Its An Awesome Song....Fer Sure

A Million Miles Away by The Plimsouls.

The band was formed in late 1978 and released their debut album in 1981, but it was the single they released in 1983 and was featured in the movie "Valley Girl", that brought them their one-hit wonder status. They even played themselves, playing the song, in the movie and that may have helped. Its a great song and a great movie.

Please enjoy A Million Miles Away.

Songs That Need Our Love....Part 18

Living On The Ceiling by Blancmange

Released in 1982 this is a great euro-dance-pop song. The band, formed in Middlesex England, was typical of that style of music back in the early days of MTV. The lead singer has a great look (he looks like he's nearly 7 feet tall) and the band sounded interesting. Blancmange released 3 albums in the 1980's then took 25 years off and have since released 5 albums. This was their big hit, reaching #7 on the British charts. It has a very eastern flair to it.....and I like it.


Please enjoy.

I Often Find My Favorite Bands Out In The Woods

Let The Day Begin by The Call

Released in 1989, this song has a great bass riff, a great slide guitar solo and some very uplifting lyrics. Plus its a great song. Enjoy....'cause its awesome.

Is Mother Proud Of Little Boy Today?

Enola Gay by Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark.

We all called them OMD and this was the song that introduced us to them.  Released in September of 1980, its anti-war message was clear and smart. The song refers to the plane that dropped the first atomic bomb on the city of Hiroshima. The bomb was called Little Boy and the local time was 8:15....the time that its always been. Reportedly the radio message from the plane after the successful mission was "conditions normal and we're coming home". I'm not sure history will agree that conditions would ever be "normal" again.

That aside, all the hallmarks that signaled what New Wave was about were here: Synths, a cool dance beat and smart lyrics. And this was how the 80s started!!

Please enjoy.

Albums of 1986...Part 4

The Way It Is by Bruce Hornsby and The Range.

One of my favorite things about the 80s was the fact that so many different types of music were available to the masses. Tune into MTV most days in the 80's and you'd see rock next to R & B next to rap next to metal next to this.

Bruce Hornsby was born a natural musician and his skills on the piano proves that. In 1984 he put together the Range as a backing band, signed to RCA Records a year later and released their debut album in April of 1986. The album reached #3 on the US Billboard charts with 3 singles in the top 20. The album earned them a Best New Artist Grammy and sold over 3 million copies.

The title track, The Way It Is has that classic piano line that is so identifiable. But my favorite song from the album is Every Little Kiss. Please enjoy the video.

Albums of 1986 - Part 3

Please by Pet Shop Boys

Their debut album. Released in March of 1986 its name was chosen so the fans could go in to record stores and ask "Can I have the Pet Shop Boys album, Please?" Who doesn't like politeness?

The top 10 album spawned 4 singles, 2 that reached the top 10 singles chart including the #1 hit West End Girls.

The album was the soundtrack of my senior prom. In fact, once again, Shannon if you're out there can I have my albums back?

My favorite song is Love Comes Quickly. Enjoy the video and think of senior prom, parking in Palos Verdes, broken hearts, missing records and stolen cars (its a long story).

Songs That Need Our Love....Part 17

Gettysburg by The Brandos.

This song has several of the things I like....great guitar rock, smart lyrics and history.

It just rocks from the get go.

Watch the video and enjoy.

Albums Of 1986....Part 2

5150 by Van Halen.

Released in mid march 1986, it was the bands 7th studio album but its first with its new lead singer, Sammy Hagar. The album was named after Eddy Van Halen's studio and the California law enforcement code for a crazy person.

With the exit of long time singer David Lee Roth, the band needed a new direction and Hagar provided it in the form of much more of a softer, more thoughtful, set of lyrics. The album has some great rock songs but it contains more ballads and love songs than previous Van Halen albums.

But the proof is in the charts. The album reached #1 (a first for the band) and has been certified 6x Platinum in the US. It spawned 5 singles, all of them reaching the top 40, including the #1 hit Why Can't This Be Love.

Here's a live version of the music video.