Huggin’ and a-kissin’, dancin’ and a-lovin’

September 28, 2011 By Josh Leave a Comment

This past weekend, I ventured out of NY and into NJ for my sister/future bro-in-law’s conjoined bachelor/ette party. And being that nearly all of the loving couple’s friends were either born or raised in the 80s, they threw their bash at the aptly named dance club The Breakfast Club. And, you guessed it, they only play the most memorable and hottest jams from the 80s!

Being that I was wearing diapers for the majority of my 80s experience, one might think that I would be out of touch with said generation. However, I’ve seen enough VH1 flashback shows to know my way around this most memorable musical decade. And I was beyond thrilled that they blasted some of my personal 80s favorites:

The B-52’s’ “Love Shack”

Cyndi Lauper’s “Girls Just Want To Have Fun”

A-ha’s “Take On Me”

Madonna’s “Material Girl”

So what would you die to hear play if you were kicking it up at the Breakfast Club?

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: 80s, bachelor party, dancing, the breakfast club

Rolling Thru the 80s

September 22, 2011 By Kyle Leave a Comment

So lately I’ve been going a bit overboard on late ’70s/early ’80s Rolling Stones. You won’t find many folks who’d say this is their strongest era – ‘Exile on Main Street’ perennially sits atop my all-time favorite albums list – but the oceanic divide between Mick Jagger’s increasing obsession with disco, celebrity and fashion and Keith Richards’ increasing obsession with not really caring make for some pretty endearing, if not bizarre, tunes.

The contrast couldn’t be more clear and ridiculous than on 1978’s “Shattered,” a grimy ode to New York City. Really, what is going on here? And why can’t I stop listening? Tongue-in-cheek, campy, overblown, underthought, call it whatever you want – they made some great stuff in this era, particularly the two songs I’ve featured below. The mock-country “Far Away Eyes” in particular hasn’t left my head in a week.

“Far Away Eyes” (from 1978’s ‘Some Girls’)

“Waiting on a Friend” (from 1981’s ‘Tattoo You’)

This one isn’t the Stones or a particularly good song, but worth noting here for purely comical purposes…

Mick Jagger and David Bowie – “Dancing in the Street” (from a 1985 Live Aid charity single)

Any other bands whose mid-career output deserves a second look?

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: 80s, Dancing in the Street, Some Girls, Tatoo You, The Rolling Stones

NYC In The Late 80s

July 22, 2011 By Andy Leave a Comment

Gothamist has a wonderful slideshow waxing nostalgic on NYC stars in the late-80’s. Remember when Sean Penn was married to Madonna? Or when Woody Allen was Mr. Family Guy? It’s all documented there in it’s grainy, shoulder-pad filled glory.

Here’s a fun one of a Bruce, George Harrison and Mick Jagger collaboration.

BONUS - here’s what yours truly looked like in the late 80’s:

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: 80s, adidas, late 80s, new york, NYC