White Light, Strange City, Mad Music All Around

Our Def Leppard Month concludes with this monster jam and their last single released from the "Hysteria" album... it is "Rocket"...




Lyrics | Rocket lyrics

“Rocket”

Single by Def Leppard
from the album Hysteria
B-side Release Me (UK),
Women (live) (US)
Released 1989
Format 7" / 12" / CD / CDV
Recorded 1987
Genre Hard rock
Length 4:25
Label Mercury
Writer(s) Joe Elliott, Phil Collen, Steve Clark, Rick Savage, Robert John "Mutt" Lange
Producer Robert John "Mutt" Lange

"Rocket" was the seventh and final single from the album "Hysteria" and peaked in the top 15 in both the U.S. and the UK.

As a final bonus for our Def Leppard month, here is their latest single, with Tim McGraw lending a helping hand, "Nine Lives"...



and finally, finally, here is Part 1 of "Hysteria: The Def Leppard Story"... you can watch the whole made for TV movie on Youtube if you have nothing better to do... most likely you'll be totally wasted and/or unable to move if you choose to sit through and watch this whole movie on Youtube...

80's Movie Weekend

Bill Murray, John Candy, John Larroquette, Harold Ramis, Sean Young, and Judge Reinhold together in one lean, mean, fighting machine of a movie... "Stripes"...



left, right, left, right



just like last night, only better! that's the fact, jack!



Stripes









Directed by Ivan Reitman
Produced by Daniel Goldberg
Ivan Reitman
Written by Len Blum
Harold Ramis
Daniel Goldberg
Starring Bill Murray
Harold Ramis
Warren Oates
Music by Elmer Bernstein
Cinematography Bill Butler
Editing by Harry Keller
Michael Luciano
Eva Ruggiero
Distributed by Columbia Pictures
Release date(s) June 26, 1981
Running time 106 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Budget $10,000,000 (estimated)
Gross revenue $85,297,000 (USA)

Remember Yesterday

It's the time of year when there are a lot of graduations and numerous videos/dvds being put together of days past and fun times gone by... from the year I graduated high school, 1989, I wore this song out the summer after I graduated... maybe it holds a nostalgic memory for you too... Skid Row with "I Remember You"...

Skid Row - I remember you
Uploaded by krematoria

Lyrics | I Remember You lyrics


“I Remember You”

Single by Skid Row
from the album Skid Row
Released 1989
Genre Glam metal
Power ballad
Length 5:14
Label Atlantic Records
Writer(s) Rachel Bolan, Dave Sabo
Producer Michael Wagener

As a bonus, here's one of the reasons I love Carrie Underwood - she's not afraid to sing a Skid Row song... rock on, Carrie!

We're Not In Kansas Anymore

No, we're not in Kansas. We're going to Africa today! I could go no longer on this 80's blog without this video... I couldn't do it another day! As sure as Kilimanjaro rises like Olympus above the Serengeti, so too must this blog rise to the occasion! About this video, I'd just like to say I love the keyboard player going with the sweatbands (apparently he wrote this song as well)! Genius! It's Toto with "Africa"...




Lyrics | Africa lyrics

“Africa”

Single by Toto
from the album Toto IV
Released 1982
Format vinyl record 7", compact disc
Recorded 1982
Genre Rock
Length 4:58
Label Columbia Records
Producer Toto

Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #1
UK Singles Peak: #3

Passion Killer, You're Too Much

The song that first introduced this then 12 year old to the world of Def Leppard... I played the "Pyromania" cassette over and over in my bulky Panasonic tape player with the strap that hung over my shoulder... yeah, I was cool... but not as cool as these guys in this video... here is "Photograph" as we continue on with our Def Leppard Month...




Lyrics | Photograph lyrics

“Photograph”

Single by Def Leppard
from the album Pyromania
Released 1983
Format 7"
Recorded 1982
Park Gates Studios
Battle, Sussex, England
Battery Studios
London, England
Genre Glam metal
Length 4:12
Label Mercury
Writer(s) Joe Elliott, Pete Willis, Steve Clark, Rick Savage, Robert John "Mutt" Lange
Producer Robert John "Mutt" Lange

Mainstream Rock charts peak: #1
Pop singles peak: #12

He Was Nineteen

Hope you have a good Memorial Day, and I thought that a halfway fitting video would be this 1985 classic from Paul Hardcastle dedicated to the memory of those that lost their lives in Vietnam... "Nineteen"...




Lyrics | Nineteen (English Version) lyrics

“19”

Single by Paul Hardcastle
from the album Paul Hardcastle
B-side "Fly By Night"
Released 1985
Format 7", 12"
Genre Freestyle
Length 3:37
Label Chrysalis
Writer(s) Paul Hardcastle, William Coutourie, Jonas McCord
Producer Paul Hardcastle

Chart performance
Country / Peak position
Austria 1
Germany 1
The Netherlands 1[1]
Norway 1
Sweden 1
Switzerland 1
UK 1
US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play 1

Got No Human Grace

This really couldn't be a true 80's blog without the unmistakable lip curl/snarl of the one and only, William Michael Albert Broad! Who? That's how I always refer to him as, but maybe you might know him as British hard rocker, Billy Idol instead.

And since Billy was obviously kind enough to stop by and leave a comment, it was only right that I post one of his many great videos from the Rebel Yell album (with more to follow in the future I'm sure)... "Eyes Without a Face"...




Lyrics | Eyes Without A Face lyrics

“Eyes Without a Face”

Eyes Without a Face by Billy Idol
Single by Billy Idol
from the album Rebel Yell
Released May 1984
Format Vinyl (7" and 12")
Recorded Studio A, Electric Lady Studios, New York
Genre Rock, ballad, New Wave
Length 4 m 58 s
Label Chrysalis Records
Producer Keith Forsey

Billy Idol's first top 10 U.S. hit,
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #4

80's Movie Weekend

It's been almost 15 years since River Phoenix died of a drug overdose... this movie was the first time I remember seeing him kind of grown up even though he had been in "Stand by Me" a few years ealier... this was also a movie I remember seeing with a girl in high school I had a huge crush on at the time... from 1988 - "A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon"...

The trailer...



Here's part one of the movie (the person that posted this, posted the rest of the movie as well on youtube in case you want to just watch the whole thing!)...




A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon









Directed by William Richert
Produced by Mel Klein
Noel Marshall
Russell Schwartz
Written by William Richert (novel & screenplay)
Starring River Phoenix
Ann Magnuson
Meredith Salenger
Music by Bill Conti (US version)
Elmer Bernstein (non US version)
Cinematography John J. Connor
Editing by Suzanne Fenn
Distributed by 20th Century Fox
Release date(s) 1988
Running time 90 minutes
Country United States
Language English

The Message Is Perfectly Simple

OK, let's dress as outlandish as we can think of, get some bright colors, and some wacky looking instruments, get in an all-white room and make a music video! Still a very recognizable song from the 80's though... leopard print was in vogue also in this video... it's the English band called ABC with "Be Near Me"...

ABC - Be Near Me

Be Near Me Lyrics

“Be Near Me”

Single by ABC
from the album How to Be a...Zillionaire!
B-side "A to Z" (U.S. 7"),
"What’s Your Destination?" (UK 7,
12")
Released January 1985
Format 7",
12"
Recorded December 1984
Genre Dance-pop
Length 3:38
Label Mercury
Writer(s) Martin Fry/Mark White
Producer Martin Fry/Mark White

Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #9
UK Singles Peak: #26
Hot Club Dance Play Peak: #1

One Thing Leads...

... to another... at least that's what the 80's British new wave band named The Fixx taught us back in 1983... their most popular hit - "One Thing Leads to Another"...




One Thing Leads To Another Lyrics

"One Thing Leads To Another"

by The Fixx
from the album: Reach The Beach
released: 1983

Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #4

80's Television

The show that catapulted the smug, smirky, funny Bruce Willis to stardom... along with Cybil Sheppard, and the rest of the Blue Moon Detective Agency, one of my favorite nighttime comedy mysteries of the 80's - "Moonlighting"...

The intro...



A little limbo action...



More Maddie and David...



Ahh... the romance...



Moonlighting

Format Comedy, Mystery, Romance
Created by Glenn Gordon Caron
Starring Cybill Shepherd
Bruce Willis
Allyce Beasley
Curtis Armstrong
Country of origin United States
No. of seasons 5
No. of episodes 66 (List of episodes)
Production
Running time 42-44 minutes per episode
Broadcast
Original channel ABC
Original run 3 March 1985 – 14 May 1989

Oh! I Just Gotta Know

In continuing with our month long of vintage Def Leppard, here is one of my top three favorite Def Leppard songs of all-time... Fa Fa Fa "Foolin'"!




Lyrics | Foolin' lyrics

“Foolin'”

Single by Def Leppard
from the album Pyromania
Released 1983
Format 7"
Recorded Glam metal
Length 4:32
Label Mercury
Writer(s) Joe Elliott, Steve Clark, Robert John "Mutt" Lange
Producer Robert John "Mutt" Lange

Mainstream Rock Charts peak: #9
Pop Singles Chart peak: #28

I Don't Know Why I Did the Things I Did

Haven't we all thought that at one time or another? Well, it is the opening line to this classic... my most favorite Cher song and video for that matter... here with her then 12 year old son playing guitar, all the navy men on the USS Missouri, and oh, those strategically placed tatoos... remember that this video was "banned" by MTV at one time and only shown after 9 pm, so in honor of that, I'm posting this post 9pm CST... "If I Could Turn Back Time"...




Lyrics | If I Could Turn Back Time lyrics

“If I Could Turn Back Time”

Single by Cher
from the album Heart of Stone
Released June 1, 1989
Recorded 1989
Genre Pop/Rock
Length 3:49
Label Geffen
Writer(s) Diane Warren
Producer David Geffen
Certification Platinum (U.S.)
Gold (UK)

Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #3

80's Movie Weekend

Timothy Hutton in a 1985 film called "Turk 182!" which also features a young Kim Cattrall (before Sex and the City) and centers around Hutton's character as he tries to help his injured firefighter brother (Robert Urich) in a battle against the mayor and city hall...



Turk 182!







Directed by Bob Clark
Produced by René Dupont
Written by Denis Hamill
John Hamill
James Gregory Kingston
Starring Timothy Hutton
Robert Urich
Kim Cattrall
Robert Culp
Darren McGavin
Steven Keats
Paul Sorvino
Peter Boyle
David Wohl
Music by Paul Zaza
Cinematography Reginald H. Morris
Editing by Stan Cole
Distributed by 20th Century Fox
Release date(s) February, 1985 (USA)
Running time 102 min.
Language English

It's A 100 Above

Man, I had this 45 single back in the day... the black and red leather, the cool car, the semi-hot chick, and that bandana headband... love the dude playing drums at the end with the gas pumps... it's the Candaian rock group, Loverboy and "Hot Girls in Love"...




Lyrics | Hot Girls In Love lyrics

"Hot Girls in Love"
single by Loverboy
from the album: Keep It Up
1983

Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #11

When You Make Love, Do You Look in the Mirror?

Once again, in honor of Def Leppard's new studio album in stores now, here's a blast from 1988 ... Just remember... "Love Bites"...




Lyrics | Love Bites lyrics

“Love Bites”

Single by Def Leppard
from the album Hysteria
B-side Billy's Got A Gun (Live)
Released 1988
Format 7"
Recorded 1984-1987
Genre Glam metal, Power ballad
Length 5:46
Label Mercury
Writer(s) Joe Elliott, Phil Collen, Steve Clark, Rick Savage, Robert John "Mutt" Lange
Producer Robert John "Mutt" Lange

Def Leppard's only #1 single on the Billboard Hot 100 to date

Let's Hear It For the Blog

This is post number 201 in The Excellent 80's... so let's just insert blog for boy in this pop hit from 1984... "Let's Hear It for the Boy"... Deniece Williams (where is she?) hit number one with this song that was featured on the Footloose Soundtrack.. dancing kids, football players, martial arts experts, baton twirlers...

Deniece Williams - Let's Hear It For The
Uploaded by jpdc11

Lyrics | Let's Hear It For The Boy lyrics

“Let's Hear It for the Boy”

Single by Deniece Williams
from the album Footloose soundtrack
A-side "Let's Hear It for the Boy"
Released 1984
Format 7"
Genre Dance-pop
Length 4:20
Label Columbia Records
Writer(s) Tom Snow
Dean Pitchford
Producer George Duke

Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #1
UK Peak: #2

Somebody Send Me

Not one of my favorite artists... I always thought this guy a little strange, but he had some songs I did like back in the day... the crazy makeup, the funky clothes, the spotlight on the shoulder... everyone start snapping your fingers for the ever peculiar David Bowie and "Blue Jean"...




Lyrics | Blue Jean lyrics

“Blue Jean”

Single by David Bowie
from the album Tonight
B-side Dancing with the Big Boys
Released September 1984
Format 7"/12" single
Recorded Le Studio, Morin Heights, May 1984
Genre Rock
Length 3:08
Label EMI America - EA181
Producer David Bowie, Hugh Padgham, Derek Bramble

Chart / Position
US Hot Dance Music/Club Play: #2
US Mainstream Rock Tracks: #2
UK Singles Chart: #6
Canada Singles Chart: #4
US Billboard Hot 100: #8

I'm Going Crazy, I'm Losing Sleep

A little hair band ballad today with the first appearance by Cheap Trick in The Excellent 80's... some interesting guitars in this video... Wherever you go, I'll be with you... it's the band from Rockford, Illinois, Cheap Trick, with "The Flame"...




Lyrics | The Flame lyrics

“The Flame”

Single by Cheap Trick
from the album Lap of Luxury
B-side "Through the Night"
Released 1988
Genre Rock
Label Epic
Writer(s) Bob Mitchell
Nick Graham
Producer Richie Zito

Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #1
Australian Peak: #1

80's Movie Weekend

If you ask my wife, the best movie from the 80's would be this total chick flick with a superstar cast from November of 1989 - "Steel Magnolias"...



She had six fingaz!...



Hit Weezer!



Steel Magnolias

Theatrical release poster
Directed by Herbert Ross
Produced by Ray Stark
Andrew Stone
Victoria White
Starring Sally Field
Dolly Parton
Shirley MacLaine
Daryl Hannah
Olympia Dukakis
Julia Roberts
Tom Skerritt
Dylan McDermott
Kevin J. O'Connor
Sam Shepard
Music by Georges Delerue
Distributed by TriStar Pictures
Release date(s) November 15, 1989
Running time 117 min
Country United States
Language English
Budget ?

Gunter, Gleiben, Glauchen, Globen

I got something to say! It's better to burn out, than fade away... Def Leppard has done anything but fade away... I saw them a couple summers ago at a concert in Oklahoma City with Bryan Adams and they still brought the house/outdoor ballpark down... now everybody scream - I want rock-n-roll! Long live rock-n-roll!... I really dig the oversized sword... continuing with our Def Leppard Month, here is "Rock of Ages"...




Lyrics | Rock Of Ages lyrics

“Rock of Ages”

Single by Def Leppard
from the album Pyromania
Released 1983
Format 7"
Recorded 1982
Park Gates Studios
Battle, Sussex, England
Battery Studios
London, England
Genre Glam metal
Length 4:09
Label Mercury
Writer(s) Joe Elliott, Steve Clark, Robert John "Mutt" Lange
Producer Robert John "Mutt" Lange

Mainstream Rock Peak: #1
Pop Singles peak: #16

I've Got My Spine

One of my favorite groups for a second time in The Excellent 80's - it's R.E.M. with "Orange Crush"...




Orange Crush Lyrics

“Orange Crush”

Single by R.E.M.
from the album Green
Released December 1988 (US)
May 1989 (UK)

Format 7" Single
Recorded 1988
Genre Alternative rock
Length 3:51
Label Warner Bros. Records
Producer Scott Litt & R.E.M.

Modern Rock Tracks Peak: #1
UK Singles Peak: #28

A Litte Late 80's Synth Pop

Here's the little known band that emerged onto the scene in the late 80's and had a nice hit with this dance track in 1989 - "I Beg Your Pardon (I Never Promised You a Rose Garden)"... It's the Canadian group known as Kon Kan...

KON KAN lyrics

from the album: Move To Move
released: 1989
US Peak: #15
Canadian Peak: #19
UK Peak: #5

80's Television

We all learned growing up in the 80's that it takes "Diff'rent Strokes" to move the world... let's not think about how these kids ended up... let's remember them for their lovable selves - Arnold, Willis, and Kimberly, during the early to mid 80's...

The season opener...



Whatchu talkin' bout, Willis?



More smooth moves from Arnold...



Willis' first day of school blues (Tootie is in this scene) and smoking some weed...



Diff'rent Strokes

Format Sitcom
Created by Jeff Harris
Bernie Kukoff
Starring Gary Coleman
Conrad Bain
Todd Bridges (1978-1985)
Dana Plato (1978-1984)
Charlotte Rae (1978-1979)
Nedra Volz (1980-1982)
Mary Jo Catlett (1982-1986)
Janet Jackson (1980-1984)
Dixie Carter (1984-1985)
Danny Cooksey (1984-1986)
Shavar Ross (1980-1986)
Mary Ann Mobley (1985-1986)
Country of origin United States
No. of seasons 8
No. of episodes 189
Production
Running time 30 Minutes
Broadcast
Original channel NBC (1978-1985)
ABC (1985-1986)
Original run November 3, 1978 – March 7, 1986
Chronology
Followed by The Facts of Life

Ain't Nobody Loves Me Better Than You!

Chaka Khan with a classic today that was brought back and re-popularized with the Steve Martin movie "Bringing Down the House"... here is "Ain't Nobody"

Rufus Chaka Khan - Ain't Nobody
Uploaded by chilavert

Lyrics | Ain't Nobody lyrics

“Ain't Nobody”

Single by Rufus & Chaka Khan
from the album Stompin' at the Savoy
Released 1983
Genre Pop/Soul/R&B
Length 4:41
Writer(s) Hawk Wolinski

US R&B Hot Singles: #1
US Billboard Hot 100: #22

I'm Special, So Special

It's Chrissie Hynde and the gang making their Excellent 80's debut with a song that was actually released in late 1979, but hit its' peak in 1980... "Brass In Pocket"...

The Pretenders-Brass In Pocket
Uploaded by adiis

Lyrics | Brass In Pocket lyrics

“Brass in Pocket”

Single by The Pretenders
from the album Pretenders
Released November 1979
Format 7" vinyl
Recorded 1979
Genre Rock
Length 3:09
Label Sire Records
Writer(s) Chrissie Hynde, James Honeyman-Scott
Producer Chris Thomas

UK Peak: #1 (Jan. 1980)
US Peak: #14

80's Movie Weekend

With the whole Heath Ledger death and his new Batman movie on the way this summer, I can't believe that it has been 19 years since Michael Keaton and Jack Nicholson went all blockbuster on us with "Batman"...

The trailer...


You ever danced with the devil in the pale moonlight? The final showdown...



Batman

Directed by Tim Burton
Produced by Peter Guber
Jon Peters
Written by Characters:
Bill Finger (Uncredited)
Bob Kane
Story:
Sam Hamm
Screenplay:
Warren Skaaren
Sam Hamm
Starring Michael Keaton
Jack Nicholson
Kim Basinger
Robert Wuhl
Music by Score:
Danny Elfman
Original Songs:
Prince (not featured in movie, but separately attatched to soundtrack)
Cinematography Roger Pratt
Editing by Ray Lovejoy
Distributed by Warner Brothers
Release date(s) June 23, 1989
August 11, 1989
Running time 126 minutes
Country United Kingdom
United States
Language English
Budget $45,000,000
Gross revenue $300,218,028
Followed by Batman Returns

Demolition Woman, Can I Be Your Man?

In honor of Def Leppard's first all new material studio album in six years, The Sparkle Lounge, I'm going to hook you up with vintage Def Leppard videos from the 80's all through the month of May beginning today...


And to kick it off, here is the #1 stripper song of all-time, and still a favorite of many today... Strippers, everywhere, get up and grab your pole, and dance I say, dance! "Pour Some Sugar on Me"...





Lyrics | Pour Some Sugar On Me lyrics

“Pour Some Sugar on Me”

Single by Def Leppard
from the album Hysteria
B-side "I Wanna Be Your Hero" (UK), "Ring of Fire" (U.S.)
Released September 8, 1987 (UK), 1988 (U.S.)
Format 7", 12"
Recorded 1986
Genre Hard rock
Glam metal
Length 4:25
Label Mercury
Writer(s) Joe Elliott, Phil Collen, Steve Clark, Rick Savage, Robert John "Mutt" Lange
Producer Robert John "Mutt" Lange

Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #2

I Walked Along The Avenue

A happy May 1st to ya...

I'd run too if I had some chicks with scary eye makeup wearing black trash bags after me, but I'd run from any of the guys in this group as well... Paul Reynolds (guitarist) is way too cool for anything in this world in this video... the English band known as A Flock of Seagulls with "I Ran"...




I Ran Lyrics

“I Ran (So Far Away)”

Single by A Flock of Seagulls
from the album A Flock of Seagulls
B-side "Pick Me Up"
Released 1982
Format 7"
Genre New Wave
Length 5:07
Label Zomba
Writer(s) A Flock of Seagulls
Producer Mike Howlett

US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #9
UK Peak: #43
Australia Peak: #1 (Aussie Aussie Aussie!)