Redartz: Quick, jump on board! You're just in time for another trip baaaaaack.......aboard the Retro Metro! Today we return to those fabulous 80's, specifically the year 1983. The US and the USSR (and President Ronald Reagan and Premier Yuri Andropov) remain at odds, but many folks are talking about the recent premiere of "Return of the Jedi". Your humble host has just completed another year at college, and is driving a delivery route. Working Sundays, I always tune in "American Top 40"; and this week they are playing:
Tops on the Billboard Hot 100: Irene Cara, "Flashdance...What a Feeling"
And rounding out the top five:
2. David Bowie, "Let's Dance"
3. Men at Work, "Overkill"
4. Culture Club, "Time (Clock of the Heart)"
5. Thomas Dolby, "She Blinded Me With Science"
The phenomenally popular Michael Jackson still has two songs in the top 40, "Beat It" and "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'". Listening to AT40 lately is most rewarding,with so many cool tunes popping up. One of the coolest, currently rising the chart: Eddy Grant with "Electric Avenue":
And I am nuts for that Thomas Dolby song at number 5. "Hit me with technology", indeed.
Tops in the UK: The Police, "Every Breath You Take"
Of course, no matter how fascinating the pop music world is currently, there is much more out there to explore. Tonight's tv offerings, for example...
American television schedule:
ABC: Benson, Condo, Too Close for Comfort, It Takes Two, 20/20
CBS: Magnum, P.I., Simon and Simon, Tucker's Witch
NBC: Fame, Gimme a Break!, Cheers, Hill Street Blues
BBC1: Tomorrow's World, Top of the Pops, Fame, Nine O Clock News, Jury
BBC2: Party Election Broadcast, Norman Mailer at Sixty, Behind the Scenes With..., Food and Drink, The Young Ones, Nobody Minded the Rain, Newsnight featuring Campaign 83
Robert Guillaume is great on Benson. I've been following him since his appearances on Soap. Every now and then I'll catch Fame , and Hill Street Blues is never to be missed. But Condo and Tucker's Witch? Not a clue. Not on my radar, apparently.
What is on the radar, every week, is whatever is to be found on the spinner racks. Or more frequently, found on the shelves at the local comic book shop. The selection there is extensive, and you can pick up some of the new Independent comics sprouting up all over. First's "E-Man" is terrific; Joe Staton is having all kinds of fun with the book. Additionally, I'll grab Amazing Spider-Man (rather enjoying the current Hobgoblin storyline). Of course, John Byrne's FF Annual is on my list. On yours? Oh, and Marvel Fanfare- interesting book. Not all great, but many nice stories and some unusual art choices (Barry Windsor-Smith on the Thing!).
Ah well, time to tuck our comic purchases into the backpack, climb on and make the return trip back to the future (say, that sounds like a good title). Be sure to keep your ticket stub for free admission next time when we take the Retro Metro!