Your 80's Hip Hop Selections: 'The Message' by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five (1982)

This week's 80's Hip Hop selection of the week goes to 80's hip hop legends Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five and their 1982 hit track The Message. Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five were a highly influential early American hip-hop group, they formed in the South Bronx of New York City in 1978, and consisted of DJ (Grandmaster Flash) and five rappers (Melle Mel, Kidd Creole, Cowboy, Mr. Ness/Scorpio, and Rahiem). The Message was a single release off the 1982 album The Message. This song was no doubt one of the foundational pillars of hip hop samples for years to come, it was remixed many times, and The Message was even named #5 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop. Now, I know its been slow as far as my posting, but there's an update for you, its just that Turntable.fm has been absorbing much of my free computer time as of late, but not to worry, #8 of the Top 100 countdown will be posted soon!

Turntable.fm

Sorry everybody, been spending heaps of time on Turntable.fm, you should check it out if you haven't already, after all everyone wants to be the DJ!
http://turntable.fm/

Rockin' In the 80s: 'Heartbeat' by Don Johnson (1986)

This issue of Rockin' in the 80s features Heartbeat by American actor/singer Don Johnson. Thaaat's rigggght, its the same Don Johnson who starred in the hit 1980's TV series Miami Vice. In 1986 Johnson recorded an album titled Heartbeat on the Epic/CBS Records label, which peaked at #17 on the Billboard 200 album. Heartbeat (the song) charted at #5 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. Now go watch yourself some Miami Vice re-runs or something, they're great for summer.

Hot 80s Nights!: 'Destination Unknown' by Marietta (1986)

Hot 80s Nights! is back after a short hiatus there, sorry everyone its summer-time and I've been on holiday. So, the song is Destination Unknown by American singer/songwriter Marietta. Marietta Waters is actually best known for this song, which can be found on the movie soundtrack for the 1986 summer blockbuster film Top Gun, you might of heard it about it, it was kind of a big deal. That said I will try to keep this all updated, its just that its so hard to want to sit around on the computer when the weather is so nice outside...go figure.

#9 of DJ Akhu's Top 100 80's Dance Hits Countdown: 'You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)' by Dead Or Alive (1984)

Welcome back to the Top 100 80s Dance Hits Countdown, by VJ Samsonite, it has been awhile and slow to release but we are back now. At #9, we have the 1984 #1 hit song You Spin Me Round (Like a Record) by British new-wave band Dead Or Alive. Dead Or Alive started out in 1980, based out of Wirral, England, and consisting of band members Pete Burns (vocalist), Wayne Hussey (guitar and song-writer), Mike Percy (bass guitar), Steve Coy (drums), Timothy Lever (various instruments), and Jason Alburey (keyboards). They are actually most well-known for You Spin Me Round (LIke a Record), which was released in 1984 on the band's second LP Youthquake, and managed to clench the #1 position on the UK Singles Chart,
and #11 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. The first time I heard this song was actually on the soundtrack to the 1998 film The Wedding Singer, which I believe was an early contributing factor to the retro 80's music and fashion wave that hit around the early 2000's and is now starting to fade away as new indie and electro music comes into play more and more. The final 8 will be posted soon!

The Saxxy 80s: 'I Still Believe' by Tim Cappello (1987)

The Saxxy 80s are back, and this week the feature goes to American Saxophonist/Singer Tim Cappello and his 1987 cover of the song I Still Believe. Now any of you who have seen the 80s teen vampire-horror-film/cult-classic The Lost Boys will likely be familiar with the oiled up muscle-man/saxophonist/80s-icon playing a brief, but memorable 80s set on the California coast (clearly Santa Cruz) for a bunch of 80s teenagers hanging out around beach bonfires. Now if that scene doesn't capture some 80s sentiment I don't know what does. Timmy Cappello originates out of Westchester County in New York, and he plays various instruments including tenor saxophone, keyboards, harmonica, guitar, and various percussion, and he is also well known for playing saxophone in Tina Turner's 80's-era band, and had easily identifiable saxophone-solos in her soundtrack songs for the 80's film  Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, so be sure to check those songs out if you are looking for some brilliant sax solos. I Still Believe was a cover that Tim did of the song originally written by band The Call, and Tim's version can be found on The Lost Boys Soundtrack.

The Beachy 80s: 'Rio' by Duran Duran (1982)

The Beachy 80s returns again, and now that its July we are right smack in the heat of the Summer, which makes for a perfect time to crank these beachy tracks! This weeks track is the hit song Rio, by none other than my all-time favorite band Duran Duran.  I've posted factoids about Duran Duran before so you can look them up on older posts if you want that trivia info. But I will give you one piece of information you may or may not have known about them, did you know that the band is named after after the villain from Barbarella, Roger Vadim's French science-fiction film. The villain, played by Milo O'Shea, is named "Dr. Durand Durand." Rio was released in 1982 on the Rio album, and the song peaked at #9 on the UK Singles chart, and #14 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.  That fact comes from their Wikipedia page. I had the privilege of seeing them live at V-Festival back in 2008, and all I have to say is 'Simply Awesome!' So don't miss them if they come your way on a live set. Now get outside and enjoy yourself some summer sun!

Your 80s Rhythm and Blues Set: 'Nite And Day' by Al B. Sure! (1988)

Your 80s Rhythm and Blues weekly feature goes to the repost of Al B. Sure! and his 1988 R-and-B hit Nite And Day.  Al B. Sure! (Albert Jason Brown III) is is an American singer/songwriter/producer from Boston  Massachusetts who started out his music career back in 1987 and is still active to this day. Nite And Day was a 1988 single release off of his In Effect Mode album which clenched the #1 spot on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart, and #7 on the US Billboard Hot 100  chart that year. Stay tuned for part 2 and of course the next song of the Top 100 Countdown...

Rockin' In The 80s: 'Burning In Love' by Honeymoon Suite (1984)

Rockin In The 80s returns with Canadian rock band Honeymoon Suite, and their song Burning In Love. Honeymoon Suite formed back in 1981 in Niagara Falls, Ontario and consisting of members Johnnie Dee (vocals and guitar), Brad Bent (keys), and Mike Lengyell (drums). Honeymoon Suite were in my opinion a very under-rated 80s rock band and they had heaps of good songs, so if you aren't familiar with them you should check them out too. Burning In Love is a single off of their 1984 debut self-titled album Honeymoon Suite, and it peaked at #75 on the Canadian Singles chart that year. For more music and band info head to their website HERE and remember to Rock On!

Hot 80s Nights!: 'Midnight Man' by Sandra (1987)

This week's Hot 80s Nights! feature is a repost, and the song is Midnight Man by German 80's pop singer/songwriter Sandra. Sandra Ann Lauer (born May 18th, 1962 in Saarbrücken, Germany) got her start as the lead singer of the all female disco trio Arabesque from 1979-1984 until 1985 when she started a solo career with her former husband Michael Cretu as the manager, composer, and producer of her 1st international single hit titled (I'll Never Be) Maria Magdalena. Sandra was most popular in Europe, Brazil, Egypt, Sweden, Japan, Israel, Russia, France, and South Africa in the 1980's and early 1990's (and still is well known), and she produced 18 Top 20 Hits between the years of 1985-1992. The featured song, Midnight Man, was released on her second studio album in August, 1986 titled Mirrors. The single would peak at #8 on the Dutch Mega Top 100, #33 on the Italian Singles chart, #13 on the Swedish Singles chart, and  #24 on the German Singles chart.