Friday 80s Flashback for June 24, 2011

[Be Fast, Be Clean, Be Cheap (Part 3)] -- Two weeks ago, I started a journey, sharing the songs on a mixtape from my college days. The first six songs are covered in the flashback posts for June 10 and June 17. Today we will wrap up Side A of the compilation. If you haven't enjoyed this exploration as much as previous flashbacks, worry not. I'll return to the more standard themes  next week. As this series has not proven to be very popular, I do not have any plans to cover the tunes on Side B of "Be Fast, Be Clean, Be Cheap" in future flashbacks. That could change, but only if there are sufficient requests for a return visit.

For now, if you're ready to learn what three tracks close out the first side of this mixtape, you can read and hear more after the break.

Solstice Blessings!

Solstice Blessings! Here is a dual hemisphere card for celebrating either midsummer or midwinter. The image is courtesy of @Illumine_Nation.

Friday 80s Flashback for June 17, 2011

[Be Fast, Be Clean, Be Cheap (part 2)] -- This week, we'll continue going through the mixtape I introduced last week (you know, the one with the same name as the theme here). I don't have much time to give you background on another playlist, but I can at least provide the tunes. So, what are the next three songs from "Be Fast, Be Clean, Be Cheap"? Read and hear more after the jump.

Friday 80s Flashback for June 10, 2011

[Be Fast, Be Clean, Be Cheap] -- Another week has blown by and I barely have time for a proper Flashback. I do, however, have time to share with you the first three tracks from a compilation tape I made in the latter half of the 80s. The name of the compilation, and our theme this week, is "Be Fast, Be Clean, Be Cheap," after the song by Age of Chance. Although that tune lent its name to this week's flashback, it will not make an appearance today. I'm going with the first three songs from side A of the cassette, and "Be Fast" is track number 6. Maybe it will make an appearance in an upcoming flashback. At any rate, I'll bet you are wondering what did make the list. For that, you can read and hear more after the jump.

Look! I still own the cassette!

Friday 80s Flashback for June 3, 2011

[An 80s Shade of Punk] -- I'm still dealing with an aggressive schedule at the day job, but I don't want to keep you 80s-philes waiting until Friday evening again. So I'm doing my best to crank out a quick Flashback set. You know what else is quick and aggressive? Punk music! That's right, music in the 80s wasn't all sunshine and gumdrops, not that I even know what that means. But I do know I can provide an interesting collection of punk gems for you. Are you ready to spike your hair and attach a run of safety pins to a shredded jacket? Well, then, read and hear more after the jump.

A Tribute to Fallen Soldiers

The best tribute to those who have fallen in service to this country is quite possibly the poem "Letter to Saint Peter" which was written by Elma Dean in 1942 and later adapted into a song by John Gorka ("Let Them In" from his 2001 release, The Company You Keep).

This video has John Gorka's song set to a collection of moving images. Very appropriate for Memorial Day.

Friday 80s Flashback for May 27, 2011

Picture of a Poppy by Ian Britton (freefoto.com)

We cherish too, the Poppy red

That grows on fields where valor led,

It seems to signal to the skies

That blood of heroes never dies.

~ Moina Michael (who wore the first Memorial Day poppy)

[Remember the Heroes] -- We have arrived at the "official" kick-off for shorts season: a 3-day weekend that culminates in the observance of Memorial Day, formerly known as Decoration Day (check the history). Now, you might recall the 80s as being rife with anti-conflict, protest songs, so you may find it hard to believe I could find some tunes appropriate for the occasion of honoring this nation's war dead. But the 80s were as patriotic or reflective as other decades. So my only real problem was in narrowing the selections down to my usual three. So, are you wondering what gems I have chosen in tribute to those who have died while serving the United States of America? Wonder no more. Read and hear more after the jump.

Friday 80s Flashback for May 20, 2011

Power house mechanic working on steam pump 

by Lewis Hine, 1920. (Wikipedia)

[It's a Livin'!] -- This could be my very last Friday 80s Flashback given that Judgement Day is on the agenda for Saturday, May 21, 2011 (tomorrow!). You know it's official when there is a website and everything (http://judgementday2011.com/), right?

Now, with the Rapture scheduled to begin tomorrow evening, you're probably expecting songs about the end of the world (and that I feel fine). I understand those expectations. However, with the last week or so I've at at my day job, I have been thinking about songs focusing a spotlight on that all-too-frustrating aspect of modern life known as work. And, believe me, Ragnarök or its equivalent is looking preferable to my current slate of projects. Plus, there is a tie-in with all this rapping about the rapture: What are the two events that can bring an end to the drudgery of working day to day? Well, one is winning the lottery, and the other is ... the end of the world, of course. 

You 80s-philes will have to judge whether this week's selections are winners. Are you ready for this job? Read and hear more after the jump.

Friday 80s Flashback (for May 13, 2011) on Saturday

Toy Car Bracelet from ThisNext.com

[Return of The Cars] -- Friday Flashback on a Saturday evening? Yeah, well, Blogger was a bit off on Thursday night, and then I was in an all-day business meeting on Friday followed by a class today. So, Saturday, May 14, is my first chance to post the Flashback for May 13. I hope all my fellow 80s-philes weren't too lost without their Friday fix. 

Let's get right down to business.

In case you haven't heard, The Cars released a new studio album this week, their first since 1987! It's getting some good press (Consequence of Sound, Salt Lake Tribune), while other reviewers are disappointed with how reminiscent it is of their earlier work. Sounds like this might be an opportune time to go back and revisit The Cars' 80s catalog. With four studio releases between 1980 and 1987, there are plenty of flashback options. So what three Cars' classics have I revved up for you this week? Read and hear more after the jump.

May 9: Hail Guthroth!

May 9 is a Day of Remembrance for Guthroth. Please refer to my 2007 post for details and helpful links.