80's Movie Weekend

One of my favorite movies from 1987 because of the twist at the end of the movie, it stars a young Kevin Costner along with Gene Hackman and Sean Young. There's "No Way Out"... the trailer... No Way Out
 Directed by Roger Donaldson
Produced by Robert Garland Laura Ziskin
Screenplay by Robert Garland
Based on The Big Clock by Kenneth Fearing
Starring Kevin Costner
Gene Hackman
Sean Young
Music by Maurice Jarre
Cinematography John Alcott
Editing by William Hoy Neil Travis
Distributed by Orion Pictures
Release date(s) August 14, 1987
Running time 114 minutes
Country United States
Language English Russian
Budget $15 million
Box office $35,509,515

My Beat is Ever Boomin', and You Know I Get It Started

Get out your dancing shoes for Stanley Kirk Burrell today and prepare to get on down! From his best selling debut album that featured the hit "Turn This Mutha Out," here is the man known better as MC Hammer with "Let's Get It Started"...
Lyrics | Mc Hammer lyrics - Let's Get It Started lyrics "Let's Get It Started" by MC Hammer from the album: Let's Get It Started released: 1988

As I Watch You Move

Today just feels like one of those days where you, the viewer, need a sappy, boring love song, by a sappy, boring English group who filmed a sappy, boring video. Oh, did I mention this song and video are sappy and boring? But, it's like I've said many a time here before, this is a non-discriminating blog! It's the first appearance by the English pop group known as Breathe and one of their three top 10 U.S. hits from 1987-88. Here they are with "Hands to Heaven"...
Lyrics | Breathe lyrics - Hands To Heaven lyrics "Hands to Heaven" Single by Breathe from the album All That Jazz B-side "Life and Times" Released 1987 Recorded 1987 Genre Pop, Adult contemporary, Smooth jazz Length 4:20 Label A&M Writer(s) David Glasper, Marcus Lillington Producer Bob Sargeant U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #2

Do This the Kid 'N Play Way

Not as popular as some of the other tracks off the "2 Hype" album like "Rollin' With Kid N Play" but still a solid effort from the duo. They released three albums and four feature films together. Here is Christopher "Kid" Reid and Christopher "Play" Martin with "Do This My Way"... "Do This My Way" by Kid N Play from the album: 2 Hype released: 1988

You Called Me From the Room in Your Hotel

Today's number one hit from 1985 features a duet between the well known hit machine known as Phil Collins and a woman who I've only heard of in this song. Her name is Marilyn Martin and she was a backup singer for many artists in the 80's before landing this number one hit from the White Nights movie soundtrack. Here they are together singing "Separate Lives"...
Lyrics | Phil Collins lyrics - Separate Lives lyrics "Separate Lives" Single by Phil Collins and Marilyn Martin from the album White Nights soundtrack B-side "I Don't Wanna Know" Released 1985 Format 7" Recorded 1985 Genre Soft rock Length 4:06 Label Atlantic, Virgin Records, WEA Writer(s) Stephen Bishop Producer Arif Mardin, Phil Collins U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #1

Run Away and Hide From Everyone

Today's video received massive airplay on MTV back in 1984, but after you had seen it once that's all you ever cared to watch it. Choosing to go with a Dick Tracy-like cartoon featuring "Nick" as the hero, here is the English progressive rock band consisting mainly of singer Eric Woolfson and keyboardist Alan Parsons known as The Alan Parsons Project with "Don't Answer Me"...
Lyrics | Alan Parsons Project lyrics - Don't Answer Me lyrics "Don't Answer Me" by The Alan Parsons Project from the album: Ammonia Avenue released: 1984 U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #15

80's Movie Weekend

I want beer! Milk! Beer! Never saw this weekend's 80's movie, but it looks like a typical 80's party movie with a weak plot, plenty of beer, and good looking women. From 1987, a movie that features Jamie Farr, Rich Little, and Tawny Kitaen, it's "Happy Hour"... the trailer...

"Happy Hour"

released:  May 1987
Cast overview,
 Jim Parrott ... Barbarian Leader
 Richard Gilliland ... Blakely
 Kathi Diamant ... Cathy Teegarden
 James Newell ... Jack Marshall (as Jim Newell)
 Herb Kronsberg ... Jenkins
 Debi Fares ... Ms. Shepard
 Eddie Deezen ... Hancock
 Deborah Gates ... Meredith Casey (as Debbie Gates)
 Arnie Miller ... Tinker
 Rich Little ... Mr. X
 Jamie Farr ... Crummy Fred
 Mary M. Egan ... Old Woman
 D.J. Sullivan ... Fred's Neighbor
 Tawny Kitaen ... Misty Roberts
 Stephen F. Andrich ... Steve Andrich (as Steve Andrich)

Let Me Be Your Paperman, I'd Love to Be Your Jokerman

Today's group reminds me a little of an imitation Kool and the Gang, only without near the success. Hailing from Cleveland, from 1982, here is the group known as The Dazz Band ("danceable jazz") with their biggest hit "Let It Whip"...
Lyrics | Dazz Band lyrics - Let It Whip lyrics "Let It Whip" Single by Dazz Band from the album Keep It Live Released February 12, 1982 Format 12" Genre R&B, funk Length 4:42 (album version) 4:06 (single version) Label Motown Writer(s) Reggie Andrews, Leon "Ndugu" Chancler Producer Reggie Andrews U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #5

Yo Man, There's a Lot of Brothers Out There Flakin' and Perpetratin'

Today's video and song was the last single released from the 1988 album "Straight Outta Compton." With lyrics handled mostly by Dr. Dre and an appearance in the video by Tone Loc, here is a toned-down N.W.A. with "Express Yourself"...
Lyrics | N.w.a. lyrics - Express Yourself lyrics "Express Yourself" Single by N.W.A from the album Straight Outta Compton Released February 27, 1989 Format 12" single Recorded 1988 Genre Hip hop, Soul, Funk Length 4:26 Label Priority/Ruthless Writer(s) Eric "Eazy-E" Wright, O'Shea "Ice Cube" Jackson Producer DJ Yella Dr. Dre

There's This One Particular Harbour

Even back in the 80's, the great Jimmy Buffett was not immune to cheesy videos as evidenced here today in The Excellent 80's. When I listen to Buffett it reminds me of my time in college during the summers when I was painting houses to earn some cash. Jimmy helped me through a lot of those hot summer days with his gulf and western music and that includes today's song. This video features Jimmy sporting a sweet mustache and also features those 80's staples - the boom box and the pay phone. Known for his hits "Margaritaville" and "Come Monday," here is Buffett with his 1983 hit "One Particular Harbour"...
Lyrics | Jimmy Buffett lyrics - One Particular Harbour lyrics "One Particular Harbour" Single by Jimmy Buffett from the album One Particular Harbour A-side "One Particular Harbour" B-side "Distantly In Love" Released October 1983 Format 7" Recorded 1983 Genre Rock/Gulf and western Label MCA MCA 52298 (U.S., 7") Writer(s) Jimmy Buffett, Bobby Holcomb Producer Jimmy Buffett, Michael Utley U.S. Adult Hot Contemporary Tracks peak: #22

Thank You For Coming Home

With the 2012 Olympics fading into the distance, I've had a little time to digest them. In my opinion the games seemed to go splendidly and were well hosted by our neighbors across the pond. "Team GB" scored an impressive amount of medals (65 in all) including 29 gold ones. Who would have thought that today's video from 1983 would feature the song played over and over by the BBC before their breaks before every medal ceremony in London. Known mostly for their hit "True," Spandau Ballet did crack the top 30 in the U.S., and this song peaked at #2 in the UK for them. Here is the song "Gold" by Spandau Ballet. Well done on the Games of 2012 Great Britain! Well done.
Lyrics | Spandau Ballet lyrics - Gold lyrics

"Gold"
Single by Spandau Ballet
from the album True
Released 1983
Format 7", 12"
Recorded 1982
Genre New Wave
Length 7:12 (Extended Version) 4:51 (Album Version) 3:51 (Single Version)
Label Chrysalis Records
Writer(s) Gary Kemp

 U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #29 UK singles chart peak: #2

You Act Like You Were Just Born Tonight

Yesterday, The Excellent 80's brought you a top country hit from 1988 and Johnny Cash's oldest daughter, Roseanne. Thought I'd throw one more Roseanne Cash song at you today. It was probably her biggest hit reaching #1 on the country charts and crossing over and reaching #22 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 back in 1981 as well as becoming a top ten single on the adult contemporary charts. I'm digging the dude wearing his Don Johnson sport coat and proudly displaying his blond ponytail in this performance. Here is Roseanne Cash with "Seven Year Ache"...
Lyrics | Rosanne Cash lyrics - Seven Year Ache lyrics "Seven Year Ache" Single by Rosanne Cash from the album Seven Year Ache B-side "Blue Moon with Heartache" Released February 1981 Format 45 rpm Genre Country Length 3:15 Label Columbia Writer(s) Rosanne Cash Producer Rodney Crowell U.S. Country charts peak: #1 U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #22