80's Movie Weekend

A little look back at the time we were all first introduced to the man named Indiana Jones...







Raiders of the Lost Ark

Directed by Steven Spielberg
Produced by Frank Marshall
George Lucas
Howard Kazanjian
Written by Lawrence Kasdan
Story:
George Lucas
Philip Kaufman
Starring Harrison Ford
Karen Allen
Paul Freeman
Ronald Lacey
Wolf Kahler
Music by John Williams
Cinematography Douglas Slocombe
Editing by Michael Kahn
Distributed by Paramount Pictures
Release date(s) June 12, 1981
Running time 115 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Budget USD $20,000,000 US (est.)
Gross revenue USD $384,140,454[1]
Followed by Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

I Wish That I Had Jessie's Girl

I couldn't wrap up "A Springfield September" without the biggest of his hits, right? Anybody named Jessie with a half decent looking girlfriend hated this song I guarantee it. Rick still performs it well live on stage even though he is in his 50's now.




Jessie's Girl Lyrics

If you never saw the Frickin' A remake of Jessie's Girl, here it is with a guest appearance from the man himself...



from the album Working Class Dog
Released 1981
US Hot 100 peak: 1
UK Singles: 43
Length 3:15
Label RCA Victor Records
Writer(s) Rick Springfield
Producer(s) Keith Olsen

The Wagon Roars into The Excellent 80's

Babies and teddie bears in this video... what? I thought this song was created specifically for my 8th grade girlfriend. I always felt bad for the old man at the end of the video (sniff, sniff), and man did Kevin Cronin have some hair! Yikes. One of the sappiest songs of the 80's, but I know you sang along to it just like I did.




Can't Fight This Feeling Lyrics

1985 "Can't Fight This Feeling"
from the album "Wheels Are Turnin'"
US Hot 100 Peak: 1
UK Peak: 16

We All Need...

...the Human Touch... Rick actually walks through the crowd while performing this song these days and instead of a bunch of 15-25 year old women screaming for him, it's a bunch of 35-45 year old women instead... Instead of getting up for school the next day, they're getting their kids up for school the next day. We all need it, and I need it to...

Rick Springfield - Human Touch
Uploaded by smokey3769

Human Touch Lyrics

from the album: Living in Oz
1983
"Human Touch"
US Hot 100 Peak: 18
UK Peak: 34

80's Movie Weekend

"J.C. Penney, $3.19, ha ha ha." R.I.P. Mr. Miyagi. An all-time classic that's still as much fun to watch today as it was back then. Get him a body bag, Johnny! Ralph Maccio is The Karate Kid...

The movie trailer:



The final scene:



In case you haven't seen this video, I love it. It's from a band called No More Kings and the song is called "Sweep The Leg" and it includes many of the original cast (with the addition of Mr. Belding who filled in for the late Pat Morita) and is actually directed by Billy Zabka (Cobra Kai Johnny Lawrence in the movie).



The Karate Kid

Directed by John G. Avildsen
Produced by Jerry Weintraub
R.J. Louis (executive producer)
Bud S. Smith (associate producer)
Written by Robert Mark Kamen
Starring Ralph Macchio
Noriyuki "Pat" Morita
Elisabeth Shue
Martin Kove
William Zabka
Randee Heller
Music by Bill Conti
Cinematography James Crabe
Editing by John G. Avildsen
Walt Mulconery
Bud S. Smith
Distributed by Columbia Pictures
Release date(s) June 22, 1984
Running time 127 min.
Country U.S.
Language English
Gross revenue $90,815,558 [1]
Followed by The Karate Kid, Part II

Bop Til You Drop

Rick goes all alien on us in this weird video as our "Springfield September" rolls on... Bop til you drop, Lauri. Bop til you drop...




Bop 'Til You Drop Lyrics

1984 "Bop 'Til You Drop"
from the album Hard to Hold
US Hot 100 Peak: 20

My Blood Runs Cold...

What choreography! The goofiness of this 80's video will be hard to top... Who decided it would be a good idea to put milk in a drum? And I realize that there aren't many fat lead singers, but geez, Peter Wolf looks like he weighs about 75 pounds in this video...




Centerfold Lyrics

from the album Freeze Frame
Released 1981
Genre Rock
Writer(s) Seth Justman
Producer(s) Seth Justman
US Hot 100 Peak: #1
UK Hot 40 Peak: #3

I'm Begging You Please...

Don't talk to strangers, baby. A sweet song and words to
live by if you're in grade school...




Don't Talk To Strangers Lyrics


1982 "Don't Talk to Strangers"
U.S. Hot 100 Peak: 2
UK Singles: 30
from the album: "Success Hasn't Spoiled Me Yet"

80's Movie Weekend

I thought this classic 80's movie would be fitting since Disney has announced that another Tron movie is in the works. Can it top the awesome original? Doubtful.



The lightbike scene...



Tron

Directed by Steven Lisberger
Produced by Donald Kushner
Written by Story:
Steven Lisberger
Bonnie MacBird
Screenplay:
Steven Lisberger
Starring Jeff Bridges
Bruce Boxleitner
David Warner
Cindy Morgan
Barnard Hughes
Music by Wendy Carlos (score)
Journey (songs)
Cinematography Bruce Logan
Editing by Jeff Gourson
Distributed by Buena Vista Pictures
Release date(s) July 9, 1982 (USA)
Running time 96 min.
Country United States
Language English
Budget $17,000,000 (estimated)
Gross revenue $33,000,000 (USA)

I Don't Know Where I'm Going

Like a drifter, I was born to walk alone... Don't tell me you've never played air drums when this song really kicks in. I won't believe you. The only debate about this video is who has the better hair - Tawny Kitaen or David Coverdale?

Whitesnake - Here I Go Again
Uploaded by jpdc11

Here I Go Again Lyrics

Single by Whitesnake
from the album Whitesnake
Released 1987
Format Cassette
CD
Recorded September 1985 - October 1986
Genre Hard Rock
Length 4:36
Label Geffen
Writer(s) David Coverdale
Bernie Marsden
Producer(s) Mike Stone & Keith Olsen
Peak chart positions
#1 (U.S. Hot 100)
#9 (U.K. Singles)

You Better Love Somebody

Probably my favorite Rick Springfield song as we roll on with our "Springfield September." This song was featured in Rick Springfield's awesome movie "Hard to Hold." OK, so it wasn't that awesome, but you've got to love the corny dance sequence at the end of this video (or not). I would have loved to have been a part of it.





Love Somebody Lyrics

1984 "Love Somebody"
U.S. Hot 100 peak: 5
UK Singles: 95
from the album: Hard to Hold

80's Movie Weekend

I want my two dollars! Anything with John Cusack (and Booger) in it from the 80's was fantastic!



And any movie where David Lee Roth can be a singing hambuger playing Eddie's guitar is just a real bonus for that movie...



Better Off Dead

Better Off Dead movie poster
Directed by Savage Steve Holland
Produced by Gil Friesen
Michael Jaffe
Andrew Meyer
Written by Savage Steve Holland
Starring John Cusack
David Ogden Stiers
Diane Franklin
Curtis Armstrong
Music by Rupert Hine
Cinematography Isodore Mankofsky
Distributed by Warner Bros.
Release date(s) October 11, 1985 (U.S. release)
Running time 97 minutes
Country USA
Language English

Not Just Any Crew

They weren't a motley crue, they were just the Cutting Crew, and this is the bizarre video (for the 80's anyway) for a song that spent a few weeks at number one... (I Just) Died in Your Arms Tonight...




I Just Died In Your Arms Tonight Lyrics

from the album Broadcast
Released 1986
Genre Pop, Soft rock, Adult Contemporary
Length 4:41
Label Virgin
Writer(s) Nick Van Eede
Producer(s) Terry Brown
John Jansen
Cutting Crew
Peak chart positions
#1 (USA)
#4 (UK)

80's Television

I pity the fool who didn't like this series...




The A-Team

Genre Action/Adventure
Created by Frank Lupo
Stephen J. Cannell
Starring George Peppard
Dirk Benedict
Dwight Schultz
Mr. T
Melinda Culea
Marla Heasley
Eddie Velez
Robert Vaughn
Country of origin United States
No. of episodes 98
Production
Running time 40-45 minutes per episode (without advertisements)
Broadcast
Original channel NBC
Original run January 23, 1983 – March 8, 1987

A Springfield September

At least once a week for September, I'll be cruising through some of Rick Springfield's finest from the 80's... First up, An Affair of the Heart...

Rick Springfield - Affair Of The Heart
Uploaded by fuzz59

Affair Of The Heart Lyrics

1983 "Affair of the Heart"
from the album: "Living in Oz"
US Hot 100 peak: 9