It's Been A Long Time, I Shouldn't Have Left You

Anytime I can bring out a video shot at The Apollo it's a great thing.  As a bonus, you get the 1991 performance of one of the great rap songs of the 80's.  Though never one of my favorite groups, I've got much respect for the skills of Eric B and Rakim.  With one of the best openings ever - "It's been a long time, I shouldn't have left you without a strong rhyme to step to.  Think of how many weak shows you slept through.  Time's up.  I'm sorry I kept you," here they are performing at The Apollo with "I Know You Got Soul"...




Lyrics | Eric B. & Rakim lyrics - I Know You Got Soul lyrics

"I Know You Got Soul"
Single by Eric B. & Rakim
from the album Paid in Full
Released	1987
Format	12"
Recorded	1987
Genre	Hip hop
Length	4:46
Label	4th & B'way
Writer(s)	Eric Barrier, Rakim Allah
Producer	Eric Barrier, Rakim Allah

U.S. Hot R&B charts peak:  #64

The Grabowski Shuffle

Trying to latch on to the popularity of "The Superbowl Shuffle", former Chicago Bears coach Mike Ditka put out this unfortunate video where he raps and tells everyone how they can be a Grabowski.  It's the hilarious "Grabowski Shuffle"...

Outrageous!

Yes, I'm a little late on this Grammy's post since the Grammy's were a couple of weeks ago.  Anyway, from 1985, with Lionel Richie as host, here are three awards that Prince took home that night.  There is much to love about this clip.  The first two awards - "Favorite Black Single" and "Favorite Black Album" seem to indicate this should have been 1955 instead of 1985.  The Beach Boys completely butchered the reading of the nominations somehow, and I just love the big bodyguard Prince has.  Just classic Prince.  I wish the big  guy had strolled down the runway with Prince at the Grammy's on Sunday night when Prince presented...

I've Always Known That the Mirror Never Lies

The Excellent 80's has been hitting you with an array of love songs, and pop hits, and R&B hits recently.  So, to kick off the week, I wanted to throw some hard hitting hair metal your way.  This band always was a little different then your average hair-metal band, in my opinion anyway.  Formed in the state of Washington around 1981, they're probably best known for their 1990 hit "Silent Lucidity."  Here is another one of their better songs from their concept album in 1988 entitled "Operation: Mindcrime."  It's "Eyes of a Stranger"...



All alone nowExcept for the memoriesOf what we had and what we knewEverytime I try to leave it behind meI see something that reminds me of youEvery night the dreams return to haunt meYour rosary wrapped around your throatI lie awake and sweat, afraid to fall asleepI see your face looking back at me
And I raise my head and stareInto the eyes of a strangerI've always known that the mirror never liesPeople always turn awayFrom eyes of a strangerAfraid to know whatLies behind the stare
Is this all that's leftOf my life before meStraight-jacket memories, sedative highsNo happy ending like they've always promisedThere's got to be something left for me
And I raise my head and stareInto the eyes of a strangerI've always known that the mirror never liesPeople always turn awayFrom eyes of a strangerAfraid to know whatLies behind the stare
How many times must I live this tragedyHow many more lies will they tell meAll I want is the same as everyoneWhy am I here, and for how long
And I raise my head and stareInto the eyes of a strangerI've always known that the mirror never liesPeople always turn awayFrom eyes of a strangerAfraid to know whatLies behind the stare

"Eyes of a Stranger"
Single by Queensrÿche
from the album Operation: Mindcrime
Released	1988
Format	CD, Vinyl
Recorded	1987–1988 Kajem/Victory Studios, Gladwyne, Pennsylvania, USA
Genre	Progressive metal
Length	6:38
Label	EMI
Writer(s)	Chris DeGarmo Geoff Tate
Producer	Peter Collins

80's Movie Weekend

Nominated for 12 Academy Awards and winner of three, I never saw this weekend's 80's movie flashback. It has an all-star cast with Warren Beatty, Diane Keaton, and Jack Nicholson, and looks like a pretty decent movie that I might have to check out one day.  Centering around the life and career of Communist writer and journalist John Reed in Russia, it's "Reds"...

the trailer...

Reds
movie poster
Directed by	Warren Beatty
Produced by	Warren Beatty
Screenplay by	Warren Beatty Trevor Griffiths
Starring	Warren Beatty Diane Keaton Jack Nicholson Paul Sorvino Maureen Stapleton Gene Hackman Edward Herrmann
Music by	Stephen Sondheim Dave Grusin
Cinematography	Vittorio Storaro
Editing by	Dede Allen Craig McKay
Studio	Barclays Mercantile Industrial Finance JRS Productions
Distributed by	Paramount Pictures
Release date(s)	December 4, 1981
Running time	194 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English Russian German
Budget	$32 million
Box office	$50,000,000[1]

Looking Out For Love

Lindsey Buckingham takes the lead for today's video and song from Fleetwood Mac's "Tango in the Night" album released in 1987.  It was the second biggest hit on the album behind only "Little Lies."  Here is Fleetwood Mac with "Big Love"...




Lyrics | Fleetwood Mac lyrics - Big Love lyrics

"Big Love"
Single by Fleetwood Mac
from the album Tango in the Night
B-side	"You & I Part 1"
Released	March 1987
Format	7", 12"
Recorded	1985-87
Genre	Rock
Length	3:42
Label	Warner Bros.
Writer(s)	Lindsey Buckingham
Producer	Lindsey Buckingham, Richard Dashut

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak:  #5
UK peak:  #9

I've Been Thinking About You

The outfits are outstanding and the graphics are mind-blowing.  Let's go back to 1981 and check out the Bronx-born, Philly-raised R&B singer with the nickname of "Champagne."  With one of her two R&B #1 hits from the early 80's, here is Evelyn "Champagne" King and "I'm in Love"...

"I'm in Love"
Single by Evelyn "Champagne" King
from the album I'm in Love
Released	1981
Format	7" Single, 12" Single
Genre	Contemporary R&B, boogie
Length	5:52
Label	RCA
Writer(s)	Kashif

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak:  #40
U.S. R&B charts peak:  #1

Ooh Ooh Hoo Ooh Ooh

The moral of this video is never ever get in a plane if Rick James and Smokey Robinson are your pilots.  Of course you won't have to worry too much since Rick James passed away years ago, but it could still happen with Smokey around!  This short film music video that runs just over seven minutes was a collaboration between the two and produced a #1 R&B hit.  I don't ever recall watching this video though, but the "rescue" makes total sense once you watch it.  Here is "Ebony Eyes"...



Ooh...ooh...ooh...ooh...Ooh...ooh...ooh...ooh...
Wind in your hair, sun on your skinYoure looking good, girl, all over againHey there, Miss BrownI want you to know I love you
Brown as the sand, youre soft as the shoreYoure leaving me hungry, Im crying for moreOoh, we, baby, girl, youre such a scoreAnd I want you to know that, you know what, girl
I love youI bet you didnt know that, girlYou didnt know thatI need youRight now, baby, right now, babyAnd I bet you didnt know that ebony eyes
Ooh...ooh...hoo...ooh...ooh...ooh...ooh...ooh...ooh...Ooh...hoo...hoo...ooh...hoo...ooh...ooh...
Lips soft and tender, ready to speakHer voice says, I love you {I love you} and its making me weakHey there, little girl, may I just say I love youTell em how you feel, Rick[ From: http://www.metrolyrics.com/ebony-eyes-lyrics-james-rick.html ]
Love is the brown skin girl in my eyesThink its time that I told you, dont you realizeYoure such a queen, woman, youre such a prizeAnd I want you to know that, you know what, girl
I love youAnd I bet you didnt know that, girlYou didnt know thatI need youRight now, baby, right now, babyAnd I bet you didnt know that ebony eyes
I love you ebony eyes, oh, myI need you, womanI need you (Ooh...)Oh, and I bet you didnt know that ebony eyes
I really love you (Ooh...ooh...), woman, I love you (Love you)Ebony eyes (Ooh...), oh, myI wanna say that I need you (Ooh...ooh...ooh...ooh...), honey, I need youAnd I bet you didnt know that ebony eyes
Ebony eyes (Woo...woo...ooh...woo...hoo...)Ebony eyes, oh, my (Hoo...)Ebony eyes (Hoo...hoo...hoo...)Girl, and I bet you didnt know that ebony eyes
Love you (Love you, love you)Ebony eyes

Read more: JAMES RICK - EBONY EYES LYRICS 

"Ebony Eyes"
Single by Rick James and Smokey Robinson
from the album Cold Blooded
Released	1983
Format	7"
Genre	R&B
Length	3:56
Label	Motown
Writer(s)	James Johnson [1]
Producer	Rick James

U.S. R&B charts peak:  #1

Milk is Chillin'

Love today's old school rap jam.  It's coming at you from 1987 and features the brothers of rap artist MC Lyte.  Their names are Kirk "Milk Dee" Robinson and DJ Nat "Gizmo" Robinson. Ladies and gentlemen of the Excellent 80's, here is the Brooklyn duo known as Audio Two with arguably their most famous song, "Top Billin'"...




Lyrics | Audio Two lyrics - Top Billin lyrics

"Top Billin'"
Single by Audio Two
from the album What More Can I Say?
A-side	Make It Funky
Released	October 15, 1987
Format	12"
Recorded	1987
Genre	Hip hop
Length	2:56
Label	First Priority Music
Writer(s)	Kirk 'Milk Dee' Robinson, Nat 'Gizmo' Robinson
Producer	Daddy-O, Audio Two
Certification	Platinum

I Stayed the Cold Day With a Lonely Satellite

A happy Monday to you all!  I thought I had all of the 80's Duran Duran videos in The Excellent 80's already.  Wrong!  The band's 10th single released in January 1984 was from their "Seven and the Ragged Tiger" album.  One thing you can say for Duran Duran is that they always seemed to at least put some thought and energy behind their videos which is something you can't say about all of the top artists of the 80's.  Here is their top 10 hit, "New Moon on Monday"...





Shake up the picture the lizard mixture 
With your dance on the eventide 
You got me coming up with answers 
All of which I deny 
I said it again 
Could I please rephrase it 
Maybe I can catch a ride 
I couldn't really put it much plainer 
But I'll wait till you decide 
Send me your warning siren 
As if I could ever hide 
Last time La Luna 

CHORUS 
I light my torch and wave it for the 
New moon on Monday 
And a firedance through the night 
I stayed the cold day with a lonely satellite 

Breaking away with the beast of both worlds 
A smile that you can't disguise 
Every minute I keep finding 
Clues that you leave behind 
Save me from these reminders 
As if I'd forget tonight 
This time La Luna 

"New Moon on Monday"
Single by Duran Duran
from the album Seven and the Ragged Tiger
B-side	"Tiger Tiger"
Released	14 January 1984 (US)
Format	Single
Recorded	Sydney, Australia, September 1983
Genre	Pop, New Wave
Length	4:16
Label	EMI, Capitol - DURAN 1
Producer	Duran Duran, Ian Little and Alex Sadkin

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak:  #10
UK peak:  #9

80's Movie Weekend

Yesterday The Excellent 80's brought you the top 10 hit from the group Animotion called "Room to Move."  That song was featured in our 80's movie flashback this weekend.  Starring Dan Akroyd and Kim Basinger, as well as Jon Lovitz, here is the 1988 movie "My Stepmother is An Alien"...

the trailer...



Here's Kim Basinger arriving at the party and talking all crazy like...

My Stepmother is an Alien
Original movie poster
Directed by	Richard Benjamin
Produced by	Franklin R. Levy Ronald Parker Executive producers: Jerry Weintraub Art Levinson Laurence Mark
Written by	Jerico Stone Herschel Weingrod Timothy Harris Jonathan Reynolds Uncredited: Richard Benner Leslie Bricusse Debra Frank Susan Rice Paul Rudnick Carl Sautter
Starring	Dan Aykroyd Kim Basinger Jon Lovitz Alyson Hannigan
Music by	Alan Silvestri
Cinematography	Richard H. Kline
Editing by	Jacqueline Cambas
Distributed by	Columbia Pictures
Release date(s)	9 December 1988
Running time	105 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$26,000,000[1]
Box office	$13,854,000 (US) [2]

I Must Make You Understand

What happens when you mix Prince with Ray Parker Jr.?  You get the late, great Roger Troutman!  Not sure who that is?  You will be after I take you back to 1987 and a song that was a top 3 hit on the Billboard charts and a #1 hit on the R&B singles charts.  Doing it all in this video, here is Roger Troutman of Zapp and Roger fame with "I Want to Be Your Man"...

From LYRICSMODE.COM lyrics archive

Lyrics | Zapp & Roger lyrics - I Want To Be Your Man lyrics

"I Want to Be Your Man"
Single by Roger Troutman
from the album Unlimited!
Released	1987
Recorded	1986
Genre	Funk, R&B
Length	4:11
Label	Reprise
Writer(s)	Larry Troutman
Producer	Roger Troutman

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak:  #3
U.S. Hot R&B singles peak:  #1