80's Hit Song Review: "Do It Again" by Wall of Voodoo (1987)

U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play Charts Peak Position No. 32, Australian Singles Chart Peak Position No. 40

Backstory: This American New Wave/ Dark Wave/ alternative rock band was formed in Los Angeles in 1977 by Stan Ridgway. In 1980, they released a self-titled debut EP which Bubbled Under the Billboard Hot 200 Album Charts at No. 204, and then followed it up with 1981's, Dark Continent, which was a minor Billboard Album Charts success, peaking at No. 177. But it wasn't until the following two years that they had their first ever (and only) song to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, "Mexican Radio" (No. 58 on the Hot 100.) It was a classic MTV staple off of their critically acclaimed album, Call of the West. Stan actually left the band sometime in 1983, leading Andy Prieboy to become their new lead singer in 1984. They had an Australian only hit in 1985 with, "Far Side of Crazy" before releasing this cover version of a classic 1968 Beach Boys' hit two years later in 1987, which only entered the U.S. Dance Club Play Charts and Australian Singles Chart and nowhere else. Soon after, they only released one more album (a live album) called, The Ugly Americans in Australia. Ridgway later went on to have a somewhat successful solo career, including even getting a surprise Top 5 U.K. hit single, "Camouflage". He even worked with the Police's Stewart Copeland on a 1983 song called, "Don't Box Me In". Nowadays Stan still performs with the band on occasion and keeps active on Instagram.

The review: Holy shit is this cover the BOMB! The production, synths, and hard rocking guitars are just absolutely awesome and fantastic, and the fact that Brian Wilson himself even appeared in the crazy music vid just shows how much of an impact this cover had on Wilson. Just underrated and brilliant. Shame it only ever entered the Dance Charts instead of the Hot 100.

Final rating: 10/10

80's Hit Song Review: "Love On the Phone" by Suzanne Fellini (1980)

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Peak Position No. 87

Backstory: Not a whole lot is known or written about Fellini, but from what I could dig up, this was her one and only single to ever chart which was off of her one and only album. Apparently, she might now be a music teacher at PS166 in New York City, which is the Richard Rodgers School of the Arts and Technology. I also found out that she sang some backup vocals for Peter Criss's 1982 album, Let Me Rock You. Interesting.

The review: This is a fun and upbeat post punk style New Wave song with some good and catchy vibes. Suzanne also has a unique young girl like vocal style that I also like with hints of Debbie Harry. Should've been a bigger hit.

Final rating: 7/10

Netflix's, "I Am Not Okay With This" Teaser Trailer Dropped Today!

YES! YES! YES! Can't wait!

80's Music Video of the Day: "We Can Get Together" by Icehouse (1981)

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Peak Position No. 62, their first ever U.S. hit song. Pretty good New Wave tune, kinda catchy and slightly art-rockish.

80's Hit Song Review: "Ch-Ch-Cherie" by The Johnny Average Band Featuring Nikki Wills (1981)

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Peak Position No. 53

Backstory: This short lived American rock and power pop group was formed in Woodstock, NY and released their one and only album and charting single off of Todd Rundgren's very own Bearsville Records label. The song made it only about halfway up the chart before falling off. They released one more single, "Some People" off of their one and only album of the exact same name, but it failed to chart. Mick Hodgson and his wife, Nikki (who appears and sings the lead vocals on this track) were the main two members of this group. Oddly, Nikki went on to voice the Berry Godmother character in the Strawberry Shortcake cartoon series in 1983 after the group split, while member Shane Fontayne (real name Mick Barakan) went on to play with Bruce Springsteen's band during the period in which the E-Street Band was disbanded.

The review: This is definitely a pretty good and cutesy little short ditty with nice vocal work from Wills and some cool synth and modulation effects. Should've at least have a minor Top 40 success. Overall, a very fun yet definitely not outstanding or brilliant tune.

Final rating: 7/10

80's Hit Song Review: "You've Got A Good Love Coming" by Van Stephenson (1981)

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Peak Position No. 79

Backstory: This American singer-songwriter from Hamilton, Ohio was born in 1953 and moved to Nashville when he was 10. He started writing songs in the early 70's and even wrote songs for artists such as Juice Newton, Kenny Rogers, and Crystal Gayle. Then, in 1981, he released his first charting single off of the short-lived Handshake Records and Tapes label, this minor hit which couldn't climb higher than 79. Famous country singer Lee Greenwood of, "God Bless the U.S.A." fame would later cover the tune in 1984, where it got to as high as No. 9 on the Billboard Country Charts and No. 6 on the Canadian Country Charts. Stephenson would only have two other songs chart, both in 1984, though they were both much bigger successes than this one was: "Modern Day Delilah" (No. 22), and, "What the Big Girls Do". He would only release one more album in 1986, though he would still work in the music industry for a bit longer. Sadly in 2001, he died from a form of cancer called melanoma. He was just 47.

The review: While I don't think that this tune is a masterpiece, it certainly deserved to do a whole lot better than just getting as high as No. 79 on the charts. It's a soft and sweet soft rock love song with a feel and vibe to it, and Stephenson has a really nice voice in this song. The instrumentation is quite simple, but it still flows along really fine. Overall, just a really good soft rock song, though it's not a masterpiece.

Final rating: 8/10

80's Music Video of the Day: "Over My Head" by Toni Basil (1984)

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Peak Position No. 81, her last ever charting single.