Can You Woo Woo Woo?

It's the woo woo song!  It's the woo woo song!  Woo woo!  It got its partial name from the daughter of Jeffrey Osborne who just referred to it as the Woo Woo song when she was little.  It was a top 20 hit on the Billboard charts peaking at #13 in 1986.  Here is the debut of the soulful voice of Jeffrey Osborne in The Excellent 80's with "You Should Be Mine (The Woo Woo Song)"...



"You Should Be Mine (The Woo Woo Song)"
Single by Jeffrey Osborne
from the album Emotional
B-side "Ol' 55"
Released July 14, 1986
Format 7"
Recorded 1986
Genre R&B, soul
Length 4:21
Label A&M
Writer(s) Andy Goldmark, Bruce Roberts
Producer Glyn Johns

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak:  #13

You've Done Nothing For Me!

Today's live performance from 1980 features Sammy Hagar and a song he wrote that ended up being more popular and a bigger hit in 1981 when it was re-recorded by a youngster named Rick Springfield.  Rick's version became a top 10 hit post "Jessie's Girl," but like me, not a lot of people realize it is a Sammy Hagar song written in 1978.  Here is Sammy singing "I've Done Everything For You"...

"I've Done Everything for You"
UK 7" single cover
Single by Sammy Hagar
from the album All Night Long
B-side	"Someone Out There"
Released	May 1978
Format	7" single
Genre	Hard rock
Length	3:00
Label	Capitol
Writer(s)	Sammy Hagar
Producer	Sammy & Carter

Now Check Me Out on the Good Side Here

From their 1981 album Fair Warning, it's the rock band that ruled the 80's... with two different lead singers.  The original lead singer was the probably the most limber front man in rock history.  DLR leads Van Halen in today's 1981 song "So This is Love?"...




Ow, yeah
Now check me out on the good side here
Well my baby's on the corner and she's lookin' so fine
Put one and one together and it blowed my mind
A man needs love to live, I'm the livin' proof
Catch that smile and I hit the roof

Big double take, but ya keep on walkin', uh!
I'm in love
Once over, I'm over done

So this is love?
Ooh I need your lovin', come on baby, take me home
So this is love?
Ooh I need your lovin', I'm just skin an' bone

Goin' outta my way, know my way around
The grass is never greener an' there plenty around
All the other girls, they be put to shame
Over the edge and here I stay

Got me on pins and needles, and she knows
She's mine and, ain't lettin' go

So this is love?
Ooh I need your love, baby take me home
So this is love?
Ooh I need your lovin', I know

(Guitar Solo)

Ow! Got me on pins and needles, yes she knows
She's mine and, ain't lettin' go

So this is love?
Ooh I need your love. Whaa, yeah!
So this is love?
Ooh I need your love!
Ahh yeah! Baby, got ta have your love
Ooh I, Ooh I need, got to have that love
Baby, baby, wha-ha-ha! Still love
So this is love?
So this is love?
Ow! Wow! Woo!



"So This is Love?

by Van Halen
from the album:  "Fair Warning"
released:  1981

This Means Nothing to Me

I know you've been wondering when the hell is the Excellent 80's going to provide us with Ultravox's signature song?  It's been day in and day out, year in and year out without Ultravox's hit song that peaked at #2 in the UK back in 1981.  Yes, here you go, it's the UK new wave band Ultravox with their signature song "Vienna"...

"Vienna"
Single by Ultravox
from the album Vienna
B-side	"Passionate Reply" "Herr X" (12" single only)
Released	15 January 1981
Format	7" vinyl, 12" vinyl
Recorded	RAK Studios, London, February 1980
Genre	Synthpop, New Wave
Length	4:37 (single edit) 4:53 (album and 12" version)
Label	Chrysalis
Writer(s)	Midge Ure, Chris Cross, Warren Cann, Billy Currie
Producer	Conny Plank, Ultravox

UK peak:  #2

Tell Me Lawyer What To Do

Red minidress - check.  Teased hair - check.  Gorgeous legs - check.  Big, giant shoe - check.  Top 10 hit - check.  Here's Tina Turner with her 1986 hit "Typical Male"...

From LYRICSMODE.COM lyrics archive

Lyrics | Tina Turner lyrics - Typical Male lyrics

"Typical Male"
Single by Tina Turner
from the album Break Every Rule
B-side	"Don't Turn Around"
Released	August 30, 1986 (U.S.)
Format	7" single 12" single
Genre	Pop rock
Length	4:18
Label	Capitol
Writer(s)	Terry Britten Graham Lyle
Certification	Gold

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak:  #2

80's Movie Weekend

William Hurt won a best actor Oscar for his portrayal as an imprisoned homosexual in this movie based on the novel by Manuel Puig.  The movie itself was nomited for four Academy Awards, but I've never seen it so I can't tell you anything about it.  All I know is that it's not about a female Spiderman which is all I needed to know back in 1985 discouraging me from ever seeing it.  Here is the weekend's movie flashback - "Kiss of the Spider Woman"...

the trailer...

Kiss of the Spider Woman
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Héctor Babenco
Produced by	Francisco Ramalho Jr. David Weisman
Screenplay by	Leonard Schrader
Based on	Kiss of the Spider Woman by Manuel Puig
Starring	William Hurt Raúl Juliá Sonia Braga José Lewgoy
Music by	Nando Cordeiro Michael Jary John Neschling
Cinematography	Rodolfo Sánchez
Editing by	Mauro Alice
Distributed by	Island Alive
Release date(s)	July 26, 1985
Running time	120 minutes
Country	Brazil United States
Language	English French Portuguese German
Box office	$17,005,229

Higher Baby

We had some Eric B & Rakim for you yesterday, so why not another old school rap classic today to start off the month of March.  Check out Grandmaster Melle Mel with his 1983 hit about the dangers of cocaine, addiction, and drug smuggling.  It's poor video quality, but just enjoy Melle Mel singing "higher baby" with his song "White Lines"...




Fun, baby


Freeze! Rock-Rock-Rock-Rock-Rock-Rock-Rock-Rock!

(High... High... High... High...) Rrrrrrrrruh! 

Bass! 

(Oooh White...White) 3X


Verse One:


(Ooooh...White Lines) Vision dreams of passion

(Blowin through my mind) And all the while I think of you

(Pipe cries) A very strange reaction

(For us to unwind) The more I see the more I do

(Something like a phenomenon) Baby

(Tellin your body to come along, but white lines...blow away)

(Blow! Rock it! Blow!)


Ticket to ride white line highway

Tell all your friends, they can go my way

Pay your toll, sell your soul

Pound for pound costs more than gold

The longer you stay the more you pay

My white lines go a long way

Either up your nose or through your vein

With nothin to gain except killin your brain


(Freeze! Rock!) 4X

(Blow!)


(High...) Higher, baby

(High...) Get higher, baby!

(High...) Get higher, baby!

And don't ever come down! (Freebase!)


Verse Two:


Orang dang diggedy dang di-dang

Orang dang diggedy dang di-dang

Orang dang diggedy dang di-dang

Diggedy dang di-dang diggedy dang di-dang


(Pipe line...) Pure as the driven snow

(Connected to my mind) And now I'm havin fun, baby!

(Pipe cries) It's gettin kinda low

(Cause it makes you feel so nice) I need some one-on-one, baby

(Don't let it blow your mind away) Baby

(And go into your little hideaway cause white lines...blow away)

(Blow! Rock it! Blow!)


A million magic crystals, painted pure and white

A multi-million dollars almost over night

Twice as sweet as sugar, twice as bitter as salt

And if you get hooked, baby, it's nobody else's fault, so don't do it!


(Freeze! Rock!) 4X

Rrrrah! (Blow!)


(High...) Higher, baby

(High...) Get higher, baby!

(High...) Get higher, baby!

And don't ever come down! (Freebase!)


Verse Three:


(Don't get too high) Don't you get too high, baby

(Turns you on) You really turn me on and on!

(Cause you gotta come down) My temperature is risin

(When the thrill is gone) No, I don't want you to go!


A street kid gets arrested, gonna do some time

He got out three years from now just to commit more crime

A businessman is caught with 24 kilos 

He's out on bail, and out of jail and that's the way it goes, rrrruh!


(Cane!)

(Sugar! Cane!) 2X


Athletes reject it, governors correct it

Gangsters thugs and smugglers are thoroughly respected

The money gets divided, the women get excited

Now I'm broke and it's no joke it's hard as hell to fight it, don't buy it!


(Freeze!) Huh-huh huh huh! (Rock!)

(Freeze! Rock!) x3

Rrrah! (Blow!)


(High...) Get higher, baby

(High...) Get higher, girl!

(High...) Get higher, baby!

(High...) C'mon! Rrrrrah!!


Verse Four:


(White Lines) Vision dreams of passion

(Blowin through my mind) And all the while I think of you

(Pipe cries) A very strange reaction

(For us to unwind) The more I see the more I do


(Something like a phenomenon) Baby

(Tellin your body to come along, but white lines...blow away...)


Little Jack Horner sittin on the corner with no shoes and clothes

This ain't funny but he took his money and sniffed it up his nose!


Dealer:Hey, man. You wanna cop some blow?

Junkie:Sure, watcha got? Dust, flakes or rocks?

Dealer:I got China White, Mother of Pearl...I reflect what you need.

Junkie:Well yeah, well let me check it out, man. Just let me get a freeze.

Dealer:Go ahead, man. The stuff I got should kill ya...

Junkie:Yeah, man. Th-That's...that's raw...huuuhhhh...

[Don't do it, baby...]
(Freeze!) A-huh huh huh! (Rock!) 
Freeze! Rock! (repeat to fade) 

"White Lines (Don't Don't Do It)"
Single by Grandmaster Melle Mel
Released	1983
Format	Vinyl (12")
Recorded	1983
Genre	Old school hip hop
Label	Sugar Hill Records
Writer(s)	Melle Mel, Sylvia Robinson
Producer	Joey Robinson, Jr., Melle Mel, Sylvia Robinson

It's Been A Long Time, I Shouldn't Have Left You

Anytime I can bring out a video shot at The Apollo it's a great thing.  As a bonus, you get the 1991 performance of one of the great rap songs of the 80's.  Though never one of my favorite groups, I've got much respect for the skills of Eric B and Rakim.  With one of the best openings ever - "It's been a long time, I shouldn't have left you without a strong rhyme to step to.  Think of how many weak shows you slept through.  Time's up.  I'm sorry I kept you," here they are performing at The Apollo with "I Know You Got Soul"...




Lyrics | Eric B. & Rakim lyrics - I Know You Got Soul lyrics

"I Know You Got Soul"
Single by Eric B. & Rakim
from the album Paid in Full
Released	1987
Format	12"
Recorded	1987
Genre	Hip hop
Length	4:46
Label	4th & B'way
Writer(s)	Eric Barrier, Rakim Allah
Producer	Eric Barrier, Rakim Allah

U.S. Hot R&B charts peak:  #64

The Grabowski Shuffle

Trying to latch on to the popularity of "The Superbowl Shuffle", former Chicago Bears coach Mike Ditka put out this unfortunate video where he raps and tells everyone how they can be a Grabowski.  It's the hilarious "Grabowski Shuffle"...

Outrageous!

Yes, I'm a little late on this Grammy's post since the Grammy's were a couple of weeks ago.  Anyway, from 1985, with Lionel Richie as host, here are three awards that Prince took home that night.  There is much to love about this clip.  The first two awards - "Favorite Black Single" and "Favorite Black Album" seem to indicate this should have been 1955 instead of 1985.  The Beach Boys completely butchered the reading of the nominations somehow, and I just love the big bodyguard Prince has.  Just classic Prince.  I wish the big  guy had strolled down the runway with Prince at the Grammy's on Sunday night when Prince presented...

I've Always Known That the Mirror Never Lies

The Excellent 80's has been hitting you with an array of love songs, and pop hits, and R&B hits recently.  So, to kick off the week, I wanted to throw some hard hitting hair metal your way.  This band always was a little different then your average hair-metal band, in my opinion anyway.  Formed in the state of Washington around 1981, they're probably best known for their 1990 hit "Silent Lucidity."  Here is another one of their better songs from their concept album in 1988 entitled "Operation: Mindcrime."  It's "Eyes of a Stranger"...



All alone nowExcept for the memoriesOf what we had and what we knewEverytime I try to leave it behind meI see something that reminds me of youEvery night the dreams return to haunt meYour rosary wrapped around your throatI lie awake and sweat, afraid to fall asleepI see your face looking back at me
And I raise my head and stareInto the eyes of a strangerI've always known that the mirror never liesPeople always turn awayFrom eyes of a strangerAfraid to know whatLies behind the stare
Is this all that's leftOf my life before meStraight-jacket memories, sedative highsNo happy ending like they've always promisedThere's got to be something left for me
And I raise my head and stareInto the eyes of a strangerI've always known that the mirror never liesPeople always turn awayFrom eyes of a strangerAfraid to know whatLies behind the stare
How many times must I live this tragedyHow many more lies will they tell meAll I want is the same as everyoneWhy am I here, and for how long
And I raise my head and stareInto the eyes of a strangerI've always known that the mirror never liesPeople always turn awayFrom eyes of a strangerAfraid to know whatLies behind the stare

"Eyes of a Stranger"
Single by Queensrÿche
from the album Operation: Mindcrime
Released	1988
Format	CD, Vinyl
Recorded	1987–1988 Kajem/Victory Studios, Gladwyne, Pennsylvania, USA
Genre	Progressive metal
Length	6:38
Label	EMI
Writer(s)	Chris DeGarmo Geoff Tate
Producer	Peter Collins

80's Movie Weekend

Nominated for 12 Academy Awards and winner of three, I never saw this weekend's 80's movie flashback. It has an all-star cast with Warren Beatty, Diane Keaton, and Jack Nicholson, and looks like a pretty decent movie that I might have to check out one day.  Centering around the life and career of Communist writer and journalist John Reed in Russia, it's "Reds"...

the trailer...

Reds
movie poster
Directed by	Warren Beatty
Produced by	Warren Beatty
Screenplay by	Warren Beatty Trevor Griffiths
Starring	Warren Beatty Diane Keaton Jack Nicholson Paul Sorvino Maureen Stapleton Gene Hackman Edward Herrmann
Music by	Stephen Sondheim Dave Grusin
Cinematography	Vittorio Storaro
Editing by	Dede Allen Craig McKay
Studio	Barclays Mercantile Industrial Finance JRS Productions
Distributed by	Paramount Pictures
Release date(s)	December 4, 1981
Running time	194 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English Russian German
Budget	$32 million
Box office	$50,000,000[1]