Is This a Cool World or What?

It's the end of 2009... where did it go!? Well, The Excellent 80's is leaving 2009 with a parting shot to the 1982 MTV New Year's Rockin' Eve... introduced by the late, great JJ Jackson, here is actress/singer Karla DeVito who sang backup for Meat Loaf at one time and who later married and had children with actor Robby Benson... with a song from her debut album by the same name, here is "Is This a Cool World or What?"...



See you in 2010!

Make A Wish Baby

Formed in Los Angeles in the early 70's, today's band hit it big in 1980 with this song and for a time in the early 80's they featured a young Bruce Hornsby in their group... here is the band Ambrosia with their 1980 hit "Biggest Part of Me"...

Ambrosia - Biggest Part Of Me Live
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Lyrics | Ambrosia lyrics - Biggest Part Of Me lyrics

"Biggest Part of Me"

by Ambrosia
released: 1980
from the album: One Eighty

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #3

Can You Feel It, Baby

The thing that always cracked me up about today's video is that this artist looks really pissed or at least very agitated in a lot of the shots in this video... born Albert Joseph Brown III on June 4, 1968, in Boston, Massachusetts, don't forget the exclamation point when you refer to today's artist - Al B. Sure! with his soulful 1988 hit, "Nite and Day"

Al B.Sure! - Nite and day
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Lyrics | Al B. Sure! lyrics - Nite And Day lyrics

"Nite and Day"

Single by Al B. Sure!
from the album In Effect Mode
Released 1988
Recorded 1987
Genre R&B
Length 4:02
Label Warner Bros.
Writer(s) Al B. Sure!, Kyle West
Producer Kyle West
Al B. Sure! (co-producer)

Chart (1988) Peak Position

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 #7
U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks #1
U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks #19

You Make My Heart Go Giddy Up

I hope you had a great Christmas and you got everything you wanted... if not, then take heed, because I'm here to give you a 1982 version of "My Girl, Lollipop" as an after Christmas gift from the odd UK band known as Bad Manners...

Bad Manners - My Girl Lollipop
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Lyrics | Bad Manners lyrics - My Girl Lollipop lyrics

"My Girl Lollipop"

by Bad Manners
released: 1982
from the album: Forging Ahead

80's Movie Weekend

I trust everyone had a very Merry Christmas yesterday and are now just trying to recover from the gluttony of toys and food... this weekend's flashback is a Kurt Russell classic... starring as truck driver Jack Burton, here is Russell in "Big Trouble in Little China"...

the trailer...



great reflexes...



Big Trouble in Little China

Directed by John Carpenter
Produced by Larry J. Franco
Written by Adaptation:
W. D. Richter
Screenplay:
Gary Goldman
David Z. Weinstein
Starring Kurt Russell
Kim Cattrall
Dennis Dun
James Hong
Victor Wong
Music by John Carpenter
Alan Howarth
Cinematography Dean Cundey
Editing by Steve Mirkovich
Mark Warner
Edward A. Warschilka
Distributed by 20th Century Fox
Release date(s) July 2, 1986
Running time 99 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Budget $25,000,000 (est.)
Gross revenue $11,100,000

There Won't Be Snow In Africa This Christmastime

Just like I posted Wham's "Last Christmas" out of obligation to my faithful Excellent 80's following, I feel I must do the same with today's video... so, Merry Christmas to all, go out and feed the world, and I hope you have a great day! Here is Band Aid with "Do They Know It's Christmas Time?"...




Lyrics | Band Aid lyrics - Do They Know It's Christmas Time lyrics

"Do They Know It's Christmas?"

Single by Band Aid
from the album Now That's What I Call Christmas!
B-side "Feed the World"
Released 29 November 1984
Format 7" 12"
Recorded 25 November 1984
Genre Rock
Length 3:48
Label Phonogram, Columbia
Writer(s) Bob Geldof, Midge Ure
Producer Midge Ure

80's Christmas Cartoons

It's Christmas Eve, and thought it only appropriate to bust out this classic cartoon from the 1980s called "Twas the Night Before Christmas"...

Last Christmas I Gave You This Video (And I'm Giving It To You Again)

I always have to post today's Christmas classic from Wham... it's just become a Christmas season special here in The Excellent 80's, and I know that you enjoy it just as much (if not more) than I do... here are George and Andrew with some beautiful scenery from Switzerland in "Last Christmas"...




Lyrics | Wham! lyrics - Last Christmas lyrics

"Last Christmas"

Single by Wham!
from the album Music from the Edge of Heaven
Released 1984
Format 12", 7", CD single
Recorded 1984
Genre Pop
Length 4:27
6:45 (Pudding Mix)
Label Columbia Records (US/Canada)
Epic Records
Producer George Michael

80's Christmas Commercials

And, for our final Tuesday of 80's Christmas commercials, we bring you a couple of classics including this first one from Polaroid...



Remember when these crazy giraffes were spokes-animals for Toys R Us? Never really cared for them to tell you the truth, but oh, the memories they bring back...

Nothing Says Christmas Like a Reggae Song

Nothing says Christmastime like a white Canadian rocker singing a reggae Christmas song... enjoy this beauty from '84 or '85 featuring Pee Wee Herman, and the MTV cast, it's Bryan Adams singing "Reggae Christmas"....




Lyrics | Bryan Adams lyrics - Reggae Christmas lyrics

80's Christmas Cartoons

We've taken a break the past few weeks from movie weekends to bring you Christmas cartoon weekends, and so here is everyone's favortie fat cat Garfield in his Christmas special from 1987...

Part one...



You can check out the rest of the cartoon (parts 2 & 3) on youtube.

So Here It Is Merry Christmas

The big day is closing in (one week to go!), and to continue to get you into a merry mood check out Slade from 1983 with "Merry Christmas Everybody"...




Lyrics | Slade lyrics - Merry Christmas Everybody lyrics

Why'd You Have to Give it Up?

Today's glam metal band has been around since 1984, but didn't put out an album until 1989 and it garnered a few minor hits including today's... with lots of pretty balloons, colors, rainbows, and symbols... it's so... annoying... I still like the song though... here is Enuff Z'Nuff with "Fly High Michelle"...

Enuff Z'Nuff - Fly High Michelle
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Lyrics | Enuff Z'Nuff lyrics - Fly High Michelle lyrics

"Fly High Michelle"

by Enuff Z'Nuff
from the album: Enuff Z'Nuff
released: 1989

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #47

Well The Truck Stop Cutie Comin' On To Me

You know I love me some occasional 80's country here in The Excellent 80's and today's artist was big back in the early 80's... he's already been in here one time before with "I Love A Rainy Night" and today he comes back strong again with this country chart topper... long before Garth Brooks brought some rock edge to his songs, Eddie Rabbitt was doing it... sweet hair, sweet beard, sweet unbuttoned shirt... enjoy this U.S. Billboard Hot 100 top 5 song and Country Charts #1 single - "Drivin' My Life Away"...




Lyrics | Eddie Rabbitt lyrics - Drivin' My Life Away lyrics

"Drivin' My Life Away"

Single by Eddie Rabbitt
from the album Horizon
Released 1980
Format 7"
Recorded 1980
Genre Country, pop
Length 3:16
Label Elektra Records 46656
Writer(s) Eddie Rabbitt, Even Stevens and David Malloy
Producer David Malloy
Certification Gold (RIAA)

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

80's Christmas Commercials

First up for our Tuesday of 80's Christmas commercials is a classic from Folgers...



Bah hum-bug! Get on down to KFC for some holiday chicken cheer!

Are There Voices In Your Head Calling

Everybody get ready to swing your hips to today's 1982 classic that made it all the way to #2... here is a video that probably cost about a hundred dollars to make with some sweet disco balls and the sweet voice of Laura Branigan singing "Gloria"...

Laura Branigan - Gloria
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Lyrics | Laura Branigan lyrics - Gloria lyrics

"Gloria"

Single by Laura Branigan
from the album Branigan
B-side "I Wish We Could Be Alone"
Released August 4, 1982 (US)
January 2, 1983 (UK)
Format 7", 45rpm
Recorded Los Angeles, California
Genre Pop/Dance/Rock
Length 4:50
Label Atlantic ATL 11759
Writer(s) Umberto Tozzi, Giancarlo Bigazzi, Trevor Veitch
Producer Jack White, Greg Mathieson

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #2

80's Christmas Cartoons

Well, some of this is cartoon, but anyway, here is "A Disney Christmas Gift" from 1982... part one...



The rest of the parts of this special are located on youtube beginning with part two located here.

Don't Mean To Bust Your Bubble

Today's video is one of the first rap tunes I ever heard when I was in high school... a funny little funky jam that sampled the "I Dream of Jeannie" music... it's the debut single of DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince with their words of wisdom - "Girls Ain't Nothin' But Trouble"...




Lyrics | Dj Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince lyrics - Girls Ain't Nothing But Trouble lyrics

"Girls Ain't Nothing but Trouble"
Single by DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince
from the album Rock the House
Released 1986
Format 12" Vinyl
Recorded 1985
Genre Hip hop
Label Sony

People Know the Part I'm Playing

Back in 1985 with Van Halen on the cusp of ending their relationship with David Lee Roth, Diamond Dave released an EP that featured this remake and produced "Dave TV" You remember Dave TV don't you? Sure you do, and if not, just check out this video by Diamond Dave in which he kills Billy Idol, wrecks havoc on the censorship board, and visits a host of other artists including Michael Jackson, Cindy Lauper, and Boy George... here is "Just A Gigolo/I Ain't Got Nobody"...

David Lee Roth - Just A Gigolo & I Ain't Got Nobody
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Lyrics | David Lee Roth lyrics - Just A Gigolo / I Ain't Got Nobody lyrics

"Just A Gigolo/I Ain't Got Nobody"

by David Lee Roth
released: 1985
from his EP release

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #12

Let Me Rock You That's All I Want to Do

Everyone that grew up in the 80's can still easily recite the rapping of Melle Mel at the beginning of this Chaka Khan hit... a song originally written and recorded by Prince on his debut album, it was Chaka's biggest hit since her 1974 single "Tell Me Something Good"... here is "I Feel For You"...

Chaka Khan - I Feel For You



Lyrics | Chaka Khan lyrics - I Feel For You lyrics

"I Feel for You"

Single by Chaka Khan
from the album I Feel for You
Released October 29, 1984
Format Vinyl single, picture disc
Recorded 1984
Genre R&B
Length 5:46
Label Warner Bros
Writer(s) Prince
Producer Arif Mardin
Certification Gold (RIAA)

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #3
U.S. Dance charts peak: #1
U.S. R&B chart: #1

80's Christmas Commercials

More 80's commercials for you today as promised every Tuesday this month leading up to Christmas (a rare double post today because of the anniversary of John Lennon's death)... first up is Fred, Barney, and Santa and some Fruity Pebbles... love me some Fruity Pebbles!



Also love me some cream filled Oreos... Ho ho ho, O-R-E-O...

Woman, Please Let Me Explain

Today's video is the first song released after the untimely death of Mr. John Lennon on December 8, 1980. Can you believe it has been 39 years since Lennon was assasinated by Mark David Chapman just outside of his residence in New York City? Doesn't seem like it... anyway, here is the song written as a tribute to his wife Yoko Ono, "Woman"...

WOMAN JOHN LENNON
Uploaded by guilhem7777

Lyrics | John Lennon lyrics - Woman lyrics

“Woman”

Single by John Lennon
from the album Double Fantasy
Released January 16, 1981
Recorded August 5, August 27, September 8, September 22, 1980
Genre Rock
Length 3:32
Label Geffen Records
Writer(s) John Lennon
Producer John Lennon, Yoko Ono & Jack Douglas

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

I Thumbed My Way From L.A. Back to Knoxville

Like I do from time to time, I bust you off a little country to keep you honest amongst all the hair bands, rap stars, pop icons, and new wave English bands that appear frequently in here... today's artist is making his first appearance in the Excellent 80's and was a country music superstar... at one time Ronnie Milsap had a string of 11 #1 hits and, overall, has hit the top of the country charts 40 times... he was also a popular crossover artist back in the early 80's... today's song reached #1 on the country charts, but also cracked the top 25 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 back in 1981... a performance from the Grand Ole Opery, here is the legendary Ronnie Milsap with "Smokey Mountain Rain"...




Lyrics | Ronnie Milsap lyrics - Smokey Mountain Rain lyrics

"Smoky Mountain Rain"
Single by Ronnie Milsap
from the album Greatest Hits
Released September 1980 (U.S.)
Format 7"
Recorded 1980
Genre Country, pop
Length 3:45
Label RCA Records
Writer(s) Kye Fleming and Dennis Morgan

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #24
U.S. Country Charts peak: #1

80's Christmas Cartoons

We're taking a break from the 80's movies weekend to bring you a sweet 80's Christmas cartoon on this Saturday morning. You remember cartoons on Saturday mornings don't you? Well, from 1987, here is part one of the He-Man and She-ra Christmas special...



You can go to youtube to view the rest of the parts from this exciting cartoon!

Don't Put Me Off Cause I'm On Fire!

That's right! The Excellent 80's is on fire! Besides, where else are you going to go to see the Psychedelic Furs one day, Motorhead the next and Madonna to round out three days? Well, right here in the Excellent 80's that's just what I did... the Furs followed yesterday by Motorhead and "Eat the Rich" from Motorhead, and today it's the rich Material Girl herself with an early classic - "Burning Up"...

Madonna - New Music - More Music Videos

Lyrics | Madonna lyrics - Burning Up lyrics

"Burning Up"

Single by Madonna
from the album Madonna
B-side "Physical Attraction"
(AA-side in some countries)
Released March 9, 1983 (US)
Format Vinyl single (Worldwide)
Recorded Sigma Sound Studios, New York City; 1982
Genre Pop
Length 3:45
Label Sire, Warner Bros.
Writer(s) Madonna

Come On Baby, and Eat the Rich

Like I've said before, this is a non discriminatory blog and so I'll post songs and videos that I like and that I don't like, and so today just happens to be one of those groups I never could get into but many liked back in the 80's... here is the British rock band Motorhead, from 1987, with "Eat the Rich"....

Motorhead - Eat The Rich
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Lyrics | Motorhead lyrics - Eat The Rich lyrics

"Eat the Rich"

Single by Motörhead
from the album Rock 'n' Roll
B-side Cradle to the Grave/Just 'cos You Got the Power (12" only)
Released 1987
Format 7"
12"
Recorded 1987
Master Rock Studios
Redwood, London, UK
Genre Heavy metal
Length 4:36
Label GWR
Writer(s) Phil Campbell
Würzel
Lemmy
Phil Taylor
Producer Motörhead
Guy Bidmead

And It Feels Like Love

I was not into this band at all back in the 80's, but this is definitely my favorite song of theirs and was their only top 40 hit here in the U.S.... it is the English group formed in 1977 called the Psychedelic Furs with a cool little black and white number known as "Heartbreak Beat"...

Psychedelic Furs - Heartbreak Beat
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Lyrics | The Psychedelic Furs lyrics - Heartbreak Beat lyrics

"Heartbreak Beat"

Single by Psychedelic Furs
from the album Midnight to Midnight
Released March, 1987
Format 7" single
12" maxi
Genre New Wave, Pop rock
Length 4:03
Label Columbia Records
Writer(s) Richard Butler, John Ashton, and Tim Butler
Producer Chris Kimsey

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #26

80's Christmas Commercials

Every Tuesday in December, The Excellent 80's is going to bring you some classic Christmas commercials from the 80's kicking off with these two...

First up, Ronald McDonald shows off his ice skating skillz...



Wow, these creepy looking Nestle dogs scare the crap out of me making it a lot less likely that I'll purchase any Nestle products this season...