Monday, April 30, 2012

"Keep Your Hands to Yourself" by The Georgia Satellites - April 30th 80's Quest Song/Band of the Day



This is one of those kitschy, silly fun kind of one-hit wonder songs that caught people’s attention for awhile.  It always reminds me of one of my good friends, because she really loved this song. 

The first incarnation of The Georgia Satellites was an Atlanta, Georgia bar band called Keith and the Satellites which formed in 1980 [the band consisted of Dan Baird (lead singer), Rick Richards (lead guitar), Keith Christopher (bass) and David Michaelson (drums)].  The band played every Monday at a bar called Hedgen’s in the Atlanta neighborhood of Buckhead.  Under the line-up of Dan Baird (lead singer), Rick Richards (lead guitar), Dave Hewitt (bass) and randy Delay (drums), they changed their name to The Georgia Satellites and recorded a demo tape.  In Summer 1984, shortly after the demo was recorded, the band broke up.  Even so, their English manager, Kevin Jennings, shopped the demo tape to a small record label called Making Waves in Yorkshire, England, who released the demos as an EP called Keep the Faith in 1985.  The EP received positive press and back in the United States, the band decided to regroup.

During the breakup guitarist, Richards had been playing in an Atlanta band called the Hell Hounds which included Rick Price (bass) and Mauro Magellan (drums).  Singer, Baird was off in North Carolina playing with a band called the Woodpeckers, but returned to Atlanta teamed up with the Hell Hounds members, and started playing together resurrecting The Georgia Satellites moniker.

In 1986 they were signed to Electra Records and recorded their debut album, Georgia Satellites, at Cheshire Sound Studios in Atlanta.  The big single from that album, “Keep Your Hands to Yourself” reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in America, and the video for the song was played heavily on MTV.

In 1988 the band garnered another hit with their cover of The Swinging Blue Jeans song “Hippy Hippy Shake” recorded for the soundtrack of the Tom Cruise bartender movie, Cocktail.  It reached #45 on the Billboard charts.  That same year the band released their second album, Open All Night which included a cover version of Ringo Starr’s “Don’t Pass Me By’.  The album did not fare as well as their debut album did, and other singles “Open All Night” and “Dunk ‘n’ Dine” failed to chart. 


In 1989 the band released a third album, In the Land of Salvation and Sin which did not fare well either.  Baird left The Georgia Satellites in 1990 to pursue a solo career.


In 1993 a compilation Let it Rock:  The Best of the Georgia Satellites was released.  That same year guitarist Richards resurrected the band.  He took on vocals and added some new members and began performing again. Richards also plays with former Guns N Roses guitarist Izzy Stradlin’s band, Izzy Stradlin and the Ju Ju Hounds.


Baird performs with his band Dan Baird and Homemade Sin which includes former Georgia Satellite members Mauro Magellan and Keith Christopher (who was in the original incarnation of that band).  Baird also plays with country bands Trent Summar & the New Row Mob and The Yayhoos.
Back in 1982 before The Georgia Satellites rose to fame Keith Christopher had left the band to perform with Frank Marino & Mahogany Rush.  He moved around living in London, England, Nashville, Tennessee and now lives in New York City. 


After the original incarnation of The Georgia Satellites broke up in 1984 former drummer Randy DeLay began playing with the Tony Sarno Band, and later the Hell Hounds.  He played all over the Atlanta bar circuit.  In 1993 he died of cancer.

Lyrics:

I got a little change in my pocket
Goin jing-a-ling-a-ling
I want to call you on the telephone, baby
I give you a ring
But each time we talk
I get the same old thing
Always, "No huggee, no kissee
Until I get a wedding ring."
My honey, my baby
Don't put my love upon no shelf
She said, "Don't hand me no lines
And keep your hands to yourself."

Ooh baby, baby, baby
Why you wanna treat me this way?
You know I'm still your loverboy
I still feel the same way
Thats when she told me a story
About free milk and a cow
And said, "No huggee, no kissee
Until I get a wedding vow."
My honey, my baby
Don't put my love upon no shelf
She said, "Don't hand me no lines
And keep your hands to yourself."

See I wanted her real bad
And I was about to give in
Thats when she started talking about true love
Started talking about sin
I said, "Honey, I'll live with you for the rest of my life."
She said, "No huggee, no kissee
Until you make me a wife."
My honey, my baby
Don't put my love upon no shelf
She said, "Don't hand me no lines
And keep your hands to yourself."

Sunday, April 29, 2012

"Kiss Me Deadly" by Generation X - April 29th 80's Quest Song/Band of the Day

THIS VIDEO STARTS WITH A SHORT INTERVIEW EXERPT, THEN THE SONG KICKS IN AT 32 SECONDS.  THE LIVE PERFORMANCE KICKS IN AT 122 SECONDS.



Lyrics:

The greyhound's rocking out tonight
To maximum rockabilly
When two punks chose to risk the subway
For a tube to Picadilly
And the Zephrys stir fast gangs for glory
Another dumb casualty
Having fun
In South West six
When a hidden flick knife flicks
Kiss me deadly tonight

Another battle was won and lost
Down The Bishops End last night
Spotlights pick the kids in triumph
With a thousand scarves in flight, see how they run
Spring from the terraces in black and white
Young and old into the fight
Having fun
In South West six
With violence for a fix
Kiss me deadly tonight

Seven o'clock they stand in rank
For the thirty bus uptown
And later in a downstairs room
She pulls her lover down
In ecstacy but they can't make a sound
Case her mother might come down
Having fun
In South West six
Discovers teenage sex
Kiss me deadly tonight

The snooker hall is empty
'Cause they're all out playing pool
Hustling down the Fulham Road
Doing deals with Mr.Cool
They're on the waterfront now instead of school
Too old now to dig pinball
Having fun
In South West six
Having fun
When a hidden flick knife flicks
With violence for a fix
Discovers teenage sex
Tried shooting up for kicks
Kiss me deadly
Kiss me deadly
Kiss me deadly
Kiss me
Kiss me tonight

Saturday, April 28, 2012

"Desire" by Gene Loves Jezebel - April 28th 80's Quest Song/Band of the Day

PLEASE GIVE THE VIDEO SOME TIME - IT STARTS 14 SECONDS IN....

Lyrics:

Oh sugar I've been missing you.
And I've been wondering, where it is you're hiding.
I've been a ball of fire in your arms desire.
And I've been wondering, where it is you're hiding.

What you get is what you seek.
Desire.
What you get is what you seek.
Desire.

Oh honey, I won't be kissing you.
And I've been wondering, where it is you're hiding.
I've been a ball of fire in your arms desire.
And I've been wondering, where it is you're hiding.
I've had my ears to the ground, to the ground.
I'm just trying to find out what you're hiding.
What is the mystery?

Friday, April 27, 2012

"Sexual Healing" by Marvin Gaye - April 27th 80's Quest Song/Band of the Day

Lyrics:

Get up, get up, get up, get up
Wake up, wake up, wake up, wake up

Ooh baby, now let's get down tonight


Baby I'm hot just like an oven
I need some lovin'
And baby, I can't hold it much longer
It's getting stronger and stronger

And when I get that feeling
I want Sexual Healing
Sexual Healing, oh baby
Makes me feel so fine
Helps to relieve my mind
Sexual Healing baby, is good for me
Sexual Healing is something that's good for me

Whenever blue tear drops are falling
And my emotional stability is leaving me
There is something I can do
I can get on the telephone and call you up baby, and
Honey I know you'll be there to heal me
The love you give to me will free me
If you don't know the thing you're dealing
Oh I can tell you, darling, that it's Sexual Healing

Get up, Get up, Get up, Get up - let's make love tonight
Wake up, Wake up, Wake up, Wake up - 'cos you do it right

Baby I got sick this morning
A sea was storming inside of me
Baby I think I'm capsizing
The waves are rising and rising

And when I get that feeling
I want Sexual Healing
Sexual Healing is good for me
Makes me feel so fine, it's such a rush
Helps to relieve the mind, and it's good for us
Sexual Healing, baby, it's good for me
Sexual Healing is something that's good for me
And it's good for me and it's so good to me
My baby ohhh

Come take control, just grab a hold
Of my body and mind soon we'll be making it
Honey, oh we're feeling fine
You're my medicine open up and let me in
Darling, you're so great
I can't wait for you to operate

(Heal me my darling, heal me my darling)
I can't wait for you to operate

When I get this feeling,
I need sexual healing
Oh when I get this feeling,
I need Sexual Healing,
I gotta have sexual healing, Darling
'cos I'm all alone
sexual healing, darling,
'till you come back home

"You Dropped a Bomb on Me" by The Gap Band - April 26th 80's Quest Song/Band of the Day

Lyrics:

You were the girl that changed my world
You were the girl for me
You lit the fuse, I stand accused
You were the first for me
But you turned me out, baby

You dropped a bomb on me, baby
You dropped a bomb on me (But you turned me on, baby)
You dropped a bomb on me, baby
You dropped a bomb on me

You were my thrills, you were my pills
You dropped a bomb on me
You turn me out, you turn me on
You turned me loose, then you turned me wrong

You dropped a bomb on me, baby
You dropped a bomb on me (But you turned me out, baby)
You dropped a bomb on me, baby
You dropped a bomb on me

Just like Adam and Eve, said you’d set me free
You took me to the sky, I’d never been so high
You were my pills, you were my thrills
You were my hope, baby, you were my smoke
You dropped a bomb, hey, babe

You dropped a bomb on me, baby
You dropped a bomb on me (But you turned me out, baby)
You dropped a bomb on me, baby
You dropped a bomb on me (But you turned me on, baby)

You dropped a bomb on me, baby (Mmm)
You dropped a bomb on me (You dropped a bomb on me, baby)
You dropped a bomb on me, baby
You dropped a bomb on me

We were in motion, felt like an ocean
You were the girl for me
You were the first explosion, turned out to be corrosion
You were the first for me
But you turned me out, baby

You dropped a bomb on me, baby
You dropped a bomb on me (Whoa...whoa...oh...oh...baby)
You dropped a bomb on me, baby
You dropped a bomb on me (I won’t forget what you done to me, babe)

You dropped a bomb on me, baby
You dropped a bomb on me
You dropped a bomb on me, baby
You dropped a bomb on me

I-I-I
I-I-I won’t forget it
I-I-I
I-I-I won’t forget it

You dropped a bomb on me, baby
You dropped a bomb on me
You dropped a bomb on me, baby
You dropped a bomb on me

I-I-I
I-I-I won’t forget it
I-I-I
I-I-I won’t forget it

You turned me out, you turned me on
And then you dropped me to the ground
You dropped a bomb on me.

You turned me out, you turned me on
And then you dropped me to the ground
You dropped a bomb on me
You turned me out, you turned me on
And then you dropped me to the ground
You dropped a bomb on me

You turned me out, then you turned me on
You dropped a bomb on me
You turned me out, then you turned me on
You dropped a bomb on me

You turned me out, then you turned me on
You dropped a bomb on me
You turned me out, then you turned me on
You dropped a bomb on me

You turned me out, then you turned me on
You dropped a bomb on me
You turned me out, then you turned me on
You dropped a bomb on me

You turned me out, then you turned me on
You dropped a bomb on me
You turned me out, then you turned me on
You dropped a bomb on me

"Voices Carry" by Gang Green - April 25th 80's Quest Song/Band of the Day


Lyrics:

In the dark, I'd like to read her mind
But I'm frightened of the things I might find
Oh, there must be something she's thinking of
to tear her away-a-ay
When I tell her that I'm falling down drunk
why does she say-a-ay

Hush hush, keep it down now, voices carry
Hush hush, keep it down now, voices carry
Uh-oh

I try so hard not to get upset
Because I know all the trouble I'll get
Oh, she tells me tears are something to hide
and nothing to drink
And I try so hard to keep it inside
so no one can care

Hush hush, keep it down now, voices carry
Hush hush, keep it down now, voices carry
Hush hush, keep it down now, voices carry
Whoaaaaa, hush, hush, keep it down now, voices carry
Uh-oh
She wants me, but only part of the time
She wants me, if she can keep me in line

Hush hush, keep it down now, voices carry
Whoaaaaa, hush hush, keep it down now, voices carry
Whoaaaa, hush hush, keep it down now, voices carry
Hush hush, keep it down now, voices carry
She said shut up - she said shut up
Oh God can't you keep it down
Voices carry
Whoaaaaa, hush hush keep it down now, voices carry

"Strange" by Galaxie 500 - April 24th 80's Quest Song/Band of the Day

Lyrics:

Why's everybody acting funny?
Why's everybody look so strange?
Why's everybody look so nasty?
What do I want with all these things?

I went alone down to the drugstore
I went in back and took a Coke
I stood in line and ate my Twinkies
I stood in line, I had to wait

Why's everybody acting funny?
Why's everybody look so strange?
Why's everybody look so pretty?
What do I want with all these things?

I went alone down to the drugstore
I went in back and took a Coke
I stood in line and ate my Twinkies
I stood in line, I had to wait

"In Your Eyes" by Peter Gabriel - April 23rd 80's Quest Song/Band of the Day


Lyrics:

Love I get so lost, sometimes
Days pass and this emptiness fills my heart
When I want to run away
I drive off in my car
But whichever way I go
I come back to the place you are

All my instincts, they return
And the grand facade, so soon will burn
Without a noise, without my pride
I reach out from the inside

In your eyes
The light the heat
In your eyes
I am complete
In your eyes
I see the doorway to a thousand churches
In your eyes
The resolution of all the fruitless searches
In your eyes
I see the light and the heat
In your eyes
Oh, I want to be that complete
I want to touch the light
The heat I see in your eyes

Love, I don't like to see so much pain
So much wasted and this moment keeps slipping away
I get so tired of working so hard for our survival
I look to the time with you to keep me awake and alive

And all my instincts, they return
And the grand facade, so soon will burn
Without a noise, without my pride
I reach out from the inside

In your eyes
The light the heat
In your eyes
I am complete
In your eyes
I see the doorway to a thousand churches
In your eyes
The resolution of all the fruitless searches
In your eyes
I see the light and the heat
In your eyes
Oh, I want to be that complete
I want to touch the light,
The heat I see in your eyes
In your eyes in your eyes
In your eyes in your eyes
In your eyes in your eyes

Sunday, April 22, 2012

"Our Lips are Sealed" by Fun Boy Three - April 22nd 80's Quest Song/Band of the Day


Lyrics:

Can you hear them talking about us
Telling lies, is that a surprise
Can you see them, see right through them
They have no shield, nothing must be revealed
It doesn't matter what they say, no one listens anyway

Our lips are sealed
There's a weapon that we can use in our defense...silence

Well just look at them, look right through them
That's when they disappear, that's when we lose the fear
It doesn't matter what they say, in the jealous games people play

Our lips are sealed
It doesn't matter what they say, no one's listening anyway
Our lips are sealed

Hush, my darling, don't you cry
Guardian angel, forget their lies

Can you hear them talking about us
Telling lies, well that's no surprise
Can you see them, see right through them
They have no shield, nothing must be revealed
It doesn't matter what they say in the jealous games people play

Our lips are sealed
Pay no mind to what they say, it doesn't matter anyway
Our lips are sealed
Our lips are sealed
Our lips are sealed

Saturday, April 21, 2012

"I Know There's Something Going On" by Frida - April 21st 80's Quest Song/Band of the Day


Lyrics:

I can see that it won't be long
You grow cold when you keep holding on
You know you've changed and your words, they lie
That's something you can't deny

I call, you're not at home
You're home, but you're not alone
If you wanna leave then why don't you say it
Your love has gone anyway

I know there's something going on
I know there's something going on
I know it won't be long
Won't be long before you're gone
There's something going on
There's something going on

I know a good thing must come to an end
But it's hard to take losing a friend
I know what you think and what's in your mind
So darling, look, why pretend

I know there's something going on
I know there's something going on
I know it won't be long
It won't be long before you're gone
There's something going on
There's something going on...

Friday, April 20, 2012

"Relax" by Frankie Goes to Hollywood - April 20th 80's Quest Song/Band of the Day





Lyrics:

Relax don't do it
When you want to go to it
Relax don't do it
When you want to come
Relax don't do it
When you want to come
When you want to come

Relax don't do it
When you want to to go to it
Relax don't do it
When you want to come
Relax don't do it
When you want to suck to it
Relax don't do it
When you want to come
Come, oh oh oh

But shoot it in the right direction
Make making it your intention-ooh yeah
Live those dreams
Scheme those schemes
Got to hit me
Hit me
Hit me with those laser beams

I'm coming
I'm coming, yeah

Relax don't do it
When you want to go to it
Relax don't do it
When you want to come

Relax don't do it
When you want to suck to it
Relax don't do it (love)
When you want to come
When you want to come
When you want to come
Come, huh

Get it up
The scene of love
Oh feel it

Relax relax relax
Higher higher relax

Hey,
Pray

Thursday, April 19, 2012

"Touch Me (I Want to Feel Your Body) - by Samantha Fox - April 19th 80's Quest Song/Band of the Day


Lyrics:

Full moon in the city
And the night was young
I was hungry for love
I was hungry for fun

I was hunting you down
And I was starving
When I saw you there
I didn't mean to hesitate

This is the night
This is the night
This is the time we've got to get it right

(This is the night)
Touch me, touch me
I want to feel your body
Your heart beat next to mine
(This is the night)
Touch me, touch me now

Quick as a flash you disappeared into the night
Did I hurt you boy?
Didn't I treat you right?
You made me feel so good
Made me feel myself
Now I'm alone & you're with somebody else

This is the night, yeah
This is the night
This is the time we've got to get it right

(This is the night)
Touch me, touch me
I want to feel your body
Your heart beat next to mine
(This is the night)
Touch me, touch me now
Touch me, touch me now
Touch me, touch me now

Hot & cold emotions confusing my brain
I could not decide between pleasure & pain
Like a tramp in the night
I was begging for you
To treat my body like you wanted to

Uh....
Uh, I was begging for you

(This is the night)
Touch me, touch me
I want to feel your body
Your heart beat next to mine
(This is the night)
'Cos I want your body all the time

(This is the night)
Touch me, touch me
I want to feel your body
Your heart beat next to mine
(This is the night)
'Cos I want your body all the time

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

"Urgent" by Foreigner - April 18th 80's Quest Song/Band of the Day


Lyrics:

You're not shy, you get around
You wanna fly, don't want your feet on the ground
You stay up, you won't come down
You wanna live, you wanna move to the sound
Got fire, in your veins, burnin' hot, but you don't feel the pain
Your desire, is insane, you can't stop, until you do it again
But sometimes I wonder as I look in your eyes
That maybe you're thinking of some other guy
But I know, yes I know, how to treat you right
That's why you call me in the middle of the night

You say it's urgent, so urgent, so-oh-oh urgent...
Just you wait and see, how urgent, my love can be, it's urgent...

You play tricks, on my mind, you're everywhere
But you're so hard to find, you're not warm, or sentimental
You're so extreme, you can be so temperamental
But I'm not looking for a love that will last
I know what I need and I need it fast
Yeah, there's one thing in common that we both share
That's a need for each other anytime, anywhere

It gets so urgent, so urgent, you know it's, urgent
I wanna tell you it's the same for me, ooh-oooh, so-oh-oh urgent...
Just you wait and see, how urgent, our love can be, it's urgent...

You say it's urgent, make it fast, make it urgent
Do it quick, do it urgent, gotta rush, make it urgent...Want it quick
Urgent, urgent, emergency...Urgent, urgent, emergency...
Urgent, urgent, urgent, urgent, emergency
Urgent, urgent, urgent, urgent, emergency, so urgent, emergency
Emer-(ooh-oooh) emer-(ooh-oooh) emer-(ooh-oooh) It's urgent
So urgent...

"Kiss Me Deadly" by Lita Ford - April 17th 80's Quest Song/Band of the Day



Lyrics:

I went to a party last Saturday night
I didn't get laid I got in a fight uh-huh
It ain't no big thing
Late for my job and the traffic was bad
Had to borrow 10 bucks from my old man uh-huh
It ain't no big thing

But I know what I like
I know I like dancing with you
And I know what you like
I know you like dancing with me oh yeah

CHORUS
Kiss me once
Kiss me twice
Come on pretty baby kiss me deadly

Had a few beers getting high
Sitting watching the time go by uh-huh
It ain't no big thing
Nothing to eat and no T.V.
Looking in the mirror don't get it for me uh-huh
It ain't no big thing

But I know what I like
I know I like dancing with you
And I know what you like
I know you like dancing with me oh yeah

CHORUS
CHORUS

you know I like dancing with you
dancing with you, come on..

Monday, April 16, 2012

"It's a Night For Beautiful Girls" by The Fools - April 16th 80's Quest Song/Band of the Day


Growing up in New England, The Fools were a band that you heard on Boston radio alot.  At some point in time you probably saw them in concert because they played out in clubs throughout the area for years,  The first song I remember hearing by them on the radio was "It's a Night For Beautiful Girls".   They also became famous for the fun/silly kind of songs that you loved to hear at a dance, or a party so you could act up a little, scream out the lyrics, and have a laugh, such as "Life Sucks and Then You Die" or "She Makes Me Feel Big".  They also performed covers.  Their cover of "Doo Wah Diddy" got some airplay on MTV.  I thought they were ready for national/worldwide big time fame when that happened, but I don't know why they did not catch on everywhere.  They are one of those bands that just about anyone can find a song to love, though.  


The Fools formed in Ipswich, Massachusetts (USA) in 1975 and consisted of Mike Girard (singer), Rich Bartlett (guitar), Stacey Pedrick (guitar), Doug Forman (bass) and Chris Pedrick (drums).

In 1979 The Fools recorded a song called "Psycho Chicken" which was a parody of The Talking Heads' hit song "Psycho Killer".  The Fools version came complete with clucking chickens and received a lot of airplay on Boston radio stations.  The original version of the song was more risque and peppered with swears, but on the radio version chicken clucks replaced the swear words.  The local success of the song caught the ear of EMI Records who signed the band and released the song nationally in 1980.  The Fools released their follow-up single, "It's a Night for Beautiful Girls" the same year.  It charted at #67 on the Billboard charts.  EMI sent The Fools out to tour as the opening band for The Knack.  After the tour they recorded their debut album called Sold Out.  The album did not include "Psycho Chicken" on the track list.  Instead a bonus white vinyl 45 of the song was stuck into the album cover.  

In 1981, the band's second album Heavy Mental spawned the hit Roy Orbison cover song "Running Scared" which charted at #50 on the Billboard charts in the U.S.  Here's a clip of the band performing the song live:



The Fools landed a great gig as the opening band for Van Halen on their Fair Warning Tour.  The band was dropped by EMI.  Chris Pedrick left the band and was replaced by Leo Black on drums.  Forman left the band next and was replaced by Joe Holaday on bass. 


By 1985 the band signed to indie record label PVC.  They released their third album, World Dance Party which spawned the hit cover song "Doo Wah Diddy" (originally recorded by Manfred Man).  The video for the song received a lot of airplay on MTV.  The title track "World Dance Party" was released as a 12" single with "Psycho Chicken" as the B-side.  Other songs from the album, "Life Sucks...Then You Die" and "She Makes Me Feel Big" were big hits in New England and received lots of airplay.   


The Fools continued to be a cult hit band in New England, and their live shows were known for being wild and fun.  The band continues to tour today.  In 2010 singer Mike Girard wrote a books containing funny stories and the history of the band called, "Psycho Chicken and Other Foolish Tales"


Lyrics:

It's a night, oh yeah
For beautiful girls

It's a night, yes it is
For beautiful girls

Something's gonna happen here tonight
I can feel it
Stay with me 'til mornin'
I really need it

It's a night, oh yeah
For beautiful girls

It's a night, woh woh woh
For beautiful girls

Girls girls girls girls girls everywhere,
Girls girls girls girls girls, in my hair

Goin' to a nightclub
And I peek under the table
Maybe find some legs down there
That look like Betty Grable

It's a night, oh yeah
For beautiful girls

What is it
It's a night, it's a night
For beautiful girls

Goin' to a nightclub
And I drink some more tequila
Maybe find some legs down there
I can give a little feel-a

It's a night, oh yeah
For beautiful girls

What is it
It's a night, it's a night
For beautiful girls

It's a night

It's a night

It's a night

Sunday, April 15, 2012

"Same Old Lang Syne" by Dan Fogelberg - April 15th 80's Quest Song/Band of the Day



We don't have a video for this song, because as you can see in this 1984 interview with Dan Fogelberg, he believes that the strength of the song is the images it creates in your own mind:




Lyrics:

Met my old lover in the grocery store
The snow was falling Christmas Eve
I stole behind her in the frozen foods
And I touched her on the sleeve

She didn't recognize the face at first
But then her eyes flew open wide
She went to hug me and she spilled her purse
And we laughed until we cried.

We took her groceries to the checkout stand
The food was totalled up and bagged
We stood there lost in our embarrassment
As the conversation dragged.

We went to have ourselves a drink or two
But couldn't find an open bar
We bought a six-pack at the liquor store
And we drank it in her car.

We drank a toast to innocence
We drank a toast to now
And tried to reach beyond the emptiness
But neither one knew how.

She said she'd married her an architect
Who kept her warm and safe and dry
She would have liked to say she loved the man
But she didn't like to lie.

I said the years had been a friend to her
And that her eyes were still as blue
But in those eyes I wasn't sure if I saw
Doubt or gratitude.

She said she saw me in the record stores
And that I must be doing well
I said the audience was heavenly
But the traveling was hell.

We drank a toast to innocence
We drank a toast to now
And tried to reach beyond the emptiness
But neither one knew how.

We drank a toast to innocence
We drank a toast to time
Reliving in our eloquence
Another 'auld lang syne'...

The beer was empty and our tongues were tired
And running out of things to say
She gave a kiss to me as I got out
And I watched her drive away.

Just for a moment I was back at school
And felt that old familiar pain
And as I turned to make my way back home
The snow turned into rain

Saturday, April 14, 2012

"Money" by The Flying Lizards - April 14th 80's Quest Song/Band of the Day


Lyrics:

The best things in life are free
But you can give them to the birds and bees
I want money
That's what I want
That's what I want
That's what I want

Your love gives me such a thrill
But your love won't pay my bills
I want money
That's what I want
That's what I want
That's what I want

Money don't get everything it's true
What it don't get I can't use
I want money
That's what I want
That's what I want
That's what I want

I want money
I want lots of money
In fact I want so much money
Give me your money
Just give me money

Friday, April 13, 2012

"Space Age Love Song" by Flock of Seagulls - April 13th 80's Quest Song/Band of the Day


Lyrics:

Saw your eyes
And you made me smile
For a little while
I was falling in love

I saw your eyes
And you touched my mind
Although it took a while
I was falling in love

I saw your eyes
And you made me cry
And for a little while
I was falling in love

I was falling in love

Falling in love
Falling in love
Falling in love
Falling in love

Thursday, April 12, 2012

"Gypsy" by Fleetwood Mac - April 12th 80's Quest Song/Band of the Day


Lyrics:

So I'm back, to the velvet underground
Back to the floor, that I love
To a room with some lace and paper flowers
Back to the gypsy that I was
To the gypsy that I was

And it all comes down to you
Well, you know that it does
And lightning strikes, maybe once, maybe twice
Oh, and it lights up the night
and you see your gypsy
You see your gypsy

To the gypsy that remains
Faces freedom with a little fear
I have no fear, I have only love
And if I was a child
And the child was enough
Enough for me to love
Enough to love

She is dancing away from you now
She was just a wish
She was just a wish
And a memory is all that is left for you now
You see your gypsy
You see your gypsy

Lightning strikes, maybe once, maybe twice
And it all comes down to you

And it all comes down to you

Lightning strikes, maybe once, maybe twice
And it all comes down to you

I still see your bright eyes, bright eyes
I have always loved you
And it all comes down to you

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

"Secret Separation" by The Fixx - April 11th 80's Quest Song/Band of the Day


Lyrics:

We're passengers in time lost in motion
Locked together day and night by trick of light
I must take another journey
We must meet with other names
Ooh, we must meet with other names

You touched my heart so deeply
You rescued me, now free me
Don't watch me cry, just see me go
I'll take away the strongest feelings you will ever know
There will be no more isolation in our secret separation
You touched my heart so deeply, you rescued me
Now free me

We're passengers in time lost in motion
Locked together day and night by trick of light
I must take another journey
We must meet with other names
Ooh, if you hold me you will hurt me - be brave!

You touched my heart so deeply
You rescued me, now free me
Don't watch me cry, just see me go
I'll take away the strongest feelings you will ever know
There will be no more isolation in our secret separation
You touched my heart so deeply, you rescued me
Now free me

We are matching spark and flame, caught in endless repetition
Life for life, we'll be the same
I must leave before you burn me
I'm the stranger who deserts you, only to love you in another life

There will be no more isolation in our secret separation
You touched my heart so deeply, you rescued me
Now free me
I'll bear one precious scar that only you will know again
We're passengers in time, free me
I'll bear one precious scar that only you will know again
We're passengers in time, free me
I'll bear one precious scar that only you will know again
We're passengers in time, free me

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

"Radioactive" by The Firm - April 10th 80's Quest Song/Band of the Day



Lyrics:

Well I'm not uptight
Not unattracted
Turn me on tonight
Cause I'm radioactive
Radioactive

There's not a fight
And I'm not your captive
Turn me loose tonight
Cause I'm radioactive
Radioactive

I want to stay with you
I want to play with you baby
I want to lay with you
And I want you to know

Got to concentrate
don't be distractive
Turn me on tonight
Cause I'm radioactive
Radioactive
Radioactive
Radioactive

I want to stay with you
I don't want to play with you
I want just to lay with you
And I want you to know

Got to concentrate
don't be distractive
Turn me on tonight
Cause I'm radioactive oh yeah
Oh yeah radioactive
Don't you stand, stand too close
You might catch it

"Asstrax" by Fini Tribe - April 9th 80's Quest Song/Band of the Day


Fini Tribe (sometimes also known as Finitribe) were a band that I became acquainted with while
DJ-ing on college radio station W.U.N.H. 91.3 FM in Durham, NH.  This was a band that I really loved playing on my show in the late 80's.  I always felt they were a great, heavy, new-sounding dance band. and thought they would become much bigger here in the United States.

Finitribe started out in the mid-80's in Edinburgh, Scotland but were called Gallery Macabre at the time.  Originally they were an experimental guitar band, but evolved into dance music band who used a lot of sampling.  Members included:  David Miller (guitar, vocals, noise); Philip Pinsky (bass, vocals), John Vick (keyboards), Simon McGlynn (drums through 1988), Andy McGregor (guitars, vocals, noise through 1988), and Chris Connelly (vocals through 1988).

The band changed their name to Fini Tribe, based on "finny tribe", a Rosicrucian term to describe fish.  The Rosicrucians were a secret 17th and 18th century organization devoted to the study of ancient mystical, philosophical, and religious doctrines and their application to modern life.  Fini Tribe started their own independent label, Finiflex, and released their debut EP, 1984's Curling and Stretching.  One month later they played their first gig opening for Danielle Dax at London ULU. 
They released another EP in 1985, Peel Sessions

In 1986 Fini Tribe began using a sampler in their recordings and achieved some success with a dance single called "De Testimony" that appeared on their Let the Tribe Grow EP.  From there, they decided to take their music in more of a dance-oriented direction.  "De Testimony" went on to become an influential track in the acid house music movement.  Acid house was a type of house music which originated with Chicago DJ's but spread to the English rave scene where psychedlic drugs were often used.  So the name came from the use of the drugs [Acid + House...the kind of music played at the clubs].  Acid house is characterized by samples or spoken lines instead of lyrics  and hypnotic sound effects.
 
After an ill-fated stint with Chicago record label Wax Trax! with whom they released two 12" singles, one which was  a cover of Can's "I Want More", singer Chris Connelly left the band to do solo recording and also went on to perform with Ministry and Revolting Cocks. McGlynn and McGregor also left the band.

Now a trio of Miller, Pinsky, and Vick, signed to One Little Indian record label.  Their first single released on One Little Indian was "Animal Farm", which sampled the "Old McDonald" nursery rhyme and bashed the McDonald's hamburger chain. They started a"Fuck Off McDonald's" poster campaign, which garnered Fini Tribe some of their first significant media exposure.  On One Little Indian, the band released the following albums:

  • Noise, Lust & Fun (1989)
  • Grossing 10K (1989) - which contained today's song "Asstrax"
  • An Unexpected Groovy Treat (1992) - which contained some minor mainstream hits, "101" and "Forevergreen"
Despite a succession of well-regarded releases on One Little Indian, monetary and mainstream success eluded them. 

As the band entered the 1990's they began wearing white coveralls printed all over with the Fini Tribe star symbol.  It seemed as though they were desiring to break from their cult image and adopt a more pop-dance style.  In 1992 , they resurrected their Finiflex record label and opened their own studio complex in Leith (a burgh just north of Edinburgh).

Their follow-up album, 1995's Sheigra did not perform as well as previous releases, although critics liked it.  By 1996 the band was essentially a duo of Miller and Pinsky who were accompanied by various vocal guests.  With vocalist Katy Morrison they released their final album in 1998, Sleazy Listening, a drum and bass, trip-hop album.

Sunday, April 8, 2012

"Suspicious Minds" by Fine Young Cannibals - April 8th 80's Quest Song of the Day


I did not jump on the Fine Young Cannibals band wagon.  They became very popular in America, but I am never big fan of high-pitched lilty voices so I disliked their lead singer, Roland Gift’s  voice.  Despite that, the one song by Fine Young Cannibals that I really, really loved was their cover of the Elvis Presley hit “Suspicious Minds”.  I am actually not a fan of Elvis Presley either (I know…unusual for an American), but the songs I do like from him such as “Suspicious Minds”, “In the Ghetto” and “Kentucky Rain” are all from his late 1960’/early 1970’s “Fat Elvis” phase.  Since I had never purchased a Fine Young Cannibals album in the mid-80’s I first heard the Fine Young Cannibals version in the late 80’s while I was DJ-ing on college radio station W.U.N.H. 91.3 FM in Durham, NH.  I thought it was a brilliant cover.  A brilliant cover to me is one that does not sound exactly like the original, only done by another band; but rather one that a band takes, does something slightly different with it, and makes it new and something of their own.  I thought the Fine Young Cannibals did this with “Suspicious Minds”.  I used to play it back to back with Elvis’s version often on my radio show - - the only Elvis and Fine Young Cannibal songs I ever played on it.

The Fine Young Cannibals were formed in Birmingham, England in 1984 by David Steele (bass) and Andy Cox (guitars) after their previous band The Beat (known in America as The English Beat) broke up when singers Ranking Roger and Dave Wakeling went off to form a new band (General Public) without them and had their accountant call Steele and Cox to inform them.  Steele and Cox listened to over 500 audition cassettes over 8 months before enlisting Roland Gift, formerly of the band Akrylykz who had once opened for The Beat, to join their new  band as lead singer.  The band name was inspired by the 1960 Robert Wagner and Natalie Wood film, All the Fine Young Cannibals.  The band set out to create a new sound apart from their days with The Beat, by infusing jazz and soul into pop music.
 
The band signed with record label London Records in early 1985.  In an effort to maintain their own unique sound rather than the one the record company was trying to hoist on them, Fine Yong Cannibals released a single of a demo of theirs called “Johnny Come Home”.    When the video for the single was played the English music television program The Tube the major record companies took notice.  Fine Young Cannibals signed with I.R.S. Records and released their self-titled debut album in 1985 which contained their breakthrough hit “Johnny Come Home” as well as a cover of Elvis Presley’s hit “Suspicious Minds” – which included guest vocals from The Communards (see February 29th 80’s Quest post) lead singer Jimmy Somerville.

In 1987 Fine Young Cannibals appeared in the comedy movie Tin Men (starring Danny DeVito, Richard Dreyfuss, and Barbara Hershey) as the house band.  The same year, 1987 Roland Gift appeared as the character Danny in the film Sammy and Rosie Get Laid.   In 1988 Steele and Cox collaborated on a side project called Two Men, a Drum Machine and a Trumpet and released an instrumental house single called “Tired of Getting Pushed Around” .  It hit #18 on the U.K. charts and did well on the American dance music charts. 

In 1988 Fine Young Cannibals released their second album, The Raw and the Cooked which contained their best-selling singles “She Drives Me Crazy” and “Good Thing”.  Both hit #1 in America.  The album included songs the band had previously recorded for the movie Tin Men (one of which was “Good Thing”), as well as a cover of the Buzzcock’s song “Ever Fallen in Love (With Someone You Shouldn’t’ve”.  The Fine Young Cannibals version of this song also appeared on the soundtrack to Jonathan Demme’s film Something Wild.
 
In 1990 the band recorded a song for the Red Hot Organization’s AID’s charity album Red Hot & Blue which contained cover versions of 20 Cole Porter song.  Fine Young Cannibals’ contribution was the song “Love for Sale”.

After releasing only two albums, Fine Young Cannibals disappeared in 1992.  The band never officially broke up, but remains elusive.  Constant rumors of a reunion surface from time to time. Cox and Steel continue to work together on various music projects.  Roland Gift tried for a career in acting that never took off in a big way. 
 
In 1996 a Greatest Hits compilation was released.  The band reunited in the studio to record a new track for the album called “The Flame”.  In the 2000’s Gift got a band together and toured as Roland Gift and the Fine Young Cannibals.

Lyrics:
We're caught in a trap
I can't walk out
Because I love you too much baby
Why can't you see
What you're doing to me
When you don't believe a word I say?

We can't go on together
With suspicious minds
And we can't build our dreams
On suspicious minds

So, if an old friend I know
Drops by to say hello
Would I still see suspicion in your eyes?

Here we go again
Asking where I've been
You can't see these tears are real
I'm crying

We can't go on together
With suspicious minds
And be can't build our dreams
On suspicious minds

Oh let our love survive
Or dry the tears from your eyes
Let's don't let a good thing die

When honey, you know
I've never lied to you
Mmm yeah, yeah

Saturday, April 7, 2012

"Feels Like Heaven" by Fiction Factory - April 7th 80's Quest Song/Band of the Day


In 1984 when I was a Senior in high school, I worked all year as a cashier at a department store to save up money to go on a trip to London, England with our school’s Foreign Language Club in April of 1985.  They took an international trip every year, and my friends and I specifically joined the club that year, because we heard they were going to London, and we wanted to be there.  During the early 80’s all of the best bands, fashions, and clubs were all from England and we were all quite Anglophiles in that regard.  It was a dream trip.  Twenty-seven years later my friends and I still talk about the trip we took that week and look back on it fondly as one of the best weeks of our entire lives.

Of course one of the things we wanted to do while in London was to hit the record stores and bring home some cool new music that had not hit our shores yet.  We tuned our ears and heard some new bands during our stay such as Haywoode, Go West, Paul Hardcastle, and the Rah Band, which were being played frequently that April 1985 in London.  Another band we heard over there was Fiction Factory, I bought their album Throw the Warped Wheel Out at the HMV record store and took it back home with me.  I rarely ever heard them played on the radio in America.  Maybe only a handful of times over the years as an underground kind of band, but they never achieved the same popularity that they seemed to have in England at the time.  Imagine how surprised I was to hear the song used in a mainstream television commercial for candy a few years ago!  That’s the way it seems to go these days.  I used to get chided back in high school for what was considered to be “underground” bands that my classmates had never heard before on mainstream radio, and now I hear all of these songs appearing in modern day television commercials and movie soundtracks.
 
Fiction Factory formed in Perth, Scotland in 1983.  Members Kevin Patterson (vocals), Eddie Jordan (keyboards), Grant Taylor (trumpet) and Chic Medley (guitar) had played together in a skinhead ska band called The Rude Boys/or The RB’s, as it was later shortened.

CBS Records showed interest in them but wanted them to have a more full-fledged sound, so they brought on Graham McGregor (bass) and Mike Ogletree (drums) who had formerly played with the band Simple Minds.  Fiction Factory’s debut album, Throw the Warped Wheel Out was released in 1984 and spawned the single “Feels Like Heaven” which was a Top 10 hit in the U.K. , Germany and Switzerland.  Other singles included “Ghost of Love” (#64 in the U.K.), and “All or Nothing”.

The band released a second album in 1985 called Another Story.  It did not achieve the same success and the singles released (“Time is Right”, “Not the Only One”, and “No Time”) did not chart well.  Fiction Factory broke up in 1987.  Singer Pattinson eventually left the music business.  He has a wife and two children and now works in the IT department at the University of Dundee in Scotland.  Guitarist Medley continued working in the music realm with world music band Mouth Music. 

In 2009 the song “Feels Like Heaven” was used in a television commercial for Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups.  In 2011 original members Pattinson, Medley, McGregor and Jordan reformed for a performance at the Rewind Festival, and 80’s music festival taking place at Temple Island Meadows near Henley-on-Thames, England.  Other bands who shared the bill with Fiction Factory included Holly Johnson of Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Village People, Billy Ocean, Bananarama, Haircut 100, Howard Jones, Hue and Cry, ABC, The Human League, Kim Wilde, Ali Campbell's UB40, Earth, Wind & Fire Experience feat Al McKay, Average White Band, Nik Kershaw, Candi Staton, and more.
Lyrics:

Heaven is closer now today
The sound is in my ears
I can't believe the things you say
They echo what I fear
Twisting the bones until they snap
I scream but no one knows
Say I'm familiar, cold to touch
And then you turn and go

Feels like heaven
Feels like heaven

See how we planned for saddened eyes and tears
To pave the way
I fought the fever as I knew
My hair, it turned to gray
Study your face and fade the frame
Too close for comfort now
We can recall the harmony that lingered but went sour

Feels like heaven
Feels like heaven

You wanted all I had to give
See me, I feel
See me, I live
Whoa oh

Feels like heaven
(heaven is closer, heaven is closer)
Feels like heaven
(heaven is closer, heaven is closer)
Feels like heaven
(heaven is closer, heaven is closer)
Feels like heaven
(heaven is closer, heaven is closer)

Friday, April 6, 2012

"10-9-8" by Face to Face - April 6th 80's Quest Song/Band of the Day


 
 
 
As I have said in other posts, I am not a big fan of high-pitched, lilty voices.  During the mid-1980’s there were two female singers leading Boston bands that were garnering some local acclaim around the same time:  Aimee Mann of ‘til Tuesday, and Laurie Sargent of Face to Face.  Boston radio DJ’s often pitted the bands against each other as though in a feud, and asked the listening audience which band’s side they were on.  When it came to that choice, I was definitely on Laurie Sargent’s side because her voice was tougher, and lower.  At times she could sound very feminine, but other times she growled.  I did like ‘til Tuesday as well, but Aimee Mann’s style was much more high pitched and lilty than Sargent’s so I was less fond of them (turns out she went on to bigger success).  Face to Face I absolutely loved, though.  I had all three of their albums and played them all the time.  In high school my friend’s little sister went to a different school and was on the committee that was bringing a Face to Face concert there.  I remember going across town to see the show, and standing in the front row at this small, small concert.  Now famous American comedian and Saturday Night Live alum, Adam Sandler was a student at the high school then, and was in a  band.  They were the opening act.  As a teenager it is always fun to be close to your idols, so it was a big thrill for me to be singing along with Face to Face.  Back then we didn’t have digital cameras with zoom lenses, so if you were going to get live concert shots you had to be up front really close to the band.  I got some great up-close shots of the band.  Next time I go to my parent’s house I will have to take them out of storage, digitize them, and post them to 80’s Quest.  When I was 18 years-old Face to Face played a show at my college during the first month I was there.  This time I got to meet them.  For me at the time, it was a big deal.  I had always thought Angelo was a real hottie at the time so it was nice to meet him and stand by his side.  Their albums are really hard to find these days on CD or download, so consider yourself lucky if you get to listen to some of their other work.

Face to Face was formed by guitarist Stuart Kimball in New Hampshire during the late 1970’s.  Joining him were some of his close friends, Laurie Sargent (vocals), Angelo Petraglia (then only going by one name, “Angelo”, on guitar and keyboards), John Ryder (bass) and Billy Beard (drums).  In 1980 they moved to the Boston, which was the biggest city and music hub in New England.  They played local clubs and built up a following and were signed to Epic Records in 1982.
Their self-titled first album was released in 1984.  They scored a hit with their single “10-9-8” which was a Top 40 hit charting at #38 on the Billboard charts in America.  In 1984 the band appeared in the movie Streets of Fire as fictional band “Ellen and the Attackers”.  In the movie they perform the songs “Never Be You”, “Sorcerer” and the harmony on the “Nowhere Fast”.  It looked like the band was really going places!

The band released two more albums Confrontation (1985) and One Big Day (1988); but they didn’t fare as well as their debut.  The band had switched to PolyGram Records, but even that couldn’t bring a rally.  The band broke up in 1988.

Laurie Sargent went on to record as a solo artist, and then became the lead singer for a band called The Twinemen which former Face to Face bandmate Stuart Kimball sometimes plays with, and which also includes former members of the band Morphine.  The name of the band was chosen in homage to Morphine’s late lead singer Mark Sandman’s comic series, “The Twinemen” which featured three anthropomorphic balls of twine playing together in a band. 

Billy Beard became a booker at some well-known Boston-area music clubs:  Toad and The Lizard Lounge (in Cambridge).  He also plays with a band called Session Americana. 

John Ryder has worked for the Philips Corporation for over 10 years, and when not working plays around Boston with the James Montgomery & Friends band as one of their founding members.  The band was nominated for a Boston Music Award in 2003.

In addition to his stints with The Twinemen, Stuart Kimball became a member of Bob Dylan’s band during the Never Ending Tour.  The Never Ending Tour is the popular name for Dylan’s  endless touring schedule since June 7, 1988. 

Angelo Petraglia went on to write songs and produce other bands.  In 2010 he won a Grammy Award for his production work for the band Kings of Leon (he also wrote some songs with them).
 Lyrics:

I'll be your loaded dice
You're holding all the cards
You set the tone whenever I'm with you
You make up all the rules
In this game of fools

I see your signals change
They go from green to red
It's always stop and go and the colors are changing
Never let on, never let on
Look to the left, look to the right
Why can't you look me straight in the eye?

CHORUS
10-9-8
I'm always counting down
Do you feel the pressure when you're under the gun
6-5-4
I'm always countin down
Isn't it funny, I never get to one

I'll be your only chance
I play the only role
I go the distance whenever I'm with you
You make up all the rules
In this game of fools
Can you hear me in the dark
I'm walkin on the wire
I'm on the edge, it's always my time for falling
Never let on, never let on
Look to the left, look to the right
Why can't you look me straight in the eye?

CHORUS

Never let on
Never let on
Never let on

Never let on
Never let on
Never let on

CHORUS
CHORUS
CHORUS


Since it's kinda rare to find video on this band, here's one more for you - "Under the Gun":

Thursday, April 5, 2012

"Love is a Stranger" by Eurythmics - April 5th 80's Quest Song/Band of the Day



Lyrics:


Love is a stranger
In an open car
To tempt you in
And drive you far away

[Chorus:]
And I want you
And I want you
And I want you so
It's an obsession

Love is a danger
Of a different kind
To take you away
And leave you far behind
And love love love
Is a dangerous drug
You have to receive it
And you still can't
Get enough of the stuff

It's savage and it's cruel
And it shines like destruction
Comes in like the flood
And it seems like religion
It's noble and it's brutal
It distorts and deranges
And it wrenches you up
And you're left like a zombie

[Chorus]

It's guilt edged
Glamorous and sleek by design
You know it's jealous by nature
False and unkind
It's hard and restrained
And it's totally cool
It touches and it teases
As you stumble in the debris

[Chorus]


Wednesday, April 4, 2012

"The Final Countdown" by Europe - April 4th 80's Quest Song/Band of the Day


The late 80's was a big time for metal music in America, and around 1986 I remember hearing "The Final Countdown" and the ballad "Carrie" on the radio all the time over the summer.  I didn't know a lot about Europe until researching for 80's Quest, but it turns out they are one of Sweden's most popular bands

Europe was formed in Upplands Väsby, Sweden in 1979.  Originally the band was called Force and consisted of Joey Tempest (vocals and keyboards), John Norum (guitars), Peter Olsson (bass) and Tony Reno (drums).  They started out playing cover songs and getting better at their instruments, and then began writing original material.

The band sent demos out to record companies but were told that they would have to cut their long hair and sing in Swedish in order to be signed.  After two years, Olsson left the band and was replaced by John Leven on bass.  Only a few months later Leven left the band to join Yngwie Malmsteen’s band Rising Force, and Malmsteen’s former bassist, Marcel Jacob joined Force.  This was a short lived 3-month arrangement, as Leven had difficulties with Malmsteen and came back to Force and switched places once again with Jacob.

In 1982 the band changed their name to Europe.  That same year, Tempest’s girlfriend entered Europe into a talent contest for rock bands in Sweden called Rock-SM.  Europe competed against 4,000 other bands and won (Tempest also won for Best Lead Singer and Norum for best guitarist).  Two of their songs in particular,  “In the Future to Come” and “The King Will Return” help land them a record deal with Hot Records.  Their self-titled debut album was released in 1983 and did very well in Sweden and Japan.  The single “Seven Doors Hotel” was a big hit in Japan.

Their second album Wings of Tomorrow was released in 1984.  Their single “Open Your Heart” caught the attention of major label CBS Records who offered them an international recording contract in 1985.  Europe brought on Mic Michaeli as a full-time keyboard player.  Reno was fired because he was not attending rehearsals and was unmotivated.  He was replaced by Ian Haugland on drums.

In 1985 Europe recorded a soundtrack album for the movie On the Loose which contained the single “Rock the Night”.  That same year Tempest was asked to write a song for the Swedish charity project called Swedish Metal Aid, and wrote “Give a Helping Hand”.  The biggest metal and rock stars in Sweden recorded the song, and proceeds went to help the starving in Ethiopia.

In September 1985 Europe worked with Kevin Elson, who was the producer for Journey on their next album The Final Countdown which was released in May 1986.  The single of the same name was the song that broke the band internationally.  It reached #8 on the American Billboard charts and was a worldwide success in countries including the U.K., France, Spain, and Germany.  The next single was a power ballad called “Carrie” which hit #3 on the Billboard Charts in America.  Other singles included “Cherokee” and a re-recorded version of “Rock the Night”.

Guitarist Norum was not fond of the bands move towards a more keyboard-driven sound which he felt was too bubble-gum sounding, and left the band in November 1986 to pursue a solo career and play heavier, guitar oriented music.  Kee Marcello came on as Europe’s new guitarist.  The band toured Europe and America in support of The Final Countdown album.

Their follow-up album was called Out of This World and was released in 1988.  It spawned the hit single “Superstitious” which rose to #31 on the mainstream US Billboard Charts and #9 on the rock charts.  This would be their last song to chart in the USA.  The band toured America with Def Leppard, and played a big festival gig at the National Bowl in Milton Keynes, England with Bon Jovi, Skid Row, and Vixen.

At the end of 1992 the band was tired from 10 years of recording and touring and decided to take a break.  Tempest and Marcello released solo albums and the other band members participated in other music projects.

In 1998 the band began talking about a reunion.  In 2000 Europe was asked to perform at a millennium celebration in Stockholm on New Year’s Eve 1999.  Both Norum and Marcello came back and played guitar during that show.

In October 2003 the version of the band that recorded The Final Countdown album officially reunited, and made plans for a new album and world tour.  The band again worked with Journey producer, Elson for the new album, Start from the Dark, which was released in September 2004.  Prior to its release the band toured Europe during the summer to rev-up interest in the project. 

Europe released another album in October 2006 called Secret Society.  In January 2008 the band performed along with a string quartet performing reworked versions of their songs for the Almost Unplugged event at rock club Nalen in Stockholm, Sweden.  During the show they also played cover songs of bands who had influenced them including Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, UFO and Thin Lizzy.  The show was broadcast live over the internet on Europe’s website, and released on CD in September 2008, and on DVD in August 2009.

In July 2008 Europe performed with Whitesnake in Padua Italy.  In August 2008 they opened for Deep Purple for two concerts in Lingköping and Ystad, Sweden. 

On July 21, 2009 Marcel Jacobs (Yngwie Malmsteen’s bassist, who had also played with Force for a short time) committed suicide at the age of 45 after struggling with personal and health issues.  His last recording was an album called Expressions with a Swedish band called Impulsia in 2009. 

Europe released an album in September 2009 called Last Look at Eden and a single of the same name.  The album had more of a classic 1970’s rock sound.   A second single “New Love in Town” was released as a digital download. 

In August 2011 Europe played before over 40,000 boy scouts and guides at the 22nd World Scout Jamboree in Rinkaby, Sweden.  King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden were also in attendance.  Europe will release their 9th studio album, Bag of Bones in April 2012 in Japan and Sweden.
Lyrics:

We're leaving together,
But still it's farewell
And maybe we'll come back,
To earth, who can tell ?
I guess there is no one to blame
We're leaving ground
Will things ever be the same again?

It's the final countdown

We're heading for Venus and still we stand tall
Cause maybe they've seen us and welcome us all
With so many light years to go and things to be found
I'm sure that we'll all miss her so.

It's the final countdown.