Vintage 60's Commercial: Mountain Dew: Get That Barefoot Feeling! (1969)

Oddball but funny slogan about Mountain Dew drinkers going barefoot in public or social situations.

80's Hit Song Review: "Don't Talk" by Larry Lee (1982)

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Peak Position No. 81

Backstory: Lee was a former member of the country rock band, Ozark Mountain Daredevils. Along the way, he wrote and co-wrote many of their songs, including their biggest hit, "Jackie Blue" (1975, No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100). He left the group to embark on a short lived solo career in the early 80's and got signed to Columbia Records, who released his one and only ever solo album, Marooned, which including this following song, which became his one and only ever charting solo single. Lee later rejoined the group, and they still occasionally perform live to this day.

The review: This is a pretty good and relaxing and steady soft rock/ pop rock song with a nice melody. I really like it quite a bit! That being said, it's nothing outstanding, but it's still a very fine and nice listen. Shame it stalled fairly low on the Hot 100.

Final rating: 7/10

80's Hit Song Review: "Bon Bon Vie (Gimme the Good Life)" by T.S. Monk (1981)

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Peak Position No. 63 (Released in late 1980, peaked in March of '81)

Backstory: T.S. Monk is the son of the famous and legendary jazz musician and composer, Thelonious Monk. By the time he graduated from high school, he was already playing multiple instruments in his father's band. Monk then formed his own group, and in the early 80's he had a hit with this following song. It peaked as high as No. 11 on both the R&B and the Dance Charts, but sadly stalled at just No. 63 on the actual Hot 100. It was also a hit in the U.K. and in the Netherlands. It was released as a single off of Mirage Records and was his one and only ever Hot 100 chart entry. Monk still performs to this very day.

The review: I've always have really liked this fine and funky R&B/ post-disco song. It's somewhat underrated, and should've done better on the Hot 100. It has nice horns, drums, and keyboards, along with great vocal work as well.

Final rating: 8/10

60's Hit Song Review: "Little Boxes" by The Womenfolk (1964)

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Peak Position No. 83

Backstory: This American folk music band consisting of Jean Amos, Elaine Gealer, Joyce James, Leni Ashmore, Babs Cooper, and Judy Fine was formed in Los Angeles in 1963 and broke up by 1966. Their self titled album reached as high as No. 118 on the Billboard Album Charts. This following single was their only ever charting single and is a cover of a song popularized by Pete Seeger and many other musical acts as well. Up until 2016's, "P.P.A.P. (Pen-Pineapple-Apple-Pen)" by the Japanese comedian and singer Piko-Taro was released and made it as high as No. 77 on the Billboard Hot 100 (clocking in at just 45 seconds long), this was the shortest charting Hot 100 single, clocking in at a grand total of just 1:02 long.

The review: Honestly, this version of the song is sort of a guilty pleasure for me. Even its shortness doesn't bother me. It's just a cutesy little tune about family life and people. LOL.

Final rating: 8/10

80's Hit Song Review: "Fade Away" by Loz Netto (1982)

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Peak Position No. 82 (didn't peak on the U.S. Charts until in June of '83)

Backstory:British musician and vocalist Loz Netto initially found a bit of fame with the band Sniff 'N' the Tears with 1979's "Driver's Seat" which was a worldwide hit and got to as high as No. 15 on the Billboard Hot 100. Oddly, it stalled at just No. 42 on the U.K. Singles Chart because of an unfortunate record plant problem, meaning the song only had a certain amount of copies there in the U.K. After Sniff 'N' the Tears broke up, Netto went on to a solo career. This following single became only a minor hit, stalling all the way down at just No. 82 on the Hot 100. It was released off of the short lived Polydor/ Atlantic Records sub-label, 21 Records and was his only ever charting U.S. single as a solo artist. However, he still continued to have some more success around Europe and still occasionally performs to this day around that area.

The review: This is a pretty good, interesting, and catchy New Wave/ synthpop tune with some nice and catchy synths and a nice and crunchy guitar riffs. I also like the beat and the drums as well. It's nothing spectacular or brilliant, but I still definitely think that it deserved to be a much bigger success.

Final rating: 7/10