Popdose: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 8
David_E
· 1 year ago
Wow, I do not get how that Jay Black song charted in 1980. The Tony Orlando lounge vocals, the strings ... that thing is straight outta 1975, in a Roger Whittaker and The Grass Roots kinda way. Meanwhile, the Bish's tune feels seven years out of whack the other way; it sounds like prime 1981 Sheena Easton or late 70's John Paul Young. Eeek.
The Bish. Sounds like something nasty you wind up with after Spring Break. "Why you walkin' funny, bro?"
"Aw, I went back to the hotel with a chick I met in the parking lot of Rondinelli's Boom Boom Room and wound up with a nasty case of The Bish".
Bobby Meteor
· 1 year ago
So Bob Lefsetz wrote a column on Billy Satellite, huh?
Isn't he the guy who does the online column where he talks about how fucked up the music industry is?
No man who gets nostalgic for bad 1980's arena-rock bands should be telling us what's wrong with the music biz.
me
· 1 year ago
What's wrong with the music business is idiots like you making comments like that. Oh , but you are a nobody so it doesn't mean squat....
JohnHughes
· 1 year ago
What HAPPENED to your random USE of CAPS, Blob?
Bobby Meteor
· 1 year ago
Well, you, Lefsetz, and Billy Satellite aren't household names either, so I'm in good company!
Jeff
· 1 year ago
Thank you, thank you, thank you for including Big Country, my all time favorite band!
However, I must point out that as the band progressed through the 80's they moved further and further away from the 'Scottish' sound, yet still managed to keep their uniqueness (is that even a word?).
It's such a terrible shame that Big Country was overshadowed by U2. In my mind, they were a much more diverse and talented band, made up of some of the finest individual artists (the amazing Tony Butler on bass and Mark Brzezicki on drums are, in my opinion, one of the best rhythm sections you could ask for) who came together to make a wholly new and, well, yes, a Big sound.
Big Country really did deserve a better fate than the received in the U.S. It's comforting to know that the remained incredibly popular in their native Scotland and the rest of Europe, and continue to carry on and make new music even with the passing of Stuart Adamson.
Did I mention that they happen to be my all time favorite band?
Jeff. . .
Rob
· 1 year ago
I'm with you Jeff. (Ain't I always?)
In retrospect, it was probably a big mistake to release your first U.S. single to match your name. That and the E-Bow will get you labeled as a novelty act every time.
Two non-singles off their first two LPs – the anti-Reagan "Flame of the West" from Steeltown and the incredibly enveloping "The Storm" from "The Crossing" – remain my favorite songs from the band. But "Wonderland" is right up there.
I saw them live in a small club called the Bayou in Washington D.C. I still have never seen a more powerful live show. Adamson and the rest of the band weren't particularly charismatic, but their sound in person was amazing.
Tony Butler and Mark Brzezicki were actually childhood pals of Simon Townshend. They made up the band on Simon's overlooked first record. And they, of course, backed big brother Pete on "Empty Glass" with Butler appearing pretty prominently in the "Let My Love Open the Door" video
DavidMedsker
· 1 year ago
Ooh, some Blue Zone and Michael Bolton on the way, I can't wait. And I'm assuming the Boomtown Rats as well...?
I'm listening to that song "Taxi" thinking, "I've heard this before," and then it hit me: Bryan Ferry covered it in 1993.
Wow, that Billy Satellite version of "I Wanna Go Back" is really dreary. How did they think that would be a hit? As for the B-52s, their first two records are two of my all time favorites. Don't go on the patio.
steed
· 1 year ago
I've never heard the Bryan Ferry version of Taxi. I would have never anticipated that it was covered. It doesn't seem like a strong enough song that anyone else would want to do it.
Eric S.
· 1 year ago
Not just any Michael Bolton, but early 80's rocker Michael Bolton. I wanna play ahead and post the You Tube link to the "Fool's Game" video, but I'll restrain myself.
steed
· 1 year ago
I'll leave it for you to present to the world next week!
CC
· 1 year ago
I actually like the B-52s. They're fun to listen to. Plus, they did a great job on the Flintstones.
wags
· 1 year ago
While I can't really scream "Tin Roof... rusted!" right now for the bizarre stares it might elicit from my cube mates, I very much appreciated this list... well at least the first three: B-52's, Berlin, and Big Country... after that for me anyway it's kind of a headscratcher how these guys charted at all.
Steve
· 1 year ago
Berlin was totally awesome and the members are just the nicest people ever.
I remember hanging around their bus after a concert way back when, hoping to get an autograph. Not only were they happy to sign, they also spent a good 30 min talking with me and my friends.
Terri Nunn is tiny. Probably 5 ft tall max.
DavidMedsker
· 1 year ago
Yeah, five feet of sheer freaking hotness! (My teenage crush on her still hasn't faded.)
Lawrence
· 1 year ago
Bobbi Eakes, former singer for Big Trouble, is currently portraying Krystal on All My Children.
Retro_Remixes
· 1 year ago
Thank Buddah, the B-52's are back again. Pop music really needs them !
All Comments
http://www.liverpoolphil.com/eventdetail.aspx?E...
Lefsetz wrote on Billy Satellite a few months ago:
http://lefsetz.com/wordpress/index.php/archives...
"Aw, I went back to the hotel with a chick I met in the parking lot of Rondinelli's Boom Boom Room and wound up with a nasty case of The Bish".
Isn't he the guy who does the online column where he talks about how fucked up the music industry is?
No man who gets nostalgic for bad 1980's arena-rock bands should be telling us what's wrong with the music biz.
However, I must point out that as the band progressed through the 80's they moved further and further away from the 'Scottish' sound, yet still managed to keep their uniqueness (is that even a word?).
It's such a terrible shame that Big Country was overshadowed by U2. In my mind, they were a much more diverse and talented band, made up of some of the finest individual artists (the amazing Tony Butler on bass and Mark Brzezicki on drums are, in my opinion, one of the best rhythm sections you could ask for) who came together to make a wholly new and, well, yes, a Big sound.
Big Country really did deserve a better fate than the received in the U.S. It's comforting to know that the remained incredibly popular in their native Scotland and the rest of Europe, and continue to carry on and make new music even with the passing of Stuart Adamson.
Did I mention that they happen to be my all time favorite band?
Jeff. . .
In retrospect, it was probably a big mistake to release your first U.S. single to match your name. That and the E-Bow will get you labeled as a novelty act every time.
Two non-singles off their first two LPs – the anti-Reagan "Flame of the West" from Steeltown and the incredibly enveloping "The Storm" from "The Crossing" – remain my favorite songs from the band. But "Wonderland" is right up there.
I saw them live in a small club called the Bayou in Washington D.C. I still have never seen a more powerful live show. Adamson and the rest of the band weren't particularly charismatic, but their sound in person was amazing.
Tony Butler and Mark Brzezicki were actually childhood pals of Simon Townshend. They made up the band on Simon's overlooked first record. And they, of course, backed big brother Pete on "Empty Glass" with Butler appearing pretty prominently in the "Let My Love Open the Door" video
I'm listening to that song "Taxi" thinking, "I've heard this before," and then it hit me: Bryan Ferry covered it in 1993.
Wow, that Billy Satellite version of "I Wanna Go Back" is really dreary. How did they think that would be a hit? As for the B-52s, their first two records are two of my all time favorites. Don't go on the patio.
I remember hanging around their bus after a concert way back when, hoping to get an autograph. Not only were they happy to sign, they also spent a good 30 min talking with me and my friends.
Terri Nunn is tiny. Probably 5 ft tall max.