rock scandals of the year. Prepare yourself for Ozzy Osborne's legendary record label meeting, Wendy O. Williams' chainsaw-fueled legal battles, and the night Prince got pelted with fried chicken opening for the Rolling Stones.
Retro Snacks: Digging into the kitchen cabinets of 1981 to talk about the rise of microwave popcorn, the introduction of Lean Cuisine, the debut of Panera Bread, and the confusing mechanics of the Bisquick "Impossible Pie".

Tune in and Stay Retro!
New Episodes: Every Monday at 1:00 PM Central at urlrad.io
Listen Online: Catch up on past eras at backintimebrothers.com
Network Hub: Check out more retro-wave content at retrowavemedia.com

Shoutout to our fellow Snarfamaniacs!
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The Back in Time Brothers radio show is a RetroWave production.

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