I'd Like to See You in the Morning Light

You are not a true hair metal band of the 80's unless you have a power ballad that features some black and white footage and has concert footage pieced together throughout the video and features a bus in at least one shot. It's the L.A. band founded by Don Dokken known simply as Dokken with "Alone Again"...




Lyrics | Dokken lyrics - Alone Again lyrics

"Alone Again"

by Dokken
released: 1984
from the album: Tooth and Nail

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #64

Here We Are, the Two of Us Together

I just love the wardrobe in today's video. It's truly vintage 1980's clothing and hair. It's one of the biggest hits for the R&B group from New York known as Atlantic Starr. For all you cheaters out there, you will be able to relate and may even use this as your anthem... "Secret Lovers"...





Lyrics | Atlantic Starr lyrics - Secret Lovers lyrics

"Secret Lovers"
Single by Atlantic Starr
from the album As the Band Turns
Released 1985
Format 7" maxi single
Genre R&B, Pop
Length 5:30
Label A&M
Writer(s) David Lewis, Wayne Lewis
Producer David Lewis, Wayne Lewis

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #3

80's Television

Quite possibly the worst sitcom of the 80's, today's television flashback brings you back to the mid to late 80's and a family's robotic girl named "Vicki." Vicki was the robotic creation of the engineer dad on the show and the family made every attempt to pass Vicki off as their adopted daughter. That's right, here is the so-bad-it's-funny sitcom "Small Wonder."

the intro...



some awesome highlights from the show....



Small Wonder
Small Wonder poster.jpg
Promotional poster
Genre Science fiction sitcom
Created by Howard Leeds
Directed by Peter Baldwin
John Bowab
Bob Claver
Dick Christie
Linda Day
Selig Frank
Leslie H. Martinson
Starring Tiffany Brissette
Dick Christie
Marla Pennington
Jerry Supiran
Emily Schulman
Theme music composer Rod Alexander
Howard Leeds
Diane Leslie
Opening theme "She's a Small Wonder"
Ending theme "She's a Small Wonder" (Instrumental)
Composer(s) George Greeley
Ed Lojeskie
Country of origin United States
Language(s) English
No. of seasons 4
No. of episodes 96

Some People Live Their Dreams

Back in 1986 when Michael McDonald's beard was dark, he supplied a little back up vocals for the supergroup Toto on today's hit. "Rosanna" will always be my favorite Toto song, but as far as ballads go this one had a pretty nice run up the Billboard charts including spending some time at #1 on the adult contemporary charts. Here is Toto with Michael McDonald and "I'll Be Over You"...




Lyrics | Toto lyrics - I'll Be Over You lyrics

"I'll Be over You"
Single by Toto
from the album Fahrenheit
B-side "In a Word"
Released 1986
Format 7" / 12"
Genre Rock
Length 3:51
Label Columbia
Writer(s) Steve Lukather, Randy Goodrum
Producer Toto

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #11

80's Movie Weekend

In the mid-80's, Dan Aykroyd and Chevy Chase were two of the biggest Hollywood stars going. The two paired up in 1986 on slapstick comedy called "Spies Like Us" which produced a pretty decent film with a few laughs.

the trailer...



I always thought the test taking scene was pretty funny...



training time...



even the late, great Bob Hope makes an appearance...




Sir Paul McCartney sung the title track to the movie and it fared pretty well breaking into the top 10 on the U.S. charts back in 1986. Here is "Spies Like Us"...




Lyrics | Paul McCartney lyrics - Spies Like Us lyrics

"Spies Like Us"
Single by Paul McCartney
B-side "My Carnival"
(Paul McCartney & Wings)
Released November 18, 1985
Format single
Recorded 1985
Genre Pop/Rock
Length 4:48
Label Parlophone/EMI

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #7

Let's Go

The past two Friday's I've posted some dance club hits from the 80's and why stop now especially since this is opening a whole new door here in The Excellent 80's for singers that had not previously made it into this blog like today's artist. She was born in Sicily and raised in Italy before emigrating to the U.S. when she was 18. She was just slightly older than that in the summer of 1986 when she came out with this dance club hit that reached #8 on the dance club charts. With a very cheesy video and a dude with some horrible hair even by the 80's standards here is Nocera with "Let's Go"...




As a bonus, here is an obviously older Nocera live with her other minor dance hit from the 80's called "Summertime, Summertime"...

I Know You Don't Really Know Me

Even though "Round and Round" remains my favorite Ratt song, today's Ratt video is my favorite and the song is a close second in my books. I'm not sure what the whole set is about... it's kind of like they're playing around is somebody's hair or something. But nonetheless, you've got a cool kid, a clown, a hot chick who is wearing less makeup than the band and a cool rock anthem from Stephen Pearcy and the boys... "Lay It Down"...




Lyrics | Ratt lyrics - Lay It Down lyrics

"Lay It Down"
Single by Ratt
from the album Invasion of Your Privacy
Released 1985
Format Vinyl LP, Cassette, CD
Recorded 1985
Genre Glam metal, Hard rock
Length 3:23
Label Atlantic
Producer Beau Hill

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #40

Keep Smilin', Keep Shinin'

Ranked as the #1 song of 1986 by Billboard Magazine, I absolutely hated this song. In fact, 24 years later, I am having trouble actually posting this video on my blog. The song was a fund raising charity song for AIDS that brought together four superstars. I still want to burn Elton John's hat in a trash can. What is he Amish? Here are Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Dionne Warwick, and Gladys Knight with "That's What Friends Are For"...




Lyrics | Dionne Warwick With Elton John, Gladys Knight & Stevie Wonder lyrics - That's What Friends Are For lyrics

"That's What Friends Are For"

by Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Dionne Warwick, and Gladys Knight
released: 1986

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #1

80's Television

Before he was the mega-superstar that he is these days, Johnny Depp was getting his big break with an undercover cop TV drama called "21 Jump Street". Originally airing in 1987, "21 Jump Street" tackled all the problems of the youth. Also starring Holly Robinson and Richard Greico for one season, check out "21 Jump Street"...

the season one intro with part one of the pilot...



You can watch the exciting conclusion on Youtube.


21 Jump Street
Genre Crime drama
Created by Patrick Hasburgh
Stephen J. Cannell
Starring Johnny Depp
Holly Robinson
Peter DeLuise
Dustin Nguyen
Steven Williams
Michael Bendetti
Theme music composer Liam Sternberg
Opening theme "21 Jump Street Theme" performed by Holly Robinson
Composer(s) Peter Bernstein
Jay Gruska
Country of origin United States
Language(s) English
No. of seasons 5
No. of episodes 103

I Wish I Was in Tijuana Eating Barbequed Iguana

Today's strange little video comes from a strange little band from Los Angeles called Wall of Voodoo. The band did a synthesizer-driven cover of the Johnny Cash song, "Ring of Fire" in 1980, but found moderate chart success with today's song from 1983 entitled "Mexican Radio"... I wish they would have put the four members a little bit closer together during the shooting of the video... that's all.




Lyrics | Wall Of Voodoo lyrics - Mexican Radio lyrics

"Mexican Radio"
Single by Wall of Voodoo
from the album Call of the West
B-side "Call of the West"
Released 1983
Recorded 1982
Genre Dark wave
Length 3:55
Label IRS Records
Writer(s) Wall of Voodoo
Producer Richard Mazda

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #58

80's Movie Weekend

I never saw today's 80's movie and really don't have much of a desire too. Though John Lithgow is in it as well as Christopher Lloyd, Jeff Goldblum, Peter Weller, and Ellen Barkin it just doesn't appeal to me now nor did it back then even though it has achieved some sort of cult status through the years. Maybe I'll check it out one of these days... or not... here is "The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension"...

the trailer...



here is John Lithgow as the evil Italian physicist Dr. Emilio Lizardo...



The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension

Directed by W. D. Richter
Produced by W. D. Richter
Neil Canton
Written by Earl Mac Rauch
Starring
Peter Weller
John Lithgow
Ellen Barkin
Jeff Goldblum
Christopher Lloyd
Lewis Smith
Music by Michael Boddicker
Cinematography Fred J. Koenekamp
Editing by George Bowers
Richard Marks
Studio Sherwood Productions
Distributed by 20th Century Fox (theatrical)
MGM (DVD,2002)
Release date(s) August 15, 1984
Running time 103 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Budget $12,000,000
Gross revenue $3,665,306

Nothin' But a Good Time

Well my ears are still ringing from last night's Bret Michaels concert in Fayetteville, AR. I gotta say that the guy put on a really good show, albeit fairly short at about an hour and fifteen minutes.

In honor of the Poison front man let's take a look at then and now for Mr. Michaels. We've already had a "Poison March" in 2009 in honor of the band Poison here at The Excellent 80's. I featured most of their hits, but I did miss this one from the 80's. It's not really a "hit", but it is actually their debut single from "Look What the Cat Dragged In." Here is Bret Michaels, then with Poison, with a song that didn't crack the U.S. Billboard charts but made it all the way up to #97 in the UK - it's "Cry Tough"...


Poison - Cry Tough
Uploaded by EMI_Music. - Explore more music videos.


Lyrics | Poison lyrics - Cry Tough lyrics


Now, let's take a look at today's reality tv star / celebrity apprentice / spokesman for Diabetes. He's got a new VH1 show coming up in October that looks like it centers more around his girlfriend, two children, and his life in general. He also has a book coming out and heart surgery coming up in January to fix a hole in his heart, so the schedule is packed for Mr. Michaels. Here is the theme song from his successful Rock of Love shows, which he performed last night called "Go That Far"




Lyrics | Bret Michaels lyrics - Go That Far lyrics


Bret has always had that soft side to him and now that he has two daughters he made this song about his youngest which also appeared on the "Rock My World" album in 2008. It's a tender ode to his youngest daughter of the same name called "Raine"...




Lyrics | Bret Michaels lyrics - Raine lyrics

How Come You Can't Explain It

I kind of like a little upbeat dance music on my Friday's. That's why I posted the one hit wonder Regina last Friday and today The Excellent 80's is taking you back to 1987 when John "Jellybean" Benitez asked a talented singer from Philly named Elisa Fiorillo to be the lead vocalist on two songs on his 1987 album Just Visiting This Planet. One of those songs is today's featured video and dance hit that went all the way to #3 on the dance charts. Everybody get out your old school boom box, blast this jam and dance like there's no tomorrow. "Who Found Who"...




Lyrics | Jellybean lyrics - Who Found Who lyrics

"Who Found Who"

by Jelly Bean featuring Elisa Fiorillo
from the album: Just Visiting
released: 1987

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #16
U.S. Dance tracks peak: #3

I'm Mad About You

Easily one of the best looking singers of the 80's, Belinda Carlisle was wildly successful with the girl group The Go Go's, and when she went solo in 1986 she found some more success with her self titled debut solo album which featured today's hit. Still sporting some of those Go Go's moves, here is the lovely Belinda with "Mad About You"...




Lyrics | Belinda Carlisle lyrics - Mad About You lyrics


"Mad About You"
Single by Belinda Carlisle
from the album Belinda
B-side "I Never Wanted a Rich Man"
Released 1986
Format CD single
7" single
12" single
Genre Pop, pop rock
Length 3:36
Label I.R.S. Records
Writer(s) Paula Jean Brown, James Whelan, Mitchel Young Evans
Producer Michael Lloyd
Certification Gold (CRIA)

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #3

Are You Cryin' Tonight, Are You?

It's maybe one of the worst lead singer outfits in 80's rock history. Lead singer Mike Tramp should be extremely embarassed. Anyway, it's the band White Lion after their successful second album called "Pride." Unfortunately their third album was the start of their demise as it didn't fair nearly as well with today's song being the biggest hit from the album "Big Game." Here is "Little Fighter"...




Lyrics | White Lion lyrics - Little Fighter lyrics

"Little Fighter"
Single by White Lion
from the album Big Game
A-side "Little Fighter"
B-side "Let's Get Crazy"
Released 1989
Recorded 1989
Genre Glam metal
Length 4:23
Label Atlantic Records
Writer(s) Mike Tramp/Vito Bratta

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #52

80's Television

Today's popular television series originated in the late 70's but finished up in 1982 and was one of my favorites as a youngster. Don't tell me you didn't get fired up hearing this intro if you were a fan of the California Highway Patrol back in the late 70's/early 80's! For five seasons Larry Wilcox and Erik Estrada protected the citizens of the great state of California until Wilcox didn't return for the sixth and final episode reportedly due to conflicts behind the scenes with production and Estrada who he didn't get along with. The sixth season was the last for the show that featured Bruce Jenner for a time during season five while Erik Estrada was on strike. Here are Larry Wilcox and Erik Estrada and "CHiPs"...

the intro...



some great acting by Jon and Ponch in the final part of an episode called "Surf's Up"



CHiPs

Format Police procedural
Created by Rick Rosner
Starring Erik Estrada
Robert Pine
Paul Linke
Larry Wilcox (1977–1982)
Lew Saunders (1977–1979)
Brodie Greer (1977–1982)
Lou Wagner (1978–1983)
Brianne Leary (1978–1979)
Randi Oakes (1979–1982)
Michael Dorn (1979–1982)
Bruce Jenner (1981)
Tom Reilly (1982–1983)
Tina Gayle (1982–1983)
Bruce Penhall (1982–1983)
Clarence Gilyard, Jr. (1982–1983)
Country of origin United States
No. of seasons 6
No. of episodes 139

Rockin' Steady in Her Daddy's Car

I used today's song to a little video I shot of mine and my best friend's high school graduation trip to Hawaii. It just seemed very fitting, plus we were both Van Halen / David Lee Roth fans. It's the highest charting solo effort for DLR after leaving Van Halen and I've always loved the video with the big heart guitar and all of Dave's footage scaling the mountainside. Have a great Monday and enjoy "Just Like Paradise"...




Lyrics | David Lee Roth lyrics - Just Like Paradise lyrics

"Just Like Paradise"
Single by David Lee Roth
from the album Skyscraper
Released 1988
Recorded 1987
Genre Hard rock
Length 4:03
Label Warner Bros.
Writer(s) David Lee Roth, Brett Tuggle
Producer David Lee Roth, Steve Vai

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #6

80's NFL Weekend

Well, college football season is underway and now it's time for the big boys to start crunching pads and laying out suckas. NFL football officially kicked off on Thursday with the Minnesota-New Orleans matchup. This weekend features the first full weekend of NFL matchups. Wow, how things have changed on TV since 1980.

Check out CBS' opening music back then...



If you have some time, a look 30 years ago at the 1980 season is pretty interesting...

Part one...



Part two...



Part three featuring the conference championship games and Super Bowl...

Boy, There's No One Home Tonight

Since today is Friday and I know you just want to get up and dance wherever you are... office, gym, home, bathtub, etc., I am bringing you a little dance hit from an artist considered a one-hit wonder back in 1986. Hailing from Brooklyn, here is the singer simply known back then as Regina with her number one dance hit, "Baby Love"...




Lyrics | Regina lyrics - Baby Love lyrics

"Baby Love"

by Regina
from the album: Curiosity
released: 1986

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #10
U.S. Dance Tracks peak: #1

I'll Tell You Now and I Won't Tell You Twice

Well, at the end of August we featured former frontman from Styx Dennis DeYoung on his solo journey with a hit song of his called "Desert Moon." Today it's the former lead guitarist of the band Styx, Tommy Shaw. Shaw's debut as a solo artist happened in 1984 and featured this hit song that was also featured in a first season episode of "Miami Vice." The interesting thing about this video is that it was filmed in one continuous shot with no edits. Pretty cool black and white video of a pretty cool song from Shaw - "Girls With Guns"...




Lyrics | Tommy Shaw lyrics - Girls With Guns lyrics

"Girls With Guns"

by Tommy Shaw
from the album: Girls With Guns
released: 1984

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #33
U.S. Mainstream Rock tracks peak: #6

I've Got Your Picture

Today's largely one-hit wonder produced this little ditty from their 1980 album called New Clear Days. I really dig lead singer David Fenton's shoes in this video, but I really could have used some more samurai sword action, maybe even a few fights and a limb or two being lopped off. Nonetheless, let's all travel back to 1980 and check out the English band known as The Vapors with "Turning Japanese"... I really think so...


The Vapors - Turning Japanese
Uploaded by EMI_Music. - See the latest featured music videos.


Lyrics | Vapors lyrics - Turning Japanese lyrics

"Turning Japanese"
Single by The Vapors
from the album New Clear Days
Released 1980
Format 7" square record, 45RPM, CD
Genre New Wave, Punk rock
Length 3:58
Label United Artists
Producer Vic Coppersmith-Heaven

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #36

80's Television

Today's television flashback takes us back to 1980 and one smart mutt, I mean dog. I remember watching this series when I was little. It came on Sunday nights and featured one awesome dog named Boomer. It only lasted 20 episodes over 2 seasons and I think I remember it coming on Sunday nights. The cool thing about today's post is that we get to see the awesome acting of basketball clown Meadowlark Lemon as well as some other random actors who I don't recognize. Check out "Here's Boomer"...

"Boomer and the Bucketeers" part one...



"Boomer and the Bucketeers" part two...



finally, the conclusion of "Boomer and the Bucketeers" episode...




Here's Boomer
Genre Adventure/Drama
Written by Lowell Ganz
Edward Pomerantz
Arthur Silver
Sandy Veith
Directed by Claudio Guzmán
Herbert Kenwith
Paul Leaf
Victor Lobl
Sigmund Neufeld, Jr.
Theme music composer Edward Leonetti
Zoey Wilson
Composer(s) David Michael Frank
Country of origin United States
Language(s) English
No. of seasons 2
No. of episodes 20

Well I've Been Waiting, Waiting Here So Long

Today's title track from the album of the same name in 1986 was the band's only #1 hit to date. Featuring some wacky antics and some old, old looking video cameras in the video. It's Phil Collins, Mike Rutherford, and Tony Banks better known as the band Genesis. Phil wearing his favorite trench coat singing into drumsticks while sporting some of the worst 80's hair - here is Genesis with "Invisible Touch"...




Lyrics | Genesis lyrics - Invisible Touch lyrics

"Invisible Touch"
Single by Genesis
from the album Invisible Touch
B-side The Last Domino
Released May 19, 1986
Format Compact Disc
Recorded 1985
Genre Pop rock, New Wave
Length 3:27
Label Atlantic Records
Vertigo Records
Producer Genesis, Hugh Padgham

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #1

80's Movie Weekend

So many great scenes, such a classic movie. From 1980, we have the treasured movie known as "Airplane!" Leslie Nielson, Lloyd Bridges, Peter Graves, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and more star in this hysterical slap stick comedy...


the trailer...



Kareem should have gotten a best supporting actor award for this movie...



"Beaver's mom" knows how to talk jive...



Airplane!

Directed by Jim Abrahams
David Zucker
Jerry Zucker
Produced by Jon Davison
Howard W. Koch
Written by Jim Abrahams
David Zucker
Jerry Zucker
Starring Robert Hays
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Julie Hagerty
Leslie Nielsen
Robert Stack
Lloyd Bridges
Peter Graves
Frank Ashmore
Lorna Patterson
Stephen Stucker
Music by Elmer Bernstein
Cinematography Joseph F. Biroc
Editing by Patrick Kennedy
Distributed by Paramount Pictures
Release date(s) July 2, 1980 (1980-07-02)
Running time 87 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Budget $3,500,000 (est.)
Gross revenue $83,453,539[1]
Followed by Airplane II: The Sequel

I Know That It's Wrong to Be Dancing With No Lights On

Sometime around 1983, J. Geils Band and lead singer Peter Wolf parted and went their separate ways much to many a fans disappointment. Though never quite the same after J. Geils Band ended, in 1984, Wolf did come out with his first solo album that featured today's hit "Lights Out"...


Peter Wolf - Lights Out
Uploaded by jpdc11. - See the latest featured music videos.


Lyrics | Peter Wolf lyrics - Lights Out lyrics

"Lights Out"

by Peter Wolf
from the album: Lights Out
released: 1984

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #11

Lying In My Bed, I Hear the Clock Tick

I have to admit that today's ballad has grown on me over the years because back in 1984 I absolutely hated this song and this video... couldn't understand how this song ever made it to #1 or was nominated as a song of the year at the Grammy's. Anyway, I can listen to it these days when it comes on the radio, but the video is still stupid, but I give it some props for featuring Captain Lou Albano again, albeit very briefly as a cook (don't blink too long). Anyway, here is Cyndi Lauper with "Time After Time"...




Lyrics | Cyndi Lauper lyrics - Time After Time lyrics

"Time After Time"
Single by Cyndi Lauper
from the album She's So Unusual
B-side "I'll Kiss You"
Released January 27, 1984
Format 12" vinyl, 7" vinyl
Recorded 1983
Genre Pop, New Wave, Adult contemporary
Length 4:03
Label Epic Records
Writer(s) Cyndi Lauper, Rob Hyman
Producer Rick Chertoff

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #1

Don't Walk On By

I'm talking to you, Penny Lover. Don't you dare walk on by... don't you see me cry? How rude and selfish you are obviously, and it took a Lionel Richie song to tell the world about you back in 1984. It was a top 10 hit off of Lionel's grammy award winning "Can't Slow Down" album. Here is the former front man for the Commodores showing a little chest and with some funky costumed dancers and backup singers belting out his tune about "Penny Lover"...

Lionel Richie lyrics

Penny Lover - Lionel Richie Video - Lionel Richie Music Videos

Music Videos by VideoCure

Lyrics | Lionel Richie lyrics - Penny Lover lyrics

"Penny Lover"
Single by Lionel Richie
from the album Can't Slow Down
B-side "Tell Me"
Released September 30. 1984
Format 7" (45 rpm)
Recorded 1983
Genre Pop, Adult contemporary
Length 3:46 (single version)
5:35 (album version)
Label Motown Records
Writer(s) Lionel Richie
Brenda Harvey Richie
Producer Lionel Richie
James Anthony Carmichael

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #8