TapeHeads: 80's Music and Beyond – Details, episodes & analysis

A veteran of the jazz, funk, and even disco scenes, Herbie Hancock took a left turn in the 80's to help usher hip hop into the mainstream of pop music, and we're certainly glad that he did. This episode focuses on 1983's "Rockit" and the album Future Shock.

There are certain movies that could only have existed in the 80's, and Iron Eagle (1986) is one of them. Starring Jason Gedric and Louis Gossett, Jr., it's a hunk of cheese equally matched by its soundtrack, with a theme song by King Kobra.

RELATED LINKS:

Our Rockit playlist, on Spotify

Herbie Hancock, "Rockit" official video, on YouTube

Herbie Hancock, on Spotify

How to Perform the 'Rockit' Scratch, on YouTube

Herbie Hancock, Rockit LIVE at the 1985 Grammys, on YouTube

Mobb Deep sample Jessica, on YouTube

Iron Eagle⁠, at IMDB

The Outfield are a band we love, and our old band used to play one of their songs back in the day. We discuss their distinction and the fun of listening to them these days.

The Dark Crystal is a 1982 fantasy movie created by the amazing Jim Henson and company, which is unique and darkly spooky, designed to provide children with something scary. We love it and hope you'll revisit it as well, or visit it for the first time, if you've somehow managed never to have seen it.

RELATED LINKS:

Our Your Love playlist, on Spotify

The Outfield, on Spotify

The Outfield, "Your Love" official video, on YouTube

The Dark Crystal, at IMDB

Dexys Midnight Runners are a one-hit wonder band (actually with TWO number-one hits) whose 1982 song "Come On, Eileen" is one of the most catchy and unusual songs of the 80's, and the band's story is one of the most interesting we've come across so far. You'll love it.

The World War III story Red Dawn, from 1984, holds the distinction of being the first movie to be rated PG-13. It features a cast that would all go on to be among the biggest stars. We also discuss what life was like growing up during the end of the Cold War.

Connect with us at tapeheadspod.com. And don't forget to click through and check out the killer playlist for this episode!

RELATED LINKS:

Our Come On, Eileen playlist, on Spotify

Dexys Midnight Runners, "Come On, Eileen" official video, on YouTube

Dexys Midnight Runners, on Spotify

Warner Bros. piano bomb compilation video, on YouTube

Red Dawn, at IMDB

In the spring of 1988, George Harrison recruited his friends Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison, and Jim Keltner to collaborate on a song. The result was so stunningly good that they decided to do an entire album together, thereby creating the biggest supergroup of all time. And yes, we do discuss some of those other ones as well.

Better Off Dead is a classic dark comedy from 1985 starring John Cusack. Its eminently quotable dialogue (ever wonder where the line, "I want my TWO DOLLARS" cam from?) and strange, memorable characters make for a fun watch, or RE-watch.

Contact us and find all episodes at tapeheadspod.com.

RELATED LINKS:

Our Heading For The Light playlist, on spotify

Traveling Wilburys, on Spotify

Better Off Dead, at IMDB

This episode is devoted to Canadian singer and multi-instrumentalist Jane Child. She's our first one-hit wonder, and she's possibly the last big one-hit wonder of the 80's. This episode is being released on February 15, which--coincidentally enough--is also Jane's birthday, so we're wishing her a happy one.

Our 'movie' this time is actually a TV show we loved when we were young called B.J. and The Bear, about a trucker and his chimp Bear who travel the country and meet women in every town, all while attempting to stay one step ahead of the law. The show was created by the ubiquitous Glen A. Larson (Battlestar Galactica, Magnum P.I.) and was one of our favorites at the time.

RELATED LINKS:

Jane Child, on Spotify

Jane Child, "Don't Wanna Fall In Love" official video, at YouTube

Jane Child Citroën Quarterly interview, 1991

B.J. and The Bear, at IMDB

In this 'very special' episode, Blaine kept the subject a secret from Todd until we recorded it. New Edition and all of the tentacles of their related bands (Bobby Brown, New Kids on the Block, and even Whitney Houston) is a supremely interesting story, and we're sure you'll agree. This one's by request.

RELATED LINKS:

New Edition, on Spotify

Bobby Brown, on Spotify

Bell Biv DeVoe, on Spotify

New Kids on the Block, on Spotify

Whitney Houston, on Spotify

Whitney documentary, at IMDB

The New Edition Story, at IMDB

The Bangles were arguably the biggest all-female band of the 80's, and we both totally love them. We explore their early career and their big hits, as well as the issues that arose within the band as one of the members' star rose.

Our movie this time is "The All-Nighter (1987)", which starred Susanna Hoffs, Joan Cusack, and Pam Grier, and was co-written/produced/directed by Susanna's mom. What could go wrong with that formula?

RELATED LINKS:

Our The Bangles playlist, on Spotify

The Bangles, on Spotify

The Bangles, "Walk Like an Egyptian" official video, on YouTube

The All-Nighter (1987), at IMDB

U2's album "The Joshua Tree" is one of the biggest and most influential of all time, and it's the subject of this, our first episode of 2024. We mostly focus in on the song "Where The Streets Have No Name," but discuss other songs too, as well as the making of the video and the band's later involvement with author and filmmaker Bill Carter during the civil war in Sarajevo in the early Nineties. We're sure you'll agree that they're an incredible band with an incredible story, even the comparatively miniscule part that we're choosing to illuminate here.

RELATED LINKS:

U2, "Where the Streets Have No Name" official video, on YouTube

U2, "The Joshua Tree", on Spotify

U2 at The Sphere, on YouTube

U2, "The Unforgettable Fire", on Spotify

U2 with Luciano Pavarotti, "Miss Sarajevo" official video, on YouTube

"Miss Sarajevo" documentary, at BillCarter.cc

Fools Rush In book, at Amazon

Released in 1987, "A Very Special Christmas" was a bit of a turning point for Christmas music, which both of us enjoyed back then and continue to enjoy to this day.

We also take you back a long time ago (1978) to a galaxy far, far away to discuss the famously awful Star Wars Holiday Special. We've added plenty of audio clips because you wouldn't believe just how weird and awful it is otherwise. We even included Christmas in the Stars from 1980, which is perhaps most famous for being Jon Bon Jovi's recording debut. We're excited to share this episode with you, and we hope it brings you some well-deserved holiday joy.

RELATED LINKS:

various artists, "A Very Special Christmas", on Spotify

The Star Wars Holiday Special, on YouTube

Christmas in the Stars, on YouTube

In this, our first-anniversary episode, we talk about the new Beatles releases quite a bit, before moving on to Toto and their album Toto IV, their incredible prowess as studio musicians, and their well-known penchant for doing cocaine back in the day.

Our movie this time is the 1982 classic "An American Werewolf in London," which Todd had never seen until now. This excellent, strange, and surprisingly romantic movie sparks an interesting and funny conversation.

RELATED LINKS:

The Beatles, "1962-1966", on Spotify

The Beatles, "1967-1970", on Spotify

The Beatles, "Now and Then" official video, on YouTube

Toto, "Rosanna" official video, on YouTube

Toto "Toto IV," on Spotify

Rick Beato, "The Steve Lukather Interview," on YouTube

Yacht Rock, on YouTube

An American Werewolf in London, at IMDB