80's Music Video of the Day: "Lover Come Back To Me" by Dead or Alive (1985)

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Peak Position No. 75, No. 11 on the U.K. Singles Chart, and No. 13 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play Charts. Underrated song. (8/10) for me, personally.

80's Music Video of the Day: "Automatic Man" by Michael Sembello (1983)

Peaked at No. 34 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 66 on the German Singles Chart. Underrated, catchy song from the singer of, "Maniac". 9/10 for me. This was his only other Hot 100 chart entry besides "Maniac". Cheesy video, however. LOL.

And now a word from the great Owen Wilson:

Wow.

80's Music Video of the Day: "Live is Life" by Opus (1984)

Peaked at No. 32 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Charts in 1986, was originally a hit around Europe in 1984 and 1985. Great tune 9/10 for me personally. A Polydor Records release. Opus are from the Netherlands, and this was their only ever U.S. hit song.

80's Bubbling Under the Hot 100 Song Review: "Oogity Boogity" by Jon St. James (1984)

U.S. Billboard Bubbling Under the Hot 100 Charts Peak Position No. 105, also peaked at No. 89 on the R&B Charts.

Backstory: Born John Willoughby, this American guitarist, singer-songwriter, and recording engineer got his start in 1977, and by the early 80's he was already producing music for bands such as Berlin and the Vandals. He is even good friends with Stacey Q., and later produced music for the female dance-pop duo, Bardeux, starting in the late 80's. During that time, he released an album, Trans-Atlantic, off of EMI America Records. Unfortunately, this following single flopped, only Bubbling Under the Hot 100 despite having occasional club airplay and music video airplay. His follow up singles, including, "The Girl Who Seduced the World" unfortunately did absolutely nothing to revive his solo career. He released one more album on Enigma Records in 1986 called Fast Impressions. It too wasn't successful. Willoughby still produces music for artists to this day, including bands such as The Used and even Green Day.

Fun Fact: Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers makes an appearance in the music video as an oddball dancer and love interest of some blonde haired woman. The Red Hot Chili Peppers had their first ever album released in 1984, also on EMI America Records.

The review: This is a heavily catchy and fun New Wave song with a nice herky-jerky robotic synth beat to it. It's really upbeat. I also like the odd and robotic "oOgItY bOOgitY" vocoder voice as well. LOL. Overall, it's a really fun, upbeat, and sadly overlooked song.

Final rating: 8/10

80's Music Video of the Day: "Go Insane" by Lindsey Buckingham (1984)

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Peak Position No. 23, great, catchy song. 9/10

80's Hit Song Review: "Let Me Go" by The Rings (1981)

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Peak Position No. 75

Backstory: This Boston based rock and power pop band played their first show in 1978 and eventually caught the attention of MCA Records who signed them. Their self-titled debut album included this minor hit which was their one and only ever charting single. They released a 2nd album called, "Rhythm Method", but it went nowhere and didn't chart. They broke up soon afterwards.

The review: This is a pretty good rock tune with a slight reggae-like beat and melody to it. Quite interesting. It's nothing outstanding, but I still really like this fine tune. Kind of reminds me of the Cars in all honesty. The Rings, IMO, are a somewhat underrated group that deserved a bit more of attention. Their style of power pop and maybe "New Wave" should've gotten them bigger chart success. Bummer it didn't last long for them.

Final rating: 7/10

60's Bubbling Under the Hot 100 Song Review: "Hey You, What Are You, Some Kind of Nut?" by Andy Cory (1961)

U.S. Billboard Bubbling Under the Hot 100 Charts Peak Position No. 121

Backstory: Even online, literally NOTHING is known about Cory except for the fact that he only released two singles in his entire recording career, including this one which was just barely popular enough to have Bubbled Under. It was released off of the Paramus, New Jersey based extremely short lived indie label, Silver Bid Records. He released one more single off of King Records called, "Gunga Din" which was also a novelty song like this tune. Nobody knows what happened to Cory or even anything about this man. Huh.

The review: This is a funny and catchy novelty tune with a funny and clever, slightly crazy vibe with Cory humming along to the beat and also playing two characters: a man who calls another man a nut, and the "nutty" man himself. I like it! It's definitely nothing spectacular, but it's good, harmless fun. Very catchy and somewhat different.

Final rating: 7/10

60's Bubbling Under the Hot 100 Song Review: "Ballad of Walter Wart" by The Thorndike Pickledish Choir (1966)

U.S. Billboard Bubbling Under the Hot 100 Charts Peak Position No. 131 (Peaked in January of 1967)

Backstory: This bizarre novelty music project was the brainchild of the American radio DJ Robert Oh Smith (November 27 1942- May 30 2010) and some other radio DJ's as well. Smith later in life did voice overs for some animated movies. None of this act's records were popular, but this one was just barely popular enough to chart near the rock bottom of the Bubbling Under Chart. This "song" would be their one and only charting single, and was released off of the New York based record label, MTA Records (Music-Talent-Artistry). However, this song was one of MTA Records only ever novelty releases as they were mostly known for smooth jazz and garage rock releases instead.  The song is a parody of the anti-war protests and politics and "hippie love" of that specific time period. Well known famous British DJ John Peel was even a fan of them!

The review: Honestly this "song" is barely even a song at all due to the fact that it's just a bunch of random drum beats along with random humorous lyrics about love, war, and the politics of that specific time period. It's honestly really different and even somewhat creative, but that oddness of the record is probably why only a small amount of certain radio stations played it. This deserved to be a bigger success, IMO. "FAR OUT WALTER WART, THE FREAKY FROG!" LOL.

Final rating: 8/10

80's Music Video of the Day: "Peek-A-Boo!" by Devo (1982)

U.S. Billboard Bubbling Under the Hot 100 Singles Chart Peak Position No. 106 and also peaked as high as No. 13 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play Charts.

A very great and catchy (yet also kinda weird) New Wave and synth pop song. Underrated stuff!