Thursday, April 4, 2013

Can You Hear Me Calling

Today's video from 1987 is a visual depiction of the poem, "The Highwayman" by Alfred Noyes.  In honor of their 34 city tour kicking off tonight in Columbus, Ohio (albeit without Christine McVie) celebrating the 35th anniversary of their album "Rumors," it's the band Fleetwood Mac with their top 20 hit called "Everywhere"...




Lyrics | Fleetwood Mac lyrics - Everywhere lyrics

"Everywhere"
Single by Fleetwood Mac
from the album Tango in the Night
B-side"When I See You Again"
ReleasedNovember 28, 1987 (USA)
February 24, 1988 (UK)
Format7"12"CD Single
Recorded1985-1987
GenrePoppop rock
Length3:41 (album)
6:45 (extended)
LabelWarner Bros.
Writer(s)Christine McVie
ProducerLindsey BuckinghamRichard Dashut

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak:  #14
UK peak:  #4

Saturday, March 30, 2013

80's Movie Weekend

I have no idea what today's 1985 movie was about nor do I really care to watch it.  It does star Robert De Niro, Jonathan Pryce, and Bob Hoskins, but it just looks weird.  Feel free to let me know if you've seen it and you think otherwise.  It's the movie "Brazil."

the trailer...



Brazil

American theatrical release poster
Directed byTerry Gilliam
Produced byArnon Milchan
Written by
Starring
Music byMichael Kamen
CinematographyRoger Pratt
Editing byJulian Doyle
StudioEmbassy International Pictures N.V.
Distributed by
Release date(s)
  • 20 February 1985 (France)
  • 22 February 1985 (UK)
  • 18 December 1985 (US)
Running time143 minutes (original cut)
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Budget$15 million
Box office$9,929,135

Saturday, March 23, 2013

80's Movie Weekend

It's the movie that gave us "Say hello to my little friend!"  It's one of the greatest gangster movies of all-time.  Written by Oliver Stone, directed by Brian De Palma, and starring Al Pacino, you know who it is!  It's Tony Montana and "Scarface"

the trailer...



Scarface

Theatrical release poster
Directed byBrian De Palma
Produced byMartin Bregman
Written byOliver Stone
StarringAl Pacino
Music byGiorgio Moroder
CinematographyJohn A. Alonzo
Editing byGerald B. Greenberg
David Ray
StudioUniversal Pictures
Distributed byUniversal Pictures
Release date(s)
  • December 9, 1983
Running time170 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$25,000,000[1]
Box office$65,884,703[2]

Saturday, March 16, 2013

80's Movie Weekend

This weekend's film is Spike Lee's first full length production from 1986.  The story centers around Nola Darling and the three suitors that want her all to themselves.  Also starring Spike Lee as one of the three suitors - a non-stop talker known as Mars Blackmon, here is "She's Gotta Have It."

the trailer...



She's Gotta Have It

Theatrical release poster
Directed bySpike Lee
Produced byPamm R. Jackson
Spike Lee
(credited as Shelton J. Lee)
Written bySpike Lee
StarringTracy Camilla Johns
Tommy Redmond Hicks
John Canada Terrell
Spike Lee
Music byBill Lee
CinematographyErnest Dickerson
Editing bySpike Lee
Studio40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks
Distributed byIsland Pictures
Release date(s)August 8, 1986
Running time84 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$185,000
Box office
$7,137,502 (USA)
[1]

Thursday, March 14, 2013

Johnny Played Guitar, Jenny Played Bass

Lots of bubbles today for you!  An Elvis impersonator, an evil snowman, and a bunch of children all make up our most excellent 80's video today!  here is Men Without Hats and "Pop Goes the World"...



"Pop Goes the World"




Single by Men Without Hats

from the album Pop Goes the World

B-side "The End (Of the World)"

Released October 1987

Format 7", 12", CD single

Recorded 1986

Genre New Wave

Label Mercury

Producer Men Without Hats, Zeus B. Held

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak:  #20



Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Ahh Sugar

This is a weird little video with a lot of stock footage, and a song that I don't recall at all, but it hit #1 back in 1981 after reaching #1 in the Neatherlands, and #2 in the UK earlier.  It's a medley of songs released under the name of "Stars on 45."  It features the following songs: Intro Venus / Sugar Sugar / No Reply / I'll Be Back /Drive My Car / Do You Want to Know a Secret / We Can Work It Out / I Should Have Known Better / Nowhere Man / You're Going to Lose That Girl / Stars on 45.  So get your disco groove on to "Stars on 45"...



"Stars on 45"

The US Radio Records release with its famous forty-one word title.
Single by Stars on 45
from the album Long Play Album
Released1979
Format7" single, 12" single
Recorded1981
GenreDisco
Length7": 4:48 (US: 4:05)
12": 9:45 (West Germany 11:30, US: 10:15)
LabelCNR Records (NL)
CBS Records (UK)
Radio Records/Atlantic (US)
ProducerJaap Eggermont
CertificationGold (RIAA)[1]

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak:  #1

Monday, March 11, 2013

Saw a Psychic in L.A.


I got on a Jeffrey Osborne kick on Friday and wanted to bring his soulful voice back into the fray again today for probably his other biggest hit of the 80's.  It was a duet with Dionne Warwick.  Here, from 1987, is Jeffrey Osborne and Dionne Warwick with "Love Power"...



"Love Power"

by Jeffrey Osborne and Dionne Warwick
from the album:  Reservations For Two
released:  1987

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak:  #12

Saturday, March 9, 2013

80's Movie Weekend

Never saw this weekend's movie from 1986 about a petty criminal who becomes entangled in the dangerous life of a high-class call girl.  Starring Bob Hoskins and Michael Caine, here is the trailer to "Mona Lisa"...




Mona Lisa

original film poster
Directed byNeil Jordan
Produced byStephen Woolley
Written byNeil Jordan
David Leland
StarringBob Hoskins
Cathy Tyson
Robbie Coltrane
Michael Caine
Music byMichael Kamen
Genesis
CinematographyRoger Pratt
Editing byLesley Walker
StudioHandMade Films
Distributed byIsland Pictures
Release date(s)
  • 13 June 1986
Running time104 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Budget£2 million[1]

Friday, March 8, 2013

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

Thursday, March 7, 2013

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"
ReleasedMay 1978
Format7" single
GenreHard rock
Length3:00
LabelCapitol
Writer(s)Sammy Hagar
ProducerSammy & Carter

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

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

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

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)
Released15 January 1981
Format7" vinyl12" vinyl
RecordedRAK StudiosLondon,
February 1980
GenreSynthpopNew Wave
Length4:37 (single edit)
4:53 (album and 12" version)
LabelChrysalis
Writer(s)Midge Ure,
Chris Cross,
Warren Cann,
Billy Currie
ProducerConny Plank,
Ultravox

UK peak:  #2