It's a cold Friday night in Michigan. Spring break at GVSU has technically started, but we're too exhausted to do anything more than plop down on an overstuffed couch and relax. There's nothing on television worth a darn (we had Will and Grace on WeTV, but that ended in favor of Marriage Bootcamp and promos … Continue reading A Friday night watching MTV Classic’s “I Want My ’80s”
1980s
30 years ago this week: Billboard Hot 100, February 28, 1987
(Above: Whoa-oh, we're halfway there.) Where were you thirty years ago today? New in theaters this week: a quirky film by two guys named the Coen Brothers called Raising Arizona. More people were going to see Mel Gibson in Lethal Weapon. In the news, Soviet premier Mikhail Gorbachev proposed a treaty that would eliminate both … Continue reading 30 years ago this week: Billboard Hot 100, February 28, 1987
Days of future, past: The Dream Academy, “Life In a Northern Town” (1986)
Right about this time in 1986, a catchy song with a simple chorus that - on the whole - wasn't so simple was peaking on the Billboard charts. "Life In a Northern Town" appealed to me when I first saw it on MTV. I had never been to England, which is depicted in the video. Hell, … Continue reading Days of future, past: The Dream Academy, “Life In a Northern Town” (1986)
RIP Al Jarreau: “Moonlighting” (1987)
Al Jarreau passed away on Sunday (February 12) at the age of 76. He had just retired from touring, effectively, due to exhaustion. At first glance it would appear that Al made a minor contribution to popular music, what with only three Top 40 hits. That's nowhere near the full story. His works reached the … Continue reading RIP Al Jarreau: “Moonlighting” (1987)
Greatest misses: Jon Astley, “Jane’s Getting Serious” (1987)
(Above: Jon Astley's debut album.) Jon Astley is a name that many music fans do not know, but probably should. In terms of the pop charts, he qualifies as a "no-hit wonder": two singles that failed to make the Billboard Top 40. They both got considerable airplay on rock radio, though, which is why the … Continue reading Greatest misses: Jon Astley, “Jane’s Getting Serious” (1987)
Mixtape review: “1984”
(Above: Non-Orwellian pop music.) A couple of weeks ago I spent a Saturday night going through boxes of 45s from the 1980s (read about that here and here) to see what sort of musical surprises lay within. On more than one occasion that evening I remarked about a mixtape of songs from in and around … Continue reading Mixtape review: “1984”
Rest in peace, John Wetton: Asia, “The Smile Has Left Your Eyes” (1983)
(Above: And now you find yourself in '82.) Among the first stories that I read this morning was the sad news of the death of John Wetton at the age of 67. Wetton was a part of a group that isn't often referred to as a "supergroup" anymore, Asia - although they definitely count as … Continue reading Rest in peace, John Wetton: Asia, “The Smile Has Left Your Eyes” (1983)
Saturday night with a box of records: Part 2, Also The 1980s
(Above, Me, every time I turn on the radio lately.) You get two for the price of one tonight - the next box was also from the 1980s. It's marked Box 3. I skipped Box 1 because it contains all picture sleeves and (I suspect) bigger hits than we'll find here. In the last post … Continue reading Saturday night with a box of records: Part 2, Also The 1980s
Saturday night with a box of records: Part 1, The 1980s
(Above: Charlie Brown gets it.) It's a quiet Saturday night. Mrs. O has plans with some colleagues tonight. My plans involve a frozen pizza, a couple beers, and a box of 45s. Over the years I've amassed a pile of records. Some came from radio stations where I worked (ssh). Some, as I've referred to … Continue reading Saturday night with a box of records: Part 1, The 1980s
Checking the charts: Billboard Hot 100, January 7, 1989
(Above: I have this CD. It's wimpier than the Brand X bags in a Hefty ad.) On a snowy Saturday night in Grand Rapids I took a pilgrimage to the local pizza shop to pick up dinner. Since the roads were bad, the drive took about three times as long as usual. I tuned into … Continue reading Checking the charts: Billboard Hot 100, January 7, 1989
45 Ruminations Per Megabyte 