Don't Call Him Shirley.

After 82 years, Leslie Nielsen passed away on Sunday leaving a legacy of solid roles in the 60's and 70's and then hitting newfound popularity in the 80's with hits like "Airplane," and "The Naked Gun" series. We salute you, Lt. Frank Drebin and the hilarious moments you gave us throughout your life like this classic umpire scene from the first Naked Gun...



or the singing of our National Anthem as Enrique Pollazzo...



Finally, a tribute to The Naked Gun and Airplane featuring many classic Nielsen scenes...



R.I.P. Leslie Nielsen

Just Touch My Cheek Before You Leave Me, Baby

The Juice is loose today in The Excellent 80's! No, not the convict Juice, but the sweet, majestic Juice with the great voice. From 1981 here is Juice Newton, born Judith Kay Newton in New Jersey in 1952, with the boring video to "Angel of the Morning"


JUICE NEWTON - ANGEL OF THE MORNING
Uploaded by rvdgu2006. - Explore more music videos.


Lyrics | Juice Newton lyrics - Angel Of The Morning lyrics

"Angel of the Morning"

Single by Juice Newton
from the album Juice
B-side "Headin' for a Heartache"
Released 1981
Format 7" (45 rpm)
Genre Country pop, Adult contemporary
Length 3:49
Label Capitol 4976
Writer(s) Chip Taylor
Producer Richard Landis

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #4
U.S. Adult Contemporary peak: #1

80's Movie Weekend

If you can't lower Heaven, then raise hell! That was the popular phrase said by Michael J. Fox in this 1987 movie that was fair in my opinion. Also starring Gena Rowlands and Joan Jett as Fox's musically talented sister, here is your 80's movie weekend flashback to the film "Light of Day"

The trailer...



a warped clip from the beginning of the movie...



Light of Day

Directed by Paul Schrader
Produced by Keith Barish
Rob Cohen
Written by Paul Schrader
Starring Michael J. Fox
Gena Rowlands
Joan Jett
Music by Thomas Newman
Cinematography John Bailey
Editing by Jacqueline Cambas
Rose Kuo
Jill Savitt
Distributed by TriStar Pictures
Release date(s) February 6, 1987
Running time 107 min.
Country United States
Language English
Gross revenue $10,490,000

The title song, sung by Joan Jett (and somewhat by Michael J. Fox) and performed by their fictitious band the Barbusters, was written by Bruce Springsteen...




Lyrics | Joan Jett And The Blackhearts lyrics - Light Of Day lyrics

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #33

Well, She's Always Been a Good Good Girl

Today's 80's flashback takes you back to 1983 and an underrated Eddie Money song. This guy put out some great music in the late 70's through the late 80's and today's video is one of his minor hits reaching only #54 on the Billboard Hot 100. Playing a cop in the video, which was actually Money's job before becoming a full time musician, here "The Big Crash."




Lyrics | Eddie Money lyrics - The Big Crash lyrics


"The Big Crash"
Single by Eddie Money
from the album Where's the Party?
B-side "Backtrack"
Released 1983
Format 7" single
Genre Rock
Label Columbia

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #54

Happy Thanksgiving

I am thankful for all of you that check in here on a regular basis and if Ronald Reagan were still alive he would be frequenting this site I'm sure. Since he's not, but thanks to the magic of the internet and youtube, here is our former President with a brief Thanksgiving message for you all...



Have a great day and be thankful!

80's Movie Weekday

OK, technically this movie was released in November of 1990, but some part of it (the writing, casting, production, etc.) had to have happened in the 80's, right? See how I find the loopholes. Anyway, it's close enough, and for many of you is a must watch this time of year just out of tradition. Yes, it's that crazy McAllister family who leaves poor little Kevin "Home Alone." Hilarity ensues.

Another great late John Hughes production, here is the trailer...



Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern were great bumbling burgulars. Harry! I've reached the top...




Home Alone

Directed by Chris Columbus
Produced by John Hughes
Written by John Hughes
Starring Macaulay Culkin
Joe Pesci
Daniel Stern
John Heard
Catherine O'Hara
Roberts Blossom
Music by John Williams
Cinematography Julio Macat
Editing by Raja Gosnell
Distributed by 20th Century Fox
Release date(s) November 16, 1990 (1990-11-16)
Running time 103 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Budget $18,000,000 (estimated)
Gross revenue $476,684,675 (worldwide)[1]
Followed by Home Alone 2: Lost in New York

Say You Will, Say You Won't

Today's video was an attempt to be all artsy with the black and white footage of a bunch of faces and parts of the faces and lighting and shadows, and wow what a cluster of a mess. One word for this video - boring. At least the song wasn't half bad. It's the British-American rock band Foreigner with their top 10 hit from 1987 "Say You Will"...




Lyrics | Foreigner lyrics - Say You Will lyrics

"Say You Will"
Single by Foreigner
from the album Inside Information
B-side "A Night to Remember"
Released December 5, 1987
Format 7", 12", CD single
Genre Soft Rock, Arena Rock
Length 3:59
Label Atlantic
Writer(s) Mick Jones and Lou Gramm
Producer Mick Jones and Frank Filipetti

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #6

Another Holiday

Holiday season is upon us. Everywhere you turn, it's turkey this and turkey that as everyone gets prepared for Thanksgiving and then Christmas. So, it's only fitting that the Excellent 80's bring you this little lost classic from 1987 from a band made up mostly of Australians based in Berlin called The Other Ones. Here is their 15 minutes of fame called "Holiday"...




Lyrics | The Other Ones lyrics - Holiday lyrics

"Holiday"

by The Other Ones
from the album: The Other Ones
released: 1986

80's Movie Weekend

Helloooo again.... hello. Today's 80's movie flashback weekend takes you back nearly 30 years exactly for the acting debut of Neil Diamond. Diamond was blasted for his acting or lack of in this movie that also starred Desi Arnaz and Sir Laurence Olivier. Check out today's movie feature - "The Jazz Singer"...

the trailer...




The soundtrack was a huge success and became Neil Diamond's biggest selling album in the United States, selling over 5 million copies there and reaching #3 on the pop albums chart. Three of the songs from the album became Top 10 pop singles, with "Love on the Rocks," "Hello Again" and "America" reaching #2, #6, and #8 respectively.

Here is "Love on the Rocks." Pour me a drink and I'll tell you some lies...




Lyrics | Neil Diamond lyrics - Love On The Rocks lyrics

Neil wraps it up with dad in attendance by performing his classic "America"...




Lyrics | Neil Diamond lyrics - America lyrics

The Jazz Singer

Directed by Richard Fleischer
Sidney J. Furie
Produced by Jerry Leider
Written by Herbert Baker
Starring Neil Diamond
Laurence Olivier
Lucie Arnaz
Music by Gilbert Bécaud
Neil Diamond
Leonard Rosenman
Richard Bennett
Alan E. Lindgren
Cinematography Isidore Mankofsky
Editing by Frank J. Urioste
Maury Winetrobe
Distributed by Associated Film Distribution
Release date(s) December 19, 1980 (1980-12-19)
Running time 115 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Gross revenue $27,118,000

I Feel The Night Explode When We're Together

Wow, I'm over three years into this blog that just kind of started out as a way to post a few of my favorite 80's videos and this is the first time we've featured today's hottie here. In 1987, this then 25 year old hit it big in the dance clubs and then on the charts with the debut song from the album of the same name. Her birth name was Leslie Wunderman, but you and I know her best as Taylor Dayne. Here is "Tell It to My Heart"...




Lyrics | Taylor Dayne lyrics - Tell It To My Heart lyrics

"Tell It to My Heart"
Single by Taylor Dayne
from the album Tell It to My Heart
B-side Instrumental or remix
Released 1987
Format Cassette single, 7" single, 12" single, CD single
Recorded 1987
Genre Dance-pop, Freestyle
Length 3:41
Label Arista
Writer(s) Seth Swirsky / Ernie Gold
Producer Ric Wake

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #7
UK peak: #3

Well I'm An Axe Grinder, Piledriver

Love today's hard rock song from the band known as Quiet Riot. This album was one of the first hard rock cassettes I ever bought back in 1983. I don't think my parents realized that this album had a song called "Love's a Bitch" on it. Probably not appropriate music for a 6th grader, but hey this hard rock music was sweeping the country at the time. "Metal Health" sold six million albums thanks largely to "Cum On Feel the Noize" and today's mental patient escape video - "Bang Your Head (Metal Health)"... Bang your head and raise the dead!




Lyrics | Quiet Riot lyrics - Metal Health lyrics

"Metal Health"
Single by Quiet Riot
from the album Metal Health
Released 1983
Format 12" and 7" vinyl
Recorded 1982
Genre Heavy metal
Label Pasha
Producer Spencer Proffer

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #31

Fab Five Freddy Told Me Everybody's Fly

Yesterday we brought you Blondie's "Call Me" and so I thought I'd follow it up today with another Blondie hit from 1980 and the same album. Here is Debbie Harry doing a little rapping in today's video. Featuring Fab Five Freddy, and a host of characters including a ballerina, an Indian, and a bunch of dudes sporting some sweet high tech shades at the end of the video. Here is "Rapture"...


BLONDIE-RAPTURE
Uploaded by pierrot77. - Music videos, artist interviews, concerts and more.


Lyrics | Blondie lyrics - Rapture lyrics

"Rapture"
Single by Blondie
from the album Autoamerican
Released January 1981
Format 7" single, 12" single
Recorded 1980
Genre Disco, Pop rap
Length 6:33 (US)
4:57 (UK)
Label Chrysalis Records
Writer(s) Deborah Harry
Chris Stein
Producer Mike Chapman
Certification Gold (US), Silver (UK)