Goodbye, Dave.

We're taking another break from our alphabetical countdown of music from the 80s today.

Tonight, David Letterman's last show will be broadcast, after being a late-night television staple since 1982. Unless this is your first time in about a month that you're online, you've no doubt seen tributes and articles ad nauseam about Letterman and his legacy. There are articles covering every aspect of his two late night shows, Late Night with David Letterman and The Late Show with David Letterman. I'll leave it up to you to scour the net to find them. They won't take long to find.

I watched David Letterman from the very beginning. (Before the beginning, really. I had seen quite a few of his short-lived daytime show, The David Letterman Show in 1980.) And I knew that I was seeing something different and special. Here was a guy that would take a needle to the balloon of pomposity, bursting it with every chance that he could. You couldn't be pretentious and "hollywood" on his show without being called out on it. And you needed to have something to say. Even if it was something that no one but you would understand. It was okay to be an oddball on his show. After all, aren't we all oddballs to one degree or another, with Dave, himself, often the oddest of the odd.

I said that we were taking a break from our focus on music from the 80s. But, an article about David Letterman's legacy wouldn't be complete without at least a mention of his importance to bringing music that had never been on a national stage before to the masses. Before his show, it was rare that rock music would be featured on a talk show. Bands that did show up were ones that had been around for ages or had "proven themselves" by having hit songs on the charts. Dave's show brought bands that no one had ever seen before on television. Acts like The Talking Heads, Tom Waits, and Lene Lovich got rare if not the first exposure to a mass audience on his show. But, perhaps, the biggest band to debut (at least in American television) on Dave's show was REM. On October 6, 1983, they performed "Radio Free Europe" and "So. Central Rain" (though at the time, that song had no title.)  Here's that performance:

And a quick interview that Dave did with the band between songs: (This was not something that you saw, at the time, and is even more rare today.)

And here's an article in which Mike Mills, of REM, talks about that fateful appearance.


Dave's will no longer be on our televisions every night. Hopefully, we'll see him somewhere before long doing something equally groundbreaking as his first 33 years were. As a companion piece to his last show, which airs tonight, (or has already aired by the time you read this), here is the very first episode of Late Night with David Letterman.

Thanks, Dave. We'll miss you. Hope to see you soon.

80s Music A-Z: H

We come to the letter H in our trip through the musical 80s alphabet. And, surprisingly, there are quite a few choices for the representative act.

We start with a band that you would think would be the apex of 80s culture- Haircut One Hundred. If there is one thing that defined the 80s besides corporate greed, it was the fashion. Particularly, the haircuts. (See my entry on the letter F for more about this. Hint: Flock of Seagulls.) So, it stands to reason that a band with the name Haircut One Hundred would be the poster boys for 80s sartorial splendor. But, just look at these guys.

They look more like members of the a yacht club than a new wave band. Nick Heyward even has a scarf over his shoulders (or a sweater. What exactly is that thing?), for goodness sakes. A couple of members of the band are actually wearing sweaters. And Khakis! They probably should have stayed with one of their original band names- Boat Party.  If your grandma wouldn't have even given them a second glance at the time then,  Nope. Not 80s enough. The song, however, is undeniably catchy and ear-wormy.

Who's next? Let's try Hall & Oates.

Okay, they actually got their start in the 70s, and had some major hits in that decade, like "Sara Smile" and "Rich Girl", which hit number one in the U.S. in 1977. But it was in the 80s that they really hit it big with the albums Voices and Private Eyes, released in 1980 and 1981, respectively.  For the first three years of the decade, no single from the duo charted lower than number 9 in the U.S.. (With the exception of one single, "Your Imagination.")
But, inevitably, on any tribute to 80s music, there will be at least one of their hits. "Private Eyes", "Maneater", "Kiss On My List". One of those will be there. And they did sport the other haircut that defined the 80s, the mullet . But, since they really did have multiple hits in the 70s, it wouldn't be fair to have them be the representative for the 80s.

A somewhat obscure H in the 80s music world was an Australian band called Hoodoo Gurus. Forming in 1981, Hoodoo Gurus never had an album that charted in the top 100 in the United States. Although, the 1989 album Magnum Cum Louder almost got there at number 101. They were a big hit with the alternative/ college charts, however. Their first album, Stone Age Romeos, stayed number one for 7 weeks after its release. In 2007, they were inducted into the Australian Recording Industry Association Hall of Fame and have been performing, on and off, since forming. Here is, possibly, the one song that you might remember from Hoodoo Gurus.

Catchy, right? But, maybe a bit too obscure to be the face of the letter H. Especially considering the next candidate.

Quickly, before we get to our official H selection, there is one more band that began with the letter H that bears mentioning. Heaven 17 didn't make much of a splash in the states, with only one song, this one,  hitting the top 100. But, the two ( and really only) members Ian Craig Marsh and Martyn Ware, were founding members of the band that takes our top spot today. Due to what Wikipedia calls "personal and creative tensions" they left that band to form Heaven 17. When they departed, they allowed the other band member, Phillp Oakley, to keep the name, along with all of the debts and commitments that they had made. This led Oakley to scramble to even have a band.
He and his then girlfriend recruited two girls that were dancing in a nightclub to act as backing vocals and dancers. These two girls appear on the cover of the band's most popular album, but didn't actually participate in the recording at all. That album was Dare and the band is The Human League. And if you haven't heard of the Human League, then you have never listened to any 80s music compilation nor 80s Lunch Hour on the radio, because, they are perhaps the epitome of 80s pop music and the only real choice to represent the letter H.

So, of course you've heard this one a million times. Which is why I am choosing a different song from the album Dare. This is "Open Your Heart."

What will represent the letter I? I can tell you that we'll probably be getting a bit cold before we unveil the answer.

80s Music A-Z: G

. And we're back!

It has been a while since the last post, and even longer since the last in this series.
I left you with the promise that we'd find out who would represent the letter G in our alphabetical sojourn through the music of the 80s. And so, I finally fulfill that promise now.

So, who shall be the sole representative of the letter G?

There are several good candidates.
 
One band is a sort of Supergroup of 80s bands- General Public. From the English Beat (whom, you may recall from a previous post, were really just The Beat) were vocalist Dave Wakeling and Ranking Roger. Mickey Billingham and Andy "Stoker" Growcott from Dexy's Midnight Runners,
Mick Jones from The Clash, and The Specials' Horace Panter rounded out this Them Crooked Vultures of the 80s music scene.   Their first album, ... all the rage, was released in 1984.

 

The album was a success, moreso in North America than in England, owing much to the single "Tenderness. " It is, most assuredly, a song that will stick in your head, and one that might representthe zeitgeist of the 80s musical scene. But, alas, it is not to be. 

A very good case could also be made for the Go Go's. You have heard the Go Go's, if you've ever heard any radio station's 80's Lunch Break. Inevitably, they will be the band that plays after the B-52's "Love Shack" or after "Come On, Eileen" by Dexy's Midnight Runners. Their song "Vacation" probably played about 10 minutes ago. According to their official website, the Go Go's are "The most successful female rock band of all time." I believe it. Their debut album, Beauty and the Beat went double platinum pretty quickly, and stayed at the Billboard number one spot for weeks. They continued to spawn hit albums and songs throughout the early 80's. And, as we've seen with several other acts from that time period, the Go Go's continue to perform even today. (Albeit in a slightly altered form, as bassist Kathy Valentine is no longer with them.)

But, no, the Go Go's are not our band of the day. That honor goes to another band that is still performing today. 

Gang of Four was, at the time, one of the most politically motivated and diverse in style of any band of the era. They named themselves after a group of Chinese revolutionaries, after all. 

With their mix of punk, funk, and dub, Gang of Four stood out from the pack. As a result, though they never made much of an impact on the charts in the U,S., they have been cited by artists like Michael Stipe ,of R.E.M., and Flea, of the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, as influences. 

In their later years, their oeuvre expanded to include disco-influences, while keeping the political bite of their lyrics. Case-in-point, our video of the day. "I Love a Man In Uniform" was released in 1982 as part of the album Songs of the Free. It was quickly banned on British radio, as it coincided with the British invasion of the Falklands Islands. 

It's probably the one song from Gang of Four that stands a chance of being played on the radio today, with its funky disco-style and its motown-like backup singers. 

So, here, from 1982, is Gang of Four's "I Love a Man In Uniform." 

                                                                                                

Coming up next, as we continue our journey through the alphabet, the letter H. And there are more choices than you probably think. See you soon. And Thanks for Playing.

Harnessing the Horror of the Peanut

We interrupt the 80s Music A-Z countdown to bring you this public service announcement! 

 

We have a cannibalistic cult leader on our airwaves and we need to stop it before it goes too far. 

For many years, we have had to watch as poor, depressed, deluded foodstuffs have attempted to end their lives in sacrifice for the betterment of mankind. In other words, there have been anthropomorphic, animated chicken, pigs, fish, and such trying to have themselves eaten by smiling humans that seem to have no problem with having their meals suddenly break into song or doing their best to convince them why they are worthy of being devoured.

It may have gone on for much longer, but the first time I noticed this was with Charlie Tuna. Charlie appeared pretty happy-go-lucky, for the most part, as he would try his best to convince the canners of Star-Kist tuna that he had good taste. They would inevitably send down a note, alerting Charlie that they were looking for tuna that taste good, not ones that had good taste. Now, this could be chalked up to a misunderstanding on Charlie's part. Perhaps he didn't realize that if he were to be chosen, he would be chopped into millions of pieces and combined with boiled noodles and cheese. As evidence of that particular theory, I present:

Notice in the above video that Charlie doesn't necessarily realize what fate awaits were he to be picked. His yellow, goggle-eyed companion, however, seems pretty aware. But, Charlie is probably too stubborn to listen to reason. Lucky for Charlie, he never will develop the correct ratio of "great taste/ tastes great" that gets him the hook.

The California Raisins didn't wait around for some nebulous corporation to pick them to become a healthier alternative to Cheetos. As you can see from the clip below, they just happily dance their way to their deaths.

More recent suicidal edible items are the Kellogg's Mini-Wheats. Though, they may just be oblivious idiots. As seen in this video, they are content with lazing about in a bowl of warm milk, either unaware that they're about to be breakfast for the devious child, or they know and just don't care. Either way, a bit creepy.

Speaking of creepy, the no-longer-providing-new-updates website Suicide Food, features examples of the types of mascots that I'm talking about from all over. Mostly mascots from restaurants and such. Be warned, however, many of these are pretty disturbing.

But, now we are seeing the next step in the evolution of these disturbing little aberrations  - the cult leader that encourages such behavior.

I'm speaking, of course, of Mr. Peanut. That monocled maniac is now on television in commercials where he is actively encouraging humans to gorge themselves on his legume-y brethren. And we're not sure if the peanuts in question gave themselves up voluntarily, a la California Raisins, or has Mr. P committed mass murder. Regardless, the tiny top-hatted fiend has to be stopped.  First, it's his gullible goober brothers, next it's the humans whom he has plied with their salty goodness. Look at how they play right into his micro-gloved hands. It's only a matter of time.

Besides, we have to know that he's a fraud. I mean he wears a monocle, a top hat, gloves, and a vest. The stereotypical depiction of posh British aristocracy, yet he talks in the voice of  Bill Hader. That's right. Mr. Peanut is secretly Stefon.
 Come on, people. Don't give in.  Refuse the legume!

80s Music A-Z: F

Okay, you know what this one is going to be, right?
After using the haircuts as a main reason for featuring a couple of the other letters, it has to be the one band whose name has become synonymous with 80s pop culture and music. That band of course, is Flock of Seagulls. I mean, come on, look at these guys.

They epitomize the 80s so much that when Samuel L. Jackson's character in Pulp Fiction called another character by the name of the band, everyone knew exactly what he meant. (WARNING. The clip in the link contains Samuel L. Jackson. In a movie that is not The Avengers. And it was rated R. I trust that you get the point. Go to the 1:57 mark to see the above mentioned reference.)

So, it has to be Flock of Seagulls.

But it isn't.

Hey, nothing against them, but they're a bit obvious. They're the first band you thought of, right?

So, other 80s acts starting with F. There's Fine Young Cannibals, who everyone may have been driven crazy by their song "She Drives Me Crazy". They also have a connection to another prominent 80s band as members David Steele and Andy Cox were also in the English Beat (or The Beat, depending on where you live. See the letter B for more on that.) But, I don't want to drive anyone crazy, so no.

Which brings us to The Fixx.

The Fixx formed in 1979, but didn't release their first album until 1982. Shuttered Room contained several hits for the band, including "Stand Or Fall" and "Red Skies". But it was the album Reach the Beach, released the following year which put The Fixx in the 80s pop culture pantheon.  It became their biggest selling album, and remains so today. The songs "Saved By Zero" and "One Thing Leads to Another" were big hits for them. The latter actually reaching #4 on the US charts.

 They had some success with their next album, Phantoms, which had the songs "Are We Ourselves" and "Sunshine In the Shade." And they've gone on to release 7 more albums since then! The latest, Beautiful Friction, just last year. They still sound pretty good. Click here for the first single from that album, "Anyone Else."

Although much of The Fixx's catalog is great, and any of the tunes from that era would be representative, I chose "One Thing Leads to Another" as the featured song. The reason. Cy Curnin's weird semaphoric gyrations. He flails about like he's swatting flies through half the video.I couldn't resist sharing.  If someone knows how to translate the "sign language" that he's using, please let me know.

 
Coming up next, the letter G. But, I guess you knew that. Check back to see who it'll be. 
And, of course, thanks for playing. 

80s Music A-Z: E

The candidates for the letter E all released their first albums in the early 80s, as opposed to the late 70s, as many of the previous entries have done.

The first candidate is one of those bands that everyone has heard, whether they realize it or not. The English Beat released the song "Save It For Later" , from the album Special Beat Service, hit the airwaves in 1982. If you heard it now, you'd recognize it. If that one didn't ring any bells, then this one would. The problem there is that that song, "Tenderness", is actually by General Public.It featured the lead vocalists of The English Beat, Dave Wakeling, and Ranking Roger, so it obviously doesn't really qualify, but you did recognize it, right? Thought so.
The real reason for disqualifying The English Beat as the letter E, is that they aren't really The English Beat. No, they had to go by that name in the US to avoid confusion with an American band called The Beat. They're called The British Beat in Austrailia.
The Beat (American version) had a catchy song that I had on a compilation album, and I remember, but I don't think they made much of a splash here in the states. They were called Paul Collin's Beat in the UK. And to confuse things even more, both bands toured together in a tour called "Two Beats Hearting as One". So, okay, that leaves them out.

The next candidate is one of those bands that everyone has heard, and they KNOW that they've heard them. The Eurythmics were a pop duo that released their first album, In the Garden, in 1981, but really hit it big with their second one in 1983. It was called Sweet Dreams( Are Made of This ) and the song of the same name was a HUGE hit for them, reaching number 1 in the US and Canada. If the name of the song isn't familiar (and how could it not be?), you probably remember the video, in which lead singer Annie Lennox sported a suit and tie and a short-short bright red haircut.
They had a string of hits in the 80s, like "Here Comes the Rain Again" and "Would I Lie To You."
But, ultimately, Eurythmics is not our representative for the letter E because, let's face it, as great as those songs are, you're probably a bit tired of them. In fact you probably heard it on the radio today during the 80s Lunch Break, or whatever they're calling it. (Seriously, guys, there were more than 20 songs that were recorded during the 80s).

Echo and the Bunnymen is our letter E. Who?, you may ask. I don't know them, you may say. Yes, you do. They became famous in the US when their song "Bring On the Dancing Horses" was featured in the film Pretty In Pink in 1986.  You probably know "Lips Like Sugar", too, although neither song really did much on the charts here, it's probably a safe bet that you know at least those songs.
So, why have these guys as the illustrious letter E?
Look at the haircuts! Like the entry for C, The Cure, Echo and the Bunnymen scream 80s, with attitude, sound, and look.
For the featured song from them, I'm going with "Seven Seas" from 1984. Not only is it a great song, but it features lead singer Ian McCulloch dressed a girl. How could I not show that one?

So, representing the letter E is Echo and the Bunnymen and the song "Seven Seas."

Letter F is next. Will it be the obvious? C'mon, you know who I mean. Check back to see.
And as always, thanks for playing.

80s Music A-Z: D

We come to the letter D, and yet another quandary, of sorts. See, I didn't use The Cars or Elvis Costello in the post for the letter C because they came into prominence in the late 70s instead of the 80s. Well, today's band did the same. So, I'm either not going to use them, or I'm going to have to come up with some reason for going against the precedent I've set for myself. You'll which path I chose in a moment.

I said in the last post that you may be surprised with this entry. Let's see, it's a post about 80s music. What song is on EVERY. SINGLE. COMPILATION. of 80s music? Why," Come On, Eileen", by Dexy's Midnight Runners, of course. So, I have to feature that one, right?
Wrong.
Now, don't get me wrong. I love this song. And where else are you going to see a bunch of grown-ups who aren't on a tractor ,or shoveling hay, wearing overalls as unselfconsciously as in the video for the song? But, as I said, that was probably what you expected to see. And, I don't want to be too predictable. So, no hobo-looking- scruffy-bandana-wearing too-rye-ayers today. (Although, re-watching the video and seeing the little lethargic jig the band did almost...almost made me change my mind.) Bye the way, like many of the bands that you'll see during this list, these guys are still around. Although, they've shortened their name to Dexys. Go figure.

Okay, so the next candidate for the letter D were formed before the 80s. (I'm sensing a trend here.) In fact, they were practically a late 60s band. Formed in 1972, Devo were to music what Andy Warhol was to art. They played with conventions and twisted them into their own warped mondo-movie inspired world view. They combined satire, political savvy, and flat-out weirdness to create something that the world had never seen. (And to be frank, may not have been ready for.)
I remember seeing them on SNL in their first appearance, back in 1978. They had a lot of people talking after that, for sure, with their bizarre robotic movements and identical radiation suits.
But, they didn't really make a splash, nationally until a couple of years later, with the song "Whip It", from the album Freedom of Choice. And, like Dexys Midnight Runners, this is the song that is included on EVERY. SINGLE. COMPILATION.  of 80s music. So, I'm not featuring it either.

Now it comes to the actual featured act. As stated above, this band formed in the 70s. In fact, they actually had a pretty big hit in 1978. So, why am I going to feature them? Because their GIANT hit didn't come out until 1985. That song was "Money For Nothing" and the band is Dire Straits. The video for this song was the very first one played on MTV Europe a couple of years later, because of its impact. It's the one that has Sting singing "I want my MTV" in it. So, I know you've heard it.
It was in heavy, heavy rotation for a long time. (I mean, why wouldn't MTV want to run it. It was practically a commercial for them, no matter that the lyrics were satirical, and not necessarily that flattering for them.)

So, D is for Dire Straits, "Money For Nothing".

E is for Elephant. But I don't think there was an 80s band by that name, so tune in next time to see who turns up.
Thanks for playing.