Cameron Frye, this podcast is for you
So you say you want a good laugh on a dreary fall Saturday? We've got it right here: Our "Horrible Hits of 1981" podcast is officially online.
I'm warning you right now: Sean Daly actually is charged with carrying the water on this week's show, thanks to a nagging cold bug that has me coughing more than a med-school clinic the day before the big test on hernias. Cameron Frye, I feel your pain.
Sean sings, he guffaws, and he basically saves the day. Meanwhile, I sound more pathetic than Gary Oldman during the second half of Sid & Nancy. In fact, the only reason I'm posting this blog item now is so Sean will stop calling me at home tonight, disturbing the loving attempts from my staff of highly trained nurses catering to my every need.
Click here to download the show. Or click here to get all our shows for free via iTunes. And don't forget to leave a comment telling us how Sean is and how badly I drag the show down.
Relive the music, movies and culture of the greatest decade ever with Times online editor Steve Spears. A teen during the decade, Steve is obsessed with everything from Duran Duran to Journey, John Hughes to John Cusack, and parachute pants to Reaganomics.
E-mail Steve Spears:
Good podcast.Sean was on fire!
I accept Urgent on the list.Streisand was missed,thow.
Posted by: Miguel | November 18, 2008 at 12:31 PM
Thank you, Marissa. :) Oh by the way..No Franke & the Knockouts "Sweetheart"? Another song I love that might be a POS.
Posted by: DC | November 17, 2008 at 02:39 PM
I'm so disappointed that you did not sacrifice Streisand. VJ had a few good choices, but I would definitely dump both Toto songs, and Rick Astley. I know you'll hate this Steve, but he should definitely keep "Waiting For A Girl Like You". That song is a perfect choice, so is REO and Level 42. Here's a few I would add:
I've Been In Love Before - Cutting Crew
In Too Deep - Genesis
Baby, I Love Your Way/Freebird - Will To Power
Like To Get To Know You Well - Howard Jones
Just Like Heaven - The Cure (or "Love Song")
Hold Me Now - Thompson Twins (or "King For A Day")
Delirious - Prince
How Can I Fall? - Breathe
Posted by: Bassnote | November 16, 2008 at 06:08 PM
ya'll havent done any definitive albums of the 80s in a while. some suggestions, if you will, foreigner-four, reo-hi infidelity, styx-paradise theater, def leppard-hysteria or pyromania, bon jovi-slippery when wet, van halen-1984 or 5150, i could go on and on, but i'll leave it that.
Posted by: CHAD | November 16, 2008 at 05:35 PM
Great podcast. Sean was a tour de force of humor. I hope you feel better soon Spearsy. I'm in the group of people that will object to "Urgent" being on the list, but I object more to "The Break-up Song". Greg Kihn's tune is really a good song. Everything else deserved to be on the list.
Posted by: Bassnote | November 16, 2008 at 05:29 PM
DC, if a person can love another person everyone knows is a piece of crap, then you can love a song the world recognizes as a turd.
Posted by: Marissa | November 16, 2008 at 04:29 PM
This is killing me. Can you love songs that you know are crap? 1981 brings back too many good memories that, unfortunately for me, these songs are attached to. I'm shameful to say I have every one of these songs on my iPod. (Yes, even Terri Gibbs & the Oak Ridge Boys)
Posted by: DC | November 16, 2008 at 03:42 PM
Spearsy = Phlegm Kadiddlehopper
Posted by: | November 16, 2008 at 02:58 PM
Sean is so right about the Bette Davis movie "What Ever Happened to Baby Jane" creepy beyond words.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pa2USJZHywE
Steve, I hope you feel better soon.
Posted by: Marissa | November 15, 2008 at 10:14 PM
If you remember my pathetic sweet sixteen letter, I can now add to it thanks to URGENT being considered a crap-tastic song.
My friends, who strangely had no idea what kind of music I liked, bought me FOREIGNER 4 and AIR SUPPLY on vinyl.
*sigh* Yeah. They both make the poopy tunage list of '81.
Posted by: Marissa | November 15, 2008 at 09:26 PM
good cast, but i'm gonna have to take offense at urgent. while it is not their best tune, urgent no way deserves to be on any worst of list. the record from which urgent comes, four, is an absolute classic. it's flawless, not a bad tune on it. some are better than others, but no clunkers to my ears.
Posted by: CHAD | November 15, 2008 at 08:53 PM
Absolutely hilarious podcast! Loved Sean's singing this week.
I will admit to LOVING Elvira as a kid, gimme a break I was only 8 years old in 1981. I have fond memories of skiing on Mount Hood and getting money for the jukebox to play Elvira while eatting lunch AND if I remember correctly my grandma had this album on 8-track in her Dodge. Fond memories of listening to that with my cousins. :)
Posted by: specialkness | November 15, 2008 at 08:49 PM
Steve, is that "Surfin' Bird?" and are you watching Family Guy episodes?
Posted by: Marissa | November 15, 2008 at 08:40 PM
Sean, it's so funny you quote Ron Burgundy. I was just watching that on a break at work. I know, totally not PC and against all HR rules. Call me a rebel!
Posted by: Marissa | November 15, 2008 at 08:40 PM
It's a bit scary that Australians made up 20% of the worst songs of 81. Hope this isn't an ongoing theme through the decade.
Best podcast ever? Surely Sean, you rate the Huey Lewis ep. as the high water mark?
Posted by: Ian from Down Under | November 15, 2008 at 08:08 PM
Meanwhile, in Spearsy's shabby lair, the Bird is the word.
Posted by: Spears | November 15, 2008 at 07:59 PM
Scotchy Scotch Scotch. I love Scotch.
Posted by: Sean Daly | November 15, 2008 at 07:02 PM
Best. Podcast. Ever.
Posted by: Sean Daly | November 15, 2008 at 07:01 PM