Note: This series originally appeared on Facebook in a slightly different form, Aug-Sept 16.
This was the B-side of “Middle of the Road” and also appeared on their fine album Learning to Crawl. Breaking news: we’re all getting older. I see that Chrissie turned 65 last year.
It wasn’t by design, but the vocalists on the leadoff songs of sides 2 and 4 were married (to one another) at the time of my recording.
Note: This series originally appeared on Facebook in a slightly different form, Aug-Sept 16.
My recollection is that disco and all its agents and purveyors were still pretty darn uncool in 85. There’s been quite a rehabilitation as the years have passed, at least with music that hit the pop charts (listened to the SiriusXM 70s station lately?).
Rightly or wrongly, the Bee Gees stand out in my mind as the primary exemplar of that era. Of course, disco was their second, comeback act; they’d had more than decent success between 67 and 72.
This was the Bee Gees’ first US hit, reaching #14 in 67. I love the fashions on display in the video.
So why is this here? I like it fine, but on the whole it doesn’t really fit overall. The primary reason: its length, just over two minutes. While I wasn’t tracking times, I was watching the tape and figured I would be able to squeeze one more song in, if it was pretty short. I knew what short songs I had with me; the Bee Gees’ Greatest Hits (pre-disco) was among them, so… That’s also more or less why “Cynical Girl” ended side 1.
Note: This series originally appeared on Facebook in a slightly different form, Aug-Sept 16.
Huey Lewis and the News was among my favorite bands for a while in the first half of the 80s, but eventually I got just a little burned out on them. This one, from their second album, definitely shows off their fun side. Something I didn’t know until I started doing research for these posts: this was written and first recorded by Phil Lynott of Thin Lizzy fame.
Note: This series originally appeared on Facebook in a slightly different form, Aug-Sept 16.
The scene at the end of this video kinda reminds me of that at the end of “We Didn’t Start The Fire.” This was the B-side of “Keeping The Faith” and originally appeared on The Nylon Curtain. I recently listened to TNC in its entirety on YouTube–how did I not know about “Where’s The Orchestra?” before? That’s a gem.
Also, too: It’s Christmas in August! Look for another song that mentions December 25 on Tuesday.
Note: This series originally appeared on Facebook in a slightly different form, Aug-Sept 16.
This was released as a single twice, in 82 and 85, getting to #54 the second time; I assume one reason for the re-release was the success of “Missing You” the year before (additionally, it was on the Vision Quest soundtrack). It’s another one of those songs I think should have been a much, much bigger hit. I’ve long been fond of the video, as well. The visuals dovetail nicely with the lyrics, and I like how that, by the end, you can see they’re not taking themselves too seriously.
Note: This series originally appeared on Facebook in a slightly different form, Aug-Sept 16.
Here’s another album rock staple of the early 80s from another Midwestern band (this time from Michigan). I’m not sure I ever heard anything else by them. Certainly brings back to mind those high school days, though. It reached #52 in late 80.
Note: This series originally appeared on Facebook in a slightly different form, Aug-Sept 16.
The accident at Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating Station occurred in late March 79. Several months later, a series of No Nukes concerts was held at Madison Square Garden and a triple album featuring performances from the shows was subsequently released. It sold reasonably well.
Dan Fogelberg wasn’t a part of these concerts, but it’s clear where his sympathies lie on this song, which also came out toward the end of 79. I’m a little surprised that it doesn’t seem to appear on any of his compilation disks–is it just too dated by its topic? Too political, too preachy? It was sound of this song–the hooks, the passion–and not the lyrics that attracted me.
The pace of nuclear construction in the U.S. certainly took a big hit in the 80s and beyond; I assume the accidents at TMI and Chernobyl and the attendant public concern over safety played important roles in that. However, in June, the first new U.S. nuclear power reactor in 20 years began production in Tennessee. Four additional reactors, all in Georgia and South Carolina, are currently scheduled to come online in the next 3-4 years.
Note: This series originally appeared on Facebook in a slightly different form, Aug-Sept 16.
I love the 1976 album Silk Degrees by Boz Scaggs. Yes, it’s a little disco-ish, but there are numerous fabulous tracks on it: “Lowdown,” “Lido Shuffle,” “Georgia,” “What Do You Want the Girl to Do,” “We’re All Alone,” etc. I’m not ashamed to say it was one of the first albums I ever purchased.
While his follow-up disk stiffed, 1980’s Middle Man spawned a couple of nice hits. It also contained this fun song, another I’m thinking I heard first via album rock stations.
Note: This series originally appeared on Facebook in a slightly different form, Aug-Sept 16.
In 78, between Animals and The Wall, David Gilmour recorded his first, self-titled, album. A copy of it somehow wound up at WTLX. I believe that this is the first of four consecutive songs that come from albums in the music library we inherited in 83.
I have no recollection of how I came to be familiar with this song–would WEBN have still been playing it in the early 80s? This may be heretical, but I probably like it more than I do anything from Pink Floyd.
Note: This series originally appeared on Facebook in a slightly different form, Aug-Sept 16.
Foreigner’s 4 was one of the albums I bought my senior year in high school. My two favorite songs on it these days are probably “Urgent” and “Luanne.” This one is the opening track; for some reason, I still find the lyric, “Having the time of my night life,” which comes near the fadeout, amusing.
The Music of My Life 