Friday 80s Flashback (on a Saturday) for July 28, 2017

[Still Not Giving Up] -- On Thursday, 7/27/2017, a momentous anniversary in 80s music occurred. On that date, a certain Mr. Astley hit the charts with a ditty titled, "Never Gonna Give You Up." 30 years later,  that song, particularly its accompanying music video, is still popular. Its popularity, or at least its continued familiarity, is due in large part to a bait and switch practice that first started in 2007 and has come to be known as Rickrolling.

Because Rick Astley himself perpetrated the best Rickroll in the practice's 10 year history, I think I'll let his tweet serve as the entirety of this week's Flashback post.

30 years ago today I said I was Never Gonna Give You Up. I am a man of my word - Rick x pic.twitter.com/VmbMQA6tQB

— Rick Astley (@rickastley) July 27, 2017

Not to be outdone, Sesame Street replied in kind:

🎶"Always be by your side, take your hand & you'll take mine, always going to be your friend and love you!" 🎶 pic.twitter.com/Lb4QofJDVE

— Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) July 27, 2017

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That's all till next time. 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.

And if you are on Twitter, and feel so inclined, please +K my influence in Music on @klout.

I'll see you in seven!

Friday 80s Flashback for July 14, 2017

[Come Up Screaming] -- One of my favorite albums was released in 1983, specifically on July 15 of that year. It was an energetic album by a Scottish band. An album pulsing with guitar licks that mimicked bagpipes. I am, of course, talking about The Crossing by Big Country. It was the band's first studio release, and it reached #3 in the UK and #18 on the US Billboard 200. I'm pretty sure that the bagpipe trick had something to do with the album's popularity. I mean, it was a pretty neat effect. According to a few fan boards and Wikipedia, guitarists Stuart Adamson and Bruce Watson achieved the effect with the MXR Pitch Transposer 129 Guitar Effect and the e-bow, which is something of an electronic guitar pick. Anyway, if you're wondering which three tracks from this record I've chosen for this Flashback, you can read and hear more after the jump.

Friday 80s Flashback for July 7, 2017

[Hits Like Sugar] -- Echo & the Bunnymen's eponymous 1987 record turned 30 this week. Over the last three decades, many albums have come into my life. Some have all but vanished from my memory shortly after their last turn in my listening rotation. Others have stayed with me, impacted me, whether I last heard one of their tracks years or mere moments ago. Echo & the Bunnymen lands squarely in the latter category. Read and hear more after the jump.