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, September 13, 2024

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)



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!
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Friday, September 6, 2024

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)



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!
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