Friday 80s Flashback for June 30, 2023

[A Solid ALBUM] -- Forty years ago this week, Joan Jett released her third studio album with The Blackhearts. Of the 11 tracks on the 1983 vinyl release, two are covers ("Everyday People" and "Tossin' and Turnin'") and one is a re-recording of a Runaways song ("I Love Playing with Fire"). The record did not perform as well as the prior two releases, but it peaked at #20 on the US Billboard 200 and #15 on the US Rock Albums chart. And it was even certified Gold. That's pretty respectable. AllMusic's Steve Huey said that Album "is arguably Joan Jett's strongest non-compilation release" (AllMusic.com).

The first single, "Fake Friends," has a fantastic riff, and you feel that Jett knows this subject all too well as she sings "You got nothing to lose, you don't lose when you lose fake friends." I love that the music video represents these fake friends as cardboard people. That video got pretty constant play on MTV, but the single stalled at #35 on the Billboard Hot 100. Jett's cover of Sly and the Family Stone's "Everyday People" was released as the second single. The accompanying music video for "Everyday People" features cutaways to slapstick scenes in which things just keep going from bad to worse for Joan Jett. It's one of my favorite covers, but it barely dented the top 40, peaking at #37 on the Billboard Hot 100. 

Album is a good collection of songs, and the band plays the hell out of them. I guess there were too many other acts competing for the record buying public's attention, and radio requests, so this one couldn't get needed traction. If you like your rock and roll driven by fuzzy guitar and raspy vocals, then you'll like this record at least as much as I do.   

Flashback: Album (July 1, 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!

Andor (Star Wars)

 

I had heard great things about this show and although I worried I wouldn't be able to follow along, it couldn't be further from the truth.

Espionage filled, thrilling, excellent writing, amazing cinematography, great story and no need to worry about knowing Star Wars or not for the most part. Just sit back especially after the first 2 episodes that were a little slower than the others and let the story take you on a ride.

Every one was excellent in their roles. I love how everything comes together as you watch, even things you think don't mean anything, suddenly come to light an episode or 2 later. I feel like I have said that many times about Star Wars shows but I guess if it works, why change it :)

I'm sure if you are a Star Wars fan and know lots of the history, etc, this show might even be better for you but I liked that I was able to enjoy it and not miss out on things because I might not remember the history or some of the people.

There is going to be a second season and I am very curious what that will bring about for the show.

4 paws

Friday 80s Flashback for June 23, 2023

[Having a Field Day] -- Released in 1983 at some point between May 25 and June 16, Marshall Crenshaw's second solo album, Field Day, is 40 years old this year. On a critical level, Crenshaw avoided the sophomore slump. But from a commercial perspective, the album was a disappointment; it didn't even reach the modest success of Crenshaw's debut. 

But I counted for one of those sales. I don't recall exactly why I purchased this LP. Maybe I recalled "Someday, Someway" from his previous album. I mean, it's not like that cover photo screams, "Buy me!" Crenshaw himself has expressed his disappointment in the cover, which features him standing in front of the high school he attended in Michigan: Berkley High School. The way he tells the story, Crenshaw's manager found the worst photo from a photo session and put it right on the front cover; unfortunately, changing it out would have further delayed the album's release, and the tour was coming up [Rock Cellar Magazine, 2017]. 

Anyway, I still have the vinyl LP in my collection, though I usually listen to the tracks via my music app or YouTube. However you listen to it, this record is a great collection of vibrant pop gems. The first single, "Whenever You're on My Mind," is an absolute standout. After that, I highly recommend "Monday Morning Rock" (I love the bass line), "All I Know Right Now" (as solid a love song as there could be in 1983), and "Hold It" (lovely and dreamy chorus vocals). I'm still surprised these songs weren't all over the radio during that early 1980s summer. I'm even more surprised that this record didn't become a staple of college radio. 

Flashback: Field Day (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!

Free Guy

 

Third of three movies of our Memorial Day Weekend.

And the BEST of the bunch! I mean this movie was hilarious, clever and amazing!!!

Ryan Reynolds is always a favorite and this movie was perfect for him or he was perfect for the movie, either way, he and the movie were perfection. 

Jodie Comer was amazing too. She had a huge role and she was incredible. I also loved the extra that you can watch about the making of her character - very interesting and insightful.

We laughed soooo much during this movie. We rewound at times because either we missed things from laughing or we just wanted to laugh all over again.

I can't believe we weren't spoiled at all on anything and I certainly won't spoil anything here but let's just say there was a great scene for Marvel lovers.

If you love video games, this is a must watch. I don't know much about the video game world but that did not hinder my viewing and loving of this movie. I can only imagine how much more can be seen and taken from this movie if you do know video games.

I can't wait to watch this again.

4 paws and a tail

 

Friday 80s Flashback for June 16, 2023

[Flood of Blues] -- The summer of 1983 was not the most likely time for a renaissance of blues. However, that's pretty much what happened in the wake of Texas Flood, the studio debut of Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble. Released on June 13, 1983, forty years ago this week, Texas Flood made the blues something it had not been since the 1960s: cool, hip, and commercially viable. Not that the blues had no fans by the 1980s; but as a genre, it was pretty much a niche for both fans and performers. Vaughan's guitar virtuosity combined with the steady rhythm section of Tommy Shannon (bass) and Chris Layton (drums) all but revitalized the blues' perception, breathing new life into the genre and steering new fans into Vaughn's influences. 

Texas Flood reached the Top 40, or nearly so, in several countries: Australia (#46), Canada (#15), New Zealand (#16), and US Billboard 200 (#38). This debut even spent over half a year on the charts. The album was nominated for Best Traditional Blues Performance (lost to B.B. King's Blues 'N' Jazz), and the non-single track "Rude Mood" was nominated for Best Rock Instrumental Performance (lost to Sting's "Brimstone & Treacle"). Of the album's two singles – "Love Struck Baby" and "Pride and Joy" – the latter reached #20 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock chart. 

The two singles are great, but the standout tracks for me are "Testify," "I'm Crying," and the previously mentioned "Rude Mood."

Flashback: Texas Flood (June 13, 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!

Antman and Wasp: Quantumania

 

Second of three movies of our Memorial Day Weekend.

Much better than Shazam! Fury of the Gods. Paul Rudd is one of my favorites and he continues this love here. 

I love that his daughter is older now and a main character in the movie. She is funny and and excellent addition to the cast and story. 

Michelle Pfeiffer and Michael Douglas were excellent and I loved their story. It was great to see them in action, literally. It was good to get some background on Janet Van Dyne's time in the Quantum Realm. 

It was also great to see Katy O'Brian, who we love on many other shows, get a large and critical role in the movie as Jentorra. 

If you want a high action, fast paced movie, this is for you. And if you are a completist of Marvel movies, this is a must watch. 

3 paws

 

Friday 80s Flashback for June 9, 2023

[Her Heart is Still Wild] -- Forty years ago this week, Stevie Nicks released The Wild Heart, her second solo studio album. It isn't an exact copy of her solo debut, 1981's Bella Donna, but it did follow in the same vein. That included featuring prominent guest musicians: Tom Petty, Toto's guitarist Steve Lukather, David Foster, and conductor Paul Buckmaster were among the record's personnel. Even Prince was involved (albeit uncredited). 

Some might cue up the jokes about this safe approach – there's even a song titled, "Nothing Ever Changes." But, come on, there is very little harm in playing to one's strengths. Nicks does so quite admirably on this very listenable disc. She once again achieved commercial, and some critical, success, cementing her position as one of the leading acts of the early 1980s. 

Hitting the charts on June 10, 1983, The Wild Heart climbed to #5 on the US Billboard 200, staying in that peak slot for almost two months. In total, the album spent a whole year on the Billboard 200, from June 1983 to June 1984. During its time on the charts, The Wild Heart spawned three hit singles. "Stand Back" peaked at #5, "If Anyone Falls" reached #14, and "Nightbird" came in at #33, all on the Billboard Hot 100. "Stand Back" spent 19 weeks on Billboard, six of them in the top 10, and it was also a global hit. It reached at least the top 40 in Australia (#20), Canada (#10), Germany (#32), and the Netherlands (#29). 

Flashback: The Wild Heart (June 10, 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!

Shazam! Fury of the Gods

 

First of three movies of our Memorial Day Weekend.

Wow this was not as fun as I wanted it to be. I loved the first movie but I just could not get into this one. I had a difficult time with the characters all being older but they kept acting like the were the youngsters from the first movie when they went into superhero mode. It was very odd.

I also wasn't sold on the story for some reason. Although it was nice to have three incredible women as the main "villans" of the story: Helen Mirren, Lucy Liu and Rachel Zegler. They all looked like the enjoyed being supervillans and having powers.

Overall though, Steve and the unicorns were the best part of this movie.

1 paw

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!