Popdose - Latest Comments in Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 75

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 75

Frank — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 18:35:49 -0000

Hey - I own it on vinyl if I can help. :)

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 75

Frank — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 18:31:32 -0000

Does anyone else remember the hilarious video for "She Was Hot", starring Broadway actress Anita Morris? She really WAS hot. I loved that video and this song.

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 75

Frank — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 18:29:34 -0000

Well, I'm not exactly as unbiased commentator, considering how much I love Linda, but the two series are really pretty different. Linda's goal was to create albums like Sinatra did - classic songs with classic arrangements that work as mood pieces. Rod's goal was probably more to record classic songs with more modern arrangements strictly for commercial sales - after all, evil overlord Clive Davis was behind those albums. Just compare Linda's version of "Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered" with Rod's duet version of the same song with Cher (!) to hear the differences.

I've read some criticism of Linda's standards albums as being sort of lifeless, but I never felt that way. They are very careful interpretations but they show off the beauty of her voice much better than rock material did. I learned so much about traditional pop from these albums.

By the way, Linda said at the time that she wanted to record standards because current pop songs just didn't interest her as they had before. She took a big risk to record "What's New" and I'm sure Asylum was overjoyed when the album took off like it did.

The fact that Linda could record a credible new wave-ish rock album and an album of pop standards in three years' time shows why she is one of the talented and versatile vocalists of the rock era.

Does my love show a little? ;)

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 75

kingofgrief — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 23:33:58 -0000

Here's your answer, from writer Billy Steinberg's Wikipedia entry:

"In his mid-20s [he] formed the group Billy Thermal which was eventually signed to Richard Perry's Planet Records label. Their breakthrough occurred in 1980 when Linda Ronstadt heard their album and decided to record their song 'How Do I Make You?' for her 1980 Mad Love album. The album hit the top three of the charts and went platinum. Ronstadt's version of their song reached the American top ten."

The entry doesn't cite any sources, but apparently Mr. Steinberg himself verifies it here:

http://voicesandvisions.skybleedsscorpio.com/html/billy.html

I'll have to keep an eye out for that album.

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 75

Russ — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:57:27 -0000

Hence the reason I always said Billy OH Shit when any of his stuff came on the radio.

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 75

steed — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:18:37 -0000

The Stones song has been re-uped and doesn't include the blip in the middle this time.

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 75

rsbrandt — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:11:37 -0000

Considering that, for starters, it was from an album of covers, I call shenanigans.

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 75

Don Karnage — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 23:26:08 -0000

I remember reading that "How Do I Make You" was the only Top Ten single Linda ever had that wasn't a remake. I'd go back and verify that bit of trivia, but it's so much easier to just state it as fact and hope nobody calls you on it...

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 75

steed — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 23:05:54 -0000

strange thing really is that I don't actually mind the Trio record - and that shocks even me. I'm never going to pull it out unless someone forces me, but it's better than the Nelson Riddle records.

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 75

davidjburton — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 22:20:56 -0000

Not surprised Billy Ocean didn't acknowledge Roman Holiday, given that "Carribbean Queen"="Billie Jean" and "Suddenly"=Lionel Richie's "Hello."

Linda Ronstadt also did "The Pirates of Penzance" on Broadway in 1981, and a country trio album with Dolly Parton and Emmylou Harris in 1986. And her biggest hit wasn't on any of her studio albums, it was "Somewhere Out There" with James Ingram.

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 75

steed — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:11:05 -0000

$10 total (that's with shipping) on ebay right now if you really want it. I'm sure you can find it cheaper at some point though as I don't recall it being that tough for me to locate and I spent $10 on nothing (well, almost)

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 75

steed — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:07:03 -0000

You have to admit - for a novelty song it's really well written.

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 75

steed — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:05:58 -0000

"Wake Me Up" didn't occur to me at the time, but I definitely see the similarities.

And see, I'm the opposite with Roman Holliday and I definitely know I'm in the minority here. I have never been a fan of swing or rockabilly at all so Cookin' really doesn't do anything for me. I went back to listen to it just to make sure I didn't just glance over it - but I still didn't like it. I definitely understand why you hate the second album if you love the first though. Way different.

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 75

steed — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:00:30 -0000

Yep, it's an extended mix. Ran into some issues earlier in the week and couldn't locate the album version - though it's on disc somewhere in my collection. My bad for not mentioning it - I expected it to just be a placeholder.

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 75

steed — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:51:21 -0000

Oh, I hear that now. It's not on my version so I'll try to upload again later tonight.

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 75

Eric S. — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:08:38 -0000

Mutt sure had a formula. I don't really remember "Don't Break My Heart", but you can sure hear the influence it had when Mutt moved on to the next Mrs. Lange. It's like he took this song and singer, added a little country twang and told Shania, "Here, do this". Even the vocal tics are similar.

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 75

DwDunphy — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:24:15 -0000

I actually picked up Sinatra & Strings today. So stinking good.

And I am a fan of that '70s wild-child Ronstadt... By the time she got "mature" I had checked out.

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 75

kingofgrief — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:40:42 -0000

Thanks! I'll have to pick up Cookin' on the Roof when I can find it for far less than $30.

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 75

Brett Alan — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:10:26 -0000

Yes, that's an extended mix of "Don't Try To Stop It". The album version is a shade under three minutes.

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 75

Chris X — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:09:06 -0000

The Hooters were fantastic as always. They are one of, if not my absolute, favorite live bands. In fact, I'm listening to Live In Germany as I type this, haha.

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 75

Brett Alan — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:39:55 -0000

I adore Roman Holliday--at least until Mutt Lange got hold of them. Their first album, Cookin' On The Roof, from which "Stand By" and "Don't Try To Stop It" hail, is one of my favorite albums of the 80s, deftly mixing New Wave and classic swing. The second album was produced by Mutt Lange, who buried everything that was special and interesting about the band under all of his usual production tricks and such. I found the second album at a flea market on a dreadful rainy day, and I was so excited and then quite disappointed when I heard it. I hate Mutt Lange.

To me "Don't Try To Stop It" is too upbeat to resemble "Stray Cat Strut", but I guess I see where you're going with the comparison. But listen to it back to back with "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" and try to tell me that George Michael wasn't feeling a little inspiration from RH.

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 75

kingofgrief — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:26:31 -0000

And we kick off with a winner! "Don't Stop Trying" was a discovery from my personal Bottom Feeders YouTube odyssey of a year ago (before I discovered the 'dose). I've since acquired the 12" single (whoever wants an mp3 of the 5:56 extended mix need only ask) and the Horizontal Hold album (I can see why there was no followup hit). I'd wager the disco tag came from label association; it was released on Millennium, best remembered for Meco's initial foray into boogified Star Wars themes (later cresting with the majestic "Ewok Celebration"). Heck, the all-purpose die-cut sleeve for the 12" bears the phrase "Millennium Disco". (Either that or the sax.)

I hear elements of past and future Human League hits in "Don't Stop Trying": the phrase "two years later on" echoes "five years later on" from "Don't You Want Me", and the chord progression in the verse hints at the following year's "(Keep Feeling) Fascination". Talk about a mirror man...

On the subject of don't, stop and try: What's your source for "Don't Try to Stop It"? I have this version on a Richard Blade comp, and it's listed as an extended mix.

"What I Like About You" = this week's Meltie, one I'm sure that goes unchallenged. "Test of Time" (and "One Foot Back in Your Door") were constant spins on Houston's low-power video channel, TV5.

Speaking of videos, the TV show produced by our big album-rock station used to air the uncut "She Was Hot" that had to be amended for the Nervous Nellies at MTV. I'd still like to know why a whole chunk of the first verse was used in the video but snipped for the album.

I was hoping to leave you with a link to Benny Hill's awesome Kenny Rogers impression, but it appears to have been blocked for American YouTubers. So I'll substitute a link to the collection you can find it on.

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 75

JonCummings — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:23:26 -0000

Yeah, Chris, but how were the Hooters? That's what we all want to know.

As for "What I Like About You"--1980 wasn't a good year for that sort of song to become a big hit, but the video was all over MTV in its first year, which is how the song came to be ubiquitous. My hometown didn't get MTV until after I'd graduated high school and gone off to college--literally, until 1984 my only experience of music videos was from "Friday Night Videos" and "Nite Flite"--so I was initially baffled by the squealing reaction the song always got from the geeks at the dorm parties I DJ'd. It was pretty much the only song they'd be sure to dance to, so at first I would make sure to play it--but then, after a few of these parties, I decided to make sure NOT to play it, because I didn't so much like watching them dance anyway.

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 75

pete12 — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:13:25 -0000

I'm the big gipper don;t mess with me I'm the baddest rapper this side of DC with my best girl Nancy as my spouse rapping to you from that big white house Push Push into George Bush Yeah! Tip Tip Tip.

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 75

JohnHughes — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:12:25 -0000

"One Foot Back In Your Door" and "Get Outta My Dreams, Blah, Blah" were both written by - wait for it - the former Mister Shania Twain himself, Robert John "Mutt" "Pyromania" Lange.

Billy got a co-writing credit on his version - he must have contributed a "yeah" or something.