Bookended by Cats was named after Milo and Otis. They are the short, orange, and furry brothers who, upon entering our lives in 2003, often bookended us on our couch. And who are we? We're a geek couple living in PA. We love music, movies, TV, comics, books, and comic cons. And, from time to time, we'll share our thoughts on these nerdy things.

Friday, February 25, 2022

Friday 80s Flashback for February 25, 2022


[No War] -- The image for this week's Flashback is an anti-war protest button from 1987, a little over midway through the Reagan era. (I'm counting that era as having run from Reagan's election in 1980 through the end of George H.W. Bush's single term). And because Putin decided he could just steamroll into a neighboring country, I'm featuring several anti-war songs from the 1980s instead of choosing a single record this week. 
  1. Midnight Oil: "Put Down That Weapon" – Released 12/7/1987, this was the third single from Midnight Oil's sixth studio album, Diesel and Dust. It got radio play in the US, but didn't chart on Billboard. Still, the album came in at #21 on the US Billboard 200. 

  2.  Men at Work: "It's a Mistake" – Released in June 1983, "It's a Mistake" was the third single off of Men At Work's second studio album, Cargo (1983). It peaked at #6 on the Billboard Hot 100, and the music video satirizes conflict between Eastern and Western blocs. Appropriate this week, eh?

  3. Mary Black: "My Youngest Son Came Home Today" – Irish folk singer Mary Black recorded Eric Bogle's song on her 1984 compilation album, Collected. And, yes, you can probably guess that the subject of this particular song came home "in his box of polished pine" and now "he's home to stay." A sombre reminder of the cost of armed conflict. 

  4. Elvis Costello: "Peace in Our Time" – In 1984, Elvis Costello sang wistfully of a future in which "we can thank God that we've finally got peace in our time." As yet another generation asks if, finally, they will see peace in their time, we have to maintain the hope that the Sun will rise on a more peaceful tomorrow. 

Flashback Playlist: 


If you feel moved to help the people of Ukraine, here are some options (via Dr. Janina Scarlet):

And that's all I have 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!
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