Comics Corner: Marvel Team-Up 130

   

Title: Marvel Team-Up
Issue Number: 130
Release Date: June 1983

Highlights

  • First appearance of the location, Concord, New England
  • Reference is made to Vision And Scarlet Witch 3 (mini-series), Defenders 1, and Avengers 128
  • Spider-Man thinks Andrew Pauncholito knows he's Peter Parker, and that he's going to tell the world through his last article in the Daily Bugle before retiring
  • Necrodamus takes over Vision's body
  • Necrodamus burns his own body to ashes with his new (Vision) body
  • Turns out that Pauncholito did know Peter was Spider-Man, but opted to retire instead of publishing the story
Low Points
  • Marvel writers really don't know how to write dialog for women
Oddities
  • None
Rating (based on a 1 through 5 Stans grading system)



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Retro Spins: Bryan Adams - Bryan Adams

 

Is it honestly an 80's party if Bryan Adams isn't invited to spin on the turntable? I, like many, took notice of him with his third album, Cuts Like A Knife (1983), and got all the more invested with 1984's Reckless, just to watch things fizzle out with his Robin Hood Prince Of Thieves song, and inevitable obscurity thereafter. Which, of course, is just my own perspective. Adams obviously went on to a storied career, which has lasted decades.

Based on the story, it appears true that the singer / guitarist bought his first six string from a five and dime at the age of ten, as his Summer Of '69 anthem professes. He then dropped out of high school at the age of sixteen to play in the group Shock. Shortly thereafter, he took over lead vocals for the band Sweeny Todd, recording with them their second, and final album, 1977's If Wishes Were Horses.

Adams would meet Jim Vallance through a mutual friend, and together, they would form a writing partnership that flourished throughout the 80's. He would also sign to A&M for the whopping rate of one dollar ultimately releasing his self titled debut in 1980.

The singles, Give Me Your Love, Remember, and Hidin' from Love, didn't fair too well, with only the latter becoming a top 100 in Canada. All and all, it was a pretty lackluster start. But, that's where we'll pause so that I can dive into it for myself.

Playing through it was kind of hit or miss. While I enjoyed Hidin' From Love, and Wait And See the most out of the nine tracks, overall, it was just lacking in polish and hits.

It wasn't a bad listening experience, but it also didn't really light a fire under me to say that he was anything special. Ultimately, what it left me feeling was disappointed. The hits from Adams are amazing, so it kind of stunk that the majority of his work is just average...at best.

I wasn't completely turned off on continuing my journey, but I definitely hoped that there was more on offer from him than what was here.

There's not much to really fill in, history wise, at this point, because Bryan released his follow-up album pretty much on the heels of his debut. So, much like him, I'll just jump right into it, and see you tomorrow for where that one lands.

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THIS WEEK ON THE CHARTS
October 9, 1982

 

Comics Corner: Marvel Team-Up 129

   

Title: Marvel Team-Up
Issue Number: 129
Release Date: May 1983

Highlights

  • First appearance of Officer Bob Rubens, and Fyodor Dostoyevsky
  • First appearance of the location, Rain, New Hampshire
  • Reference is made to Captain America 269
  • Vision finds a hideout of androids disguised as famous historical figures, such as Mark Twain, Abraham Lincoln, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, and Shakespear
  • The androids want to join society, and turn to Vision for help
  • The androids ultimately decide after interacting with humans that they aren't ready, or perhaps, don't want to be a part of mankind
Low Points
  • None
Oddities
  • None
Rating (based on a 1 through 5 Stans grading system)



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Retro Spins: Clime Fisher - Everything


Yesterday I noted how the reformed Animotion saw success with the Clime Fisher penned, Room To Move, and decided it would be the perfect launching point for today's Retro Spin.

Simon Climie and former Naked Eyes keyboardist Rob Fisher were working as session musicians in 1986 when they met at Abbey Road Studios, and formed the duo partnership. They're best known for their hit, Love Changes (Everything), which upon its initial release reached number sixty-seven on the UK charts. However, it would later be remixed and re-released, it would peak at number two. It would also chart in other countries, reaching number twelve in New Zealand, twenty-four in Australia, seven in Germany, eight in Switzerland, fifteen in Austria, and twenty-three in the USA.

They released their debut, Everything, in 1988, which reached the top twenty in the UK, and Sweden, as well as the top ten in Germany, South Africa, and Switzerland. It was less successful in the USA, peaking at one hundred twenty on the Billboard Hot 200.

Despite the popularity of the above noted track, it was actually Rise To The Occasion, which the label chose as the lead single from the album. It would reach number ten in the UK Singles Chart, and later reached number one in South Africa, number six in Belgium, number fourteen in Germany, number seventeen in Sweden, and number nineteen in Austria.

Let's go ahead and pause here to dive into the record, shall we?

I personally bought this album for the hit, Love Changes (Everything), which kicks off everything as track one. This is both good and disappointing because while it's good to get the hit right out of the starting gate, it sets level of expectation. Unfortunately, the album as a whole can't meet it.

Room To Move was a fun bonus to have included, but frankly Animotion's cover is far superior. That unto itself is rare, a cover being better than the original.

The hip-hop style, Rise To The Occasion is pretty cool instrumentally, but feels incredibly out of place after all the songs that came before it. Additionally, it's honestly ruined the moment the singing starts.

Overall, Everything is a pass for me. It has the hit I was after, and I'm fine with that. However, everything else just doesn't resonate with me. I think the biggest turn off for me was that I didn't really like the vocals of Simon Clime. He sounds like a generic Barry Gibb.

The boys released the single, Love Like a River in 1988, which would be their last major hit. This was followed by the duo's 1989, and final album, Coming In For The Kill. It was poorly received, sold less, and the guys went their separate ways shortly thereafter.

I don't actually own their final release, and after playing through their debut, I really have no desire to. As such, my journey with Clime Fisher ends here. It was an overall miss for me, but I suppose I did get the one it out of it, so not a total loss.

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THIS WEEK ON THE CHARTS
October 8, 1983
 
THIS WEEK ON THE CHARTS
October 8, 1988


Comics Corner: Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man 79

   

Title: Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man
Issue Number: 79
Release Date: June 1983

Highlights

  • Reference is made to Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man 75
  • Cool panel of Spider-Man and Doctor Octopus fighting behind an x-ray machine
  • After defeating Doctor Octopus, Spider-Man warns the villain to never challenge him again
  • The beam where Spider-Man has his camera set up gets broken, and the camera falls into the river, and is lost
  • Punisher gives Boomerang an ultimatum - help him escape from prison, or die
Low Points
  • None
Oddities
  • None

Rating (based on a 1 through 5 Stans grading system)



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Retro Spins: Animotion - Animotion

 

It doesn't happen often. But sometimes, things change so drastically that a band ends up continuing with no original founding members. Such was the case with Animotion.

As the band began sessions for their third albums, things quickly came to an unamicable head. Astrid Plane and Charles Ottavio were unceremoniously fired from their own band at the request of management. Though there isn't much information as to what lead to the decision, it appears Plane expressed dissatisfaction with the direction of the music, stating that they were being pressured to write songs that didn't represent her and were "watered down" compared to their initial style. Perhaps management simply got tired of the nonsense, and since Ottavio and Plane were a couple at the time, it was simply easier to get rid of them both to avoid future problems.

Meanwhile, remaining original member, Bill Wadhams, was informed that the label would no longer allow him to contribute to writing the songs for the band. This in particular was odd because he had contributed heavily to their prior two albums. Though not an original founding member, Jim Blair also departed in 1988.  Whether the two quit, or were fired isn't necessarily clear.

Regardless, with all Ottavio, Plane, and Wadhams gone, Animotion was left with no remaining original members. It was a unique situation that inevitably ushered in the beginning of the end for the band. Prior to this though, efforts would be made by the label to rebuild the group.

Actress Cynthia Rhodes, best known for her role of Penny Johnson in Dirty Dancing, but who was also in Xanadu, Flashdance, Staying Alive, and Pee-Wee's Big Adventure, filled the roll left vacant by Plane. Paul Engemann, formerly of the band Device, took over vocal roles for Wadhams. Greg Smith, and Don Kirkpatrick remained in the band, but were not founding members.

This new lineup of Animotion would release their own self titled album, releasing it in 1989. It was led by the cover of Clime Fisher's, Room To Move, which would also be featured on the soundtrack for My Stepmother Is An Alien. The tune would make its way to the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100, but the album itself would not fair too well. The band was formally disbanded shortly thereafter.

Playing through it, things start off strong with Room To Move, Calling It Love, and Ground Zero. However, things quickly fall into generic, with that distinct late 80's pop sound. Not quite new wave, but not quite rock and roll. Somewhere kind of in the middle.

Overall, it's not Animotion, not even close, and I can totally understand why Plane would voice complaints that these songs were watered down, and didn't represent the band. Because they don't. If this was my first album from them, it would most likely have been my last.

What's all the more disappointing to me was how much I really enjoyed their 1986 Strange Behavior album. I really wanted more of this from them, but of course, thanks to label and management screwing everything up, this didn't happen.

Fortunately, it wasn't the end of the story. Several of the original members reunited in 2001, and even released a new Animotion album, 2016's Raise. Plane, Wadhams, Kirkpatrick, and Smith have also continued to perform as Animotion since this time. Kevin Rankin joined as drummer in 2002, and Bill's son Chris Wadhams joined as bass player in 2011.

So, there you go. A happy ending after all.

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THIS WEEK ON THE CHARTS
October 7, 1989

 

Comics Corner: Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man 78

   

Title: Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man
Issue Number: 78
Release Date: May 1983

Highlights

  • First appearance of Dannemora, and it's state prison
  • Peter starts talking to himself about J. Jonah Jameson needing to change, and start paying up for his photos
  • Peter considers dropping out of grad school, and also revealing his true identity to Black Cat
  • Peter has lunch with Flash Thompson, Sha Shan, Harry Osborn, and Liz Allen, thinking it might be the last time he sees them
  • Boomerang's cell is right across from Frank Castle's, AKA The Punisher, and the anti-hero is none to pleased to see the villain
  • Peter drops off a check to Aunt May, tells Nathan Lubensky he's a good man, and heads on his way to what may be his last fight with Doctor Octopus - Even though we all know it's not
  • Spider-Man tries to reveal himself to Black Cat, but she stops him, telling him to wait until he returns from battle with Doctor Octopus
Low Points
  • Black Cat keeps referring to Spider-Man as, "Lover" - Gets annoying fast
  • A whole lot of build up, and no action
Oddities
  • Spider-Man gets flowers from a florist with an I.O.U.
  • Both Felicia's mom and the spirit of her dad refer to her as, "Daughter", as in, that's the name they call her by
  • Boomerang is being taken through Dannemora State Prison, but he's in his villain costume, and not prison clothing
  • At lunch with his friends, Peter and the gang all sit on the same side of a long table - I get it, it's so the artist could get everyone in a single panel, but it looks so goofy
    • I think they're also blatantly trying to depict it as the last supper

Rating (based on a 1 through 5 Stans grading system)



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Living Vicariously Through My Brother - The Sights Of Japan Part II


Continuing the sight seeing of Japan through the lens of my brother's phone. 


















































































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