Retro Spins: The B-52's - The B-52's

 

Though it wouldn't be until the 80's that "New Wave" would become a popular term for music, the concept of this musical category was around as early as the 70's, and The B-52's, while debuting in 1979, fell among that classification. But what exactly is New Wave?

Truth be told, it was a category created to be a catch all for music that didn't necessarily fall into one. The "New Wave" term is regarded as so loose and wide-ranging as to be "virtually meaningless", according to the New Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock. For me, it simply means music that was unique, or sometimes cutting edge in terms of shaping a generation.

The B-52's definitely fall into the definition of the word unique. They sounded different, they were kind of weird, were they a joke? Or were they being serious? Who knows. Kitschy in all manners of the word. They were the kind of music teens could relate to, but light enough that even your mom would listen to them.

Their self titled debut, though mildly successful at the time, would ultimately serve as the ground work for their future success, boosted all the more by consistent rotation on MTV. However, what I myself found myself feeling with their album was a sense of uniqueness and fun that soon wore thin, bordering on annoying. The music wears thin fast.

I personally bought this album for Rock Lobster, and really, that's all I walked away with. Mind you, even that's not a song I would actively throw on just to hear. But if you caught me in the right mood of a random shuffle, I may or may not skip it.

They remind me a lot of Weird Al Yankovic, which is odd, because they certainly aren't a parody band. Still, this definitely the vibe I get from them. Not a bad thing, but not something I necessarily would want to hear everyday. I don't think I would go to any great lengths, or necessarily have any interest in tracking down any other albums. Well, beyond their 1989 Cosmic Thing Album (for Love Shack and Roam), which I already have.

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Disclaimer: They Toy Box does not endorse or contribute to piracy. Retro Spins posts are intended for educational and entertainment purposes only. None of the music discussed here is available for sale, downloading or distribution.

 

Froot Loops Peeps

 

Easter is right around the corner, and it's always a holiday I've enjoyed. I mean, candy. Yes, there is obviously a greater meaning to the day for me, the resurrection of my Lord and Savior. But in terms of the commercial aspects of it, I've always enjoyed the array of candies that are available this particular time of year.

Though there are the tried and true styles, such as the hollow chocolate bunny, the Cadbury Cream Eggs and of course, jelly beans, what I have always been the fondest of are new or one off unique items which seem to be limited to the year they are introduced. 2021 brings us such an item, or at least I think it is new as of this year.

While perusing my local Target, I came across a Froot Loops Peeps! Now, if you don't know this about me already, I love me some marshmallow based treats. Especially when they have chocolate on them. Mmm. Delicious.

 
The aspect that stands out about these Peeps is their bright and vibrant colors. Very Froot Loopish.

Rotating it around to its side, we see the joint venture advertising logo. It's a shame that something a little more creative couldn't have been incorporated here where Toucan Sam was actually interacting with the Peeps versus just hovering above a giant one.

I'll spare you the back, which essentially just tells you how much faster you're going to die if you eat these.

Popping them out of the bag / box, the scent of Froot Loops fills the immediate air around it. Not overpowering, but definitely noticeable. For those of you familiar with the breakfast cereal, you know the smell, and it is very much so present.

Taste wise, the green and blue birds are on point. They taste exactly like the cereal. However, the red one suffers from the all to common ailment of red dye. It's harsh, almost bitter, overtaking any other flavor, including the marshmallow. Orange suffers the most. It's neither Froot Loopy nor dye flavored. Instead, it tastes like a regular Peep.

The texture is what you'd expect from a Peep treat. It's got a somewhat crunchy exterior from the sugar surrounding it, and nice soft interior from the puffy marshmallow. If you want every inch of it, you're going to have to work for it a bit, as there is a bit of remnants that are tacked to the stick spearing them.

Overall, if you're a fan of Peeps and Froot Loops, you're probably going to like this. I know I did. The red bird could use some toning down in the harsh department, and the orange needs to work on its flavor game, but despite these flaws, I wasn't overly disappointed. I would definitely grab this again if I saw it.

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Retro Spins: Sly Fox - Let's Go All The Way

Joom Joom Zininini Joom Joom...

Fans of 80's music remember Sly Fox for their ten ten hit, Let's Go All The Way, while fans of video games recognize the aforementioned song from the launch trailer of Grand Theft Auto V. Perhaps if you're a fan of both, such as I am, you not only recognize it from the 80's, and got a little excited when you heard it for the launch trailer.

Sly Fox came and went in the blink of an eye in 1985 with their album, which also happens to be titled, Let's Go All The Way. The duo consisted of Gary "Mudbone" Cooper and Michael Camacho, and were presented as a wholesome, clean-living pair of idols. An image which clearly didn't work one way or the other for them. 

Let's Go All The Way has been on my list of wants for quite some time, but with CD copies being few and far between, and none to cheap, I finally settled on picking a copy on vinyl. However, I'm still keeping the CD on the back burner of one I'd like to grab if the opportunity presents itself.

After that (what seems like a) long wait of purchasing online and delivery, I was finally able to get my first taste of this full album. With Let's Go All The Way blasting out of the gate as track one, the bar got set pretty darn high right off the bat. Sadly, like a balloon farting across the room as it deflates rapidly, so to did this album.

The remaining seven tracks just don't have the punch behind them that Let's Go All The Way, the song, has. In fact, they're pretty awful. As if this track was written by someone completely different from the person who wrote the remaining songs - Despite the album liner notes crediting "Mudbone" to it.

Seriously, what happened here? How are you going to have a top ten hit, and then follow it up with seven tracks in a row of barely listenable songs? It was really, really bad. So bad, I just don't even know what to say at this point. I actually ended up turning it off after listening to a few seconds of each song because I just couldn't take it anymore.

Not only did listening to this album make me no longer want the CD, but it also dampened my enjoyment of the song which put them on my radar to begin with. I just can't believe it could be associated to these two.

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Butch And Sundance, The Early Days (Kenner)

Butch And Sundance The Early Days
Kenner
1979

This post is special to me. Not because I have a love for Butch and Sundance, The Early Days. Quite the opposite. Until I finally put this post together, I honestly didn't know anything about it. No, instead, what makes it important is that it has taken me years to put this one together. I've started and stopped so many times because these toys have proven to be so elusive. It was an incredibly rewarding feeling to finally cross this one off my list.

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Order Of Battle: The Amazing Spider-Man Comic Books 1 - 99

 

Due to the increasing size of my comic book collection, I have found it necessary to not only break them up by title, but for some of the larger series, by groups. This will be an ongoing post of my Marvel published The Amazing Spider-Man comic books issues 1 through 99, as I obtain them. All photos are actual scans.

Issue Number: 15
Kraven the Hunter!
August 1964
Key Comic Collector Note: 1st appearance of Kraven the Hunter
Key Comic Collector Note: 2nd appearance of the Chameleon
Key Comic Collector Note: First mention of Mary Jane Watson

Issue Number: 20
The Coming of the Scorpion! (or Spidey Battles Scorpy)
January 1965
Key Comic Collector Note: 1st appearance and origin of Scorpion, Mac Gargan appears in The Amazing Spider-Man #19

Issue Number: 25
Captured By J. Jonah Jameson
June 1965
Key Comic Collector Note: 1st appearance of Spencer Smythe and the Spider-Slayers
Key Comic Collector Note: 1st cameo appearance of Mary Jane Watson, face is obscured by a tree
Misconception: cited by some sources as the first appearance of Mary Jane but she does not appear in full until The Amazing Spider-Man #42

Issue Number: 26
The Man In The Crime Master's Mask
July 1965
Key Comic Collector Note: 1st appearance of Bennett Brant as Crime Master

Issue Number: 27
Bring Back My Goblin To Me!
August 1965
Key Comic Collector Note: Death of Crime Master

Issue Number: 28
The Menace of the Molton Man
September 1965
Key Comic Collector Note: 1st appearance and origin of Molten Man
Key Comic Collector Note: Peter Parker graduates from high school

Issue Number: 29
Never Step on a Scorpion!
October 1965
Key Comic Collector Note: 2nd appearance of Scorpion

Issue Number: 31
If This Be My Destiny
December 1965
Key Comic Collector Note: 1st appearance of Gwen Stacy
Key Comic Collector Note: 1st appearance of Harry Osborn
Key Comic Collector Note: 1st appearance of Miles Warren, later becomes the Jackal
Key Comic Collector Note: First time Doctor Octopus is referred to as the Master Planner

Issue Number: 32
Man on a Rampage!
January 1966
Key Comic Collector Note: 2nd appearance of Curt Connors in human form throughout - does not turn into the Lizard again until The Amazing Spider-Man #44

Issue Number: 33
The Final Chapter
February 1966
Key Comic Collector Note: Debut of new power, Spider-Man displays incredible strength

Issue Number: 34
The Thrill of the Hunt!
March 1966
Key Comic Collector Note: 2nd appearance of Gwen Stacy
Key Comic Collector Note: 2nd appearance of Harry Osborne

Issue Number: 39
How Green Was My Goblin!
August 1966
Key Comic Collector Note: Green Goblin and Spider-Man discover one another's identities
Key Comic Collector Note: First artwork on The Amazing Spider-Man by John Romita

Issue Number: 40
How Green Was My Goblin!
August 1966
Key Comic Collector Note: Origin of Green Goblin

Issue Number: 41
The Horns of the Rhino!
October 1966
Key Comic Collector Note: 1st appearance of Rhino

Issue Number: 42
The Birth of a Super-Hero!
November 1966
Key Comic Collector Note: 2nd appearance of the Rhino
Key Comic Collector Note: 1st full appearance of Mary Jane Watson, final panel
Key Comic Collector Note: Mary Jane Watson delivers her iconic line "Face it, Tiger…you just hit the jackpot!"

Issue Number: 43
Rhino on the Rampage!
December 1966
Key Comic Collector Note: 2nd appearance of Mary Jane Watson
Key Comic Collector Note: Peter and Mary Jane's first date
Key Comic Collector Note: 3rd appearance and origin of Rhino

Issue Number: 46
The Sinister Shocker!
March 1966
Key Comic Collector Note: 1st appearance of the Shocker

Issue Number: 50
Spider-Man No More!
July 1967
Key Comic Collector Note: 1st appearance of the Kingpin, Wilson Fisk
Key Comic Collector Note: Story includes the iconic interior panel of Peter Parker walking away from his Spider-Man suit that is discarded in a garbage can

Issue Number: 51
In the Clutches Of...The Kingpin!
August 1967
Key Comic Collector Note: 1st appearance of Robbie Robertson, a mentor to Peter Parker at the Daily Bugle and a foil to J. Jonah Jameson
Key Comic Collector Note: 2nd full appearance and 1st cover of Kingpin

Issue Number: 52
To Die A Hero!
September 1967
Key Comic Collector Note: 3rd appearance of Kingpin

Issue Number: 56
To Die A Hero!
September 1967
Key Comic Collector Note: 1st appearance of Captain George Stacy

Issue Number: 59
The Brand of the Brainwasher!
April 1968
Key Comic Collector Note: 1st cover appearance of Mary Jane Watson
Key Comic Collector Note: First kiss between Gwen Stacy and Peter Parker
Key Comic Collector Note: 1st appearance of Brainwasher, alter ego of Kingpin

Issue Number: 61
What a Tangled Web We Weave...!
June 1968
Key Comic Collector Note: 1st cover appearance of Gwen Stacy

Issue Number: 62
Make Way For...Medusa!
July 1968
Key Comic Collector Note: Classic cover art by John Romita Sr. featuring Medusa, an Inhuman Royal and wife of Black Bolt

Issue Number: 68
Crisis on the Campus!
January 1969
Key Comic Collector Note: Introduction of the Tablet of Life and Time

Issue Number: 70
Spider-Man Wanted!
March 1969
Key Comic Collector Note: 1st cameo appearance of Vanessa Fisk, Kingpin's wife

Issue Number: 73
The Web Closes!
June 1969
Key Comic Collector Note: 1st appearance of Silvermane
Key Comic Collector Note: 1st appearance of Man-Mountain Marko

Issue Number: 75
Death Without Warning!
August 1969
Key Comic Collector Note: Iconic cover art by John Romita Sr.

Issue Number: 78
The Night of the Prowler
November 1969
Key Comic Collector Note: 1st appearance of the Prowler, Hobie Brown

Issue Number: 79
To Prowl No More!
December 1969
Key Comic Collector Note: 2nd appearance of Prowler

Issue Number: 80
On the Trail of...the Chameleon!
January 1970
Key Comic Collector Note: None

Issue Number: 83
The Coming of the Schemer!
April 1970
Key Comic Collector Note: 1st appearance of the Schemer, later revealed to be Richard Fisk, the son of Kingpin
Key Comic Collector Note: 1st full appearance of Vanessa Fisk, Kingpin's wife

Issue Number: 85
The Secret of the Schemer!
June 1970
Key Comic Collector Note: None

Issue Number: 86
Beware the Black Widow!
July 1970
Key Comic Collector Note: Debut of Black Widow's skin-tight costume

Issue Number: 87
Unmasked at Last!
August 1970
Key Comic Collector Note: None

Issue Number: 88
The Arms of Doctor Octopus!
September 1970
Key Comic Collector Note: None

Issue Number: 89
Doc Ock Lives!
October 1970
Key Comic Collector Note: None

Issue Number: 90
And Death Shall Come
November 1970
Key Comic Collector Note: Death of Captain George Stacy

Issue Number: 91
To Smash the Spider!
December 1970
Key Comic Collector Note: None

Issue Number: 92
When Iceman Attacks
January 1971
Key Comic Collector Note: First battle of Spider-Man versus Iceman

Issue Number: 93
The Lady and the Prowler
February 1971
Key Comic Collector Note: 1st appearance of Arthur Stacy

Issue Number: 94
On Wings of Death
March 1971
Key Comic Collector Note: None

Issue Number: 95
Trap For a Terrorist
April 1971
Key Comic Collector Note: Spider-Man visits London

Issue Number: 96
...And Now, the Goblin!
May 1971
Key Comic Collector Note: Published without approval from the Comics Code Authority due to a sub-plot about drug use

Key Comic Collector Note: The depiction of drugs in a negative light was well-received by readers which led to the Comics Code Authority easing-up on creative restrictions

Issue Number: 97
In the Grip of the Goblin
June 1971
Key Comic Collector Note: Drug addiction plot

Issue Number: 98
The Goblin's Last Gasp
July 1971
Key Comic Collector Note: Drug addiction plot

Issue Number: 99
A Day in the Life of...Featuring
August 1971
Key Comic Collector Note: Appearances by Johnny Carson and Ed McMahon from the Tonight Show Key Comic Collector Note: The characters first appeared in Marvel Comics in The Amazing Spider-Man #50

This post continues with issues 100 - 199.

 

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