The Song Came and Went

Today's song and video is a follow up to the #1 hit by Bruce Hornsby and the Range's "The Way It Is." This song peaked at #4 back in 1987. Born in Williamsburg, Virginia, here is Bruce Hornsby, his piano, and one of the Range on the mandolin. So, everyone, it's not banjo wind, it's "Mandolin Rain"...


Bruce Hornsby - Mandolin Rain by jpdc11


Lyrics | Bruce Hornsby lyrics - Mandolin Rain lyrics

"Mandolin Rain"
Single by Bruce Hornsby and the Range
from the album The Way It Is
B-side "The Red Plains"
Released 1987
Genre Piano rock, adult contemporary
Length 5:19
Label RCA
Writer(s) Bruce Hornsby
John Hornsby
Producer Bruce Hornsby
Elliot Scheiner

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak #4

Early Morning Lookin Tired and Worn

When he wasn't cranking out monster movie soundtrack hits, Kenny Loggins was releasing mediocre studio albums with modest success. One of those came in the form of the 1985 album of Kenny's called Vox Humana. Here is the strange little video for the strange little title track called "Vox Humana (Human Voice)"...




Lyrics | Kenny Loggins lyrics - Vox Humana lyrics

Vox Humana
by Kenny Loggins
from the album: Vox Humana
Released 1985

80's Movie Weekend

The sun will come out tomorrow, bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow... you go ahead finish it. You know the words, because you like everyone else has seen the movie or musical known as "Annie." The 1982 film adaptation featured an awesome Carol Burnett as orphanage owner Miss Hannigan and stars Albert Finney, Bernadette Peters, Tim Curry, and Aileen Quinn as Annie. I was curious about Aileen and to the best of my research (which is not much) she appeared in minor roles in movies and tv projects throughout the years as well as on Broadway. Apparently she is a professor at Monmouth College in Long Branch, NJ these days.

Here is the trailer from 1982's "Annie"...



It's the "Hard Knock Life" for those poor orphans...



"Easy Street" with Burnett, Curry, and Peters...



here is an interview from a few years ago with Aileen...




Annie

Directed by John Huston
Produced by Joe Layton
Ray Stark
Written by Carol Sobieski
Based on Annie by
Charles Strouse
Martin Charnin
Thomas Meehan
Starring Aileen Quinn
Albert Finney
Carol Burnett
Bernadette Peters
Tim Curry
Ann Reinking
Geoffrey Holder
Music by Charles Strouse
Martin Charnin (Lyrics)
Cinematography Richard Moore
Editing by Michael A. Stevenson
Studio Rastar
Distributed by Columbia Pictures
Release date(s) May 17, 1982 (1982-05-17)
Running time 127 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Budget $50 million
Gross revenue $57,059,003

Talk to Me, Don't Lie to Me

Today's song from 1985 is from the English band OMD with their first success stateside and a cool little song called "So in Love"...




Lyrics | Omd lyrics - So In Love lyrics

"So in Love"
Single by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
from the album Crush
B-side "Maria Gallante",
"Concrete Hands",
"White Trash (Live)"
Released 13 May 1985 (1985-05-13)
Format 7" vinyl,
12" vinyl
Recorded Amazon Studios,
The Manor
Genre New Wave, Synthpop
Length 3:29
Label Virgin
Writer(s) Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
Producer Stephen Hague

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #26

I'll Stay With You Until the End

Today's "UK Thursdays" hit brings us to a successful pop group in the UK that had moderate success on the U.S. dance charts. One of the chicks in this video is rocking the Princess Leia do from Star Wars A New Hope. I dig it, and this song's not too bad either. So, check out the band formed in 1979 that broke up in 1987 called Blancmange with "Don't Tell Me"...




Lyrics | Blancmange lyrics - Don't Tell Me lyrics

"Don't Tell Me"
by Blancmange
from the album: Mange Tout
released: 1984

UK peak: #8

Slight of Hand, Hands of Fate

Today's weird video and song from 1981 come from "the female Rod Stewart." Well, that's what some people referred to her as. This song and video was a follow up to her biggest hit and one of the biggest hits of 1981 called "Bette Davis Eyes." Yes, it is Kim Carnes with "Draw of the Cards"...




Lyrics | Kim Carnes lyrics - Draw Of The Cards lyrics

"Draw of the Cards"
Single by Kim Carnes
from the album Mistaken Identity
Released 1981
Format 7" Single, 12" Single
Recorded 1981
Genre Pop
New Wave
Length 4:53
Label EMI America
Writer(s) Kim Carnes, Bill Cuomo, Dave Ellingson, Val Garay
Producer Val Garay

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #28

I Go To Work Like a Doctor

Today we're back with some Mohandas Dewese for you. OK, you probably don't know him by that name. You most likely know him as the big shades wearing rapper Kool Moe Dee. I posted Kool's first big two mainstream hits How Ya Like Me Now? and Wild Wild West way back on this blog. So, today we move to Kool's follow up album and its' debut single which features Kool Moe Dee doing some work James Bond style and attempting to stop Dr. Yo. Here is the now 48 year old with his hit from 1989 called "I Go To Work"...




Lyrics | Kool Moe Dee lyrics - I Go To Work lyrics

"I Go To Work"

by Kool Moe Dee
from the album: Knowledge is King
released: 1989

You've Been Down Too Long in the Midnight Sea

I could have done without the first minute of this video which pans through a bunch of tree limbs. Really? Is this supposed to be setting me up for something? Anyway, after that, Italian-American Ronnie James Dio proceeds to wield a rather large sword while singing an early Dio hit. Dio meaning "God" in Italian rocks it today in The Excellent 80's with "Holy Diver"...




Lyrics | Dio lyrics - Holy Diver lyrics

"Holy Diver"
Single by Dio
from the album Holy Diver
B-side "Evil Eyes"
"Don't Talk to Strangers"
Released August 1983
Format 7", 12"
Recorded 1983
Sound City Studios, Los Angeles, USA
Genre Heavy metal
Length 5:51
Label Vertigo
Mercury
Warner Bros.
Writer(s) Ronnie James Dio
Producer Ronnie James Dio

U.S. Mainstream rock charts peak: #40

80's Movie Weekend

In 1982, Dustin Hoffman donned makeup, high heels, and a dress, and landed a gig on a soap opera. Hilarity ensued. Anytime a man can dress up like a woman isn't that a recipe for success? I don't know, but this was a huge hit for Hoffman. It's "Tootsie"...

the trailer...


Tootsie

Directed by Sydney Pollack
Produced by Sydney Pollack
Dick Richards
Screenplay by Murray Schisgal
Barry Levinson
Elaine May
Story by Larry Gelbart
Starring Dustin Hoffman
Jessica Lange
Teri Garr
Dabney Coleman
Charles Durning
Music by Dave Grusin
Cinematography Owen Roizman
Editing by Fredric Steinkamp
William Steinkamp
Studio Mirage Enterprises
Distributed by Columbia Pictures
Warner Bros. Pictures (Sweden)
Release date(s) December 17, 1982 (1982-12-17)
Running time 116 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Budget $21 million
Gross revenue $177,200,000

Well You Admit You Like the Game

Peaking at #32 off his "Success Hasn't Spoiled Me Yet" album Rick Springfield is sporting a sweet cut-off shirt with no sleeves (I saw Rick perform a few years ago and he still likes the sleeveless shirts where he can show off his guns and he still sweats a lot just like in today's video). Here is a live video version of "I Get Excited"




Lyrics | Rick Springfield lyrics - I Get Excited lyrics

"I Get Excited"

by Rick Springfield
from the album: Success Hasn't Spoiled Me Yet
released: 1982

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #32

It's Time We Should Talk About It

Well, The Excellent 80's has brought you "UK Thursdays" throughout the months of April and May, and we've decided to extend it another month through June. Basically, we're bringing you some of the best from across the pond that didn't chart very big for one reason or another in the U.S. So, you're not going to see any Tears For Fears or Def Leppard amongst this group. You're going to get singers and bands like the one today. It's British pop band known as China Crisis. The band formed near Liverpool in 1979 and had 10 "hit" singles in the UK while never really making a name for themselves in the U.S. Today's UK hit reached #9 back in 1983. Here is a cool little song and decidedly English looking video called "Wishful Thinking"...




Lyrics | China Crisis lyrics - Wishful Thinking lyrics

"Wishful Thinking"
Single by China Crisis
from the album Working with Fire and Steel – Possible Pop Songs Volume Two
B-side "This Occupation"
"Some People I Know to Lead Fantastic Lives"
Released 1983
Format 7" vinyl, 12" vinyl
Recorded 1983
Genre New Wave, Synthpop
Length 4:08 (7" single edit)
4:40 (12" single / album version)
Label Virgin
Writer(s) Gary Daly, Eddie Lundon
Producer Mike Howlett

UK peak: #9

We the People of the United States

Though not one of my favorite songs of Vincent Damon Furnier who was born in 1948, today's video is still classic Alice Cooper. Yes, Vincent was his given name. The video is from 1987's song "Freedom." All I know is that his lead guitarist I think is Dweezil Zappa on steroids. Check out born again Christian Alice Cooper with "Freedom"...




Lyrics | Alice Cooper lyrics - Freedom lyrics

""Freedom""

Single by Alice Cooper
from the album Raise Your Fist and Yell
Released 1987 (US)
1988 (UK)
Recorded 1987
Genre Heavy metal
Length 4:09
Label MCA
Writer(s) Alice Cooper, Kane Roberts
Producer Alice Cooper

UK peak: #50