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
Uploaded by jpdc11. - Watch more music videos, in HD!

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
Uploaded by Discodandan. - Music videos, artist interviews, concerts and more.

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