Friday 80s Flashback for June 2, 2023

[2▼ 4 0] -- Forty years ago this week – on May 30, 1983 – Elton John released his seventeenth studio album, Too Low For Zero. The album title was also stylized as 2▽4 0, which also appeared as the album cover graphics as shown in the preview image above. This album featured the triumphant return of lyricist Bernie Taupin, and he wrote all the album's lyrics, something he had not done for Elton John since 1976. Also of note, John reunited with many core members of his early1970s backing band. 

That combination was particularly effective in sapping Elton John's critical and commercial stagnation that occurred with his prior four albums – Victim of Love (1979), 21 at 33 (1980), The Fox (1981), and Jump Up! (1982). All four of those records failed to provide his usual slate of international hit singles, and they also sold poorly compared to his early 1970s output. Fortunately, Too Low For Zero turned that around and became his second best selling album of the 1980s. It peaked at #7 and #25 on the UK Albums and US Billboard 200 charts respectively. And it reached the top 10 of several other country's charts: Australian (#2), Germany (#5), New Zealand #2, Norway (#6), and Spain (#7).  

This album also yielded several hit singles. First up, "I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues," possibly my fave track on the album, peaked at #4 and #2 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and the U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary charts respectively, and also reached the top ten in several other countries. The second single, the rocking "I'm Still Standing," charted well all over the world, even hitting the top 40 or better on four different US charts. "Kiss the Bride" was released as the third single, and while it did not chart as well as the first two singles, it was still a top 40 hit in many countries. Regarding the last two singles – "Cold as Christmas (In the Middle of the Year)" and "Too Low for Zero" – Wikipedia does not have charting info, but I did find that "Cold as Christmas" did well in the UK, peaking at #33. 

Too Low For Zero was a roaring success, and a return to form, for Elton John. Do you have a favorite track on this album? 

Flashback: Too Low For Zero (May 30, 1983)

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And 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!

Inescapable: A Ghost Story by D.K. Stone

 

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this book but now it is fully released and simply put, go out and get this book!

Here is my review I wrote on Goodreads and in order to not give anything away at all about the book, that is all I am going to post.

Wow wow wow! 

I just finished Inescapable! I adore Danika’s writing so much. It’s just flows and it’s so easy to see. 

Chapter Nine blew me away. The moving between the stories but never missing a beat. 

My heart was racing, I was yelling, I was crying, I was smiling and laughing. Phew. 

What a great book!

Friday 80s Flashback for May 26, 2023

[Holy Diving] -- Thirteen years ago this month – on May 16, 2010 – the heavy metal world lost an icon when Ronnie James Dio succumbed to stomach cancer. His 53-year career included stints with signature metal bands like Black Sabbath (mainly 1979–1982) and Rainbow (1975–1979), as well as Elf (1967-1975) and his eponymous band, Dio (1982–2010). And that latter band is the subject of this week's Flashback. 

Forty years ago this very week (May 25, 1983), Dio released their debut album, Holy Diver. The band's namesake was, of course, the vocalist and lyricist. For the most part, the music on this release was a collaboration between Ronnie James Dio and the other members of the band: Vinny Appice (drums), Jimmy Bain (bass, keyboards), and Vivian Campbell (guitar). Holy Diver charted well, but not great, reaching #13 on the UK Albums and #56 on US Billboard 200 charts. It also reached the top 50 or top 100 of some other countries, and it has been certified Gold (September 1984) and platinum (March 1989) in the US. The album also garnered positive critical acclaim, including being ranked at #8 on IGN's 2007 listing of the "Top 25 Metal Albums."

And while singles are not typically a hallmark of heavy metal success, we can include some of t .... The title track, "Holy Diver," peaked at #40 on the US Mainstream Rock (Billboard) chart. And it came in at #43 on VH1's Top 100 Hard Rock Songs (2009). What exactly is a Holy Diver? Well, Dio himself said the song is about a Christ-like figure working to redeem his people; this all takes place on some other planet, and when the people learn that the figure intends to leave them to save people on other planets, they try to get him to stay (source: this 2004 interview). The second single was "Rainbow in the Dark." This song peaked at #12 on US Billboard Album Rock Tracks and #14 on the US Mainstream Rock charts. "Rainbow," with its catchy hooks and dominant keyboard riff, is probably the closest Dio ever came to pop success. Both singles were featured on K-Tel compilations: "Rainbow in the Dark" was on Masters of Metal (1984), while "Holy Diver" appeared on White Hot: Masters of Metal (1987). 

Holy Diver' s cover art, illustrated by Randy Berrett based on a concept by Dio's then-wife, Wendy, was somewhat controversial at the time. It depicts a devil-beast standing over a chained priest who appears to have either just landed in the waters or has been thrashing about to avoid drowning. The devil beast is known affectionately as Murray and he became something of a mascot for the band, appearing on subsequent album covers and merchandise. Now, in regards to this particular album cover: Is this a case of a monster drowning a priest, or a priest drowning a monster? This was, perhaps, the epitome of Ronnie James Dio urging us to not simply judge a book by its cover (2018 interview with Wendy Dio).

Ronnie James Dio was a consummate storyteller, and that comes through in a number of Dio's songs on this and later records. However, I'm not certain that always came across in the band's music videos. This week's embedded playlist does feature concept videos for "Holy Diver" and "Rainbow in the Dark," and ... well ... they are pretty much a product of their time and the genre. The music video for the lead-off track, "Stand Up and Shout," is remastered concert footage, in case you're curious what a Dio show was like. 

So, tell me, music fans. Do you cry out for magic, and do your demons ever let you go? Let me know after you sample this week's Flashback.

Flashback: Holy Diver (May 25, 1983)

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Once again, I remind you that the rule of three applies when doing Flashbacks. As I've made my three offerings, 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!

The Umbrella Academy- Seasons 1, 2 and 3

Another series that I absolutely LOVE!! 

And again a comic book series I know nothing about at all and it didn't hinder me from loving this 1000%!

I adored the cast, the story, the MUSIC, the special effects, the everything!  

Brainwise filled me with the limited information he had but many times if we had just waited a little longer, the story told me what I was wondering about. 

I am in awe of Aidan Gallagher who plays Five. His range was incredible. He had to do so much and it seemed to come so easily to him. I am very curious what he did to learn how to play old so well. Completely in awe of him.

Elliot Page as Vanya/Viktor was incredible. I love that his real life story was told through this series. So moving and an integral part of the story. The violin music used during the first season was so touching and moving. I saw that the episode titled The White Violin was up for quite a few awards and I can see (and hear) why.

Pogo! Oh my goodness Pogo. Whoever was responsible for his creation for the TV screen, they deserve all the awards and all the money. I wanted to hug Pogo so much. He was just incredible and at no time could I tell that he wasn't real. Simply incredible.

Justin H. Min as Ben broke my heart and Robert Sheehan as Klaus was perfection. Klaus was outrageous and I love him. David Castaneda as Diego and Ritu Arya as Lila were a lesson in love and conquering all things. Jordan Claire Robbins as Grace had an incredible arc and was integral to so many parts of the story. 

Tom Hopper as Luther and Emmy Raver-Lampman as Allison were the most "normal" of all the cast and I would love to be their friends. Lastly, Colm Feore as Reginald Hargreeves was certainly the man you loved to hate and hated to love. Colm portrayed Reginald to perfection and everytime I see Colm's real life photo I can not believe he was Reginald - incredible acting, makeup and getting lost in a role.

I could go on and on about all the characters and actors who portrayed them from the three season, so let's just say there were no weak links and I think everyone was perfectly cast and brought their A games to their characters and the story.

I loved how all the episodes weaved in and out of each other, with everything having meaning and purpose. The music was perfection! Even the choice of covers over originals at times made all the difference in how the song hit and/or fit in a scene. Brainwise already said he wants to create a CD of all the music in order from the three seasons.

I am happy there is a 4th season coming because I am not ready to say goodbye to my new friends but I am also extremely satisfied with how the story went, was told and "ended"(?).

4 paws and a tail of 7 cats ;)

Friday 80s Flashback for May 19, 2023

[40-Year Reach] -- The Fixx released their second studio album, Reach the Beach, on May 15, 1983. That was 40 years ago this week! With this album, The Fixx pretty much cemented their sound, sort of a compromise between experimentation and accessibility. The album alternates between danceable and atmospheric, with plenty of layered synthesizers and accent guitar. Perhaps surprisingly, while Reach the Beach is still the group's most successful album by virtue of reaching #8 on the Billboard 200 and being certified Platinum (January 5, 1984), it was not a critical darling. Smash Hits reviewer Deborah Steels rated the record as a 3, on a scale of 10, and called it "at worst...dull and depressing" [Archive.org]. Stephen Thomas Erlewine was kinder in his retro-review for AllMusic, and gave it 4.5 out of 5 stars while saying it is a "pleasant collection of immaculately produced and stylishly danceable new wave." 

 

All three singles from this album were top 40 hits. The first single was "Saved By Zero." It hit US airwaves on May 12, just prior to the album release. It peaked at #20 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #9 on the Top Rock Tracks chart. The second, and most successful single, was "One Thing Leads to Another," which hit US charts in September 1983. It climbed to #4 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and it also peaked within the Top 20 of two other US charts -- #14 on US Dance Club Songs and #2 on US Mainstream Rock -- as well as charting in the UK, Canada, and Australia. "One Thing Leads to Another" is still the most popular and successful song in The Fixx's catalog. The third single off Reach the Beach was released in 1984 and it peaked at #32 on the Billboard Hot 100.

I still have my vinyl copy, but I'm not certain when I purchased it. Did I really wait until after "One Thing Leads to Another" was on the radio and MTV? Or did George Underwood's album cover art catch my eye so that it was an impulse purchase earlier in 1983? I may never recall, and it's not like I kept the receipt. But I do know I spun this record pretty regularly on my turntable. In addition to the three singles, I have to rate my favorite tracks as "Opinions" (atmospheric and meditative), "Changing" (pleading: If I'm changing, oh won't you please let go), and "Privilege" (slightly funky and quietly disturbing). 

Flashback Reach the Beach (May 1983)

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So, 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!

Friday 80s Flashback for May 12, 2023

[So Hard for the Money] -- On May 10, 1983*, Donna Summer released her 11th solo studio album, She Works Hard for the Money. It was her most commercially successful album of the 1980s -- the album peaked at #9 on the Billboard 200, and the title track reached the #3 spot on the Billboard Hot 100. It also reached the #1 position on the Billboard R&B singles chart, and #3 on the Dance Club Play chart. "She Works Hard for the Money" was one of the most popular songs of 1983, reaching the top 40 of charts around the world. But beyond the dance beats and Summer's excellent voice, this tune highlights the hard work and exhaustion that many a blue-collar woman still experiences to this day. 

Summer's second single -- "Unconditional Love" with uncredited vocals by Musical Youth -- was a bit of a commercial disappointment. It placed just outside the top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking #43, and just barely reached the Cashbox top 40 at #40. It did reach the top ten of the R&B chart, and was even a top 20 hit for her in the UK. Plus, although it was not released as a single, "He's a Rebel" earned a Grammy award for Best Inspirational Performance (1984). She kicked off that year's award show with a live performance of "She Works Hard for the Money." 

She Works Hard for the Money also worked hard for sales: The album was certified Gold in Canada, France, the UK, and the US. 

Flashback: She Works Hard For The Money (May 1983)

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And... 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!

* According to sources such as Album Of The Year, She Works Hard For The Money was released on May 10, 1983. Other sources, such as Wikipedia, list a June 1983 release date. Then again, Wikipedia seems to be hedging their calendar bet; they also list the May 10 date on their list of albums released in 1983. Either way, by the time summer 2023 really rolls around, this record will be 40 years old. 

The Mandalorian - Season 3

 

By far one of my favorite shows of all time. I adore everything about this show: the characters, the stories, the music, the visuals. I don’t even know what else I can say to state how much I love this show. 

I laugh, I cry, I yell, I scream and I just coo all over for Grogu. 

I love how even the smallest parts of the episode mean something and ties things together, even things that may not have been shown yet. When you think “why are we seeing this now?” You realize an episode or so later “ooohhh that’s why.” It’s the long game sometimes when watching and I’m here for it. 

Katee Sackhoff is perfect as Bo-Katan and as much as I love Giancarlo Esposito I am so over Moff Gideon. Lol 

4 paws