80's Holiday Movie Weekend

This early weekend's featured movie is a classic Thanksgiving holiday flick... it's the epic tale of Steve Martin trying to get home for Thanksgiving dinner all the while having to deal with the crazy antics of the late John Candy in "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles"... Have a great Thanksgiving!


flight cancellation scene with Ben Stein...



those aren't pillows!

Those aren't pillows.
Uploaded by RandySsavage

you're going the wrong way! you're going to kill someone!



Planes, Trains and Automobiles

Directed by John Hughes
Produced by John Hughes
Written by John Hughes
Starring Steve Martin
John Candy
Music by Ira Newborn
Cinematography Donald Peterman
Editing by Paul Hirsch
Distributed by Paramount Pictures
Release date(s) November 25, 1987
Running time 92 min.
Country United States
Language English

I Made This Money, You Didn't

Post New Edition, Bobby Brown's "Don't Be Cruel" album was a smash hit and it included this late 80's anthem... written by Bobby B and Teddy Riley, here is bad boy Bobby Brown's only #1 hit, "My Prerogative"...

Bobby Brown - My Prerogative
Uploaded by jpdc11

Lyrics | My Prerogative lyrics

“My Prerogative”

Single by Bobby Brown
from the album Don't Be Cruel
Released 1988
Format Cassette single
7" single
12" single
CD single
Genre R&B / Pop
Length 4:51
Label MCA
Writer(s) Bobby Brown
Gene Griffin
Teddy Riley
Producer Gene Griffin

Charts (1988) Peak Position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 #1
U.S. Billboard Hot R&B Songs #1
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play #7
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Singles Sales #2
UK Singles Chart #6


Just because I wanted to see it, I went ahead and included the Britney Spears remake of the song for you as well today... so, if you want to see a perfectly awesome 80's song sung by a cool guy who turned crazy totally destroyed and ruined by a promising young singer who turned crazy, then please view for yourself...

Britney Spears - My Perogative
Uploaded by mattgroening

Happy Birthday JJ

A happy birthday to the late JJ Jackson who was one of the original five VJs on MTV... here is some footage of JJ back in the day on a MTV Reunion Weekend as well as the video from Bow Wow Wow - "I Want Candy"....




Lyrics | Bow Wow Wow lyrics - I Want Candy lyrics

“I Want Candy”

Single by Bow Wow Wow
from the album The Last of the Mohicans
Released 1982 (1982) (U.S.)
Genre New Wave, Pop/Rock
Label RCA


Chart Peak Position
UK Singles Chart #9
USA Top 100 #62
USA Mainstream Rock #22
USA Hot Dance Club Play #36


RIP JJ, who passed away in 2004

Now, for an added bonus today, here is the English glam band, Slade... see chameleon lying there in the sun, all things to everyone... "Run Runaway"...




Lyrics | Run Run Away lyrics

“Run Runaway”

Single by Slade
released: 1984
B-side Don't Tame A Hurricane
Genre Folk rock
Length 3:24
Writer(s) Noddy Holder/Jim Lea
Producer John Punter

US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #20
UK Peak: #7

I Met a Fan Dancer Down in Southside Birmingham

Written by Bruce Hornsby, today's featured video is one of three #1 hits for Hugh Anthony Cregg III and his band better known as Huey Lewis and The News... from 1986, here is the #1 hit, "Jacob's Ladder"...

Huey Lewis & The News - Jacob's Ladder
Uploaded by jpdc11

Huey Lewis Lyrics

“Jacob's Ladder”

Single by Huey Lewis & The News
from the album Fore!
B-side "The Heart of Rock & Roll" (Live)
Released 1987
Format 7" single
Recorded 1986
Genre Rock
Label Chrysalis
Writer(s) Bruce Hornsby, John Hornsby
Producer Huey Lewis & The News

US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #1

You Know Where You Are? You in a Chinese Democracy, baby. You Gonna Die!

Like how I combined old and new GNR in the title today? Sure you do. In a special Sunday post celebrating the release of the album that was like 30 years in the making, "Chinese Democracy", Axl and the old GNR crew are back in The Excellent 80's today with the song that rocked a nation and gave hundreds of high schools a theme song at sporting events... here is Guns N' Roses and "Welcome To the Jungle"...

Guns N' Roses - Welcome to the Jungle
Uploaded by hushhush112

Lyrics | Guns N' Roses - Welcome To The Jungle lyrics

“Welcome to the Jungle”

Single by Guns N' Roses
from the album Appetite for Destruction
Released 1987
Format Vinyl single (7", 12")
Cassette
CD
Recorded 1987
Genre Hard rock
Length 04:33
Label Geffen
Writer(s) Axl Rose
Slash
Producer Mike Clink

US Billboard Hot 100 peak: #7

80's Movie Weekend

Today's movie flashback takes us back to the classic duo of Kathleen Turner and Michael Douglas... throw in Danny DeVito and you have yourself a hit movie, here is "Romancing the Stone"...

the trailer...



if you want to check out Siskel and Ebert's review of the film, here you go...




Romancing the Stone

Directed by Robert Zemeckis
Produced by Michael Douglas
Jack Brodsky
Joel Douglas
Written by Diane Thomas
Uncredited:
Lem Dobbs
Howard Franklin
Treva Silverman
Starring Michael Douglas
Kathleen Turner
Danny DeVito
Alfonso Arau
Manuel Ojeda
Music by Alan Silvestri
Cinematography Dean Cundey
Álex Phillips Jr.
Editing by Donn Cambern
Frank Morriss
Distributed by 20th Century Fox
Release date(s) March 30, 1984 (USA)
Running time 105 min.
Country Mexico / USA
Language English
Followed by The Jewel of the Nile

also from this movie, I had forgotten about this little jewel... this guy is best known for his single, "Electric Avenue" and I had forgotten that he had even done this song for the movie... here is Eddy Grant, and check him out wailing away on the guitar with "Romancing the Stone"...




Lyrics | Romancing The Stone lyrics

She's As Fine As She Can Be

Our "Huey Lewis and the News November" is winding down as November is quickly escaping from us and turning into December... this video is better suited for Halloween, but anyway, here is the mad scientist Huey Lewis with The News and this nearly 8 minute video - "Doin' It All For My Baby"...

huey lewis§the news"doing it all..."
Uploaded by miklo

Huey Lewis amp The News Lyrics

"Doin' It All For My Baby"

by Huey Lewis and The News
from the album: "Fore!"
released: 1987

US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #6

Baby, I Know You're Wondering

Coming hard on to the club dance scene in the mid-80's and making their debut in The Excellent 80's today is Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam with their first big hit - "I Wonder If I Take You Home"...

Lisa Lisa Cult Jam - I Wonder If I Take
Uploaded by jpdc11

Lyrics | I Wonder If I Take You Home lyrics

“I Wonder If I Take You Home”

Single by Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam
from the album Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam with Full Force
Released 1985
Format 7", 12"
Recorded 1984
Genre Freestyle music
Length 3:57 (album version); 6:48 (extended remix)
Label Columbia Records
Writer(s) Full Force
Producer Full Force, Don Oriolo, Jurgen Korduletsch
Certification Gold

US Billboard Hot 100 peak: #34
US R&B Peak: #6
US Hot Dance Club Play peak: #1
UK Singles: #12

And the Man At the Back Said

Today's hard rockers toured with the likes of Sammy Hagar, Def Leppard, and Judas Priest in the 1980's... formed in Switzerland in 1974, it's Krokus with "Ballroom Blitz"...




Lyrics | Ballroom Blitz lyrics

"Ballroom Blitz"

by Krokus
from the album: The Blitz
released: 1984

Gimme A Break!

A little flashback to the days when Nell Carter was a big time star and had a hit tv show on her hands... remember "Gimme a Break"?

a promo for the show...



the intro and the beginning to one of the episodes (notice the young Joey Lawrence)...




Gimme a Break!

Format Comedy
Created by Mort Lachman
Sy Rosen
Starring Nell Carter
Dolph Sweet (1981-1985)
Lara Jill Miller
Lauri Hendler (1981-1986)
Kari Michaelsen (1981-1986)
John Hoyt (1982-1987)
Joey Lawrence (1983-1987)
Telma Hopkins (1984-1987)
Country of origin United States
No. of seasons 6
No. of episodes 137

Please Let Me Know!

Power ballad time for Huey Lewis and the News today... from the album "Sports", here is "If This is It"...

Huey Lewis & The News - If This Is It
Uploaded by jpdc11

Lewis Huey Lyrics

“If This Is It”

Single by Huey Lewis & The News
from the album Sports
B-side "Change of Heart"
Released 1984
Format 7" 45 RPM
Genre Pop / Rock
Length 3:46
Label Chrysalis
Writer(s) Johnny Colla, Huey Lewis
Producer Huey Lewis & The News

Chart (1984) Peak position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 #6
U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks #5
U.S. Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks #19

80's Movie Weekend

It's hard to go wrong with a Chevy Chase flick... ok, ok, he has had some real bombs over the years and some people even include this one, though I'm kind of on the fence with it... this weekend's featured movie clips come from the 1981 Chevy Chase film, "Modern Problems"...


the trailer...



snorting Demon Powder with Nell Carter...



Modern Problems

Directed by Ken Shapiro
Produced by Alan Greisman
Michael Shamberg
Written by Ken Shapiro
Tom Sherohman
Starring Chevy Chase
Patti D'Arbanville
Dabney Coleman
Mary Kay Place
Nell Carter
Music by Dominic Frontiere
Cinematography Edmond L. Koons
Editing by Michael Jablow
Distributed by Twentieth Century Fox
Release date(s) December 25, 1981
Running time 89 mins.
Country United States
Language English
Budget Unknown