Friday 80s Flashback for October 25, 2024

[Still Waking Me Up] -- Say it with me: "Jitterbug!" 

Yes, the opening word from "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" had been on the airwaves since May of 1984. But Wham's second studio album, Make It Big, did not hit record stores until October 23, 1984 -- 40 years ago this week! 

And the album made good on its title. Make It Big was a huge commercial success. It peaked at #1 in both the US and the UK, and in several other countries. The album also spawned four hit singles: "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go," "Careless Whisper," "Freedom," and "Everything She Wants." All four singles peaked within the top five in the UK as well as in the US. Wham embarked on a huge tour to support the album, traveling around the world between December 1984 and April 1985. 

Flashback: Make It Big (October 23, 1984)

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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!

Friday 80s Flashback for October 18, 2024

[A Merciful Release] -- I have featured The Durutti Column in a previous Flashback, back on December 17, 2021. That was for their 1981 release, LC. And that album, their second full-length studio release, was a bit more post-punk with some aspirations to dream pop. Their fourth outing, Without Mercy, is our Flashback for this weekend. And while it may still have some elements of the dream pop featured on their prior two releases, Without Mercy is (as Wikipedia describes it) an album-length, two-part instrumental piece. 

Recorded over the course of five days, and featuring classical musicians, Without Mercy has a previously recorded but unreleased track titled "Little Mercy" as its foundation and, we are told, it follows the narrative of John Keats' poem "La Belle Dame sans Merci." The entire album is anchored by a repeating and mournful piano riff, and "Without Mercy 1" really feels like a modern classical piece. "Without Mercy 2" features more guitar, as well as electronic percussion, but it still moves along ambitiously like a post-punk chamber orchestra piece. 

It's just the thing, I find, for reading and relaxing. Even when the second track picks up its pace, and gets kind of busy, it is still far more reflective than rocking. As far as I can tell, there was no US release, but the album was a moderate commercial success in the UK, peaking at #8 on the UK Independent Albums Chart. And it garnered fairly positive reviews. Vini Reilly, the band's leader and primary songwriter, dislikes the record, calling it "Without Merit" in later interviews. I disagree. Perhaps you will as well.

Most releases of this album featured each of the two long-form movements divided into 12 stanzas. The A side was "Without Mercy 1," and its 12 stanzas were distributed among six individual tracks. Side B, naturally, was "Without Mercy 2," and its 12 stanzas were similarly distributed among individual tracks, but this time it was five tracks. For other countries – such as Japan, Spain, and France – each side of the album was one long, continuous track. And that is the playlist I offer you this week. 

Flashback: Without Mercy (October 1, 1984)

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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!

Friday 80s Flashback for October 11, 2024

[Another Four From October 1984] -- Well, guess what? There were so many great, or at least memorable, albums released the first week of October 1984, I decided to feature four more records from that week. And they all seem to have been released on October 1, 1984! Hopefully, at least one is to your liking. This week we have: 

• Joan Jett: Glorious Results of a Misspent Youth 
• Chaka Khan: I Feel for You
• The Ramones: Too Tough to Die
• Philip Bailey: Chinese Wall
  
  

Glorious Results of a Misspent Youth – For Joan Jett's third outing with the Blackhearts, and her fourth studio album overall, she pretty much stuck to what she knew, or maybe liked, best. A quarter of the tracks are covers, including "Cherry Bomb," a song she previously recorded with The Runaways. And while this album didn't really have any hit singles, it still managed to peak at #67 on the Billboard 200. I kind of dig "Hold Me," "Long Time," and "Someday."

I Feel for You – This was Chaka Khan's fifth solo album, and she showed she had no trouble keeping up with the times. She embraces high tech production as well as the electro-funk that Prince had popularized. In fact, she takes Prince's 1979 track, "I Feel for You," and updates it for the 1980s, making it a #1 hit. This is a fun album that peaked at #14 on the Billboard 200, her highest charting since 1978. 

Too Tough to Die – The eighth studio album from The Ramones may not have been a commercial hit – it was the band's lowest peaking record, never getting past #171 on the Billboard 200 – it was generally well-received. Retrospectively, an AOTY user calls Too Tough to Die the band's "last great album," and AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine agreed, calling it "the best the Ramones had made since the end of the '70s. It was also the last great record they would ever make." At the time, Kurt Loder praised it as "a return to fighting trim." My preferred tracks are "I'm Not Afraid of Life" and "Chasing the Night."

Chinese Wall – Maybe all you know about Philip Bailey is that he was in Earth, Wind and Fire and that he had a huge hit with Phil Collins. And those are true facts. But Bailey has a catalog totaling 11 solo albums. Of these records, Chinese Wall, Bailey's third solo album, was his best performing record. It peaked at #29 on UK Albums, #22 on the US Billboard 200, and #10 on US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, as well as within the top 40 of several charts around the world. Oh, and the mega hit "Easy Lover" is ... easily ... one of my favorite tracks from 1984. 

YouTube playlists for all four albums are embedded below. Let us know your fave tracks! 

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Flashback #1: Glorious Results of a Misspent Youth (October 1, 1984)

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Flashback #2: I Feel for You (October 1, 1984)

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Flashback #3: Too Tough to Die (October 1, 1984)

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Flashback #4: Chinese Wall (October 1, 1984)

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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!

Friday 80s Flashback for October 4, 2024

[Four from Forty Years Ago] -- I'm sorry, but when I looked at the slate of albums released 40 years ago this week, I couldn't settle on just one of them. And it's not like offering multiple albums has become a trend here: This will be only the fourth time I've done it this year ... since July 4. Anyway, I think you'll fully understand, and maybe even agree, that I had to feature all four of these albums for this weekend. 

Please note that I cannot list this week's Flashback albums in chronological order because three of them were released on the very same day. So, here is the order in which I have chosen to present them:

• This Mortal Coil: It'll End In Tears (October 1, 1984)
• Midnight Oil: Red Sails in the Sunset (October 1, 1984)
• U2: The Unforgettable Fire (October 1, 1984)
• The Replacements: Let It Be (October 2, 1984)
  
  

It'll End In Tears – First up, we have It'll End In Tears, the very first album released by This Mortal Coil, which was less a band than a music collective under the direction of 4AD, a British record label. The album features several 4AD artists – including Cocteau Twins, Colourbox, and Dead Can Dance – recording under the auspices of This Mortal Coil. It'll End In Tears did not chart in the US, though it did reach #1 on the UK Independent Albums Chart – and that success probably helped fuel the album's popularity in the states as an import. Pitchfork includes It'll End In Tears on its April 2018 list of "The 30 Best Dream Pop Albums." It also appears on two best of Goth lists: Frank Deserto's 2017 list of essential Goth albums and Spectrum Culture's 2013 13 Best Goth Albums of All Time. 

Red Sails in the Sunset – Midnight Oil released their fifth studio album, Red Sails in the Sunset, on October 1, 1984. It was the band's first #1 album in their native Australia, and it charted within the US Billboard 200. The album cover was a chilling "what if?" scenario, as in "What would Sydney Harbour look like after a nuclear strike?" Following on their previous efforts, the lyrical content of Red Sails focused on politics, consumer culture, expanding military, the auspices of nuclear war, and environmental threats. Two singles were released in the US -- "When the Generals Talk" and "Best of Both Worlds" -- but neither of them charted. Musically, there was enough polish (from increased studio wizardry) and the experimental rhythms and textures should have lured in new listeners, particularly from the college radio set. So, what kept the singles grounded? Perhaps it was lead singer Peter Garrett's judgmental tone. However, it was more likely Garrett's lurching and towering presence in the band's music videos. I recall thinking he was pretty cool, but I also recall my friend, Daniels, and I being on the receiving end of our classmates' scorn for liking "that Frankenstein dancing guy."  Anyway, Midnight Oil was about three years from breaking huge with Diesel and Dust. And when that album hit, fans finally started digging into Midnight Oil's back catalog to discover this gem. For a blow-by-blow appreciation of Red Sails in the Sunset, check out A Look Back At Midnight Oil's Landmark LP 'Red Sails In The Sunset', posted on the 30th anniversary of the album's release.  

The Unforgettable Fire – Dropping on October 1, 1984, The Unforgettable Fire was U2's fourth studio album. Despite not being a fount of hit singles, The Unforgettable Fire was a commercial juggernaut and it received mostly favorable reviews. Looking back over 40 years, The Observer calls this album "U2’s grand artistic leap forward". While Albumism's Andy Healy called it U2's "most ambitious and daring outing." The Unforgettable Fire peaked at #1 and #12 on the UK Albums Chart and the US Billboard 200 respectively, as well as reaching the top 10 in several other countries. And it has been certified Gold or Platinum in seven different countries, including going 3x Platinum in the US. Of the singles, "Pride (In the Name of Love)" was the band's biggest hit at the time, and "Bad" became  live favorite. 

Let It Be – On October 2, 1984, The Replacements released their third studio album, Let It Be. The album cover features the band sitting on the roof of Bob and Tommy Stinson's mother's house. The record itself was produced by Steve Fjelstad, Peter Jesperson, and Paul Westerberg (The Replacements' lead singer and songwriter) for Twin/Tone Records. But it wasn't like there was an actual producer lurking over the boys, making them sweat each note. The album title, Let It Be, was ripped from the Beatles' record, of course. But it was just their way of saying nothing is sacred; The Beatles "were just a damn fine rock & roll band" (Paul Westerberg, quoted by Rolling Stone). Sacred or not, Let It Be is ranked among the greatest rock albums of the 80s, and Rolling Stone even includes it on their list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. No doubt, this is more by accident than by some design on the Mats' part. 

YouTube playlists for all four albums are embedded below. Let us know your fave tracks from any of these records. 

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Flashback #1: It'll End In Tears (October 1, 1984)

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Flashback #2: Red Sails in the Sunset (October 1, 1984)

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Flashback #3: The Unforgettable Fire (October 1, 1984)

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Flashback #4: Let It Be (October 2, 1984)

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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!

Friday 80s Flashback for September 27, 2024

[Some Young Reward] -- When I saw that these two albums were both released 40 years ago this week, I wondered how I was going to pick one over the other. Instead, I decided this week deserved a two-fer. 

First up, released on September 24, 1984, is Depeche Mode's fourth studio album, Some Great Reward.  And, later in that same week, on September 27, 1984, Alphaville released their studio debut album, Forever Young. Let's revisit them in order of release.

Some Great Reward garnered commercial success and critical praise upon release. Oh, there were some negative reviews, too, such as NME critic David Quantick's "Modeahead? Uh-Uh…" (reprinted here along with other bits of press for the record). While reaching #5 and #1 on the UK Albums (OCC) and UK Independent Albums charts, Some Great Reward also peaked at #51 on the US Billboard 200. While that might not seem like much of an accomplishment in the US market, keep in mind that this album marked Depeche Mode's first real chart success in the US: the single "People Are People" peaked at #13 on the Billboard Hot 100.  "People Are People" was also a Top 20 hit in Canada, and it enjoyed worldwide chart success as well. Of course, that single's success might have been helped by also appearing as the title track of Depeche Mode's July 1984 compilation album. The second single, "Master and Servant," and the double A-side, "Blasphemous Rumours" / "Somebody", also charted well. 

Please note: "Blasphemous Rumours" / "Somebody" might be my favorite one-two punch of the 1980s -- as nihilistic an interpretation of divine justice as you can find, and it was (commercially) married with a gut-punchingly sincere ballad. 

Forever Young was the 1984 debut from German synth band Alphaville. And for four singers without musical training, and using the cheapest synths and drum machines available, they released a serviceable, and kind of danceable, disc. This album is known for the singles "Big in Japan", with a music video that looks like someone filmed a collaboration between a theater student and an art school graduate, and "Forever Young". The other two singles – "Jet Set" and "Sounds Like a Melody" – are not as well known, but they performed pretty well in Europe. I'm still surprised "To Germany with Love" and "Fallen Angel" weren't singles; they were definitely among the more upbeat songs, and "To Germany" had a great, faux slap-bass riff. Sigh. Although Forever Young languished in the basement of the Billboard 200 (stalling at #180), and didn't chart at all in the UK, it did very well across Europe. And that success was enough to get their singles into clubs and earn the band a follow-up album.  

YouTube playlists for both albums are embedded below. Let us know your fave tracks from both, or either, record. 

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Depeche Mode: "Some Great Reward (September 24, 1984)

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Alphaville: Forever Young (September 27, 1984)

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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!

Friday 80s Flashback for September 20, 2024

[Fighting Tooth and Nail] -- Dokken was nearly relegated to the one-release discard bin after the band's debut failed to meet record company expectations. But in the struggle between band management and label execs, Dokken earned a second chance, and the result is a classic of early 1980s metal: Tooth and Nail.  Released 40 years ago this month, Dokken's second studio album peaked at #49 on the Billboard 200 and also reached platinum sales. It was a springboard for three relatively successful singles. 

"Into the Fire" was the first single, and it peaked at #21 on the Mainstream Rock (US) chart. Next up was "Just Got Lucky," one of my favorite Dokken tracks, which made it as high as #27 on that same Mainstream Rock (US) chart. Their third single, which would become one of their signature power ballads, was "Alone Again" and it reached commercial success on two charts: #20 on Mainstream Rock (US) and #64 on the Billboard Hot 100. 

Dokken is often categorized as hair metal (or pop or glam metal). Vocalist and namesake Don Dokken decries such a label, insisting he and the band were "more on the metal side than the pop side" of that musical equation, and he is reluctant to be compared with Mötley Crüe or Poison (lasvegassun.com; August 2004). But noone is going to mistake Dokken for, say, Metallica or Accept. So, while guitarist George Lynch lends the band some muscle and aggression (such as with the title track, "Tooth and Nail"), their songs still have pop hallmarks, particularly vocally (reference the aforementioned "Just Got Lucky" and "Alone Again"). And this album, taken as a whole, definitely makes the case for Dokken to be considered more generally on the melodic side of heavy metal. 

Flashback: Tooth and Nail (September 14, 1984)

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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!

Friday 80s Flashback for September 13, 2024

[No More Love on the Run] -- Forty years ago this week, Billy Ocean released his fifth studio album, Suddenly. This was Ocean's breakout album as the three singles -- "Caribbean Queen," "Loverboy," and the title track (a quintessential 1980s ballad, "Suddenly") -- charted at the #1, #7, and #4 slots on the US Billboard Hot 100, not to mention how well they did globally. Suddenly peaked at #9 in both the US (Billboard 200) and the UK (UK Albums) as well as within the top 40 in many other countries. 

After this album, Billy Ocean was firmly established as a pop star as well as an R&B artist. I mean, at least in terms of sales: Suddenly went double platinum in the US, gold in the UK, and an astounding triple platinum in Canada. And Ocean got to play to sellout crowds around the world. 

What's your memory of this record? 

Flashback: Suddenly (September 12, 1984)

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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!

Friday 80s Flashback for September 6, 2024

[Time and Rime] -- Coming out hot with Iron Maiden's Powerslave as the first Flashback of September 2024! Released 40 years ago this week – on September 3, 1984 – Powerslave was the fifth studio album by this English heavy metal band. Many of the songs on this record had history/event themes, including the two songs released as singles: "2 Minutes to Midnight" (which references the Doomsday Clock) and "Aces High" (about a British fighter pilot in the Battle of Britain). This album also features an almost 14-minute adaptation of Samuel Taylor Coleridge's "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" (a 600+ line poem, read here by Ian McKellen, originally published in 1798). It remained Iron Maiden's longest recorded track until 2015. 

While neither single charted in the US, they were both top 40 hits on the UK Singles Chart. Still, aided by rigorous touring and a pair of MTV videos, Powerslave managed to peak at #21 on the US Billboard 200, #2 on the UK album chart, and in the upper echelon of several other charts around the world. 

This was probably the highest that Iron Maiden soared in the 1980s. 

Flashback: "Powerslave (September 3, 1984)

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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!

Friday 80s Flashback for August 30, 2024

[Four Turned Forty] -- I missed posting a Flashback last week. I also missed two Fridays in July. So, I figured I'd finish August 2024 by highlighting four albums that turned 40 this month. 

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Mirror Moves – First up, we have the fourth studio album by the Psychedelic Furs, Mirror Moves. This record built upon the success of 1982's Forever Now, and its hit single "Love My Way." This time, they had three singles – "Heaven," "The Ghost in You" (one of my fave Furs tracks) and "Here Come Cowboys" – that either charted well or received heavy rotation on MTV or both. Mirror Moves peaked at #43 on the Billboard 200, and ended up as the band's second album to go gold in the US. 

Flashback #1: Psychedelic Furs, Mirror Moves (August 21, 1984)

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Warrior – Our second flashback this week is the debut, not to mention the only, studio album by Scandal. The album, featuring Patty Smyth, is Warrior. It peaked at #17 on the Billboard 200, and that was probably due solely to the hit single, and almost title track, "The Warrior." Unless you're an 80sphile like me, the rest of the album probably won't interest you very much. Yes, Scandal are in that category of one-hit wonders (or two hits if you count "Goodbye to You," which first appeared on the band's self-titled 1982 EP, and was later included on the expanded and remastered edition of Warrior in 2014.  

Flashback #2: Scandal, Warrior (August 21, 1984)

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Let's Get Professional – Our third flashback might have slipped by your radar. Although it was released in 1984, I did not catch it until 1987, or maybe 1988. And now I forever associate part of my college years with this album. I'm talking about Let's Get Professional by The 012, released August 19, 1984. Why do I associate this record with college? Well, aside from the fact that I discovered the record during my years at Penn State, there's something about its ethos of good musicians trying to be bad musicians that reeks of the adaptation and experimentation of college students. It's punk. It's avant-garde. It's me, sitting in an empty classroom late at night, and questioning why I'm studying physics. 

Flashback #3: The 012, Let's Get Professional (August 19, 1984)

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Time Exposure – And last, but not least, our fourth flashback this week is another change of pace. On August 28, 1984, jazz fusion bassist Stanley Clarke released his thirteenth studio album: Time Exposure. It was one of the top jazz albums for that year, and Richard S. Ginell of AllMusic wrote (in a retro-review) that the "sheer speed and power of Clarke's electric and piccolo bass work is astonishing throughout the album." He also picks "Time Exposure" as the prize of the album as well as "one of the best funk numbers of Clarke's career."

Flashback #4: Stanley Clarke, Time Exposure (August 28, 1984)

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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! 

Friday 80s Flashback for August 16, 2024

[Oo-ee-diddley-bop!] -- Peter Wolf's career as a solo artist was kicked off 40 years ago last month, in July 1984. That's when Wolf released his debut solo album, Lights Out. Now, why would Wolf end a long and successful career as the lead vocalist of The J. Geils Band (1967 to 1983)? Well, it was apparently all due to the co-leader of The J. Geils Band, keyboardist Seth Justman, rejecting a bunch of then-new songs that Wolf had co-written outside the band. 

Yup, he took (some of) those songs and released them on his own. 

The title track of Lights Out turned out to be a big hit for Wolf, peaking at #12, #6, and #11 on the US Billboard Hot 100, Mainstream Rock Tracks, and Hot Dance Music/Club Play charts respectively. His second single, "I Need You Tonight," was also a top 40 hit on the US Billboard Hot 100. And the album itself reached the #24 position on the Billboard 200 chart. 

Besides the singles, this album is fairly evenly balanced between some dated 80s dance-pop and other tracks that are wacky and, in the words of music critic Tim Sendra, "so corny that they are almost good." He also calls this album "soul music for a soulless time," and I think that is a far better descriptor. 

Other stand out tracks: "Mars Needs Women," "Here Comes That Hurt Again," and "Baby, Please Don't Let Me Go."  

Flashback: Lights Out (July 1, 1984)

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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!

Friday 80s Flashback for August 9, 2024

[Signs of 40] -- Forty years ago last month (sorry, the best we can get for a release date is either "July 1984" or simply "1984"), Billy Squier released his fourth studio album: Signs of Life. He was coming off of two successful albums, Emotions in Motion (July 23, 1982) and Don't Say No (April 13, 1981), both of which had peaked at #5 in the Billboard 200.

For this new album, Squier still had some his usual guitar work front and center, but the disc was also sprinkled with synthesizers and production effects. Listen to the opening of the lead track, "All Night Long," and you'll hear sound effects, a tape loop from part of the chorus, and swirling synths for about 35 seconds. And then, finally, the guitar lick really kicks off the tune, helping you to identify it as a Billy Squier song. Whereas on "Eye On You," the synth effects are combined with the opening guitar lick. And the almost obligatory ballad, "Fall For Love," also marries keyboards and slick production such that they pretty much dominate the token guitar in this song.  

And then there's the hit single: "Rock Me Tonite." Again, keyboards and synths dominate the opening such that we have to wait until the 30 second mark for drums and guitar to join the mix. And we have to discuss the official music video for "Rock Me Tonite." For much of this video, the erstwhile guitar hero of "The Stroke" and "Everybody Wants You" dances and preens around a set that is meant to be studio apartment, or at least the hint of one. He finally picks up a guitar and joins a band (in the adjoining room?) around the 3:30 mark, well over halfway through the song. Much has been written about the video for "Rock Me Tonite," most of critical and declaring it as one of the very worst videos in MTV's history. In fact, there is a whole chapter dedicated to "Rock Me Tonite" in the 2011 book, I Want My MTV: The Uncensored Story of the Music Video Revolution.

Still, the song was very popular. "Rock Me Tonite" peaked at #15 on the Billboard Hot 100, #10 on the Cash Box singles chart, and even #1 on the Top Rock Tracks chart. And the album reached #11 on the Billboard 200 while becoming Squier's third platinum-selling record. 

There are standouts on this record. Songs that, in my opinion, are more straight-ahead rockers with minimal production schlock. They include "Take a Look Behind Ya," "Can't Get Next to You," and "Hand-Me-Downs." 

Flashback: Signs of Life (July, 1984)

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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!

Friday 80s Flashback for August 2, 2024

[Vital At Forty] -- 40 years ago*, Survivor released their fifth studio album, Vital Signs. While it was the band's fifth release, it was their first with new vocalist Jimi Jamison. Survivor's original vocalist, Dave Bickler, the one who had recorded Survivor's only previous hit (1982's "Eye of the Tiger" for Rocky III); he had left the band after having surgery to treat polyps on his vocal cords.

And switching out vocalists turned out in Survivor's favor, as Jamison's higher register worked well with the band's style. I mean, they had been slowly sliding more toward the pop end of the (AOR) rock spectrum anyway. So, Vital Signs ended up as the band's second most successful album (it's hard to top an album driven by a successful Rocky film). It peaked at #16 on the Billboard 200, and it also launched three top 20 singles: "I Can't Hold Back", "High on You", and "The Search Is Over" which peaked at #13, #8, and #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 respectively. A fourth single, "First Night" didn't dent Billboard's top 40, but still managed to climb to #53.

In hindsight, I might consider Vital Signs  somewhat saccharine. But it is also energetic, sincere, and a touchpoint in my own record collection. Now, you might not get energetic and sincere from the singles. So, I direct you to "Broken Promises", "Popular Girl" (I'm still not sure how this did not become a TV or film theme song), "It's the Singer, Not the Song", and maybe even "I See You in Everyone" – that's almost the entirety of Side B, which I do recall spinning on repeat back in the day, and the last song on Side A. Make of that what you will. 

*AOTY cites August 1, 1984, as the release date. Other sources, such as Wikipedia, cite September 1984. Still others simply list 1984.  

Flashback: Vital Signs. (August 1, 1984)

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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!

Star Trek Prodigy - Season Two

I am in awe of this show. A rag tag bunch of misfits giving us all the story and power of Star Trek. A show supposedly for kids but it made this adult cry, laugh and feel hopeful for a better future. 

Again the last 2 episodes of the season, just like season 1, are all that Star Trek is about. 

I hope there is a season 3 but if it has to end it certainly went out on top. Although I don't think I am actually ready to say goodbye to my new favorite family: Dal, Gwyn, Rok, Zero, Murf, Maj'El and Jankom.

It was a joy to hear some familiar voices on the show and see them in all their animated glory :) We tried not to look things up on IMDB or read the cast credits so we could be surprised when certain people showed up. It was also the reason for us binging the show as best as we could before SDCC. We didn't want to be spoiled but ... in the end we were spoiled with riches ... due to an amazing show and story ;)

I will most definitely be watching the show again and if you haven't found it yet or started it, I highly recommend you rectify that. I don't believe you will be let down at all. Go along for the ride and enjoy the rag tag family of misfits in all their Star Trek glory.

4 paws and a Murf ;)

The Acolyte - Star Wars series

 

I know this show took a lot of heat from Star Wars fans and from non-fans too. 

I liked it. Amandla Stenberg was great and a joy to watch through the 8 episodes. I liked that the show felt like a murder mystery who-done-it but with a Star Wars theme. I had fun trying to figure out who done it too.

I was blown away by Manny Jacinto. The last time I saw him was as Jason on The Good Place...this is VERY different from that role and he handled it perfectly. 

I like what to me felt like a different view of the Jedi, since I am not 100% invested in Star Wars overall, this view may hit a nerve with some fans. I figured it was just a story and they set it in a Star Wars theme. I will say that it did seem to run out of steam as it was going along. But at the same time I really wanted to know what was going to happen. 

We hadn't planned to watch it episodically, we thought we would wait and binge but then we started it before it was done and had to watch each Tuesday/Wednesday to see what happened. So to me, it can't be that bad. Would I watch it again? Probably not, unless I needed that information or memory jog for a second season or to tie to another show. 

I think if you watch it as a Star Wars murder mystery and don't worry about how it fits or doesn't into your story line of Star Wars, I think you might enjoy it. Again Manny Jacinto was crazy good, emphasis on crazy ;)

Was it perfect? No. Was it terrible? No. 

3 paws

Friday 80s Flashback for July 19, 2024

[Diamond Life] -- On July 16, 1984, the English band, Sade, released their debut album, Diamond Life. Sade assumed their moniker from the professional name of their lead vocalist, Sade Adu (Helen Folasade Adu).

I like to refer to Diamond Life as a jazz album masquerading as a pop record by way of R&B. And to make my case, I point out that this album peaked at #5 on the US Billboard 200, #5 on the US Top Jazz Albums, and #3 on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts. Diamond Life also reached at least the top 20 in charts around the world, and it won the 1985 Brit Award for Best British Album. The album's third single, or its second in the US, "Smooth Operator," was a worldwide smash hit and music video. "Smooth Operator" reached #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary charts. 

In my opinion, this is a record that largely holds up, even after 40 years. And that is largely due to Sade Adu's sultry contralto. 

Come for "Smooth Operator." Stay for "I Will Be Your Friend" and "Cherry Pie." 

Flashback: Diamond Life (July 16, 1984)

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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!

Scavengers Reign

 

After seeing so many people write about this series and how incredible they thought it was, I added it to our list. 

I have to say I almost don’t know what to say. 

It is truly original. The art is incredible. The music is a character all its own. It’s deeply depressing. It’s incredibly triumphant. It’s confusing and anger inducing. It’s what I would think a drug induced dream might be like. My heart and my head hurt sometimes each on their own but more times at the same time while watching. 

I do want to know what people loved so much about it. It definitely isn’t anything I’d add to my list to watch on my own but I am also not sad that I did add it and watch it. It is truly an experience, one I would never have had if people didn’t post about their love for it. 

Please let me know your thoughts on this show if you watched it. 

3 paws 

Frasier - 2023 series reboot

We came for Toks Olagundoye and left with a reminder of old friends, incredible belly laughs and even a few tears. Toks is hilarious in her role as Olivia Finch and is an excellent match for Kelsey Grammer as Frasier Crane and Nicholas Lyndhurst as Alan Corwall. The comedic timing of the entire cast is truly amazing. I am glad Toks was in the show because I don't know if we would have watched and we would have missed out on some great comedy.

There are 10 episodes and there was only 1 we were not thrilled with (too much slapstick and cringe) and there is only one character that was a little out of place but by the end they found a way to make the character work. 

It was lovely to see the call backs to the original character of Frasier and the show Frasier. My favorite reference in the show is that the bar they frequent is called Mahoney's and that is to honor John Mahoney who portrayed Frasier's father in the original Frasier show and passed away a few years ago.

I am impressed with how they maintained so much of the original show and character even though we are quite a few years out from the original show. There are so many clever pieces to the show and probably some throwbacks that I might have missed. I do think it is best to watch if you have seen the original but it probably stands on it own too.

4 paws

Friday 80s Flashback for July 5, 2024

[Nickels in the Arcade] -- I'm showcasing two albums this week, Zen Arcade by Hüsker Dü and Double Nickels on the Dime by Minutemen. Both are double albums, which is kind of unusual for the punk genre. But that means you're getting a heap of musical content: a total run time of 2 hours, 31 minutes, and 10 seconds. And, no, sharing two albums isn't simply a case of me not being able to choose one over the other. The fact is that these two releases are forever paired in my mind. There are several reasons for that. 

First, both bands were power trios in the American punk and hardcore scene. 

Second, both records were released on July 3, 1984, 40 years ago this week.

Third, both records were released by the independent label, SST Records. In fact, they were sequential releases (Zen Arcade is SST 027 while Double Nickels on the Dime is SST 028). 

And, finally, both records appear on lists of great, or even greatest, rock albums, particularly from the 1980s (for example: Zen Arcade is #33 on Rolling Stone's Best Albums of the 1980s and Double Nickels is #413 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time).

So, if punk is your thing, and you like clever lyrics on a variety of topics, give these classics a proverbial spin. Particularly if you're a fan of blistering guitar and rapid-fire rhythms! 

Flashback #1: Zen Arcade (July 3, 1984)

Zen Arcade, Hüsker Dü's second studio album, is rooted in hardcore punk. But it also showcases Hüsker Dü as a band that is growing and expanding. It's a concept album that tells the story of a young runaway who finds that the outside world is much worse than his unfulfilling home life (Our Band Could Be Your Life: Scenes from the American Indie Underground, 1981-1991 by Michael Azerrad, p.181). There were no singles, or music videos, from this album. But standouts among the 23 tracks include: "Dreams Recovering," "Indecision Time," "Newest Industry," "Broken Home, Broken Heart," "Turn on the News," "Somewhere," and "I’m Never Talking to You Again." 

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Flashback #2: Double Nickels on the Dime (July 3, 1984)

Minutemen had originally recorded a single album's worth of material for their third studio release. But upon hearing Zen Arcade from their labelmates Hüsker Dü, recorded a month earlier, they decided to write more material. In the liner notes for Double Nickels, "Take that Hüskers!" is meant to give the Hüskers credit for the idea to make a double album (Double Nickels on the Dime 33⅓ by Michael T. Fournier, p.9-10). Not that Minutemen actually had a unifying concept for the double album, expect maybe (loosely) their cars. Similar to Zen Arcade, Double Nickels on the Dime boasts neither singles nor music videos (unless you count their super-brief cover of Van Halen's "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love"). And with their much shorter songs, this collection clocks in with 45 individual tracks (though only the original vinyl release has the full set of songs). It wasn't commercially successful, but it has had a lasting legacy: It was included in the book, 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die, and (as I mentioned earlier) it appears on multiple "best of" lists. Not bad for a band with only five years of total activity. 

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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! 

Obi-Wan Kenobi - mini series

There is one main reason I wanted to post about this fantastic show.

Vivien Lyra Blair!!

She portrays 10 year old Princess Leia Organa and I would almost swear she is Carrie Fisher reincarnated! I 100% believe she will grow up to be Carrie Fisher's Leia. In fact, as we watched the last episode I kept crying because it made me miss Carrie Fisher so much.

Vivien is a key piece of this series and she holds her own so perfectly alongside such incredible actors: Ewan McGregor, Moses Ingram, Hayden Christensen, Jimmy Smits, Joel Edgerton and so many more.

I guarantee I missed a ton of great inside pieces in this show that linked to the movies, etc but it stood on its own to me even without knowing all the ins and outs. I did ask Brainwise a few questions to keep me on the right page though.

If you are a Star Wars fan, this is a must see. If you just a casual Star Wars fan, I still say this is a must see. It is well put together and it fills in some gaps and provides us the most perfect 10 year old Leia.

4 paws

Friday 80s Flashback for June 28, 2024

[A 40-Year (Purple) Reign] -- Perhaps some music fans, and maybe even some critics, would point to this week's album as the moment Prince had climbed to the top of the mountainous music scene. They would, however, be mistaken. He had already showed his chops and seized his mainstream crown with Controversy (1981) and 1999 (1982). But in 1984, 40 years ago this very week, Prince began to shift the cultural landscape with Purple Rain, his sixth studio album.  

Released on June 25, 1984, Purple Rain was a blend of funk, swirling synth beds, and shredding rock. In other words, this was the true debut of what was fast becoming Prince's signature sound. This record also served as the soundtrack for the movie of the same name, a movie that would hit theaters a month later. In the eyes and ears of many fans, the movie and the album are forever bound together in a marriage of audio and video. 

The album topped both the US Billboard 200 (where it spent 24 weeks) and the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts. And it reached the top 20 or better in charts around the world. Two of the singles, "When Doves Cry" and "Let's Go Crazy," topped the US Billboard Hot 100. The third single, the title cut, "Purple Rain," peaked at the #2 spot. Purple Rain was critically and commercially a runaway success, and it is regarded as one of the best albums of all time (not just the 1980s). 

Because I linked the individual music videos for the singles in the previous paragraph, I'm embedding a single video featuring the "2015 Paisley Park Remaster" of the 1984 album in its entirety below. 

What is your favorite track on this album from The Purple One? 

Flashback: Purple Rain (June 25, 1984)

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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!