TapeHeads: 80's Music and Beyond

This is a little different discussion than our usual fare. Blaine has recently rekindled his love of CD's, due to the audio limitations of the most common formats like MP3 and streaming, so we talk about all of it, as well as comparing streaming vs. CD vs. vinyl records. Quite interesting and fun. Listen to all the stuff Connect with us at tapeheadspod.com . RELATED LINKS: Our What Have You Been M...

Cyndi Lauper is a phenomenon. Her first album, "She's So Unusual," sold millions of copies, and her songs continue to be some of the most memorable and influential of all time. There is much more to her story, however, and that's what we discuss this time. Connect with us at tapeheadspod.com RELATED LINKS: Our Girls Just Wanna Have Fun playlist, on Spotify Cyndi Lauper , on Spoti...

This time around, we're discovering another fun internet list, found for us by Blaine. We love these things because A) they're super fun, and B) they take no research or preparation. Just sit down, read through the list, and Bob's Blaine's uncle. Connect with us at tapeheadspod.com RELATED LINKS: The original article by Jolina Mandicho, 50 Albums From the 80's That You Need to...

As we've discussed before, Kiss are a difficult band of which to be a fan. Todd is a fan, however, and has many of their albums and a T-shirt. Blaine is indifferent about them. In this fun and hilarious episode, we dive deeply and compare the best and worst songs from the band's extensive catalog. Connect with us at tapeheadspod.com . RELATED LINKS: Our The Best and Worst of Kiss playlist,...

In this episode, we discuss the songs from the 80's that spent the most weeks at the #1 spot on the pop charts. Be sure to click down to our playlist to listen to the full versions of these great songs. Connect with us at tapeheadspod.com RELATED LINKS: Our Most Weeks At #1 playlist, on Spotify Madonna," Like A Virgin " official video, on YouTube Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson, &...

Kiss are one of the biggest bands of all time. Are they one of the best? Well, it's a little more complicated than that, but they're certainly one of the most interesting, and we join their story at what is arguably the heaviest and most interesting point, 1982's album "Creatures of the Night." Connect with us at tapeheadspod.com RELATED LINKS: Our Creatures of the Night play...

Paul Simon is one of most venerable and some would say inscrutable songwriters out there today. After a string of hits in the 60's and 70's, he was coming off of a couple of unsuccessful albums in the 80's. Looking for inspiration, he turned to the music of South Africa and created the album Graceland, which was a huge success and completely revitalized his career. We discuss the album...

Bronski Beat were a synth pop trio from London who may have been fairly short-lived, but were very influential, especially with the gay community at the time. They were very politically active, and ahead of their time. Their enduring hit "Smalltown Boy" is our subject this time. Connect with us at tapeheadspod.com RELATED LINKS: Our Smalltown Boy playlist, on Spotify B ronski Beat , on S...

There were two musical synthesizers that revolutionized the way music was made in the late 1970's and all through the 80's, the Synclavier and the Fairlight. The least expensive model cost the equivalent of a small house, and the most expensive model was the equivalent of a smallish mansion. More similar than they were different, they would help some of the greatest musicians of the time t...

Bobby McFerrin is one of the most famous musicians on the planet. He's been a singer, a conductor, a music ambassador, and even a pop star. But he's also written one of the most polarizing one-hit wonder songs of all time, which was both recognized by the Library of Congress and ridiculed by Public Enemy. Lots to explore in this episode about an incredible and venerable musician. Connect with us a...

In this episode, Blaine guides us through 10 hit songs with controverisal or problematic subject matter that wouldn't be released today. This list came from one of his infamous trips down the proverbial rabbit hole. Connect with us at tapeheadspod.com RELATED LINKS: Our 10 Songs That Couldn't Be Released Today playlist, on Spotify 10 Songs From the 80's That Could Not Be Released Today

Formed in Los Angeles in 1983 and currently based in Portland, Animotion have one of the best one-hit wonder songs of the 80's, and are still around performing and releasing new albums to this day. We're here to tell the story of the song, "Obsession." Conn eat with us at tapeheadspod.com RELATED LINKS: Animotion , on Spotify Animotion, " Obsession " official video, on YouTube " A Night in Heaven...

In this very special episode, Blaine explores a few songs by Billy Joel that he feels best show Billy's masterful songwriting. We think you'll enjoy it. RELATED LINKS: Our short but sweet Billy Joel playlist, on Spotify Billy Joel , on Spotify Lords of 57th Street (Liberty playing drums), on YouTube

Duran Duran are one of the biggest and best bands of the 80's, and we thought they would be perfect subjects for continuing our second anniversary celebration. We invited our friend Russ to help and add insight, as we delved into Duran and their offshoot bands The Power Station, Arcadia, and Robert Palmer as well. Super interesting and fun story. We did experience some unfortunate technical issues...

Can you believe it's our second anniversary episode? And our fiftieth? We're celebrating both, and we have a very special guest who makes an appearance. We're discussing our namesake movie, TapeHeads, a fairly obscure 1988 cult classic film starring John Cusack and Tim Robbins as two guys who want to get into the business of making rock music videos. It also stars Sam Moore and Junior Walker as th...

Suzanne Vega is someone you should know about, if you aren't aware of her already. We explore her musical connections and collaborators, including the illustrious Mitchell Froom and inimitable Tchad Blake. We also discuss the process of learning production and recording. Willow is a 1988 fantasy movie starring Warwick Davis and Val Kilmer. Created by George Lucas and directed by Ron Howard, it has...

In this very special episode, we discuss a list of the ten worst #1 songs of the 80's, which Blaine found thought it would be fun to do. He was not wrong. Connect with us at tapeheadspod.com . RELATED LINKS: The infamous list can be found here . Our undoubtedly terrible but hopefully still fun Worst #1 Songs of the 80's playlist, on Spotify

The Liverpool band A Flock of Seagulls had one of the biggest hit songs (and weirdest haircuts) of 1982, which puts them up against some serious competition. Quite an interesting band and story. This one was by request. Also from 1982, the Disney movie "Tron" is probably more well-loved now than when it originally came out, and we quite happily delve into it. RELATED LINKS: Our " I Ran (So Far Awa...

One of our favorite subjects here on TapeHeads is bands at a point of major change in their sound or careers, and ZZ Top's 1983 album Eliminator (which sold 11 million copies) is a perfect example. Footlose is a 1984 movie about a small town with a big dancing problem, and the hijinks ensue. Pair that with an incredible soundtrack, and you've got a hit movie. But is it good? Connect with us at tap...

Howard Jones is someone who you may not think you know, but you definitely know his songs. In this episode, we take a deep dive into his music, and you may be surprised at the number of coincidental connections and through-lines within this show, including Aqualung, Martin Page, Peter Gabriel, Tears For Fears, Naked Eyes, and Erasure, and even Donald Fagen. You won't want to miss the playlist...

Dolly Parton is one of the most important singer-songwriters of all time. She created an unforgettable persona that has, quite literally, changed the world. We've had a blast learning more about her. 9 to 5 is a 1980 movie that is widely regarded as the first modern feminist movie. It was very influential and inspirational, while still being fun and accesible. It stars Dolly Parton in her movi...

A veteran of the jazz, funk, and even disco scenes, Herbie Hancock took a left turn in the 80's to help usher hip hop into the mainstream of pop music, and we're certainly glad that he did. This episode focuses on 1983's "Rockit" and the album Future Shock. There are certain movies that could only have existed in the 80's, and Iron Eagle (1986) is one of them. Starring Ja...

The Outfield are a band we love, and our old band used to play one of their songs back in the day. We discuss their distinction and the fun of listening to them these days. The Dark Crystal is a 1982 fantasy movie created by the amazing Jim Henson and company, which is unique and darkly spooky, designed to provide children with something scary. We love it and hope you'll revisit it as well, or...

Tracey Ullman is very famous for her various TV shows and movie appearances, but before all of that, she had a Top10 hit in the U.S. and U.K. with the excellent song, "They Don't Know." We look into it and her subsequent career in this episode. The Last Starfighter is a 1984 science fiction movie that follows young Alex Rogan's journey from a California trailer park to outer spac...

David Lee Roth is a human male singer that some people find compelling, including the two of us. His 1986 album "Eat 'Em and Smile" is a favorite of both of ours, and we dive into it with great enthusiasm. Connect with us at www.tapeheadspod.com . RELATED LINKS: Our extremely rocking Yankee Rose playlist, on Spotify David Lee Roth, " Yankee Rose " official video, on YouTube...