Popdose - Latest Comments in Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 65

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 65

Robert Sanchez — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 00:29:36 -0000

Trivia about O'Bryan's "The Gigolo": it's one of those songs that inspired a dance of the same name. It involved a great deal of rhythmic shoulder movements and very little feet movement.

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 65

Frank — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 13:29:46 -0000

The letter O contains a great variety, doesn't it? All tis talk about Ozzy has me laughing. I couldn't care less about him or his music. I'm assuming people didn't rip on Lenore O'Malley more because no one knows the song. The lyrics are downright ridiculous. Kingofgrief pointed out one stupid couplet earlier. That song always makes me laugh when I hear it. Clearly the songwriters' idea of finding true love involves rigidly conforming to 1950s sex stereotypes. :)

Off Broadway USA rocks! I think we have complete agreement on that one. Ditto for the Outfield and OMD.

The R&B acts here contain some amazing vocalists, in my book: Jeffrey Osborne, Alexander O'Neal and the O'Jays' Eddie Levert all blow me away.

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 65

Deiter — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 03:58:36 -0000

Of course. Excuse my sloppy Popdose trivia: It was Brad Delp, one of the great mainstream pop singers of the era. The first Boston album was such a massive and ubiquitious success at the time (and played on classic rock stations on and on thereafter) it's hard to imagine life without it. I'd lay the blame of the whole bubblegum hair metal band era of the '80s squarely at the feet of Boston. They and Ballroom Blitz era Sweet. All those spandex and teased-hair singers whose vocals flounced about so eagerly in the upper registers, yep, that was Delp's territory.

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 65

Frank — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:49:52 -0000

Dave, this might be too late for you, since this CD series is out of print, but "King Of The Hill" appeared on Rhino's Pop Hits of the '80s 5-CD set back in 1995. It's on volume 4 of that series. Rhino cut it out awhile back, so it's a bit pricey used now, but it does contain some early '80s top 40 hits that are otherwise very hard to find. I've always had a soft spot in my heart for that song, although it's a bit amateur. :) I listened to pop radio all the time back in 1980 and that song never got any airplay in Cleveland. I only ever heard it on American Top 40.

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 65

Eric S. — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 19:44:10 -0000

That's not Goudreau on lead vocals. He used a guy named Fran Cosmo who sounds a lot like Boston's original singer, the late Brad Delp. Cosmo eventually joined Boston for some of their later albums. When I saw Boston tour four or five years ago, they were both part of the band.

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 65

ElCartero — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 16:20:17 -0000

I think the main thing it had going for it was the historical/sentimental value of the fact that it was the last piece of music Lennon ever worked on -- the day he was shot, he and Yoko were in the studio remixing it.

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 65

breadalbane — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 13:01:24 -0000

Not to worry, Payola$ never charted in the US Hot 100.

Mind you, Paul Hyde & The Payolas charted (which has already been covered), and Rock and Hyde charted (which will presumably be covered in a few weeks)....

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 65

Chris X — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 03:57:16 -0000

no joke, I love Mob Rules and Heaven and Hell, but Dehumanizer is my favorite, and one of the most criminally underrated metal records that flew too far under the radar (see also Fight's War of Words) "Computer God", "TV Crimes" ...and the looming, ominous, apocalyptic doom intro/riff of "After All"..."What do you say to the deeeeeeaaaaaaaad"...goddamn, so badass.

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 65

Chris X — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 03:50:31 -0000

King for a Day has it's moments and is overall a pretty righteous record, but I think is suffering from a lack of Jim Martin.

ok, so um..you don't hate The Payola$, do you?

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 65

steed — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 22:41:24 -0000

No, no - I don't hate the Pet Shop Boys. But you're jumping ahead of yourself - Pet Shop Boys isn't even in next week's post.

Personally, I prefer King For A Day... - but Angel Dust does rock.

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 65

steed — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 22:38:48 -0000

It's a dick move no doubt - but those original Ozzy solo records are recorded like shit. They are just so muddy that they could use a really good re-master. And a better re-master than what's out there. Everyone always talks about Ozzy's dick move but what about the other artists. Yes, they need to make money too - but I wonder what reputation Mike Bordin got for doing this. Is he going to get blackballed by the metal community because of his dick move? I've never really heard that side of it.

It's funny when you look at the Dio output with Sabbath - I mean, those first few are good - but the first reunion yielding Dehumanizer...I mean, if you really give that a listen - it's a damn fine record. "Computer God" shuffled on my iPod this morning on the way to work. Great track and at a time where most had considered them dead (following up on TYR which really isn't as bad as the one star reviews would lead you to believe)

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 65

steed — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 22:30:25 -0000

I don't disagree here and I think your comments play into my point...Ozzy (and probably quite a bit of Sharon) is a good judge of talent. He brings the right people on board to suit his style and theirs and he has such a reputation that people want to work him him, no doubt about that. But it's all the other people surrounding him that make his records worth listening to. If you take those backing bands you mention for other metal artists and put them with Ozzy - who knows if those records would be listenable at all. But I'd bet you that you put those artists with a better singer and they might be. Either way, don't get me wrong - I'm happy to put on Ozzy record whenever I can.

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 65

Deiter — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 17:56:07 -0000

Ass End of the 80s, indeed! Nothing much here to suit my tastes here, although, it did make me rejoice in the fact that the 80s are long over. Britney Spears sounds down right ingenious compared to this lot. Barry Goudreau had quite a range and instrument, didn't he? And yet he sounds like just another (good) American Idol contender here. He and Mickey Thomas (of Fooled Around & Fell in Love and Starship fame) are completely interchangeable. Nevertheless, thanks for posting.

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 65

magø — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 17:45:55 -0000

You might not be! :)
I just happen to think that Onigo Boingo's first three LPs on A&M were are all pretty great.

Beats the heck out of their MCA output...

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 65

Russ — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 17:40:12 -0000

Back in '97 I stopped in Tower Records on the way home from work. A band was setting up for an in-store - full band, too, no acoustic-only show. As usual I didn't pay much attention. 20 minutes later they finally start playing... it's Off Broadway! Holy Shit! They re-formed!

The cool thing about "Stay In Time" is that the flip side "Full Moon Turn My Head Around" got just as much airplay in Chicago back in the day. Double-A-Sides are awesome.

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 65

Chris X — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 16:35:15 -0000

agree. Total dick move. When I heard about that re-recording nonsense, I was completely disgusted. I'm happy with my original (cassette, even) version, thank you very much.

As far as "Heaven and Hell" goes...another dick move. Sabbath was putting out Ozzy-less records for well over 15 years, is this really a big deal suddenly? Well, I guess when Ozzy's band has to tune down several steps to match his horridly dwindling vocal capacities, and near-70 Ronnie James Dio can still belt 'em out with the power of the dragon he would so unmercifully slay if given the chance, I guess you gotta do what you gotta do to keep the competetion from overshadowing you? Like Ozzy needs any help further tarnishing his formerly formidable reputation...

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 65

Chris X — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 16:31:33 -0000

haha, I know, right? This can only mean that we will be at complete opposite ends next week.

Well wait...please tell me you don't hate the Pet Shop Boys?

There would have been nothing wrong with mentioning Mike Bordin in general. As far as body of work with Ozzy goes, yeah, Castillo obviously wins, and nothing Bordin has done is worth a mention, but Faith No More! Angel Dust is one of my top 5 records of all time.

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 65

ETL — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 16:08:05 -0000

One of the most underrated talents in music is the ability to find backing artists that complement your stlye while letting them be themselves, then bringing out the best in them. How many solo artists, especially solo metal artists, have been able to get backing bands that are true artists in their own right? This isn't a cut on all the wonderful sessions musicians out there - they are the unsung heroes of the music industry - I'm just pointing out that Ozzy attracts and brings out the best in the people he works with and deserves credit for that.

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 65

steed — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 15:45:59 -0000

Is that really a cover though? I don't have the O'Bryan song on me...but those lyrics don't seem to match up at all.

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 65

steed — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 15:28:07 -0000

I just listened to that cover - really good. In fact, I've never listened to anything from Chromeo - but I'm thinking I might have to now.

I'll try to hunt down that comp - sounds interesting. THanks for the info.

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 65

Annie Zaleski — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 13:07:31 -0000

St. Louis has a club called Off Broadway (it's, um, off a street called..Broadway). But the band totally exemplifies the Midwest power-pop stuff of that time, so influenced by Cheap Trick and the like. For whatever reason, I know Off Broadway as Off Broadway USA. Makes 'em easier to find on Google.

Also, they apparently reunited sometime recently:

http://www.youtube.com/watc...

If you can track down the 4-CD Yellow PIlls compilations -- curated by a St. Louis guy named Jordan Oakes -- you'll be in Midwest power-pop heaven. They're super out of print, but full of gems like this.

Unrelated: Chromeo covered O'Bryan's "Tenderoni" in recent years.

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 65

kingofgrief — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 08:37:14 -0000

My respect for Ozzy dwindled after his back catalog was reissued with newly-recorded rhythm tracks in order not to pay his old bassist and drummer any royalties. I know this in all likelihood was Mrs. Osbourne's doing, but didn't he have the balls to intervene? And don't get me started on the you-can't-call-it-Sabbath-unless-Ozzy's-involved-and-he-never-will-be-again bullshit.

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 65

kingofgrief — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 08:29:19 -0000

The title cut is my favorite Boingo song. Try and track down their 10" EP from '80 for the best version.

On a related note, I found out yesterday that Elfman provided the score for Taking Woodstock, which I might be catching a sneak preview of next week. Whoda thunkit?

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 65

steed — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 05:36:09 -0000

He had 1 in 1976 too. His first three albums in the '80s (City Limits, Nights (Feel Like Getting Down) and Inner Feelings) all are quite good and have a different vibe then when he went all commercial. Of the 11, I'd bet you that you'd know at least 7 of them...

Caribbean Queen, Loverboy, Suddenly, Mystery Lady, When the Going Gets Tough..., They'll Be Sad Songs, Love Zone, Love is Forever, Get Outta my Dreams, Colour Of Love, License to Chill.

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 65

steed — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 05:29:56 -0000

I'll have to go back and listen to the debut again and see if I'm missing something then.