Retro Spins: ABBA - The Visitors

I wonder if people knew at the time that they were holding in their hands the last studio album from ABBA. There's no doubt the group was one of the highest grossing bands of all time, and remained a powerhouse in the recording industry. So I'm sure, regardless of whether people knew or not, that it was shocking the band was done.

The Visitors starts with the fantastic title track, featuring lead vocals from Anni-Frid. From there, Agnetha takes lead for Head Over Heals. However, this is actually two of only three of the songs I actually know from the album, the last being track six, One of Us. It's because of this, I was excited to hear the remaining six songs.

Of them, When All Is Said And Done and Two For The Price Of One stood out as pretty good tracks. As for the rest - Well, they were ABBAish, but nothing spectacular or special.

Overall, it was an okay album, but nothing I would race to hear again. This is something I'm finding out about ABBA. For as popular as they are, it seems their hits are the hits, while the of the songs are just kind of there. Don't get me wrong, I get that not everything can be a smash, but I also know when you're a fan of a band, or singer, you feel they can do no wrong, and even the stuff people raise an eyebrow at is amazing to you. I guess what I'm trying to say is I'm not a super fan of ABBA.

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Just Doodling: Merry X-Maxx

 

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Counting Down Christmas With Now!

 

There's just a few days to go until my favorite holiday of the year, and I can't think of a better way to help get through those long waiting hours than by popping on a slew of 80's hits. Sure, I could create my own playlist from my own curated collection of 80's albums. But, I think I'll let EMI do the work for me, and in the process take a listen to the classic 1983 compilation album that spawned a series of over one hundred albums to date.

When Now That's What I Call Music hit the scene, it was limited to not only vinyl and cassette releases, but UK shores. Each track was carefully selected to capture a snapshot in time of hits, specifically those being played on airwaves for our British neighbors. Of course, with the wide spectrum that these songs reached, most will be familiar to your average 80's fan. Occasionally, there's a hidden obscure gem in there, and those are the moments I like most about the series, and what ultimately drew me to it.

CD versions would eventually be released, with the first being volume four. However, this particular disc contained a completely different track listing from the original cassette and vinyl versions. As a result, many tend to favor volume eight as the first official CD release. However, it is worth noting that while volume eight and nine were released on CD, these were condensed versions, which were only on one disc, and did not contain all the tracks available on the LP's or cassettes. It wouldn't be until volume ten and on, that two CD's would be used, thus allowing for the entire album to be available on all formats.

In 2018, Sony Music began re-releasing the albums on duel CD's. While all the songs from the original lineup are present, there are noticeable differences in the versions, and perhaps not for the better. Part of the draw to the original LP and cassette versions were the use of 7" or single versions, and these rare cuts are sorely exempt from the CD's. Though it still delivers on hit after hit, these omissions dilute how special these compilations could have been upon re-release. Additionally, due to licensing rights, some of the tracks are missing in their entirety from these re-released versions. The quality of CD is unmistakably superior to the original vinyls and cassettes, but the overall presentation is not.

With that said, if you're looking for a fantastic lineup of hits, those are definitely to be found here, and are nothing to balk at. My personal echo chamber includes volumes one through sixteen, which fall in the realm of those released in the 80's. Future volumes, most notably those released in the early 90's still contain a fair share of hits from the 80's, but tend to favor the new era more, as they should. As such, my collection won't surpass volume sixteen.

Additionally, because there are far superior CD pressings available as of volume ten, I am only collecting the re-releases of one through nine. The remaining volumes on my want list will be the originals, though I have not had the opportunity to delve past the re-issues yet for cost reasons. Until that happens, I have plenty of volumes to help me get through the days leading up to Christmas. In the process, my list of want albums keeps growing as I delve deeper and deeper into the more obscure hits favored in the UK.

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Retro Spins: Pat Benatar - Wide Awake In Dreamland

I was wide awake in dreamland and all fired up for a solid Retro Spin today, so I decided to take the needle to the platter of Pat Benatar's last entry in the 80's - 1988's Wide Awake In Dreamland.

The album builds the excitement up pretty quickly with the first track, All Fired Up, and from there, goes into a song I had long since forgotten. The slower paced, One Love. Amazing song! Track three, Let's Stay Together, not so much.

Don't Walk Away and Too Long A Soldier were decent, but felt very Madonna like. The rest of the album unfortunately fell to background noise as I moved on to other things - Mentally.

Overall, the album just wasn't popping for me. At this point in Benatar's career, I honestly expected a solid album from front to back. Instead, I got a handful of good tracks, and wide variety of what felt like filler.

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Stiffed By Santa

 

It happened to most of us growing up. There was that one gift every now and then that we wanted, yet seemed to never get. Well today, I want to talk about that. Specifically, the three things that no matter how much I asked, Santa just seemed to continue to stiff me.

Number 1...

Snake Mountain from Masters of the Universe was a playset I really wanted as a kid. In fact, there were a ton of figures from the line that could have easily made this list. But, this one in particular seemed to always be out of my grasp.

I had a Castle Grayskull, and I played with it often. So why did Santa never seem to want to bring me Skeletor's lair?

In hindsight, I have a speculation. Mrs. Claus hates, and I mean HATES snakes. To the point that if she saw a plastic one, she'd run away. As such, it's no wonder she wouldn't pick this playset up for me as a kid.

Of course, she bought me plenty of the Snake Men figures, so maybe that's not it. Maybe it just came down to price, and other gifts.

Number 2...

This one boggles the mind for me, even today.

Santa bought me Lion-O, and Mumm-Ra, stoking the fire just enough to make me foam at the mouth for more Thundercats. Then, he suddenly closed up shop, and left me waiting in the wings.

I wanted Panthro so much, and despite repeatedly asking for him, he never arrived. As if to add insult to injury, a Thundercats shaped package, which I ripped open with glee, held Cheetara inside.

I wish I could say that it came down to price. That the line was too expensive for Santa to foot the bill on. However, Santa brought me a Thundertank that same year! How are you going to bring the vehicle, but not the driver?!? Was this some kind of sick joke?

Number 3...

What I could never understand about Panthro was clear to me from the very start. Everything about this one came down to the price. There was no way Santa was bringing me a $500.00 comic book.

I wanted a platinum edition Spider-Man number one from the moment I saw it in my local comic shop. I even tried working for it around the house, saving every penny I was paid. However, that's all it ever amounted to. A few pennies.

My parents were never big on paying us for what they expected us to do. As such, I was never a kid who got an allowance. Santa was my only hope for this one, and that just never came to fruition.

$500.00 was probably more than what all of my siblings got in gifts combined. So, it was definitely a pipe dream that I would get that kind of scratch spent on just me, let alone a single item, and a comic book at that.

Stiffed, but not miffed...

While I mention these three items above, it really is all in good fun. The truth of the matter is that I didn't honestly spend  my time dwelling on what I didn't have as a kid. Why would I? I was too busy enjoying the things I did have, filling the gaps with my imagination.

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Retro Spins: Toni Basil - Toni Basil

Poor Toni Basil. She, among others, ushered in the 80's with her massive hit, Mickey. The song itself shaped and molded the things to become in the decade, and to look back in retrospect, one would be amiss to say it was anything short of iconic to the era.

Toni released two albums in the 80's. Her first, Word Of Mouth (1981), features the aforementioned track, Mickey, while her second self titled, and today's Retro Spin, didn't fair as well. From there, Basil wold seem to disappear into obscurity. Even when CD's and re-issuing became a hot commodity, her two albums remained only available on cassette and vinyl.

So what happened to her? How did she fade into obscurity seemingly overnight? 

To cut to the chase, she's still remains active in the music industry, and did so throughout the 80's. When she stepped out of the limelight, Basil focused on directing music videos, most notably for Talking Heads. Additionally, she choreographed shows for acts such as, David Bowie, Tina Turner and Bette Midler. While Toni has returned to the stage, her own concerts are relatively small.

After hearing 1983's self titled album, I can't help but think she made the right move in her career. I won't call her a dud, but in terms of her music, it just doesn't stick. Nothing really comes through as top ten material, or even relatively memorable. Then again, if I'm being truthful, Mickey isn't necessarily one of my favorites from the 80's either.

The first track, Over My Head, is probably the only thing which really stood out for me on the album, and even then, it's just okay.

Overall, I do still feel it's a massive shame both of her albums never got individual CD releases. Despite my personal feelings, Mickey was a massive hit and deserves a proper CD release, versus the many compilations it gets thrown on time and time again. If for nothing else, to preserve these two albums as a whole for the future.

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80's Christmas Albums To Start Your December Off Right

 

It's Christmas time again, and I'm just as excited as ever! As a fan of all things 80's music, I'm starting my month of December off with some great Christmas albums to fill the air.

Christmas In The Stars shows you just what depths Anthony Daniels will sink to make a buck off of C-3PO, and the Star Wars franchise. Hey, I get it. Get your bread buttered wherever you can.

The albums is light hearted, kid friendly, and 80's cheese through and through. I love it!

Menudo meets Christmas, and with it present their rendering of Feliz Navidad, among others. It's actually the groups third Christmas album, and twelfth overall. Depending on the version you buy, you get either ten tracks (1982 release) or fourteen (1983). Regardless, they're both compilations of the aforementioned other holiday albums.

Technically a 70's album of the same name, the 1984 released CD features selected tracks from the siblings prior released Christmas albums. The Carpenters capture the holiday spirit with their soothing vocals that transport you back to happier times.

Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton could very well pass as the real Mrs. and Mr. Claus. Whenever the two got together, they brought the gift of music, and presented it in a ribbon of joy. They remain one of my all time favorite duet duos.

New Edition captures the spirit of Christmas, and packages it with a somewhat rhythm and soul sound. They usher in the new while paying homage to the old, and sound great doing it.

Slade made a Christmas album? Well, sort of. It's actually part compilation, part Christmas, but intended to be a seasonal "party mix". Does it work? Here and there.

Now couples the best of the old and the new, and presents it on Now: The Christmas Album. Fans young and old will find something from the own eras, while possibly discovering something "new".

In between their debut and follow up studio albums, The Jets recorded the one and only Christmas album, Christmas With The Jets. It's most notable for the groups rendering of the track, Somewhere Out There, which was released that same year by Linda Ronstadt and Jame Ingram for the film An American Tail.

For their tenth and last album with label, Arista, Air Supply opted to record a series of classic Christmas tracks, sprinkled with two original recordings. You won't find the hits that fill the airwaves of radio stations, but it will definitely get you in the mood for the holidays.

If you buy any of these albums, A Very Special Christmas is the one to get. This 1987 compilation album featured holiday tunes from some of the hottest acts of the time, such as, Bon Jovi, Madonna, U2, Eurythmics, and more! If you do venture to get this one, do be careful. The original 1987 release contains the Bon Jovi track, Back Door Santa, while later pressing remove the song, and replace it with the band's 92 tune, I Wish Every Day Could Be Like Christmas.

It's technically an EP, but Erasure's Crackers International is considered the groups Christmas album. The problem with this is that you won't actually find holiday themed tracks.

Get a little silly with Twisted Christmas, and laugh the cold weather away. The songs are intended to be goofy renderings of some of you all time favorite classics, and for the most part fit that bill. Though repeated listening sessions can definitely wear thin.

If you can't get an actual New Kid for Christmas, you could at least get their 1989 Christmas album. It's sappy, aimed at teenage girls, and checks every boy band box with its delivery. I'm sure many females found this one in their stockings.

Okay, so I retract my opening statement. Maybe "great Christmas albums" isn't the right way to describe a lot of these. They're definitely fun and nostalgic, though. So what are you waiting for? Get you some of these tunes, and dive headlong into the holiday spirit!

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Retro Spins: Bon Jovi - Bon Jovi

New Jersey and Slippery When Wet were absolute monsters back in the 80's. However, what was the foundation in which these iconic albums were based? Where did it all start? That's what I wanted to find out in today's Retro Spin.

Bon Jovi debuted in the midst of 1984. Hair bands were big, new wave was big. Heck, it was the 80's. Everything was big. What else would you expect from the decade of excess?

The album starts out with the only track I know from it, Runaway. It wasn't a song which garnered the success which would eventually come for the band, but it did manage to chart, and in due course, peak at number thirty-nine.

Track three, She Don't Know Me, was the only other song from the album to chart. However, it would only go to number fifty before disappearing. It's okay, but if I'm being honest, it wasn't as good as Roulette, the song which appears on the album prior to it.

Roulette is a powerhouse. It's got a crushing guitar riff and straight up rocks. It sounded almost out of a place for a Bon Jovi song with how powerful it felt.

It's interesting to see the band released a song called, Shot Through The Heart" on their first album. Ironic too, since it could be easily mistaken for their massive hit, You Give Love A Bad Name, from Slippery When Wet. Both songs are pretty great, in my opinion.

As for the rest of the album, it kind of fell into the obscurity of background noise. I just didn't hear anything which really excited me. On that same note, I didn't hear anything that I absolutely hated either.

For debuts, it's no powerhouse, but it's decent. It was great to hear something "new" from a familiar band with a familiar sound. If I'm being honest, that's probably what made it okay in the long run. If nothing else, it points to the horizon for things to come.

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Order Of Battle: My Cartoons On DVD Part 4

 

Due to the increasing size of my cartoon collection, I have found it necessary to break them up into a series of groups. This will be an ongoing post of my cartoons on DVD and Blu-Ray that start with the letters F - H, as I obtain them. All photos are actual scans.

As December unfolds, we'll take a break from this series of posts, and focus more so on holiday themed offerings. However, we'll pick up with part five come January 2023.

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