Songs That Need Our Love...Part 13

The OUTFIELD

I LOVED this band. Still do. I was lucky enough to see them during their first tour after releasing their first album, Play Deep and then again after the second album, Bangin'. After the second show I was able to meet the band and I was so thrilled....and the funny part was they wanted to stay and chat with me so they wouldn't have to go meet with record company people (or "suits" as they called them).

The band, Tony Lewis (bass and lead vocals), John Spinks (guitar, background vocals and main songwriter) and Alan Jackman (drums) formed in Manchester, England after first getting signed as The Baseball Boys. They changed their name at the request of the record label and never saw any chart success in their native country. But they more than made up for it in America. Seven US top 20 hit singles. Add to that a triple platinum debut album and things looked unstoppable for the boys...then the Seattle grunge scene hit and things slowed down on traditional rock music. Over the years the band has continued to release music and tour from time to time (I saw them a third time in the early 2000's and they were still great). Sadly, John Spinks passed away in July of 2014 from liver cancer and the future plans for the band are up in the air as of now.

But for now, lets enjoy the first single off their second album.....

Since You've Been Gone by The Outfield

Albums From 1985....Part 1

Songs From The Big Chair
Tears For Fears

Released on Feb. 25th 1985, it was a landmark album, and only the second release from the band. It reached #1 in the US and spawned two #1's and a #3 single. Shout, Everybody Wants To Rule The World, Head Over Heals and, my personal favorite, Mothers Talk. Its still hard to believe this band had only formed 4 years earlier. It went on to sell over 5 million copies in the US alone.

Please enjoy Mothers Talk and keep in mind this was 30 years ago.

Songs That Need Our Love....Part 12

On The Loose by Saga.

Another Canadian band that caught a spark in the US for a few minutes. The song, On The Loose, was a top 40 hit in 1981.....but not because the video is any good (early MTV was filled with great songs....terrible videos). I'm not sure why the lead singer breaks out of jail and hides on stage in the middle of a concert. And why don't the police recognize him??? He's only wearing a giant white jump suit with a spot light on himself. Oh well, the song is awesome.

So please enjoy.

Songs That Need Our Love....Part 11

Caught Up In You by 38 Special.

I love me some Gibson guitar fueled rock....and this song has 3 Gibson guitar players....and 2 drummers (The bass player must have felt very lonely). 38 Special was founded by neighborhood friends Don Barnes (lead singer) and Donnie Van Zant (middle brother of the Van Zant brothers, from Lynyrd Skynyrd) in Jacksonville, Florida in 1974. By the early 80's the band had crossed over from Southern Rock to mainstream rock with a series of radio friendly hits. Thank goodness they never needed music videos to break into the big time, 'cause this video is not the way to sell this song....maybe they wanted to sell beer (just look at the drum riser and you'll see what I mean).

If you want to have a hour or so of fun, go to the Wikipedia page for the band and try to chart out the members of the band over the years.

But since the song is the star of this show....please enjoy.

Judgement On Your Friends and Staring At Your Hands.

S....A.....F....E....T....Y....Safe.....Dance....

Ok, What We're We Thinking???

The song that probably raises more questions than it answers. But lets take a look at the whole picture and see what we get. Men Without Hats was a band from Canada and this was their one big hit. Released in early 1983 its supposed to be about bouncers at Canadian dance clubs that were stopping people from pogo-ing (an early, non-violent form of slam dancing). Um...what?

Ok, well the song is one of those classic 80's synth-pop songs that had a great hook and a great dance beat so it makes sense that it was a #1 US dance hit. But what is going on with some of the lyrics? "...'cause your friends don't dance and if they don't dance well they're no friends of mine".....that seems a bit judgmental. But lets take a look at the one line that always has me stopping mid-Safety Dancing....."Everybody Look At Your Hands". WHAT???? Every time that line comes up...I look at my hands....but now what do I do??? And why am I being asked (or is it told?) to do this??? I'm still confused.

The video provides no help. Only the lead singer (and chief songwriter), Ivan Doroschuk, appears in the video. But don't let that fact confuse you...'cause there's a whole gang of strange people to fill this video. There's a dwarf that is playing a lute, there's a hyper-active blond woman and some sort of Renaissance Faire going on and every few seconds or so someone forms their arms into the shape of an "S"...see, 'cause its the Safety Dance....like I said, this video doesn't offer any help. It should be noted that the blonde woman has since been identified as Louise Court. She is an Editor and Writer at Cosmopolitan Magazine (it still seems odd to me that she was "missing"....I never knew there were people looking for her).

Enjoy the video and re-live the oddness.

Songs That Need Our Love...Part 10

Joe Jackson.....no, not the one related to Michael.

This one was born in Staffordshire, England as David Jackson but picked up the nickname Joe....and it stuck with him. In the early 80's he scored a hit with the song Steppin' Out but this song off the follow up album was much better but never got the love it deserves....until now.

Please enjoy You Can't Get What You Want by Joe Jackson

If This Ain't The Funniest Movie About Gangsters...Then I'm The Pope.

Johnny Dangerously

I fargen love this movie. Staring Michael Keaton, Joe Piscopo, Marilu Henner and a whole host of funny people, this is the spoof of gangster films from the 30's and 40's.

Johnny is a popular gangster who works for the Dundee gang. The Moronie gang is their enemy and they go to any length to kill or maim each other...but since this is a comedy the killing is kept to a minimum. The jokes on the other hand, fly fast and furious. With an appearance by the Pope played by Dom DeLuise...

...and a gangster with a very dirty mouth who gets deported...

...and a health film featuring Betty Boop and her "friend" that will make you giggle...

...this film will keep you laughing through out. It doesn't hurt that the theme song was written and performed by "Weird Al" Yankovic.

I found a trailer for the film to convince you that you should watch it once.....ONCE !!

The Silliest Film of 1984. Hands Down

If you're looking for a movie about a guy that fell for a girl that turned out to be the long lost love of the guy that is the leader of the French Underground while looking for her imprisoned father that is being forced to develop a secret weapon against his will....

Top Secret!

The early 80's saw some of the silliest films ever made. Airplane set the standard but this gem deserves some love. Released in 1984, this Zucker, Abrahams, Zucker directed film was their follow up to the hugely popular, and very silly, Airplane.

Top Secret! is a spoof on wartime spy films but also makes fun of the Elvis movies. Val Kilmer, in his first leading role, is American Rock 'n Roll star Nick Rivers (Val sings all the songs in this film and the songs are great).

Nick stumbles into a plot by the French underground to free Dr. Paul Flammond who is being forced to develop the Polaris Mine for the East Germans (don't ask, just accept that its funny). Dr. Flammond's daughter, Hillary, is the object of Nick's attention after he sees her and its love at first sight. The silliness comes at you non-stop. From the sight gags.....

...to the underwater bar fight.

But the real stars of this film are the members of the French Underground.

Nearly every scene with these guys are hilarious. Sight gags, verbal puns, general silliness. I mean, when the leader is named Nigel "The Torch" you know the tongue is securely in cheek.

The plot of the film isn't really important as this is just an exercise in silliness (I wonder why I love this film?) but when you have scenes like the film legend Omar Sharif playing a contact for the Underground who gets captured and thrown into a car crusher....only to come back later wearing a crushed car but still alive and able to complete his mission....what can I say? Silly. Or how about famed British actor (and Star Wars cast member) Peter Cushing staring as a book dealer in a scene that was filmed entirely in reverse.....it has to be seen to be believed.

If you're looking for plot, drama, meaningful dialogue and Oscar worthy performances, this ain't it but if you want to spend an hour and a half watching silliness, this is the film for you. Trust me, you'll enjoy yourself and what could be better than that?

Please watch the trailer and then go watch the movie.

Songs That Need Our Love...Part 9

Total Coelo

I'm not sure what the hell this is supposed to be, but it's 80's dance pop and its......odd?

I normally try to give you some info about the group and the song...but I'll be honest, there ain't much out there about this goofy song and its even more ridiculous video. But its is SOOOOO 80's its not even funny.

Please enjoy I Eat Cannibals by Total Coelo...I apologize in advance.