“Hungry Like The Wolf” was the first time many of us in America heard of Duran Duran. Perhaps more importantly, “Hungry Like The Wolf” marked the first time many Americans saw Duran Duran. And while there was certainly a contingent of people who saw the Fab Five as major eye candy (like my cousin Antoinette… Read More “Hungry Like The Wolf” by Duran Duran (1982)
Here are two songs that split the difference between rock and disco. The Stones’ “Hot Stuff” is a showcase for some smoking guitar by Keith Richards. I must admit I haven’t paid much attention to Keef as a guitarist, but he is smoking here. There’s also some fantastic interplay between the rhythm section of Bill… Read More “Hot Stuff” by The Rolling Stones (1976)/”Hot Stuff” by Donna Summer (1979)
It’s been a long time…I shouldn’t have left you. But I’ve spent most of the past month prepping my new podcast Detoxicity, and my writing has had to take a pretty significant back seat. But…it looks like the COVID-19 outbreak is going to corral my social calendar plus I’m going to be working from home.… Read More “Holiday” by Madonna (1983)
The Chimes came straight out of Scotland and…well, they didn’t really stick the landing on U.S. shores. Only one single of theirs scraped the ass end of the Hot 100, and their debut album (which turned out to be their only album) peaked at #162. The only success the group had in the States was… Read More “Heaven” by The Chimes (1990)
“Heartbeat” was not a ginormous hit upon its 1981 release. It peaked at #6 on Billboard’s dance chart and #10 on the R&B list, and didn’t cross over at all. Back in the days when smashes could be regional, though, “Heartbeat” lit up the dance floors and airwaves in New York City (thanks to DJ… Read More “Heartbeat” by Taana Gardner (1981)
One great thing about Blondie is that you couldn’t really identify their sound. They came up in the NYC downtown scene of the ’70s, and much like the bands they are associated with (Talking Heads, The Police, The Clash, even The Beastie Boys), they pulled musical influences from all over the place. “Heart of Glass”… Read More “Heart Of Glass by Blondie (1979)
He is clearly a complicated fellow. “He’s The Greatest Dancer” finds Kathy Sledge absolutely enamored with a man she spots in the crowd at a club. Not only does he have a slammin’ body (one that would shame Adonis, as a matter of fact), but he wears the hottest designer clothes (Halston, Gucci, Fiorucci) and,… Read More “He’s Just A Runaway” (Sister Sledge, 1981)/”He’s The Greatest Dancer” (Sister Sledge, 1979)
Most of Diana’s albums are a patchwork quilt of writers and producers, and as such tend to be pretty inconsistent. One reason 1980’s diana is considered to be a classic is because it’s the work of one production team-Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers. The men behind the band Chic were near the top of their… Read More “Have Fun (Again)” by Diana Ross (1980)
There was a point in late 1990 when it felt like Deee-lite was gonna be the next best thing. They were multicultural (middle-American lead singer, Russian DJ, Asian secondary DJ). They had pop cred, disco cred and hip-hop cred. They had a multitude of influences and some fairly major juice (“Groove is in The Heart”… Read More “Groove Is In The Heart” by Deee-lite (1990)
“Grease” topped the pop charts because it had just about everything going for it. It was the theme song to one of the hottest movies of 1978; a throwback classic starring John Travolta and Bolivia Neutron-Bomb Olivia Newton-John. It was written and produced by Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees, who wrote and produced literally… Read More “Grease” by Frankie Valli (1978)
Five Star Jamz 