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.

This Was Why Our Parents Were Frightened

I Ran by Flock Of Seagulls

The song sounds futuristic. The video looks futuristic. The hair.....maybe the future is not what we think.

Again, this was one of those songs and videos that was EVERYWHERE back in the early 80's. The guitar sounded like a spaceship laser weapon. The guitarist looked like a computer programmer. The bass thumped along like a rocket. The drummer was playing plastic plates!! The lead singer (Mike Score) was dressed really cool (I wanted a shirt that buttoned up like that for the entire decade of the 80's). His voice sounded like it was coming out of the Aurora Borealis. The camera was moving the whole time and spinning. The set was mirrors and aluminum foil. The girls had futuristic makeup and were wearing plastic bags as dresses. But the song....it was awesome.

Please enjoy the video.

Songs That Need Our Love....Part 16

Belly Of The Whale by Burning Sensations

The band was formed in 1982 by a former member of The Motels. This was their only hit. Back in the early days of MTV, videos were in short supply but very high demand. Because of that, anything that was available got on the air....in some cases, that led to hidden gems...like this.

See....Punk Wasn't So Scary

London Calling by The Clash.

If you want to know what the early 80's punk sounded like....well, this pretty much covers it. Political anger, social angst, and really good guitar rock. Add to that a great tune.

The song was released in December of 1979 and charted in the US at #30 in early 1980. The video was straight forward and included a London rain while the band thrashed away on the song along the Thames River....all classic.

Please enjoy...

Songs That Need Our Love....Part 15

Love Plus One by Haircut 100


This song is so happy and fun.....

Just watch it....'cause I said so.