I'm Worried About You, I'm Worried About Me

Today features the eldest daughter of the late, great Johnny Cash. Roseanne cash had a string of hits back in the 80's, and today's video features a song that was Roseanne's 9th #1 country hit. From 1988, here is "Runaway Train"...
Lyrics | Rosanne Cash lyrics - Runaway Train lyrics "Runaway Train" Single by Rosanne Cash from the album King's Record Shop B-side "Seven Year Ache" Released July 1988 Genre Country Length 3:58 Label Columbia Writer(s) John Stewart Producer Rodney Crowell U.S. Country charts peak: #1

Well My Friends, The Time Has Come

It's a special Sunday edition of The Excellent 80's for you this week! It's been a glorious two weeks for you sports fans or fans of the Olympics out there. I include myself in those categories, and I've enjoyed it as much as ever and I always look forward to it every four years. It's every four years that I get my fill of badminton, table tennis, swimming, gymnastics, handball, water polo, etc., etc. So, remember back with me to the 1984 closing ceremony in L.A. and enjoy the break-dancing, and enjoy Lionel Richie closing it down with "All Night Long"...

80's Movie Weekend

I remember watching this movie after it was released to normal television back in the day because I thought Kristy McNichol was hot. Unfortunately, this musical/comedy was a bad movie with horrible songs that starred McNichol and Christopher Atkins. Johnny Depp and Keira Knightley they are not. Check out "The Pirate Movie"... the trailer... The Pirate Movie Directed by Ken Annakin Produced by Ted Hamilton (executive) David Joseph Written by W. S. Gilbert (operetta) Trevor Farrant Starring Christopher Atkins Kristy McNichol Ted Hamilton Music by Mike Brady Terry Britten (songs) Sue Shifrin (songs) Peter Sullivan Arthur Sullivan (operetta) Cinematography Robin Copping Editing by Ken Zemke Distributed by 20th Century Fox (theatrical) Anchor Bay Entertainment (DVD) Release date(s) 6 August 1982 Running time 105 min./USA: 98 min. Country Australia Language English Box office $8,000,000 (domestic)

On Candy Striped Legs the Spiderman Comes Softly Through

You recognize those lyrics above if you are a fan of the excellent band known as The Cure. If Robert Smith had gone with a green tint to his hair in this live performance, he would have looked like Heath Ledger's "Joker" some 20 years before the role. Interestingly enough, this became The Cure's highest charting single in the UK making it all the way up to #5. Here is The Cure with "Lullaby"...
Lyrics | Cure lyrics - Lullaby lyrics "Lullaby" Single by The Cure from the album Disintegration Released 10 April 1989 Format 7", 12" Genre Gothic Rock, Dark wave Length 4:10 Label Fiction Records Producer Robert Smith Dave Allen UK peak: #5 U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #74

I'll Keep Holding On

If you are a fan of the Simpson's Sideshow Bob, more specifically Bob's hair, then you loved to watch Simply Red back in the 80's, no? If ever there could have been a live version of the cartoon character, then lead singer Mick Hucknall was the man regardless of if you liked his music or not. Filmed in the English coastal town of Whitby, and soaring all the way to #1 in 1985, here is Simply Red with "Holding Back the Years"...
Lyrics | Simply Red lyrics - Holding Back The Years lyrics "Holding Back the Years" Single by Simply Red from the album Picture Book B-side "Drowning in My Own Tears" / "I Won't Feel Bad" Released 1985 Genre Pop rock, blue-eyed soul Length 4:27 Label WEA Elektra Writer(s) Mick Hucknall, Neil Moss U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #1 UK peak: #2

You Keep Your Mind on the Money and Your Eyes on the Wall

Lots of dancing and lots of crazy outfits for you in today's video that comes to us from 1984. It's such an emotionally charged video that nearly leaves you crying at the end of it. It does leave Tina crying. It's Tina Turner and she wants to be your "Private Dancer"...
Lyrics | Tina Turner lyrics - Private Dancer lyrics "Private Dancer" Single by Tina Turner from the album Private Dancer B-side "Keep Your Hands Off My Baby" "Nutbush City Limits" (live) (US) Released October 28, 1984 Format Vinyl CD single Digital download Cassette Recorded 1984 Genre Smooth Jazz, R&B Length 7:11 (Album version) 3:54 (7" edit) Label Capitol Writer(s) Mark Knopfler Producer John Carter U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #7 U.S. R&B peak: #3

Give Me Just Another Kiss Before the Dawn Breaks Through

I am pretty sure that I'm not the only person that was scared of Mick Jagger back in 1985. All you have to do is watch this video and let your mind take you back to 1985. Between the scary eye makeup, his black tank top, and the manic dancing he does amidst the flashing lights, you know he scared you too. He looks like a vampire in the video and does he lick that girl's shoulder when he's dancing with her? Whatever the case, this was one of Jagger's bigger solo hits which came from his 1985 album "She's the Boss." Here is "Just Another Night"...
Lyrics | Mick Jagger lyrics - Just Another Night lyrics "Just Another Night" by Mick Jagger from the album: She's the Boss released: 1985 U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #12 UK peak: #32

Oooh Weee! Oooh Weee!

I love today's video from 1984, which gets cut off at the end for some reason. Anyway, it's from the debut album by the Fat Boys and it's a song called "Can You Feel It." I love that the Fat Boys felt the need to wear t-shirts that said Fat Boys on them. Combine those shirts with their goofy glasses, shorts, and hats, and you have one enjoyable 80's rap hit...
Lyrics | Fat Boys lyrics - Can You Feel It lyrics "Can You Feel It" by Fat Boys from the album: Fat Boys released: 1984 U.S. R&B / Rap hits peak: #38

80's Movie Weekend

I don't remember if I actually watched this movie, but I vaguely remember buying the cassette or album at that time because I had this fold out poster size sheet that showed you how to break dance. I was going to be the greatest break dancer that Seminole, OK had ever seen. Unfortunately, I learned a few moves then gave up on it altogether. Just remember: Don't be mistakin', you've got to see "Breakin'"... the trailer... check out a young Ice-T doing the rapping for this scene...

Breakin'

Directed by Joel Silberg
Produced by Allen DeBevoise, producer, and David Zito, producer Yoram Globus (executive producer) Menahem Golan (executive producer)
Written by Charles Parker (a.k.a. David Zito) and Allen DeBevoise Starring Lucinda Dickey Adolfo Quinones Michael Chambers
Music by Michael Boyd
Cinematography Hanania Baer Editing by Larry Bock Mark Helfrich Gib Jaffe Vincent Sklena
Distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (USA) Cannon Films (non-USA)
Release date(s) May 4, 1984
Running time 90 min.
Country United States
Language English

Shouting Gun On They Run

Inspired by Ernest Hemingway's 1940 novel of the same name, today's video from one of metal's greatest bands comes to us from 1985 off their "Ride the Lightening" album. Having not been featured in The Excellent 80's since 2008, here is one of the most popular Metallica songs ever, here is James, Lars, and the boys with "For Whom the Bell Tolls"...
Lyrics | Metallica lyrics - For Whom The Bell Tolls lyrics

 "For Whom the Bell Tolls"
 Single by Metallica
from the album Ride the Lightning
Released August 31, 1985
Recorded February 20 - March 14, 1984 at Sweet Silence Studios Copenhagen, Denmark
Genre Thrash metal, heavy metal
Length 5:10
Label Elektra
Writer(s) James Hetfield / Lars Ulrich / Cliff Burton Producer Metallica, Flemming Rasmussen

Olympics 80's Style

With the London Olympics in full swing I thought it would be interesting to visit the opening ceremonies from the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. It gives a great contrast to the big budget productions that are put on now (especially by Bejing in 2008). Check out the rocket man and all the fans holding up cards to help make up the opening ceremonies. There are definitely some fashion statements being made as well!

If I Could, I Would, I Swear

Today's boring song and boring video comes from one of the most popular artists of the 80's - George Michael. There is a lot of white in this slow video and George has a lot of hair in it. A number one hit in the UK and a follow up to one of his trademark hits "Careless Whisper," here is "A Different Corner"...
Lyrics | George Michael lyrics - A Different Corner lyrics "A Different Corner" Single by George Michael from the album Music from the Edge of Heaven Released 2 April 1986 Format 12", 7" Recorded 1984–1985 Genre Soft rock Length 4:32 (LP version) 3:57 (single edit) Label CBS Records (US/Canada) Epic Records Writer(s) George Michael Producer George Michael Chart (1986) Peak position UK Singles Chart[8] 1 US Billboard Hot 100[9] 7 US Billboard Adult Contemporary[9] 6