'80s Junket of the Week

Joan Jett and the Blackhearts. "I Hate Myself for Loving You."



Bad ass song. I've said this very song title to myself more than once in this lifetime. If I were ever to front a rock band (HAHAHA!) this would totally be in the set list. And watch out -- if it ever pops up on a karaoke menu, I'm singing it.

You've been warned.

'80s Junket of the Week

Stewart Copeland and Stan Ridgway. "Don't Box Me In."



This was featured on the soundtrack to the movie "Rumble Fish." Never saw that flick myself (I know -- heresy for a Chick of the '80s...) but I've more than made up for it with the number of times I've listened to this song.

Stewart epitomizes cool here -- the brooding intense, very sexy musician. And Stan Ridgway's unique voice is the perfect complement to the harmonious discord.

Enjoy. Feel free to play this more than once. I have.

'80s Junket of the Week

Check it out... one of the intro clips for MTV's seminal alternative music program 120 Minutes.


I LOVED this show. Truly, madly, deeply. It featured the music that I was either listening to or, thanks to the show itself, music I was about to listen to. I can remember coming home from wherever and watching whatever was left of the show that night, postponing sleep until I had my music video fix. I also just discovered, in one of my insomniac moments, that VH1 Classic is running a version of 120 Minutes in the overnight on the weekends. Caught The Pixies and The Waterboys in the wee small hours of this morning. Awesome.

Anyway... back in the day, it didn't hurt that I had a thing for the smirking, smart-ass, late '80s host, Kevin Seal. Watch this clip. No wonder I wanted to marry him and have adorable, snarky, dark-haired children together...



Found this site which has a remarkably comprehensive set of playlists from the show's fairly lengthy history.

Here's the list from January 29, 1989 -- which featured one Kevin Seal as host.

The Pogues - "Yeah Yeah Yeah"
New Order - "True Faith"
Julian Cope - "World Shut Your Mouth"
Lou Reed - "Dirty Blvd."
Camper Van Beethoven - "Good Guys And Bad Guys"
The Replacements - "I'll Be You"
The Feelies - "Away"
Special AKA - "Free Nelson Mandela"
The Saints - "Grain Of Sand"
X-Ray segment - Cowboy Junkies with interview of Margo Timmons
Cowboy Junkies - "Sweet Jane"
Violent Femmes - "Nightmares"
Nitzer Ebb - "Control I'm Here"
The Pursuit Of Happiness - "Hard To Laugh"
Midge Ure - "Dear God"
The Smiths - "The Boy With A Thorn In His Side"
Ciccone Youth - "Addicted To Love"
Sonic Youth - "Teenage Riot"
The Lilac Time - "Return To Yesterday"
They Might Be Giants - "They'll Need A Crane"
Lime Spiders - "The Other Side Of You"
Echo & The Bunnymen - "Bedbugs And Ballyhoo"
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - "The Mercy Seat"
R.E.M. - "Stand"
A-House - "Call Me Blue"

Wow. Stuff on there I still listen to regularly and stuff I haven't thought about in years. Might be time to track down some of these forgotten tunes.

In honor of this late, great show, I give you...
The Replacements. "I'll Be You."

'80s Junket of the Week

Julian Cope. "World Shut Your Mouth."



I hear this song and I'm instantly 21 again, wearing black (natch) and dancing madly at The Vatican, the after-hours, alternative-music-playing club that was my late-night weekend haunt in 1986.

I can't remember actually seeing this video back in the day -- but I love that tricked-out microphone stand Julian's got. Notice the leather pants.

Now if you'll excuse me, I must get back to dancing.