MFD Not-So-Random Five #20

In which I select five songs from 1976-1985 based on an arbitrary theme. (Not to be confused with this blog's Random Five feature, a different exercise in arbitrariness). Today's theme: 1985 singles that just missed the Billboard Top 40.

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1. "To Live and Die in L.A." by Wang Chung (peaked at #41)
   This movie theme fared better on the Rock charts, peaking at #21, and previously on this blog where it was named the 26th best single of 1985. Ominous and driving, this dense dance tune perfectly captures the mood of the film (disclaimer: I've only seen the first 30 minutes of the movie).


2. "We Close Our Eyes" by Go West (peaked at #41)
   This dance track peaked at #5 on the dance chart and #15 on my 85 of '85 list. What a synth hook! That thing hits you in the face about 7 seconds in. Lots of over-produced synth hits, pads, and effects throughout - the producer (Gary Stevenson) was having fun trying to be Trevor Horn. All this over a driving, danceable, eighth note beat. And then we get a nice bridge that goes right back into that sweet synth hook.


3. "You Wear It Well" by El DeBarge with DeBarge (peaked at #46)
   The third single from the Rhythm of the Night album. That synth chord progression at the intro and then things go up a notch in the pre-chorus. Guitar solo from Jesse Johnson of The Time. While it didn't make the Top 40, it did top the Billboard Dance chart and peaked at #7 R&B. Sounds like something from a club scene in an episode of Miami Vice, but instead was relegated to The Facts of Life with a disinterested George Clooney:
   
   


4. "Black Cars" by Gino Vannelli (peaked at #42)
   I had always thought of Vannelli as a soft rocker and then I heard this tune. It peaked at #34 rock and #15 dance, while I placed it at #50 for the year. Lots of guitar and synth hooks and while the drum sound dates it a bit, there's no denying this thing is danceable. Speaking of dancing, in the summer of 1985, I was home from college working during the day and trying to enjoy my nights. One night, I was hanging out with a high school buddy (who I'll call Brent) when he got a phone call from another friend (who I'll call Steve) inviting us to a party where we were promised the presence of girls. Lots of girls. What 19-year-old boy could refuse? Brent and I traveled to some local apartments where we met Steve. As luck would have it, we were the only 3 males in a sea of females. I soon found out why - we were at a bachelorette party and Steve was the "entertainment." When he started dancing/stripping, I got uncomfortable and left. The song Steve chose to dance to? Gino Vannelli's Black Cars.


5. "20/20" by George Benson (peaked at #48)
   In which Benson tries his best to sound like Al Jarreau. In other words, this was squarely in my wheelhouse in 1985. Fairly generic with a DMX drum machine, saved at the end with a vocalized guitar solo from Benson. It was good enough to peak at #15 R&B and #15 AC while placing at #82 for the year for me.

MFD Not-So-Random Five #19

In which I select five songs from 1976-1985 based on an arbitrary theme. (Not to be confused with this blog's Random Five feature, a different exercise in arbitrariness). Today's theme: Top 40 tunes with the word "Away" in the title.

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1. "Breaking Away" by Balance (peaked at #22 in 1981)
   This little taste of melodic rock has just a touch of disco in it - sort of as if Toto had done a cover version of "Heaven on the Seventh Floor" by Paul Nicholas. Singer Peppy Castro has a voice well-suited to the genre. Highly enjoyable, it's a shame the band made our list of MFD One-Hit Wonders.


2. "Slipping Away" by Dave Edmunds (peaked at #39 in 1983)
   Sounds like Dave Edmunds fronting ELO and that's not a coincidence seeing as Jeff Lynne wrote and produced the thing while ELO keyboardist Richard Tandy provided synth work. And I don't intend the comparison as an insult as this thing has hooks a'plenty. It got plenty of playing time in my bedroom in 1983 and I always love it when it comes around on a shuffle. Even so, Edmunds didn't get an invite to be a Wilbury.


3. "Whenever I'm Away From You" by John Travolta (peaked at #38 in 1976)
   This may be too soft to be called pablum; it limped to #26 on the Adult Contemporary chart. Even though Travolta's performance is surprisingly better than it was on "Let Her In," he can't save the bland material and an arrangement that relies far too much on strings and background singers.


4. "You Take My Breath Away" by Rex Smith (peaked at #10 in 1979)
   It's easy to dismiss this single because of Smith's teen idol status at the time.
   
   
   But if you dismiss Rex's ad libs near the end, it's not a bad little tune. In fact, it might be the best cheesy ballad that Barry Manilow didn't record. I had a friend back in '79 that once told me she always pictured Rex singing this song from inside an iron lung. Preteens aren't exactly renown for their tact or compassion.


5. "Swept Away" by Diana Ross (peaked at #19 in 1984)
   If I heard this tune in 1984, it didn't make any impression on me. The production style and LinnDrums scream "mid-'80s!" Co-written and co-produced by Daryl Hall, it sounds to me like Hall & Oates album filler and doesn't do justice to the wonderful pipes of Ross. That haircut tho ↓ - right sexy.

MFD Not-So-Random Five #18

In which I select five songs from 1976-1985 based on an arbitrary theme. (Not to be confused with this blog's Random Five feature, a different exercise in arbitrariness). Today's theme: covers of The Doors' "Hello, I Love You" mostly from bands I've never heard of before.

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1. Stupid Set (1980)
   Devo-wannabes from Italy, but I gotta hand it to them - you've gotta be brave and confident to name your band Stupid Set. It's an interesting take on this song that could only have happened ca. 1980, but once is enough for me.


2. Adam Ant (1982)
   I've heard this one many times since 1982 and, most likely, more than I've heard The Doors' original. It's a fairly rote cover except for the wonderful additions of backing vocals and horns.


3. Hubble Bubble (1979)
   Hubble Bubble is a Belgian punk band in which Plastic Bertrand started his career. The first half is given a oddly kinda Latin flavor, then it abruptly switches gears to loud rockabilly screaming at the end. The group can't seem to keep a steady tempo and it's driving me crazy. I've listened to it four times and still don't quite know what to make of it.


4. The Delmonas (1984)
   Re-titled "Hello, We Love You" which is a subtle change but makes a huge difference in meaning. The Doors meet The Kinks. I'm not interested in the flat, thin vocals, but this garage punk arrangement is fantastic.


5. Missing Persons (1980)
   From the band's debut, self-titled EP. They took the thing and made it an unmistakable Missing Persons song. Fun arrangement, disjunct guitar solo, and great production.

MFD Not-So-Random Five #16

In which I select five songs from 1976-1985 based on an arbitrary theme. (Not to be confused with this blog's Random Five feature, a different exercise in arbitrariness). Today's theme: five Donna Summer singles that cracked the Hot 100, but not the Top 40.

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1. "Could It Be Magic" (peaked at #52 -  May 29, 1976)
   When I first heard this cover version I didn't care it much for it, but over time that clavinet part and relentless hi-hat wore me down. Donna moaning over a fantastic arrangement? Count me in.   


2. "Rumour Has It" (peaked at #53 - April 15, 1978)
   Wikipedia states this song "is one of the earliest examples of disco, funk, rock, and electronica in pop culture." Whoa - slow your roll, wiki. It's a solid tune, though. In addition to the usual disco strings, it's got some great horn licks, which is a nice change. On the album, this rolls directly into "I Love You" and that's a great one-two punch, right there.


3. "State of Independence" (peaked at #41 - November 6, 1982)
   #41 - close but no cigar. Originally recorded by Jon and Vangelis for their 1981 album The Friends of Mr Cairo. I can't follow the lyrics. Spiritual or no? I've examined the 1982 self-titled album previously on this blog. Here's what I wrote more then: "Adding a psuedo Afro-Carribean feel over a droning synth turns me off.    At least the sax solo and the "All-Star Choir" chanting nonsense lyrics make it interesting." Now I don't even find those things interesting.


4. "Unconditional Love" (peaked at #43 - October 8, 1983)
   Features vocals by British reggae act Musical Youth. Sounds like music they'd pipe in on a tropical ride at a theme park. DeBarge did it better a few years later with "Rhythm of the Night."


5. "Supernatural Love" (peaked at #75 - November 24, 1984)
   I have no memory of this one from the radio or MTV in '84. Fairly generic stuff for its time, which probably explains why it didn't chart higher. There's nothing particularly wrong with it, but there's nothing grabbing my ear, either.

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MFD Not-So-Random Five #15

In which I select five songs from 1976-1985 based on an arbitrary theme. (Not to be confused with this blog's Random Five feature, a different exercise in arbitrariness). Today's theme: songs written by Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil

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1. "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" by Daryl Hall & John Oates (1980, RCA)
   The duo adds just a little something extra to the cover - enough that I actually favor this to the Righteous Bros original. It seems to be propelled forward while being laid back, if that dichotomy makes any sense. But it's difficult to mess up material this good.  This #12 single was one of four top 40 singles released from the platinum-certified Voices album. Always reminds me of a school bus ride to a One Act Play competition in early 1981. I have no recollection, but maybe I busted out my own definitive rendition for my classmates on that trip. If they were lucky. Or, more likely, it was just on the radio as it moved down the charts.


2. "Here You Come Again" by Dolly Parton (1977, RCA)
   In '77, I was more likely to have a Dolly Parton poster than a Dolly Parton record, but this crossover hit was all over the radio during the fall of 6th grade, so I know all the words. Not really a country tune, it's a well-crafted pop song with slide guitar. Nonetheless, the song earned Parton the award for "Best Female Country Vocal Performance" at the Grammy Awards. And when Dolly starts with "all you've gotta do is smile that smile," the song goes to another level and I could care less what genre you want to label this with. #1 country, #3 pop, and #2 easy listening. NOW that's what I call a hit!


3. "Just Once" by Quincy Jones (1981, A&M)
   Hard to believe this classic ballad from the platinum album, The Dude peaked at only #17 on the pop chart. It's a fantastic tune - I like everything about it, from James Ingram's soulful vocals to Quincy Jones' production, from the tasty flugelhorn licks to the soaring strings. Lots of familiar names on the call sheet, too: Patti Austin, Abraham Laboriel, David Foster, Steve Lukather, Paulinho Da Costa, Jerry Hey, Ernie Watts, among others. I was about to claim "Just Once" as the best tune of this five, but we move on to...


4. "Never Gonna Let You Go" by Sergio Mendes (1983, A&M)
   Heck, I could listen to this one all day and just might. I can't sing the high notes along with Joe Pizzulo and Leza Miller but that don't keep me from trying. Every time. For me, the self-titled album, Sergio Mendes, is one of those albums that is just okay, but you first heard it at just the right time and place in your life that makes it a life-long favorite. 


5. "We're Going All the Way" by Jeffrey Osborne (1983, A&M)
   Another ballad from the songwriting duo, but man-oh-man what a beautifully written verse melody handled masterfully by Mr. Osborne (there's been some fantastic vocals in this not-so-random 5). This single peaked at only #48 on the pop chart and shame on you, America.

MFD Not-So-Random Five #14

In which I select five songs from 1976-1985 based on an arbitrary theme. (Not to be confused with this blog's Random Five feature, a different exercise in arbitrariness). Today's theme: one-hit wonders of 1979.

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1. "Music Box Dancer" by Frank Mills (1979, Polydor)
   #3 Pop, #4 Adult Contemporary. My sister bought the 8-track of that Frank Mills album and I was forbidden to touch it. Turns out she was doing me a favor.


2. "Please Don't Leave" by Lauren Wood (1979, Warner Bros.)
   #24 Pop, #5 Adult Contemporary. This is a smooth little West Coast ditty and just as you're thinking "this sounds like it could be a Doobie Brothers song," here comes Michael McDonald with some vocals to seal the deal. Doobies producer Ted Templeman also produced this track with members of Toto in the backing band. Dig!


3. "Such a Woman" by Tycoon (1979, Arista)
   #26 Pop. Proof that producer Mutt Lange didn't always have the Midas touch. I can't believe this one broke the Top 40.


4. "Oh Well" by The Rockets (1979, RSO)
   #30 Pop. I didn't recognize the band name or the song title, but there's no mistaking that bluesy guitar riff on this cover of an early Fleetwood Mac tune. A Michigan band channeling ZZ Top. Good stuff.


5. "If You Want It" by Niteflyte (1979, Ariola)
   #37 Pop, #21 R&B. Too R&B for yacht, too yacht for R&B, but so dadgum smooth. The only thing I'd change would be the addition of a Jerry Hey horn arrangement.

MFD Not-So-Random Five #13

In which I select five songs from 1976-1985 based on an arbitrary theme. (Not to be confused with this blog's Random Five feature, a different exercise in arbitrariness). Today's theme: cover songs

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1. "(There's) Always Something There to Remind Me" by Naked Eyes (1983, Virgin)
   Originally by Lou Johnson (1964). Synth-pop Bacharach? Count me in! This song ranks somewhere in my Top 10 list of favorite pop songs of the '80s.  I never tire of hearing it.  Back in '83, I bought a copy of the group's self-titled debut LP on the strength of this one song. Just listened to this cover version twice this morning.


2. "I Want Candy" by Bow Wow Wow (1982, RCA)
   Originally by The Strangeloves (1965). You'd never know it, but this song only reached #62 on the singles charts. You can't get away from it now. I'll sometimes try to imagine what this tune would have sounded like if Boy George (Lieutenant Lush) had stayed in the group and done the vocals. I once ranked this cover as the 24th best single of 1982, so yeah, I like it. And I like candy when it's wrapped in a sweater.


3. "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" by Devo (1977, Warner Bros.)
   Originally by The Rolling Stones (1965).  I love when cover versions are complete deconstructions of the original (see Isaac Hayes' "By the Time I Get to Phoenix," for example). This fits the bill perfectly. The anxiety and neuroses of the lyrics are finally given the proper, manic musical context. It's all tension, no release, then it's over. For more on how the cover came about, click here.


4. "Tainted Love" by Soft Cell (1981, Sire)
   Originally by Gloria Jones (1964). I can't hear this song without thinking of my dear friend Scott. It was his absolute favorite tune of all-time, no question. He never cared much for the original nor did he want to hear this cover segue into "Where Did Our Love Go" so I adopted the same biases. For more on how the cover came about, click here.


5. "Dear Prudence" by Siouxsie And The Banshees (1983, Polydor)
   Originally by The Beatles (1968). I wasn't much of a Siouxsie fan until I heard this cover around the time it was released. That led to an enjoyable deep dive into her catalog. This cover is even dreamier and more psychedelic than the original and seems like it was written specifically for Siouxsie's voice. For very little on how the cover came about, click here.

MFD Not-So-Random Five #12

In which I select five songs from 1976-1985 based on an arbitrary theme. (Not to be confused with this blog's Random Five feature, a different exercise in arbitrariness). Today's theme: songs that include the word "snow" in the title.

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1. "I Sit in the Snow" by Andy Partridge (1980, Virgin)
   This cut is an experimental reconstruction of XTC music that I'll just call "interesting" and leave it at that. But I'll be doggone if it doesn't kinda grow on you by the end.


2. "Snowbird Fantasy" by Bob James (1980, Tappan Zee)
   The lead track from James' "H" album, it starts off in a New Age vein, but eventually settles into a Latin-flavored groove with a mess of horn licks. Reminds me Earl Klugh's stuff from that time period, except the acoustic guitar solo comes from Bruce Dunlap. It's about 90 seconds too long, but I can't say I don't like it.
   


3. "Rider in the Snow" by The Cult (1984, Beggar's Banquet)
   A deep cut from the group's debut album. Not fully formed with their own thing, we're nonetheless treated to the characteristic sounds of Ian Asbury's voice and Billy Duffy's guitar doing it's best U2 imitation. The lyrics are shite.  


4. "Snowblind" by Styx (1981, A&M)
   One of the edgier cuts on Paradise Theater, this tune about cocaine addiction gives us a tasty guitar solo from James Young. As a 14 year old knucklehead in 1981, I didn't know from cocaine and thought this song was about actual snow blindness (photokeratitis), so there ya go.


5. "Snow Girl" by Haircut 100 (1982, Arista)
   Fantastic track from one of my all-time favorite albums, Pelican West. Nick Heyward writes one in the vein of the early Beatles. I could listen to this feelgood tune all day long and just might.

MFD Not-So-Random Five #11

In which I select five songs from 1976-1985 based on an arbitrary theme. (Not to be confused with this blog's Random Five feature, a different exercise in arbitrariness). Today's theme: songs that include the word "autumn" in the title.

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1. "Autumn of Our Love" by Spyro Gyra (1980, MCA)
   I don't care much for the intro, but by the time Jay Becksenstein comes in with the melody about a minute in, I find myself losing myself in this beautiful ballad. The chorus has a great hook and will stay in my ear for days now.


2. "Autumn Changes" by Donna Summer. (1976, Casablanca)
   A deep cut from the Four Seasons of Love concept album. A little slower than Giorgio Moroder's preferred 120 bpm, this song has a great bass line but the steel drums are an odd choice for an "autumn" song. Not the best Summer cut, but it's hard to go wrong with '70s Summer/Moroder.
   
   
   


3. "Forever Autumn" by Justin Hayward (1978, Columbia)
   From the concept album Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds which I have not yet heard and not sure I ever will. But this song sure is a winner because it just sounds autumnal (if that makes any sense) and that's why I like it. It's also very unlike the disco music I was favoring at the time. This song reminds me of a trip my father and I took to watch the Cowboys play the Vikings in the very first non-Thanksgiving Thursday night NFL football game on October 26, 1978 in the now-demolished Texas Stadium. My father let me pick the radio station on the trip which was a bit unusual. This song came on and I got excited and tried to tell him about how it sounded like "autumn" and he rolled his eyes at me like I was a 12 year old boy talking out of his ass. And I was. The Vikings beat the Cowboys 21-10, but the bigger news is that I got to miss two days of school.
   
   
   


4. "Boys of Autumn" by David Roberts (1982, Elektra)
   This song reminds me more than a little of Joey Scarbury's "Believe It or Not" and I mean that as a compliment. To be honest, I've liked the whole All Dressed Up album since I first ran across it on the Blue Desert website. Maybe this Canadian single was released a couple of years too late? Lots of "yacht rock" superstars on this one, including Jay Graydon, Jeff & Mike Pocaro, Steve Lukather, etc. Heck, it even rates an impressive 87.88 on the over at the Yacht or Nyacht website.


5. "Calling Captain Autumn" by Haircut 100 (1982, Arista)
   The closing track from one of my all-time favorite albums, Pelican West. Nick Heyward spews his usual gibberish* over a funky bass line, scratching guitar, Latin percussion, and a fantastic horn section. Includes a great breakdown section and not one but two sax solos. In addition to numerous live recordings, I've found three studio versions: the 3:58 album version, a 4:30 promo version, and a sweet 6:00 12" remix. I could listen to this feelgood tune all day long and just might.

*my best guess at the gibberish:

What's the cricket score today?

Give a little breath, quarantine
B.C.G. might never might rain
Bop bop boo bop ba bop bop boo bop
Ba bop bop boo bop ba bop bop boo bop

What is is now? Hoffman style
What a great film, what a great weather style
Bop bop boo bop ba bop bop boo bop
Ba bop bop boo bop ba bop bop boo bop

Calling Captain Autumn

When will I die? When can I cry?
F.B.G. my T.B.E. be be boh bah be boo bibbido
Bah be bahbbidoh bah bah bah

Give a little dream, quarantine
What a great film, what a great weather style
Bop bop boo bop ba bop bop boo bop
Ba bop bop boo bop ba bop bop boo bop

Calling Captain
Calling Captain
Calling Captain Action

Calling captain calling
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, oh yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, oh yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, oh yeah

etc.

MFD Not-So-Random Five #10

In which I select five songs from 1976-1985 based on an arbitrary theme. (Not to be confused with this blog's Random Five feature, a different exercise in arbitrariness). Today's theme: songs that include a celebrity name in the title.

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1. "Bette Davis Eyes" by Kim Carnes (1981, EMI America)
   This was the #1 song on the Billboard Hot 100 for 9 weeks and was like nothing else on the radio at the time; me and my friends sang along with Kim every time we heard the thing.  But lemme tell ya: this tune still sounds as good today as it did when originally released.


2. "John Wayne is Big Leggy" by Haysi Fantayzee. (1982, Regard)
   A horribly written song, both musically and lyrically. The music is a weak derivation of Bow Wow Wow and the lyrics describe John Wayne sodomizing a Native American woman. Let's move on to something more deserving of our time:


3. "Wood Beez (Pray Like Aretha Franklin)" by Scritti Politti (1984, Warner Bros.)
   A few years back, I named Cupid & Psyche 85 as my top album of 1985 and picked this song as the second best track. Released in February 1984, I didn't hear until almost two years later, in December 1985. The song's parenthetical subtitle alludes to the Aretha Franklin song "I Say a Little Prayer" which producer Arif Mardin had also worked on. Lots of hooks and synths, which was right up my alley when I finally heard this tune. And while the original is just fine as is, I prefer the remixed version.


4. "Michael Caine" by Madness (1984, Stiff)
   A different sound for Madness, no ska influence and sung by the songwriter Carl Smyth instead of Suggs; Michael Caine contributed a vocal sample. According to wikipedia, "The song is about an informer during the troubles in Northern Ireland, and the lyrics suggest a state of paranoia and mental disintegration." Maybe that's why it never charted in the US. It's pleasant enough, the verse reminds me a bit of Squeeze, but it's nothing that will get stuck in my head.


5. "Robert De Niro's Waiting..." by Bananarama (1984 London)
   I have no idea what this song is about, but according to The Guardian, the songwriters claim it's about date rape (the 80's were apparently much darker than I care to remember). Anyhoo, I like this group's music; maybe I shied away from them because I'm a musical snob and couldn't imagine liking a pop group with a ridiculous name (and yet I liked Kajagoogoo so there goes that argument). In any case, this is a bouncy, fun song that was much bigger in the UK than in the US, where it peaked at #95.

MFD Not-So-Random Five #9

In which I select five songs from 1976-1985 based on an arbitrary theme. (Not to be confused with this blog's Random Five feature, a different exercise in arbitrariness). Today's theme: 5 songs sitting in the #5 spot on Billboard charts from September 16, 1978.

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1. "You Needed Me" by Anne Murray (1978, Capitol)
   #5 on the Easy Listening chart. While this song topped the pop charts for a week, it oddly never topped the Easy Listening chart despite spending a record 36 weeks on that list. It's a great love song with a simple accompaniment and wonderful bridge. I know every word but I don't have the range to pull this off, so it's been cut from my karaoke list.
   


2. "Think It Over" by Cissy Houston (1978, Private Stock)
   #5 on the National Disco Action Top 40 chart. A Michael Zager joint - a fact that's apparent in the first measures. With conga drums, strings, guitar scratching, drum breakdown section, and a catchy singalong chorus, this hits all the popular disco tropes of the time. On the one hand, I can't understand why this didn't chart on the Hot 100; on the other, it sounds so much like other disco tunes of the day that it almost becomes indistinguishable. I'm digging it today, though.


3. "Heartbreaker" by Dolly Parton  (1978, RCA)
   #5 on the Hot Country Singles chart. This Carole Bayer Sager tune didn't do too much for me in '78 and still doesn't. Like the Anne Murray tune above, there's not much country about this tune to my ear, but it was the era of the country crossover hit, so it's to be expected.


4. "Get Off" by Foxy (1978, TK Records)
   #5 on the Hot Soul Singles chart. Love this groove and I sing the "ooo ooo ooo ooo" intro to this very day. A funk dance tune with a guitar solo and talk box part. Here's my best description of the thing: it sounds like a party. And I'd like to be at that party.
   


5. "Kiss You All Over" by Exile (1978, Warner Bros.)
   #5 on the Hot 100 chart. A poor man's Barry White tune. Huge pop hit, but I can't muster more than a meh.

MFD Not-So-Random Five #8

In which I select five songs from 1976-1985 based on an arbitrary theme. (Not to be confused with this blog's Random Five feature, a different exercise in arbitrariness). Today's theme, for the "dog days of summer:" songs that have the word "dog" in their title.

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1. "Do the Dog" by The Specials (1979, 2 Tone)
   A ska cover of Rufus Thomas' 1963 single "The Dog" which is more like a complete deconstruction of the song than a cover. But I still dig it.
   


2. "Dog Eat Dog" by Adam and the Ants (1980, Epic)
   The first Adam and the Ants tune I ever heard was "Killer in the Home." It appeared on a 1981 Epic sampler cassette titled Exposed. I was intrigued. Then "Dog Eat Dog" came up on the second side of the tape and I was hooked. Purchase of the Kings of the Wild Frontier album quickly followed, and I stayed with Adam Ant until he teamed up with Phil Collins, then I quickly lost interest. But Kings of the Wild Frontier is one of my favorite albums of 1980 (even though I didn't hear it until later) and "Dog Eat Dog" is side 1, track 1 of that album.
   
   
   


3. "Dog and Butterfly" by Heart  (1979, Portrait)
   When I was a kid, I thought this was an Olivia Newton-John tune (I never claimed I was a smart kid, just a smart ass). But Ann Wilson sure brings it with these vocals, don't she? The star of this show, however, is the laid back folkish songwriting and subtle arrangement. The song barely cracked the Top 40, peaking at #34, which is a damn shame. Of course, Top 40 at that time was mainly disco and country crossover, so there really wasn't room for a folk ballad, no matter how beautiful it was. (note: I just checked out the Hot 100 chart of March 31, 1979 and that's a helluva chart. Maybe that explains why "Dog and Butterfly" didn't get any higher: too much competition. Or maybe this song just lulled me into a nostalgic 7th grade daze.)


4. "Dogs" by The Judy's (1980, Wasted Talent)
   The Judy's were a local band out of Pearland, Texas, just south of Houston. The trio would end up as opening acts for groups like Talking Heads and The B-52's (oddly enough, a then-unknown R.E.M. opened for The Judy's in Austin in 1981). They became a regional favorite, then me and my high school friends fell in love with them in the summer of 1982 with their album Washarama. "Dogs" comes from the EP released prior to Washarama, The Wonderful World of Appliances. Sung from the perspective of David Berkowitz, this song is an odd exploration of The Son of Sam. Far from my favorite tune by the band, it's creepy and catchy at the same time.
   


5. "Atomic Dog" by George Clinton (1982, Capitol)
   When you read this set's theme, you probably guessed I'd include this song by Dr. Funkenstein. "Bow-wow-wow-yippee-yo-yippee-yay!" may be some of my favorite '80s lyrics. Amazingly, this 1982 single never charted on the Billboard Hot 100 (it "bubbled under" at 101, but it topped the R&B chart and peaked at #38 Disco). I didn't love this as much in the early '80s as I should have. Now a classic, being widely sampled in hip-hop music for the last 35+ years.

MFD Not-So-Random Five #7

In which I select five songs from 1976-1985 based on an arbitrary theme. (Not to be confused with this blog's Random Five feature, a different exercise in arbitrariness). Today's theme:  Songs that have the word "summer" in their title.

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1. "Cruel Summer" by Bananarama (1983, London)
   Sounds a lot like a Madonna tune of the same time, no? And why are there three of them when they mostly sing in unison? Great synth bass line, but this is not my favorite Bananarama song. However, I can appreciate a song about oppressive heat and loneliness during the long summer months. We've probably all been there. Released in '83, it didn't become popular here in the US until its inclusion in 1984 movie, The Karate Kid.
   
   
   
   In 1984, this single spent 11 weeks in the Billboard Top 40, peaking at #9 on September 29 of that year.
   


2. "My Summer Love" by Sergio Mendes (1983, A&M)
   The 1983 Sergio Mendes album has long been a favorite of mine. I think it falls between The Dude and Bossa Nova Hotel, but Billboard also chose to compare it to Earth, Wind & Fire, which I'm just not hearing.
   
   

   

   Billboard, April 23, 1983, p. 75

   
   I like the album and this deep cut may be my favorite track. Arranged by Michael Sembello and sung by Mendes' wife Gracinha Leporace, this was originally a French cut written by Alain Chamfort and Serge Gainsbourg. The translation is lacking (rhyming "indigo" with "let you go") but the writing and arranging is so catchy, I don't mind the lyrics.


3. "Suddenly Last Summer" by The Motels (1983, Capitol)
   Based on my current mood, I'm calling this my favorite Motels tune. Stuck way back in the mix is a fantastic guitar line and Martha Davis is wonderfully sexy. And that brief descending bridge at about the 2:10 mark gets me every time.
   
   This tune was more of autumn single, peaking at #9 on November 19, 1983 during 13 weeks in the Top 40.


4. "Summer" by War (1976, United Artists)
   A few years back, I made a list of summer songs, one for each year since 1966 and it's a heckuva list if I do say so myself. Anyway, this single was the pick for '76. It peaked at #9 on the charts in September, 1976 and if there's a song that captures the laid-back, carefree summers of my youth, it's this one. "It's summer, my time of year." Indeed.
   


5. "Someone Somewhere in Summertime" by Simple Minds (1982, A&M)
   A moody album opener with an in-your-face subtlety (how's that for an oxymoron?). This song, the third single released from the most excellent New Gold Dream (81–82–83–84), didn't even get a whiff of the US charts and barely scrapped the UK charts. But that doesn't have anything to do with the quality of this tune. Kerr's lyrics are typically obtuse, but I'm guessing this one has to do with a person looking through a metaphorical rain in search of a love.

MFD Not-So-Random Five #6

In which I select five songs from 1976-1985 based on an arbitrary theme. (Not to be confused with this blog's Random Five feature, a different exercise in arbitrariness). Today's theme: Live Top 40 hits.

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1. "I Do" by J. Geils Band (1982, EMI)
   From the album Showtime!, this single peaked at #24 in 7 weeks in the Top 40. The band's last Top 40 hit, this single is a cover of a 1965 single by the Marvelows. Like most any live Geils performance, this is a non-stop high-energy, balls-to-the-wall performance. The highlight for me is the harmonica solo by the wonderfully named Magic Dick. I quickly bought the album, followed by other J. Geils live albums.
   
   And I've just repeated this song five times before moving on with the four tunes to follow.


2. "Going to a Go-Go" by Rolling Stones (1982, Rolling Stones)
   From the album Still Life, this single peaked at #25 in 5 weeks in the Top 40. An appropriately named album as the band trudges through this lifeless cover of a Smokey Robinson tune. I submit that it only made the Top 40 because it was a Stones single. I'll take the 1965 original any day.


3. "Daybreak" by Barry Manilow (1977, Arista)
   From the album Barry Manilow Live, this single peaked at #23 in 5 weeks in the Top 40. Love this one. This song makes me feel good, but if you don't like it, I get that - it's too saccharin for some. The key to this live version is the backing vocals by Lady Flash. I recently caught Barry's act and IIRC, he sang this at the beginning of the show because of course he did. And we all sang along and were happy.


4. "She's Got a Way" by Billy Joel (1981, Columbia)
   From the album Songs in the Attic, this single peaked at #23 in 9 weeks in the Top 40. By 1981, I was buying anything Joel released, but I was pleasantly surprised by this album. This song is overwrought romantic pap, but it's also pretty easy to play. In 1982, I purchased the sheet music and quickly learned it (never had the range to sing the high G, but that didn't stop me from trying), and then used my playing/singing to seduce girls. Hey, I wasn't a jock and I didn't have a new sportscar, so I had to use the tools at my disposal. I'd like to tell you that my plan worked often, but I can't name one time that it did. Anyhoo, still dig the song.
   
   

   

   Sheet music from the MFD archives



5. "I Want You to Want Me" by Cheap Trick (1978, Parachute)
   From the album Cheap Trick at Budokan, this single peaked at #7 in 13 weeks in the Top 40. When I was dreaming up today's theme, this was the first song I thought of. If you've heard the uneven studio cut, you know this live version blows it away - no comparison. Can't stand still, can't help but sing along, can't help but be in a good mood. And even though I've been married 29 years, I still want her to want me. 

MFD Not-So-Random Five #5

In which I select five songs from 1976-1985 based on an arbitrary theme. (Not to be confused with this blog's Random Five feature, a different exercise in arbitrariness). Today's theme: One Hit Wonders* of 1978.

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1. "5.7.0.5" by City Boy (1978, Mercury)
   In the Top 40 for 6 weeks in the fall of 1978, peaking at #27. A poor ELO knock-off, this was the first U.S. hit single produced by eventual überproducer Mutt Lange.


2. "I Can't Stand the Rain" by Eruption (1978, Ariola)
   In the Top 40 for 6 weeks in the summer of 1978, peaking at #18. My Whitburn book lists this band as a "Techno-funk group of Jamaican natives, based in London." But they really bring the disco in this cover of a 1973 hit by Ann Peebles. Thumbs-up for this version (two thumbs-up for the Peebles original).


3. "I'm Gonna Take Care of Everything" by Rubicon (1978, 20th Century Fox)
   In the Top 40 for 3 weeks in the spring of 1978, peaking at #28. Wikipedia describes this band as "California one-hit wonder funk rock band" and it sounds to me a bit like the Doobie Brothers. The verse melody is a yawner, but I dig the funkier chorus with a decent hook. This short-lived group contained members of Sly & The Family Stone, Night Ranger, and Huey Lewis & The News.


4. "Theme from 'Which Way is Up'" by Stargard (1977, MCA)
   In the Top 40 for 7 weeks in the spring of 1978, peaking at #21. Penned by legendary Motown songwriter Norman Whitfield, this funky tune was the theme for a Richard Pryor movie. It hit #1 on the R&B charts. The three ladies who made up Stargard also appeared as The Diamonds in the Sgt. Pepper movie. As for the tune, there's really not much to it except a great groove, sexy vocals, and a funky guitar solo (if you like those sorts of things).


5. "I Will Still Love You" by Stonebolt (1978, Parachute)
   In the Top 40 for 5 weeks in the fall of 1978, peaking at #29. A mediocre, formulaic ballad that is derivative of the soft rock of the times. It tries, and almost has a hook at the end of the chorus, but ultimately doesn't quite succeed for this Canadian quintet.

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*defined here as artists who hit the Billboard Top 40 but once in their careers.

MFD Not-So-Random Five #4

In which I select five songs from 1976-1985 based on an arbitrary theme. (Not to be confused with this blog's Random Five feature, a different exercise in arbitrariness). Today's theme: Songs that have the word "radio" in their title.

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1. "Radio Free Europe" by R.E.M. (1983, I.R.S.)
   The first R.E.M. song I ever heard and still one of my favorites.


2. "Radio Silence" by Thomas Dolby (1982, EMI)
   There are actually two versions of this tune: the one I had on my LP and the "guitar version" that my buddy Scott had on his LP. (I actually prefer the guitar version, mainly because of the spoken lyric about 3 minutes in: "Trytothinkofnothing. Trytothinkofnothing. Trytothinkofnothing...") Anyway, I'm listening to what I consider to be the original version because it was on my copy of the LP. It's actually a duet with Lene Lovich who adds a lot to the thing. Man-oh-man can Dolby write. I've listened to this song since 1982 and I'm still not tired of it. And that goes for the Golden Age of Wireless album.


3. "The Spirit of Radio" by Rush (1980, Mercury)
   I'm not much for Rush because of Geddy Lee's voice, but even he can't distract from what the other two guys are doing here. A pastiche of about four different grooves are here, including a section in 7 and a reggae-lite-ish vibe. And, God help me, I dig the thing. But don't take my word for it:
   
   
   
   When (free, illegal) Napster was big in the very early 2000's, me and a colleague at work (we were public school band directors at the time, although neither of us are in that line anymore) would download old favorites and listen to them at work. He downloaded this tune and when the intro guitar-lick started playing, he grabbed a nearby trumpet and started playing the guitar part by ear with incredible technique and accuracy. I'm still amazed at that impromptu feat almost 20 years later.


4. "On Your Radio" by Joe Jackson (1979, A&M)
   Sez Jackson himself (Musician, February 1983):

   “On Your Radio" is not a revenge song – it’s a triumph song. It’s supposed to be inspiring, saying, “Hey! You there in the back of the class with the big ears! You can do whatever you want if you just try hard enough.” It’s not vindictive; it’s much more a song about hope.

   Listen here, Joey. You can hear it that way if you want, but I'm gonna stick with an interpretation that's slightly more petty. Because I was the guy in the back of the class with big ears who now wants to give double rods to half my graduating class. (See also: Ben Folds Five - One Angry Dwarf and 200 Solemn Faces)


5. "Song on the Radio" by Al Stewart (1979, Arista)
   Sez Stewart himself:

   There’s no justification for it, but the record company asked for a mid-tempo ballad with a saxophone on it, and I was kind of making fun of Arista Records. They wanted a song that could be played on the radio, and very tongue-in-cheek I wrote a song called ‘Song on the Radio.’ I thought they’d be smart enough to see I was actually joking, but of course they didn’t, and they put it out as a single and it made the Top 30, and the joke was on me...

   I love everything about it, from the slap-in-the-face start to the sax work to Stewart's distinctive voice to the Alan Parsons production to the understated chorus. I wish I was talented enough to write a song this good as a joke to stick it to the record company. Almost a decade later, Nick Heyward (a former Arista artist, ironically) recorded some music that sounds a lot like this tune. A lot. 

MFD Not-So-Random Five #3

In which I select five songs from 1976-1985 based on an arbitrary theme. (Not to be confused with this blog's Random Five feature, a different exercise in arbitrariness). Today's theme: Songs that begin with the chorus instead of a verse.

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1. "If You Want My Love" by Cheap Trick (1982, Epic)
   I have to believe that, deep down, every band wants to be The Beatles. Bands like Cheap Trick never hid that fact and this may be their most Beatlesque tune apart from their "Magical Mystery Tour" cover. (Heck, the middle eight cribs "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" almost verbatim). The melody doesn't do vocalist Robin Zander any favors, showing his limited range, but that chorus is so filled with hooks, I'll still be humming this one a week from now.


2. "Good Times" by Chic (1979, Atlantic)
   One of the top songs of 1979, it's immediately recognizable and features Nile Rodgers' guitar scratching over what may be the most famous/duplicated bass lick of all-time from Bernard Edwards. I've heard it hundreds of times (if not thousands) and it's still as fresh to these old ears as it was when I was a thirteen year-old knucklehead.


3. "We Built This City" by Starship (1985, Grunt/RCA)
   It's been increasingly hip to mock this song as one of the worst songs ever, but I can think of much worse. And that's all revisionist history BS anyway. Hell, yeah, we liked this rock anthem in 1985 - it was #1 for two weeks ferchrissakes. It was nominated for Grammy's Best Rock Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group (losing to the homophobic "Money for Nothing"). I don't love it, but I can still tolerate it in the right playlist/mix (or in GTA V). I still hear it on the radio occasionally, so someone still likes it (or thinks we still like it, or a combination of the two).


4. "Brick House" by Commodores (1977, Motown)
   I'm not sure if it would still work today, but this was a sure-fire dance floor filler during my favorite decade. Even over 40 years later, it's got me moving. Are the lyrics complimentary or misogynistic or both? It didn't matter to me back in '77 when I was eleven. Back then, I thought the lyrics were "she's my tomato" instead of "she's mighty, mighty" so what do I know about lyrics, anyway? But man-oh-man that opening bass line is the stuff.


5. "Dancing Queen" by ABBA (1976, Atlantic)
   I've already written about this one in this post. Here's what I wrote then:

   I can say with absolute certainty this song was my favorite tune for several months in 1977 (probably the four months it was in the Top 40, if not longer). To this day, I still get up and dance at the sound of the initial piano glissando. When I saw Mamma Mia! on Broadway, the cast came out and sung this song as an encore and I was up grinning and dancing with a few hundred of my new closest friends. I'm told there are people that don't care for this disco classic, but I wouldn't want to know them.

   Last year. I ranked this single the #2 song of the year for 1977.

MFD Not-So-Random Five #2

In which I select five songs from 1976-1985 based on an arbitrary theme. (Not to be confused with this blog's Random Five feature, a different exercise in arbitrariness). Today's theme: Song titles that begin with the word "heart"

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1. "Heart" by Nick Lowe (1982, Columbia)
   The second track from the stellar, highly recommended Nick the Knife album. A reworking of the Rockpile original, I prefer this light-hearted (pun intended) pseudo-reggae take on the tune. (Don't get me wrong, The Rockpile version is great, too. Just different.) I enjoy the background vocals and organ guitar trade-off.


2. "Heart Attack" by Olivia Newton-John (1982, MCA)
   Even though I was trying to be a New Wave hipster in '82, I couldn't resist this tune (or ONJ, for that matter). Written for a greatest hits album by Steve Kipner, this is catchy as all get-out and I love the combination of synth along with the sax solo. Who is that? Tom Scott? My only complaint is that sometimes she's yelling instead of singing, but a lot of artists suffered from that particular malady in the early '80s. Good song, bad video. On a related note, your humble blogger will be seeing ONJ in concert on March 23. ❤


3. "Heart and Soul" by Huey Lewis and The News (1983, Chrysalis)
   When I first heard this song, I rushed out to buy the 45 even though I had given up on buying 45s several years previously. I'm guessing I had to buy the single because the album wasn't yet released. Anyway, it reminds me of a high school post-football game "victory dance" where I was pursuing a young blond named Melody or Mary or something like that (I'd check my yearbook but I really don't feel like getting up). That relationship didn't work out because she had a crush on a friend of mine (how high school is that?). But the song: this synth hook is relentless but somehow never gets old and the breakdown guitar bit is an earworm. Didn't know until I checked the wiki this was a cover of an quirky Exile song and it was later covered by The BusBoys so I learned something new today.


4. "Heart of Ice" by Joe Jackson (1984, A&M)
   The album closer of Body and Soul, this seems like a leftover song from Jackson's Mike's Murder soundtrack. Mostly instrumental; vocals don't appear until 5 minutes in. One of the background vocalists is Ellen Foley who many of you know from "Paradise by the Dashboard Light" but I'm more familiar with her work on Night Court (side note: how great is the Night Court theme?). This song is good, not great, and I don't understand the ending at all. Not to mention the title probably isn't appropriate for Valentine's Day.


5. "Heart to Heart" by Kenny Loggins (1982, Columbia)
   One of my top 5 Loggins singles. What's not to like? Written by Loggins, Michael McDonald, and David Foster with performances by those three, members of Toto and Pages, and a sweet sax solo by David Sanborn. (Pro tip: you should check out Sanborn's 1982 instrumental pop album, As We Speak.) And oh! that middle eight. The fact that this goodness only reached #15 on the pop charts shows you how good the music was in '82*. Somehow, I came across a High Adventure cassette in 1983 and that thing took up residence in the Markmobile's Pioneer deck for a few weeks.

*Curious, I had to see which 14 songs the American public thought were better than "Heart to Heart." Well, hear ya go:

MFD Not-So-Random Five #1

In which I select five songs from 1976-1985 based on an arbitrary theme. (Not to be confused with this blog's Random Five feature, another exercise in arbitrariness). Today's theme: Song titles that are girls' names.

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1. "Sara" by Starship (1985, Grunt/RCA)
   Starship's mid-80's oeuvre has been widely criticized, but with three #1 hits over the span of three years, somebody must have liked the tunes at the time. I think "Sara" is the best of Starship's output. I don't like the way the over-echoed drums are pushed to the front of the mix and there's not much to the verse, but the guitar solo is pretty good and there's something about the flatted chord in the chorus that gets me every time. Bonus points for featuring Rebecca De Mornay in the otherwise poor video.


2. "Joanna" by Kool & The Gang (1983, Polygram)
   In the late fall/early winter of 1983, I was briefly interested a girl named JoAnn. She was a couple of years younger than me and, in her father's opinion, too young to go on a "car date" so that relationship never got off the ground. Other than the similar names, the girl and the song have nothing to do with each other. However, I'm always reminded of JoAnn when I hear this tune. (A few years later DeBarge did something similar with "Who's Holding Donna Now"). I can't think of any K&TG song I dislike. The trombone solo, the sappy lyrics, the constant eight note electric piano motif - it all works for me.


3. "Alison" by Elvis Costello (1977, Stiff)
   If this isn't the best tune Costello ever penned, it's certainly in the discussion. I didn't hear it until about 5 years after its original release and that was perfect timing for me as I wouldn't have understood it at age 11 but the angst certainly was on the mark for me as a 16 year old in love with anything in a skirt. I love the noodling guitar, the classic chorus melody, and the fade out for the last minute of the cut. My aim is true.


4. "Angela" by Bob James (1978, Tappan Zee)
   To my knowledge, this was my introduction to Bob James as this tune was used as the theme music to the TV sitcom Taxi. It's a nice enough melody but the good stuff didn't even make the TV theme version. I could do without the recorder, but there's a tasty electric piano solo by James and a sublime guitar solo by Eric Gale that's the highlight of the cut for me.


5. "Jeanette" by The English Beat (1982, I.R.S.)
   The second single release from the Special Beat Service album, this peaked at #45 in the UK and didn't make any mark here in the US. But as a young boy growing up on the coastal plains of Texas, the whole album was just what I needed. Love the accordion parts over the ska beat, then they throw in Saxa on the saxophone over some background vocals and I can't resist some chair dancing. Good stuff. I can easily listen to Special Beat Service all the way through then hit the repeat button. In fact, it placed at #7 on my list of the Top 82 Albums of 1982.