80's Television

OK, this series lasted three seasons but I couldn't stand to watch one episode. It starred Linda Hamilton, and I like Linda Hamilton. But, her co-star was an absolute beast! Literally, he was a beast, and he was hideous to look at. I'm sorry! I know that that was the whole point of the show, but I still couldn't do it. I found the Disney cartoon much more entertaining and pleasing to the eyes and ears. For those of you that watched it for it's 1987-1990 run, here is your flashback to then and the tv series "Beauty and the Beast"...

the intro...



Beauty and the Beast

Pictured: Linda Hamilton (Catherine), Ron Perlman (Vincent)
Format Drama
Fantasy
Romance
Created by Ron Koslow
Starring Linda Hamilton
Ron Perlman
Roy Dotrice
Jay Acovone[1]
Country of origin United States
No. of seasons 3
No. of episodes 56
Production
Running time approx. 48 minutes (per episode)
Broadcast
Original channel CBS[2]
Original run September 25, 1987 (1987-09-25) – August 4, 1990

I Wish I Was Someone Else

Let's kick off the work week with a funny video from The Ramones from 1986. It's Ramones Aid time everybody, so let's get serious! Time for Hands Across Your Face as we raise money for the sake of raising money and getting rich! I love this video that makes fun of the USA For Africa video. Here are The Ramones with a little help from some big name stars in the video of "Something To Believe In"...




Lyrics | Ramones lyrics - Something To Believe In lyrics

"Something to Believe In"

by The Ramones
from the album: Animal Boy
released: 1986

80's Movie Weekend

I love today's movie. Way before he was making a movie for any random script that came across his desk, Nicolas Cage was Herbert I. "Hi" McDunnough, a petty criminal who would meet his future wife Edwina "Ed" (Holly Hunter) after she takes his mugshots from a recent arrest. The two have trouble conceiving a child, and so Hi steals one for her, and chaos and hilarity ensue. Directed by the Coen brothers and also starring John Goodman and William Forsythe (two Forsythe sightings in one month!), of course I'm talking about "Raising Arizona"...

the trailer...



the diaper chase scene... I think we can all relate, right?...



Raising Arizona

Directed by Ethan Coen
Joel Coen
Produced by Ethan Coen
Joel Coen
Written by Joel Coen
Ethan Coen
Narrated by Nicolas Cage
Starring Nicolas Cage
Holly Hunter
Trey Wilson
John Goodman
William Forsythe
Sam McMurray
Frances McDormand
Randall "Tex" Cobb
Music by Carter Burwell
Cinematography Barry Sonnenfeld
Editing by Michael R. Miller
Studio Circle Films
Distributed by 20th Century Fox
Release date(s) March 6, 1987
Running time 94 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Budget $6 million
Box office $22,847,564

See the People Walking Down the Street

It's been a long time since I've posted the all girl group from L.A. known as The Go-Go's. Back in August of 2008, we had "Vacation," and before that back in 2007, we had "Our Lips Are Sealed." Well, today, over three years since their last appearance in The Excellent 80's, here is a live performance video of a song that peaked at #2 back in 1982. It's "We Got the Beat"...




Lyrics | Go-go's lyrics - We Got The Beat lyrics

"We Got the Beat"
Single by The Go-Go's
from the album Beauty and the Beat
B-side "Can't Stop the World"
Released May 27, 1980 United States
January 16, 1981 United Kingdom
Format 7" single
Recorded 1980
Genre New Wave
Length 2:32
Label Stiff (1980), I.R.S. (1981, 1982), A&M (1982)
Writer(s) Charlotte Caffey
Producer Richard Gottehrer, Rob Freeman
Certification Gold (CRIA, RIAA)

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #2

One Hand On the Ground, One Hand in Space

I was ok with today's campy 80's music video until the bald dude wearing the white dress appears as well as the other dude holding the very large snake. Did we need this in the video? I think not. And what is Ric Ocasek doing as a telephone operator/dispatcher of some sort? All I have to say, is helllooo, hellllooo again. From the "Heartbeat City" album here is "Hello Again"...




Lyrics | Cars lyrics - Hello Again lyrics

"Hello Again"
Single by The Cars
from the album Heartbeat City
B-side "Hello Again" (Dub Version)
Released October 15, 1984 (1984-10-15)
Format 7", 12"
Recorded 1983-1984
Genre Dark Wave, avant-garde,[1] New Wave
Length 3:47
Label Elektra
Writer(s) Ric Ocasek
Producer Robert John "Mutt" Lange
The Cars

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #20

Awake From Dusk to Dawn

Today, The Excellent 80's brings you the band formed in Las Vegas sometime around 1988 that was a bright but brief shining star at the tail end of the glam metal sound of the 80's. Their album "Stick It To Ya" provided quite a few hit songs including the first song to be released from the album. Cue the wind machine, rain, leather, and sexy girls... here is Slaughter with "Up All Night"...




Lyrics | Slaughter lyrics - Up All Night lyrics

"Up All Night"
Single by Slaughter
from the album Stick It to Ya
Released 1990
Recorded 1989
Genre Hard rock
Label Chrysalis
Writer(s) Mark Slaughter and Dana Helm

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #27

80's Television

After a nice stint playing a genie, Barbara Eden took to Harper Valley U.S.A. for some craziness! It was a short-lived sitcom lasting all of two seasons and 30 episodes, but oh, what glorious episodes they were. I know you remember "Harper Valley PTA"...



Harper Valley (PTA)

Format Sitcom
Starring Barbara Eden
Fannie Flagg
Jenn Thompson
Anne Francine
Bridget Hanley
Rod McCary
Mills Watson
George Gobel
Allison Harvey
Opening theme "Harper Valley PTA", originally performed by Jeannie C. Riley
Country of origin United States
No. of seasons 2
No. of episodes 30

It Ain't the Way You Move

Trains! Wind! Smoke! This video has it all! OK, so maybe it's not the best video ever made, but it was 1982, and it was the first Top 40 hit for the band Night Ranger.
The thing I find interesting about Night Ranger is that they were a solid band with a signature song ("Sister Christian"), but for whatever reason were not really that highly thought of in my opinion whenever someone started listing great rock bands of the 80's. Good, but never great was always the underlying feeling I got about this band. They had six top 40 hits and cracked the top 10 twice. They were just a solid band putting out solid music for the better part of a decade including this hit, which was their first one back in 1982 - "Don't Tell Me You Love Me"...


Night Ranger-Don't tell me you love me by SirDroopy


Lyrics | Night Ranger lyrics - Don't Tell Me You Love Me lyrics

"Don't Tell Me You Love Me"

by Night Ranger
from the album: Dawn Patrol
released: 1982

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #40

80's Movie Weekend

I'm a sucker for a good old fashioned crime/gangster movie, and somehow I missed this one from 1984. Considering the star power in this movie, I'm surprised I've never seen it on cable tv either.
After researching it a little bit, one of the reasons may have to do with the controversy over the running time of this movie co-written and directed by Sergio Leone. The uncut version came in at almost four and a half hours and was considered by many critics a masterpiece and the best film of the year. When it was ultimately released in the U.S. in 1984, it had been edited down to just over two hours and was panned by most critics.
So, I guess if you want to see a great crime film you need to track down the uncut version and watch that one. But, oh man, what a cast - DeNiro, James Woods, Pesci, Elizabeth McGovern, Burt Young, William Forsythe, and the list goes on. It's the movie "Once Upon a Time in America"...

the trailer...



Once Upon a Time in America

Directed by Sergio Leone
Produced by Arnon Milchan
Screenplay by Franco Arcalli
Leonardo Benvenuti
Piero De Bernadi
Franco Ferrini
Ernesto Gastaldi
Stuart M. Kaminsky
Sergio Leone
Enrico Medioli
Based on The Hoods by
Harry Grey
Starring Robert De Niro
James Woods
Elizabeth McGovern
William Forsythe
James Hayden
Tuesday Weld
Treat Williams
Joe Pesci
Burt Young
Brian Bloom
Scott Tiler
Rusty Jacobs
Jennifer Connelly
Music by Ennio Morricone
Cinematography Tonino Delli Colli
Editing by Nino Baragli
Studio Embassy International Pictures (now Regency Enterprises)
Distributed by Producers Sales Organization
The Ladd Company for Warner Bros. Pictures
Release date(s) May 23, 1984 (Cannes)
June 1, 1984 (USA)
Running time European theatrical version
229 minutes
USA theatrical version
139 minutes
Original director's version
269 minutes
Country Italy
United States
Language English, Italian, Yiddish
Budget $20 million (approx.)
Box office $5,321,508

Hey Little Girl is Your Daddy Home

Happy Friday everyone! Today's video won the MTV Video Music Award for Best Male Video in 1985. It's a dramatic portrayal given by The Boss himself as an auto mechanic who tunes up the same vintage Thunderbird every week that's dropped off by a well to do woman living the high life. It's a short little number but became Springsteen's fourth top-10 hit off of his "Born in the U.S.A." album. Here is "I'm On Fire"...




Lyrics | Bruce Springsteen lyrics - I'm On Fire lyrics

"I'm on Fire"
Single by Bruce Springsteen
from the album Born in the U.S.A.
B-side "Johnny Bye Bye"
Released February 6, 1985
Format 7" single
Recorded February 1982
Genre Rock
Length 2:37
Label Columbia
Writer(s) Bruce Springsteen
Producer Jon Landau, Chuck Plotkin, Bruce Springsteen, Steven Van Zandt

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #6

What Can I Do

Today's hit from the band Styx occurred during the height of their popularity and close to the break up of the band over the always amusing "creative differences." This single cracked the top 10 off of their "Kilroy Was Here" album, and remains one of my favorite Styx singles. Here they are with the live version of "Don't Let It End"...




Lyrics | Styx lyrics - Don't Let It End lyrics

"Don't Let it End"
Single by Styx
from the album Kilroy Was Here
Released 1983
Recorded 1982
Genre Progressive rock
Length 4:53
Label A&M
Writer(s) Dennis DeYoung
Producer Styx

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #6

You Make Me Itch and I'm Out of Calamine

Cue the leather, boots, wind machine, and crazy black and white touring footage! Featured once in here with their 1990 hit "House of Pain," we're back with a 1989 song from the same album by the band Faster Pussycat. It's a catchy little tune that didn't do much of anything on any charts, but I've always liked it. Here is Faster Pussycat with "Poison Ivy"...




Lyrics | Faster Pussycat lyrics - Poison Ivy lyrics

"Poison Ivy"

by Faster Pussycat
from the album: Wake Me When It's Over
released: 1989

80's Television

Today's look back at 80's television takes us to a classic show that started in the late 70's and ended in the early 80's. It features some great actors - Danny DeVito, Judd Hirsch, Marilu Henner, Tony Danza, Jeff Conaway, and Andy Kaufman. Of course, it's "Taxi"...

the cool retro music and intro to the show "Taxi"...



Here's a great scene that features Christopher Lloyd...



a classic scene featuring Andy Kaufman...




Taxi

Format Sitcom
Created by James L. Brooks
Stan Daniels
David Davis
and Ed. Weinberger
Starring Judd Hirsch
Jeff Conaway (Seasons 1-3)
Danny DeVito
Marilu Henner
Tony Danza
Randall Carver (Season 1)
Christopher Lloyd
(Seasons 1 (Guest), 2-5)
Carol Kane (Season 5)
and Andy Kaufman
with J. Alan Thomas (mostly uncredited)
Theme music composer Bob James
Opening theme "Angela"
Country of origin United States
No. of seasons 5
No. of episodes 114 (List of episodes)
Production
Running time 30 minutes
Production company(s) John Charles Walters Productions, in association with Paramount Television
Distributor CBS Television Distribution
Broadcast
Original channel ABC (1978–1982)
NBC (1982–1983)
Original run September 12, 1978 – June 15, 1983

Tonight the Super Trouper Lights Are Gonna Find Me

It's back to one of the super groups from the 70's with one of their few hits from the early 80's. You can tell from today's video and song released in late 1980 that the super group ABBA was not going into the 80's without a fight. Their dress (especially Frida's horrific sweater), and hair, and lighting of the video still suggests a vintage 70's song and look. Maybe they knew what lay ahead in terms of disbanding, and so they held onto the 70's as long as they could. Though not as popular as "The Winner Takes It All" from the same album, here is the modest U.S. hit that was the title track for their next to last album called "Super Trouper"...




Lyrics | Mamma Mia! lyrics - Super Trouper lyrics

"Super Trouper"
Single by ABBA
from the album Super Trouper
B-side "The Piper"
Released November 1980
Format 7" single
Genre Pop
Length 4:10
Label Polar Music
Writer(s) Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus
Producer Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus
Certification Gold (UK)

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #45
UK peak: #3

80's Movie Weekend

I never saw this weekend's movie flashback from 1980, but it looks interesting. It stars Jason Robards, Paul Le Mat, and Mary Steenburgen, who won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in this movie. The screenplay was inspired by real-life Utah service station owner Melvin Dummar, who was listed as the beneficiary of $156 million in a will allegedly handwritten by Howard Hughes that was discovered in the headquarters of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City. Here is "Melvin and Howard"...

the trailer...




Melvin and Howard

Directed by Jonathan Demme
Produced by Art Linson
Don Phillips
Written by Bo Goldman
Starring Paul Le Mat
Mary Steenburgen
Pamela Reed
Jason Robards
Music by Bruce Langhorne
Cinematography Tak Fujimoto
Editing by Craig McKay
Distributed by Universal Pictures
Release date(s) September 19, 1980
Running time 95 minutes
Country United States
Language English

Live Baby Live

Formed as The Farriss Brothers in 1977 in Sydney, Australia, here is the fifth time the band INXS has appeared in The Excellent 80's. Live baby live, hate baby hate. Here is the third single from their 1987 album "Kick," it's "New Sensation"...




Lyrics | Inxs lyrics - New Sensation lyrics

"New Sensation"

Single by INXS
from the album Kick
B-side "Guns in the Sky"
Released 1988
Format 7", 12"
Recorded 1987
Genre Alternative rock, New Wave
Length 3:38
Label Atlantic
Writer(s) Andrew Farriss
Michael Hutchence
Producer Chris Thomas


Chart (1988) Peak position

UK Singles Chart #25
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 #3
U.S. Billboard Album Rock Tracks #8
German Singles Chart #35
Canadian Singles Chart #15
Australian ARIA Singles Chart #9

You're the One, the One for Me

I have to say that Kool and the Gang is one of my all-time favorite groups. Just the uniqueness of the band and all of its different sounds and instruments they implemented make them stand out above many of the other R&B groups of the time. Of course, the smooth vocals of James "J.T." Taylor lend an easy sound to the ear. I never met anyone named Joanna, but if I would have and had fallen in love, this was the perfect song. Alas, here is that hit from 1983 and the accompanying video for "Joanna"...




Lyrics | Kool And The Gang lyrics - Joanna lyrics

"Joanna"
Single by Kool & the Gang
from the album In the Heart
Released 1983
Genre R&B-Pop
Length 4:02
Label Polygram

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #2
U.S. R&B charts: #1

I Don't Know What Color Your Eyes Are Baby

Today's English alternative rock band took its name from a comic book of the same name. Here is their most widely known and successful single which came off of their 1989 self-title album. Peaking with some pointy hair and also at #3 on the Billboard singles chart, here is a song you'll remember from Love and Rockets with "So Alive"...




Lyrics | Love And Rockets lyrics - So Alive lyrics

"So Alive"
Single by Love and Rockets
from the album Love and Rockets
B-side "Dreamtime"
Released 1989
Format CD
Recorded 1989
Genre College rock
Length 4:16
Label RCA
Writer(s) Daniel Ash
Producer John Fryer

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #3
UK peak: #79

I've Been Up Half the Night

Today's rock band comes to us from Memphis where you can hear their blues influence in today's video from 1989. They won a battle of the bands that eventually led to their record deal. Here is a cool little tune and black and white video for Tora Tora (Tora meaning "Tiger" in Japanese) and "Walkin' Shoes"...




Lyrics | Tora Tora lyrics - Walkin' Shoes lyrics

"Walkin' Shoes"

by Tora Tora
from the album: Surprise Attack
released: 1989

Let's Go Bowling

Tonight marks the highly anticipated national championship game which rematches SEC powers LSU and Alabama for the title. Let's take a look back 30 years ago to the game which settled the national championship for the 1981 season - the 1982 Orange Bowl featuring #1 Clemson against #4 Nebraska.

Here is the intro...



part of the 1st quarter which features a TD pass by Nebraska tailback Mike Rozier...



By the way, Clemson goes on to win the game 22-15, and claim their first national championship.

80's Movie Weekend

We all know that Eddie Murphy was the golden child of 80's comedy movies. Ok, bad pun, but that was also a bad movie. In stark contrast to the occasional stinker he delivered, Eddie would deliver us comic gold like today's feature from 1988. Teamed with Arsenio Hall and playing a variety of characters, Eddie delivered big time with this tale of "Coming to America"...

the trailer...



stay off the drugs, Eddie...



did you remember that the world's baddest brother, Samuel Jackson made an appearance?



Coming to America

Directed by John Landis
Produced by Leslie Belzberg
George Folsey, Jr.
Mark Lipsky
Screenplay by David Sheffield
Barry W. Blaustein
Story by Eddie Murphy
Starring Eddie Murphy
Arsenio Hall
James Earl Jones
Shari Headley
John Amos
Music by Nile Rodgers
Cinematography Sol Negrin
Woody Omens
Editing by Malcolm Campbell
George Folsey, Jr.
Distributed by Paramount Pictures
Release date(s) June 29, 1988
Running time 97 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Budget $39 million
Box office $288,752,301[1]

We're Just Following Ancient History

It's time for a 1984 hit from Stuart Leslie Goddard today for you in The Excellent 80's. This album seems to mark the beginning of the decline for Stuart although he did have a few more minor hits through the years following this song. I remember this video from my MTV days and thought it to be a catchy tune. Better known as Adam Ant, here is "Strip"...




Lyrics | Adam Ant lyrics - Strip lyrics

Strip
Studio album by Adam Ant
Released November 1983
Recorded Stockholm, summer 1983
Genre Rock, Pop
Label Columbia
FE 39108
Producer Adam Ant, Richard James Burgess, Phil Collins, Hugh Padgham, Marco Pirroni

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #42
UK peak: #41

Whatcha Doing Out There, Who You Tryin to Be?

Today's video from 1985 features a fictitious news report of a band that's missing due to a plane crash somewhere in the desert. It's a crazy concept and crazy video featuring the boys from San Francisco donning some fighter pilot outfits for the video.
It's the band known as Night Ranger, and at the end of the video, the fictitious news reporter says that the band is "still missing." What's missing is the band's career after this hit. Just kidding Night Ranger fellows, if you're reading this. They did have a few more minor hits after this song, but this was their last top 10 hit. Here is "Sentimental Street"...


Night Ranger - Sentimental Street by jpdc11


Lyrics | Night Ranger lyrics - Sentimental Street lyrics

"Sentimental Street"
Single by Night Ranger
from the album Seven Wishes
Released 1985
Genre Hard rock
Label MCA
Writer(s) Jack Blades

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #8

Just Cause It's 2 O'Clock Don't Mean That We Have to Stop

In 1981 this duo from Dallas, Texas hit the top of the R&B charts and decided to make a video in which they performed on stage. They also decided that sock puppets was the way to go for back up singers. I couldn't agree more. The sock puppets just make this video a masterpiece. Check out the childhood friends Yarbrough and Peoples with their most famous R&B hit "Don't Stop the Music"...



"Don't Stop the Music"
Single by Yarbrough and Peoples
from the album The Two of Us
B-side "You're My Song"
Released 1981
Format 12" Single
Recorded 1980
Genre Boogie, R&B, dance
Length 7:49
4:08 (7")
Label Mercury
Writer(s) Jonah Ellis, Alisa Peoples and Calvin Yarbrough
Producer Jonah Ellis
Lonnie Simmons

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #19
U.S. R&B charts peak: #1

My Gypsy Road Can't Take Me Home

I love any videos that feature glam rock bands strolling through the normal streets of some unnamed town somewhere. They never stand out. I wish just once one of these bands would have gotten the crap beat out of them by some guys in a truck driving along and mistaking the band as some sort of weird gang coming to invade and take over their territory. Anyway the boys from Cinderella decided it would be a good idea to ride some horses and shoot a video someplace in Mexico I'm guessing. Here they are with the terribly out of place, but aptly named video "Gypsy Road"...




Lyrics | Cinderella lyrics - Gypsy Road lyrics

"Gypsy Road"
Single by Cinderella
from the album Long Cold Winter
Released 1988
Format 7", 12"
Genre Glam metal, blues rock
Length 3:55
Label Mercury

U.S. Billboard Hot 100: #51

I Will Be With You Again

Happy New Year! I usually take off Sunday, and since this is my first post of 2012, I'd like to get it started with a song that I've begun other years here on my blog with. It's the fitting title "New Year's Day" by the one and only U2. So, get out your horse, and go riding through the snowy woods. Enjoy the first UK hit single by the band released 29 years ago on New Year's day 1983. May 2012 bring you prosperity and many blessings!




Lyrics | U2 lyrics - New Year's Day lyrics

"New Year's Day"

Single by U2
from the album War
Released 1 January 1983
Format 7" vinyl, 12" vinyl, CD
Recorded 1982, Windmill Lane Studios, Dublin
Genre Rock, post-punk
Length 5:36 (album version)
3:40 (edit)
Label Island
Producer Steve Lillywhite

Chart (1983) Peak position

Canada RPM Top 50[13] #41
Dutch MegaCharts[14] #4
Irish Singles Chart[15] #2
New Zealand Singles Chart[14] #32
Norwegian Singles Chart[14] #9
Swedish Singles Chart[14] #17
UK Singles Chart[16] #10
USA Billboard Hot 100 #53
USA Mainstream Rock Tracks[citation needed] #2