Time's Not Sleeping and Time Won't Lose

It's the Rockford, Illinois band that formed way back in 1973 for you today with the biggest hit off of their 1985 album "Standing On the Edge." The video received heavy airplay on MTV despite it's tiresome and boring concept. The song rocks a little bit though. It's Cheap Trick with "Tonight It's You"...




Lyrics | Cheap Trick lyrics - Tonight It's You lyrics

"Tonight It's You"

by Cheap Trick
from the album: "Standing on the Edge"
released: 1985

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #44
Top Rock Tracks peak: #8

You Were All in My Mind

By featuring Samantha Fox yesterday with a little help from the band Full Force, it led me to do a little investigating into Full Force since I don't recall too much of their stuff. I found out this group wrote music for UTFO, Doctor Ice, Samantha Fox, Patti LaBelle, Jasmine Guy, The Force M.D.s, the R&B all-female group Ex Girlfriend, Britney Spears, James Brown, Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam, Backstreet Boys, La Toya Jackson, Selena, Rhianna and Black Eyed Peas. Wow. Impressed I am. I like this video as well - the acting, the clothes or lack thereof, and just the lyrics in general. Check out Full Force with "All in My Mind"...



"All in My Mind"

from the album: "Look Who's Comin' to the Crib"
released: 1987

U.S. R&B peak: #6

Used To Be So Good and So Bad

What the heck! What's a second day in a row of Samantha Fox going to do to you? Kill you? I doubt it. So for the fives of tens of you tuning in, here is another Samantha Fox hit - a top 10 one at that. Along with the R&B group Full Force, Samantha is also providing wisdom and sound advice beyond her years with - "Naughty Girls Need Love Too"...




Lyrics | Samantha Fox lyrics - Naughty Girls (Need Love Too) lyrics

"Naughty Girls (Need Love Too)"
Single by Samantha Fox
from the album Samantha Fox
B-side "Dream City"
Released 1988
Format Vinyl 12", 7"; Maxi CD
Recorded 1987
Genre Hip Hop, Freestyle, Breakbeat
Length 5:52
Label Jive Records
Writer(s) Full Force
Producer Full Force

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #3
UK peak: #31

Are You Strong Enough

OK, I think the UK got this one right as this song peaked at #10 overseas whereas it only reached #87 in the U.S. in 1986. This song has a catchy little beat and was a favorite pin up girl in the bedrooms of young boys. My best friend in 8th grade had her poster hanging on his wall. It is now 45 year old British Samantha Fox with the follow up to "Touch Me (I Want Your Body)." Here is a "live" performance of "Do Ya Do Ya (Want to Please Me)?"...




Lyrics | Samantha Fox lyrics - Do Ya, Do Ya lyrics

"Do Ya Do Ya (Wanna Please Me)"

UK 7" Single
Single by Samantha Fox
from the album Touch Me
B-side "Drop Me A Line", "Want You To Want Me", or "Never Gonna Fall In Love Again"
Released 1986
Format 7" single, 12" maxi
Recorded Battery Studios, London, UK
Genre Hard Rock, Synth
Length 3:48
Label Jive Records
Writer(s) Graham Richardson, Mike Bissell
Producer Steve Lovell, Steve Power

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #87
UK peak: #10

It Makes You Wonder Who They Really Are

I believe the Men Without Hats went straight from "The Safety Dance" and filmed this video the same day, because it looks like they didn't change their clothes. Check it out, you still get the midget in the jester outfit, and the princess and the lead singer in their respective wardrobes. Anyway, here is the less successful hit for the band from Montreal with "I Like"...




Lyrics | Men Without Hats lyrics - I Like lyrics

"I Like"

by Men Without Hats
from the album: Rhythm of Youth
released: 1982

80's Movie Weekend

Today's 1987 People's Choice award as the funniest movie of 1987 is the first non-Star Trek directing debut for Lenoard Nimoy. It features three actors at the height of their popularity - Ted Danson, Tom Selleck, and Steve Guttenburg playing daddy to an orphaned baby in a nice little 80's flick called "Three Men and a Baby"...

the trailer...



I always liked this scene... "Goodnight Sweetheart"...



Three Men and a Baby

Directed by Leonard Nimoy
Produced by Ted Field
Robert W. Cort
Written by Jim Cruickshank
James Orr
Based on Trois hommes et un couffin written by
Coline Serreau
Starring Tom Selleck
Steve Guttenberg
Ted Danson
Music by Marvin Hamlisch
Cinematography Adam Greenberg
Editing by Michael A. Stevenson
Studio Silver Screen Partners III
Interscope Communications
Distributed by Touchstone Pictures
Release date(s) November 25, 1987
Running time 102 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Budget $15 million
Box office $167,780,960 (USA)

Oh, You Can Depend On Me, Over and Over

Today's video from 1985 is an interesting one for me, because I remember watching this video and thinking to myself 'who knew Clarence Clemons could sing?' Ok, so the late, great saxophonist that was part of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band is no Marvin Gaye, but he sounds good on this duet. I also remember thinking to myself in 1985, 'who is Jackson Browne?' LOL. Shows you how little I knew about the 70's and some of those great artists.
Also interesting in this video and song is that Jackson's then girlfriend Darryl Hannah appears and sings background vocals on the song. Sure the lyrics are corny and the dancing between Brown and Clemons is awkward at best, but there's still a lot to love about this 80's video. It still makes me tap my foot and bob my head a little every time I hear it. I never really got to pay tribute to Clemons when he passed away in June, so consider this The Excellent 80's little tribute to the big man. Here is "You're A Friend of Mind." Sing it big man! Sing it!




Lyrics | Clarence Clemons & Jackson Browne lyrics - You're A Friend Of Mine lyrics

"You're a Friend of Mine"
Single by Clarence Clemons and Jackson Browne
from the album Hero
Released 1985
Genre Rock
Length 4:48
Label CBS Records
Writer(s) Narada Michael Walden, Jeffrey Cohen
Producer Narada Michael Walden

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #18

Can't Walk, Can't Talk, Can't Eat, Can't Sleep

I'd say the title of this blog lets you know there are some serious issues going on in this song by the lovely Belinda Carlisle. She really should see a doctor immediately if this is happening frequently. Anyway, she didn't need to see her accountant during her 80's solo work as evidenced by the very successful album "Heaven On Earth." Today's song from that album peaked at #2. Here is "I Get Weak"...




Lyrics | Belinda Carlisle lyrics - I Get Weak lyrics

"I Get Weak"
Single by Belinda Carlisle
from the album Heaven on Earth
Released February 15, 1988
Format CD single, 7" single, 12" single
Recorded 1987
Genre Pop
Length 4:52 (Album Version)
3:43 (US Single Edit)
Label MCA Records
Writer(s) Diane Warren
Producer Rick Nowels

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #2

The Hardest Part is When You're In It

It's the English band led by vocalist Nick Van Eede for you today. Featured one other time in The Excellent 80's in 2007 with their most successful single "I Just Died in Your Arms Tonight," here is Cutting Crew with another slow, sappy love song - "I've Been In Love Before"...




Lyrics | Cutting Crew lyrics - (I've Been) In Love Before lyrics

"I've Been in Love Before"

by Cutting Crew
from the album: "Broadcast"
released: 1986

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #9

You Turn Him Away, You Tell Him You're Mine

Whoever came up with some of these music video concepts back in the 80's should either be hailed as a hero or banished to Iceland forever. You choose. The person that thought up the concept of today's video thought it up in five minutes, no longer. But, I won't spoil the surprised guest under the motorcycle helmet at the end of the video. I just wouldn't do that to you. You'll have to watch it yourself if you don't remember. Let's Ratt and Roll today with "Back for More"...




Lyrics | Ratt lyrics - Back For More lyrics

"Back for More"

by Ratt
from the album: "Out of the Cellar"
released: 1984

U.S. Mainstream Rock tracks peak: #27

My Favorite Blog, Ooooh, It's My Favorite Blog

Missed this six minute video from the boys back when I ran a New Kids on the Block November. I probably missed it because it was the least successful single on the "Hangin' Tough" album. Here are those Boston kids with "My Favorite Girl"...




Lyrics | New Kids On The Block lyrics - My Favorite Girl lyrics

"My Favorite Girl"

Single by New Kids on the Block
from the album Hangin' Tough
Released January 27, 1990
Format CD single
Recorded 1988
Genre Pop
Label Columbia
Writer(s) Maurice Starr
Jordan Knight
Donnie Wahlberg
Danny Wood
Producer Maurice Starr

80's Movie Weekend

Directed by Oliver Stone, this weekend's movie takes us back to 1986 to a movie that was widely hailed as a great war movie. The movie garnered many Academy Awards and nominations for its realistic portrayal of the Vietnam War. Starring Charlie Sheen, Tom Berenger, and William Dafoe, it's "Platoon"...

the trailer...



I got a bad feeling...



Platoon

Directed by Oliver Stone
Produced by Arnold Kopelson
Written by Oliver Stone
Starring
Tom Berenger
Willem Dafoe
Charlie Sheen
Music by Georges Delerue
Cinematography Robert Richardson
Editing by Claire Simpson
Studio Hemdale Film Corporation
Distributed by Metro Goldwyn Mayer
Orion Pictures
Release date(s) December 19, 1986 (1986-12-19)
Running time 120 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Budget $6.5 million
Box office $138,530,565

The Way the Morning Broke Was Quite Unusual

It's a Belgium band for you today. I can just hear you yelling hooray! Anyway, it's a clever little industrial music video from 1987 with a dance beat. Here is the Belgium electronic group known as Front 242 with "Quite Unusual"...




Lyrics | Front 242 lyrics - Quite Unusual lyrics

"Quite Unusual"

by Front 242
from the album: "Official Version"
released: 1987

When I First Saw You Baby

It's one of the lesser hits from the album that sent today's group's popularity soaring through the roof. Unfortunately for this video, there is no Tawny Kitaen anywhere to be seen which is why it didn't receive as much airplay or fanfare when it was released. The song is pretty good, but without Tawny in the video, it's crap! And David Coverdale was unfortunately going through his tassles-phase as well during this time. From 1988, here is Whitesnake with "Give Me All Your Love"...




Lyrics | Whitesnake lyrics - Give Me All Your Love lyrics

"Give Me All Your Love"

Single by Whitesnake
from the album Whitesnake
B-side "Fool for Your Loving", "Don't Break My Heart Again" and "Here I Go Again"
Released May 27, 1988
Format Vinyl LP
CD
Recorded 1986
Genre Hard rock, heavy metal
Length 3:26
Label Geffen
EMI
Writer(s) David Coverdale
John Sykes
Producer Mike Stone
Keith Olsen

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #48

I Should've Known Better

Composed of Don Dokken on vocals, George Lynch on lead guitars, Juan Croucier on bass, and "Wild" Mick Brown on drums, here is the American heavy metal band Dokken from 1984 with "Just Got Lucky"...




Lyrics | Dokken lyrics - Just Got Lucky lyrics

"Just Got Lucky"

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

U.S. Mainstream Rock charts peak: #27

Who's On the Seventh Floor?

Here's a top 10 UK hit today for you from one of the more critically acclaimed bands that never achieved as much popularity in the U.S. during its heyday. From London with a video shot on location in Iceland here is the underrated Echo and the Bunnymen with "The Cutter"....




Lyrics | Echo & The Bunnymen lyrics - The Cutter lyrics

"The Cutter"

Cover from the 7" release
Single by Echo & the Bunnymen
from the album Porcupine
B-side "Way Out and Up We Go" / "Zimbo" (live)
Released 14 January 1983
Format 7", 12"
Genre Post-punk
Length 3:53
Label Korova
Writer(s) Ian McCulloch, Will Sergeant, Les Pattinson, Pete de Freitas
Producer Kingbird

UK peak position #8

Love is Gentle as a Rose

Today's artist came onto the scene in a big way in late 1989, but reached the height of his popularity in the 90's. Born the son of actress Roxie Roker (of "The Jefferson's" fame) in 1964, Lenny Kravitz released his debut album in 1989 entitled "Let Love Rule." Featuring then wife Lisa Bonet, here is Lenny's first mainstream hit - the title track, "Let Love Rule"...




Lyrics | Lenny Kravitz lyrics - Let Love Rule lyrics

"Let Love Rule"

Single by Lenny Kravitz
from the album Let Love Rule
Released September 24, 1989
Format CD single,
Maxi single
Recorded 1988
Genre Neo psychedelia, funk rock
Length 5:42
Label Virgin Records America
Writer(s) Lenny Kravitz
Producer Lenny Kravitz

U.S. Mainstream Rock tracks peak: #23

80's Movie Weekend

This weekend's movie is a sequel to 1984's hit "Romancing the Stone," starring Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner, and Danny DeVito. It's "The Jewel of the Nile"...

the trailer...




The Jewel of the Nile

Directed by Lewis Teague
Produced by Michael Douglas
Written by Screenplay:
Mark Rosenthal
Lawrence Konner
Characters by:
Diane Thomas
Starring:
Michael Douglas
Kathleen Turner
Danny DeVito
Music by Jack Nitzsche
Cinematography Jan De Bont
Editing by Peter Boita
Michael Ellis
Distributed by 20th Century Fox
Release date(s) December 11, 1985
Running time 107 mins
Country France
Morocco
USA
Language English
Arabic
Budget $25,000,000
Box office $96,773,200
(worldwide)[1]

Want a Love to Last Forever

After featuring Pete Townshend yesterday with a solo hit while on hiatus from The Who, The Excellent 80's is featuring another member of an iconic rock band. Maybe you've heard of The Beatles. They had one or two hits. After they all went their separate ways, Paul McCartney kept churning out hits with his group Wings and as a solo artist. This 1980 hit of his featured him playing all of the instruments while wife Linda McCartney provided backup vocals. According to the always accurate wikipedia page, this video is an early example of electronic trickery, with Paul McCartney playing ten roles and Linda McCartney playing two. The "band" identifies itself as "The Plastic Macs" on the drum kit, which is a nod to Lennon's "Plastic Ono Band." Here is "Coming Up"...




Lyrics | Paul McCartney lyrics - Coming Up lyrics

"Coming Up"

Single by Paul McCartney
from the album McCartney II
B-side "Coming Up" (Live at Glasgow)
"Lunchbox/Odd Sox"
(both with Wings)
Released 11 April 1980
Format 7"
Genre Funk rock
Label Parlophone/EMI (UK)
Columbia (US)
Writer(s) Paul McCartney
Producer Paul McCartney

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #1

When People Keep Repeating

As arguably one of the greatest guitarists from one of the greatest rock groups of all time, Pete Townshend occasionally broke away from The Who to do some solo stuff including this hit from his 1980 album "Empty Glass." Here is Pete Townshend with "Let My Love Open the Door"...




Lyrics | Pete Townshend lyrics - Let My Love Open The Door lyrics

"Let My Love Open the Door"

Single by Pete Townshend
from the album Empty Glass
Released 1980
Format 7"
Recorded 1980
Genre Rock
Length 2:44
Label Atco
Writer(s) Pete Townshend
Producer Pete Townshend

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #9

Take the Sheet Off Your Face, Boy. It's a Brand New Day

Believe it or not, while he was becoming a successful action movie star, the former "Moonlighting" actor Bruce Willis was moonlighting in an HBO mockumentary as fictional blues star "Bruno Radolini." He released an album called "The Return of Bruno," and it produced this billboard top 10 hit. It's a remake from a 1971 song by The Staple Singers. With June Pointer of the Pointer Sisters lending a little help, here is Bruce Willis, aka Bruno Radolini with "Respect Yourself"...




Lyrics | Bruce Willis lyrics - Respect Yourself lyrics

"Respect Yourself"
Single by Bruce Willis
from the album The Return of Bruno
B-side "Fun Time"
Released 1987
Genre Pop, Soul
Length 3:53
Label Motown Records
Writer(s) Luther Ingram, Mack Rice
Producer Robert Kraft

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #5

Yo, It's Time for Me to Pump the Volume

Today's anti-drug song features a sample from Curtis Mayfield's "Pusherman," and comes from a rapper born in Newark, raised in L.A., and who spent four years in the Army after high school. He's been a detective on TV since 2000 on Law and Order S.V.U. It's the cool, collective Ice T with his 1988 hit "I'm Your Pusher"...




Lyrics | Ice-t lyrics - I'm Your Pusher lyrics

"I'm Your Pusher"
Single by Ice-T
from the album Power
B-side "Girls L.G.B.N.A.F."[1]
Released 1988
Format Vinyl, 12"
Genre Hip hop
Length 5:35
Writer(s) Ice-T, Afrika Islam, Curtis Mayfield

Domo Arigato, Excellent 80's Viewers

From 1983 we bring you the phrase that swept through my 6th grade school class - "I'm Kilroy! Kilroy! Kilroy!" It's the band Styx with the "futuristic" (LOL) video that is laughably out of date for a popular song from 1983 that hit #3 on the U.S. Billboard charts called "Mr. Roboto"...




Lyrics | Styx lyrics - Mr. Roboto lyrics

"Mr. Roboto"
Single by Styx
from the album Kilroy Was Here
B-side "Snowblind"
Released February 11, 1983
Recorded 1982
Genre Progressive rock, synthpop
Length 5:30 (album)
4:44 (single)
Label A&M
Writer(s) Dennis DeYoung
Producer Styx

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #3

80's Movie Weekend

Today's look back takes us back to 1985, and a pretty good flick starring Harrison Ford and Kelly McGillis. It's a love story. It's a thriller. And there's a bunch of Amish people running around. It's "Witness"...

the trailer...



here is the murder scene that starts it all off...



Witness

Directed by Peter Weir
Produced by Edward S. Feldman
Screenplay by Earl W. Wallace
William Kelley
Story by William Kelley
Pamela Wallace
Earl W. Wallace
Starring Harrison Ford
Kelly McGillis
Jan Rubes
Danny Glover
Lukas Haas
Viggo Mortensen
Music by Maurice Jarre
Cinematography John Seale
Editing by Thom Noble
Distributed by Paramount Pictures
Release date(s) February 8, 1985
Running time 112 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Budget $12,000,000 (estimated)
Box office $68,706,993 (US)

Shut Up. Do It.

It's Friday and it's time for a little hair metal wind-up to get you pumped for the weekend. Today's video is the concert style video by the band Kix. From the album of the same name, it's the underrated song "Blow My Fuse"...




Lyrics | Kix lyrics - Blow My Fuse lyrics

"Blow My Fuse"

by Kix
from the album: Blow My Fuse
released: 1988

I Take Two Steps Forward. I Take Two Steps Back

Anytime you can have a video where one singer is real and the other singer is portrayed by an alley cat then you know that you have video gold! Right? It worked for "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?" didn't it? Oh well, not so much for this three and half minutes of torture. Sorry, Paula, but I hated this video growing up and I don't think too much more of it today. Anyway, here is the #1 hit for Paula Abdul along with MC Skat Kat, from 1989 - "Opposites Attract"...




Lyrics | Paula Abdul lyrics - Opposites Attract lyrics

"Opposites Attract"
Single by Paula Abdul and MC Skat Kat
from the album Forever Your Girl
B-side "One or the Other"
Released November 28, 1989
Format CD maxi, 7" single, 12" maxin cassette
Recorded 1988, 1989
Genre R&B, New Jack Swing
Length 3:46
Label Virgin
Writer(s) Oliver Leiber
Producer Oliver Leiber
Certification Gold (US)

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #1