Retro Spins: Pointer Sisters - So Excited!

Would it be wrong to assume that when most people think of the Pointer Sisters that the song I'm So Excited is one of the tracks that comes to mind? Would you believe that when it was first released for their 1982 album, So Excited!, it didn't make as big of an impact as it would later?

Upon its initial release, the single would peak at number thirty on the Billboard Hot 100. However, it would be revived and re-released on the 1984 re-issues of their 1983 album, Break Out. It would be here that the song would once again hit the charts, peaking at number nine.

Overall, So Excited!, the album, would fare much worse than its predecessor, Black & White (1981) which went gold. Excited would receive not sell enough units to reach and sales certifications status, and as a whole, stall out with lackluster reception.

Playing through it, what I like about it is that you can hear the girls shifting in style. While it's still considered an R&B / soul album, there are hints of the synthpop / new wave sound that was on the horizon.

Things kick off with the title track, which sets a high bar for things to come. While the energy stays in place, the remainder becomes a hit or miss series of songs.

Yes, there were ones that I selected for the old shuffle list, All Of You, If You Wanna Get Back Your Lady, and Heart To Heart. However, just in typing this paragraph, I couldn't tell you a thing about them. They've already left my mind.

Maybe it's just me, but I'm tired of everyone doing a re-make of Prince's I Feel For You. First and foremost, as much of a fan of the guy that I am, that song is the stink. I don't like his versions, I don't like Rebbie Jackson's cover, Mary Wells sped up cover, and while Chaka Khan's is the best of all, I really don't like it much past the rap intro.

With what I know was to come from the Pointer Sisters with their next album, Break Out, I really was hoping that this one would have a few more hints of that. Some hidden gems or overlooked classics. Sadly, that's just not the case here.

Since I've already listened to, and written a Retro Spin on that one, and moving tomorrow into their 1985 released, Contact. It's the second most successful album from the girls, but is this just because of the momentum it was riding from their previous smash? I guess I'll find out tomorrow.

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Comics Corner: Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man 116

   

Title: Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man
Issue Number: 116
Release Date: July 1986

Highlights

• First appearance of J.D.
• Death of Fritz Woolcot
• Spider-Man's first fight with Sabretooth
• As Black Cat lay on the ground with a broken nose, Foreigner's thugs tell her to explain why she broke into his place, with a twist - answer slow, and they'll break three ribs, answer fast, and they'll only break one
• Peter goes to Mary Jane's house, but when he sees Roderick Kingsley exiting, he blows up on her, and storms off
• Mary Jane ponders if they just had their first lover's quarrel
• Sabretooth seeks out his old teacher, Foreigner, and finds out that after killing FBI and CIA agents to find him, it was Foreigner himself, disguised as a wino who told him where to find him
• Sabretooth wants to work for Foreigner as an assassin
• Peter wrestles with his own emotions, pondering if he should tell Black Cat that he had her bad luck aura removed from him by Doctor Strange, which in turn removed the powers from her completely, but also concluding he doesn't want to see her ever again, nor get into an argument with her
• The Woolcot family moves so Fritz can get away from the accusations of child abuse on his son Alex
• Foreigner and Sabretooth walk in on the aftermath of the fight with Black Cat, and Sabretooth sets off to deal with her, despite Foreigner not wanting him to
• Foreigner tells his men they're fired, but they in turn quit
• Spider-Man goes to see Felicia, but makes it clear he's not there to reconcile their relationship
• Spider-Man tells her about Doctor Strange, and the two do indeed fight, resulting in Spider-Man leaving annoyed
• Sabretooth appears in her apartment, ready to take her life, but Spider-Man returns, kicking him in the face
• Spider-Man makes short order of Sabretooth, and the villain actually does himself in by trying to rip the webbing sprayed on him off of his face, ripping the skin off in the process
• A drunk Fritz returns home, and when he sees his son's room not clean, he attempts to abuse him, only for Alex's power to activate in fear, disintegrating his father into a pile of ash

Low Points

• None

Oddities

• None

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

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Retro Spins: Pointer Sisters - Black & White

It's time to circle back to the sisters known as Pointers. I touched on them in 2023 when I listened to their 1983 opus, Break Out, and circled back to them in 2025 when I started from the beginning of their 80's journey with 1980's Special Things. These were both relatively enjoyable listening sessions, resulting in some tracks being pulled for my shuffle.

I touched pretty extensively on the girl's history in the above noted posts, so there's not much more to really be added to that at this point in time. As such, we'll just dive right into 1981's Black & White.

The album stays rooted in the groups R&B / soul era, which is not my favorite style from the sisters. I much prefer their later new wave / pop material. As such, while I wouldn't call this a terrible album, there were definitely more moments of boredom versus songs I actually enjoyed.

Of the nine tracks, three stood out; Someday We'll Be Together, Slow Hands, and Should I Do It. The first noted feels reminiscent of the original Supreme's song. Despite this, it's not a remake. Meanwhile, Slow Hands stands out as their biggest single from the album, and the reason I bought it.

The final track was a nice hidden doo-wop gem, and oddly one that was recorded and released by both the Pointers, and Tanya Tucker at the same time. Obviously, the Pointer Sisters put the track on Black & White, while Tucker released it on her album of the same name.

I think what disappoints me the most about the girls is that they don't seem to put much effort into their music. Wait a moment before you blow up. Let me explain. The girls don't play any instruments on their music, nor do they contribute to much of the writing. They essentially show up, sing, serving as a conduit for other people's creative juices. The writing aspect is particularly odd to me because the girls wrote one of their biggest hits, I'm So Excited. So, clearly, they have the talent to pen their own music.

Coincidentally, So Excited is where we head to next in their storied discography, and if you're like me, you'll be baffled by how initially that classic track floundered, only to become a massive smash after being revived years later. I'll get into those details tomorrow.

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Comics Corner: Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man 115

   

Title: Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man
Issue Number: 115
Release Date: June 1986

Highlights

• First appearance of Brenda Burman, Ralph Mackie, and Spencer
• Brenda walks home from a late movie when she's grabbed by a bunch of thugs with super hero masks on
• Their intentions are anything but good
• The fencer who bought Peter's golden notebook brings it to Foreigner to sell it to him
• Peter is sent to Fritz Woolcot's house to be part of the interview with Joy Mercado regarding the accusations of child abuse
• Joe Robertson introduces his wife Amanda to his father
• Alex Woolcot is showing signs of his new powers, doing his best to control them
• Katheryn Cushing gives Peter an ear full for getting no pictures of Mr. Woolcot
• Black Cat breaks into Foreigner's place, intent on robbing him, and giving the riches to local orphanages
• Spider-Man seeks out Doctor Strange to help him with his recent string of bad luck
• Doctor Strange determines there is definitely a bad luck aura that has affected him
• It's concluded that the hex came from Black Cat, and Doctor Strange says that removing it from Spider-Man may have an affect on "the source"
• Spider-Man decides he doesn't owe Black Cat anything, and tells Doctor Strange to proceed
• Doctor Strange succeeds in removing the aura, and unbeknownst to him and Spider-Man, across the city Black Cat is getting beaten down by Foreigner's men since she no longer has her powers of bad luck

Low Points

• None

Oddities

• None

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

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