Too Dangerous to Keep

I love the guitar work in today's song. The song is a follow-up to the band's biggest international hit called "Under the Milky Way." This song didn't achieve nearly the success, but was still a pretty solid follow up. Here is the Australian rock band formed in Sydney in 1980 known as The Church with "Reptile"...




Lyrics | Church lyrics - Reptile lyrics

"Reptile"

by The Church
from the album: Starfish
released: 1988

80's Television

Coming on the scene in 1988, today's television flashback series lasted seven seasons. I watched it occasionally, but was never a huge fan of the show. It did have some funny parts and of course introduced everyone to David Leisure, aka "Joe Isuzu." It was a spin-off of "The Golden Girls," and featured Estelle Getty in the show at times. 80's star Kristy McNichol starred in the series as well. There are plenty of episodes you can check out for free on Youtube. Here is Richard Mulligan in "Empty Nest"...

the intro...



Empty Nest

Genre Sitcom
Created by Susan Harris[1]
Directed by Hal Cooper
Dinah Manoff
Doug Smart
Steve Zuckerman
Starring Richard Mulligan
Kristy McNichol (1988–1992, 1995)
Dinah Manoff
David Leisure
Park Overall
Paul Provenza (1992-1993)
Lisa Rieffel (1992–1993)
Marsha Warfield (1993–1995)
Estelle Getty (1993–1995)
Theme music composer John Bettis
George Tipton
Opening theme "Life Goes On" performed by Billy Vera
Country of origin United States
Language(s) English
No. of seasons 7
No. of episodes 170

I Wanna Rock!

Today's video features the return of "Neidermeyer." Yes, he was most famous for his role in the classic movie "Animal House," but he returned to prominence with his appearance in a video called "We're Not Gonna Take It" by Dee Snider and the band Twisted Sister. As a follow up, "Neidermeyer" returns as a school teacher along with a cameo from "Flounder" and TS came up with this classic for their song "I Wanna Rock!"...




Lyrics | Twisted Sister lyrics - I Wanna Rock lyrics

"I Wanna Rock"
Single by Twisted Sister
from the album Stay Hungry
Released 1984
Format CD single, 7", 12"
Genre Heavy metal, glam metal
Length 3:02
Label Atlantic
Writer(s) Dee Snider
Producer Tom Werman

Caught Between a Hard Hard Place and a Rock

Today's video flashback to the 80's is one of the more underrated songs by Mr. Rick Springfield. I had forgotten about this little gem until it popped up on my 80's radar one day when I was shuffling through his greatest hits album on my phone. I came across today's song which I really like and don't remember too well from the 80's probably because it wasn't a big commercial hit like many of his other songs even though it did peak at #23. Anyway, I hope you roll a seven today as you check out Rick Springfield and "Souls"...




Lyrics | Rick Springfield lyrics - Souls lyrics

"Souls"

by Rick Springfield
from the album: Living in Oz
released: 1983

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #23

80's Movie Weekend

Considered by many to be one of the greatest sports movies of all-time and one of Robert De Niro's masterpieces, this weekend's 80's movie takes us back to 1980 and the story of boxer Jake LaMotta. Directed by Martin Scorsese and also starring Cathy Moriarty and Joe Pesci, it's "Raging Bull"...



Raging Bull

Directed by Martin Scorsese
Produced by Robert Chartoff
Irwin Winkler
Screenplay by Paul Schrader
Mardik Martin
Martin Scorsese (uncredited)
Robert De Niro (uncredited)
Based on Raging Bull: My Story by
Jake LaMotta
Joseph Carter
Peter Savage
Starring Robert De Niro
Cathy Moriarty
Joe Pesci
Cinematography Michael Chapman
Editing by Thelma Schoonmaker
Distributed by United Artists
Release date(s) December 19, 1980 (1980-12-19)
Running time 129 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Budget $18,000,000
Gross revenue $23,383,987

Loaded Like a Freight Train

For you G&R fans, here is a live performance from The Ritz of Axl and the boys including one hairy half beast known as Slash. Voted one of the best all-time drinking songs, from their debut album, here is a good Friday song/video for you - "Night Train"...




Lyrics | Guns N' Roses lyrics - Night Train lyrics

"Nightrain"

Single by Guns N' Roses
from the album Appetite for Destruction
A-side "Nightrain" (LP Version)
B-side "Reckless Life" (LP Version)
Released July 29, 1989
Format Vinyl
Cassette
CD
Recorded 1987
Genre Heavy metal, hard rock
Length 4:26
Label Geffen
Writer(s) Axl Rose
Duff McKagan
Slash
Izzy Stradlin
Producer Mike Clink

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #93

Sometimes You're Better Off Dead

There's a gun in your hand, it's pointing at your head... . Today's hit by the British pop due back in 1984 was pretty big worldwide. It hit #1 in the states and was all over the radio. Can't believe I haven't featured this song in The Excellent 80's yet. Well, here is the most popular duo in UK music history - Pet Shop Boys with "West End Girls"...




Lyrics | Pet Shop Boys lyrics - West End Girls lyrics

"West End Girls"

Original 1984 12" single cover
Single by Pet Shop Boys
from the album Please
B-side "Pet Shop Boys" (1984)
"A Man Could Get Arrested" (1985)
Released 9 April 1984 (1st release)
28 October 1985 (2nd release)
Format 7", 12"
Recorded Unique Studios, New York 1984
Genre Synthpop
Length 4:14 (original 7" mix)
3:59 (1985 7" version)
4:41 (album version)
Label EMI Music, Parlophone
Writer(s) Neil Tennant, Chris Lowe
Producer Bobby Orlando (1984)
Stephen Hague (1985)
Certification Gold (BPI, CRIA)

80's Television

I don't really even remember today's short-lived sitcom from the 80's. Following up on the very successful series MASH, there was apparently this lame attempt at a spin-off called, obviously, "AfterMASH"...

for a short run series, it sure had a lot of intros...

the season 1 intro...




the season 2 intro #1...



the season 2 intro #2...



AfterMASH

Format Sitcom
Starring Harry Morgan
Jamie Farr
William Christopher
Rosalind Chao
John Chappell
(1983-1984)
Jay O. Sanders
(Oct 1983 - Jan 1984)
Barbara Townsend
(1983-1984)
David Ackroyd
(1984-1985)
Anne Pitoniak
(1984-1985)
Peter Michael Goetz
(1984-1985)
Brandis Kemp
Country of origin United States
Language(s) English
No. of episodes 30

If There's Anything You Need

Today's artist was not just a one-hit wonder who became even more famous in 2007 from people who enjoyed "Rickrolling" others. Yes, he's everybody's favorite white guy who looks like Howdy Doody, but sounds like a black guy! We've already brought you "Never Gonna Give You Up," but here is another #1 hit from Astley in 1987: it's a video that makes me dizzy with the colorful background - "Together Forever"...




Lyrics | Rick Astley lyrics - Together Forever lyrics

"Together Forever"
Single by Rick Astley
from the album Whenever You Need Somebody
Released 18 June 1988
Recorded 1987
Genre Dance-pop
Length 3:24
Label RCA
Writer(s) Stock Aitken Waterman
Producer Stock Aitken Waterman

Here Comes Johnny Swinging Oldies Goldies

Today's video is probably my favorite song from the group known as Dire Straits. Ok, so I wasn't the biggest Straits fan, but I liked today's song and today's video which features a montage of sports clips throughout the video and of course it features lead singer Mark Knopfler wearing a sweet headband. It's "Walk of Life"...




Lyrics | Dire Straits lyrics - Walk Of Life lyrics

"Walk of Life"
Single by Dire Straits
from the album Brothers in Arms
Released January 1986
Recorded December 1984
Genre Country rock, New Wave
Length 4:12
Label Vertigo (United Kingdom), Warner Bros. Records (United States)
Writer(s) Mark Knopfler

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #7

80's Movie Weekend

OK, two things: I never saw today's movie, and secondly I realize that it's from 1993 (just a tad bit out of the 80's). But, it's so appropriate since we just finished St. Patrick's Day and there aren't a whole lot of St. Patrick's Day movies out there to choose from. Today's classic (and I use that term loosely) is one of the very first roles for former "Friends" star Jennifer Aniston. Check out her acting chops in today's movie flashback - "Leprechaun"...

the trailer...



some great scenes from the movie...



Leprechaun

Theatrical release poster
Directed by Mark Jones
Produced by Mark Amin
Jeffrey B. Mallian
Written by Mark Jones
Starring Warwick Davis
Jennifer Aniston
Ken Olandt
Mark Holton
Robert Gorman
Shay Duffin
John Sanderford
John Voldstad
Music by Kevin Kiner
Robert J. Walsh
Cinematography Levie Isaacks
Editing by Christopher Roth
Distributed by Trimark Pictures
Release date(s) January 8, 1993 (1993-01-08)
Running time 92 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Budget $900,000
Gross revenue $8,556,940

80's Workout

Aerobics was a big deal back in the 80's, and here are some former NFL greats to lead the way today led by NY Giants QB Phil Simms. My favorite has to be Todd Christensen and all that curly hair and that sweet mustache.