Open fer bidness ...

Ooo, the first post! Well, technically the second, but does the "open" announcement really count?

Anyway...

Pretenders. (or The Pretenders)

I understand not everyone liked them after they added "The" to their name, and others didn't like them after 'Learning To Crawl,', but I personally liked them up through 'Get Close.' After that, however, I also lost interest in them...the sound was too refined for me. (Of course, there's the crowd that hates Chrissie Hynde's voice on ANY album, but I'm guessing they'll just skip over this post!)

At any rate, I still enjoy listening to Pretenders when I want some good, basic rock. Played loudly, of course.

My favorite Pretenders song is far and away "Talk of the Town". I do like "Brass in Pocket", too. My favorite Pretenders album is, predictably, Learning to Crawl.

For a time in the Eighties Chrissie Hynde was dating Ray Davies of the Kinks. At the very least, "Thumbelina" from Learning to Crawl refers to the relationship. The Kinks' Word of Mouth album has quite a few references to their break up.

Hynde later took up with Simple Mind's Jim Kerr. Didn't they marry?

I'm not trying to be a curmudgeon
--I'm really not--but does anyone else think that the 80s were the worst decade in pop music history?

No offense is meant to those who obviously disagree with me--I'm really not trying to start a flame war. I just see the appeal of this particular decade.

They would be, if they hadn't been followed up by the 90s.

Not really the worst, goog, just - as in a lot of aspects of pop culture - the most grandiose and the most shallow all at the same time. The genuinely good stuff got drowned out in a sea of neon and hairspray.

I kinda agree with Todd, goog. The 90s started out with so much promise. Then the decade promptly crashed and burned. It happened either around the time Kurt Cobain died, or Time magazine did a grunge cover story. After that, it all kinda went to hell. I keep hoping for a resurgence in greatness. But I don't see it happening. In the '80s we saw a trend towards the compartmentalization of music. Each style had its own niche in radio. The days when a station could play ELO's "Sweet Talkin' Woman", "Evergreen" by Streisand and "Stairway to Heaven" by Zep were fast fading. Stations that catered to New Wave was the beginning of the trend.

I think for really great music to happen again, there has to emerge an artist or band that has universal appeal - an act that is liked by a broad spectrum of the audience. Because of how much of a niche industry music has become, I don't see that happening again. Nirvana came close. But they weren't good enough to pull it off, I don't think.

But really, the 50s, '60s and '70s have produced their share of cringe-worthy music. The early '70s sucked compared to the latter half of the decade. The early '80s were worse than the late '80s (to me anyway). The early '90s is when the primo music was being made. I think every decade has a point where the music is so bad you might actual comtemplate suicide rather than listen to another note. But it will always have its good half, too.

Dammit. I wasn't going to go back online today. So much for that.

Hard habit to break isn't it Benn?
I began to lose interest in current music back in the early 90's. It got to the point where I could tolerate only about 1 song in 10. I started listening more to popular music from earlier eras and pretty much ignore current music.
I notice the best stuff from any time tends to remain popular, though it often takes 10-20 years for things to shake out.

Hard habit to break isn't it Benn?

No, that's Chicago, also from the '80s.

"Hard habit to break isn't it Benn?" - Butch Brookshier

"No, that's Chicago, also from the '80s" - ScottN

Yeah, it is.

"I began to lose interest in current music back in the early 90's. It got to the point where I could tolerate only about 1 song in 10. I started listening more to popular music from earlier eras and pretty much ignore current music.
I notice the best stuff from any time tends to remain popular, though it often takes 10-20 years for things to shake out." - Butch Brookshier

I regret that I'm not more aware of modern music. Personally, I started losing track around 1995, 1996. While I admit it's gotten too poppy nowadays, there's nothing wrong with that per se. To me there's a sense that's all pre-packaged. Songs and acts seem to be released based on demographics, rather than actual talent or rather the act/song is truly interesting. I keep hoping that somebody from left field will materialize to change it all. I'm afraid that if they do, they'll be co-opted almost immediately upon arrival.

While I admit it's gotten too poppy nowadays, there's nothing wrong with that per se . To me there's a sense that's all pre-packaged. Songs and acts seem to be released based on demographics, rather than actual talent or rather the act/song is truly interesting.

Exactly. That's why I love the Barenaked Ladies, Moby, Train and Alicia Keys - they buck the trend and achieve something really fresh and interesting.

Yeah, till tons of imitators arrive to spoil it, like when grunge first appeared, or the current pop explosions, with all the look/sound-alike boy bands and Britney wannabes (although Christina A is by far more talented then BS). I'm not too keen on today's music and prefer the older stuff but it's good to see good talent like Alicia Keys and India.Arie emerging. If we get some more like that, then fine. I'd just hate to see the good stuff get overshadowed by lackluster, second- or third-rate wannabes.

But really, the 50s, '60s and '70s have produced their share of cringe-worthy music.

Oh, I would never have said otherwise. Guess the 80s just isn't my decade. The only artists I listen to from the time are artists who had been around before: Journey, Queen, et al. And I can't think of a single artist who was better in the 80s than in the 70s.

As for the 90s, after the 80s I just stopped listening to new artists (except Tori Amos) and became, as my post above indicates, a snob.

Peace.

I hate that I'm not as interested in current music as I once was. It annoys me because I always crave the new. I dunno. I'm starting to listen to Dallas' main top 40 station to see what catches my attention. Then I'll try our metal station & alternative rock stations. So far, I do like Pink's "Get the Party Started Up". There's been one or two other things. I think there's hope for me yet.

That's one of the very few new songs I like. Actually, it's the only one I can think of at the moment cuz I don't listen to all that much new music anymore.

HEY!!! What happened to the post I made yesterday?
Did it get deleted, or was there a SNAFU when I sent it, and it never got posted? Oh, well, I'll try again later.

So far as I know ... you musta goofed up the "send" somehow. The only posts I've been diddling with recently are in The Three Stooges topics.
IF however (somehow) I did accidentally delete your post ... please accept my apologies and post again!

Thanks, Derf! With all the problems I continuously have on my end, I'm sure it wasn't you or NitCentral's fault. Now I feel like I've gone and made a big fuss over nothing (hope I didn't sound too cross), so please accept MY apologies! Anyway, I'll try again...

Does anyone remember the band Saga? Their big hit that got any airplay where I lived (though it isn't their only good tune, IMO) was "On The Loose," from the 1982 'Worlds Apart' LP.

I thought a friend of mine had a live album by them (of which I heard one or two songs), but I could be mistaking another group for them. Time has blurred the memory a bit...

Check out this site ... see if it tweaks your memory. It appears that many of their discs are still in print.
The Complete Saga Discography
(if the link doesn't work ... here is the address:
http://www.progrock.com/saga/discography.html)

Wow! That's a long history, and they're still around, too! I'd kind of forgotten about them until the other day when I brought it up here, so I never thought to do some searching on my own. Thanks for the link!
Memory tweaking in progress... I figure the live tracks I heard were from 'In Transit,' and I heard a couple tracks from 'Heads or Tales' back when that one was new. Looks like I've got some catching up to do.

Craig, I remember that song very well. "On The Loose" is one of my favorite `80's songs.

Unfortunately, I couldn't name another song by Saga if someone put a gun to my head and glued lit sticks of dynamite to my hands.

Now `scuse me while I go throw my copy of Pyromania in the ol' boom box.

I wonder what it says about my psyche that I always recall this line from "On The Loose":

"The time we feel most stable
Is the time we're coming off the wall."

Oh, well. I bought the 'Worlds Apart' LP because of that song, and ended up liking most of the album. Still have it, in fact. I'll have to get my old turntable hooked back up...

"On the Loose" was not Saga's only big hit. From the same album was "Wind Him Up." I have the CD at home.

Oh, obviously "OTL" wasn't their only hit; as I mentioned, it's just the only one that I recall getting any repeat airplay where I lived at the time. A shame, really.

Actually Craig, "On the Loose" and "Wind Him Up" are the only two songs by Saga I ever heard played on the radio. Saga's problem, it seems to me, is they were an art-rock/prog rock band at a time when art-rock was dying (thank you!). ELP had broken up. Yes was getting help from those behind The Buggles. Genesis was going blue-eyed soul/pop thanks to Phil Collins. Really, the genre had run its course by the time Saga really hit.

Ah, how presumptuous of me to assume that a long career and several albums (including collections) indicated more than a few hits! Maybe a new question is due: Has anyone else heard other Saga songs get radio airplay? Just curious. (As I mentioned previously, I heard something off of 'Heads or Tales,' but I couldn't tell you what...I guess that doesn't qualify it as a hit!)

Um, uh, I have to admit to not being too familiar with Saga beyond the Worlds Apart album. As far as I've known, they were a band that started in the late '70s and released maybe 4 albums before splitting up. According to www.allmusic.com they've put out a total of 16 albums, most recently in 2001. However, only three are in print. I had no idea they were that prolific. From what I can tell, they had the two hits from Worlds Apart and have since become a bit of a cult band.

I generally count songs played on the radio as a "hit" song. Of course, it helps if it's gotten a lot of airplay. I mean, Led Zep's "Stairway to Heaven" was never released as a single. It's definitely one of Zep's biggest hits. So I would say that the song you heard from Heads or Tails qualifies. But that's just me.

It was Derf's link (scroll up a few posts) that let me know more about Saga; until I checked it out, I also had no idea they were as prolific as they are/were. I have Worlds Apart and had heard whatever track from Heads or Tales (I even held the LP in my hands when it was new, but didn't buy it), but that was pretty much it for me. And I hadn't realized they started in the 1970's.
Re: Led Zep's "Stairway," I've come to the conclusion that it's the most overplayed tune in Zep's repertoir. That's ironic considering it was never actually a single. (BTW, if I never hear it again, it'll be too soon. Sorry to all who like the song, but too much of a good thing...)

While I don't hate Zep's "Stairway", I do agree it's become overplayed, and almost overrated. I rarely listen to it these days.

Subject change...
Anyone remember Yaz?

You mean Yazz and the Plastic Population? They had their power pop song "The Only Way Is Up" which I think, rather funnily enough, went straight in at #1 in the UK. I feel that was the eighties' equivalent of D:Ream's "Things Can Only Get Better [for Blair ]" in that it was energetic, yet cheap and cheerful, and both titles had similar meanings of course. I liked it.

The 80s could not be the 80s without "Rock Me Amadeus" by that man Falco (RIP) - I heard it on the radio for the first time in a long while, and it still ROCKS!

Has anyone mentioned Paul Hardcastle's "Nineteen" yet? Or M/A/R/R/S's "Pump Up The Volume"? Two dance tracks that redefined the sampling scene of future pop music, if not pop music itself. (This really belongs in the Sound Sampling board.)

I'm surprised no-one has yet mentioned the most appalling Musical Crime of the 1980s - the fact that Joe Dolce's "Shaddap You Face" kept Ultravox's "Vienna" from the number one spot in the UK! 'Kinnell! (as we say in Britain)

"The 80s could not be the 80s without "Rock Me Amadeus" by that man Falco (RIP) - I heard it on the radio for the first time in a long while, and it still ROCKS!" - Sven

Uh, hate to say it (No I don't.) but it would be the 80s without Falco's "Rock Me Amadeus". To me anyway. I've left topless bars when that song played. I still detest it to this day. Falco's only great song was "Der Kommissar". And After the Fire did it better! There was a great parody of "...Amadeus" on Dr. Demento called "Rock Me Jerry Lewis" ("Te-te-te-telethon. Telethon.")

There was a band called Yaz. I don't know if they're the same act you're refering to Sven. I'm pretty sure it's the same Craig is talking about. I have one of their CDs, Upstairs At Eric's. Yaz's big hit was "Only You".

"I'm surprised no-one has yet mentioned the most appalling Musical Crime of the 1980s - the fact that Joe Dolce's "Shaddap You Face" kept Ultravox's "Vienna" from the number one spot in the UK! 'Kinnell! (as we say in Britain)" - Sven

Well, I never mentioned it, 'cos I never knew about it. "Shaddup You Face" was only a minor novelty hit here in the States. I liked it, though. The B-side wasn't too bad. It was a song called, "I Ain't In No Hurry". Wonder what happened to Dolce?

Tomorrow night I'm going once again to a "Taste of Addison" (Texas). Performing there will be Cyndi Lauper. Tickets are only $5. Funny. I thought Cyndi was supposed to be the superstar, overshadowing Madonna. Funny how it worked out.

Falco's only great song was "Der Kommissar". And After the Fire did it better!
Yeah, definitely, but Falco had the much funnier video, with him running in place in front of a series of backgrounds playing on a bluescreen.

Benn: Yaz's big hit was "Only You".

I think you mean Yazoo, a band which featured Alison Moyet and Vince Clarke (formerly of Depeche Mode and later of Erasure).

No, it's Yaz. Their two albums I got in the US were Upstairs at Eric's and You and Me Both. Alison Moyet was indeed the lead singer, though, and she had at least two solo albums in the 1980's. Beyond that, I haven't followed her career (if it continued). Vince Clarke did the synth that distinguished Yaz's sound.
A woman I knew in college introduced me to Yaz a few years after their second album had come out, and another person let me hear his Alison Moyet solo stuff shortly thereafter.
"Only You" was off of Upstairs at Eric's, by the way.
Finally, I found a "CD Maxi-Single" which featured three remixes of "Situation" (From Upstairs at Eric's and one remix of "State Farm" from You and Me Both.

By the way, I've heard of Yazz & the Plastic Population, but in name only.
Yazoo? That rings a bell, but again, only because I heard the name somewhere.

Alison Moyet and Vince Clarke's band Yazoo was apparently known as Yaz in the USA.

Hence the confusion with Yazz & the Plastic Population, who made 'The Only Way is Up'.

You can see pictures of them both here:
http://www.essential-eighties.net/temp_name_x.htm

Thanks, Sophie! I was starting to wonder if the group had different names for each side of the Atlantic, hence my specifying that the albums I have were from the US. (See yesterday's post.) By the way, Sven, I hope I didn't sound too rude during what's become "the name debate." I was just going on the info I had in hand, namely my US cd's. No hard feelings, I hope.
I wonder why they "Americanized" the name?

From a brief web trawl, I believe there is a Yazoo in Mississippi (which is where I think they got the name), and also a Yazoo record company in the US. They probably didn't want confusion/legal hassle with one or both of these.

Don't worry about it, Craig - this sort of thing happens all the time between the Brits and the US.

By the way, I had also heard an acapella version of "Only You" by an all-male vocal group called the Flying Pickets sometime during the 80s. They also did a version of "When Your're Young and In Love" which was... unique. I wonder where they are now?

From a brief web trawl, I believe there is a Yazoo in Mississippi (which is where I think they got the name)

Yep - Yazoo City, MS to be specific (although I'm not sure it's the band's namesake).
You can also sometimes hear it mentioned when Southern US-based films or tv shows need a quick laugh.

PS -
...this sort of thing happens all the time between the Brits and the US. []

It certainly does. Completely off-topic of course, but I still think somebody shoulda sued when her American publisher decided Agatha Christie's sublime Lord Edgeware Dies sounded better as Thirteen at Dinner.

Ahem...back to the music. Dunno about Yaz(oo), but I know Alison Moyet from her solo hit Invisible She really has a splendid voice - I remember keeping an ear on the charts for awhile in hopes she'd return.

I've got the '80s music channel turned on right now. Did you ever listen to the openning organ music from George Michael's "Faith"? It sounds a lot like the music from the chorus from Wham's "Freedom" to me.

Been a while since anyone's visited here...

Anyone remember T'Pau? No, not the Star Trek character, the group. Their big hit in the US was "Heart and Soul," but I came across a greatest hits cd of theirs about ten years ago, implying that they had at least two albums. I've only ever heard their self titled album, which featured the above mentioned single.

How about Wang Chung? I once heard a rather cool extended version of "Dance Hall Days" on late night radio, back when that single was still getting regular airplay. I haven't heard that version since then.

I used to own T'Pau's debut and second album, The Promise. The first, self-titled album was better and I'd like to find a copy of it on CD. In addition to "Heart and Soul", the song "China In Your Hand" was another track I remember liking alot. I think T'Pau may have released a third album also.

And as for Wang Chung, yeah, I remember them. "Everybody Wang Chung tonight." I was never really a fan of theirs, though.

Heh. What do ya know? I've just found T'Pau's debut album on eBay. T'Pau's second alblum was apparently called Rage. The third album (which I thought was album number two) was The Promise. There seems to be two more albums: Bridge of Spies and The Secret Garden.

With any luck, I'll win that CD.

I'd sell you mine, but I want to keep it.

As for Wang Chung, the first song I heard by them was "Don't Let Go'" which in my opinion had a good sound to it, and was nothing like the overplayed "Everybody Wang Chung Tonight."

That's okay Craig. If I don't win the disc this time, somebody else'll have one up for bid later. I'll get it eventually. Besides, I don't blame you for wanting to keep it. I would, too.

np - All Eyez On Me - Tupac Shakur

Just heard (for the first time in a long time) a few 80's tunes including Eddy Grant's "Electric Avenue" and Animotion's "Obsession."

They were on the radio, no less. Plus, "Electric Avenue" appeared on a tv ad of some kind (in the US).

Isn't "Obsession" the song where you hear Spock repeat ad nauseum "Pure energy"? I liked that song. Heard it a lot in some of the topless clubs I used to go to.

"Electric Avenue" was a song I despised when it initially came out. Over the years I've come to enjoy it. However, it wasn't the first reggae song I liked. That was Musical Youth's "Pass the Dutchie". I suppose "Master Blaster" by Stevie Wonder or "Roxanne" by the Police count. But they aren't reggae acts. In this instance I'm only counting actual reggae acts.

"Pure Energy" was Information Society, Benn.

Oh yeah. Been a looong time since I've heard it. Too long, I think.

I have it on vinyl. Talk about a long time!

Well, I just won the T'Pau CD. It'll cost me $5. Can't wait to hear it again.

...And only $15 to have it shipped to you, eh?
Enjoy!

Uh, no, that was the total with shipping. $2.50 was the winning bid and $2.50 is the cost of shipping.

I was kidding, Benn! (Congratulations, by the way.)

I knew you were kidding, Craig. But sometimes the shipping and handling charges on eBay can be outrageous. So really, your joke wasn't too far off the mark. I'm getting increasingly cautious about what I bid on for just that reason.

Oh and thanks. I didn't expect it to be so easy.

Well, I got an email yesterday informing me that my copy of T'Pau is on its way. I figure I should get by Friday. Yay! I can't wait to hear it again.

np - Keep Your Hands Off My Power Supply - Slade

It's Hey, Remember The 80's? (Part II) with Benn and CR!

OK, anyone remember Yello? Their big US hit was "Oh Yeah," (from their One Second LP)which appeared in two mid 1980's films (that I know of), the more famous of which was Ferris Bueller's Day Off. IIRC, it also later appeared in a candy bar commercial on US tv. Part of another song (I don't recall which; either "Tied Up" or "The Race") from their Flag LP made a tv appearance in a Gallagher (yes, the "Sledge-O-Matic" comedian) special.

That's it for me (CR, Master of Parenthetical Entries ) this time... on to you, Benn!


PS: Just kidding, everyone else. I just noticed that Benn and I seem to be the only ones posting to this board lately.

Well, I'll just jump in and break things up a bit then. I recently heard one of my favorite 80's song turn up in a commercial. "That's What I Like About You" by The Romantics.

Geez, it's already time for a new board? Oh, wait, Butch has an actual post! (Unlike me with this one. )

Actually, I do have a comment about Butch's point: I've seen that ad, but like most ads that use "oldies" from the '80's, I remember the song used, but not whatever product or service was being advertised!

Well, I got my T'Pau CD today. It arrived sooner than I thought it would. It was great hearing again. I've left in the changer to be replayed later, so I can go over the lyrics. I can't remember if the cassette had the lyrics or not. So this may be my first time to see them.

np - Diesel and Dust - Midnight Oil

I decided to listen to my copy of T'Pau, as well, since I realized that despite my bringing it up, I hadn't heard it in several years!
Lead singer Carol Decker actually has a decent enough vocal range, but it usually gets buried by a little over-engineering. (On the other hand, the very first time I heard "Heart and Soul," I thought there were two or three women singing!)
A tad pop-oriented, this album has a definite rock edge to it, which is one reason I like it. I was tempted to buy it years ago when I first heard "Heart and Soul," but not without hearing the rest of the album first. Fortunately, a co-worker at the time lent me her cassette (remember cassettes?), which I took across country with me on a summer trip to Yellowstone Nat'l Park... I'll always associate this album with Cody, Wyoming, because I fell asleep in a motel there while listening to it. But I digress, as usual...
Anyhoo, my overall impressions of this album haven't changed much over the years; I still like the songs I liked then, and don't really like the others. (In particular, track 9, "Thank You for Goodbye," fails because of its overpowering--and fairly uninspired--keyboards.)
Mind you, I'm basing this opinion on the sound of the songs, rather than the meaning the actual lyrics convey... Music for me is first an aural experience, then a poetic one.
Another track I like is the one Benn mentioned a while back, "China in Your Hand." I like orchestral elements--in this case strings--in pop or rock songs. (That's one thing that actually got me to like The Moody Blues after dismissing them in my youth, but that's another board's topic.) One thing I'd forgotten about this tune was its use of saxophone, which is weird since I remembered it being in the 0:45 reprise of the song that ends the album.
Other likes: track 5 "Sex Talk," track 7 "Monkey House," track 8 "Valentine," and track 10 "You Give Up." Track 4 "Friends Like These" is OK.
That's over half the album I enjoy, which is a good amount nowdays (or in the late 1980's when I bought it). I must point out that I don't know if I could regularly listen to the whole album in one sitting too often, though, as the engineering I mentioned gives alot of the songs a certain sameness to them, but it's certainly a disc I'd put in a changer set to random.
One observation, and I'm not sure if it's a problem for me or not yet... alot of the songs use the following similar-sounding "lyrics" frequently: "Oh, yeah," "Hoo, yeeah," "Hah, yaa," "Hah" and "Hiiyeeaaggh."

Hope you enjoyed your copy, Benn!

Hmm... I guess I meant to put track 10 in the OK category with track 4. I'm sure you'll all sleep better now.

I pretty much agree with your assessment of T'Pau. It's not the greatest album ever put together. But on the other hand, none of the songs are annoying or really terrible. "Heart and Soul" and "China In Your Hand" remain the album's highlights. Lyrically, there's not really anything groundbreaking or too inspiring. For me, it's a good background music CD.

np - Melon Collie and the Infinite Sadness - The Smashing Pumpkins ("Despite all my rage/I'm still just a rat in the cage.")

"Transformers:The Movie" soundtrack is one from the 80s that I remember fondly. It ran the gamut from Stan Bush's "The Touch" to Weird Al's "Dare to be ••••••." And, of course, the Transformers theme.

*sigh* Weird Al's "Dare to be Stup|d"

I've been downloading - or trying to download - a bunch of obscure hits from the '80s. I was just wondering who else remembers these songs:

1. "Beats So Lonely" - Charlie Sexton (He was going to be the new Texas guitar sensation, but it never happened. Still, it's a great song.)

2. "Black Cars" - Gino Vanelli (The follow-up hit to "I Just Wanna Stop". It sounds almost like Gino was either trying to gain some Rock credibility or jump on the New Wave bandwagon. I like it, though.)

3. "Coming Around Again" - Carly Simon (Simon had a hit with a song from some romance movie that had Jack Nicholson in it. Other than Carly's voice, I don't think there's a real instrument in use on this one. The synths may be lush, but this is a hauntingly gorgeous song.)

4. "Crazy" - Seal (Probably not that obscure, but a personal favorite nonetheless.)

5. "Feet Don't Fail Me Now" - Utopia (Was this Todd Rundgren's only video? This song, for some reason, had a real Fifties feel to it. The lyrics are pretty funny. It's a shame this one's all but forgotten.)

6. "Girls Talk" - Linda Rondstadt (In which Linda jumps on the New Wave bandwagon. The song was written by the Other Elvis (as I refer to Elvis Costello), covered by Dave Edmund, but Linda's is the only version of the song I've heard. It's one of the few songs by her I like.)

7. "Hold On" - Ian Gomm (A One-Hit Wonder from the turn of the Decade. I suppose Ian was New Wave, but you wouldn't have known it from this song.)

8. "I Eat Cannibals" - Toto Coelo (Very definitely a New Wave song and a dopey, silly one, too. But weren't they all? [Well, one look at Devo and you'd think so.])

9. "I've Never Been to Me" - Charlene (I deleted this song almost immediately after I d/led it. I can't believe I used to like this song! It is nauseatingly cloying. Ughhh. No wonder Charlene never had a successful follow-up solo hit. She didn't deserve it.)

10. "I Get Off On It" - Tony Joe White (Took him 20 years to follow-up "Polk Salad Annie". Despite what you might think from the title, the song isn't completely about sex. It's kinda a conservative look at some of the things people like to do that might seem strange to other people. Eating candy bars while having sex, dipping snuff, flashing women, cross-dressing, etc. Okay, so maybe it is mostly about sex.)

11. "Lawyers In Love" - Jackson Browne (The Pretender's last hit that was a social commentary. The whole thing is hopelessly outdated, but it's still a fun song.)

12. "Shoot For the Moon" - Poco (Apparently not as memorable as "Crazy Love", their major hit, but I really like this one. It's as smooth as "Crazy Love", but I dunno. There's just something about it I prefer.)

13. "Take Your Time (Do It Right)" - S.O.S. Band (I think they had another hit. Didn't they?)

14. "The Break Up Song (They Don't Write 'Em)" - The Greg Kihn Band (Yeah, yeah, I know. Everybody liked "Jeopardy" more. This one's better. It has a great guitar riff.)

15. "Pilot of the Airwaves" - Charley Dore (A spiritual companion to Harry Chapin's "W.O.L.D." and a cousin to the Buggles' "Video Killed the Radio Star" and Queen's "Radio Ga-Ga", this was a sweet ode to the radio, from back in the days when Radio meant something. Of course, the song also dealt with loneliness, too. And who can't relate to that?)

16. "Had a Dream (Sleeping With the Enemy)" - Roger Hodgson (What do you do after having a successful career as a vocalist for Supertramp? You become a One-Hit Wonder. Great bass line, though. I haven't been able to download this one, yet. I'm working on it.)

17. "Carolina (Nobody's Right)" - Silver Condor (Nobody, but nobody has this song available for d/ling. Is it that obscure? It's a great romantic song. Why am I the only one to remember it?)

18. "I Touch Roses" - Book of Love (I'm mentioning this one only because it happens to be playing right now. Another synth rock song. The lyrics are almost a nursery rhyme. Still, there's something hypnotic about this tune.)

So, have I sparked any memories for anyone?

np - Book of Love - Book of Love

\i[I've been downloading - or trying to download}

Please stay where you are. The RIAA copyright police will be there to arrest you soon.

I liked "Pilot of the Airwaves". Especially the a capella at the beginnng of the song.

3. "Coming Around Again" - Carly Simon
Yup, quite nice

4. "Crazy" - Seal
Very nice

8. "I Eat Cannibals" - Toto Coelo
Remember it, but never liked it

9. "I've Never Been to Me" - Charlene
That's in the 'records I loved at the time but now can't believe I paid money for' pile.

15. "Pilot of the Airwaves" - Charley Dore
Yes, quite nice again

I'm drawing a blank on the others.

"Had a Dream (Sleeping With the Enemy)" - Roger Hodgson - Loved it at the time! Haven't heard it in years, though, so haven't been able to confirm that it'd probably now be in my 'And I went around singing this because...?' file.

"Coming Around Again" - Carly Simon - Still have this one on a CD somewhere. The gentle, understated angst in the lyrics is, as Sophie says, quite nice. (BTW, don't quote me, but from your description I'm pretty sure the movie in question is Terms of Endearment.)

"Black Cars" - Gino Vanelli - Since Gino's a Canuck, this was a considerably less obscure hit up north. Deeply cool to me at the time, still holds up OK.
(Now I'm wondering...does anybody remember another Canadian one-hit wonder band of the time, Strange Advance? The song was called We Run, and also holds up not too badly IMHO.)

"Never Been to Me" - Charlene - Never heard it myself (or if I did I didn't recognize it)...but it's worth noting that it was a huge vote-getter in Dave Barry's Bad Songs poll, finishing tied for fourth overall.

The others - sorry, Benn, just not the kind of thing I was listening to at the time.

>> I'm not trying to be a curmudgeon
--I'm really not--but does anyone else think that the 80s were the worst decade in pop music history? <<

Naw - it was probably the best. (I say probably because I'm no expert on 60s and 70s music). On my birthday I was happy to receive a set of 8 CDs full of great 80s hits. This is high praise indeed coming from someone from the Eminem generation (I'm 19).

I didn't think any of you young'uns had any musical taste!
(I'm just kidding! No trolling or flaming going on here!)
Actually, I find it interesting that younger people are discovering/re-discovering 80's music. A lot of it was taking off in new directions and a lot of artists were willing to try new things, both with existing and new technology, and with lyrics. I find a bit of a rut with current music's preoccupation with cover tunes/remakes and with formulaic pop tunes that really aren't very creative. (Note: I'm not saying all current music is like that, but a majority of it seems to be. Just to head off the rush of disagreements, yes, I know I'm generalizing, no I don't hate all current music, no I don't like everything from the 80's and I'm not really all that old, but old enough to forget what else I was going to add to this list! )

--- BUMP ---

I figured I might as well post this set list here...

I'm not sure if it was inspired by nostalgia or something else, but recently I decided to make an 80's disc, something with a specific feel about it. Yeah, I know- what the heck does that mean? Well...I guess that's where nostalgia plays a part. To me this set feels like the soundtrack to those parties and other activities of my younger and more reckless days. But- it's still a pretty hot set as well:

1- Running on the Spot- The Jam
2- Dumb Waiters- The Psychedelic Furs
3- These Days- REM
4- Whatever- Husker Du
5- Dozen Girls- The Damned
6- Double Dare- Bauhaus
7- Tomorrow's World- Killing Joke
8- Mountain Song- Jane's Addiction
9- Scorpio Rising- 10,000 Maniacs
10- I'm in Love- The dB's
11- I Will Dare- The Replacements
12- Put Your Hand Inside the Puppet's Head- They Might Be Giants
13- Race the Sun- Pere Ubu
14- Always the Sun- The Stranglers
15- Blister in the Sun- Violent Femmes
16- Celebrated Summer- Husker Du
17- I Wanna Destroy You- The Soft Boys
18- Animal Boy- The Ramones
19- Behind the Wall of Sleep- The Smithereens
20- The Holiday Song- Pixies
21- Stigmata- Ministry

Tracks 13 thru 16 are no coincidence, it's part of how I amuse myself these days The segues work really well, and there's also some of what I would call "pedigreed" stuff mixed in there (i.e.- the Bauhaus song is the first appearance of Gothic music, the Killing Joke song is the earliest Industrial Metal...) with the college radio stuff.