Friday 80s Flashback for March 5, 2021

[Luciferian Jazz] -- I decided to switch things up a bit for the first Friday of March 2021. This week we are spinning Sun Ra's 1983 album, A Fireside Chat With Lucifer. I could do my own write-up here, but I think it's better if I simply quote from BeatCaffeine’s 15 Most Essential Sun Ra Records. (Besides, I'm running short on time due to grad school assignments). Here is what BeatCaffeine wrote:

Like many of Sun Ra’s album at this time, the music on this mid-eighties recording jumped all over the place putting an emphasis on adventurous experimentation and spontaneity. This album featured the massive politically and socially conscious jazz-funk masterpiece “Nuclear War,” while other highlights included the atmospheric ballad “Retrospect,” the soul-jazz groover “Makeup,” and the expansive 21-minute cosmic free jazz title track “A Fireside Chat With Lucifer.”

You might want to go back and check out the other 14 recommended Sun Ra discs, too. 

As long as we're deviating from the way I typically post here, let's embed the complete album via Bandcamp rather than YouTube this week. Enjoy!

Flashback: A Fireside Chat with Lucifer (1983)

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That's all till next week. Dedicated 80s-philes can find more flashbacks in the Prophet or Madman archives or via Bookended's 80s Flashback tag. As always, your comments are welcome on today's, or any other, flashback post. And if you like what I'm doing here, please share the link with your friends. If, however, you don't like the flashback, feel free to share it with your enemies.

I'll see you in seven!

Titans season one - HBO Max

 Dangrdafne review:

Wow, wow and wow. I truly had no idea what to expect for this show. In fact I didn't even know what it was about when I added to the watch list on HBO Max. I just knew it was comic book related and that hubby would want to watch.

And just like Doom Patrol, I couldn't imagine just how much I would love it! It is eye candy with a great story and amazing characters played with perfection by amazing actors. Hubby told me there would be characters from Teen Titans (the animated series we watch many years ago and I love), Doom Patrol and Batman.

I am completely sold and in love with Brenton Thwaites as Robin. As soon as he came on the screen in the first episode, I turned to hubby and said "that's Dick Grayson/Robin". He was EXACTLY what I think Dick Grayson would look like AND I don't even know the comic version of Dick Grayson. It was just spot on and he is incredible in the role.

Anna Diop is perfection as Kory Anders/Starfire and perfection as herself. She is gloriously beautiful and she is completely Starfire to me. I simply adore her and her acting. I love that she has no idea who she is but that doesn't even take away any confidence from her. I love that she just keeps moving forward and she doesn't wallow in her issues. 

Teagan Croft brings Rachel Roth/Raven to life. On the animated Teen Titans, I recall not really knowing Raven that well. She was definitely an emotional teen and a loner but I don't recall why, Titans have given me the why and I am in. I can't wait to see where this story goes...

Ryan Potter is playing my favorite from the animated Teen Titans, Gar Logan/Beast Boy. I LOVED Beast Boy on Teen Titans and I love him on Titans. He has the quirks and the kindness and the fun that Beast Boy had on the animated series. 

There are so many more characters and all are amazing. Minka Kelly would be another that stands out not only because I love her as an actress but she embodies Dawn/Dove so well. She seems all delicate and sweet but do NOT cross her as she will take you out. 

We did joke at our shock that these Titans do indeed kill! They are not our animated Teen Titans... and I like that just fine. Warning though, this show is extra violent. I mean I look away soooo much during some episodes. That's the joy of cable. 

Great score and music too and it is beautifully filmed. I love, love, love this show. This is one of the few shows that I have found it very hard to stop watching/binging. I just want to keep watching and see what happens next. Simply stunning, really it is.

4 paws and a tail

Friday 80s Flashback for February 26, 2021

 

[40 Year Dog] -- 40 years ago this week, Rick Springfield released his third studio album in the US (and his fifth studio album overall). Working Class Dog hit the charts on February 24, 1981. This record marked an all-time high in Springfield's career with a #1 hit, "Jessie's Girl," that sold a million copies and won the 1982 Grammy for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance. (Note: I know it's a beloved song, but like many so-called love songs, "Jessie's Girl" has problematic lyrics ... as shown in this clip, From Jessie's Girl's perspective). Another single from the album, "Love Is Alright Tonite," was later featured in the 2001 comedy film, "Wet Hot American Summer." 

Working Class Dog peaked at #7 on the Billboard 200 album chart, and ended the year at #31. Of the three singles, only "Jessie's Girl" and "I've Done Everything for You" got the music video treatment. But YouTube does have a live 1982 performance. Instead of grabbing three tracks from the album, I'll continue my recent activity of embedding a playlist for the full album. Enjoy! 

Flashback: Working Class Dog (1981)

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That's all till next week. Dedicated 80s-philes can find more flashbacks in the Prophet or Madman archives or via Bookended's 80s Flashback tag. As always, your comments are welcome on today's, or any other, flashback post. And if you like what I'm doing here, please share the link with your friends. If, however, you don't like the flashback, feel free to share it with your enemies.

I'll see you in seven!

Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)

 Dangrdafne review:

I LOVE this movie (most of it). I LOVE Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn. I LOVE all the supporting women. I did NOT love Ewan McGregor ... at all. In fact, I called him Ewwwwan after this movie. I wish it was because he was such a good villain that I didn't like him but it was that he was so horrible in this role. Bland, ridiculous, boring and just plain bad. Basically I wish they had just dumped the males in this movie and just let it be all the women and some unknown males. 

My favorite part of the movie was how I felt watching it - I felt like I was in a comic book and it was a wild, crazy, fun ride. I just loved watching this movie. I loved the insanity of it all. Just give in and enjoy it. Girl power!! I hope there is more Birds of Prey to come, I am ready.

3 paws with Ewwwwan

4 paws without Ewwwwan :)

Friday 80s Flashback for February 19, 2021

 

[Don't You Forget Breakfast] -- The Breakfast Club, the second of John Hughes' teen coming-of-age films, hit theaters on February 7, 1985. Later that same month, on February 19, 1985 -- 36 years ago this very week -- The Breakfast Club (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) hit stores and charts. British pop musician Keith Forsey produced the album, in addition to writing and performing on several tracks. This soundtrack album peaked at #17 on the US Billboard 200 chart, probably propelled by Simple Minds' recording of the song "Don't You (Forget About Me)." I mean, that one track practically leapt from the soundtrack and became the anthem of the film itself. The tune is an aural bookend, with Keith Forsey's demo playing as the film opens and the Simple Minds version playing over the close and end credits. 

But I have to ask: Do you recall anything else from this record? The only other artist on the album with name recognition for me is Wang Chung, but their contribution didn't leave much of an impression on me. Other tracks might have me recall specific moments of the film, but I don't think I'll be humming them later. Still, in re-exploring the album, I do find the entire effort to be worthy of, at least, background music while doing other reading or work. Let me know what you think. 

Flashback: The Breakfast Club (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

For this week's post, I've embedded the soundtrack's full playlist via YouTube. There are 10 tracks:

1. "Don't You (Forget About Me)" — Simple Minds
2. "Waiting" — Elizabeth Daily
3. "Fire in the Twilight" — Wang Chung
4. "I'm the Dude" — Keith Forsey
5. "Heart Too Hot to Hold" — Jesse Johnson & Stephanie Spruill
6. "Dream Montage" — Gary Chang
7. "We Are Not Alone" — Karla DeVito
8. "The Reggae" — Keith Forsey
9. "Didn't I Tell You" — Joyce Kennedy
10. "Love Theme" — Keith Forsey

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That's all till next week. Dedicated 80s-philes can find more flashbacks in the Prophet or Madman archives or via Bookended's 80s Flashback tag. As always, your comments are welcome on today's, or any other, flashback post. And if you like what I'm doing here, please share the link with your friends. If, however, you don't like the flashback, feel free to share it with your enemies.

I'll see you in seven!

Big Little Lies Season 2 - HBO Max

 Dangrdafne Review:

Not sure where to start with this one. My mother and sister liked this season more than the first. I was reluctant even before hearing this information as I really LOVED the first season and really didn't think they needed to do more. I was satisfied with season one and the ending. I did not need more... but they made more and it was reportedly better.

I am very late to watching it but since we had HBO Max still I decided to binge it. I will start with if you like the characters in the first season then you should watch the second. It is an excellent show and the acting is superb. I mean Meryl Streep is almost unrecognizable at times to me. Incredible cast and a good continuation of the story.

But I will add, for myself, I wish I had not watched it. I really did not like season 2 BUT at the same time I know that it is incredible. I know that sounds contradictory and it is but I can see the genius of the show and the cast but I was just so annoyed by it all. I really wish I had just let the story be but I had heard how good it was, and better than season 1 so I tried it.

Again, the cast is spectacular and Meryl Streep is perfection but I think the show was just too slow and after watching so many other shows lately that moved along it was very difficult to get into. And even though I liked the characters, this time their quirks were not so lovable to me in season 2. In fact, the quirks were distracting and it made it hard for me to take the characters seriously. Case in point, Laura Dern's character was almost a caricature for most of the episodes, it finally paid off in the final hour and it was almost too late for me but I cheered her on and felt like I was able to exorcise the season watching her.

I hear there is talk of season 3. I will definitely let others watch it first, if it happens, and then decide what to do. I am a glutton for punishment at times... especially when some of my favorite actors are involved.

2 paws

although I really know it is 4 paws

Friday 80s Flashback for February 12, 2021

 

[RIP Chick Corea, 6/12/1941 - 2/9/2021] -- Keyboardist, composer and bandleader Chick Corea died this week. My late father introduced me to Corea's music, and he has since remained one of my fave artists. Still, I must admit that I do not own, and I have not even heard, the entirety of Chick Corea's catalog. It is immense: 81 studio albums, 17 live albums, and eight compilation albums (per Wikipedia). As a leader, he released 21 records between 1980 and 1990. So, even if I simply focused on his 1980s output, I would be hard pressed to select a trio of tracks as a suitable retrospective. So, how am I to honor his musical memory? Well, read and hear more after the jump.