Popdose - Latest Comments in Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 48

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 48

Frank — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 09:52:42 -0000

Okay, no one had yet defended Ray Kennedy's "Just For The Moment" so I gotta speak up. I found that 45 in a huge bin of singles on sale for $1 about 10 years ago and bought it because I knew that it had charted. Usually the records I find like this are unmemorable, but this one really hit me. I actually bought the CD this song is on about a year ago because I like this record so much. It's a very typical mid-tempo ballad for its time, but Ray's voice is nicely textured and the lyrcs are sweet. I think Dave was just having a bad week when he wrote this. I love Katrina and the Waves too. :)

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 48

albert_riemann — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 21:36:48 -0000

Please, I'd love to get Karen Kamon's 'Loverboy' but link seems to be dead, if you could repair it or send me this song by mail, it would be great!! Thanks in advance and keep up the good work. norunoutofmuzik@hotmail.com

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 48

Don Karnage — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 21:07:34 -0000

Two comments.

* I never quite got Kansas either. I did get a copy of the Drastic Measures album for free from some guy who worked in radio at the time, and although I did give a listen to "Fight Fire With Fire" once in awhile, it didn't exactly spend much time on the turntable. However, I later became a bit addicted to the follow-up single "Everybody's My Friend" (which grazed the "mainstream rock" charts). Yeah, you'll have to look past the fact that the "everybody thinks I'm totally different because I'm famous" lyrics being sung by a band who was pretty much on their way to playing state fairs. But the "hello hello" hook, and the oddball extra beat they tossed in occasionally made it tons more interesting than much of what was cluttering the charts.

* Kaja(googoo) DID manage one other chart song on the dance charts, and it's actually quite catchy. They do sort of run out of lyrics halfway through, but up until then, "Turn Your Back on Me" is pleasant pop fun.

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 48

WHarrisBullzEye — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 12:06:45 -0000

Random comments:

* I gotta respectfully disagree with your take on Kajagoogoo, at least as far as "Hang On Now" is concerned. I may well be the only one who can say this, but the chorus to the song stuck with me just as long as the one for "Too Shy," and that was WITHOUT hearing it on every other "Hits of the '80s" compilation ever made.

* I dig the Kane Gang as well, though I didn't know anything about them during the '80s. I only discovered their CD in a bargain bin some years later, and I only picked it up because they were on Kitchenware Records, a.k.a. Prefab Sprout's label.

* As a rule, I'm not a big Kansas fan, but I fucking LOVE "Fight Fire with Fire." But, then, I like pretty much any AOR song with the kind of kick-ass chorus that this one has. And, like Mr. Medsker, I have very distinct memories of the rather disconcerting video for the song.

* I'm not a huge Katrina & The Waves fan, either, but, hey, anything that keeps the royalties coming into Kimberley Rew's coffers is okay by me.

* Nik Kershaw is still awesome even now. That's right, I said it. Count on "15 Minutes" getting the "Hooks 'N' You" spotlight one of the days, hopefully with an interview to go along with it. (Hey, it's been awhile since David talked to him. Now it's my turn.)

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 48

Old_Davy — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 07:19:54 -0000

...which totally blows away this full band version.

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 48

Kordian — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 05:25:18 -0000

Amazing coincidence - for the second time in a row your favorite track of the entry, Dave, was number 1 on the Radio 3 Charts! (Personally, I prefer faux-reggae of "I Won't Let the Sun Go Down on Me").

Like Poland still more? But our tastes are not impeccable, alas. This entry features two of least favourite 80s acts - Kaja and the Waves. I didn't meet any Polish 80s fan who understands my dislike of Kajagoogoo. They still can gather quite respectable crowds in Poland (maybe the entry is free:) - maybe not). I guess that sentimental people come there because of Limahl (my auntie still believes he's...French!!), more sensible people - because of Nick Beggs. It's real fun to see his stage antics. I heard once that he was even lauded by very John Paul Jones for his playing.

I've got a feeling "Walking on Sunshine" is a song that is always played by the lame Polish radio stations when they are accused of playing nothing from 80s but Tina Turner, Every Breath You Take and Take on Me. Nothing annoys me like rhyming "door" with "sure" that doesn't feel like rhyming because of the singer's accent. And they won Eurovision in the late 90s...

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 48

Keith — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 23:01:34 -0000

"Play the Game Tonight" is my favorite Kansas song of any era. But beyond that, in the 80's, I prefer the band Streets with Steve Walsh on vocals. Their song "If Love Should Go" will be an entry in this series later on. I give creativity points to the Nik Kershaw video, which was memorable if nothing else. The song is one of those that gets more consistent airplay today on retro stations and Sirius/XM than it ever did back then. And it is a shame that Nik's version isn't on the "Pretty in Pink" soundtrack, which regardless of which gets my vote for best soundtrack ever. It includes a song by another British male solo artist, who like Nik never really found stateside success (except for heavy rotation on my mp3 player), Belouis Some.
I would have guessed KBC Band's "America" scraped the lower hot 100 also, but I'm wrong. I remember the video being shown in decent rotation.
Looking forward to next week. Always wanted Greg Kihn to name an album "Kihntucky".

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 48

breadalbane — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 20:24:35 -0000

Yes, yes, yes. And side one of Waves is actually pretty damn good too. (Remember when albums had sides?)

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 48

tdolbyfan — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 17:43:01 -0000

Well, i do like Katrina & The Waves and there album "Waves" but this week wasn't that great. I have the KBC cd and it's too much like the 80s Starship.

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 48

DavidMedsker — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 16:39:08 -0000

And for the record, I can't stand Kansas. But for whatever reason, I like that song.

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 48

DavidMedsker — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 16:38:38 -0000

I confess to having a soft spot for "Fight Fire with Fire." it also had this bizarre tragic video that ends with someone getting fed into an incinerator, or something ghastly like that.

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 48

steed — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 15:08:40 -0000

Just one of those weeks, I guess - bound to happen when the artists just happen to fall where they may.

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 48

Pete — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 14:57:44 -0000

Nik Kershaw did an amazing acoustic version of "Wouldn't It Be Good" that was included on his 1999 album '15 Minutes'. Well worth checking out if you like the song.

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 48

Chris X — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 14:32:51 -0000

well, in your own words:

"I’m really not digging this week at all,"

Seriously, I have absolutely nothing to say about anything posted this week. Yikes.

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 48

JonCummings — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 13:30:41 -0000

I feel a strong need to defend Katrina & the Waves--at least their first (U.S.) album. For one thing, I refuse to sour on "Walking on Sunshine," despite the fact that it's been overplayed/overused/over-covered, soundtracked and Kidz-Bopped within an inch of its life. There's a reason for that. It's a great song.

Beyond that -- "Red Wine and Whiskey"? "Do You Want Crying?" "Going Down to Liverpool"? "Game of Love"? All killer. Why the record company released "Que te Quiero" as a single I don't get, but whatever. Kimberley Rew was a genius in the early/mid '80s.

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 48

D-Pete — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 12:41:05 -0000

You can hear the "Love of a Lifetime" remix here:

http://www.imeem.com/people...

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 48

JohnHughes — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 12:25:14 -0000

I did a LIT80s on that one a bit ago, but I'd love to hear the extended mix!

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 48

DavidMedsker — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 12:12:17 -0000

I'm thinking of writing up "Love of a Lifetime" for White Label Wednesday, solely for the fact that it was written by Green and David Gamson of Scritti Politti. Maybe I'll add it to a post on "Perfect Way," who knows.

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 48

EightE1 — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 11:54:05 -0000

That reissue is on my iPod (and in my earbuds) as I write this. Very cool live album.

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 48

Russ — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 11:34:59 -0000

There's a reason the pilgrims fled Britain and prog rock is it. US-based prog-rock sucks. Period. Leave prog-rock to the European aristocrats and their prisoners.

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 48

luffy66 — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 11:07:55 -0000

As a huge Kansas fan I will admit that their 80's output was very spotty. Needless to say that due to lineup changes throught that period, the 80's were hard on them. They found themselves caught in the middle between prog, and pop, alienating both camps.

I remember being so exited that Steve Walsh came back in the fold for "Power" and then hearing the album and hating it. (Although they recruited Steve Morse on guitar which saves it a little).

Their strength was (and is) always in the live shows. The Monolith, Point of Know Return, Audio Vision albums were great. And their live album, Two for the show is stellar (especially the 30th anniversary reissue)

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 48

The Flyin Hawaiian UK — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 11:04:39 -0000

I sort of agree on Kaja(googoo), but they had one saving grace: Nick Beggs, one of the great new wave bass players. I saw him as part of Howard Jones's band about a decade ago and he could still rip it.

Second the Waves dislike--I liked their second Top 40 single, "Do You Want Crying?", more than Sunshine, but never thought much of them. Their re-invention as a hard-rock band in the late 80s remains the most puzzling thing ever.

Nik Kershaw is woefully under-appreciated--I bought a Kershaw greatest hits CD ages ago just for "Wouldn't it be Good?", and I love the entire thing. I pity anyone introduced to "WIBG" via the Danny Hutton Hitters.

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 48

steed — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 10:44:07 -0000

I realize I say that a lot, and I also realize I say that before female artists that I do enjoy. So maybe I don't dislike them as much as I think.... I do agree that it's kind of weird and I've always wondered why myself - there has to be something behind it though - 95% of the music I listen to outside of my collection is sung by dudes.

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 48

MichaelFortes — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 10:32:46 -0000

Kansas sound like they were trying to imitate Survivor on "Power."

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 48

Jerry — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 10:31:56 -0000

I have nothing of substance to add, but wanted to throw my credibility on the line and say that Waves is actually a pretty good album, despite what you, Katrina or any Waves may think.

Same goes for the Kane Gang album. Motortown is one of my favorite tracks of the decade, and the whole album is pretty solid.