Baby, don't understand Why we can't just hold on to each others' hands This time might be the last, I fear Unless I make it all too clear I need you so, ohh Take these broken wings And learn to fly again Learn to live so free
Mr. Mister's "Broken Wings" isn't exactly a one-hit-wonder, the band did hit the charts with a few other songs in the mid-80's. in fact, "Kyrie" also went to number 1 on Billboard's Hot 100 but "Broken Wings" was far more successful. It's one of those songs that you recognize as soon as it starts. I think just about everyone has belted out the chorus at least once.
Heartaches come and go and all that's left are the words
I can't let go
If we take some time to think it over baby
Take some time, let me know
If you really want to go
Don't know what you got till it's gone
Don't know what it is I did so wrong
Now I know what I got
It's just this song."
How can you not love a good power ballad? I mean, even if you hate hair bands, how can you not love a power ballad?? Aside from tugging at the heartstrings and connecting to people on a gut punch level, they were also a brilliant marketing tool back in 1980-something. Heavy metal bands already had guys liking them but women were often a tougher sell- until the power ballad came along. Love songs appeal to women and one 4 minute song could easily sell tickets to that demographic.
Picking a favorite is really tough because there were so many great ones. In the case of Cinderella, one of their ballads was their top charting hit of all time. "Don't Know What You Got (Till It's Gone)" seemed to speak to our teenaged generation just as much as it still speaks to a fortysomething going through a divorce now. Up until that point, the Philly-born band was firmly rooted in the hard rock scene and their videos were loaded with big hair, bright lights and a string of half-dressed chicks. This time out Tom Keifer sat down at his piano and just poured his heart out and boy did it work. The video was in heavy rotation on MTV and the song reached number 12 on Billboard's charts.
More importantly, it's a ballad that still resonates to this day. Check out the video below!
It's absolutely impossible to make it all the way through the month of December without doing a very obvious daily 80's throwback. "December" is a track off of Expose`'s debut album, Exposure that never really got the credit that it deserves. Way back in 1987 Arista was marketing this trio as a dance or freestyle group and perhaps didn't realize just how well some of their ballads would eventually do. "Come Go With Me" was the lead single off of the album and "December" actually ended up being its' B-side.
As an unapologetic Expose`fan, I have to say that this is one of my very favorite songs by them. Gioia Bruno leads "December" with Jeanette Jurado and Ann Curless backing her up and the end result might just be one of the best ballads of the 80's never to be released as a single. It makes sense that "December" was a B-side because it certainly deserved play, but the ladies team obviously underestimated the wide range that these ladies actually have. This was several months before "Seasons Change" was released and everyone fell in love with the group so "December" was a risky bet. Had it been on a follow-up album it might have been a single. itself.
If you've never listened to this song, here's your chance. It's a nice reminder of just how amazing Bruno's voice really is.
My sophomore year of high school was loaded with Eddie Money tunes. His album 'Can't Hold Back' was heralded as a huge comeback for him and that meant a string of hits that flooded my radio. "Endless Nights" was not the biggest single, it cracked Billboard's top 40 but compared to tracks like, "Take Me Home Tonight" it was the hidden gem of the album. I had honestly forgotten about it until a few days ago when it came on my radio at work and rather than think about it, I kind of felt it.
Even though it's a bit of an angst-y tune it still for whatever reason reminded me of car rides through the country with the windows down, sun blaring and the radio cranked. It brings me back to stonewashed jeans, big sweaters and banana clips. Back to a moment in time when every little thing felt like the end of the world, even though those things would eventually amount to nothing compared to real adult life in the years to come. "Endless Nights" feels like four minutes of everything that felt good about 1987. Check it out below.
Even if the name Starpoint doesn't exactly ring a bell I'm going to bet that if you're an 80's music fan then at least one song by the funk band will be familiar. "Object Of My Desire" first cracked the charts back in 1985 and it enjoyed tons of radio play as well. Starpoint was originally from Maryland and gradually shifted a funk sound in the early 80's to more of an R&B vibe by the time they released their 1985 album Restless.
Starpoint's Renee Diggs might just be one of the most underrated female voices of the decade that focused on the likes of Whitney Houston and Madonna. Sadly, Diggs died in 2005 at the age of 50 due to a heart problem and complications from her long-running battle with Multiple Sclerosis. Check out the video below to catch Starpoint at their very best!
Coffee, tea on me baby Touche a la' My opening line might be a bit passe But don't think that I don't know I'm feeling for ya Cause I got a vibe on you the first time that I saw you saw you
Yesterday I spent quite awhile listening to Teena Marie's Starchild from 1984. I have been on a real Tee kick lately, thanks to THIS GUY over here & his radio show, The Power Hour. It all started with my accidentally stumbling onto this clip of Jeanette Jurado's cover of "Portuguese Love" which just blew me away,
Once I realized that it was originally Teena Marie's song made me go back through Lady Tee's catalog of music and I had forgotten just how much of her stuff I actually love. I remember when Starchild first came out because her song "Lovergirl" was a huge hit. Like, it was played every 3.5 hours on the radio like clockwork and the video was constantly popping up on MTV. Not that I was supposed to know that because at that point in time my mom had banned MTV from our house. I remember sneaking it while upstairs and going to my grandmother's to freely watch videos.
The only problem there was that in 1984 my grandmother didn't have MTV so I was at the mercy of America's Top Ten countdown which had video clips and of course, Friday Night Videos. You remember that right? It came on at midnight and everyone tried to stay awake long enough to watch even if they had MTV, just because.
So anyway, I knew that the video for "Lovergirl" was in heavy MTV rotation but I never caught a glimpse while at home. I had to finally see it late at night while at my grandmother's and I remember it being sandwiched between Madonna and Phil Collins. I was stunned that such a big, soulful voice came out of such a tiny pale chick. I knew Teena was tough though because she ran with Rick James and even though I was only 12-ish I totally understood what being his (sometimes) other half had to entail.
While Starchild made me happy as a kid, as a grown woman I totally appreciate the unbelievable range of talent that Lady Tee had. It's a damn shame she left us so soon.
"Captured effortlessly That's the way it was Happened so naturally I did not know it was love The next thing I felt was You holding me close What was I gonna do? I let myself go And now we're flyin' through the stars I hope this night will last forever"
More than forty years ago funk band Rufus started performing with a soul singer by the name of Chaka Khan. They spent about 12 years cranking out hits before Khan decided to embark on a successful solo career. ("I Feel For You") One of their signature songs was "Ain't Nobody" which was featured in the movie Breakin' and on its' soundtrack as well. It's definitely my favorite Chaka song of all time and apparently, it's a lot of other peoples as well, as it has been used as an audition song for reality competitions repeatedly.
A few weeks ago it was announced that Rufus and Chaka Khan are among the list of nominees for the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame for 2018. I'm kind of a stickler and think nominees should be rockers. But I'm thrilled to see that make any list that involves public acknowledgment because Rufus with Chaka was fantastic.
Aside from loving this song, it's Monday and I think this is a great way to get you all moving. So here it is:
"Cryin' on the corner, waitin' in the rain I swear I'll never, ever wait again You gave me your word, but words for you are lies
Darlin', in my wildest dreams, I never thought I'd go But it's time to let you know
I'm gonna harden my heart I'm gonna swallow my tears I'm gonna turn and leave you here"
I think one of the very first videos that I can remember watching is Quarterflash's "Harden My Heart". I remember as a kid it not making a whole lot of sense to me and visually it reminded me of an episode of Doctor Who. I was a bit freaked out by that show but I quickly got over it resembling it because I absolutely loved the song.
I think that Quarterflash singlehandedly made me love the saxophone in under four minutes. From that point on, I looked for and usually found a sax solo in every song that I loved in the 80's. Rindy Ross handles vocals and sax like a rock goddess and in my mind, no other woman has ever come close to her playing. She said in an interview years ago that she felt the sax was like an extension of her voice and I actually get that feeling when a Quarterflash song plays.
I don't think I'm alone in loving "Harden My Heart" because it is one of the top songs that old school radio stations across the U.S. favor. And honestly, how could they not? Whatever happened to sax being a regular part of top 40 music? It added so much to so many songs, why did it disappear and who is going to decide to start bringing it back- one song at a time?
O.K. Just a little pin prick There'll be no more aaaaaaaah! But you may feel a little sick Can you stand up? I do believe it's working, good That'll keep you going through the show Come on, it's time to go.
Is Pink Floyd's "Comfortably Numb" one of the very best songs in classic rock history? In my opinion it absolutely is. Aside from the chilling lyrics, those guitar solos are some of the best ever recorded. Roger Waters and David Gilmour really struck gold with this one and the rest of their legendary album, The Wall.
"Comfortably Numb" was first released as a single back in 1980 with a pretty sharp video which ended up being a part of Pink Floyd's film, The Wall. That piece of art is an 80's classic with it likely making much more sense if you're drunk or high while watching it. I remember back in 1987 having a biology teacher that was rumored to be a huge "burn out". The stories of kids going to his house a block from the school and smoking with him while watching The Wall swirled for years. I always figured that there probably some truth to the rumors, in part because he would laugh about them without ever denying anything. He also strongly encouraged us all to watch The Wall because he believed it would become part of pop culture history. Guess what- he was right! Check out "Comfortably Numb" below. To this day it remains one of my favorite 80's songs.
"Shame, ooh My mother says you're playing a game And what you do to me is a Shame Ooh, gonna love you just the same Mama just don't understand Wrapped in your arms Is where I want to be I want to be, want to be Wrapped in your arms That's my high, my high I can't get enough, ooh baby Enough of that magic touch Love is in my heart Tearing the rules apart So, why should I be ashamed"
I make absolutely no apologies for my to-this-day love of disco. The very first 45's that I bought with my own money were Chic's "Le Freak" and Anita Ward's "Ring My Bell"- and I still love them both. I also love how when a classic disco song comes on now and everyone floods the dance floor. The appeal is still there. Evelyn Champagne King's "Shame" is a perfect example of this phenomenon. It's just a great song with a great beat and when you throw in a bit of a cautionary lyrical tale, well you've struck 40 years worth of musical gold.
Click play below and I dare you to try and stay still. You can't do it either, can you?
When Mick Jones, Ian McDonald, and Lou Gramm first teamed up in New York City back in 1976 to form Foreigner, I'm pretty sure that they never would have imagined still sharing a stage some 40+ years later. Serious health issues, growing pains, lineup changes, and internal strife have all played a part in the bands' evolution and temporary disintegration, but the music has always been much more powerful than all of those things combined. Foreigner's catalog is an overabundance of riches for any musician fortunate enough to be able to do it any sort of justice and no one understands this better than the band's original lineup. Seeing Mick Jones (lead guitar), Lou Gramm (vocals), Ian McDonald (guitar/sax), Dennis Elliott (drums), Rick Wills (bass) and Al Greenwood (keyboard) reunite for a select few shows this year has been a rare gift for classic rock fans young and old alike.
The Hard Rock in Atlantic City was one of only four shows slated for this year's Double Vision: Then & Now reunion and it really was a perfect balance of the original Foreigner members, with the current lineup. The first part of the show featured the latter with Kelly Hansen absolutely showing off his vocal range on hits like "Cold As Ice" and "Head Games" before pulling the sold-out crowd in with his intensity on "Waiting for a Girl Like You" and "That Was Yesterday".
Kelly Hansen
Kelly Hansen
While Hansen is more than holding his own on vocals, the rest of the current lineup is an incredibly skilled group of musicians, all with decades of success before even venturing to set foot on a Foreigner stage. Bruce Watson was tapped to step in for Mick Jones during a medical emergency years ago and never left. He has earned his spot by being versatile enough to either play lead guitar his way or to accentuate the magic that Jones weaves as his right-hand man.
Bruce Watson & Tom Gimbel
Bruce Watson & Jeff Pilson
Jeff Pilson (interview here) spent years 'breaking the chains' with Dokken before joining Foreigner and he is an animal onstage. One minute he is literally headbanging right in front of you and the next he is already at the opposite end of the stage rocking out. His bass playing is a standout, even on the ballads and he often can be found working as the band's music director to make sure that their shows are seamless.
Jeff Pilson
Jeff Pilson
Tom Gimbel (interview here or here) is one of, if not the most versatile musician currently touring. In any given song he might be playing rhythm guitar ("Head Games", "Juke Box Hero"), keyboard ("Cold As Ice", "Waiting For A Girl Like You"), or flute ("Starrider"). But his biggest moment is when he cracks out his saxophone to make "Urgent" the memorable piece that it is.
Tom Gimbel
Tom Gimbel
Speaking of keyboards, Michael Bluestein is quite an entertainer. He plays great and even from the back of the stage he always catches my eye with the way he pumps up and toys with the audience. It's so often mentioned that the drums are the foundation of any band and that certainly holds true for Foreigner. Chris Frazier has been the man behind the kit for the last seven years and he is the driving force that pushes this great band through songs like "Juke Box Hero".
Mick Jones
Once the current lineup finished their set in Atlantic City, Mick took to the stage to introduce the rest of the original members and you could tell that this was an audience raised on Foreigner. I was one of those kids back in the 70's spinning my dad's vinyl, so to see and hear the guys who actually played on those original recordings was pretty amazing. Less than a minute into "Feels Like the First Time" and it was obvious that this stage full of 70ish-year-old men could still rock.
Mick Jones
As long as Mick is breathing he will play like a guitar god and seeing him interact with Lou onstage felt like rare stolen moments that only a select few concert goers in this day and age will get to experience. Lou's vocals seem to be about the best that they've been in years and the Hard Rock audience's energy soared.
Lou Gramm & Rick Wills
I got the feeling while watching Rick Wills on bass and Dennis Elliott on drums that they both could still be playing regularly with Foreigner if they chose to. They both helped the band barrel through "Blue Morning Blue Day" and "Long Long Way From Home" with such conviction that I really wanted to see what else they can still do.
Rick Wills
Rick Wills & Ian McDonald
Multi-instrumentalists always intrigue me because they just have so much going on. Ian McDonald is meticulous in getting himself together before playing and it made me so happy to see him have a bit of a sax solo complete with a bit of his own theatrical flair.
Ian McDonald
The split setlist for the Double Vision: Then & Now shows is actually pretty perfect because it allows each generation to play to their strongest abilities. There was no better way to wrap up such a rare evening than by bringing all twelve musicians back onstage to perform "I Want To Know What Love Is" and "Hot Blooded".
Foreigner already has a pile of dates booked for 2019 and rumor has it that some of those may turn into reunion shows as well. This fan can only hope that it's a rumor that turns into confirmed fact!
"I go about my business, I'm doing fine Besides what would I say if I had you on the line? Same old story, not much to say Hearts are broken, everyday."
Jewel burst on the scene at just the right moment in the 90's. Hairbands and grunge had both died down and R&B was slipping just a little. New Jack Swing and house music were on the sidelines and we were needing something fresh so along came Indie rock chicks.
Sarah McGlaughin, Shawn Colvin, Paula Cole...the list is endless. One after another they pinned songs designed to tug at our heart strings as well as our wallets, and it worked. Jewel's "You Were Meant For Me" became a classic almost over night. Especially if you were college age and trying to fill a void left by a guy. Oy was kind of the official song for breakups that aren't mutual.
I remember watching Jewel's earliest videos and being mesmerized by the simplicity. There was nothing flashy or glitzy. Almost the exact opposite. The visuals, while stunning, were primarily about this young woman and her guitar. They told a story all on their own. One that's worth revisiting so check it out bek
"And the sky was made of amethyst And all the stars were just like little fish You should learn when to go You should learn how to say no
Might last a day, yeah Mine is forever Might last a day, yeah Mine is forever Well they get what they want, and they never want it again Well they get what they want, and they never want it again Go on, take everything, take everything, I want you to"
I still remember the first time that I listened to Hole'sLive Through This album when it was released just days after Kurt Cobain's suicide. It just clicked on the deepest level possible for me. Everything that Nirvana was to other people, Hole became to me. Cobain had reached so many people through his lyrics, but it was his wife Courtney Love, that I connected with. She fearlessly tackled feminist issues, beauty ideals and douche men in a way different from any of the rockers before her. Lyrically, Love easily became the voice for a generation of young women.
"Violet" is rumored to have been about her screwed up love affair witch Billy Corrigan of The Smashing Pumpkins. I was in my mid-twenties when the song first dropped and I totally understood the kind of situation Love was singing about. Check out the video below.
"I feel so good when I'm near you That's why I always wanna be close to you I'm so addicted, I'm so addicted To makin' love to you, baby All night long, baby, all night long, long, long, long"
H-Town's "Knockin' Da Boots" is one of my all-time favorite slow jams. The 1993 R&B classic hit Billboard's charts at the height of the New Jack Swing era and it sat near the top for several weeks in the spring of that year. Kristine Huskey, who is now a distinguished attorney and author actually appeared in the video as a dancer.
H-Town remained popular throughout much of the 90's and were putting the finishing touches on an album when lead singer Keven "Dino" Conner was killed in a car accident along with his pregnant girlfriend. The album was released nearly two years later but without Conner it didn't garner much airplay or distribution. The remaining members of H-Town, Solomon Conner and Darryl Jackson perform some of their classics from time to time.
"Time of season Wipes the tears No rhyme or reason No more fears All the dreamin' Is far behind You are here now Everything's alright"
Is Saigon Kick one of the most underrated bands around? Their fans like to think so. After forming back in 1988 the band finally made a huge breakthrough with their 1992 hit ballad, "Love is on the Way". It made it to number 12 on Billboard's Hot 100 but more importantly, the song got tons of airplay across the country.
Technically, "Love is on the Way" is considered a one-hit-wonder but the band is still around, thirty years after the fact. I realized that I had never listened to a full album of Saigon Kick's and so I gave The Lizard a shot. You should too, it's definitely worth a spin. In the meantime, here's "Love is on the Way".
Are you like me? Do you recognize this song a few seconds in, whenever you do hear it?
