80s MUSIC CHANNEL

Michael Jackson: Rest in Peace

2009-06-26T03:52:00.001-07:00

Today marked perhaps the ultimate tragedy for any true patron of the 1980s and its music, the lost of its biggest star and greatest icon, Michael Jackson. The King of Pop.

At the age of 50, he was far too young, but many of the greatest stars seem to burn out before their time.

The author of some of the best and most popular music to ever travel the airwaves, from Thriller to Beat It to Smooth Criminal to Dirty Diana to Billie Jean and beyond, he contributed immensely to the soundtracks of many lives, and he will be missed.

80s Music as Workout Fuel

2009-05-29T08:05:00.000-07:00

As you may know, at Colin Timberlake, Colin is an avid fitness nut and sometimes insane willpower and body tester. But the guy knows his stuff when it comes to the gym and as of late, he has been presenting his iPod Weightlifting Playlist...20 songs at a time.

It is not exclusively 80s, but the best decade of all time does play a prominent role in the playlist, so if you want to check out the list (now up to 120 songs), you will see more than a few 80s classics that are inspiring for weightlifting or running or whatever your workout entails...

Enjoy!

20 Songs for Lifting Weights - Part 1
20 Songs for Lifting Weights - Part 2
20 Songs for Lifting Weights - Part 3
20 Songs for Lifting Weights - Part 4
20 Songs for Lifting Weights - Part 5
20 Songs for Lifting Weights - Part 6

The Movie Montage Hall of Fame at ColinTimberlake.com

2009-02-03T00:52:00.000-08:00

In the interests of discussing great 80s music, sometimes it is necessary to bring in great 80s movies...which brings me to a collection of clips that has been assembled at ColinTimberlake.com. It is with Colin's fine work that there has been amassed the:

MOVIE MONTAGE HALL OF FAME

This Hall of Fame features a collection of film's greatest montages, most of which occurred during...that's right: The 80s.

Whether it's Teen Wolf, Scarface, Rocky IV or the Karate Kid, due attention has been paid and due respect has been given. Cheers to a lost art of filmmaking that will surely reappear when the 80s resurface and take over the world as they should.

Bananarama: Cruel Summer (1983)

2009-01-04T19:09:00.000-08:00

They were the prototype for the often-imitated girl band that would proliferate like wildfire in the 1990s and the early 21st century.

The trio of Siobhan Fahey, Keren Woodward and Sara Dallin made up the 80s superband Bananarama, and Cruel Summer from their self-titled album remains one of their most successful singles, and one that has enjoyed a great deal of longevity, sampling and remixing.

The song also has the distinction of appearing on the soundtrack for the '80s classic film The Karate Kid.

Cruel Summer was also covered and released as a single by Ace of Base, with the track also serving as the album title.

Frozen Ghost: Pauper in Paradise (1989)

2009-01-04T18:55:00.000-08:00

Another of the hidden gems to arise from the Canadian pop / rock scene in the 1980s was Frozen Ghost, a band that won the Juno award (Canadian Grammy) for Most Promising Group in 1987.

The band released three successful albums, the middle one being Nice Place to Visit in 1988, with Pauper in Paradise being one of the most memorable singles included.

The band split up in the early 1990s, but its members went on to enjoy minor success in ventures such as producing other acts. They remain one of the nation's most fondly remembered '80s acts.

Sammy Hagar: Winner Takes it All (1987)

2008-11-10T04:25:00.000-08:00

There was Rocky. There was Rambo. And in 1987, there was Lincoln Hawk, another of Sylvester Stallone's strong but silent, down on his luck, action-drama protagonists.

Over the Top, like many of the great action films of the decade, the film was driven in no small part by its soundtrack, with the most notable contribution coming from future Van Halen frontman Sammy Hagar.

Sylvester Stallone himself participates in the video, which is thematically centred around the storyline of the film. Over the Top was Rocky-like in many respects, featuring a hard-working underdog taking a one-in-a-million run at the armwrestling championship. The video also features Over the Top villain and real-life armwrestling legend Rick Zumwalt.

Madonna: Papa Don't Preach (1986)

2008-11-09T22:49:00.000-08:00

It is among several contenders for Madonna's most controversial song. 1986's Papa Don't Preach set the Bible Belt on fire with it's focus on teen pregnancy and may have caused more of a ruckus with the moral majority than her pointed brazier.

One of the flagship singles from the immensely popular True Blue album, the music video co-starred Danny Aiello (The Last Don, The Professional) as Madonna's distressed father, trying to come to terms with her situation and decision.

The song was covered almost 20 years later by Ozzy Osbourne's kid Kelly. Although you have to wonder what Ozzy Osbourne could preach to his children not to do, with any credibility.

And here's the live version...

General Public: Tenderness (1984)

2008-11-06T03:52:00.000-08:00

It is one of those 1980s songs that simply screams "1980s soundtrack." It's hard to hear the song without imagining it rolling over the end credits of some teen comedy. The song is Tenderness by General Public. General Public was created from the remnants of another notable 80s band, The English Beat.

Tenderness still stands as General Public's signature song and calling card. And true to its "soundtrack feel" it appeared in the popular 1985 teen comedy Weird Science, which starred Anthony Michael Hall, Bill Paxton, Kelly LeBrock, and a young Robert Downey Jr. working his way up the Hollywood ladder.

The song also resurfaced in the 1990s teen comedy Clueless.

Jim Capaldi: Something So Strong (1989)

2008-11-05T00:27:00.000-08:00

When you have Eric Roberts headlining a film that is written by a martial artist (in which he himself will play the lead role)...and the film involves a martial arts competition...you are probably on track for a 1980s cheesefest with some pretty good action a synth-guitar soundtrack, and more than a couple montages.

That's indeed what we have with the 1989 film Best of the Best, also starring James Earl Jones. There are training montages. Bonding montages. There is even a contemplative slowly riding a motorcycle around the highway montage. But it was the '80s and if you did it any other way...you went to jail.

Here we have the theme song from the film, Something So Strong by Jim Capaldi, also known for working the band Traffic.

Jim Capaldi became something of a figure in the fight against cancer when he succumbed to the battle a couple years ago. His passing inspired a tribute concert with many notable rock and roll names.

You can visit Jim Capaldi's OFFICIAL SITE to learn more about the man and his battle or this BBC ARTICLE that discusses his passing and his charity endeavors.

Joe Lynn Turner: Heartless (1985)

2008-11-04T17:05:00.000-08:00

And we may as well finish our course in the soundtrack to 1985's The Heavenly Kid with this strong offering from Joe Lynn Turner. It is Heartless, appropriately played during a party scene where the true character of the stock hot-chick-with-no-heart is revealed.

You are undoubtedly familiar with this character from any and all teen 1980s movies. Pamela Wells in Teen Wolf. Beth in Better Off Dead. If you didn't have a heartless hot chick in your '80s high school movie, then the film was an impostor.

Howard Hewett: Obsession (1985)

2008-11-04T11:05:00.000-08:00

Well, here we are back at the 1985 film The Heavenly Kid. The fact of the matter is that this soundtrack was one of the most consistently catchy and consistently 80s musical scores to provide a film's backbone in that decade. Whatever adventures Lewis Smith and Jason Gedrick were getting up to, they were always supported by the film's strong musical spine.

Howard Hewett was part of the 1980s group Shalamar, which also made contributions to the popular and iconic soundtracks to Footloose and Beverly Hills Cop. Here is Obsession, Hewett's entry to the quintessentially 80s score for The Heavenly Kid.

Frank Stallone: Far From Over (1983)

2008-11-03T01:18:00.001-08:00

And yet again from the files of songs that had an integral role in making a successful movie what it was, we have Far From Over, ostensibly the theme song from the 1983 film Staying Alive. The song's contribution to the film earned it a Golden Globe nomination.

Staying Alive was the sequel to the 1979 hit Saturday Night Fever, with Travolta reprising his role as the egotistical Tony Manero. This time, Tony has graduated from the discos and is trying to break into Broadway. The film was written and directed by Sylvester Stallone (with a two-second cameo appearance). The result was an intense rags-to-riches fusion of broadway dancing and pursuit of the American Dream. Oddly enough, it worked.

The Stallone connection explains the appearance of Frank Stallone, both in a supporting role in the film, as well as featured prominently on the soundtrack. Frank appeared in small roles or on the soundtracks of many of Sylvester's films in the 1980s, including Rocky III, Over the Top, and Rambo: First Blood Part II.

Here is the original recording of the song with clips from the film.

And here is a very strong 2008 live performance of the song, 25 years later, by the Frank Stallone Band. As you can hear, Frank still has the chops.

This article wouldn't be complete without the cheeseball theatrical trailer for the film.

And last but not least, the longevity and disco-dream-iconic nature of the song is attested to by its inclusion in the trailer for the Saturday Night Live spinoff film Superstar.

Jamie Bond: Animal Attraction (1985)

2008-11-02T00:11:00.000-07:00

Well, a huge part of the success of the teen favorite The Heavenly Kid was the soundtrack, and from start to finish it delivered. Here we have the ambience for the a nerdy Jason Gedrick's "extreme makeover." Animal Attraction by Jamie Bond.

Jon Fiore: Out on the Edge (1985)

2008-11-01T21:02:00.000-07:00

Anyone who saw The Heavenly Kid in 1985 can't help but look back fondly on the formulaic film and the quintessentially 80s memories it inspires. Those memories are, without a doubt, closely tied with the theme song to the film: Out on the Edge by Jon Fiore.

The film starred Richard Mulligan of Empty Nest fame, as well as a young Jason Gedrick and character actor Lewis Smith in a rare leading role. This was one of a handful of quiet 80s teen classics that have been all-but-forgotten in the intervening years...except for here on the 80s Music Channel.

Madonna: Dress You Up (1985)

2008-11-01T08:15:00.000-07:00

It stands as one of Madonna's most remixed songs and possesses a quiet "staying power" that has allowed it to endure despite not being one of her highest selling singles. Dress You Up was released as a single from the Like a Virgin album in 1985, peaking at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart even though it never enjoyed the benefit of having an official video made to accompany it.

Here is a live performance of the song from the Virgin Tour in 1985, which ultimately served as the de facto video.

And here is a fusion of the song with Material Girl from the 1987 Who's That Girl tour. This was, in fact, the last tour during which the song was performed by Madonna as part of a concert set.

One of the more unique unofficial arrangements is the following Forever in Love Remix...

Finally, and this was met with a mixed reception at the time, here is a sample of the Gap's 1990s Dress You Up ad campaign. Some thought it was trendy and fashionable. Others thought a dance classic was being murdered with a cheap gimmick. And others still were simply happy to have one of their favorite Madonna songs dusted off and appearing between segments of Melrose Place.

The Tragically Hip: Small Town Bringdown (1987)

2008-10-31T10:44:00.001-07:00

They later went on to become possibly Canada's most popular band "within the borders of their home country." The hard rock poets led by Gordon Downie mixed sometime hard-driving and sometimes off-kilter melodies with their own brand of poetic lyricism to join musicians like Tom Cochrane as homegrown acts who enjoyed moderate internationally but were music superheroes in the land of the Maple Leaf and permanent fixtures in Canadiana musical folklore.

Small Town Bringdown was the lead single from their 1987 self-titled album and arguably the hardest rocking song they ever produced.

While they enjoyed greater chart success with later songs in the 1990s, some felt that the future offerings would be a little more self-indulgent and poetry-focused and longed for the Tragically Hip to still prove they could rock out like they did in the late 1980s.

Tragically Hip covers remain popular and common throughout Canada, as many musicians have been inspired by the band. This cover by Ronnie and the Law is one example.

Pretty Poison: Nighttime (1984)

2008-10-27T08:56:00.000-07:00

1980s two-hit-wonder dance act Pretty Poison had a bona fide smash with Catch Me (I'm Falling) in 1987. However, while Nighttime was originally released to little fanfare in 1984, it was met with a much warmer reception four years later and became the group's second significant hit.

Here is the 12" extended version.

And the band was also wise to the virtues of targeting the latin market. Here is the simultaneously released Spanish recording.

Lou Gramm: Lost in the Shadows (1987)

2008-10-27T04:39:00.001-07:00

Well, as it turns out, sometimes an iconic movie has two songs that make it what it is. In this case, not only does Gerard McMann's Cry Little Sister become inseparable from the 1987 cult hit The Lost Boys. So, too, does Lost in the Shadows, the soundtrack contribution performed by Lou Gramm, the lead singer from Foreigner and owner of one of the clearest and most characteristic voices of the 1980s.

Here is the original video from the song, featuring some selective and well-timed imagery from the film.

It is also somewhat cool that in this video, Lou Gramm looks like he could well have been the fifth Lost Boy. He could easily have had the role portrayed by Alex Winter (a.k.a. Bill S. Preston, Esq). There he is, way in the back...

Gerard McMann: Cry Little Sister (1987)

2008-10-26T05:53:00.000-07:00

Every once in a while a song becomes so intertwined with an iconic movie of its era that the song immediately recalls imagery from the film. Likewise, the movie just wouldn't be the movie it is without that particular piece of music.

One such instance is Cry Little Sister by Gerard McMann, the theme from the 1987 cult classic The Lost Boys which starred Kiefer Sutherland, Jason Patric, Corey Haim and Corey Feldman.

Here is the studio recording...

And here we have the 2008 cover of the song by Alden for The Lost Boys II: The Tribe.

The song has inspired numerous covers, especially by heavily goth-induced bands, and has lent itself well to varying interpretations and arrangements. Here is one such rendition, by Carfax Abbey...

And as a special treat, here is the original theatrical trailer for The Lost Boys.

Pretty Poison: Catch Me (I'm Falling) (1987)

2008-10-26T01:51:00.000-07:00

Pretty Poison, hailing from Philadelphia, was a classic 80s two-hit wonder. Fronted by Jade Starling, their calling card was the 1987 smash hit, "Catch Me (I'm Falling)," a song that went to #1 on the Billboard Dance charts in 1987.

The song was also featured on the soundtrack for the movie "Hiding Out" which starred Jon "Don't Call Me Duckie" Cryer.

Here we have quite a good extended version of the song.

The song has enjoyed good longevity in terms of samples and remixes and is a dance favorite at any retro night.

Here is the Spanish Ultimix...

To this day, Jade Starling is still active in the techno scene. Feel free to visit JADE STARLING'S MYSPACE.

Cutting Crew: I Just Died in Your Arms (1987)

2008-10-25T04:34:00.001-07:00

"I Just Died in Your Arms Tonight" still stands as one of the most popular 1980s pop songs in terms of lasting power and cool factor. The landmark single from the album "Broadcast" (the first ever #1 album for Virgin Records), the song itself also reached #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Chart.

Cutting Crew and frontman Nick Van Eede never had another smash hit, but this one contribution remains one of the high points of 1987, a year that was one of the stronger entries of the decade.

Here is the 1990s cover by Intonation (feat. Joee), erroniously credited in the video to Stevie B.

Here we get a glimpse of the remix featuring Jay-Z...

And a techno mix by Jorg Schmid...

And finally, a more mellow cover by the Northern Kings. It seems a bit Iglesiasized...

Evidently, this song has enjoyed a great deal of staying power and inspired numerous takes on the lyrics and melody that extend beyond those listed here.

Nick Van Eede brought together a new lineup for Cutting Crew in 2006 and this version of the band still exists today. Here is their OFFICIAL SITE.

And here is a collection of REMIXES over at Retro Remixes.

Alphaville: Big in Japan (1984)

2008-10-24T03:35:00.000-07:00

And in honor of our inaugural POST ON JAPANESE 80s MUSIC featuring X Japan, we have a song that emblemized the 1980s fascination with all things Japanese.

This fascination made itself evident in such films as "Gung Ho" with Michael Keaton, "Mr. Baseball" with Tom Selleck, and the action classic "Black Rain" with Michael Douglas, Andy Garcia and "the Clint Eastwood of Japan" Ken Takakura.

"Big in Japan" was the debut single for iconic 80s pop group Alphaville.

Here we have a 1988 remix of the hit single.

And a techno remix...

X Japan: Kurenai (1989)

2008-10-24T03:19:00.000-07:00

Well, the 80s didn't only occur in the west. Asia had its own wave, its own Bon Jovis, its own Def Leppards. Here we have "Kurenai," a 1989 single released by Japanese supergroup X Japan.

And here we have another live version from 1997.

X Japan still stands as one of the most enduring and popular acts in Asia, its appeal having outlasted many upstart acts over the last 20 years.

Here is the band's OFFICIAL SITE (in Nihongo).

A-ha: The Sun Always Shines on TV (1985)

2008-10-21T02:55:00.000-07:00

It only makes sense to follow up "Take on Me" with the video that was ostensibly its sequel... "The Sun Always Shines on TV."

Like the previous song, the single was released from the "Hunting High and Low" album, one of the most rock solid pop albums of the 1980s.

This powerhouse trio from Norway made their mark with a catchy sound, boyish good looks, lead singer Morten Harket's vocal range, and a series of memorable and creative videos.

Here is a live acoustic performance of the song from 2007 in Kiev.

And here is an extended remix...

To this day, A-ha is still going strong. Their latest albums have not made enormous waves in North America but continue to enjoy huge success in Europe.

A-ha: Take on Me (1985)

2008-10-20T12:42:00.001-07:00

Due to the overwhelming success of this single, A-ha is sometimes erroneously remembered as a one-hit wonder.

The video was revolutionary for its time. Along with Peter Gabriel, A-ha established themselves as the visual masters of the 1980s, taking full advantage of the opportunities the MTV medium provided.

Here is the prototypical recording and video of the song, which preceded its 1985 worldwide mega-release with the comic book video.

The 1985 allbum, Hunting High and Low, from which the single was released, was one of the most consistent and listenable albums of the decade, and featured a number of singles which also utilized A-ha's distinctive visual style.

The song has endured several covers, including this version by Reel Big Fish, that made an appearance in the 1998 Trey Parker and Matt Stone film Baseketball.

And perhaps most importantly, there now exists a version of the song where the lyrics are a literal interpretation of the video. Pretty hard not to laugh...

Real Life: Send Me an Angel (1983)

2008-10-19T10:26:00.000-07:00

In 1983, Australian band Real Life, fronted by David Sterry, burst onto the international music scene with a hit that still stands today as a strong 80s favorite, "Send Me an Angel."

While a healthy portion of 80s pop tends to be fondly remembered for nostalgic reasons only, to this day, Real Life's signature piece still inspires people to say, "That is a cool song."

This is the video from the 1989 re-release, where they upped the visual production value a little.

And here is one of the best of the many remixes inspired by this 80s classic.

The song also appeared in the 1986 teen BMX movie "Rad," which has since fallen into obscurity but was popular at the time.

Real Life is still actively touring to this day. While the lineup has seen some revisions from time to time, David Sterry is still holding it together and producing some quality music.

Feel free to visit their OFFICIAL SITE and see what they've been up to.

Dead Or Alive: You Spin Me Round (Like a Record) (1985)

2008-10-14T01:52:00.000-07:00

The 1980s were a confusing time. The public was having trouble getting their minds around the nuances of time travel in "Back to the Future Part II." People thought WWF wrestling still might be real. And Dead or Alive frontman...um...frontperson Pete Burns was making Boy George look like Clint Eastwood.

Dead or Alive burst onto the scene and quickly cornered the market for power-glam-disco and sealed their spot in 1980s immortality with their 1985 album "Youthquake" and its smash single "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)."

The song has had incredible staying power, inspiring an endless array of remixes. Dead or Alive themselves changed up and re-released a new version of the song in 2003... Along with a new version of Pete Burns...

And for the final proof of the song's immortality, we need look no further than Opera Man himself...

You can also visit the OFFICIAL SITE for the current incarnation of the band.

And HERE you can catch some of the remixed versions at Retro Remixes.

A Flock of Seagulls: I Ran !1982)

2008-10-14T00:15:00.001-07:00

It was the height of early 1980s pop-pretension. A Flock of Seagulls, with their bizarrely haute-couture-coiffed lead singer Mike Score, was soaring up the charts with "I Ran (So Far Away)".

The signature song of one of the 80s' most distinctive-looking and prototypical New Wave acts went a little something like this...

Due to the original band name, Mike Score's memorable haircut (parodied recently in a Diet Pepsi commercial), and some creative but very synthy songwriting and arrangements, this band tends to be one of the first to be mentioned as an example of why people either love or hate the 1980s.

Here is a live performance of the song from 1983.

And this live version, also from 1983, I much prefer...

Eight Seconds: Kiss You When It's Dangerous (1985)

2008-10-13T02:33:00.000-07:00

They were pretty much a one hit wonder, but with "Kiss You (When It's Dangerous)", pop band Eight Seconds became one of Canada's most fondly remembered contributors to the 1980s music scene. Not only was it a catchy and melodic tune, but it had a moody but heartfelt video with high production values. And that was saying a fair bit for Canadian productions at the time.

The video actually features a pretty cool artistic theme of the changing of the seasons.

Dino: I Like It (1989)

2008-10-10T07:23:00.001-07:00

It was the late 1980s, and the public could certainly not be accused of buying substance over style. Enter Dino, king of the pre-Gerardo bicep-curling mullets. You wanted to hate him, but he was armed with a catchy track, "I Like It."

The video is a fairly sharp, Paula Abdul / Samantha Fox / Michael Damian / Milli Vanilli-esque production. It was the waning days of the 1980s, right before the Kid n' Play, TLC and Kris Kross era.

Here is a live version of the song. Though it sounds suspiciously like a remixed version of the studio track, it is worth it just to see the choreographed Carlton-style background dancing. Don't blame Dino. It was 1989.

I don't know why the audience was primarily full of dudes, though.

For another sample of Dino, circa 1989, here is the song "Summer Girls", from the same album, "24/7".

Shannon: Let the Music Play (1983)

2008-10-10T03:29:00.000-07:00

It began as a humble, low budget synth tune with a simple video, but has ended up being one of the most anthemized and remixed powerpop songs of the 1980s.

Shannon did go on to release another moderately successful single, "Give Me Tonight", but her 1983 smash single remains her calling card and her admittance ticket to the halls of 1980s pop immortality.

The continuing appeal of the song is evidenced by the following Mary Kiani cover.

Does anyone else think Mary Kiani looks like Judge Marilyn Milian from The People's Court (a.k.a. "The Hottest Judge on Television")?

Helix: Rock You (1984)

2008-10-08T22:17:00.000-07:00

"Rock You" was the blue chip single from hair metal band Helix's most memorable album, Walking the Razor's Edge (1984). There was a running theme in their album titles, if you can pick it up. They included "Breaking Loose", "Wild in the Streets", "No Rest for the Wicked", and "Back for Another Taste."

Apparently they mellowed out a little in 1985 for "Long Way to Heaven."

The original (uncensored) video for their flagship hit can be seen below.

It was kind of the hair band version of the Beastie Boys.

Beastie Boys: "You gotta fight for your right to party!"
Helix: "Oh yeah? Tell you what we're gonna do... Rock You!"

But the video was maybe Conan the Barbarian meets Mad Max meets... my friend Ryan's bachelor party.

It wasn't the most amazing display of vocal range. Pavarotti wasn't looking over his shoulder in 1984. But it was hard rock. It was 80's rock. It was the insert from Slippery When Wet where Bon Jovi was washing their car with ten girls in tight white t-shirts. Minus the t-shirts. Helix style baby...

The band's official site can be seen HERE.

Kim Carnes: Bette Davis Eyes (1981)

2008-10-08T18:19:00.000-07:00

It is one of the most lasting and stylistic songs of the 1980s. Kim Carnes entered the forefront of the pop music scene like Stevie Nicks' smoky-voiced California-bred older sister with Bette Davis Eyes, a song that spent nine weeks at #1 on the charts.

From the memorable 1981 album Mistaken Identity, it still stands as one of the strongest contributions to the pop music scene from the early part of the decade.

The song's longevity is testified to by its inclusion in the karaoke soundtrack from the film Duets.

And, as a bit of a footnote, here is the song reincarnated by Gwyneth Paltrow for the film.

HERE you can find a good collection of Bette Davis Eyes remixes over at Retro Remixes.

Whodini: Freaks Come Out at Night (1985)

2008-10-04T17:47:00.000-07:00

It was 1985. Rap was in its infancy. Well, maybe it was a toddler. It was post-Grandmaster Flash but pre-Run DMC. It was the age of Whodini. And in 1985, the freaks came out at night.

Above is the original video. Below is the instrumental...

The song achieved a new level of success when it appeared in the film "Jewel of the Nile", which was the sequel to the smash 1984 hit "Romancing the Stone", both starring Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner and Danny DeVito.

Here, we have the theatrical trailer for the film.

The 1980s came to an end, and took Whodini's brand of hip hop with them. But the group did leave a lasting imprint on the prototypical era of modern rap.

Holy crap, does Michael Douglas look like his father in that picture.

Eddie Murphy: Party All the Time (1985)

2008-10-03T18:52:00.000-07:00

No, that isn't Bobby Brown in the recording booth.

Yes, it was the 1980s. As attested to by the Michael Damian post below, producers were wising up to the fact that you could take an actor, put him in front of a microphone, and try to sell some albums. See, for example, Bruce Willis and Alyssa Milano. Even Steven Seagal gave it a go...or two, or three...

Golden boy and unstoppable force Eddie Murphy was riding high on the wave of Beverly Hills Cop...

...as well as Saturday Night Live, and a Richard Pryor-like wave of success with standup comedy albums.

Well, this time it wasn't comedy. Eddie Murphy was rocking the mic. And he had a Top 10 hit on his hands. And it was catchy...

It's not too hard to miss the cameo by Rick james.

"I'm Eddie Murphy, bitch."

And in case you're in the karaoke mood, here's the instrumental track.

Finally, here, of course, is the Mad TV sketch about the infamous song.

Michael Damian: Rock On (1989)

2008-10-02T13:15:00.000-07:00

It was 1989. Decades after David Essex had recorded his moody James Dean-esque classic "Rock On," somebody had the idea to take soap opera star Michael Damian and stick him in a recording booth with some high production 80s loops.

But it didn't stop there.

The two Coreys were together again, back when the two of them commanded a theatrical release. This time around, it was Dream a Little Dream.

So here we were. The two most commercialized children in Hollywood since Shirley Temple. A soap opera actor in front of a microphone. A decades-old favorite just ready to be shredded and shat upon by the excess and bubble gum pop-ism at the tail end of the 1980s.

And then...it didn't sound that bad. Here's the video.

Here it was, Michael Damian and two Coreys. And since Michael Damian kind of looks like Corey Haim plus 12 years, it was a bit like the three Coreys. And even if you wanted to hate it, it kind of worked. Granted, there you have Corey Feldman on stage doing his best MC Hammer dance... But that was the essence of the two Coreys. Just caught up in the mix, changing the game from year to year, going for it and being fearless.

So there you have it. Three icons of pop commercialism all bundled up into one song. And here's a slightly remixed, slightly more soap-opera version.

And for your reference, here is a live recording by the original artist, David Essex...

Finally, in an 80s-meets-80s phenomenon, here is a recent cover of the song by none other than 80s hard rock mega-legends Def Leppard.

Bobby Brown: On Our Own (1989)

2008-10-01T09:14:00.000-07:00

No, that singer is not another Eddie Murphy character from Harlem Nights.

It isn't that often that song becomes intertwined with a movie and the two fuel each other toward their success and leave a synergistic imprint on the public. The Breakfast Club had Simple Minds' "Don't You Forget About Me". Rocky III had Survivor's "Eye of the Tiger".

Well, Bobby Brown's "On Our Own" and Ghostbusters II are not quite as iconic of a tandem, but the same phenomenon was at play. In promotions and marketing and during the movie, the two went hand in hand and propelled each other to success. To this day, it is hard to think of one without the other, and the song did enjoy a very noteworthy rise up the charts.

And since Bobby Brown's fall from grace, this song may be one of the most fondly remembered from his pre-rehab golden era.

The video follows a similar formula to Ray Parker's "Ghostbusters" theme from the original movie, with random celebrities making cameos to participate in or, at least, notice the song. Keep an eye out for Donald Trump, Iman, Rick Moranis and several others including...

Christopher Reeve.

Here is the remix from the album Dance...Ya Know It!, which actually featured some pretty decent mixes of some of his hit singles.

HERE you can find a few remixes of On Our Own over at Retro Remixes.

Foreigner: Inside Information (1987)

2008-09-30T14:03:00.000-07:00

For a storied 1980s rock band such as Foreigner, 1987's Inside Information was a decent album... But it stands out on the strength of one of the band's greatest singles, "Say You Will."

It was a cleaner, more mature, more refined sound than that which had made the band in the late 70's and early 80's, with their earlier hits such as "Hot Blooded."

But what makes this song so exemplary is the fact that is represented by one of my favorite videos of the 1980s. The black and white crisp photography, the art direction, and the shady glimpses of excess truly capture in a single video the essence of what made features like Wall Street and Bright Lights, Big City successes in their time.

Enjoy the video...

Blue Peter: Don't Walk Past (1983)

2008-09-29T18:52:00.000-07:00

Not everyone can necessarily name the band, but anyone who was in Canada in the 1980s will recognize the song.

Blue Peter's "Don't Walk Past" was one of Canada's most cutting edge entries into the techno-pop New Wave scene of the mid-80s and had every bit of 80s coolness-meets-snobbiness-meets-quasi-fashion to have passed for European. It could well have made it onto the American Psycho soundtrack.

Anyway, here is the original video for their lasting contribution to the 80s music landscape.

And here they are performing their signature song live in Toronto in May 2008.

The band is still together and still going strong. Check them out if you like at their OFFICIAL WEBSITE.

Heart: Heart (1985)

2008-09-29T00:42:00.001-07:00

Heart, a band built around frontsisters Ann (vocals) and Nancy (guitar) was one of the most groundbreaking and influential bands of the 1970s. Crazy on You, one of their many signature songs (somewhat recently sampled by Eminem) still stands as one of the great rock anthems of the era (from Dreamboat Annie, 1976).

But it took Heart several years and albums to eventually release an album simply called...Heart.

It was the smoking hot female version of Def Leppard meets Europe fused with Bon Jovi meets Platonum Blonde. In short, Heart had adapted to the 80s. And given the instrumental, lyrical and songwriting talents involved in the lineup, it was not surprising that they did a better job of molding themselves to the 80s hair-rock sound than most of their contemporaries.

They left us with an album that for its genre and era, is one of the most consistently hard-punching and listenable compilations from the opening track to the last. Many of the songs made their way up the charts: If Looks Could Kill, These Dreams, What About Love, Never... And some of the ones that stayed hidden on the B-side are still pretty decent and may have been singles for any lesser band.

Anyway, here's a taste of the Wilson sisters rocking out at their gnarliest.

Heart - "If Looks Could Kill" (Live c.2003)
Yeah, Ann put on a couple pounds, so what...

Heart - "What About Love"

Heart - "Never"

Eric Clapton: It's in the Way that You Use it: Tribute to Paul Newman

2008-09-28T01:06:00.000-07:00

Paul Newman: 1925-2008

With the tragic news of Paul Newman's passing yesterday, I was left unsure of what exactly to say on the subject. And then it dawned on me that when a body of work such as his is left behind, nobody should be at a loss for words or material.

Since we're on the topic of 80s music, I figured the best way to honor the man in context would be with how even a classic 1960s leading man managed to exert an influence on film (and consequently its music) decades later.

The following song and video is It's in the Way that You Use it by guitar legend Eric Clapton, who was himself one of the film soundtrack forces of the 1980s (Back to the Future, Lethal Weapon). And in this case, through this video, we get to see the combined talents of one of the greatest screen presences and one of the most talented musicians of all time.

The song also appeared on Eric Clapton's album August, itself a success with a handful of very listenable and single-worthy tracks. Grab the album and check out Miss You and Hung Up on Your Love Again and you'll see why Clapton stayed supremely relevant so much longer than most of his rock contemporaries from the 1960s and 1970s.

So with Clapton's musical score, Paul Newman's Oscar-winning reprisal of his Fast Eddie role from the 1961 classic The Hustler, and what was ultimately a generational passing of the torch to then-up-and-comer Tom Cruise, and you have a fusion of genre-crossing talents that left us with a modern classic on many levels.

So, rest in peace, Mr. Newman. You contributions to film, the acting profession, salad dressings and charities will not be forgotten. We'll close with the theatrical trailer to The Color of Money, which gives a glimpse of the legend in action.

The Breakfast Club: Right on Track (1987)

2008-09-27T02:24:00.000-07:00

This self-titled album is the one and only offering (in 1987) by the New York-based synth pop band The Breakfast Club.

It is not to be confused with the 1985 movie The Breakfast Club.

The key single from the album was Right on Track, the video to which is featured below. Don't let the bizarre Pee Wee Herman-esque concept to the video fool you. These guys had some arrangements and loops that were cutting edge at the time.

But longevity-wise, I think they shot themselves in the foot a little bit with the Pee Wee's Playhouse image. There were a lot of different ways they could have gone with the visuals for this song. And the somewhat confusing band name didn't do them any favors either. There also weren't any successful bands running around at the time called Terms of Endearment or Rocky IV.

Breakfast Club - Right On Track
Uploaded by jpdc11

Oddly enough, this is a very listenable album from start to finish. It featured several other singles, most of which were worthy of release. Check out Kiss and Tell, Never Be the Same, and Rico Mambo.

And since we're on the topic, here's the theatrical trailer for a certain kick-ass 80s movie (which featured one of the most memorable soundtracks of its era).