Country Is Always On My Mind Forever And Ever

Like I've said before here in The Excellent 80's, we don't discriminate... today, we're throwing a little country flavor atcha as we are known to do from time to time... first up, a man that was on American Idol last month... looking younger than he did last month, here is the man born in Marshville, North Carolina with one of his 30 something #1's - it's Randy Travis with "Forever and Ever, Amen"...

Randy Travis - Forever and ever amen
Uploaded by Coyote63000

Lyrics | Randy Travis lyrics - Forever And Ever, Amen lyrics

“Forever and Ever, Amen”

Single by Randy Travis
from the album Always & Forever
B-side Promises
Released March 1987
Genre Country
Length 3:31
Label Warner Bros. Records
Writer(s) Paul Overstreet, Don Schlitz
Producer Kyle Lehning

U.S. Billboard Country charts peak: #1

Of course this blog could use some Willie Nelson, and so here's a live performance of one of my Willie favorites, the slow song originally sung by Brenda Lee in 1972 and followed up by Elvis years later - "Always On My Mind"...

Willie Nelson - Always On My Mind
Uploaded by Red_Rider

Lyrics | Willie Nelson lyrics - Always On My MInd lyrics

"Always on My Mind"

by Willie Nelson
1982
Written by Johnny Christopher, Mark James and Wayne Carson Thompson
Published 1972
Original artist Brenda Lee
Recorded by Elvis Presley, Willie Nelson, Pet Shop Boys, B.B. King, Michael Bublé, among others

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #5
U.S. Billboard Country charts peak: #1

Everybody Sing

Today's post features the New York rap duo that has gained some recent pub with the LeBron James commercial where he picks up their cd off of the ground and proceeds to break out some dance moves inspired by this duo that hit it big around 1988 with the album "2Hype"... gotta love the high-top fade... Kid 'n Play with "Rollin' With Kid 'n Play"...




Rollin' With Kid 'n Play Lyrics


"Rollin' With Kid 'n Play"

by Kid 'n Play
from the album: 2Hype
released: 1988

Hot Rap singles peak: #2

When You Gonna Live Your Life Right?

Oh daddy, dear, you know you're still number one... that's right, Cyndi Lauper's girl anthem that made her an international superstar... love the appearance of Captain Lou Albano in the video and the mother in the video is actually Cyndi's real mom... here is "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun"...

Cindy Lauper - Girls Just 'W' Have Fun -
Uploaded by Sunskynet

Lyrics | Cyndi Lauper lyrics - Girls Just Wanna Have Fun lyrics

“Girls Just Want to Have Fun”

Single by Cyndi Lauper
from the album She's So Unusual
B-side Right Track Wrong Train
Released 1983
Format 7", 12"
Genre Pop
Length 3:58
Label Epic, Portrait, CBS
Writer(s) Robert Hazard
Producer Rick Chertoff
Certification Platinum (US)
Silver (UK)

Chart (1983/84) Peak position

UK Singles Chart #2
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 #2
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play #1

Oh, The Night Is My World

City light, painted girl... today's artist born in New York had a few minor hits in the early 80's with this probably being the biggest of her hits... making her debut in The Excellent 80's today, it is Laura Branigan with "Self Control"... what's up with going to bed with Mike Myers from the "Halloween" movies and if that's the case, why does she wake up alive and not in a pool of her own blood?...

Laura Branigan - Self Control
Uploaded by trapux

Lyrics | Laura Branigan lyrics - Self Control lyrics

Self Control

Studio album by Laura Branigan
Released April 1984
Genre Pop / Rock
Length 40:01
Label Atlantic
Producer Robbie Buchanan,
Jack White

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #4

80s Movie Weekend

Back in 1984, today's movie won 8 Academy Awards and is based loosely on the lives of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Antonio Salieri, two composers who lived in Vienna, Austria, during the later half of the 18th century. Here is "Amadeus"...

the trailer...



one of the more famous scenes from the movie...



Amadeus

Directed by Miloš Forman
Produced by Saul Zaentz
Written by Peter Shaffer
Starring F. Murray Abraham
Tom Hulce
Elizabeth Berridge
Music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Cinematography Miroslav Ondříček
Editing by Michael Chandler
Distributed by Orion Pictures
Release date(s) 19 September 1984
Running time 160 minutes
180 minutes (director's cut)
Country United States
Language English
Budget US$18 million
Gross revenue US$52 million

And even though this song was not by any means part of this motion picture, it is a good opportunity for me to make a connection... the only German song to reach #1 in the U.S., here is Johann (Hans) Hölzel, better known as Falco with "Rock Me Amadeus"...

Falco - Rock Me Amadeus
Uploaded by jpdc11

Lyrics | Falco lyrics - Rock Me Amadeus lyrics

“Rock Me Amadeus (Ihn Liebten Alle Frauen...)”

Single by Falco
from the album Falco 3
Released 1986 (1986)
Format 7"
Recorded 1985
Genre Pop Hip hop Pop Rap New Wave
Length 3:21

US Billboard Hot 100 peak: #1
UK peak: #1

I Met This Little Girlie, Her Hair Was Kind of Curly

It's tricky to rock a rhyme, to rock a rhyme that's right on time, it's tricky! My favorite rap group of all-time makes another appearance in the Excellent 80's today with magic duo Penn and Teller lending their acting chops to it... from 1987, here is "It's Tricky"...

Run-D.M.C. - New Music - More Music Videos

Lyrics | Run-D.M.C. lyrics - It's Tricky lyrics

“It's Tricky”

Single by Run-D.M.C.
from the album Raising Hell
B-side Proud to Be Black
Released 1987
Format Vinyl, Cassette
Recorded 1987
Genre Hip hop
Length 3:03
Label Profile Records
Writer(s) Joseph Simmons, Darryl McDaniels
Producer Rick Rubin, Run-D.M.C.

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #57
U.S. Hot R&B / Rap singles peak: #21

Come On Baby, Dry Your Eyes

Nice earrings and lipstick pretty boy! It's the English synthpop band The Human League with another one of their big 80's hits that went all the way to #1 in the U.S.... it's "Human"...

Human League - Human
Uploaded by hushhush112

Lyrics | Human League lyrics - Human lyrics

“Human”

Single by The Human League
from the album Crash
B-side Extended Instrumental Version
Released August 1986
Format 7" single, 12" single
Recorded February 1986, Flyte Time Studios, Minneapolis
Genre Synthpop
Length 4:24 (full album version)
3:48 (single "fade-out" version)
Label A&M, Virgin
Writer(s) Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis
Producer Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis

Chart (1986) Peak position

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 #1
U.S. Hot Dance Club Play #1
U.S. R&B/Hip-Hop Songs #3
U.S. Adult Contemporary #3
UK Singles Chart #8

Still Back to Back

Today's double shot is the from the duo that continues to tour together and continues to entertain the masses from their respective collections of greatness... Sir Elton and Mr. William Joel today...

first up, here is Elton John with Stevie Wonder on harmonica and "I Guess That's Why They Call it the Blues"...

Elton John - I Guess That's Why They Cal
Uploaded by jpdc11

Lyrics | Elton John lyrics - I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues lyrics

“I Guess That's Why They Call it the Blues”

Single by Elton John
from the album Too Low For Zero
B-side "Choc-Ice Goes Mental" (U.K.)
"The Retreat" (U.S.)

Released April 1983 (U.K.); October 1983 (U.S.)
Format 7"
Recorded 1982
Genre Pop, Adult Contemporary
Length 4:42
Label Rocket (U.K.); Geffen (U.S.)
Writer(s) Elton John (music), Bernie Taupin (lyrics), Guitarist Davey Johnstone shares a writing credit.
Producer Chris Thomas

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


Next up is an early 1980 hit for Billy Joel and covered with some success years later by Garth Brooks... "You May Be Right"... I may be crazy...

Billy Joel You May Be Right
Uploaded by Celtiemama

Lyrics | Billy Joel lyrics - You May Be Right lyrics

“You May Be Right”

Single by Billy Joel
from the album Glass Houses
Released 1980
Format 7"
Recorded 1979
Genre Rock
Length 4:15
Label Columbia Records
Writer(s) Billy Joel
Producer Phil Ramone

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #7

I'm Rough Like a Freight Train, Smooth Like Ice

For those of you that remember the original Nintendo gaming system, if you were a sports fan like me, then you spent a good deal of time training Little Mac in the ways of boxing so that you could cut through opponents like Glass Joe, King Hippo, Soda Popinski, and Bald Bull on your way to a matchup against Mike Tyson himself in "Mike Tyson's Punchout."
Well, a few years later when this song came out, it provided an instant anthem in my dorm room anytime me or my friends broke out the game... released just months before the real Mike Tyson went down in Tokyo at the hands of Buster Douglas, here is Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince with "I Think I Can Beat Mike Tyson"...

DJ Jazzy Jeff & Fresh Prince - I Think I
Uploaded by jpdc11

Lyrics | Dj Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince lyrics - I Think I Can Beat Mike Tyson lyrics

“I Think I Can Beat Mike Tyson”

Single by DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince
from the album And in This Corner…
Released 1989
Format 45" Vinyl
Cassette Tape
Recorded 1989
Genre Hip-Hop/Rap
Label Jive/Zomba
Writer(s) Will Smith
Jeffrey Townes
Pete Q. Harris
Producer Will Smith
Jeffrey Townes
Bryan "Chuck" New
Pete Q. Harris

I Heat Up, I Can't Cool Down

Some awesome magic tricks for you today (said with a heavy scent of sarcasm) courtesy of The Steve Miller Band... I mean where was David Copperfield and Criss Angel in this video... probably my least favorite hit of The Steve Miller Band, but it was a hit back in 1982... here is "Abracadabra"

The Steve Miller Band - Abracadabra
Uploaded by Shakki

Lyrics | Steve Miller Band lyrics - Abracadabra lyrics

“Abracadabra”

Single by Steve Miller Band
from the album Abracadabra
Released 1982
Format 7", CD single
Genre Rock
Length 5:08
Label Capitol Records
Producer Steve Miller
Gary Mallaber

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #1
UK peak: #2

80s Movie Weekend

Today's flashback was released in 1987 (wow, 22 years ago... old am I), starring Steve Martin and Daryl Hannah. It is a modern retelling of the verse play Cyrano de Bergerac (which I remember having to read in junior high), written in 1897 by French author Edmond Rostand... here is "Roxanne"...

the size of a man's nose...



20 better ways to describe his nose...



Roxanne

Directed by Fred Schepisi
Produced by Steve Martin (executive producer)
Michael I. Rachmil
Daniel Melnick
Written by Steve Martin
Starring Steve Martin
Daryl Hannah
Rick Rossovich
Shelley Duvall
Music by Bruce Smeaton
Cinematography Ian Baker
Editing by John Scott
Distributed by Columbia Pictures
Release date(s) June 19, 1987
Running time 107 min.
Country United States
Language English

Two, Three, Four!

Today's video and single was the second of five singles to break into the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 top ten from the same album... the timeless Jersey native Bon Jovi (love the Shore Baseball shirt he's sporting in part of the video) and "Born To Be My Baby"...




Lyrics | Bon Jovi lyrics - Born To Be My Baby lyrics

“Born to Be My Baby”

Single by Bon Jovi
from the album New Jersey
B-side "Love for Sale"
Released 1988
Format CD Single
Recorded 1988
Genre Hard rock[1]
Length 4:40
Label Mercury Records
Writer(s) Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, Desmond Child
Producer Bruce Fairbairn

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #3

Today, you're getting "The Gas Face" suckas! I know you remember MC Serch (Michael Berrin), Prime Minister Pete Nice (Peter J. Nash), and DJ Richie Rich (Richard Lawson), or better known as the rap group (which features two white guys) 3rd Bass... this was a minor hit for them back in 1989 (pre-"Pop Goes the Weasel")... here is "The Gas Face"...

3rd.Bass - Gas Face Ft.Zev.Love.X
Uploaded by discodisc

Lyrics | 3Rd Bass lyrics - The Gas Face lyrics

"The Gas Face"

by 3rd Bass
album: The Cactus Album
released: 1989

Rap Singles Chart peak: #5

I Wish I Could Give You Something More

Hold on Excellent 80's readers/viewers... hold onto your laughter, hold onto your hairspray... hold onto your lunch... it's the Chicago born Richard Marx making his Excellent 80's debut today with his first number one hit - "Hold On To the Nights"

Richard Marx - Hold On To The Night
Uploaded by jpdc11

Lyrics | Richard Marx lyrics - Hold On To The Nights lyrics

“Hold On to the Nights”

Single by Richard Marx
from the album Richard Marx
Released June 1988
Genre Rock
Length 5:12
4:56 (radio edit)
Label EMI
Writer(s) Richard Marx
Producer Richard Marx and David Cole

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #1

80's Television

The Friday night soap opera with one of the most famous 'who done it' episodes ever... sex, oil, and drama... here is the crooked J.R. Ewing and one of the most popular soap operas of the 80's - "Dallas"...

the intro...



who did shoot J.R.?



and then look who gets shot!



Dallas

Format Soap Opera
Created by David Jacobs
Starring Larry Hagman
Barbara Bel Geddes
Jim Davis
Patrick Duffy
Linda Gray
Susan Howard
Steve Kanaly
Howard Keel
George Kennedy
Ken Kercheval
Cathy Podewell
Priscilla Beaulieu Presley
Victoria Principal
Dack Rambo
Donna Reed
Charlene Tilton
Sheree J. Wilson
Country of origin United States
No. of seasons 14 (including the miniseries)
No. of episodes 357 (List of episodes)
Production
Running time 45 Minutes (excluding commercials)
Broadcast
Original channel CBS
Original run April 2–30, 1978, as miniseries
September 23, 1978 as weekly program – May 3, 1991

I'm Feeling Like a Bad Boy

Well, the rock group that will never ever go away is up today... they will be touring for another 40 years I believe... led by Steven Tyler, here is Aerosmith with their 1987 hit "Ragdoll"... the way Steven drives down the street at the end of the video reminds me of my younger days (right)....

Aerosmith - Rag Doll
Uploaded by jpdc11

Lyrics | Aerosmith lyrics - Rag Doll lyrics

“Rag Doll”

Single by Aerosmith
from the album Permanent Vacation
B-side "St. John"
Released 1988
Format Cassette, CD, Record
Recorded 1987
Genre Hard rock
Length 04:24
Label Geffen
Writer(s) Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Jim Vallance, Holly Knight
Producer Bruce Fairbairn

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #17

80's Movie Weekend

Featured this season on an episode of "30 Rock," this weekend's movie flashback was one of those movies that was so bad it was good if that makes any sense at all. I think it actually won an academy award for makeup and did inspire a short lived tv series of the same name... ladies and gentlemen, I give you John Lithgow in "Harry and the Hendersons"...




the trailer...



I'll show you me crazy!



I need some bigs on Sasquatch...




Harry and the Hendersons

Directed by William Dear
Produced by William Dear
Richard Vane
Written by William Dear and
Bill Martin &
Ezra D. Rappaport
Starring John Lithgow
Melinda Dillon
Margaret Langrick
Joshua Rudoy
Kevin Peter Hall
Lainie Kazan
Don Ameche
M. Emmet Walsh
David Suchet
Music by Bruce Broughton
Cinematography George Koblasa
Editing by Donn Cambern
Distributed by Universal Studios
Release date(s) June 5, 1987 (USA)
Running time 110 minutes
Language English
Budget Unknown
Gross revenue $29,760,613 (USA)

When There's Lightening

Surely the producers of today's video could have gone with a less windy day, but it might have left us without one of the 80's great heavy metal outfits... we get a shirtless Ronnie James Dio with a vest, tight jeans, some sort of wrap on his wrist and some furry topped boots that seem to be fairly popular with the ladies these days... anyway, not many men could pull off that look... with one of the great metal songs of all-time, from one of the ugliest singers ever, it's Ronnie James Dio and the band Dio with "Rainbow in the Dark"...

Dio, Ronnie James - Rainbow In The Dark
Uploaded by MOMOLECOOL

Lyrics | Dio lyrics - Rainbow In The Dark lyrics

“Rainbow in the Dark”

Single by Dio
from the album Holy Diver
B-side Stand Up and Shout (live), Straight Through the Heart (live)
Released October 21, 1983
Format 7", 12"
Recorded 1983, Sound City Studios, Los Angeles, California
Genre Heavy metal
Length 4:15
Label Vertigo
Writer(s) Ronnie James Dio, Vinny Appice, Jimmy Bain, Vivian Campbell
Producer Ronnie James Dio

Thank You For Being A Friend (To the Excellent 80's)

An 80's television flashback for you today as we travel back to 1985 when some old chicks got together to make a funny foursome that kept your grandma and maybe your parents in stitches every Friday night... here's the intro for Dorothy, Rose, Blanche, and Sophia, also known as "The Golden Girls"...



Blanche and Sophia were always my favorites...



Golden Girls bloopers...



The Golden Girls

Format Sitcom
Created by Susan Harris
Starring Beatrice Arthur
Betty White
Rue McClanahan
Estelle Getty
Opening theme "Thank You for Being a Friend," written by Andrew Gold and sung by Cynthia Fee
Country of origin United States
No. of seasons 7
No. of episodes 180 (List of episodes)
Production
Running time 25 minutes (22 minutes for syndication)
Broadcast
Original channel NBC
Original run September 14, 1985 – May 9, 1992

I'm Still Asking What It's Got To Do With It

Then...


and now...


Born Anna Mae Bullock, November 26, 1939, here is Tina Turner with her biggest charting single ever, and my personal favorite that begs the open-ended question - "What's Love Got to Do With It?"

Tina Turner: What's Love Got To Do With
Uploaded by la_shivi

Lyrics | Tina Turner lyrics - What's Love Got To Do With It lyrics

“What's Love Got to Do with It”

Single by Tina Turner
from the album Private Dancer
B-side "Don't Rush the Good Things"
Released June 4, 1984[1]
Format Cassette single
7" single
12" single
Genre Pop/R&B
Length 3:50
Label Capitol
Writer(s) Terry Britten
Graham Lyle
Producer Terry Britten
Certification Gold (RIAA)
Silver (BPI)[2]

Chart (1984) Peak position

Australian Singles Chart #1
Canadian Singles Chart #1
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 #1

Monkey Pack Him Rizla Pon the Sweet Dep Line

You all recognize the title line don't you? It's the classic "what the hell is he saying?" comment associated with this song, and for all I know, the title is not right, but I'm going off of lyrics mode for today's black and white video... a remake of the Neil Diamond classic with a funky rap thrown in, here is the British reggae band UB40 with "Red, Red Wine"...

UB40 - Red Red Wine
Uploaded by samyyy62410

Lyrics | Ub40 lyrics - Red Red Wine lyrics

“Red Red Wine”

Single by UB40
from the album Labour of Love
B-side Sufferin'
Released August 20, 1983 (1983-08-20)
Format 7", 12"
Genre Reggae
Label DEP International (UK)
A&M (US)
Writer(s) Neil Diamond, arranged by UB40
Producer UB40, Ray "Pablo" Falconer

Chart Peak position

New Zealand #1
UK Singles Chart #1
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 #34 (1984)
#1 (1988)

The Ball Is Tipped. There You Are

You're running for your life... it's NCAA championship game day and twenty years ago in 1989 we had a pretty good final game that saw Rumeal Robinson and Michigan take home the title in a close one over Seton Hall... enjoy the montage from 1989...

80's Movie Weekend

Our 80's movie weekend takes us back to a classic crazy kids, high-jinks movie on the ski slopes with none other than Playboy's Shannon Tweed... how could you forget this classic I ask?... Harkin Banks and the flick "Hot Dog... The Movie!"

the trailer...


the ski lift ride...


Hot Dog... The Movie!

Directed by Peter Markle
Produced by Edward S. Feldman
Mike Marvin
Written by Mike Marvin
Starring David Naughton
Patrick Houser
Tracy Smith
Shannon Tweed
Music by Peter Bernstein
Mark Goldenberg
John Stewart
Cinematography Paul Ryan
Editing by John Stewart
Distributed by MGM
Release date(s) January 13, 1984
Running time 96 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Gross revenue $17,700,000

If You're Blue and You Don't Know Where to Go

You just have to love any performer that's named after a scruptuous mexican food, right? Well, not necessarily, but today's artist, born in Indonesia to a Dutch couple was named Taco Ockerse... in today's video, he looks like a Vampire in a tux with all the white makeup on his face... with a remake of the 1929 song by Irving Berlin, here is the scary Taco and "Puttin' On the Ritz"...

Taco - Putting On The Ritz
Uploaded by Zerenodo

Lyrics | Taco lyrics - Puttin On The Ritz lyrics

"Puttin' On The Ritz"

single by Taco
released: 1982
from the album: After Eight

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #4

Now, How Can It Be?

Today's video features an english pop rock and jazz-funk band formed in 1980 by the name of Level 42... with their only top 10 U.S. hit (and on 4/2 at that), here is Level 42 and "Something About You"...

Level 42 - Something About You
Uploaded by jpdc11

Lyrics | Level 42 lyrics - Something About You lyrics


“Something About You”

Single by Level 42
from the album 'World Machine'
B-side "Coup D'etat" (Version)
Released 1985
Format 7", 12"
Genre Jazz funk
Length 5:56
Label Polydor - POSP 759
Writer(s) Mark King, Mike Lindup
Producer Level 42

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #7

I'm Not Your Fool

Happy April Fool's day and as a warning to not be a fool... here is today's featured video that comes to us from the glam band from Philly called Cinderella... you ever noticed how lead singer Tom Keifer has those Steven Tyler lips going on in this song, and what's up with the chick running down the street dressed like a hooker and then in the end is running down the street again in some sort of white night gown? Here is "Nobody's Fool"...

Cinderella - Nobody's Fool
Uploaded by jpdc11

Lyrics | Cinderella lyrics - Nobody's Fool lyrics

“Nobody's Fool”

Single by Cinderella
from the album Night Songs
B-side Push, Push
Released October 1986
Genre Glam metal
Length 3:46
Label Mercury

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #13