New York, New York, Is it Everything They Say?

Our "Huey Lewis and The News November" sadly concludes today with another big hit for the group... and, as far as I'm concerned, as long as Huey Lewis is still singing and touring, the "Heart of Rock and Roll" will always be beating... enjoy...

Huey Lewis&the News-Heart of Rock&roll
Uploaded by Docbuzz

Huey Lewis and News Lyrics

"The Heart of Rock and Roll"

by Huey Lewis and The News
from the album: "Sports"
released: 1986
US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #6

I'm Alone Sitting With My Empty Glass

Today's band was formed in California in the late 1970s and this was their first MTV hit back in 1983 when MTV was still an infant... it's Terri Nunn and Berlin with "The Metro"...




Lyrics | Metro lyrics

“The Metro”

Single by Berlin
from the album Pleasure Victim
Released 1983
Format 7" vinyl, 12" vinyl
Recorded 1982, Los Angeles
Genre New Wave / Synth-pop / Dance / Rock
Length 4:07
Label Geffen
Writer(s) John Crawford
Producer Daniel R. Van Patten

US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #58

80's Holiday Movie Weekend

This early weekend's featured movie is a classic Thanksgiving holiday flick... it's the epic tale of Steve Martin trying to get home for Thanksgiving dinner all the while having to deal with the crazy antics of the late John Candy in "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles"... Have a great Thanksgiving!


flight cancellation scene with Ben Stein...



those aren't pillows!

Those aren't pillows.
Uploaded by RandySsavage

you're going the wrong way! you're going to kill someone!



Planes, Trains and Automobiles

Directed by John Hughes
Produced by John Hughes
Written by John Hughes
Starring Steve Martin
John Candy
Music by Ira Newborn
Cinematography Donald Peterman
Editing by Paul Hirsch
Distributed by Paramount Pictures
Release date(s) November 25, 1987
Running time 92 min.
Country United States
Language English

I Made This Money, You Didn't

Post New Edition, Bobby Brown's "Don't Be Cruel" album was a smash hit and it included this late 80's anthem... written by Bobby B and Teddy Riley, here is bad boy Bobby Brown's only #1 hit, "My Prerogative"...

Bobby Brown - My Prerogative
Uploaded by jpdc11

Lyrics | My Prerogative lyrics

“My Prerogative”

Single by Bobby Brown
from the album Don't Be Cruel
Released 1988
Format Cassette single
7" single
12" single
CD single
Genre R&B / Pop
Length 4:51
Label MCA
Writer(s) Bobby Brown
Gene Griffin
Teddy Riley
Producer Gene Griffin

Charts (1988) Peak Position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 #1
U.S. Billboard Hot R&B Songs #1
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play #7
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Singles Sales #2
UK Singles Chart #6


Just because I wanted to see it, I went ahead and included the Britney Spears remake of the song for you as well today... so, if you want to see a perfectly awesome 80's song sung by a cool guy who turned crazy totally destroyed and ruined by a promising young singer who turned crazy, then please view for yourself...

Britney Spears - My Perogative
Uploaded by mattgroening

Happy Birthday JJ

A happy birthday to the late JJ Jackson who was one of the original five VJs on MTV... here is some footage of JJ back in the day on a MTV Reunion Weekend as well as the video from Bow Wow Wow - "I Want Candy"....




Lyrics | Bow Wow Wow lyrics - I Want Candy lyrics

“I Want Candy”

Single by Bow Wow Wow
from the album The Last of the Mohicans
Released 1982 (1982) (U.S.)
Genre New Wave, Pop/Rock
Label RCA


Chart Peak Position
UK Singles Chart #9
USA Top 100 #62
USA Mainstream Rock #22
USA Hot Dance Club Play #36


RIP JJ, who passed away in 2004

Now, for an added bonus today, here is the English glam band, Slade... see chameleon lying there in the sun, all things to everyone... "Run Runaway"...




Lyrics | Run Run Away lyrics

“Run Runaway”

Single by Slade
released: 1984
B-side Don't Tame A Hurricane
Genre Folk rock
Length 3:24
Writer(s) Noddy Holder/Jim Lea
Producer John Punter

US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #20
UK Peak: #7

I Met a Fan Dancer Down in Southside Birmingham

Written by Bruce Hornsby, today's featured video is one of three #1 hits for Hugh Anthony Cregg III and his band better known as Huey Lewis and The News... from 1986, here is the #1 hit, "Jacob's Ladder"...

Huey Lewis & The News - Jacob's Ladder
Uploaded by jpdc11

Huey Lewis Lyrics

“Jacob's Ladder”

Single by Huey Lewis & The News
from the album Fore!
B-side "The Heart of Rock & Roll" (Live)
Released 1987
Format 7" single
Recorded 1986
Genre Rock
Label Chrysalis
Writer(s) Bruce Hornsby, John Hornsby
Producer Huey Lewis & The News

US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #1

You Know Where You Are? You in a Chinese Democracy, baby. You Gonna Die!

Like how I combined old and new GNR in the title today? Sure you do. In a special Sunday post celebrating the release of the album that was like 30 years in the making, "Chinese Democracy", Axl and the old GNR crew are back in The Excellent 80's today with the song that rocked a nation and gave hundreds of high schools a theme song at sporting events... here is Guns N' Roses and "Welcome To the Jungle"...

Guns N' Roses - Welcome to the Jungle
Uploaded by hushhush112

Lyrics | Guns N' Roses - Welcome To The Jungle lyrics

“Welcome to the Jungle”

Single by Guns N' Roses
from the album Appetite for Destruction
Released 1987
Format Vinyl single (7", 12")
Cassette
CD
Recorded 1987
Genre Hard rock
Length 04:33
Label Geffen
Writer(s) Axl Rose
Slash
Producer Mike Clink

US Billboard Hot 100 peak: #7

80's Movie Weekend

Today's movie flashback takes us back to the classic duo of Kathleen Turner and Michael Douglas... throw in Danny DeVito and you have yourself a hit movie, here is "Romancing the Stone"...

the trailer...



if you want to check out Siskel and Ebert's review of the film, here you go...




Romancing the Stone

Directed by Robert Zemeckis
Produced by Michael Douglas
Jack Brodsky
Joel Douglas
Written by Diane Thomas
Uncredited:
Lem Dobbs
Howard Franklin
Treva Silverman
Starring Michael Douglas
Kathleen Turner
Danny DeVito
Alfonso Arau
Manuel Ojeda
Music by Alan Silvestri
Cinematography Dean Cundey
Álex Phillips Jr.
Editing by Donn Cambern
Frank Morriss
Distributed by 20th Century Fox
Release date(s) March 30, 1984 (USA)
Running time 105 min.
Country Mexico / USA
Language English
Followed by The Jewel of the Nile

also from this movie, I had forgotten about this little jewel... this guy is best known for his single, "Electric Avenue" and I had forgotten that he had even done this song for the movie... here is Eddy Grant, and check him out wailing away on the guitar with "Romancing the Stone"...




Lyrics | Romancing The Stone lyrics

She's As Fine As She Can Be

Our "Huey Lewis and the News November" is winding down as November is quickly escaping from us and turning into December... this video is better suited for Halloween, but anyway, here is the mad scientist Huey Lewis with The News and this nearly 8 minute video - "Doin' It All For My Baby"...

huey lewis§the news"doing it all..."
Uploaded by miklo

Huey Lewis amp The News Lyrics

"Doin' It All For My Baby"

by Huey Lewis and The News
from the album: "Fore!"
released: 1987

US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #6

Baby, I Know You're Wondering

Coming hard on to the club dance scene in the mid-80's and making their debut in The Excellent 80's today is Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam with their first big hit - "I Wonder If I Take You Home"...

Lisa Lisa Cult Jam - I Wonder If I Take
Uploaded by jpdc11

Lyrics | I Wonder If I Take You Home lyrics

“I Wonder If I Take You Home”

Single by Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam
from the album Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam with Full Force
Released 1985
Format 7", 12"
Recorded 1984
Genre Freestyle music
Length 3:57 (album version); 6:48 (extended remix)
Label Columbia Records
Writer(s) Full Force
Producer Full Force, Don Oriolo, Jurgen Korduletsch
Certification Gold

US Billboard Hot 100 peak: #34
US R&B Peak: #6
US Hot Dance Club Play peak: #1
UK Singles: #12

And the Man At the Back Said

Today's hard rockers toured with the likes of Sammy Hagar, Def Leppard, and Judas Priest in the 1980's... formed in Switzerland in 1974, it's Krokus with "Ballroom Blitz"...




Lyrics | Ballroom Blitz lyrics

"Ballroom Blitz"

by Krokus
from the album: The Blitz
released: 1984

Gimme A Break!

A little flashback to the days when Nell Carter was a big time star and had a hit tv show on her hands... remember "Gimme a Break"?

a promo for the show...



the intro and the beginning to one of the episodes (notice the young Joey Lawrence)...




Gimme a Break!

Format Comedy
Created by Mort Lachman
Sy Rosen
Starring Nell Carter
Dolph Sweet (1981-1985)
Lara Jill Miller
Lauri Hendler (1981-1986)
Kari Michaelsen (1981-1986)
John Hoyt (1982-1987)
Joey Lawrence (1983-1987)
Telma Hopkins (1984-1987)
Country of origin United States
No. of seasons 6
No. of episodes 137

Please Let Me Know!

Power ballad time for Huey Lewis and the News today... from the album "Sports", here is "If This is It"...

Huey Lewis & The News - If This Is It
Uploaded by jpdc11

Lewis Huey Lyrics

“If This Is It”

Single by Huey Lewis & The News
from the album Sports
B-side "Change of Heart"
Released 1984
Format 7" 45 RPM
Genre Pop / Rock
Length 3:46
Label Chrysalis
Writer(s) Johnny Colla, Huey Lewis
Producer Huey Lewis & The News

Chart (1984) Peak position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 #6
U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks #5
U.S. Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks #19

80's Movie Weekend

It's hard to go wrong with a Chevy Chase flick... ok, ok, he has had some real bombs over the years and some people even include this one, though I'm kind of on the fence with it... this weekend's featured movie clips come from the 1981 Chevy Chase film, "Modern Problems"...


the trailer...



snorting Demon Powder with Nell Carter...



Modern Problems

Directed by Ken Shapiro
Produced by Alan Greisman
Michael Shamberg
Written by Ken Shapiro
Tom Sherohman
Starring Chevy Chase
Patti D'Arbanville
Dabney Coleman
Mary Kay Place
Nell Carter
Music by Dominic Frontiere
Cinematography Edmond L. Koons
Editing by Michael Jablow
Distributed by Twentieth Century Fox
Release date(s) December 25, 1981
Running time 89 mins.
Country United States
Language English
Budget Unknown

I Was Falling In Love

Known primarily for their biggest hit "I Ran", A Flock of Seagulls had a few minor hits including today's featured video... don't worry, lead singer Mike Score is still sporting that sweet do that he was known for back in the 80's, here is the English band, A Flock of Seagulls with "Space Age Love Song"...




Lyrics | Space Age Love Song lyrics

"Space Age Love Song"

by A Flock of Seagulls
from the album: A Flock of Seagulls
released: 1983

US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #30
UK Peak: #34

Give a Little Bit of Heart and Soul

Named after a female Vulcan priestess from the show "Star Trek", today's featured video is the biggest hit from the band called T'Pau... formed by singer Carol Decker, here is their biggest chart topper - from 1987, "Heart and Soul"...




Lyrics | Heart And Soul lyrics

“Heart and Soul”

Single by T'Pau
from the album Bridge of Spies
B-side "On the Wing"
Released June 6, 1987 (1987-06-06)
Label Siren, Virgin
Writer(s) Carol Decker, Ron Rogers
Producer Roy Thomas Baker

Chart performance
Country Peak position
The Netherlands #34
United Kingdom #4
United States #4
Canada #1

I Want a New Drug

Today, as our "Huey Lewis and The News November" rolls on, we have the video that caused me to delve deep into drugs and try everything illegal on the market back in the 80s which in turn led to my 12 stints in rehab and my deviated septum... just kidding... I didn't ever need a new drug, but Huey apparently did with this hit song that was all over MTV back in the day... "I Want a New Drug"...

Huey Lewis&The News-I want a new drug
Uploaded by Docbuzz

Lewis Huey Lyrics

As a side note to this song, Huey Lewis would later sue Ray Parker Jr. claiming that Parker had ripped off the sound of "I Want a New Drug" for his hit "Ghostbusters (Who ya Gonna Call?)" I posted that video here if you want to compare for yourself.

“I Want a New Drug”

Single by Huey Lewis & The News
from the album Sports
B-side "Finally Found a Home"
Released 1984
Format 7", 12"
Genre Pop / Rock
Length 4:46 (album version)
3:29 (single edit)
5:32 (12" dance mix)
Label Chrysalis
Writer(s) Chris Hayes, Huey Lewis
Producer Huey Lewis & The News

Chart (1984) Peak position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 #6
U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks #7
U.S. Billboard Dance Club Play #1

Zhum Zhum Zinny Zinny

Is it Ebony and Ivory? No. Michael and Paul? No. Phil C and Philip B.? Nope. Today's black-white combo comes from the long forgotten duo known as Sly Fox... Gary "Mudbone" Cooper and Michael Camacho form Sly Fox and today's video - "Let's Go All the Way"...

Sly Fox - Let's Go All The Way
Uploaded by hushhush112

"Let's Go All The Way"
by Sly Fox
from the album: Let's Go All the Way
released: 1986

US Billboard Hot 100 peak: #7
UK Peak: #3

We Walked In The Garden, We Planted a Tree

No, today's title doesn't suggest some environmentally friendly song to promote green, instead it provides a totally different positive vibe... it promotes picking up strangers in the rain, taking them back to a hotel (that you know well), having a romp in the hay, leaving him a note, becoming pregnant and bearing that poor bastard child while married to another man... even though this hit from Heart came out in 1990, I couldn't resist including it in The Excellent 80s for the sheer silliness of the lyrics and the promotion of promiscuity... here is the Wilson sisters, Heart, with "All I Wanna Do Is Make Love To You"...


Heart - All I Wanna Do Is Make Love To You by Heart-Official


Lyrics | All I Wanna Do Is Make Love To You lyrics

“All I Wanna Do Is Make Love to You”

Single by Heart
from the album Brigade
B-side "Call of the Wild"
"Cruel Tears" (non-LP)
Released March 1990
Genre Rock/Pop
Label Capitol Records
Writer(s) Robert John "Mutt" Lange
Producer Richie Zito

US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #2
UK Peak: #8
Canada and Australia: #1

80's Movie Weekend - Ferris, You're My Hero

One of the best movies of all-time... "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" gave every teenager hope for possibly achieving the greatness that was Ferris Bueller... tell me that you don't remember about licking your palms to give that clammy feeling because having a temperature would mean a doctor's visit and would totally kill your chances of getting to stay at home by yourself...



some of the best bits from the movie...



Ferris Bueller's Day Off

Directed by John Hughes
Produced by John Hughes
Tom Jacobson
Written by John Hughes
Starring Matthew Broderick
Alan Ruck
Mia Sara
Jeffrey Jones
Jennifer Grey
Edie McClurg
Music by Ira Newborn
Arthur Baker
John Robie
Cinematography Tak Fujimoto
Editing by Paul Hirsch
Distributed by Paramount Pictures
Release date(s) June 11, 1986
Running time 102 min
Country United States
Language English
Budget $6,000,000 USD
Followed by Ferris Bueller

We've Had Some Fun

Yes, it's true (yes, it's true)... the Excellent 80's is "stuck" with a "Huey Lewis and The News November" as we blast through some of the best of Huey and The News all this month... today, from the "Fore!" album, here is "Stuck With You"...

Huey Lewis & The News - Stuck With You
Uploaded by jpdc11

Huey Lewis And The News Lyrics

“Stuck with You”

Single by Huey Lewis and the News
from the album Fore!
Released 1986
Format 7" Vinyl record
Recorded 1986
Genre Rock
Length 4:29
Label Chrysalis
Writer(s) Chris Hayes, Huey Lewis
Producer Huey Lewis and the News

Chart (1986) Peak position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 #1
U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary #1
U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks #2
UK Singles Chart #12

Clean Shirt, New Shoes

It's the appearing and disappearing beards making their second appearance in The Excellent 80s... the trio formed in 1969 in Houston, Texas, here is ZZ Top and women going crazy for a "Sharp Dressed Man"...

ZZ Top Sharp Dressed Man
Uploaded by Celtiemama

Lyrics | Sharp Dressed Man lyrics

“Sharp Dressed Man”

Single by ZZ Top
from the album Eliminator
B-side "I Got the Six"
Released 1983
Format 7"
Recorded 1982
Genre Blues-rock
Length 4:13
Label Warner Bros.
Writer(s) Billy Gibbons
Dusty Hill
Frank Beard
Producer Bill Ham

Chart Peak position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 #56
U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks #2
UK Singles Chart #61

We're Heading For Venus

Does this keyboard riff intro ever get old? I say no, but for the thousands that just don't get this band and this song, I can see how it may wear on one's nerves as this song has become a staple at a lot of sporting events through the years... it's the Swedish band Europe with their biggest hit - "The Final Countdown"...




Lyrics | The Final Countdown lyrics

“The Final Countdown”

Single by Europe
from the album The Final Countdown
B-side "On Broken Wings"
Released February 1986
Format CD single, 7" single, 12" single
Genre Glam metal
Hard rock
Length 5:11 (Album Version)
4:03 (Radio Edit)
Label Epic (Sony BMG)
Writer(s) Joey Tempest
Producer Kevin Elson

UK Singles Chart #1
Billboard Hot 100 #8
Modern Rock Tracks #18

80's Television

The fast cars, the fast boats, the fast women, and two too cool cops with a sense of style and fashion never seen before... grab your best white linen suit jacket, push up the sleeves and enjoy the greatness of Crockett and Tubbs today with a flashback to "Miami Vice"...


the intro...




there were obviously some cool guest stars and some cool music that was featured throughout the series... of course this Phil Collins classic is probably the most remembered song from the series in this classic scene...

it was real, wasn't it?


The Power Station making an appearance (without Robert Palmer on vocals) and like any good band, playing right through the bar fight...



Sonny with a sweet ponytail and music in the background by Peter Gabriel...






and of course, Glen Frey made an occasional appearance and came through with this big hit... "Smuggler's Blues"...

Glenn Frey - Smuggler's Blues
Uploaded by jpdc11

Lyrics | Smuggler's Blues lyrics

"Smuggler's Blues"
from the Miami Vice Soundtrack
released 1985
US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #12

Miami Vice

Genre Crime drama
Created by Anthony Yerkovich
Starring Don Johnson
Philip Michael Thomas
Michael Talbott
Olivia Brown
Saundra Santiago
Edward James Olmos
John Diehl (S1-3)
Gregory Sierra (S1)
Theme music composer Jan Hammer
Opening theme Miami Vice Theme
Ending theme Miami Vice Theme
Composer(s) Jan Hammer (S1-4)
Tim Truman (S5)
Country of origin United States
Language(s) English
No. of seasons 5
No. of episodes 111 (List of episodes)
Series run on NBC from 1984-1989

It's A News November

As in it's a Huey Lewis and the News November as throughout the month of November, we will be bringing you the best of Huey and his News each and every week... of course, I already posted one of the best movies ever "Back To The Future" which featured two hits from Huey including "The Power of Love".... First up in November, the first Huey Lewis and the News song I remember jamming to back in the early 80's... produced by the great "Mutt" Lange, here is "Do You Believe in Love"... how they got all those dudes to agree to be in the same bed is still beyond me at this point...

Huey Lewis & The News - Do You Believe In Love
Uploaded by jpdc11

Lyrics | Do You Believe In Love lyrics

“Do You Believe in Love”

Single by Huey Lewis and the News
from the album Picture This
B-side "Is It Me"
Released 1982
Format 7" vinyl
Recorded 1982
Genre Pop, Rock
Length 3:30
Label Chrysalis Records
Writer(s) Robert John "Mutt" Lange
Producer Huey Lewis and the News
Bob Brown

US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #7

80's Movie Weekend - Happy Halloween!

Hope you had a happy Halloween last night... today, another John Hughes classic for this weekend's 80s Movie... every teenage nerd's dream back when computers were exciting and new - creating the perfect woman... and Gary and Wyatt about got it perfect when Kelly LeBrock showed up for this 1985 classic - "Weird Science"



the trailer...



light a match, light a fire...



he don't even have his license, Lisa!



and what would this post be without a little bit of Chet mixed in...



Weird Science(science fiction)

Directed by John Hughes
Produced by Joel Silver
Written by John Hughes
Starring Anthony Michael Hall
Kelly LeBrock
Ilan Mitchell-Smith
Bill Paxton
Music by Ira Newborn
Jimmy Iovine
Cinematography Matthew F. Leonetti
Editing by Chris Lebenzon
Mark Warner
Distributed by Universal Pictures
Release date(s) August 2, 1985
Running time 94 min.
Country United States
Language English

And what would this post be without the title song from the band Oingo Boingo, here is "Weird Science"...




Lyrics | Weird Science lyrics