Friday 80s Flashback for November 26, 2021

[Christmas with Boney M.] -- Forty years ago this week, R&B and Euro-Caribbean vocal group Boney M. released Christmas Album, their sixth studio album. Anchored by "Mary's Boy Child – Oh My Lord," Boney M.'s 1978 #1 Christmas single in the UK, this collection featured a mix of holiday favorites and newer pieces, such as the instrumental, "Winter Fairy-Tale." In some areas, Christmas Album had the alternate title of Christmas with Boney M., which can get confusing as there was a 1984 compilation with that same title. I have vague recollections of hearing Boney M.'s version of "Little Drummer Boy" on the radio, but I'm not certain if it was during Christmas Eves of my youth or during my early 1990s drives across PA to visit my family for the holidays. I am certain, however, that those radio broadcasts did not pair "Little Drummer Boy" with "Jingle Bells" as this YouTube playlist does. 

Flashback: Boney M. -- Christmas Album (November 1981)

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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!

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings - Disney +

Dangrdafne review:

Stunningly beautiful and gorgeously choreographed. Perfect music, well written, great casting and acting. This movie stands on its own without an issue BUT if you have watched the full Marvel Universe prior to seeing this movie, there are so many pieces that make the movie even better!

The character of Shang-Chi is perfectly cast and Simu Liu is incredible in the role. Awkwafina is definitely the comedic relief but she is integral to the story and I adore her in this role. I think everyone else is exactly perfect even if the casting of the sister kind of gave away the ending to me but not in the ways you would think. Sorry, no spoilers here :)

Ironically I was spoiled about something when the movie first came out but completely forgot about it until we watched the movie and I was surprised, LOL. 

I loved that I felt like I was watching all the Oriental art I have seen in my life come to life on the screen in the front of me. I was completely enthralled watching this movie. Such amazing eye candy. The choreography was perfection and the music matched every scene perfectly. I can't wait to watch this again to see things I am sure I missed the first time.

I loved all the tie ins to the MCU and appreciated how it all worked. We even wondered which part of the story came first in regards to how this story fits into the rest of the MCU. 

4 paws

Friday 80s Flashback for November 19, 2021

[Still Loving Rock 'n Roll] -- Forty years ago yesterday, 11/18/1981, Joan Jett released her second studio album, I Love Rock 'n Roll. Although it was her second record, this LP was her first with The Blackhearts, the backing band she still fronts (and with whom her career has been intrinsically linked). I Love Rock 'n Roll is Joan Jett's biggest commercial success. It peaked at #2 on the Billboard 200 and sold over one million copies in the US. The album's title track, and first single, is probably her best known hit, but she didn't write it. It's a cover of The Arrows' original 1975 song. Jett's 1981 version of "I Love Rock 'n Roll" reached #1 on the US Billboard Hot 100, US Mainstream Rock, and US Cash Box Top 100 charts, making it her highest charting hit in her career. The second single was another cover: Tommy James & The Shondells' 1968 hit, "Crimson and Clover." Jett's version of that tune was a top 10 hit on the US Billboard Hot 100, US Mainstream Rock, and US Cash Box Top 100 charts, as well as a top 40 hit in several other countries. It remains her second-highest charting single to date. As a whole, this is a tough and loud record that covers quite a bit of musical territory over the course of ten tracks (or up to 15 tracks on later remastered editions): for example, there's glam rock, psychedelia, and holiday ("Little Drummer Boy"). 

In addition to the better known tracks, I have a fondness for "Bits and Pieces" and "Love is Pain." How about you? 

Flashback: Joan Jett and the Blackhearts -- I Love Rock 'n Roll (1981)

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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!

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

 Dangrdafne review: 

“Men tell stories, … Women get on with it.”

I’m so grateful that in this case Kristin Hannah told a story. And what a story it is! An intense story of love, grief, war, family and survival at all costs. 

My sister wanted to be sure I read this book especially after my review of WandaVision. I was more than curious but it turns out that this book is just another way of conveying how grief can inspire and spur on humans. And it was mostly definitely about superheroes. Super human women who changed the world. Who did the impossible and showed just how women “…get on with it.”

This is a long, tough read but one I don’t regret and encourage you to do also. While there is the typical you will laugh and you will cry, there is also cheering, terror, blood pressure raising sections and moments of pure elation and joy. And lots of tears, both happy and sad. 

I think after this book, though, I need to take a break from World War II stories. I’m not sure my heart can read any more for now. 

I just started to type up what the story was about but fear I will give something away that would hurt your pleasure of reading the book. Basically it is the story of two sisters and how they deal with living during WWII. I do like Kristin Hannah's clever storytelling and her way of choosing to lay out the story. 

I don't usually like large books but the writing is so good and "simple" that I read through the book in 2 days. An amazing story about amazing characters from an amazing author.

4 paws

Friday 80s Flashback for November 12, 2021

[From the Cut-Out Bin] -- This week, we are celebrating an underrated gem of broody, soul-searching music. Forty years ago this month, English post-punkers The Sound released their second studio album, From the Lion's Mouth. Like their previous LP, Jeopardy (1980), From the Lion's Mouth was roundly praised by critics, but received little commercial notice. Andy Kellman of AllMusic believes this album "should have shot [The Sound] directly between spots occupied by the like-minded Joy Division and Echo & the Bunnymen as post-punk legends, but the Fates had something else in mind." And, so, The Sound was relegated to cult status, just another band probably deserved better. In this case, it was a band with a charged sound and philosophically tinged lyrics.

Flashback: The Sound - From the Lion's Mouth (November 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!

Sip Sip Bang Bang by Danika Stone

 Dangrdafne review:

 

A fast paced thriller with a love story brewing underneath it all. I was literally exhausted after reading this book. Soooo good.

I LOVE Danika Stone's writing. She always creates incredible characters that go against the norm and surprise you at every turn. She also creates wonderful scenes and tales that intrigue and excite.

I truly don’t want to tell you about this book because you have to read it to feel it all. I literally was out of breath at certain points because the writing and story were so thrilling and one part was verrry claustrophobic!

I love how the book is set in real time and uses the perfect pop culture references to move the story along and add just the right extra insight into the story. Danika knows her pop culture and I often wonder which cane first: the reference or the story. Whichever it is, I’m just glad it’s there 🙂

The ironic part of the book, that I will say, is that I kept thinking about what a good movie this will make and it turns out to be part of the book too. I could really see the book in my mind and I definitely would LOVE to meet the main characters in real life. I feel that way about all Danika’s books. She just has a way of writing her characters and making them real and plausible. Even if the story is winding around like crazy, her people are realistic and I want to know them more.

4 paws

Friday 80s Flashback for November 5, 2021

[Forty Shakes] -- On 11/6/1981, forty years ago tomorrow, The Cars released their fourth studio album, Shake It Up. Co-lead vocalist and primary songwriter, Ric Ocasek, heralded the record as "a big return to pop" though he apparently was not proud of the title track's lyrics. That title track is probably one of the band's most popular songs, it's certainly one of my faves by them, and it hit #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #2 on the Billboard Top Tracks chart, marking The Cars' first trip to the Billboard Top 10. The second single, "Since You're Gone," peaked at #41 and #24 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and the US Mainstream Rock charts respectively. The third single, "Victim of Love," got within the top 40 of the US Mainstream Rock chart while the final single failed to chart in the US. 

I think "I'm Not the One," with its gloomy lyrics and pop melody, should have been a single. Its inclusion on the 1985 Greatest Hits album is, I believe, supporting evidence of the song's ... greatness. 

Flashback: Shake It Up -- The Cars (1981)

1. "Since You're Gone"

2. "Shake It Up"

3. "I'm Not the One"

4. "Victim of Love"

5. "Cruiser"

6. "A Dream Away"

7. "This Could Be Love"

8. "Think It Over"

9. "Maybe Baby"

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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!