80's Movie Weekend

Well, it's that time of year, and for all you school aged children and men and women heading back to college, then you know that it means that it's back to school time... so what better themed movie to promote this weekend than the Rodney Dangerfield classic - "Back To School"...

the trailer...



Good teacher... really seems to care... about what I have no idea... it's Sam Kinison as the passionate history teacher in this classic scene...



and what would this post be without the famous "Triple Lindy" (and one of the worst stunt doubles of all time)...



Back to School

Directed by Alan Pasta
Produced by Chuck Russell
Written by Steven Kampmann
William Porter
Peter Torokvei
Harold Ramis
Starring Rodney Dangerfield
Sally Kellerman
Burt Young
Keith Gordon
Ned Beatty
William Zabka
Sam Kinison
Robert Downey, Jr.
Paxton Whitehead
Music by Danny Elfman
Cinematography Thomas E. Ackerman
Editing by David Rawlins
Distributed by Orion Pictures
Release date(s) June 13, 1986
Running time 96 min.
Country United States
Language English

The Big 5-0!

Annie, are you ok? One of my top 5 favorite MJ videos for you today as the king of pop celebrates his 50th birthday... don't think about the plastic surgeries or basic overall odd behavior... instead, focus on the greatness that was once Michael Jackson with "Smooth Criminal"...

Michael Jackson - Smooth Criminal
Uploaded by Tina007

Lyrics | Smooth Criminal lyrics

“Smooth Criminal”

Single by Michael Jackson
from the album Bad
Released October 24, 1988 (1988-10-24)
Format 5" CD single
3" CD single
12" vinyl
7" single
Cassette single
Recorded 1987
Genre Funk/Dance-pop
Length 7"/Album: 4:17
Extended Dance Mix: 7:37
Label Epic
Writer(s) Michael Jackson
Producer Michael Jackson and Quincy Jones

US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #7


In 2001, Alien Ant Farm did a nice job on a cover of this song, and so I went ahead and included it for your viewing pleasure...

Alien Ant Farm - Smooth Criminal
Uploaded by hushhush112

We All Need Somebody

Our Bryan Adams August wraps up with another hit from the "Reckless" album... this particular song actually had two videos that showed up on MTV, and thanks to the invention that is youtube, we have both of them right here today... here is the least played "Somebody" video...

Bryan Adams – Somebody - Watch more Music Videos at Vodpod.

Lyrics | Somebody lyrics

and here is the more popular in concert version of "Somebody" with B.A. in his white t-shirt... hey, what about you!?



“Somebody”

Single by Bryan Adams
from the album Reckless
Released 1984
Format 7" single
Recorded March 1984 in Vancouver, Canada
Genre Rock
Length 3:57
Label A&M Records
Writer(s) Bryan Adams
Jim Vallance
Producer Bob Clearmountain
Bryan Adams

US Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 single

I Work, Baby

Dedicated to all you working schmucks out there, and because Moe wanted it... here is double shot today of the rapper who burst onto the scene in the late 80's with his high fade, his Hammer pants, and his male dancers... from Brooklyn and occasionally known as "Dark Gable", first up today is the deep voice of Big Daddy Kane and "I Get the Job Done"...




Lyrics | I Get The Job Done lyrics

"I Get The Job Done"

by Big Daddy Kane
from the album "It's a Big Daddy Thing"
released: 1989


once again, here is the man born Antonio Hardy, aka Big Daddy Kane with "Ain't No Half Steppin'"...




Lyrics | Ain't No Half-Steppin' lyrics

"Ain't No Half-Steppin'"

by Big Daddy Kane
from the album: "Long Live the Kane"
released: 1988

You're Motoring

What's your price for flight, and finding mister right? It's the unmistakable lyrics to one of the great hair bands of the 80s and one of the great songs of the 80s... I searched high and low for an embeddable version, and I hope it's still available when you view this post... Night Ranger with "Sister Christian"...




Lyrics | Sister Christian lyrics

“Sister Christian”

Single by Night Ranger
from the album Midnight Madness
Released 1984
Recorded 1982
Genre Hard rock
Power ballad
Length 5:02 (album)
Label MCA Records
Writer(s) Kelly Keagy
Producer Pat Glasser

US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #5

You and I, Together - 80's Television

Today's flashback to 80's television reminds us that it's never a bad thing to be really rich and being fed with a silver spoon especially if you have a small train that runs through your house... little Ricky Schroder, Erin Gray, and later on also featured Jason Bateman and Alphonso Ribeiro (think Fresh Prince of Bel-Air)...

the intro to "Silver Spoons"...



there's no stopping the breakin' and the poppin' of Ricky and Alphonso in this scene...



and finally, what would a great 80's show be without an appearance from Menudo!



Silver Spoons

Format Sitcom
Created by Howard Leeds
Ben Starr
Martin Cohan
Developed by David W. Duclon
Ron Leavitt
Michael G. Moye
Starring Rick Schroder
Erin Gray
Leonard Lightfoot (1982-1983)
Joel Higgins
Franklyn Seales (1983-1987)
Alfonso Ribeiro (1984-1987)
Jason Bateman (1982-1983)
Corky Pigeon (1982-1985)
Country of origin United States
No. of seasons 5
No. of episodes 116

Now Waldo, I Hope You Find Some Friends This Year

Well, school is starting up again or about to start up again, and, well... I wonder what the teacher's gonna look like this year... whoa!

Van Halen - Hot For Teacher
Uploaded by Dan_of_the_Land

Hot For Teacher Lyrics

“Hot for Teacher”

Single by Van Halen
from the album 1984
B-side Little Guitars
Released January 9, 1984
Format 7" Vinyl record
Recorded 1983, at 5150 Studios, Hollywood, California
Genre Hard Rock
Length 4:44
Label Warner Music Group
Writer(s) Eddie Van Halen, David Lee Roth, Michael Anthony, Alex Van Halen
Producer Ted Templeman

80's Movie Weekend

This weekends' clips are a Spike Lee production... an all-star cast that included Spike Lee, Danny Aiello, John Turturro, Rosie Perez, and the baddest man alive - Samuel L. Jackson... just remember... always "Do The Right Thing"...



the trailer...



the story of love and hate...



who told you to buy a brownstone in my neighborhood on my side of the street?... check out Martin Lawrence working the lisp... (language)...



Do the Right Thing

Directed by Spike Lee
Produced by Spike Lee
Written by Spike Lee
Starring Danny Aiello
Ossie Davis
John Turturro
Ruby Dee
Richard Edson
Spike Lee
Bill Nunn
Rosie Perez
Giancarlo Esposito
John Savage
Samuel L Jackson
Music by Bill Lee
Distributed by Universal Pictures
Release date(s) May, 1989 (première at Cannes)
June 30, 1989
Running time 125 minutes
Language English
Budget $6,500,000

Baby, You're All That I Want

Once again, Bryan goes with two different videos of this song... one being some sort of storyline as the girl appears in "Run To You" and "Somebody" and here she is again in one version of Bryan's power ballad hit - "Heaven"...



and here's the one I remember more... with the crazy band of tvs and crazy audience of tvs ...




Lyrics | Bryan Adams lyrics - Heaven lyrics

“Heaven”

Single by Bryan Adams
from the album Reckless
Released 1985
Format CD single
Recorded 1983
Genre Pop Rock
Length 4:04
Label Badman/Polydor
Writer(s) Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance

US Billboard Hot 100: #1 (Adams' first #1 hit)
UK Peak: #38

You Got a Hubcap Diamond Star Halo

Let's follow up yesterday's Power Station video with their other high charting single - the remake of the 1971 song by the british band T.Rex, here is "Get It On (Bang a Gong)"...

Power Station - Get It On (Bang A Gong)
Uploaded by jpdc11

Lyrics | Get It On (Bang A Gong) lyrics

“Get It On (Bang a Gong)”

Single by The Power Station
from the album 'The Power Station'
B-side "Go to Zero"
Released 1985
Genre Rock
Label Parlophone - R 6096
Writer(s) Marc Bolan
Producer Bernard Edwards

US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #9
UK Peak: #22

Feel The Heat Pushing You To Decide

Today's post is just because Just Jay C put in a shout out for some Power Station... this of course was the group formed by the Taylor boys from Duran Duran and was headed up vocally by the talented Robert Palmer who passed away in 2003 thus preventing any kind of reunion in this life anyway... so, here is probably my favorite video of theirs for obvious reasons - "Some Like It Hot"...




Lyrics | Some Like It Hot lyrics

“Some Like It Hot”

Single by Power Station
from the album The Power Station
B-side "The Heat Is On"
Released 1985
Genre Rock
Label Parlophone - R 6091
Writer(s) The Power Station
Producer Bernard Edwards

US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #6

It's Only Love And That's All

An often overlooked and underrated song off of his "Reckless" album, this duet was pretty solid... at least I enjoyed it... our Bryan Adams August continues with the duet from Adams and those legs, better known as Tina Turner... "It's Only Love"...




Lyrics | It's Only Love lyrics

“It's Only Love”

Single by Bryan Adams and Tina Turner
from the album Reckless
Released 1985
Format CD single
Cassette
Genre Rock
Length 3:15
Label A&M
Writer(s) Bryan Adams
Jim Vallance
Producer Bryan Adams
Bob Clearmountain

Chart (1985) Peak position

Canadian singles chart #14
UK Singles Chart #29
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 #15
U.S. Mainstream Rock Tracks #7

Time, It Needs Time

The best German heavy metal group of all time makes their debut in The Excellent 80s... of course I'm talking about the Scorpions with one of the top power ballads of all time as well... here is "Still Loving You"...




Lyrics | Still Loving You lyrics

“Still Loving You”

Single by Scorpions
from the album Love at First Sting
B-side Holiday
Released 1984
Genre Heavy metal
Power ballad
Writer(s) Klaus Meine, Rudolf Schenker
Producer Dieter Dierks

Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #64

80's Movie Weekend

I just want to say that I still feel that Kickboxing is the sport of the future and Lloyd Dobler will always be one of the great names/characters of the 1980s... John Cusack again for you here in The Excellent 80's along with Ione Skye... from 1989 - "Say Anything..."




the trailer...



the gas -n- sip scene...



the classic boombox scene...



Say Anything...

Directed by Cameron Crowe
Produced by Polly Platt
Written by Cameron Crowe
Starring John Cusack
Ione Skye
John Mahoney
Lili Taylor
Joan Cusack
Cinematography László Kovács
Editing by Richard Marks
Distributed by 20th Century Fox
Release date(s) April 14, 1989
Running time 100 minutes
Language English

She Says Her Love For Me Could Never Die

One of my favorite 80s songs and still my most favorite Bryan Adams song... from the five times platinum album "Reckless" it is "Run To You" here in The Excellent 80's "Bryan Adams August"...

Bryan Adams – Run To You - Watch more Music Videos at Vodpod.

Lyrics | Run To You lyrics

“Run To You”

Single by Bryan Adams
from the album Reckless
Released 1984
Recorded April 1984
Genre Hard rock
Length 3:54
Label A&M Records
Writer(s) Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance
Producer Bob Clearmountain and Bryan Adams
Certification Gold (Canada)

Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #6
UK Peak: #11

They're Not Ordinary Walls

here's a cheesy introduction by some cheesy music video show for one of the most sexually suggestive songs of the 80s... time to flash those big eyes at us Sheena, here is Sheena Easton with a song composed by Prince - "Sugar Walls"...





Lyrics | Sugar Walls lyrics

US Pop Charts Peak: #9
US R&B Charts Peak: #3

Hey, Just Wait

With a mange like a lion this band came roaring into our consciousness with today's hit... the dramatic pose the band makes at the end of the video still cracks me up... here is White Lion with "Wait"...

White Lion Wait
Uploaded by Celtiemama

Lyrics | Wait lyrics

"Wait"

by White Lion
from the album: "Pride"
released: 1987

US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #8

80's Television

Howard Hesseman as "the cool teacher" and a wide variety of nerds including the former Mrs. Mike Tyson, Robin Givens, gave this show a 5 year run back in the mid 80's and early 90's... your television flashback today - "Head of the Class"...



Head of the Class

The original cast circa 1986
Format Sitcom
Created by Rich Eustis
Michael Elias
Starring (See entire cast list below)
Country of origin USA
No. of seasons 5
No. of episodes 114
Production
Running time 22 minutes
Broadcast
Original channel ABC
Original run September 17, 1986 – June 25, 1991

This Is The Night

Here in the midwest this time of year, it is hot... damn hot. So, what better way to combat the heat outside then with a little bit of heat on this blog... for a while, this female singer brought some heat to MTV and found herself on many walls in many boys' bedrooms around 1986... here is then 20 year old british singer/model Samantha Fox with "Touch Me (I Want Your Body)"...




Lyrics | Touch Me lyrics

“Touch Me (I Want Your Body)”

Single by Samantha Fox
from the album Touch Me
B-side "Never Gonna Fall in Love Again"
Released 1986
Format 7" single
Recorded 1986
Genre Pop
Length 3:44
Label Jive Records
Writer(s) Jon Astrop
Pete Q. Harris
Mark Shreeve
Producer Jon Astrop
Pete Q. Harris

US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #4
UK Peak: #3

80's Television - Saturday Morning Cartoons

With Ed Norton taking over the starring role of Dr. Robert Bruce Banner this summer, I thought it only fitting that we take a look back at the 1982 cartoon of "The Incredible Hulk"...



The Incredible Hulk

1982
Created by Stan Lee (characters)
Presented by Marvel Productions
Voices of Michael Bell
Bob Holt
Michael Horton
B.J. Ward
Narrated by Stan Lee
Composer(s) John Douglas
No. of episodes 13
Production
Executive
producer(s) David H. DePatie
Lee Gunther
Producer(s) Don Jurwich
Broadcast
Original channel NBC


every young boy or girl wished they could be like this little spoiled rich brat... Richie Rich...



"Richie Rich"

Broadcast
Original channel ABC
Original run 1980 – 1984

It's Not the Summer You're Thinking of

I saw Bryan Adams in concert with Def Leppard a few years back and before today's hit - "Summer of '69", Bryan made the comment to the crowd about how he was only about nine or twelve years old during the summer of 1969, and that's not really what this song was about... the crowd went crazy obviously... here's Bryan and his gang wrecking havoc with tomatoes, Bryan falling asleep cleaning the screen at a drive in movie theater, and the boys just having some summer fun reliving the double entendre known as the "Summer of '69"...




Lyrics | Summer Of '69 lyrics

“Summer of '69”

Single by Bryan Adams
from the album Reckless
B-side "Kids Wanna Rock"
"The Best Was Yet to Come"
Released 1984
Format gramophone record
Recorded 1984
Genre Hard rock
Length 3:32
Label A&M Records
Writer(s) Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance
Producer Bob Clearmountain
Bryan Adams

US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #5

Vacation - All I Ever Wanted

Well, if you haven't take a summer vacation yet, you're running out of time... let The Go Go's provide you with some inspiration today...


The Go-Go's - Vacation by EMI_Music


Lyrics | Go-Go's lyrics - Vacation lyrics


Single by Go-Go's
from the album Vacation
B-side "Beatnik Beach"
Released 1982
Format 7", cassette
Recorded 1982
Genre Alternative rock
Length 2:59
Label I.R.S.
Writer(s) Charlotte Caffey, Kathy Valentine, Jane Wiedlin
Producer Martin Rushent

Chart Peak position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 #8
U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks #13
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play #17

If You Need a Friend

I caught you a delicious bass... who doesn't love the tetherball scene at the end of Napoleon Dynamite where this next song made a huge comeback... definitely one of my favorite synthpop songs from the 80s... it's the little known band When in Rome from 1988 with "The Promise"...




Lyrics | The Promise lyrics

“The Promise”

Single by When in Rome
from the album When in Rome
Released 1988
Format vinyl record (12")
Genre Dance, Pop
Length 3:40
Label Virgin, 10
Writer(s) Clive Farrington, Michael Floreale, Andrew Mann
Producer Michael Brauer

Chart (1988) Peak position
U.S. Hot 100 #11
U.S. Hot Dance Music/Club Play #1
U.S. Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales #19

I Thought of Every Word I'd Say... Give or Take a Few

Our Bryan Adams' August continues with one of his earlier hits and still one of my favorite Adams songs... from the "Cuts Like A Knife" album, it's "This Time"...

she didn't really have to let the air out of his tires to make him stay - i think that's unclassy and uncalled for in this video...




Lyrics | This Time lyrics

“This Time”

Single by Bryan Adams
from the album Cuts Like a Knife
Released 1983
Recorded 1982
Genre Hard Rock
Length 3:20
Label A&M Records
Writer(s) Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance
Producer Bob Clearmountain and Bryan Adams

US Billboard Hot 100 Top 30
UK Peak: #41

Not Just a Fast Pussycat

... but a Faster Pussycat... from 1986, it's the L.A. band Faster Pussycat... There's no one home in my "House of Pain"...




Lyrics | House Of Pain lyrics

"House of Pain"

by Faster Pussycat
from the album: Wake Me When It's Over

US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #28

80's Movie Weekend

Today's movie takes us back to 1982 when a bunch of wacky kids brought us a crazy classic known as "Porky's"



the locker room scene... why do they call her "Lassie?"...



identifying the taliwacker with the mole...



Porky's

Directed by Bob Clark
Produced by Don Carmody
Bob Clark
Gary Goch
Harold Greenberg
Arnold Kopelson
Melvin Simon
Written by Bob Clark
Starring Dan Monahan
Mark Herrier
Wyatt Knight
Roger Wilson
Music by Paul Zaza
Carl Zittrer
Cinematography Reginald H. Morris
Editing by Stan Cole
Distributed by Astral Films (Canada, 1981)
Twentieth Century Fox (U.S.)

Release date(s) March 19, 1982 (U.S.)
Running time 94 min.
Country Canada/USA
Language English
Budget $4,000,000 (estimated)
Followed by Porky's II: The Next Day
Porky's Revenge

Nah Nah Nah, Nah Nah Nah, Nah Nah Nah Nah

Alright, that's a lot of "nahs" up there in the title, but if you're a Bryan Adams fan, then you can figure it out, and you are going to love the month of August as Bryan Adams is making his debut in The Excellent 80s with a "Bryan Adams August"... this is the title track from the album that kind of broke the Canadian into mainstream America... I saw Bryan in concert 3 or 4 summers ago and he could still rock... from the empty indoor swimming pool, here is "Cuts Like a Knife"

Bryan Adams - New Music - More Music Videos

Cuts Like A Knife Lyrics

"Cuts Like a Knife"

by Bryan Adams
from the album: Cuts Like a Knife
released: 1983