Men At Work - Down Under

'Down Under' (also known as 'Land Down Under') is a pop song recorded by Men at Work for their debut album Business as Usual. The song went to number 1 on American, British, Canadian and Australian charts.

It was reissued in 1982, and is the only Men at Work song to go to number 1 in the United Kingdom, and their only single to make the UK top 20. It has become a popular and patriotic song in Australia.
The lyrics are about an Australian traveller circling the globe, proud of his nationality, and about his interactions with people he meets on his travels who are interested in his home country.

One of the verses refers to Vegemite sandwiches, among other things; the particular lyric "He just smiled and gave me a Vegemite sandwich" has become a well-known phrase.

Colin Hay told Songfacts: "The chorus is really about the selling of Australia in many ways, the over-development of the country. It was a song about the loss of spirit in that country. It's really about the plundering of the country by greedy people. It is ultimately about celebrating the country, but not in a nationalistic way and not in a flag-waving sense. It's really more than that."

Slang and drug terms are used in the lyrics:

Travelling in a fried-out Kombi, on a hippy trail, head full of zombie.
Here 'fried-out' means overheated, Kombi refers to the Volkswagen Type 2 combination van, and having 'a head full of zombie' refers to the use of a type of marijuana. Cultural slang is also used: after the second verse the refrain is "where the beer does flow and men chunder"; 'chunder' means vomit.

The music video was filmed in a number of places, including Lake Mackenzie on Fraser Island. The video also features several litre-size cans of what appear to be Foster's Lager (although the brand is removed), a beer drunk mainly outside Australia while being marketed as Australian.

The song is a perennial favourite on Australian radio and television, and topped the charts in the U.S. and UK simultaneously in early 1983. It was later used as a theme song by the crew of Australia II in their successful bid to win the America's Cup in 1983. Men at Work played this song in the closing ceremony of the 2000 Sydney Olympics, alongside other Australian artists. It was also often played after Australian athletes had received medals during competition, as they walked around the venue on a parade lap after the medal ceremony.

Click the link below to download the following:
Video
Single Version
Helpless Automaton - B-Side
Crazy - Australian B-Side

http://www.mediafire.com/?r5vddhs55p9gf

Martika - I Feel The Earth Move

'I Feel the Earth Move' is a song written and recorded by pop singer-songwriter Carole King. A track on King's album Tapestry, the song is one half of the double A-sided single, the flip side which was 'It's Too Late'. Together, both 'I Feel the Earth Move' and 'It's Too Late' became among the biggest mainstream pop hits for the year 1971.

Released in autumn 1989, 'I Feel the Earth Move' was the third single from Martika's self-titled debut, Martika. 'I Feel the Earth Move' reached the number 25 on the pop charts in the U.S., and number 7 in the UK and number 2 in Australia.

The high energy music video was shot during the promotional tour for this album. The song's tenure on the U.S. charts was cut short when radio stations pulled it from their playlists in the wake of the 1989 San Francisco earthquake.

Click the link below to downlaod the following:
Video
Single Version
Seismic Rhythm Mix
Alibis - B-Side

http://www.mediafire.com/?cldda9oxb00zk

Toni Basil - Shoppin From A To Z

'Shoppin' From A to Z' is the fourth single by Toni Basil, and the third from her debut album, Word of Mouth. It was released in the US only.

After the poor performance of 'Nobody' in the UK, there was a lot of dependence on 'Shoppin' From A to Z' for its performance in the US. It peaked at number 77.

The song features a shopping list consisting of various grocery items, each beginning with a different letter of the alphabet. On the album version, it is shouted out by a chorus. However, in the single version this is replaced by comical voices saying the name of each item.

the track was also used in the TV series Fame. the episode was called 'Wishes' and was was from the 4th series.

Click the link below to download the following:
Video
Single Version
Special Club Mix
Time After time - B-side

http://www.mediafire.com/?mp0plkvkbbav9

Martika - Toy Soldiers

'Toy Soldiers' is a song by Martika appearing on her eponymous debut album in 1989 as a ballad. The single was a number-one hit in the United States. It was sampled by Eminem in his 2004 single, 'Like Toy Soldiers'. The song's subject matter concerns drug abuse and how it can devastate the lives of the user and those who care about them.

Martika is the only one who sings throughout the song, although she is joined on the chorus by some of her former castmates from Kids Incorporated, including the Black Eyed Peas's Stacy Ferguson, Rahsaan Patterson, Renee Sands, as well as later cast members Jennifer Love Hewitt and Devyn Puett, as backup vocalists.

The song spent two weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S. and New Zealand while reaching number five in both the United Kingdom and Australia. When it spent its first week at number one, it had leapt over Madonna's 'Express Yourself' and kept that song from reaching the top spot. On Billboard's year-end chart for 1989, 'Toy Soldiers' placed number 29. It was Martika's only number-one single in the U.S., and her highest-ranking single in the United Kingdom. The single was certified Gold in the United States by the RIAA.

Click the link below to download the following:
Video
Single Version
Japanese Version
Exchange Of Hearts - B-Side

http://www.mediafire.com/?d374b7u52be4o

Danielle Dax - Cat House

Danielle Dax is an experimental musician and producer most active from the late-1970s to the mid-1990s. She was born in Southend-on-Sea, Essex.

In 1988 Dax released her 4th single entitled 'Cat House'. It didn't chart.

Click the link below to download the following:
Single Version
House Cat - B-Side
Touch Piggy's Eyes - 12 inch Extra Track

http://www.mediafire.com/?olb5kfx7ydsa9

Journey - Behind The Music

Well here is another of the VH1 Behind The Music that I have reccently been watching but this time from the group Journey.

Originally broadcast on 18th February 2001

VH1 Behind The Music - Journey Part 1




VH1 Behind The Music - Journey Part 2




VH1 Behind The Music - Journey Part 3




VH1 Behind The Music - Journey Part 4

Depeche Mode - Behind The Music

Well I have recently been watching some 80's stuff and felt that it was about time to share them on here.

This is Depeche Mode's VH1 Behind The Music Documentary.

>The alternative rock group, whose singer Dave Gahan battled depression for years and survived several suicide attempts.

The band was almost torn apart, before he went to a drug rehab and cleaned himself up in 1996.

Originally broadcast on 28th February 1998

VH1 Behind The Music - Depeche Mode - Part 1





VH1 Behind The Music - Depeche Mode - Part 2

Depeche Mode - Master And Servant

'Master and Servant' is Depeche Mode's eleventh UK single (released on August 20, 1984) and the second single from the Some Great Reward album.

Despite a lot of controversy surrounding the song, it still managed to reach number 9 in the UK Singles Chart.

'Master and Servant' comes with the 'Slavery Whip Mix', the longest 12" DM song at the time with the outro being turned into a swing version of the refrain, and the "Voxless" version which is an instrumental mix of the song.

The B-side is '(Set Me Free) Remotivate Me', its Release Mix is the 12" version. The 7" version edits out much of the beginning.

The 'Master and Servant' music video was directed by Clive Richardson.

The overtly sexual, BDSM-themed lyrics of 'Master and Servant' - complete with synthesized whip-and-chain sound effects - reportedly got the song banned by many radio stations in the United States (although the song reached the Billboard Hot 100 chart anyway, albeit only at number 87 and for only a three-week chart stay). Reportedly the song narrowly avoided a radio ban by the BBC as well, and might have been banned if the one BBC staffer who wanted to ban the record had not been away on holiday at the time the other staffers voted on whether to add 'Master and Servant' to their playlist.

Click the link below to downlaod the following:
Video
Single Version
Slavery Whip Mix
Hammerhead Mix
(Set Me Free) Remotivate Me - B-Side
(Set Me Free) Remotivate Me - 12 inch Remix

http://www.mediafire.com/?0ae46kro6xryr

Duran Duran - Behind the Music

Well here is another of the VH1 Behind The Music doccumentaries that I have recently been watching but this time by Duran Duran.

Behind The Music: Duran Duran gave a profile of the band including a report on the group's chart success in the 1980s, as well as its formation during 1999 as a threesome.

Originally broadcast on the 4th April 1999.

On the 20th November 2010 it was shown again but this time in a remastered format bringing the fans up to date with the band and the release of new music.

VH1 Behind The Music - Durran Durran - Part 1





VH1 Behind The Music - Durran Durran - Part 2





VH1 Behind The Music - Durran Durran - Part 3





VH1 Behind The Music - Durran Durran - Part 4

Duran duran - My Own Way

'My Own Way' is the fourth single by Duran Duran, originally released as a stand-alone single on 16 November 1981.

The single was designed as a stop-gap release to capitalise on the Top 5 success of 'Girls on Film' and to provide a gateway to the band's forthcoming second album. The 7 inch single and 12 inch versions were recorded in October 1981, well before the rest of the Rio album was recorded in the early months of 1982.

'My Own Way' was another hit, peaking at number 14 on the UK Singles Chart, and was even more successful in Australia, where it became Duran Duran's second Top 10 hit at number 10.

Despite its success, the single has often been cited by the band as their least favourite and is rarely played live. Keyboardist Nick Rhodes has expressed astonishment that 'My Own Way' performed better than 1987's 'Skin Trade', which ended the band's record of twelve consecutive Top 20 hits in the UK.

Click the link below to download the following:
Video
Single Version
Night Version
Eyes Like An angel - B-Side

http://www.mediafire.com/?pyk022qtx0kaf

Pat Benatar - All fired Up

In 1988 Pat Benatar released her 31st siingle entitled 'All fired Up'.

This was the first single from the Wide Awake In Dreamland album.

The single made it to number 19 on the UK Singles's Chart whilte in the US the single made it to number 19 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 2 on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks Charts. The single also reached number 8 in Canada and number 2 in Australia.


Click the link below to download the following:
Single Version
12 inch Version
Cool Zero - B-Side

http://www.mediafire.com/?04meund5ryjqv

Front 242

Front 242 is a pioneering Belgian electronic music group that came into prominence during the 1980s. They are known for being the premier pioneer of electronic body music and as a major influence on the electronic and industrial music genres.

'Headhunter' is a song by the Belgian EBM band Front 242. It was released in 1988 on the album Front By Front, in two versions (Version 1.0 and Version 3.0). Version 1.0 was then released as a single, with Version 2.0 as one of the b-sides. The song was a major hit in the electronic and industrial music scenes, and Front By Front subsequently became the top selling album in the history of Wax Trax! Records.

After a long hiatus from 1993 onwards, Front 242 regrouped to re-record the song in late 1999, releasing it with multiple remixes on the dual-CD single Headhunter 2000.

Click the link beow to download the following:
V1 - 12 inch Version
Welcome To Paradise - V1 - B-Side

http://www.mediafire.com/?lsrclgm885b6w

Lionel Richie - Behind The Music

VH1 Behind the Music - Lionel Richie

Story of Lionel Ritchie's phenomenal rise to fame--both as a Commodore and as a solo artist.

Originally broadcast on 29th November 1998



VH1 Behind The Music - Lionel Ritchie - Part 1




Vh1 Behind The Music - Lionel Ritchie - Part 2




VH1 Behind The Music - Lionel Ritchie - Part 3

Pat Benatar - Crimes Of Passion - Album

'Crimes of Passion' is the second album by Pat Benatar, released in 1980.

It peaked at Number 2 on the Billboard 200 and produced the hits 'Hit Me with Your Best Shot' (US Number 9), 'You Better Run' (US Number 42), 'Treat Me Right' (US Number 18), plus a cover of Kate Bush's international hit, 'Wuthering Heights'.

Crimes of Passion is Benatar's highest selling album to date, certifying 5x platinum (for sales of 5 million units)

'Hell Is for Children', which was not released as an A-side single, was also a hit on album-rock stations. However, a live version of this song from her Live from Earth album was released as the B-side of her 'Love Is a Battlefield' single three years later.

The music video for the song 'You Better Run' was the second music video ever aired on MTV in 1981.

This album featured Myron Grombacher on drums, replacing Glen Alexander Hamilton.

Traclisting:
01 - Treat Me Right
02 - You Better Run
03 - Never Wanna Leave You
04 - Hit Me with Your Best Shot
05 - Hell Is for Children
06 - Little Paradise
07 - I'm Gonna Follow You
08 - Wuthering Heights
09 - Prisoner of Love
10 - Out-A-Touch

Click the link below to download the album:

http://www.mediafire.com/?fol4y089xbst0

Pat Benatar - Behind The Music

Well Here is another of the VH1 Behind The Music tat I have recently enjoyed. It's great to find out things about the people and bands you liked back in the day. Hope you enjoy.

Rocker Pat Benatar is profiled via interviews with the singer, band mates, family members, peers and industry insiders.

Originally Broadcast on the 5th August 2001.

VH1 Behind The Music - Pat Benatar.

Laura Branigan - Hold Me - Album

'Hold Me' is the fourth album by the singer Laura Branigan, released in 1985 on Atlantic Records.

The lead single from Branigan's fourth album, 'Spanish Eddie', was her sixth top 40 hit in two and a half years, although it failed to enter the top 20.

The following single release, 'Hold Me', was a top 40 dance hit and her introduction of the rock ballad 'I Found Someone' (co-written by Michael Bolton) reached even higher on the AC chart.

Despite the weak sales, the album has many of her fan-favourite songs. Not only did she continue to perform 'Spanish Eddie' in concerts throughout her career, but she began a life-long tradition of closing every show with an encore of 'Forever Young', the ballad that was made a cult hit by German band Alphaville.

Traclisting:
01 - Hold Me
02 - Maybe Tonight
03 - Foolish Lullaby
04 - Spanish Eddie
05 - Forever Young
06 - When I'm with You
07 - I Found Someone
08 - Sanctuary
09 - Tenderness
10 - When the Heat Hits the Streets

Clcik the link below to download the album

http://www.mediafire.com/?jbjt6d09gjdnb

Brenda Russell - Piano In The Dark

On Tuesday I was reading Chris Daniel's 80's Man blog and he posted the song 'Piano in the Dark' by Brenda Russell.

Well I realised that I had also not included it here on my little blog, and as I love this song I decided to rectify this little error. So here it is.

'Piano In The Dark' was released in early 1988, nine years after Russell's previous charting single on the Billboard Hot 100 (1979's 'So Good, So Right').

'Piano In The Dark' was the first single to be released from the 1988 album 'Get Here'.

The song gained heavy airplay and became Russell's biggest hit, peaking at number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100, number 8 on the R&B Chart and number 3 on the Adult Contemporary Chart. The song was also a moderate hit in the UK, peaking at 23.

The song earned Russell three Grammy Award nominations in 1989, including one for Song of the Year.

The B-Side 'In The Thick Of It' was taken from Russell's 1979 self titled album.

I have to say that like chris I too remember listening to this song on the late night radio stations that played the slow music as I went to sleep. Listening to it again is just a delight as I just love this soulfull classic song and I hope you enjoy it too.

Click the link below to download the following:
Video
Single Version
In The Thick Of It - B-Side

http://www.mediafire.com/?7z4z94ps8uvkq

Ultravox - Love's Great Adventure

'Love's Great Adventure' is a single released by Ultravox on the 12th October 1984, peaking at number 12 in the UK Singles Chart.
The style of this single is different from any of their preceding Lament singles, aiming for a more lightweight, pop-oriented approach.

The music video features the band members in a humorous parody of Indiana Jones, with Midge Ure being chased across deserts and forests by a ruthless treasure hunter. Midge Ure stated in his autobiography, If I Was, that the aim of the single and its video was to promote Ultravox as having a sense of humour, away from the seriousness of their previous releases. Also in the video is Ure's future wife Annabel Giles. The music in the video stops halfway through where a seemingly exhausted Midge Ure, tired from minutes of endless running around has to sit down for a moment and take a breather. He rests for a moment then takes a breath before standing up recovered and continuing with the song at which point the music starts up once again.

The song, based on a riff for a Levi's jeans commercial which was not taken up by the company, was not released on a studio album, instead appearing on their 1984 compilation album The Collection.

Click the link below to download the following:
Video
single Version
Extended Version
White China - Live - B-Side
White China - Special Mix

http://www.mediafire.com/?0e7246jmq216p

Culture Club - Sydney Breakfast TV Interview

This is an interview on the Sydney Breakfast TV on the 15th November 2011. They are talking about the new Album and Tour for next year and playiing at Sydney on New Years Eve with other bands including Pet Shop Boys.

Tour dates have not been anounced yet.

Just wanted to share this with you all.


Interview on Sydney Breakfast TV - 15th November 2011

Boy George New Book And Single - Turn To Dust

An official, definitive legacy edition of a stunning new coffee table book ‘King of Queens’ by legendary pop icon Boy George will be released on December 12th 2011 by Kitchen Sink Publishing.

The book reveals a deep and personal journey through Boy George’s fascinating life, from conception until now, in stunning imagery and reflective commentary. Contents include many unseen personal photos, illustrations, artist photos, school reports, baby book, rare memorabilia, letters and other fascinating insights.

It’s strictly limited edition – only 999 unique pieces will ever exist, each one uniquely numbered, signed and certificated. Each 18”x12” book includes a 10” picture disc vinyl, hand built into the back cover, featuring unheard and unreleased material from over the years. Each book features a unique centrefold spread, personalised by Boy George himself! Quarter bound in luxury litho finish, hand sewn and bound in Italy using only the finest sourced materials and presented in a silkscreen printed cloth-bound clamshell case, featuring embossed blocking and gold leaf finishing.

Retail Price: £499 + P&P



Turn 2 Dust remixes are now officially confirmed as being released on Monday 5th September 2011– releasing on Beatport and iTunes exclusively, then across all digital download stores from 3rd October. New Reggae remix package will be released on October 31, 2011. Also available is a stunning new 7" single released on October 10, 2011 for 'Turn 2 Dust' & 'Go Your Own Way' were two of the stand out singles from the album, and as such has been given a limited & collectable 7" release with a surprising twist! Both tracks have been given an intoxicating reggae rework courtesy of the highly acclaimed Kevan Frost, whose production & musical journeys have been associated with Boy George since the 90s. Highly collectable & in limited pressed numbers, this authentic looking reggae 7" is sure to be a real head turner in any serious collectors possession. This limited edtion beautiful 7" single will be released with two new remixes of Turn 2 Dust as well as Go Your Own Way as the b-side.

Sida A Turn 2 Dust (Kevan Frost Mix)
Side A Turn 2 Dust (Dubvesive Mix)
Side B Go Your Own Way (Dubvesive Mix

Boy George - Turn To Dust

Boy George - Keep Me In Mind

'Keep Me In Mind' was Boy George second solo single release.

Released in 1987 this single was the follow up to the hit single 'Everything I Own'.

Taken from the album Sold the single was not as successful as it's predecessor as it reached number 29 in the UK singles charts.

However the single faired better in the Italian charts as it reached number 3.

Click the link below to download the following:
Video
Single Version
State Of Love - B-Side
I Prey - Extra Track
I Prey - Shortened Version

http://www.mediafire.com/?579isvjncj949

Boy George Interview

Broadcast on 12th November 2011 is this BBC Radio 2 Boy George Interview with Graham Norton.

You will need to fast forward to about 1 and half hours into the programme to get to the interview but it is a great interview, talking about the release on vinyl of the single and the new book.
This is only available for the next 3 days so be quick. If anyone knows how to download this so I can share it properly please get in touch.

Enjoy

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/b0171p6n

Akiko Yano - Ai Ga Nakucha Ne

Akiko Yano is a Japanese pop and jazz musician and singer. She was born as Akiko Suzuki (Suzuki Akiko) in Tokyo and raised in Aomori, Aomori, and later began her singing career in the mid-1970s. Her vocals and singing style has often been compared to the contemporary English singer Kate Bush

Akiko Yano released her 9th studio album 'Ai Ga Nakucha Ne' in 1982. Yano had been working with members of Yellow Magic Orchestra and the group Japan who helped Yano to record this album in London.

David Sylvian sang on the track 'Good Night' while both Mick Karn, Steve Jansen and Ryuichi Sakamoto played and sometimes provided backing voculs on some of the tracks.

Tracklist:
01 - 愛がなくちゃね - (Ai Ga Nakucha Ne)
02 - 悲しくてやりきれない - (Kanashiku Te Yari Kire Nai)
03 - What's Got In Your Eyes?
04 - おいしい生活 - (Oishii Seikatsu)
05 - みちでバッタリ - (Michi De Battari)
06 - 女たちよ男たちよ - (Onna Tachi Yo Otoko Tachi Yo)
07 - あいするひとよ - (Aisuru Hito Yo)
08 - Sleep On My Baby
09 - Another Wedding Song
10- どんなときも□どんなときも□どんなときも - (Donna Toki Mo Donna Toki Mo Donna Toki Mo)
11 -Good Night

Click the link below to download the album:

http://www.mediafire.com/?37u2qjxuh5kk0