Welcome to the Boomtown

Welcome back to the 80s! A little over 5 years ago, our Ladies of the 80s episode dropped, and the response was incredibly positive. In fact, one of our listeners posted in the comments section in Podomatic, “Thanks for spotlighting the ladies!” So, we decided to do a Volume II featuring Belinda, Janet, Reba, Tina, Joan, and many more. A shout out to those of you who have been with us since the be...

Welcome back to the 80s! With April upon us, baseball season is in full swing (pun intended). Episode 40, Doubles and Triples, not only celebrates America’s pastime, but also songs, artists and albums with double, and even some triple, names and titles. We’ve also included several memorable clips from classic 80s baseball films (RIP Bob Uecker). A shout out to those of you who have been with us si...

Welcome back to the 80s! From 1981-1985 Dr. Dave delivered newspapers for The Mining Journal, the primary newspaper of Marquette, Michigan and the state’s Upper Peninsula. Monday through Saturday he braved the elements, especially the famous snow of the U.P., to deliver papers around his neighborhood. Earning about $10 a week (about $32 in 2026 adjusted for inflation), he eventually saved enough t...

Welcome back to the 80s. We love our listeners! When we started this podcast six years ago, we didn’t know what to expect. We were just hoping there were at least a few 80s music fans who would find our page and give us a chance. Since then we’ve discovered there are Welcome to the Boomtown fans in all 50 states (and Washington DC) and at least 134 countries. So, in appreciation of our listeners a...

Welcome back to the 80s! GenXers may remember decades ago when you flipped your wall calendar from December 1979 to January 1980. The 80s were officially here, and with it a decade of new music…well, sort of. Episode 37 celebrates this time with “Not Quite the 80s” featuring songs that were released in the second half of 1979, but today we think of them as 80s music. A shout out to those of you wh...

Welcome back to the 80s! The early 80s saw a sharp increase in popularity of British acts in the United States. With pop and rock music going through a creative slump in the U.S., and a little help from MTV, the desire for music from across the pond was beginning to grow. The British are coming, again! A shout out to those of you who have been with us since the beginning and welcome to our new lis...

Welcome back to the 80s! Or, more specifically, July 13, 1985. We're excited to bring you our 40th Anniversary tribute to one of the greatest music events of all time, Live Aid, the benefit concerts for African famine relief held at London's Wembley Stadium, and JFK Stadium in Philadelphia. In this episode we will be spotlighting the Philadelphia show. Wherever possible, we used the live recording...

Welcome back to the 80s! To introduce this episode, here’s a slight variation on the lyrics to Bob Seger’s Like a Rock (1986):   Forty years now Where’d they go Forty years I don’t know I sit and I wonder sometime Where they’ve gone.   On June 9th, 1985, Dr. Dave and 300+ of his classmates graduated from Marquette Senior High School in Marquette, Michigan. In honor of that momentous occasion, this...

Welcome back to the 80s! Boomtowners know the names Peter Gabriel, Phil Collins, Mike Rutherford and Tony Banks. They also know each was/is a member of the group, Genesis. This mini-episode features songs not only by the band, but also their various solo, duo, and group ventures. A shout out to those of you who have been with us since the beginning and welcome to our new listeners. As always, than...

Welcome back to the 80s! John Hughes. Born February 18, 1950 in Lansing, Michigan. Occupation: Writer, director, and producer of several films of the 1980s and 1990s. Heroes included Bob Dylan, John Lennon and Picasso. Was a fan of the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings right winger Gordie Howe. Died August 6, 2009 in New York City (age 59).    To honor John Hughes on what would have been his 75th birthday t...

Welcome back to the 80s! Five years ago, December 18, 2019, the first episode of Welcome to the Boomtown dropped. While we were happy with the final product, we also realize it could have been better. Much better. So, to celebrate our 5th Anniversary, here's Episode 1 - A Taste of the 80s, done in the style of our current episodes. This is what we had in mind in the beginning. Thank you to all our...

Welcome back to the 80s! Eddie Van Halen once said, “A guitar is a very personal extension of the person playing it. You have to be emotionally and spiritually connected to your instrument.” Episode 31 features some guitar heroes of the 80s such as Slash, Joe Perry, Billy Gibbons and many others that exemplify Eddie’s statement through their memorable rhythms, riffs and solos.   Our thanks…. A sho...

Welcome back to the 80s! What was your favorite technology of the 80s? Did you play videogames on an Atari, Sega or Nintendo system? Did you watch movies on a VHS or Betamax? Were you making calls on a Motorola brick phone? Or, did you “Clap on, Clap off” with everyone’s favorite hand-free controller, The Clapper? Episode 30 features songs about the science and technology of the 80s, with everythi...

Welcome back to the 80s! From August 1984 - April 1988, Benny Banzai was in charge of the Wayne State College Student Activities Board Film Program.. His many responsibilities included:  booking, scheduling and logistics, marketing, projectionist, and selecting the pre-show music. Episode 29 is another one of his mixtapes featuring some of his favorite songs of the 80s that he played before the fi...

“Ladies and gentlemen, rock and roll.” Welcome back to the 80s. On August 1, 1981 viewers in New Jersey were the first to see the debut of a new music video channel, MTV.  In the years that followed, MTV would become a cultural phenomenon, influencing TV, film, advertising and fashion. However, for Episode 28, we thought it would be uber-nostalgic to go back to those days between January 1, 1980 a...

Welcome back to the 80s! Remember the days before streaming, when listening to music meant you had to flip over an album or cassette? Yeah, sometimes it was a pain, and we're willing to bet some of you didn't bother doing so believing all the best songs were on Side 1. Episode 27 features great 80s songs that made Side 2 worth listening to.  A shout out to those of you who have been with us since...

Welcome back to the 80s! Episode 26 features artists who got their start in the 1950s and 60s, and still managed to have hits in the 80s. Some acts, like The Rolling Stones, Scorpions, and Bruce Springsteen, will even be touring in 2024, proving that age really just is a number. A shout out to those of you who have been with us since the beginning and welcome to our new listeners. As always, thank...

Welcome back to the 80s! If you did a Wikipedia search for “heavy metal music” you would see there are literally dozens of different metal subgenres and fusion genres, as well as regional and local scenes. Episode 25, Precious Metal, features some of the popular metal artists of the 80s from the US, Canada, and the UK. So, turn up the volume to 11, throw up your devil horns,  and start head bangin...

Welcome back to the 80s! Do you remember riding around with friends at night or driving down a deserted highway or back road with the windows down, listening to your favorite music? So do we. Episode 24 features some of our go to songs for driving at night. Hopefully, this brings back some memories and you'll be inspired to go for a drive later, listening to this episode.  A shout out to those of...

Welcome back to the 80s! This introduction to Episode 23 will be short to provide a dramatic contrast to those 80s artists who clearly needed an editor when naming their songs.   A shout out to those of you who have been with us since the beginning and welcome to our new listeners. As always, thanks to Team Boomtown: Alan (artwork), DJ Phil B (technical advice) and David Baerwald and David Rickett...

Welcome back to the 80s and our first mini-episode! We came up this idea when we didn’t have enough songs to fill our usual 90-minute podcast theme. In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week May 8-12, this episode features songs not only about teachers and education, but also high school proms and even some good ol’ fashioned high school rebellion. We should mention that the irony isn’t lost on us tha...

Welcome back to the 80s! Forty years ago, Benny Banzai and his classmates graduated from Burwell Jr. Sr. High School in Burwell, NE. From May 1982-May 1983, his senior year was filled with great songs from REO Speedwagon, Hall & Oates, America, George Thorogood, the Billys (Squire & Idol) and many more. So to the graduates of the Class of 1983 everywhere, congratulations on your 40th Anniv...

Welcome back to the 80s!  Episode 20, and the first of 2023, is Dr. Dave’s Forgotten 80s: Volume II, once again highlighting some of my favorite songs of the decade that were popular on the radio and MTV, but had the longevity of New Coke on store shelves. From Cheap Trick in 1980 to Enuff Z’ Nuff in 1989 I’m hoping you’ll remember most, if not all of these songs. Oh, and in case you were wonderin...

Welcome back to the 80s. The concert experience in the 80s was much different than it is today. You first had go to a record store (remember those?) and the cashier had a stack of embossed tickets held together with a rubber band. Most shows were also General Admission which meant you had to get to the venue hours before the doors opened to get good seats. Good times. That said, there were some am...

Welcome back to the 80s! Benny Banzai here. In my opinion, the best time for college radio was in the 80s. From January 1984 to May 1988, I was on air at KWSC-FM at Wayne State College in Wayne, NE. We were Pixies, The Ramones, The Replacements, The Smiths, Echo and the Bunnymen, R.E.M. and so many great bands that weren't getting much play on commercial radio stations. This episode features these...