Welcome To The Pleasuredome....80s Remembered

First of all, its been awhile since I wrote and that is because I have been very busy at home and at work.

  This will be short but sweet.....

I wanted to title this one "MUSIC THAT TURNS YOU ON..." but since it brings me back to mid 80s when we still in high school, I figured I would title it after one of the coolest songs of the 80s....

"Welcome To The Pleasuredome"

The infamous Honda Accord aptly titled "The Deutchsmobile"

With that said, the year is 1983 and I am a freshman at Rummel High School in Metairie, LA and music was just starting to branch off into different categories.  I could go on all day about 80s Hair Bands such as RATT, Quiet Riot and Motley Crue who were all over me during high school but I would rather focus on songs that I heard during times in high school that were important and memorable.  Now I am not going to give you a story for each song but I will briefly tell you why its good.  The mark of great songs are how they can take you in different directions.   Most if not of these songs are long versions as in the 80s everything had a remix, 12 inch, and that is what you purchased in addition to the regular album to get a bonus of your favorite song.
PLEASE LISTEN to each of these from start to finish as you will understand why after its over, I promise you will enjoy.

The first song is obvious as its the title of this post.  Most people know Frankie Goes to Hollywood or FGTH for short for the song "Relax" but I bought the album and the title track "Welcome to the Pleasuredome" is almost the whole side of one LP and just kicks you square in the head as you listen and take the journey along with them.

Welcome to the Pleasuredome - 1984
"We're a long way from home 
Welcome to the Pleasuredome 
On our way home 
Going home where lovers roam 
Long way from home 
Welcome to the Pleasuredome" 







The next song comes courtesy of my sister, Michelle, who at the time was working at a clothing shop in NOLA titled Bongo where all of the "punk rock" clothes were purchased and they had these tapes and this song was on one of them and much like my sister's music being influential on me, this song glued itself to me......                                          

Shriekback - Nemesis (12 inch) 1985  
"How bad it gets, you can't imagine 
The burning wax, the breath of reptiles 
God is not mocked, He knows His business 
Karma could take us at any moment" 

Before Ministry was that Heavy Metal band you saw in the early 90s they were techno so this is what you heard in the 80s.....this 12 inch is pretty solid and another song from my sister's Bongo tapes....

 Ministry - Nature of Love (Cruelty B Mix)
"love love is like an open hand
stings a little when it lands 
hold me closer hold me tighter
hold me so damn close that my heart's on fire
it's a fantasy it's a nightmare and the whole damn world is walking round"







The next tune is fucking fanastic on so many levels and it reminds me of 120 Minutes every Sunday night on MTV.  In the 80s the only place to see the "Alternative/College" music was on 120 minutes hosted by dave Kendall......

The The - Infected 1986
 "I've got too much energy to switch off my mind,
but not enough to get myself organized.
My heart is heavy--my head is confused,
And my aching little soul--has started burning blue!"







OK enough with Bongo but let me just say that my sister pretty much bought every album that today still resonate with me as my favorites of all time....without her I don't hear The Clash, The Jam, Siouxsie & The Banshees etc.   
FUCKING RAW AND STILL POWERFUL TODAY

The Clash - Janie Jones 
"He's in love with rock'n'roll, whoa 
He's in love with gettin' stoned, whoa 
He's in love with Janie Jones, whoa 
He don't like his boring job, no"






OK so now its going to get long and I cannot let it.....here are just songs that jump out when I think of riding around with Jose, Jose M (RIP), Tony Pi, Jools, Beanie, Brooke & whoever else was along for the ride....car was never empty on the weekend.  This song by the Tubes is one of many examples of why I never liked bands after they get super popular....Tubes are popular for "She's A Beauty" but this song is much much better...

The Tubes - Talk To Ya Later 
"Nothin' more to be said
Write me a letter instead
I don't mean to be cruel
But I'm finished with you"

The same goes for A-Ha as they were huge in the 80s for "Take On Me" but the first song on the cassette was "The Sun Always Shines on TV" which to me is much better and just jams from start to finish....notice when I say JAM I don't mean Iron Maiden jam but an alternative 80s song JAM which is different but cool in its own way....


A-Ha - The Sun Always Shines On TV
"I reached inside myself and found
Nothing there to ease the
Pressure of my ever worrying mind
All my powers waste away
I fear the crazed and lonely
Looks the mirror's sending me these days"






alarm stand

Now what do I say about this song.....besides its STILL one of my all time favorites as it has everything.....the guitar, the drums and the heavy organ carrying it.....I learned to play the drums to this song because it is so fucking cool.....also this is before Simple Minds got popular with The Breakfast Club soundtrack......TURN THIS UP....

Simple Minds - "C" Moon Cry Like A Baby
"Where will we go, up hi under low
When the devil I know say, something is missing
Sweet angels sing, about the fast place of thingsBut our children sing, love will conquer anything"









Ok so the next song is dated for obvious reasons and many know this band from their other hits but at the time this came out it was huge....and the throwback hair....

Romantics - One in a Million
"Your love and affection
Is all I need to keep me satisfied,
You leave an impression 
And baby I never want to leave you"








The next is a absolute classic and reminds me of driving to Destin for Spring Break in like 1986.....this got played so much the tape just eventually broke....THIS version is not better than the original but its fucking damn good and kicks ass.....

The Cult - She Sells Sanctuary (Howling Mix) 
"I'm sure in her you'll find 
The sanctuary
And the world
The world turns around
And the world and the world
The world drags me down"

Go West - Call Me (The Indiscriminate Mix) 

"Mesmerised I go back to where we met 

A reconstruction of the crime 
I can`t track you down 
Nowhere to be found 
Now my one shot at success 
Is the power of the press 
Won`t you... "



BONUS -

Go West - We Close Our Eyes (Total Overhang Club Mix) 1985 - Vinyl

_____________________________________

TWO versions of the next song which is a product of Mick Jones of the Clash......

Big Audio Dymnamite - The Bottom Line 

(Original UK 12" Mix) 

"There's a new dance that`s going around

When the hits start flying you gotta get down
All the young people dance round the square
That old time groove is really nowhere"


"I'm going to take you to Part Two"
AND The Bottom Line (Remix) .....MANY people including myself like this version better since its got that cool dance vibe....

and LAST but not least.....I called everyone I knew "King" back then or everything was "King" so its obvious this song would be last in the REMIX list....good beat....

King - Love & Pride (Remix) "In you I've found a story I want to keep hearing.
In you I see all colours not just black or white.
In you I find a reason and hope for all dreamers"








The next few remind me riding around Old Metairie in high school late at night either driving over garbage cans, looking for a party or jumping the train tracks in the VW GTI.....these all have a place....

This Squeeze tape was always on......

Squeeze - If I Didn't Love You
"The record jumps on a scratch 
Tonight it's love by the fire 
The door of your love's on the latch"

Split Enz - I Got You (1980)

"I don't know why sometimes I get frightened

You can see my eyes, you can tell that I'm not lyin'"

AND A BONUS CLASSIC FROM SPLIT ENZ.....THIS VIDEO IS SO SMOOTH

XTC - Senses Working Overtime"And all the world is football-shapedIt's just for me to kick in spaceAnd I can see, hear, smell, touch, tasteAnd I've got one, two, three, four, five"

......


OK one more.....then a couple of bonus tunes......this is another.....just fucking jams....
The Alarm - The Stand
"Come on down & meet your maker
Come on down & make the standCome on down, come on down,Come on and make the stand"




THANKS FOR LISTENING.....I have many more just can't remember now....


These next two songs remind me of growing up playing sports at Girard Playground and WRNO The Rock of New Orleans....


The Knack - Good Girls Don't

The Producers - What's He Got



many many more to come.....
ENJOY YOUR WEEKEND and feel free to follow and make comments....

Music....ADHD version

As I type this I am listening to this for motivation….

One of my favorite songs by the Foo Fighters.

Foo Fighters – Bridge Burning (2011 LIVE on Letterman)

NOW that I have your attention I wanted to give you something to make you smile, rock, tap feet, bounce leg up and down or play air drums.    I named it ADHD version because it is songs of different variety and tempo.
Whatever just read, click and ENJOY.

Also, this will be all over the map so it will consist of many genres but all with one goal in mind……  To make you happy.  And who knows I might toss a racing theme or some kind of drinking theme or just plain old good fucking weather.  The kind of weather that you would skip class for and sit on the patio and drink.  …..don’t forget, its me for god’s sake.

Tracy Chapman – Fast Car (1988)

The Smithereens – House We Used To Live In (1988)


Concrete Blonde – Bloodletting (1990)

Goo Goo Dolls – We Are The Normal (1993)

_______________________________________
and ALWAYS good to hear these guys…..still jammin in 09.
Drivin’ N’ Cryin’ – I See Georgia (2009)

THROWBACK to the LSU brethren….ENJOY
Better Than Ezra – Hold Me Down (1990)

________________________________________
Kings of Leon – Closer (LIVE from London 02 Arena)(2008)

Kid Rock – Jackson, Mississippi (2003)

I love this video….love this song….so sue me if you don’t
10 Years – Beautiful (2008)

Soul Coughing -Circles (Remix) (1998)

_____________________________________________
Monster Magnet – Powertrip (1998)

and I have to leave you with this……a jam….TURN IT UP!!!!
Butthole Surfers – Who Was In My Room Last Night? (1993)

_____________________________________________
ENJOY and look how much fun they are having.
Pixies – Tame (LIVE in London) (1991)

and as a goof….

Vikings fans are losers….Zubaz

GO SAINTS

GO TIGERS

Have a drink on me

CHEESY SMILE TUNES…Guilty Pleasures PT. 5 or something like that

NOW THAT I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION…..

Another weekend approaches but in the FALL it seems so much more refreshing.

I can’t wait to watch my 4 year old girl play soccer as that is just a mess but its 4 year old soccer so that.   My 10 year old plays football and youth football is KEY so that too.

Just the feeling of being outside when the weather is nicer is just great to look forward to.  With that some tunes to sit back and let the breeze hit you while you reminisce back to a simpler time in your life.

I would KILL to know what they are talking about.

Some familiar some not so familiar and some that I just never get too much of.

Basically 70s and 80s tunes that I like and all are cheesy in their own cheesy way.   This could be lesser known songs by famous artists or THAT OTHER HIT.  Whatever just fucking listen.

Consider this Guilty Pleasures Part 5 or something like that and yes ASIA makes an appearance.

This should be in TWO PARTS…CHEESE and JAM…ENJOY!!!!

_____________________________________

CHEESY SMILE TUNES

Gerry Rafferty – Right Down The Line *** JUST SMOOTH STILL***

“I just wanna say this is my way
Of telling you everything
I could never say before
Yeah this is my way
of telling you that everyday
I’m loving you so much more”

Alan Parsons Project – Games People Play ***GOOD AM RADIO TUNE***

“Games people play, you take it or leave it

Things that they say, just don’t make it right
If I’m tellin’ you the truth right now, do you believe it
Games people play in the middle of the night”

Foreigner – Say You Will ***I FUCKING LOVE THIS VIDEO STILL***

“Now won’t you say you will, say you won’t make up your mind tonight
Say you will, say you will be my guiding light”

Bee Gees – More Than A Woman

“This is the only way that we should fly
This is the only way to go
And if I lose your love I know I would die”

Kool and the Gang – Get Down On It ***THIS JUST BECAUSE ITS SMOOTH AND LOOK AT THEM***

“How you gonna do it if you really don’t want do dance?”

Three Dog Night – One

BONUS!!!! – Bee Gees – New York Mining Disaster 1941 ***ABSOLUTELY ONE OF MY ALL TIME FAVORITES AS IT BLENDS EVERYTHING RIGHT ABOUT MUSIC***

“I keep straining my ears to hear a sound
Maybe someone is digging underground
Or have they given up and all gone home to bed?
Thinking those who once existed must be dead?”

BONUS!!!! Three Dog Night – Shambala ***SING WITH ME***

“Ah, ooh ooh oo oo ooh ooh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Ah, ooh ooh oo oo ooh ooh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah”

_________________________________________

SOME 80s CHEESE….Like I might be the only person who secretly liked these songs.

Hall & Oates – Family Man

But he said, “Leave me alone, I’m a family man
And my bark is much worse than my bite”

He said, “Leave me alone, I’m a family man
If you push me too far I just might”

Culture Club – War

“Now we’re fighting
In our hearts
Fighting in the street
Won’t somebody help me?”

SAGA – On The Loose

“I see no harm or danger in escaping
If the method suits the style
We put the mind on idle
And let the others take it for awhile”

Alan Parsons Project  - Eye In The Sky

“I am the eye in the sky
Looking at you, I can read your mind
I am the maker of rules, Dealing with fools
I can cheat you blind”

______________________________________________

TIME TO JAM

______________________________________________

AND NOW THE SECOND HITS FROM SOME 80s BANDS

ASIA – Don’t Cry

“So leave it all behind you
It took so long to find you
I know that we can last forever”

Night Ranger  - When You Close Your Eyes

“I remember
We learned about love
In the back of a Chevrolet
Well it felt so good to be young
It feels like yesterday”

The Outfield – Since You’ve Been Gone

“All I do is think of you I lie awake – lie awake
And no matter how I try this loneliness – you know I can’t take”

YES – Love Will Find A Way

“You wanna get next to me
I need your intrusion
I don’t need to be
Blinded by confusion”

Damn Yankees – Come Again ***FUCKING LOVE THIS JAM***

“Been so long since I’ve seen you girl
Swear I’ve been around the world
Every room is an empty space
In the darkness I see your face”

__________________________________________

I HAD TO LEAVE YOU DANCING AND SINGING Beastie Boys - Shake Your Rump (live in Amsterdam)

CHEERS!!!!! Have a good weekend as always
.

SMILE…The Other Side of Rock Part 1

This is a quick college rock version of the songs that make me grin….and again I know I am missing a bunch, I know I could post 20 R.E.M. songs and Pixies but these just jam and while many are familiar to you that is the point to make you enjoy some tunes while you prepare…….ENJOY

also I tossed in a couple of classics that to this day STILL move me….ex. Peter Murphy and the Sundays

Hoodoo Gurus

“I look in your eyes and it’s understood”



Pixies 
“keeps a smile around a while
he took no fright and jettisoned
we’ll go tonight to hear him tell
‘oh well’”

Psychedelic Furs 
“In the bedroom down the hall
your secrets sleep
it is always late at night
won’t you stay?
why don’t you stay?”

R.E.M…..STILL my favorite song by them…..
“Trust in your calling, make sure your calling’s true
Think of others, the others think of you
Silly rule golden words make, practice, practice makes perfect,
Perfect is a fault, and fault lines change”

The Charlatans UK 

“The only one I know, never cries, never open her eyes
The only one I know, wide awake and then she’s away
The only one I see, is mine when she walks down our street
The only one I see, has carved her way in to me”

BONUS: R.EM….arguably my 2nd favorite song and best version of this!!!

“I sit at my table and wage war on myself
It seems like it’s all, it’s all for nothing
I know the barricades, and
I know the mortar in the wall breaks
I recognize the weapons, I used them well”

Peter Murphy
“You know the way it twists and turns
Changing colour, Spinning yarns
You know the way it leaves you dry
It cuts you up and takes you high”


Lemonheads 
“Waiting for something to break
Left my heart out to bake
Nothing there in my glass
Wasn’t never made to last
Hope in my past”

BONUS:  Pixies 
“keeping low doesn’t make no sense
sometimes people can be oh so dense
they didn’t want it but he built it anyway”

Hope you enjoyed the quickie ….feel free to add comments….I wanted to add more but I am busy….
Stay safe NOLA

Hurricane Isaac…..You can recover from this one

Smile 2....You Can't Stop Rock And Roll

This blog is dedicated to good taste…..in music
Due to overwhelming response from all of 2 people….Dre and Mike C, I have added some more….and yes this is fucking incredibly awesome.  Put on your helmet and again add more if you want as I know I am missing some but too much is too much and too little just gets you started but doesn’t finish the job.  This is just right…to me at least.
This is the COOL album cover version of this SMILE edition.  FRAME EM if you got em.
And basically its all ROCK since they had all of the legendary covers……and notice the lyrics how deep on most of them….and as far as music…..and yes Journey, STYX and REO qualify.  The REO song is just a classic that never gets old.
…and it begins with one of my favorite rock songs ever…..and the intro the video with kids rocking captures the essence of 80s rock and dedication of metal fans even to this day…..CHEERS
SCORPIONS 
“My head explodes, my ears ring
I can’t remember just where I’ve been”

WHITE LION

“I’ve been drivin’ all night, my hand’s wet on the wheel
There’s a voice in my head, that drives my heel
It’s my baby callin’, says, ‘I need you here’
Ans it’s half past four, and I’m shifting gear”
WARRANT

“They didn’t see me and Tom in the trees.
Neither one believing what the other could see.
Tossed in the bodies, let ‘em sink on down.
To the bottom of the well where they’d never be found”



RAINBOW

“Your words like ice fall on the ground
Breaking the silence without a sound”



TRIUMPH

“I’m tired of playin foolish games
I’m tired of all your lies makin me insane
I don’t ask for much the truth will do just fine
Won’t you lay it on the line”
JOURNEY

“When the summer’s gone she’ll be there standing by the light
Once she’s been to where she’s gone to she should know wrong from right
Is she feeling
Are you feeling
You feeling that way too?
Or am I just
Am I just a fool”

AC/DC    ….there is Bon Scott AC/DC and there is the other guy
“It’s criminal
There ought to be a law
Criminal
There ought to be a whole lot more
You get nothing for nothing
Tell me who can you trust
We got what you want
And you got the lust”
FASTWAY 
“Nowhere To Run
Nowhere To Hide
What You Doin’ To Me
All This Jive”


APRIL WINE……and a killer jam for the last bit of the song

“Get my saddle and tie it on
Western wind who is fast and strong
Jump on back, he’s good and long
We’ll resist till we reach the dawn
Running seems like the best offense
Staying just don’t make any sense”




SKID ROW
“The vaseline gypsies and silicone souls
Dressed to the society
Hypocrite heartbeat and cheap alibis
Can´t get you by that monkey”


DIO
“If we’re evil or divine
we’re the last in line”



JUDAS PRIEST  ….I put the pic of the 45 on here because it rocked

“Making a curve or taking the strain
On the decline, or out on the wain
Oh everybody breaks down sooner or later”


VAN HALEN
“Goin’ outta my way, know my way around
The grass is never greener an’ there plenty around
All the other girls, they be put to shame
Over the edge and here I stay”



REO SPEEDWAGON …..Ok so I put two on here 

“Ridin’ the storm out, waitin’ for the thaw out
On a full moon night in the rocky mountain winter.
My wine bottle’s low, watching for the snow
I’ve been thinking lately of what I’m missing in the city.”




“You’re thinking up your white lies
You’re putting on your bedroom eyes
You say you’re coming home but you won’t say when
But I can feel it coming
If you leave tonight keep running
And you need never look back again”



DOOBIE BROTHERS ….One of my all time favorite jams…….listen to all of it….ENJOY
“Take this message to my brother
You will find him…everywhere
Wherever people live together
Tied in poverty’s despair
Are you…telling me the things you’re gonna do for me
I ain’t blind and I don’t like what I think I see”


LETS GO BONUS…..and yes I saw this tour in 82, 83 and 84…..ENJOY

….and as always…..YOU CAN’T STOP ROCK & ROLL…..


TWISTED SISTER
“Like a charging bull, It’s a juggernaut
With steam at full, never to be caught
Incarnate power, roaring from the sky
While others cower,  ROCK AIN’T GONNA DIE”



COMING SOON…..the sing along version and the alternative college rock versions….stay tuned…..
and no clue why this pic but its awesome on many levels…CHEERS

Dark Knight Rises while Aurora Mourns

I took my son and his two cousins to see Dark Knight Rises this morning so they could be a part of movie history.

I wanted them to experience what I had growing up with the success of Star Wars leading to ridiculously long lines for Star Wars Empire Strikes Back (below), Indiana Jones and E.T.

This was one of the highlights of my young adult life as many would camp out, but we would ride our bikes to Lakeside Cinema on Veterans Highway in Metairie, La.

I now have a 10 year old boy who is just starting to enjoy movies with me so I am living vicariously through him as a boy.  We watched Die Hard the other night and it was great seeing it with someone who had never seen it.  We also watched Jaws and most of the James Bond movies and he is starting to enjoy movies from my time growing up.

Regarding the release of the Dark Knight Rises, this was supposed to be the biggest opening in movie history with a take of around $200 million plus.  Until last night when that loser in Aurora decided to take out whatever frustration he has at the world.

It’s unfortunate and frustrating that what should have been a joyous weekend celebrating excellence in movies is marred by the senseless killing 12 innocent people and injuring 59 others.  These people had no clue what was happening and quite honestly will have a very hard time going to the movies ever again.  I hope they can someday return to see the magic of movies.

 

 

 

 

 

 

RIP to families and people in Aurora, CO

I hope we don’t get to a day when we can’t even enjoy movies without being subjected to metal detectors.

 

Just my thoughts.

 

Have a good weekend.

Fuck Beyonce and Fuck Jay-Z ....OVERRATED