Episode 28 of On The Record finds Michael broadcasting from the Greek island of Kefalonia.
Still, the conversation itself travels much further afield—from the cosmic ambitions of Earth, Wind & Fire to the lyrical reflections of Bob Dylan on being 80.
The musical centrepiece of the episode is Questlove’s new documentary on Earth, Wind & Fire (HBO Max), a band whose influence arguably looms larger in American music history than their Australian chart profile ever suggested.
Mackenzie emerges from the film thoroughly impressed, describing it as another major achievement from Questlove, whose recent documentary work has included Summer of Soul and his acclaimed portrait of Sly Stone.
The new film traces the life and vision of founder Maurice White, whose fascination with Egyptology, spirituality and self-determination helped shape one of the most distinctive acts in popular music.
What emerges is not simply a celebration of a hit-making machine, but a portrait of an artist whose grand ambitions often came at personal cost. Band tensions, disputes over recognition and White’s increasingly autocratic leadership style are all explored.
Yet the documentary also makes a compelling case that Earth, Wind & Fire’s combination of musical virtuosity, theatrical spectacle and futuristic imagination changed the game for generations of performers.
As Mackenzie notes, these were concerts so ambitious that even Prince reportedly wondered whether there was any point competing.
Television provides the episode’s second major talking point.
Wise recommends Alice and Steve, a new British series starring Nicola Walker and Jemaine Clement. What begins as a comedy about friendship quickly evolves into something darker and more uncomfortable when a relationship develops between a middle-aged man and the adult daughter of his lifelong best friend.
The result is part comedy, part emotional train wreck and part moral debate. Both hosts acknowledge the deliberately provocative premise, but the series’ willingness to explore jealousy, loyalty, power and resentment makes it difficult to dismiss.
Meanwhile, the pair continue their running commentary on Widows Bay, although they appear to disagree on exactly how successful its blend of horror and comedy has been.
Back in the music world, there’s enthusiasm for Cat Power’s upcoming Australian tour, built around her acclaimed album The Greatest. Wise reflects on a previous Port Fairy Folk Festival performance that divided audiences, while expressing hope that this material may prove a more natural fit for both artist and audience.
The conversation then drifts into one of the pleasures of On The Record: unexpected musical discoveries.
Mackenzie highlights Tim Rogers’ appearance on Zan Rowe’s Take 5, praising both the song selections and Rogers’ reflections on artists ranging from Joni Mitchell and Linda Thompson to the eccentric British folk singer Jake Thackray. Particularly striking is Rogers’ admission that he only truly fell under Joni Mitchell’s spell after immersing himself in her catalogue while preparing for an appearance on Hard Quiz.
It serves as a reminder that even lifelong musicians can stumble upon life-changing revelations decades into their listening lives.
Elsewhere, there’s a brief nod to Colin Blunstone of The Zombies, still touring in Britain, proving once again that retirement remains one of rock music’s least popular concepts.
The episode closes with football—not music—as Wise enthuses over the World Cup’s growing popularity in North America and questions whether soccer may eventually rival the country’s traditional sporting giants. The discussion naturally leads into criticism of sports betting advertising and the uneasy relationship between sport, commerce and public policy.
But it is Bob Dylan who gets the final word.
“The best thing about being 80 is that you outlive the clocks that have been chasing you.” — Bob Dylan
Discussing Dylan’s recent reflections on turning 80, the hosts linger on a series of observations that are equal parts wisdom, poetry and existential shrug. Dylan describes ageing as freedom from the illusion that anything was ever under control in the first place. The clocks stop chasing you. The ambitions soften. The perspective widens.
It’s a fitting conclusion to an episode that spends much of its time looking backwards—at musical legacies, artistic endurance and the strange ways people continue creating long after the world has stopped expecting them to.
Like Earth, Wind & Fire, Cat Power, Colin Blunstone and Dylan himself, the lesson seems simple enough: keep going, keep creating and try not to worry too much about the charts.