WNY in Savannah

January 26th, 2016 at 11:10 PM ^

Thank you!  Love Donnie Iris!  Many consider him a one hit wonder for Ah Leah, but that actually wasn't his biggest hit going by Billboard chart position.  My Girl was, which is not even in my Donnie top 20.  In my opinion, it is a crime that he didn't have multiple number ones.

Ah Leah, Love Is Like a Rock, Tough World, Sweet Merilee, and This Time It Must Be Love all deserved to be big hits.  And if you've never heard his later stuff, try How You Gonna Mend It and Little Black Dress.

Outstanding.

Joined: 09/18/2013

MGoPoints: 638

Sam1863

January 26th, 2016 at 6:25 PM ^

Several years ago, the girlfriend dragged me to see the B-52s and the Go-Gos at Pine Knob (and I don't care who bought the naming rights, it will always be Pine Knob to me). I was prepared to be the tolerant boyfriend and take one for the team, but actually, it was a blast. The show was great, and we made instant friends with the trio of soccer moms in the row behind us, who loved the fact that the girlfriend still knew all the lyrics and choreography.

Joined: 04/27/2014

MGoPoints: 29106

ST3

January 26th, 2016 at 6:12 PM ^

I just love the intro to this song:

 

P.S. it gets extra credit for being the theme song for my favorite 80's public access show, "Jim's Cozy Corner." Jim would have been great as an internet blogger, alas, his time came 30 years too soon.

Joined: 09/11/2010

MGoPoints: 52799

Everyone Murders

January 26th, 2016 at 7:03 PM ^

Starving student (me) spends money he does not have to take significant other to see The Pogues at The Power Center (1989 - Peace and Love tour).  Shane MacGowan opens with a blistering version of If I Should Fall From Grace With God.  It's brilliant!  I don't care that I'm out of beer money for the foreseeable future.  I've invested wisely!!

Shane does get increasingly wobbly and hostile as the show progresses.  At some point in the second song (don't recall what it was) he starts muttering "fuck you" and something about Batman (the film had come out that summer, so maybe it was a topical reference in his C5H2OH addled mind).

Then MacGowan passes out on stage.  "Down goes Frazier!" style.  The stage crew picks MacGowan up by his armpits, drags him off stage, and we never see him again.  And that was all my non-rent money for the month in question.  (One of the band members did his homework, and said that Shane was "busy visiting with Shakey Jake" or somesuch.)

Spider Stacy (IIRC) and the drummer take over the vocals, and the balance of The Pogues gamely finish the show.  A commendable cover-up effort, and the band is plainly furious with MacGowan, so not a terrible show, really.  Two encores IIRC. 

But The Pogues without Shane MacGowan?  Fuck that Pogue Mahone shit!

Further to that, there's a MacGowan documentary when he was at his alcoholic worst that will be of interest to Pogues fans.  He really drank himself into a mess for a while there.  Leaving Las Vegas level alcoholism - glad to hear he righted his ship somewhat in recent years.

 

Joined: 12/14/2010

MGoPoints: 65552

CRISPed in the DIAG

January 26th, 2016 at 8:16 PM ^

I was at that show. My live-in girlfriend, also attending, was trying to break up with me, and I was just a month or so from my own little breakdown.  We left early.

Saw The Replacements earlier that year (spring?) at the Michigan Theater and they also kind sucked. But for reasons completely opposite from MacGowan - IIRC, Westeberg was sober and became more of a dick than he was as a functioning alcoholic. The band didn't talk or look at each other through the show.  But they rocked a little and the crowd was into it.  After the tour, The Replacements became essentially a Westeberg solo act for the last album or two.

Joined: 11/08/2010

MGoPoints: 47511

UESWolverine

January 26th, 2016 at 6:38 PM ^

An amazing story about that song that not many people know (from Wikipedia):

The song was written by the lead singer, David Coverdale, and former Whitesnake guitarist, Bernie Marsden. The most notable differences between the original and re-recorded versions are a slight change in the lyrics. The chorus of the original version features the lines:

"An' here I go again on my own
Goin' down the only road I've ever known
Like a hobo I was born to walk alone"

In an interview, Coverdale explained that "hobo" was changed to "drifter" in the re-recorded version to ensure that it would not be misheard as "homo."[4]

Joined: 01/21/2013

MGoPoints: 4095

Newton Gimmick

January 26th, 2016 at 6:25 PM ^

Wipers - "Youth of America"

Joy Division - "Love Will Tear Us Apart"

Stone Roses - "Made of Stone"

This Mortal Coil - "Song to the Siren"

House of Love - "Love in a Car"

Associates - "Party Fears Two"

Smiths - "Boy With the Thorn in His Side"

For Against - "Clandestine High Holy"

Metallica - "Fade to Black"

Iron Maiden - "Phantom of the Opera"

The Sound - "Unwritten Law"

 

Yeah, I was and is a moody kid.  "Take Me Home Tonight" by Eddie Money is right up there though.

Worst song - "Kokomo"

Joined: 05/06/2015

MGoPoints: 33792

Aged Wolverine 68

January 26th, 2016 at 6:18 PM ^

were pansies in the 80s. Sheesh.

 

 

I saw a few great songs mentioned at least....Sweet Child of Mine, Panama, and Cult of Personality. Saw Living Colour open for the Stones in the 90s. Those brothers could rock. The lead singer walked tight rope style down a railing. Crazy,

 

 

I would add....

 

Hot for Teacher and Dreams....although Summer Nights will always be a hit with me.

 

Yankee Rose David Lee Roth

 

Welcome to the Jungle GnR

 

Rock of Ages Def Leopard

 

Money For Nuthin Dire Straights(yes the version panning George Michael)

 

Epic Faith No More

 

Lunatic Fringe Red Ryder

 

Those are more along the lines of the good songs I remember from high school in the mid 80s era.

 

 

BTW I saw someone mention Prince. I would say Little Red Corvette and 1999 were much better than anything from Purple Rain soundtrack. Well save for the Time. Jungle Love and The Bird. You know what time it is. As sad as it is to admit, probably the biggest song from the 80s was Like A Virgin by Michigan's own material gal. Not a fan, but damn she was popular.

 

Joined: 08/27/2015

MGoPoints: 70

alum96

January 26th, 2016 at 6:23 PM ^

When Doves Cry?

It was an amazing decade for pop superstars - you had the equivalent of 4 or so Beyonces or Adele level stars at once in MJ, Prince, Whitney Houston, Madonna.  And if I remember around the time of LA Olympics in 84 Lionel Ritchie was as big as MJ, and a guy like George Michael mid decade was also dominant.   And that was just the "poppy" stuff. 

These lists remind me how rock used to be mainstream. Sigh.

Joined: 04/28/2012

MGoPoints: 82667