Spandau Ballet! "True!"

One of my all time favorite ballads! I can say that now, but back in the day? I can remember there was a brief period back in the 80’s, when I'd be cruising in my car with my crazy metal head friends listening to nothing but heavy rock music. But, when it came time at the end of the night to drop them all off at home, and I was all alone in my car driving back home…..you guessed it. My secret is revealed! I would quickly change the radio dial to the Easy Listening Slow Jam Station where I would get my fill of smooth ballads and would always catch this awesome tune by Spandau Ballet. At the time, I wouldn’t have been caught DEAD listening to this kind of music with my buddies. 

“True" is the title track from Spandau Ballet's 1983 album True, originally recorded at Compass Point Studios, Bahamas. It was composed by the group leader, Gary Kemp, and is a six-minute (in its original album version) slow pop-ballad love song that in part pays tribute to the Motown artist Marvin Gaye and the sound he helped to establish. The song was recorded before Gaye's murder a year later.

The song was a huge worldwide hit. It’s Spandau Ballet's biggest hit and their most remembered song in the U.S. You might remember hearing it in the 1984 film Sixteen Candles.

They were called 'The Makers' in the early years, but changed their name after a friend of the band, journalist and DJ Robert Elms, saw the name scrawled on a the wall of an establishment during a visit to Berlin along the lines of "Rudolf Hess, all alone, dancing the Spandau Ballet" (Rudolf Hess was the sole inmate at Germany's Spandau Prison).

So, if this song is one of your guilty pleasures, be loud and proud and enjoy one of the greatest songs of the decade!!

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers'! "You Got Lucky!"

1982 was an awesome year and a few things really stand out for me when I look back on them. The first CD Player was introduced (retailed for $900 bucks!), the use of the “Smiley/Emoticon” was first used by a computer scientist as a way of expressing emotion in an email :-), Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” was released and the cost of a gallon of gas was only $.99! Yes, you heard correctly, $.99!

Music was huge for me but even with “Thriller” hot off the presses, this little gem by Tom Petty was one of those songs that had great musical appeal and cool lyrics. I believe one of Petty's best, and most underrated songs.

He wrote the song with Mike Campbell who stated that “You Got Lucky” was written to a drum loop.  Mike had made a drum loop in his studio and put the music together. Campbell and Petty went into the studio and actually recreated another drum loop. The Drummer would go out and play, then they’d cut the tape and tape the loop together. They ran it around the room over some mic stands and through the tape heads, and then printed that for 3 or 4 minutes and then recorded the song over that drum loop. Then, Petty added the lyrics and came up with the idea for the guitar solo. He suggested they do sort of a surf guitar with a tremolo arm, like in the Clint Eastwood movie The Good, The Bad And The Ugly.

The keyboard part is my favorite! Tom has stood the test of time with his music, just awesome!

Men at Work! "Overkill!"

“Overkill” was one of my favorite songs from the group Men at Work! This was one of those songs where for years I would sing the wrong lyrics before someone said….”What are you singing?” I would say, “Go Somewhere and Fade Away!” when the lyrics are actually “Ghosts Appear and Fade Away!” Don’t even ask me how many “Misquoted Lyrics” I’ve sung over the years!

Anyway, Men at Work was an Australian band that released their first album, Business as Usual in 1981 and capitalized on it until 1983 when they won a Grammy Award for best New Artist for 1983. This album had a string of hits like, "Who Can It Be Now?", “Down Under" and "Be Good Johnny." Then, the band released their second album Cargo. It had actually been finished in the summer of 1982, but held for release in 1983 due to the phenomenal success of the band's debut. The new album produced three chart singles in the U.S. including "It's a Mistake", "Dr. Heckyll and Mr. Jive" and of course this hit….”Overkill!”

Ahhhhhh.....I miss the 80’s!

De Do Do Do De Da Da Da! The Police!

When I think of the 80’s, I think of the Police! Now, I used to get in a lot of trouble as a teen but I’m not talking about the cops mind you, but the awesome band that recorded one of my favorite songs, “De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da". The Police, released this as a single in December 1980. It was the second single from the album Zenyatta Mondatta and a top ten hit in the United Kingdom and the United States!

According to Sting, the song is about the attraction that people have to simple songs. About the way politicians, entertainers and other people use words to manipulate others. He decided to write this when he became interested in songs with nonsense lyrics like, “Do Wah Diddy Diddy,” and “Tutti Frutti,” and “Da Do Ron Ron”. He wanted to find out why those songs worked and decided to write one of his own. He claims that his son came up with the title. Sting called it, “An articulate song about being inarticulate.”

There are those critics out there that still dismiss this song but Sting says they just haven’t bothered to listen to the lyrics. Critics! I say, with a reunion tour that ended in 2008 that grossed $358 million? Who cares!!

Remember this One-Hit Wonder? “Pilot of the Airwaves”!

In 1980, I had this 45 and played it over and over and over again on my little blue and red hand held turn table (it actually would fold up like a suitcase and I could carry it anywhere)! “Pilot of the Airwaves”, an ode to an unknown DJ by Charlie Dore is a perfect example of a One-Hit Wonder. It literally “flew” in and out like a flash but when it hit, it hit BIG! Although this song would be considered her only personal hit, Charlie wrote other hits for Celine Dion, Sheena Easton, Tina Turner and Barry Manilow.

Funny, I hadn’t actually heard this song on the radio literally since the early 80’s! I must confess though, it still “sounds good to me” after 30 years!

New Years Eve! Celebration!

Well, it’s hard to believe that 2010 is coming to an end and 2011 is upon us. Where has the time gone? My hope is that you have a blessed, safe and Happy New Year and that 2011 brings you good health, happiness and great resolutions.

Wow. 2011. Amazing. You know, as I go back in musical time 30 years, 1981, it’s amazing to see how the decade began with an anti-disco backlash (which I loved by the way...meaning Disco), and how '80’s music would be characterized by the widespread use of synthesizers and keyboards. Where MTV was launched and music videos began to have a huge effect on us. Where New Wave, Synthpop, Techno, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Glam Metal, Hip Hop and Punk Rock were all taking shape to become a popular phenomena throughout that decade.

The 80’s was definitely the decade of transformation. From prominent Political Events, to Electronics and Computers, to Automobiles, to Space Exploration to the Economy.  I could go on and on. But I won’t.  If you are fortunate enough to remember the ‘80’s, congratulations!! You rock!! You were part of an awesome decade, a club so to speak, a society that remembers something special about this special time.

I’ll leave you with this funny memory of the significant fashion trends of the 80’s which included the following: Perms, Mullets, Hair Gel, Leggings, Shoulder Pads, Parachute Pants, Stretched –Stirrup Pants, “Members Only” Jackets, Jean Jackets, Headbands, Pastel Colors and Ray Ban Sunglasses. Ahhhhhhh….What a time!!


Have a great time and be safe!

Lost Song of the 80's. "Heaven Help Me" Deon Estus

Go back 21years to this lost song of the 80's. It's by Deon Estus (Jeffery Deon Estus, 1956 in Detroit, Michigan ) who's best known as the bass player of Wham! and as George Michael's bassist on all of the latter's subsequent projects. I have to tell you, when you hear this song, it sounds like George Michael wrote this song (actually, he did produce it) and felt sorry for Deon and said, "Hey, why don't you sing this song and take all the credit. While you're at it, try to sound "breathy"just like me so everyone will say, "Hey, that sounds like George Michael!". Also, I'll sing backing vocals on the record so everyone will really say, "Hey....maybe it is George Michael!", and then it will be a hit!

Gotta Start with Journey!

"Don't Stop Believin'" is that classic song by Journey. It  was originally released as a single from their 1981 album Escape. It's been described that this song was "an anthem for the young who wanted to feel free and unrestricted". It features one of the best opening keyboard riffs in rock! While most popular songs have a refrain that is repeated several times throughout the song, the true chorus to "Don't Stop Believin'" (as well as first mention of its title) isn't heard until the end of the song with only 0:50 left. I never get tired of hearing this song!!

My First Blog!

I'm very excited! I have decided to create a Music Blog for all of those true music enthusiasts who appreciate listening to great songs from "Back In The Day". I'm a huge 80's fanatic BUT I love music from all genre's. So, you'll see various posts, comments and tid bits of information about your favorite artists and songs that you may have not known before.


To those who love going down memory lane and connecting that special moment with that special song with that special hook. Kick back and enjoy.