Redartz: Good day, all! Step right up and board the Retro; today's destination is May 5, 1981. Once again, we take a look around at the world of the day, and see the usual turmoils in the headlines. Lebanon and Northern Ireland, among other locales, are too frequently in the news for the strife therein. Here in the US, President Ronald Reagan continues to recover from the recent assassination attempt. In more uplifting news, the Space Shuttle Columbia recently made it's debut flight, returning NASA to the excitement of manned space flight.
And launching to the top of the US music charts this week is Scottish singer Sheena Easton, with "Morning Train (Nine to Five):
Interestingly, the song was released as "Nine to Five" in the UK, but renamed "Morning Train" for US release- so as to avoid confusion with Dolly Parton's recent number 1 hit "9 to 5". Rounding out the top five: 2. Grover Washington Jr;.with Bill Withers, "Just the Two of Us" 3. Smokey Robinson, "Being With You" 4. Juice Newton, "Angel of the Morning" 5. Kim Carnes, "Betty Davis Eyes"
The top five this week features some really fine tunes, in my humble opinion. Especially love Bill Withers' vocals on "Just the Two of Us". And not to be overlooked are more intriguing entries further down this week's charts. Among them: A Taste of Honey, "Sukiyaki"- a song I never expected to hear a remake of , now with English lyrics. John Lennon, "Watching the Wheels"- The late icon has another posthumous hit here, and a fine song it is. Steely Dan, "Time Out of Mind"- an excellent song from one of my favorite groups; from their "Gaucho" lp; it features guest work by Mark Knopfler. Gary U.S.Bonds, "This Little Girl"- another nearly forgotten 60's singer returns in the 80's. The Police, "Don't Stand So Close to Me" - their lp "Zenyatta Mondatta" yields a great new single with slightly creepy subject matter.
Tops in the UK: Adam & the Ants, "Stand and Deliver". I love this group, ever since catching them on Tom Snyder's "Tomorrow" show. We could talk music all day, but the wealth of popular culture has other areas of interest to visit. As in, what's on the tv tonight?
US Television Schedule:
Robert Wagner and Stefanie Powers of "Hart to Hart"
ABC: Happy Days, Laverne & Shirley, Three's Company, It's A Living, Hart to Hart
Laverne and Shirley have been favorites of mine for several years now, and they still make a hilarious team. ABC has another winner later on tonight with "Hart to Hart". Great show, starring Robert Wagner and Stefanie Powers as jetset adventurers Jonathan and Jennifer Hart. Personally, I think Lionel Stander ( as their aide Max) steals the show...
Laverne & Shirley
Walter Cronkite
CBS: Walter Cronkite's Universe, Flo, The CBS Tuesday Night Movies
I've never seen "Universe", but Walter Cronkite is always my choice for news coverage. Plainspoken but dignified, "the most trusted man in America" now hosts this science series...
Lee Horsley and William Conrad of "Nero Wolfe"
NBC: Lobo, Nero Wolfe, Flamingo Road
Sorry, can't offer much commentary on NBC's schedule tonight; perhaps one among you can do so?
BBC1: Three Girls for Europe, The Tuesday Film: Death Among Friends, The Man of Destiny, Jailhouse Rodeo
BBC2: Shakespeare in Perspective: Antony and Cleopatra, Hindsight, Hooked!, Crystal Gayle, Boom Boom...Out Go the Lights, Top Gear, Newsnight
Turning now from the phosphor dot screen to the printed page, let's see what comic enjoyment awaits us on the spinner racks:
Quite a few of these books will be riding home with your humble host. Defintely Dr. Strange; with ace writer Roger Stern now teamed with ace penciller Marshall Rogers. Still picking up Amazing Spider-Man, although not really enjoying the book much currently. On the other hand, I highly recommend "Ka-Zar", and "Micronauts". The Teen Titans are rocking with Wolfman and Perez at the helm. And we have a new Superman/Spider-Man team up to peruse. Featuring Dr. Doom and the Parasite by Jim Shooter, John Buscema and a plethora of inkers. Definitely worth a look...
And just like that, we come to the end of our vicarious visit to the early 80's. It was a time with much to offer for cultural enthusiasts; kind of like our current world. Speaking of which, we now must return to that world; at least until the next journey aboard the Retro Metro!
Redartz: Hello once again! Ready to consider some memorable comic stories? If so, proceed: we are looking at the year 1980, when comics started out at 40 cents and skyrocketed up to 50 cents. Oh, those were the days... And what a year for comics it was. Although I usually try to limit representation on these lists to one per title, the sheer strength of the X-Men forced my hand. As always, some picks are obvious, some less so. You recall the ground rules: books published with cover dates between April 1980 and March 1981; my admittedly subjective choices, no particular order, and your critiques and nominations welcomed! Here we go...
X-Men 137- "The Fate of the Phoenix", by Chris Claremont, John Byrne and Terry Austin. The mutant team's preeminent team details the death of Jean Grey. 'Nuff Said. Captain America 250- "Cap for President", by Roger Stern, Don Perlin, Roger McKenzie, Jim Shooter, John Byrne and Joe Rubinstein. A fun tale of speculation, introspection, characterization and politics!
DC Comics Presents 29- "Where No Superman Has Gone Before", by Len Wein, Jim Starlin and Romeo Tanghal. Superman goes through an emotional wringer courtesy of the Spectre.
Amazing Spider-man Annual 14- "The Book of the Vishanti", by Denny O'Neal, Frank Miller and Tom Palmer. One of Spidey's best annuals, with some gorgeous art (and a great cast- Dr. Strange, Dr. Doom and Dormammu). I wasn't a fan of Denny's work on the regular title, but he aced this story.
New Teen Titans 2- "Today...the Terminator", by Marv Wolfman, George Perez and Romeo Tanghal. The new team start to get to know each other, and we all meet the Terminator (no, not Arnold). The book is really hitting it's stride...
X-Men 141- "Days of Future Past", by Chris Claremont, John Byrne and Terry Austin. Truly one of the best stories of the decade. Better than issue 137? Too close for this fan to call, so both make the list.
Daredevil 169- "Devils", by Frank Miller and Klaus Janson. A great, chilling, cinematic Bullseye story, set against a holiday background. Great story, great cover, great team. Detective Comics 500- "The Too Many Cooks...Caper!", by Len Wein and Jim Aparo / "Once Upon a Time", by Len Wein, Charles Shulz and Walt Simonson. A two-fer, representing this collection of solid stories in a giant anniversary edition. The first- a clever yarn incorporating many of the former residents of Detective Comics, the second a salute to Snoopy's writing career presented by two of comicdom's finest.
Micronauts 20- "Enter: Ant-Man", by Bill Mantlo, Pat Broderick and Armando Gil. A wild, wonderful romp in a supermarket with the Micro's and Ant-Man, and loads of insects. And a roll of bathroom tissue.
Mystery in Space 111- "The Singling", by Gerald J. Brown and Jim Aparo. A tale of betrayal and regret, told visually (no text); reminiscent of some of the classic EC sci-fi stories. One of several fine tales in this often-overlooked gem of an anthology...
Okay, you've seen my picks. Now's your chance to improve on it: name your choices for the best of '80; the nominating process here is wide open!
Redartz: Hello,fellow temporal travelers! Time again for another excursion back , back, back aboard the Retro Metro. Today we revisit the illustrious 80's, specifically Feb. 17, 1982. As always, there is tumult in the world, especially in Poland, where turmoil reigns under the imposition of martial law. Sadly, we read of the death of Jazz genius Thelonius Monk. On the positive note, gas prices seem to be coming down... While fuel may be dropping, the J. Geils Band is rising to the top of the US Billboard Pop Chart with this week's number one, "Centerfold"
And rounding out the top five:
2. Daryl Hall and John Oates, "I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)" 3. Quarterflash, "Harden My Heart" 4. Journey, "Open Arms" 5. The Cars, "Shake it Up" Enjoying a lot of the current music these days, Hall and Oates are great, as are the Cars. But as is usually the case, many of the most interesting songs lie further down the chart. Among them,the Rolling Stones, "Waiting on a Friend"- a nice song off their latest album "Tattoo You". The Police, "Spirits in the Material World", Go-Go's, "We Got the Beat": love both these songs and both of these groups. So much so, in fact, that a bunch of us from art school just got back from a trip to Cleveland Ohio to see them both in concert . A great time was had, except for the ice storm on the road home, but that's another story. Oh, and another fun tune: Buckner and Garcia, "Pac Man Fever". A tribute to the immense popularity of video games and arcades these days. I admittedly have spent more than a few quarters on that little yellow guy and his ever-pursuing ghosts...
Tops in the UK: The Jam, "Town Called Malice"
Man, those Go-Go's are dynamite (and although Belinda Carlisle gets a lot of the attention, I rather admire Jane Weidlin). But enough musical musings, what about the action on the small screen today? Let's see...
US Television Schedule:
ABC: The Greatest American Hero, The Fall Guy, Dynasty I still catch "G A H" from time to time, and occasionally catch Lee Majors as the Fall Guy. Playing a stunt man/bounty hunter, Majors gives us another action-packed show (perhaps he's helped out by the cybernetics from his previous role as the Six Million Dollar Man).
CBS: Herbie the Love Bug, WKRP in Cincinnati, Baker's Dozen, Shannon
Another show I'm still enjoying is WKRP. Great cast, and how can you not like a comedy about a rock radio station? On the other hand, I'm surprised to find a show featuring "Herbie the Love Bug" on prime time.
NBC: Real People, The Facts of Life, Love Sidney, Quincy M.E.
Real People is one of those shows I'll watch if the mood hits, and Quincy is cool- Jack Klugman is always enjoyable. But "Facts of Life" has sort of hooked me. Another show with a pretty good cast, led by the engaging Charlotte Rae as Mrs. Garrett.
BBC1: Rolf Harris Cartoon Time, The Wednesday Film: The Last Hunt, Sportsnight, Parkinson BBC2: The Water Margin, The Making of Mankind, The Master Game, Chronicle, M*A*S*H, Nancy Astor, Out of Court
Rolf Harris Cartoon Time? Is that the Rolf Harris of "Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport" fame? I'd watch that every time...
Oh, hey; it's Wednesday, which means new comic day! While we're here, let's check out the neighborhood spinner rack (or the fine display at the local comic shop, as is becoming more frequently the case:
That Silver Surfer book is a definite must. John Byrne and Tom Palmer on the Surfer? Take my money now. And while you're at it, pass me that Teen Titans issue, Wolfman and Perez are still rocking it. I'm getting that Spectacular Spider-man issue just for the cover, but the book is really solid these days anyway. And speaking of solid, how about Byrne's fantastic Fantastic Fours? The book hasn't been this good in years. And this week we have a double treat, "Fantastic Four Roast" by Fred Hembeck- a truly comical comic. Can't wait to read that one. Oh, and check out that Hulk issue; whats's with the raccoon? Kind of an oddly obscure character, bet he'll fade into obscurity...
Although we aren't fading into obscurity, we do have to fade back to the present. Hope we've triggered a few memories for you, and that you'll share your tales of '82. Until next time, be well and save me a token for the arcade...
