Yooouuuu, You Got What I Need

The Biz appeared earlier in The Excellent 80's as one of the friends of Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock in the video "It Takes Two", but here is the song that put Biz Markie on the map and made him a big star... for a short time... but you say he's "Just A Friend"...




Just A Friend Lyrics

"Just A Friend"
single by Biz Markie
from the 1989 album: The Biz Never Sleeps

US Hot 100 Peak: #9

80's Television - Don't Make Him Angry

Before we get to our 80's television (that actually began in the late 70's), let's pause for a commercial from everyone's favorite gaming console... Colecovision...



A friday night favorite of mine along with Dukes of Hazzard, here is Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno as "The Incredible Hulk"...

The Intro...


Who hasn't wanted to turn green and destroy a car when you have trouble changing a flat in the pouring rain?



Or if you're late for a meeting, who wouldn't want to do this? I've got to be there by five!



The Incredible Hulk

Opening title credits
Format Drama
Science Fiction
Created by Kenneth Johnson
Starring Bill Bixby
Lou Ferrigno
Jack Colvin
Country of origin United States
No. of seasons 5
No. of episodes 82
Production
Producer(s) James D. Parriott
Broadcast
Original channel CBS
Original run November 4, 1977
November 28, 1977
March 10, 1978 – May 12, 1982

I'll Take "Who Is Greg Kihn?" For 100, Alex

The answer is that this man believed "our love's in jeopardy, baby!" And also thought it'd be cool to have a bunch of zombies in his video...

The Greg Kihn band from 1983 with the hit "Jeopardy"




Jeopardy Lyrics


“Jeopardy”

Single by The Greg Kihn Band
from the album Kihnspiracy
B-side Fascination
Released 1983
Genre Rock
Length 3:47
Label Beserkley Records
Writer(s) Greg Kihn / Steve Wright
Producer Matthew King Kaufman

US Hot 100 Peak: #2


Of course, I couldn't post the Greg Kihn song without the master of parody... Weird Al Yankovich with one of my favorite Weird Al songs - "I Lost On Jeopardy"... tell Al what he lost, Don Pardo...




I Lost On Jeopardy Lyrics

“I Lost on Jeopardy”

Single by "Weird Al" Yankovic
from the album "Weird Al" Yankovic in 3-D
B-side "I'll Be Mellow When I'm Dead" (7" Version)
"Mr. Popeil" (12" Version)
Released June 4, 1984
Format 7", 12"
Recorded December 12, 1983
Genre Comedy
Length 3:26
Label Scotti Brothers
Producer "Weird Al" Yankovic

US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #81

Like A Telegraph To Your Soul

I remember this video spending an ungodly amount of time at the top of MTV's Video Countdown back in the day. And it's the song that came on the radio that your parents couldn't stand because it just kept reinforcing improper grammar over and over and over... here's John Waite with I ain't "Missing You"...

John Waite - Missing You
Uploaded by sayit

Missing You Lyrics

“Missing You”

Single by John Waite
B-side For Your Love
Released 1984
Format CD single
Digital download
Cassette
Vinyl
Genre Pop
Length 4:01
Label EMI
Writer(s) John Waite, Mark Leonard & Chas Sandford
Producer John Waite, David Thoener & Gary Gersh

Position Chart
U.S. HOT 100 Peak: #1
U.S. Adult Contemporary #7
UK Peak: #9

80's Movie Weekend

Can you believe George Lucas is associated with this movie? Did you actually pay to go see this movie? I don't think I did. If I did, then I have erased that mistake from my memory. I'm sure some people still dig this movie though... it has Lea Thompson and Tim Robbins - from 1986, "Howard the Duck"...

The trailer...



The Dr. Jenning scene... Ferris Bueller drove him to this...



The ending...




Howard the Duck

Directed by Willard Huyck
Produced by Gloria Katz
Written by Screenplay:
Willard Huyck
Gloria Katz
Comic Book:
Steve Gerber
Starring Lea Thompson
Jeffrey Jones
David Paymer
Tim Robbins
Ed Gale
Paul Guilfoyle
Chip Zien
Music by Score:
John Barry
Original Songs:
Thomas Dolby
Cinematography Richard H. Kline
Editing by Michael Chandler
Sidney Wolinsky
Distributed by Universal Pictures
Release date(s) August 1, 1986
Running time 111 min.
Country United States
Language English
Budget $37,000,000 (estimated)

I Hear The Secrets That You Keep

When you're talking in your sleep. It's the rock band from Detroit known as The Romantics with a bunch of scantily clad women who all fell asleep standing up. There is some sweet hair in this video, and the lead singer looks a little bit like a young Billy Joel (I think anyway)...

The Romantics-Talking In Your Sleep
Uploaded by adiis

Talking In Your Sleep Lyrics

single by The Romantics
from the album: In Heat
1983

U.S. Hot 100 Peak: #3 (Feb. 1984)
Hot Club Dance Party Peak: #1

It Takes Two

Right about now... it's time for one of the biggest hip-hop hits of all-time... from 1988, it's Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock with "It Takes Two" (note the appearance of Biz Markie before he became famous)...




Lyrics | It Takes Two lyrics

“It Takes Two”

Single by Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock
Format Vinyl
Label Profile Records

The song went platinum

My Heart Starts Achin', My Body Starts Shakin'

The Snake is back... more leather, more cars, more hair, and more Tawny... Whitesnake with "In the Still of the Night"

Whitesnake - Still Of The Night
Uploaded by jpdc11

Lyrics | Still Of The Night lyrics

from the album: Whitesnake
1987
US BIllboard Hot 100 Peak: #79

I Would Have Let These Girls In My Room In The 80's

Today, we have a double-shot of The Bangles as they make their Excellent 80's debut. First up is one of their latter hits, from 1988 - a video with some mini skirts and some sexual innuendo - "In Your Room"...




Lyrics | In Your Room lyrics

from the album: Everything
US Hot 100 Peak: #5
UK Peak: #35

And our second video from the all-girl group that hails from L.A. - "Hazy Shade of Winter"...




Lyrics | Hazy Shade Of Winter lyrics

from the album: Less Then Zero Soundtrack
US Hot 100 Peak: #2
UK Peak: #11

My One and Only

Just as the late 80's was giving way to the dance phenomenon on many of MTV's productions, this group had a few big hits as they rode the dance wave into the early 90's. The group is Seduction, and with Martha Walsh on lead vocals, here is "(You're My One and Only) True Love"...



“You're My One and Only (True Love)”

Single by Seduction
B-side "One Mistake"
Released 1989
Length 3:52 (7" Single; Album Version), 6:29 (12" Single)
Producer C+C Music Factory
Certification Gold (US)

US Hot 100 Peak: #23
Hot R&B Singles Peak: #56
Hot Dance Hits Peak: #3

I Can't Wait

Tools, a dog, and some totally wicked graphics made this video pretty dang cheesy... and what's up with the spelling of this group? It's the husband and wife duo known as Nu Shooz and "I Can't Wait"...

Nu Shooz I Can't Wait lyrics

Song lyrics by www.allyrics.net

“I Can't Wait”

Single by Nu Shooz
from the album 'Poolside'
Released February 1986
Recorded 1984-1985
Genre dance-pop, electronic
Length 5:25
Label Atlantic Records
Writer(s) John Smith

Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #3
Hot Dance Singles Peak: #1
UK Peak: #2

The E Street Band Loses a Member

Sad news out of the Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band camp yesterday as long time keyboardist and friend of Bruce Springsteen, Danny Federici, died after a three year battle with cancer... here's a live performance of Springsteen and the E Street Band with a couple good shots of Federici in Paris in 1985... The Boss' first big billboard hit - "Hungry Heart"




Lyrics | Hungry Heart lyrics

“Hungry Heart”

Single by Bruce Springsteen
from the album The River
B-side "Held Up Without a Gun"
Released October 1980
Format 7" single
Recorded June 1979 at The Power Station in New York
Genre Rock
Length 3:19
Label Columbia Records
Writer(s) Bruce Springsteen
Producer Jon Landau, Bruce Springsteen, Steven Van Zandt

Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #5