This is one of my absolute favorite songs from the 80’s. The album, Broadcast was the first U.S. Number 1 album for Virgin Records (according to Wikipedia), and the band received a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist. Unfortunately their next two albums went nowhere fast and the band broke up in 1993. Lead Singer Nick Van Eede has started the group back up, in 2006 they released their first album, but 20 years later and without lead guitarist Kevin MacMichael (who died of cancer in 2002), I am not going to hold my breathe. But I will always have Broadcast to bring me back to 1986.

August 5th, 1994 TheWife and I were married. Like (far too) many people in the early 80’s “our song” was heavily inspired by the movie Ghost. Now the movie doesn’t seem to hold the same “magic” it did then, and looking back, while it is certainly a nice film, I am amazed at how many people (us included of course) were so taken in by it. On the other hand, the song, The Righteous Brothers Unchained Melody is still one of my favorite love songs.

In 1984 Bonnie Tyler released what would become her biggest hit, Holding out for a Hero. It was originally part of the soundtrack for Footloose. The infectious beat and uplifting sound of the song helped bring it to #1 on the Billaboard charts.

It would also go on to be part of the soundtrack of a number of other films including, Short Circuit 2, my personal favorite version in Who is Harry Crumb, Shrek 2 (not the Bonnie Tyler version) , Bandits, and last year’s Nacho Libre. It has also been used in a number of television shows as well including Lois and Clark : The New Adventures of Superman.

Personally, along with Survivors Eye of the Tiger, it is a regular in my workout and my new Couch to 5k playlists as well as anywhere I need more “energy.”

There were few things bigger in the summer of 1987 than Dirty Dancing. And while the movie has an awesome soundtrack, it was this song, and the accompanying dance number that most people remember(ed).

It was one of only two number one hits for Jennifer Warnes (the other being Up Where We Belong with Joe Cocker on the An Officer and a Gentleman Soundtrack), but just one of many for her duet partner Bill Medley who is of course is probably best known (along with his partner Bobby Hatfield) as The Righteous Brothers.

Whitmentioned that my last Picture Perfect Thursday post made him think of this song, and I have to agree. And since I have yet to pay homage to anything from The Dave Matthews Band, I thought it only appropriate to start off with this.

If you like Rock Music, and are from New Jersey, there is no way that you can not include Jon Bon Jovi among your favorites, and since I qualify on both fronts, it is a bit odd that I have waited this long into the Triple Venti Late Night Music Club to add my first Bon Jovi song to the collection. Runaway was actually written back in 1980, but came to prominence in 1983 as was the first single released on Bon Jovi’s first self titled album.

Since I am in Walt Disney World right now, and I have watched the Cars DVD once too often lately, it just seemed appropriate that this weeks Triple Venti Late Night Music Club selection come from the House of Mouse. This is the remake of Life is a Highway by Rascal Flatts, from the Cars Original Sound Track.

In honor of my trip down to Atlantic City, my contest to win Salt Water Taffy from Fralinger’s (and the fact that I did not post a Music Club Selection this weekend), I decided to go with what is clearly a favorite this time of year in the Jersey Shore area, the Bruce Springsteen hit Jersey Girl from his Born In the USA album.

It has become somewhat “hip” to pick on Bruce in some circles, but his popularity and style (not to mention record sales and sold out tour dates) is something that is rivaled by a very select few.

Since we had such a low turnout in the Easy Friday Contest, everybody who entered is getting a box of Taffy. (At least nobody is going away disappointed).

This video for the longest time made no sense to me because apparently the decided to shorten it, and took out the piece where you find out what the whole medieval scene had to do with the video (that Perry “walked out” on it). Anyway, at times I feel sorry in a way for anybody named Sherrie in the 23 years since this song came out, as I can only imagine how many guys have thought themselves “unique” by singing this song to them.

Not that it is a bad song, I happen to love it myself. And Steve Perry has got a simply awesome voice. It is a bit of a shame that he seemed to spend so much time bouncing back in and out of Journey, canceled tours and albums and the like. And I am not sure who benefited more from it, but many people assume that Oh Sherrie was a Journey song, but was in fact Perry’s first solo album (his second, got put on hiatus when he returned to Journey and was later released as part of another album but was not a huge success).

I have never been one to follow the news as far as celebrities go, and when I had hear that Journey was getting back together (yet again), I was actually pumped to see and hear Perry once again, but alas, those days seem to be gone, and due to the acrimony of the last break up, he has no intention of rejoining the band. And without him, I don’t really have that much interest in Journey any longer.

A bonus entry into the TripleVenti Late Night Music Club, in honor of a three day weekend, a second tribute to the class of 1982, and the fact that I just couldn’t bare to have Olivia Newton-John as the only current representative of 1982 thus far, I went back to pull back the classic selection from Joan Jett and the Black Hearts, I Love Rock N’ Roll.

It ranks at Number 17 on the Top 100 Songs of the 80’s, and has been covered by many other bands and artists, including Friction, Joe Christmas, Hayseed Dixie, Nitocris, and Ghoti Hook. Despite the Britney Spears remake of this song (or perhaps because of it), this original version is still far more popular, and deservedly so. Though I suspect many younger people today, have no idea what a “record machine” is.

If you graduated High School in 1982, you are probably staring at an invitation to your 25th reunion. As you think back to those day, you probably remember that it was around this time that the designer jeans look gave way to Leg Warmers and Clam Diggers, you most likely saw one (or more) of these movies in theaters, E.T., Poltergeist, and The Wall, Fast Times at Ridgemont High or Rocky III. Valley Girl Speak became popular. And if that along wasn’t enough to make your cringe, then you will probably cringe when you may remember that Billboards number one song of the year was Olivia Newton-John’s Physical.

Say what you want about Madonna. There are opinions on her as varying as possible, from those that love her to those that hate her. She is certainly enigmatic, and has kept herself in the news far more than most people care to hear and know about her. From controversial adoptions, to questions of marriage and father of her child, it is probably this glut of exposure more than anything that makes most people annoyed.

But regardless of all of that, back in 1984, when her album Like a Virgin was released, she certainly left an indelible mark on music, on fashion at the time, and so on. The Title track, of the same name spent 6 weeks at number one on the charts There are countless women in this country that today some 22 years later, look back and cringe when they see pictures of themselves wearing Madonna-like fashion.

Like a Virgin was listed the fourth song on their list of the “100 Greatest Pop Songs” as compiled by Rolling Stone and MTV (back in 2000).

Is there anybody that hasn’t sung this song at the top of their lungs, what seems like hundreds of times? I was in my crowd, the only one that was able to not only memorize all the words to the Phil Rizzuto call in the middle of the song, but actually got down all the voice inflections as well (such is what happens when you have parents that watch lots of Yankees baseball in the 70’s). It is hard to believe that this song is celebrating 30 years. Most people who listen to it today, probably don’t even know who Phil Rizzuto is any longer.

I have owned this song, on original 45 rpm single, on the Bat Out of Hell Album (that is a vinyl for you kids out there), Cassette, CD and now of course I have it digitally. (And you wonder why the music industry doesn’t want people to have backups of their music. Just look right there, I have purchased this album 4 times (plus the single) over the years. Now of course, I (hopefully) will never need to purchase it again.)

Added bonus for those that may want it, the Lyrics are below the fold.

Boy:
I remember every little thing
As if it happened only yesterday
Parking by the lake
And there was not another car in sight
And I never had a girl
Looking any better than you did
And all the kids at school
They were wishing they were me that night

And now our bodies are oh so close and tight
It never felt so good, it never felt so right
And we’re glowing like the metal on the edge of a knife
C’mon! Hold on tight!
C’mon! Hold on tight!

Though it’s cold and lonely in the deep dark night
I can see paradise by the dashboard light

Girl:
Ain’t no doubt about it
We were doubly blessed
Cause we were barely seventeen
And we were barely dressed

Ain’t no doubt about it
Baby got to go and shout it
Ain’t no doubt about it
We were doubly blessed

Boy:
Cause we were barely seventeen
And we were barely dressed

Baby doncha hear my heart
You got it drowning out the radio
I’ve been waiting so long
For you to come along and have some fun

And I gotta let ya know
No you’re never gonna regret it
So open up your eyes I got a big surprise
It’ll feel all right
Well I wanna make your motor run

And now our bodies are oh so close and tight
It never felt so good, it never felt so right
And we’re glowing like the metal on the edge of a knife
C’mon! Hold on tight!
C’mon! Hold on tight!

Though it’s cold and lonley in the deep dark night
I can see paradise by the dashboard light
Paradise by the dashboard light

You got to do what you can
And let Mother Nature do the rest
Ain’t no doubt about it
We were doubly blessed
Cause we were barely seventeen
And we were barely–

We’re gonna go all the way tonight
We’re gonna go allt he way
An tonight’s the night…

Radio Broadcast:
Ok, here we go, we got a real pressure cooker
going here, two down, nobody on, no score,
bottom of the ninth, there’s the wind-up and
there it is, a line shot up the middle, look
at him go. This boy can really fly!
He’s rounding first and really turning it on
now, he’s not letting up at all, he’s gonna
try for second; the ball is bobbled out in center,
and here comes the throw, and what a throw!
He’s gonna slide in head first, here he comes, he’s out!
No, wait, safe–safe at second base, this kid really
makes things happen out there.
Batter steps up to the plate, here’s the pitch–
he’s going, and what a jump he’s got, he’s trying
for third, here’s the throw, it’s in the dirt–
safe at third! Holy cow, stolen base!
He’s taking a pretty big lead out there, almost
daring him to try and pick him off. The pitcher
glance over, winds up, and it’s bunted, bunted
down the third base line, the suicide squeeze in on!
Here he comes, squeeze play, it’s gonna be close,
here’s the throw, there’s the play at the plate,
holy cow, I think he’s gonna make it!

II. Let Me Sleep On It

Girl:
Stop right there!
I gotta know right now!
Before we go any further–!

Do you love me?
Will you love me forever?
Do you need me?
Will you never leave me?
Will you make me so happy for the rest of my life?
Will you take me away and will you make me your wife?
Do you love me!?
Will you love me forever!?
Do you need me!?
Will you never leave me!?
Will you make me so happy for the rest of my life!?
Will you take me away and will you make me your wife!?
I gotta know right now
Before we go any further
Do you love me!!!?
Will you love me forever!!!?

Boy:
Let me sleep on it
Baby, baby let me sleep on it
Let me sleep on it
And I’ll give you my answer in the morning

Let me sleep on it
Baby, baby let me sleep on it
Let me sleep on it
And I’ll give you my answer in the morning

Let me sleep on it
Baby, baby let me sleep on it
Let me sleep on it
And I’ll give you my answer in the morning

Girl:
I gotta know right now!
Do you love me?
Will you love me forever?
Do you need me?
Will you never leave me?
Will you make me so happy for the rest of my life?
Will you take me away and will you make me your wife?
I gotta know right now!
Before we go any further
Do you love me?
And will you love me forever?

Boy:
Let me sleep on it
Baby, baby let me sleep on it
Let me sleep on it
And I’ll give you my answer in the morning
Let me sleep on it!!!

Girl:
Will you love me forever?

Boy:
Let me sleep on it!!!

Girl:
Will you love me forever!!!

III. Praying for the End of Time

Boy:
I couldn’t take it any longer
Lord I was crazed
And when the feeling came upon me
Like a tidal wave
I started swearing to my god and on my mother’s grave
That I would love you to the end of time
I swore that I would love you to the end of time!

So now I’m praying for the end of time
To hurry up and arrive
Cause if I gotta spend another minute with you
I don’t think that I can really survive
I’ll never break my promise or forget my vow
But God only knows what I can do right now
I’m praying for the end of time
It’s all that I can do
Praying for the end of time, so I can end my time with you!!!

Boy:
It was long ago and it was far away
and it was so much better than it is today

Girl:
It never felt so good
It never felt so right
And we were glowing like
A metal on the edge of a knife

1983 – I graduated from college, Compact Discs were introduced, but most people were still buying vinyl and singles were on 45’s because of the price of the players, Sally Ride became the first woman astronaut. And The Fixx reached Number Two in the charts with “One Thing Leads to Another.” (This song was introduced to another generation in 2002 with the song’s inclusion in the game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City.)

1982 hit Mickey by Toni Basil. A bit silly, but a huge hit back when I was in High School (yes, and when dinosaurs roamed the earth), because you can’t (OK, I can’t) help tapping and even sometimes bopping to the beat.
(Sorry this must have looked a bit silly without the video there. Apparently WordPress’ Rich Text Editor and You Tube have some issues)