I Never Seen You Look So Good

The song that made Poison a household name and a staple on MTV's airwaves is concluding our "Poison March"... with the single that started it all - "Talk Dirty to Me"...

Poison - New Music - More Music Videos

Lyrics | Poison lyrics - Talk Dirty To Me lyrics

“Talk Dirty to Me”

Single by Poison
from the album Look What the Cat Dragged In
B-side Want Some, Need Some
Released February 18, 1987
Recorded 1986
Genre Glam metal
Length 3:44
Label Enigma/Capitol Records
Writer(s) Dall; DeVille-Maine-Judah; Michaels; Rockett
Producer Ric Browde

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #9

Last Night I Had the Strangest Dream

I will admit that today's song is a guilty pleasure of mine... ahhh, back when lyp synched performances were the norm, here is a "live" performance of a one-hit wonder from New York City by the name of Matthew Wilder... enjoy the synthesizers and Matthew's sweet outfit in "Break My Stride"...




Lyrics | Matthew Wilder lyrics - Break My Stride lyrics

“Break My Stride”

Single by Matthew Wilder
from the album I Don't Speak the Language
A-side "Break My Stride"
B-side Instrumental
Released November 26, 1983
Format 7" vinyl; 12" vinyl
Genre Pop
Length 3:02
Label Private I
Writer(s) Matthew Wilder, Greg Prestopino
Producer Peter Bunetta, Rick Chudacoff, Bill Elliot
Certification BPI Silver [1]

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #5
UK peak: #4

80's Movie Weekend

Bette Midler actually received a Golden Globe nomination for her role in this film... from 1987, here are Bette Midler and Shelley Long with "Outrageous Fortune"...

the trailer...



cat fight!



and Bette Midler dropping an F-Bomb in this scene...




Outrageous Fortune

Directed by Arthur Hiller
Produced by Ted Field
Written by Leslie Dixon
Starring Shelley Long
Bette Midler
Peter Coyote
Robert Prosky
George Carlin
Music by Alan Silvestri
Cinematography David M. Walsh
Editing by Tom Rolf
Distributed by Touchstone Pictures
Release date(s) January 30, 1987
Running time 100 min.
Country
Language English
Budget $5 million
Gross revenue $52,864,741

Dance I Say! Dance!

I enjoyed watching today's two videos just to see the neon colors and the teased hair that added a few inches of height to each girl... so put on your dancing shoes today and enjoy a double feature of the three hot chicks who formed a group in Miami known as Expose... first up is "Point of No Return"...

Expose Point of No Return
Uploaded by clcbarueri

Lyrics | Exposé lyrics - Point Of No Return lyrics

“Point of No Return (1987 version)”

Single by Exposé
from the album Exposure
Released 1987
Genre Dance-pop, Freestyle
Length 6:07 (original; extended version)
3:54 (original; single version)
5:20 (1987 version)
Label Arista
Writer(s) Lewis Martineé
Producer Lewis Martineé

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #5

Another single from the same album that also peaked at #5 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart - "Come Go With Me"...




Lyrics | Expose lyrics - Come Go With Me lyrics

"Come Go With Me"

Single by Exposé
from the album Exposure
Released 1987
Genre Dance-pop, Freestyle

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #5

Like Gasoline You Want to Pump Me

In case you haven't noticed here in The Excellent 80's, it's a "Poison March" as we are blasting through some of the best of the glam metal band Poison... today's featured video actually came out in 1990, but we all know that Poison belongs to the 80's... here is "Unskinny Bop"... nothin' more to say...

Poison - Unskinny Bop
Uploaded by jpdc11

Lyrics | Poison lyrics - Unskinny Bop lyrics

“Unskinny Bop”

Single by Poison
from the album Flesh and Blood
B-side Valley Of Lost Souls
Released June 27, 1990
Recorded 1990
Genre Glam rock
Label Capitol Records

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #3
UK peak: #15

Let Me Hear Your Body Talk

You haven't given up on your New Year's resolution to get in better shape have you? If so, let Olivia Newton John urge you to re-commit and to get "Physical"... let's all admit that this was a horrible video back then and remains even worst to this day... it is so bad that I couldn't stand to watch the whole thing through... a song that spent 10 weeks at #1, here is a bunch of gay dudes in speedos and some fatties in "Physical"

Olivia Newton John - Physical
Uploaded by guy-paul

Lyrics | Olivia Newton-John lyrics - Physical lyrics

“Physical”

Single by Olivia Newton-John
from the album Physical
Released September 1981
Recorded January 1981
Length 3:45
Label MCA
Producer John Farrar
Certification Platinum (U.S.)

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #1

I Know Who I Want in Charge of Me!

Charles is a 19 year old college student working his way through college as a live-in baby-sitter and house keeper... with best friend Buddy (Willie Aames) and occasional help from his mom Ellen Travolta (John's sister), here is Scott Baio in "Charles in Charge"...

the season one intro...



updated sound and an updated cast... from season two with a young Nicole Eggert on set, the intro...



a scene from season two




Charles in Charge

Format Sitcom
Created by Michael Jacobs
Barbara Weisberg
Starring Scott Baio
Willie Aames
Julie Cobb (1984-1985)
James Widdoes (1984-1985)
April Lerman (1984-1985)
Jonathan Ward (1984-1985)
Michael Pearlman (1984-1985)
Jennifer Runyon (1984-1985)
Sandra Kerns (1987-1990)
Nicole Eggert (1987-1990)
Josie Davis (1987-1990)
Alexander Polinsky (1987-1990)
Ellen Travolta (1987-1990)
James T. Callahan (1987-1990)
Country of origin United States
No. of seasons 5
No. of episodes 126 (List of episodes)

Win Big

One of my top 5 Poison songs today with some cool guitar riffs going on... just because I know you want to know, here is my five favorite Poison songs in no particular order (it's like choosing between your kids, how can you choose one over the other!?)...

Every Rose Has Its Thorn
Unskinny Bop
I Won't Forget You Baby
Nothin' But a Good Time
and today's sweet Poison jam - "Fallen Angel"...

Poison - Fallen Angel
Uploaded by tophe1212

Lyrics | Poison lyrics - Fallen Angel lyrics

“Fallen Angel”

Single by Poison
from the album Open Up and Say...Ahh!
B-side "Bad To Be Good"
Released July 6, 1988
Recorded 1988
Genre Glam Metal
Label Enigma/Capitol Records
Writer(s) Dall; Deville-Maine-Judah; Michaels; Rockett
Producer Ric Browde

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #12

80's Movie Weekend

This weekend's 80's movie weekend is an under-rated and sometimes forgotten teen comedy starring Casey Siemaszko (Jerry) and just another day of high school and Jerry's impending doom coming at "Three O'Clock High"...

the first seven minutes of "Three O'Clock High"...



the fight scene between Buddy and Jerry...




Three O'Clock High

Directed by Phil Joanou
Produced by David E. Vogel
Written by Richard Christian Matheson
Thomas Szollosi
Starring Casey Siemaszko
Music by Tangerine Dream
Cinematography Barry Sonnenfeld
Editing by Joe Ann Fogle
Distributed by Universal Pictures
Release date(s) 9 October 1987
Running time 90 min.
Country United States
Language English
Budget N/A
Gross revenue $3,685,862

Roxanne, Roxanne - You Cold Wanna Check This Out

As you know if you've ever spent any time in The Excellent 80's, I grew up on a healthy dose of rap (I was a baller in high school and college, what can I say?)... today's double shot is from a group made up of Kangol Kid (Shiller Shaun Fequiere), the Educated Rapper (Jeffrey Campbell) (also known as EMD), Doctor Ice (Fred Reeves), and Mix Master Ice (Maurice Bailey)... they were called Untouchable Force Organization, or better known as UTFO... first up, here is "Roxanne, Roxanne"...

UTFO - Roxanne Roxanne
Uploaded by discodisc

Lyrics | Utfo lyrics - Roxanne Roxanne lyrics

If you want to read up on the "Roxanne Wars," then go here

and to complete the second half of the double header, check out...
"Ya Cold Wanna Be With Me"...




Lyrics | Utfo lyrics - Ya Cold Wanna Be With Me lyrics

Don't Wanna Talk About It

Though not one of their more famous tunes, today's video and song is one that was underappreciated by many, but if you are a Ratt fan, then you enjoyed "I Want a Woman"...

Ratt - I Want A Woman
Uploaded by krematoria

Lyrics | Ratt lyrics - I Want A Woman lyrics

“I Want a Woman”

Single by Ratt
from the album Reach for the Sky
Released 1988
Format Vinyl LP, Cassette, CD
Recorded 1988
Genre Glam metal
Length 3:58
Label Atlantic
Producer Beau Hill

Streaks on the China Never Mattered Before

Any show with a former big league ball player who was mediocre at best has to be to a hit show, right? Well, Bob Uecker managed to make it six seasons as the dad of a middle class Pittsburgh family that takes in an English butler after he moves to the United States... a Friday night staple for many growing up in the 80's, today's look back is at the sitcom based upon a character created in 1947 - "Mr Belvedere"...

the intro...



one of the shows' promos...



Wesley taking down sex offenders, baby!



Mr. Belvedere

Mr. Belvedere title card, from seasons 3-6
Format Sitcom
Created by Gwen Davenport
Developed by Frank Dungan
Jeff Stein
Directed by Don Corvan
Noam Pitlik
Tony Sheehan
Alan Bergmann
Gerren Keith
Tony Singletary
Rob Stone
Howard Storm
Michael Zinberg

Starring
Christopher Hewett
Ilene Graff
Rob Stone
Tracy Wells
Brice Beckham
Bob Uecker
Opening theme According to Our New Arrivals, by Judy Hart-Angelo & Gary Portnoy, performed by Leon Redbone
Country of origin United States
No. of seasons 6
No. of episodes 117 (10 unaired) (List of episodes)

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

A Happy St. Patrick's Day to you and as I did last year in honor of the greatest Irish band of all time and one of the greatest rock bands of all time, here is U2 (no one rocked the mullet as well as Bono did back in the day) with one of their signature and overtly political songs - "Sunday, Bloody Sunday"...

U2 - Sunday Bloody Sunday
Uploaded by newcanadian

Lyrics | U2 lyrics - Sunday Bloody Sunday lyrics

“Sunday Bloody Sunday”

Single by U2
from the album War
Released March 1983
Format 7" vinyl, 12" vinyl, CD single
Genre Rock, post-punk
Length 4:42
Label Island
Producer Steve Lillywhite

1983 US Mainstream Rock Tracks peak: #7

Did My Words Not Come Out Right?

Today's Poison feature as our "Poison March" rolls on is the band's most popular song... written by Brett Michaels after a failed love affair with a L.A. stripper, this song remains the band's only #1 hit - "Every Rose Has Its Thorn"...

Poison - Every Rose Has Its Thorn
Uploaded by krematoria

Lyrics | Poison lyrics - Every Rose Has Its Thorn lyrics

“Every Rose Has Its Thorn”

Single by Poison
from the album Open Up and Say... Ahh!
B-side Livine For The Minute
Released October 12, 1988
Genre Glam metal, Country rock
Length 4:20
Label Capitol Records
Writer(s) Bret Michaels
Producer Tom Werman

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #1

80's Movie Weekend

James Roberts, being a pop idol, is used to having his way with women. He meets child psychologist Diana Lawson in a car accident, however, who not only doesn't swoon at his attentions, but has also never heard of him. He tries to win her affection, but it's complicated by the fact that his ex-lover, Nicky Nides, is still a member of his band... ladies and gentlemen... I give you Rick Springfield is "Hard to Hold"...

the trailer...



"Hard to Hold"

released: 1984
Starring:
Rick Springfield
Janet Eilber
Patti Hansen

"Hard to Hold" is an album released by Rick Springfield in 1984 as the soundtrack to the movie of the same name. The single "Love Somebody" reach #5 on the US Hot Singles chart

Track listing
"Love Somebody" (Rick Springfield)
"Don't Walk Away" (Rick Springfield)
"Bop 'Til You Drop" (Rick Springfield)
"Taxi Dancing" (Rick Springfield)
"S.F.O." (Rick Springfield)
"Stand Up" (Rick Springfield)
"When the Lights Go Down" (Rick Springfield)
"Great Lost Art of Conversation" (Rick Springfield)
"Heart of a Woman" (Rick Springfield)
"I Go Swimming" (Rick Springfield, Peter Gabriel)

Check out my Springfield September from 2007 for more on Rick.

Your Daddy Don't Rock and Roll

It's a "Poison March", so here is some more leather, some more make-up, some more jumping around on stage, some more big hair, and a re-make of the 1972 hit for the duo of Loggins and Messina... here is Poison with "Your Mama Don't Dance"...

Poison - Your Mama Don't Dance
Uploaded by jpdc11

Lyrics | Poison lyrics - Your Mama Don't Dance lyrics

“Your Mama Don't Dance”

Single by Poison
from the album Open Up and Say...Ahh!
B-side Tearin' Down the Walls
Released February 1, 1989
Recorded 1988
Genre Glam metal
Label Enigma/Capitol Records
Writer(s) Kenny Loggins
Jim Messina
Producer Ric Browde

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #4

Meet You All the Way

It's West Side Story! No, no, no,... it's one of our favorite 80's groups from L.A. and lead singer Bobby Kimball's mustache in this video is pretty sweet... here is Toto again with "Rosanna"...




Lyrics | Toto lyrics - Rosanna lyrics

“Rosanna”

Single by Toto
from the album Toto IV
B-side It's a Feeling
Released 1982
Format vinyl record 7", compact disc
Recorded 1982
Genre Rock
Length 5 min, 31 sec
Label Columbia Records
Producer Toto

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #2

Givin' It Up For the Big Man Upstairs

Today's hair metal band sensation from the 80's has some great hair and some great spandex, but the one thing that was a little bit different about this band is that they were a self professed Christian heavy metal act, and a successful one at that... the letters in their name stood for Salvation Through Redemption, Yielding Peace, Encouragement, and Righteousness... here is the black and gold striped band that would routinely toss Bibles into the crowd - it's Stryper with "Honestly"...

Stryper - Honestly
Uploaded by DBFDM

Lyrics | Stryper lyrics - Honestly lyrics

"Honestly"

by Stryper
from the album: To Hell With the Devil

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #23

I'm Not the Kind to Kiss and Tell

One of my favorite tv shows that lasted all of five seasons... here is the former Bionic Man playing a stuntman in "The Fall Guy"... Lee was the unknown stuntman that made Eastwood look so fine...

Here is the intro plus the remainder of the full song as sung by the star of the show - Lee Majors...



of course, it didn't hurt that "The Fall Guy" sexed up their show on occasion by putting Heather Thomas in it...



Markie Post starred in the show prior to her run on "Night Court" but also one of the staples of 80's television was Erin Gray and here she is in various scenes from "The Fall Guy"...



The Fall Guy

Screenshots of The Fall Guy
Format Action, Adventure
Created by Glen A. Larson
Directed by Ben Cooper, seven episodes
Starring Lee Majors
Douglas Barr
Heather Thomas
Country of origin United States
No. of seasons 5
No. of episodes 113 (List of episodes)
Production
Running time 60 minutes (per episode)
Broadcast
Original channel ABC
Original run November 4, 1981 – May 2, 1986

Now I'm A Sucker For A Pretty Face

Another look at Poison today... the third single off of their debut album, "Look What the Cat Dragged In..." here is Bret and the crew showing off some acting skillz and playing some strip poker in "I Want Action"...




Lyrics | Poison lyrics - I Want Action lyrics

“I Want Action”

Single by Poison
from the album Look What the Cat Dragged In
B-side # 1 Bad Boy
Released May 20, 1987
Recorded 1986
Genre Glam metal
Label Enigma/Capitol Records
Writer(s) Dall; DeVille-Maine-Judah; Michaels; Rockett
Producer Ric Browde

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #50

80's Movie Weekend

Axel Foley has already graced us once with Beverly Hills Cop earlier in The Excellent 80's and he's back with Billy and John in the fairly entertaining Beverly Hills Cop II...

the trailer...



the accountant scene with the one and only Gilbert Gottfried...



Beverly Hills Cop II

Directed by Tony Scott
Produced by Don Simpson
Jerry Bruckheimer
Written by Characters:
Danilo Bach
Daniel Petrie, Jr.
Story:
Eddie Murphy
Robert D. Wachs
Screenplay:
Larry Ferguson
Warren Skaaren
Uncredited:
David Giler
Dennis Klein
Starring Eddie Murphy
Judge Reinhold
Jurgen Prochnow
Ronny Cox
John Ashton
Brigitte Nielsen
Allen Garfield
Dean Stockwell
Gil Hill
Gilbert Gottfried
and Paul Reiser
Editing by Billy Weber
Distributed by Paramount Pictures
Release date(s) May 20, 1987
Running time 100 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Gross revenue $299,965,036 (worldwide)
Preceded by Beverly Hills Cop
Followed by Beverly Hills Cop III


We obviously need the biggest hit of the movie, here is Bob Seger and "Shakedown"...

Bob Seger - Shakedown
Uploaded by jpdc11

Lyrics | Bob Seger lyrics - Shakedown lyrics

“Shakedown”

Single by Bob Seger
from the album Beverly Hills Cop II
Genre Rock, Pop
Writer(s) Harold Faltermeyer, Keith Forsey, Bob Seger
Producer Keith Forsey

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #1

I Should Let You Fade Away

As our "Poison March" rolls on, here is the first power ballad that was a big hit for the boys... still one of my favorites... still some serious hair... Poison with "I Won't Forget You"...

Poison - I Won't Forget You
Uploaded by jpdc11

Lyrics | Poison lyrics - I Won't Forget You lyrics

“I Won't Forget You”

Single by Poison
from the album Look What the Cat Dragged In
B-side Blame It On You
Released August 5, 1987
Recorded 1986
Genre Glam metal
Length 3:44
Label Enigma/Capitol Records
Writer(s) Dall; Deville-Maine-Judah; Michaels; Rockett
Producer Ric Browde

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #13

Children Behave

Amidst all of this testosterone (Poison, Loverboy, etc.), I had to add some estrogen, and what's more girlie than the pop sensation who used to date Jonathan Knight from NKOTB? How about the mall sensation... the now 37 year old Tiffany (wow) with her most popular song - a remake of the 1967 hit for Tommy James & the Shondells - "I Think We're Alone Now"...




Lyrics | Tiffany lyrics - I Think We're Alone Now lyrics

“I Think We're Alone Now”

Single by Tiffany
from the album Tiffany
B-side "No Rules"
Released November 10, 1987
Format 7" single, 12" single, CD single
Recorded 1987
Genre Synth-pop
Length 3:47
Label MCA Records
Writer(s) Ritchie Cordell
Producer George Tobin

Chart Peak position

UK Singles Chart #1
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 #1
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales #7
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play #26
Canadian Singles chart #1

I Hope You're With Me When It's Over

Not saying the Excellent 80's will ever end, but the 80's did come to an end over 6,000 days ago (see the counter at the bottom of the page for exactness)... but it is not coming to an end today... I just titled this post to today's classic from Loverboy... here are those crazy Canadians with "When It's Over"...




Lyrics | Loverboy lyrics - When It's Over lyrics


"When It's Over"

from the album: Get Lucky
released in 1981

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #26

What Would You Do If I Sang Out of Tune?

Would you stand up and walk out on me?... since today's look back to 80's television originated in the 80's and carried on into the 90's, I feel like it belongs here in The Excellent 80's... without question, one of the best written shows and still one of my favorites of all-time, here is Kevin, Winnie, Paul, and the rest of the gang from "The Wonder Years"...

the intro...



with Daniel Stern doing the voice-over work, Kevin & Winnie's first kiss...



the phone call...




the finale'...




The Wonder Years

Format Comedy-drama
Created by Carol Black
Neal Marlens
Starring Fred Savage
Dan Lauria
Alley Mills
Danica McKellar
Olivia d'Abo
Jason Hervey
Josh Saviano
Narrated by Daniel Stern
Country of origin United States
No. of seasons 6
No. of episodes 115 (List of episodes)
Production
Producer(s) The Black-Marlens Company
Associate
producer(s) New World Television
Running time 22 minutes
Broadcast
Original channel ABC
Original run January 31, 1988 – May 12, 1993

I Spend My Money on Women and Wine

Who wouldn't want to kick open a door and find Poison rockin' on the other end?
It's March and I'm officially proclaiming a "Poison March" this month as The Excellent 80's rolls out the best of Bret Michaels, Rikki Rockett, Bobby Dall, and C.C. DeVille... to kick off our Poison March here is the one song I remember a local DJ playing about 7 or 8 times in a row one morning just for the heck of it before I left for school... it was pretty funny at the time... you and I know that we don't need "Nothin' But a Good Time"...

Poison - Nothin but a good time
Uploaded by krematoria

Lyrics | Poison lyrics - Nothin' But A Good Time lyrics

“Nothin' but a Good Time”

Single by Poison
from the album Open Up and Say...Ahh!
B-side Livin' For the Minute, Look But You Cant Touch
Released 1988
Recorded 1988
Genre Glam metal
Label Enigma/Capitol Records
Writer(s) Dall; Deville-Maine-Judah; Michaels; Rockett
Producer Ric Browde

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #6