Bruce brings us “So” from Peter Gabriel (In Your Eyes / Red Rain / That Voice / Big Time) ENTERTAINMENT TRACK: “Danger Zone” by Kenny Loggins - Theme from the movie “Top Gun.” STAFF PICKS: “I Wanna be a Cowboy” by Boys Don’t Cry — Brian. “All the Things She Said” by Simple Minds — Rob. “Touch & Go” by Emerson, Lake, & Powell — Wayne. “No One is to Blame” by Howard Jones — Bruce. LAUGH TRACK: “The Chicken Song” by Spitting Image
Bruce is excited about this blockbuster hit album. After four solo albums without a name, the record company finally persuaded Peter Gabriel to name this fifth album. So is a synthesizer-heavy album influenced by world music. It shows Gabriel's experimental side, but it was a more approachable album than his other releases, and it was a huge hit in the mid-'80s both on radio and MTV. Gabriel went from a cult star to a mainstream star in the rock genre very quickly with this five-fold platinum album. There's really not a bad track on this album, and the majority of the songs received airplay.
Join us as we have a BIG TIME with this SLEDGEHAMMER of an album!
“In Your Eyes”
This song leads off side two. Gabriel wanted to make it the last song, but the bass line is so strong that it needed to be near the front of the album to give the record stylus room to vibrate. This track became popular after the release of the movie "Say Anything."
“Red Rain”
Red Rain This track leads off the album. Gabriel wanted it to "crash at the front." Stewart Copeland (Police) does the symbol work at the front of this dark, melancholy song.
“That Voice”
This one qualifies as a deeper cut. Nice bass work by Tony Levin on this heavily layered exploration of conscience - the voices in your head.
“Big Time”
Emblematic of the yuppie culture of the ‘80's, this song satirizes the "bigger is better - greed is good” culture of the time. Stewart Copeland (of the Police) is on drums, while Tony Levin is fingering the bass and Jerry Marotta is playing the strings on the bass with drumsticks to give it the "slap bass" sound.
“Danger Zone” - the theme from “Top Gun” by Kenny Loggins
This tune was a hit from the mega-hit movie “Top Gun” featuring Tom Cruise. It’s actually a good soundtrack!
“I Wanna be a Cowboy” by Boys Don’t Cry
Brian! Oh, Brian — I mean, Ted! Oh, Ted! Fighting off danger! This one hit deadpan comedy wonder could be heard in all the clubs in 1986.
“All the Things She Said” by Simple Minds
Rob shares the third single from Simple Minds’ seventh studio album, and it’s a great track. The B-side to the single is a live version of “Don't You Forget About Me,” their most famous song (but one that the lead singer hated).
“Touch & Go” by Emerson, Lake, & Powell
Wayne goes for ELP...but not Palmer in this case! Cozy Powell takes over percussion duties from Carl Palmer, who was unavailable to reform Emerson, Lake, & Palmer due to his work with the supergroup, Asia. The synthesizer melody is based on an English folk tune called “Lovely Joan.”
“No One is to Blame” by Howard Jones
Bruce closes out staff picks with this one. Jones originally put out this song on his “Dream Into Action” album. It became a hit after Phil Collins produced the re-recording, and added the drum work and backing vocals. This track appeared on Jones' third album entitled "One to One."
“The Chicken Song” by Spitting Image
This number one song in Britain was from a comedy TV show which used puppets designed to look like famous politicians and celebrities. This is where Genesis got their video for “Land of Confusion.” Check out the video.