Pat Benatar had a string of hits back in the 80's, along with several multi-platinum album releases and a slew of Grammy awards. Her debut album, "In The Heat Of The Night" was released shortly after signing to Chrysalis records in 1979. She was signed as a result of getting the attention of record executives through a regular gig at "Catch A Rising Star" in the late 70's. 

 

Unlike other female rock vocalists, Benatar had not been part of a band before getting signed as a solo artist. Linda Ronstadt had Stone Poneys, Cyndi Lauper had Blue Angel, Gwen Stefani had No Doubt, even Madonna had the Breakfast Club. 

Now it's true that Benatar subsequently formed a band with guitarist/producer/eventual husband Neil Giraldo after getting signed, and that band pretty much kept a consistent line-up throughout her career. But there was no band-she-fronted-before-going-solo for Pat Benatar. What she did have was a classically trained voice that could run circles around most of her contemporaries. She also has the distinction of having the second video ever played on MTV back when it debuted in the 80's (it came on right after The Buggles' "Video Killed The Radio Star.") Which video was it?

Following the previous post's theme of bands with the word 'sister' in their name, what do we get if we look up bands with 'brother' in their name? Lots and lots and lots, far outnumbering the sisters. And, whereas several bands with 'sister' in the name were nevertheless lacking any female members, it is also rare to find a band of 'brothers' that has any female members. 

 

The use of 'brothers' appears to be more literally taken, too, with far more actual 'brothers' than there were actual 'sisters.' The Righteous Brothers, The Everly Brothers, The Brothers Johnson, The Allman Brothers, The Isley Brothers, The Neville Brothers, The Flying Burrito Brothers, The Chemical Brothers, and who can forget The Doobie Brothers? 

There are not as many bands from the 80's using the word, though. The Blues Brothers, The Pontiac Brothers, and The LeRoi Brothers come to mind, and it is true that The Jungle Brothers put out their first record in the 80's. But wait, we're forgetting Bros! 

To be fair, most of the civilized world has forgotten Bros, but let's see if our readers remember anything about them. At the heart of the group were an actual pair of twin brothers, their manager had also managed The Pet Shop Boys, and they scored eleven Top 40 hits in their native U.K. before virtually disappearing from sight. Their first big hit was released in 1987, it reached #2 in England and Switzerland and #1 in Ireland. It was also their only entry in the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, stalling at #83 (to be fair, they did a little better on the dance charts). Considering the band's eventual fate, you gotta love the title of the song. What was it?

A while back the "Message" took on the subject bands with the word "twins" in their name (Thompson Twins, Cocteau Twins) that did not include any actual twins. But what about other band names based on familial relationships? 

In the case of sisters, both The Pointer Sisters and Sister Sledge did feature actual sisters. Not so with The Sisters of Mercy, though. Dee Snider might have looked a little like somebody's sister (if that somebody was Sammy Hagar), but Twisted Sister had no actual sisters. And the name Shakespeare's Sister owed more to The Smiths' song catalog than to any siblings of the Bard of Avon. It's a similar story for the Manchester trio that had a hit in 1986 with "Break Out." What was the full name of the band?

In honor of Valentine's day, the "Message" contemplates the works of one of the great romantics - Bryan Ferry. I was checking out some selections from Bryan Ferry's 2012 album "The Jazz Age" today. It's a collection of Ferry's best known tunes redone in a 1920's ragtime jazz kind of style. While not entirely novel, the experiment is more than a novelty. The interesting part, especially from a sound engineering point of view, is the success the album achieves in sounding like it was recorded some time between the world wars. 

What's more, the songs are done as instrumentals! Other rock stars of the 80's have taken a stab at revisiting the big band sound (Joe Jackson's "Jumpin' Jive," as well as numerous releases by The Brian Setzer Orchestra), but they typically retained most of their identity throughout. Considering how much of Ferry's artistic identity is tied to his voice, it's a gutsy move to push the mic aside. It's likely that a listener who wasn't in on the setup wouldn't even know it was him. But I guess being as successful as Bryan Ferry means that you don't have to obsess about being properly identified (unless someone mistakes you for Christian Bale.) 

Bryan Ferry's success began back in the 70's with the incredibly influential Roxy Music. He started developing his solo career early on, and much of it ran concurrent to his participation in Roxy Music. His 1985 album "Boys and Girls" was his only U.K. #1 as a solo artist, and is probably his best known album in the U.S. But 1987's "Bete Noire" should not be overlooked. Without losing sight of Ferry's signature style, it manages to be a little more adventurous. This is probably in part thanks to the collaborative nature of the record. David Gilmour makes an appearance, and producer Patrick Leonard shares writing credits on several songs. Just as noteworthy is the co-writing credit for the song "The Right Stuff." No, it wasn't a New Kid, it was someone much cooler. Who was it?

Scanning through the endless newsfeeds, I've noted that an online friend has posted a video by Kid Creole and The Coconuts. Hearing Kid Creole takes me back to my college days. Kid Creole's third album "Tropical Gangsters" was in regular rotation at the time, and understandably so. Probably the standout album in the band's catalog, it featured the U.K. hits "Annie, I'm Not Your Daddy" and "Stool Pigeon." 

Ol' Kid Creole was ahead of the curve, too. The record had swing before the swing craze, "gangsters" before the gangstas, and an homage to Cab Calloway (in the form of the Kid himself) years before Janet Jackson's "Alright" (to be fair, Ms. Jackson did get the genuine article for her vid.) Kid Creole's Cab Calloway inspired persona was all part of his schtick, the invention of frontman August Darnell. Darnell an eager and energetic performer from the Bronx who started his first band in the 60's, and spent time in Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band during the 70's. 

Putting together a latin swing ensemble and releasing a cycle of theme albums about a mystery woman, all the while appearing in a yellow zoot suit and fedora, might not have seemed like an obvious move in 1980. But Kid Creole's catchy tunes caught a break on the U.K. charts, and the band has managed to persist in one form or another to this day. Not only that, they've had several appearances in major films, they produced stage shows, they had their own T.V. movie, and they even collaborated with Prince and Sheila E. Perhaps we'll save their six degrees of separation with the New Wave Blitz crowd for next week, but for now: 

The band's breakthrough 1982 album "Tropical Gangsters" was released in the U.S., but the American record label changed the title. Perhaps they were nervous about the notion of "gangsters" as a theme for a record (an anxiety they've clearly overcome since), but they decided to call it something else. So what was the U.S. title of Kid Creole & The Coconuts' third album?

New Year's is the traditional time to think about reNEWal. New places, new friends, new opportunities. Maybe even a new love! Back in 1985, a new wave duo (that included a former member of Frankie Goes To Hollywood) put out an album called "New Beginnings." What was the name of the band?

With the Mayan Apocalypse come and gone, there are many appropriate doomsday songs from the 80's to play. Prince's "1999" is an obvious choice, also Love & Rockets' recording of "Ball of Confusion," The Cure's "Grinding Halt," Depeche Mode's "Told You So," Time Zone's "World Destruction," . . . this list could go on forever! But what about R.E.M.'s "It's The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)?" It's a great tune, following the form of Bob Dylan's "Subterranean Homesick Blues" and Reunion's "Life Is A Rock (But The Radio Rolled Me)." (The song later inspired Billy Joel's "We Didn't Start The Fire," but let's not hold that against R.E.M.) 

Michael Stipe said that part of the stream of consciousness lyrics for "It's The End Of The World . . . " were inspired by a dream he had that was filled with well known people with the same initials. Four such well known people are mentioned in the song, what are the names?

Sadly, musician Ravi Shankar passed away this week. It may seem like an odd acknowledgement to mention Shankar in a forum dedicated to 80's Trivia. After all, Ravi Shankar might be more readily associated with the 60's, George Harrison, Monterey Pop, and (of course) Woodstock. But such was Shankar's relevance and influence. At one point he was considered to be the most internationally recognizable person from the whole of India. He was considered to be one of, if not the pre-eminint, masters of the Sitar. His international success paved the way artists like Monsoon, Sheila Chandra, and Ofra Haza to score hits on the western pop culture charts, not to mention encouraging the "world beat" phenomenon of the mid 80's (with a little help from globalization, of course). And anyone who is a fan of music in general could not be unmoved by the expressiveness, artistry, and complexity of Ravi Shankar's music. Shankar's catalog of recordings spans the past five decades. In 1982, he got an Academy Award nomination for the soundtrack he recorded for one of the great epic bio-pics of the 80's. Shankar was the obvious choice for the gig, too. What was the name of the film?

The Cure were one of the best bands of the 80's, with an influence that runs throughout the music world, a great reputation as a live act, and an amazing catalog of songs. Their B-sides and rarities alone are enough to fill a box set. And, The Cure have a huge collection of distinctive music videos as well. The video for one of their best songs has the band performing underneath palm trees in the midst of a snowstorm. Which video is it?

Bonus Question: Sign language shows up in the video for New Order's "True Faith," but it's also present in a Cure video from four years earlier. Which one?

If i asked you the name of Molly Ringwald's character in the film "Pretty In Pink?" Any fan of Molly's films knows that the answer is 'Andie.' Furthermore, fans of "Pretty In Pink" know that the title of the film was inspired by the Psychedelic Furs song of the same name that had come out some years before.

The legend goes that Director John Hughes heard the song playing during breaks while filming "The Breakfast Club," and set about coming up with a story based on the songs title. He apparently didn't base his story on the circumstances of the girl mentioned in the song, or any of the other lyrics, as I don't remember cars colliding or Andrew McCarthy "Walking around in the dress that she wore." And he probably could have used the name mentioned in the lyrics for his main character, but he didn't.

Those lyrics inform us that "The one who insists he was first in the line is the last to remember her name," but maybe you can do better. What's the name of the girl that the Psychedelic Furs are singing about in their seminal hit "Pretty In Pink?"

Bonus Question: Another 80's classic is the 1983 film "Valley Girl." The film was an early success for headliners Nicolas Cage and Deborah Foreman, and it had some other notable appearances as well. One of the supporting actresses in the film also had a singing career during the 80's, and was responsible for putting a song at the top of the Billboard Hot Dance/Club Play chart in 1986. During the 90's, she was the voice of a Rugrat, and also of a talking pig. What was the name of this versatile actress/singer/voice over talent?

Pop culture, like the art world it aspires to emulate, has an unbreakable bond with sex and human sexuality. Ian Dury placed it above drugs and rock & roll, Berlin placed it above everything, Marvin Gaye sought it's healing effect, and Thrill Kill Kult put it on wheels. Janet Jackson called out the Nasty Boys, while Vanity proclaimed herself a Nasty Girl.

Sex and pop had an odd relationship during the new wave era, though. Some artists, like Madonna and Prince, embraced the subject without hesitation (and often without tact). Others like Howard Jones, A-ha, & Erasure kept their distance. Artists like Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Soft Cell, and even George Michael managed to get their videos banned in some places (resulting in big notoriety and sometimes big sales) for being a tad too overt.

Depeche Mode managed to approach the subject without coming off as exploitative. On their first few albums, the band relied on subtle references and analogies. On their fourth album, however, the band included a dance floor favorite that addressed the subject of domination in both sexual relationships and in society at large. So what was the name of this new game Depeche Mode invited listeners to play, as described in the title of their 1985 club hit?

Bonus Question: Funny how things that were shocking for the previous generation often seems tame for the current one, but I guess that's a perpetual cycle. Frankie Goes To Hollywood stirred up enough of a fuss with "Relax" that the song was banned by the BBC. Beyond the controversy over the lyrics, though, the song probably had more different videos shot for it than any other from the era.

There was the MTV-safe laser version, there was the much racier shaving cream version, and there was the 'live' version. And there was one more version, the footage for which was taken from a film that used the song as a centerpiece for one of its dramatic sequences. The plot device that makes it possible is when the main character, on the trail of a murderer, investigates the set of an adult film shoot. The film makers basically embedded their own version of the "Relax" video smack in the middle of their film, complete with all the Holly Johnson and all the other members of the band. This was subsequently edited and released as yet one more version of the video. So what was the name of this movie?

I've been Rickrolled - on numerous occasions in the last few weeks! But unlike humorous internet links, when real 80's fans play Rick Astley’s "Never Gonna Give You Up" video, it’s they enjoy the song. May I humbly suggest that the follow up phenomenon should be Minoguerolling. After all, Rick and Kylie would have been perfect for each other: they had the same producers and (therefore) stylistically similar hit singles.

Anways, you know that Rick Astley’s never gonna give you up, never gonna let you down, never gonna run around and desert you, but can you remember the name of Astley’s debut album?

Bonus Question: Rick Astley’s 80’s hits may seem a little kitschy and dated now, but they were all the rage back then. And the level of success the young artist achieved was impressive. At the tender age of 21, his debut single went to 1 on the U.K. charts and stayed there for five weeks. Even more amazing is the fact that Rick Astley would go on to have all of his first 8 singles reach the U.K. Top 10, a feat which got him a place in the Guinness Book of Records. Not bad for a guy who was singing in a local pub band 2 years before. So what was then name of the pub band Rick Astley was singing for when he was first approached by producer Pete Waterman with a record deal?

And, of course, we cant leave you without the infamous video to enjoy:

Another hit song from the 80’s has turned up in a T.V. commercial. It seems that Chevrolet has decided to give Bob Seger and John cougar Mellencamp a rest for the moment, and instead has licensed a classic funk tune from the 80’s: "Word Up!" The song was first released in 1986 and made it to 6 on the Billboard Hot 100, as well as 1 on the R&B and Dance charts. The version used in the commercial is a cover version, done in a more rock and roll style. The song has been covered at least a few times, and I can’t nail down exactly who’s version this is. But in this Angel’s opinion, nothing can hold a candle to the original. So what was the name of the funk band who originally recorded "Word Up" back in the 80’s?

Bonus Question: Elton had the glasses, Michael had the glove, Pete Burns had the eye patch. If you’ve figured out the answer to the first part of tonight’s trivia challenge, you might remember that the singer/producer for that band had a an article of ’clothing’ (maybe ’fashion accessory’ is more appropriate) that he made his own trademark. He is seen wearing it in the "Word Up" video, and the only other hint that I’ll give you is that it’s bright red. What is it?

The Hooters were a big part of the Philadelphia scene in the early 80’s, and were the first band to take to the stage at JFK Stadium for the American half of the Live Aid concerts. Rolling Stone named the Hooters Best New Band, and they placed three songs on the Billboard Top 40 from their major label debut. But it was and continues to be songwriting skills that brought success to the Hooters. The band’s principle songwriting team, Rob Hyman and Eric Bazilian, penned numerous tunes for other artists. Joan Osbourne’s "One Of Us" was one of theirs, and they also wrote for Sophie B. Hawkins and Jon Bon Jovi. Back in 1984, Rob Hyman wrote a song with Cyndi Lauper that went to 1 on the charts and got a Grammy nomination. What was the song?

Bonus Question: There was another organization from the 80’s that used the name ’Hooters’: the infamous restaurant chain. Hooters restaurants started showing up right around the same time as the band did, ironically. The source of the chain’s name and notoriety didn’t come from melodicas, though, and probably didn’t have a whole lot to do with the food. It was the nature of the service personnel that brought Hooters its fame, as well as a fair amount of controversy. For better or worse, the Hooters girl is the restaurant’s central icon, and was created for its earliest advertising campaigns. The very first Hooters girl was a former cheerleader who used the celebrity status she obtained to launch a successful career in modeling, acting, and radio. What was her name?

Sometimes pop stars will mention the names of other celebrities in their song lyrics, and there are many examples from the 80’s. Bananarama were relieved to know that "Robert DeNiro’s waiting, talking Italian." Kim Carnes acknowledged the power of "Bette Davis Eyes." Joe Jackson’s song "Memphis" made ’em "think about Marlon Brando on T.V." But the best example of Hollywood name dropping on an 80’s song has to be Madonna’s "Vogue." The song mentions a host of well known actors and actresses from the golden age of cinema, including Marilyn Monroe, Gene Kelly, James Dean, Rita Hayworth, Greta Garbo . . . (you can almost hear the lyrics in your head at this point). There is one person mentioned in the list at the end of the song who was not an actor, aside from a single film role back in 1940. But he was a part of the show biz elite at the time, and his name did rhyme well with the name of his famous former wife (also mentioned in the song). And for a period of time between the 70’s and the 80’s, he was the spokesman for Mr. Coffee! What was his name?

Bonus Question: Infectiously groovy 80’s ska band Madness used the name of a famous actor as the title of one of their songs, and even got a recording of this same actor introducing himself, and used it in the song. Word has it the band approached him in a bar with a tape recorder, and then used the recording in the studio later on. So what was the name of this actor/Madness song title?

Author Kurt Vonnegut might have appreciated the Thompson Twins. Just as his novel "Cat's Cradle" came to the conclusion that there was "no damn cat and no damn cradle," the Thompson Twins included no persons named Thompson, and no persons who were twins. But the band did manage to produce some memorable tunes, and they had a look and sound that was oh-so-very 80's. Just recently, several Albums from the band's most prolific period have been rereleased on expanded CD sets, complete with extra tracks and remixes. Included in this reissue is the groups crowning achievement, the 1984 album that included the hits "Hold Me Now," "Doctor, Doctor," and "You Take Me Up." The album entered the U.K. charts at 1, and peaked on the U.S. album chart at 10. What was the title?

Bonus Question: The album mentioned above, as well as the one that preceded it, were both recorded at Compass Point Studios in Nassau, under the production of Alex Sadkin. Sadkin was working with another artist at the time, who ended up doing guest vocals for one of the songs from their 1983 album release. Who was it?

Advertisers will pay big money to license pop tunes for use in commercials because they want to tap into the easy recognition that a well known song provides. Pop music may also trigger a feeling of identification for a particular demographic (no doubt the use of 80's tunes is meant to target the Gen-X'ers). And if the songs lyrics connect to the product in some way, so much the better. "What's New Pussycat" was used to sell cat food, "Sugar Sugar" was used to sell artificial sweetner, etc. etc.

Some pop songs make for questionable choices, though. Iggy Pop's "Lust For Life" and the Violent Femmes "Blister In The Sun" both contain drug references, but were used in very visible advertising campaigns (who listens to the words, right?) Then there's the times when the use of a song to push a product is just . . . weird. Currently there's a advertisement that uses a re-recorded version of the 1984 hit "We're Not Gonna Take It" to sell birth control pills.

The song was originally an anthem of teen rebellion against oppressive parents, and . . . well, I can see how birth control might play a role in such an insurrection. But I don't think that's the message that the advertiser is trying to send. But whatever the connection is, the song was the biggest U.S. hit for the band who first recorded it, what was the name of that band?

Bonus Question: I can't help notice that the birth control pills mentioned above go by the name 'Yaz,' and I wonder if the company contemplated licensing a song by the legendary 80's synthpop duo Yaz. Of course, that might have been even stranger, as many of the groups best songs are rather melancholy. But I guess that didn't bother J.C. Penny, who used a re-recorded Yaz tune for a Mother's Day commercial last year (thus taking melancholy to maudlin, glad I missed it). The song used was the group's first ever single, and it made it to 2 on the U.K. charts back in 1982. What was the name of the song?

Speaking of car commercials that use songs from the 80's, KIA is airing a commercial right now that uses the song "Maniac." The song originally became a hit when it was included in the 1983 film "Flashdance." The video for the song was a montage of scenes from the film, and the images of dancers being doused with water and chased by strobe lights are about as 80's as it gets. The fact that the video barely showed any shots of the artist responsible for the song didn't stop him from becoming one of the great one hit wonders of the decade.

The artist who co-wrote and recorded "Maniac" was a seasoned session musician, who collaborated with stars like Stevie Wonder, The Jackson 5, Chaka Khan, Donna Summer, New Edition, and George Benson. So what was his name?

Bonus Question: It's a fairly well known fact that "Flashdance" star Jennifer Beals didn't do any of the dance routines in the film herself, instead they were performed by body doubles. But the breakdancers were real. In fact, one of the breakers featured prominently in the film and the music video was New York native 'Crazy Legs' (a.k.a. Richard Colon).

Crazy Legs had come up through the earliest incarnations of the New York b-boy scene, when battling other breakers with dance moves was the pathway to glory and street cred. He would eventually become president of one of the best known breakdance outfits, a group that brought breakdance performances from the Roxy Nightclub in NYC to stages in London and Paris, and even to an appearance at the Royal Variety Performance for Elizabeth the second, Queen of England, in 1983. So what was the name of the famous 80's breakdance group that Richard "Crazy Legs" Colon presides over to this day?

Ireland gave us many great bands during the 80's, as well as a few who certainly sound Irish, but were formed elsewhere. Dexy's Midnight Runners formed in Birmingham, and The Pogues were from London. But no one can dispute the authenticity of The Pogues, nor the importance of the band to contemporary Irish people. The Pogues emerged out of the late 70's punk scene, and were rebels amidst the rebellion. They were certainly inspired by punk's energy, but they used that energy to drive a sound based on Irish and Celtic folk music. It's an impressive feat to be able to team up with traditionalists like the Dubliners, and yet still have absolute street cred with young Clash fans. And the connection between those two scenes had a lot to do with the Pogues' notorious frontman. Known for his heavy drinking and erratic behavior, he lead the band through the 80's, until his unpredictability lead the rest of the group to kick him out in 1991. He's been back touring with The Pogues since 2001, and was on (as well as off) stage with them this past week at the 9:30 club (special tip of the halo to Lilly for inviting the Angel along to see the show!) So what's the name of the legendary lead singer of the Pogues?

Bonus Question: The singer mentioned above was the subject of a biographical film in 2001, but way back in the 80's he had acting parts in at least two fictional films. Fans of cult movies no doubt remember "Straight To Hell," an homage of spaghetti westerns that featured members of The Clash and The Pogues, as well as Elvis Costello, Courtney Love, and Grace Jones. But that same year, our mystery singer played a terrorist in a movie that had Lemmy from Motorhead, Jools Holland from Squeeze, & Hugh Cornwell from The Stranglers, along with Angela Bowie, Bill Wyman, and both Paul and Linda McCartney (jeez I wish I had a copy). What was the title of this film?

The 80th Annual Academy Awards Ceremony was broadcast this past Sunday, and although much has been made about the low ratings, the Oscars are still the pinnacle of the entertainment industry's awards shows. Of course, we're only to eager to scan the nominations/winners list for anything 80's related that can inspire some trivia.

This year its easy: the Oscar for Best Picture went to "No Country For Old Men," along with the Oscars for Best Director, Best Screenplay, and Best Supporting Actor. "No Country For Old Men" is a film by Joel and Ethan Coen, and is the latest inclusion in an influential and acclaimed body of work that the brothers have been responsible for both writing and directing over the last 24 years. Some of their best works include "Fargo" (which also won an Oscar for Best Screenplay), "The Big Lebowski," "Barton Fink," and "O Brother, Where Art Thou?"

Here's where the 80's connection comes in: The Coen Brothers debut feature film came out in 1984. What was the title?

Bonus Question: The 50th Annual Grammy Awards hit the airwaves a couple of weeks ago, and there's a few names from the 80's on their nominations/winners list as well. Some of the artists on the Grammies list who got their start in the 80's include Bon Jovi, The Beastie Boys, Sly & Robbie, Suzanne Vega, Lucinda Williams, Steve Earle, Brave Combo, Metallica, King Diamond, Slayer, and Bjork. It's almost a foregone conclusion that U2 will show up on the list somewhere (this year was no exception), and both Prince and Madonna scored Grammies (Madonna's was way down the list, "Best Longform Video," but its there). And then there was the numerous artists who were around before the 80's, but had their biggest hits in the 80's. This group includes Bruce Springsteen, John Mellencamp, Patti Austin, and the winner for Album Of The Year, Herbie Hancock.

Hancock has had a long history in the jazz world, but has also received recognition (as well as some criticism) for lending his considerable talent to other genres. The song "Rockit" is probably the best example, a synth heavy dance track that became the signature tune of the break dance scene. The video was all over MTV, and won Best Video at the first MTV awards. And the song won Herbie Hancock his first Grammy Award. Hancock performed a synth medly that included "Rockit" at the 1985 Grammy awards ceremony with three other noted keyboardists. Who were they?