Fun Boy Three - Fun Boy Three

Happy fifty-third birthday tomorrow (March 19th) to UK-born singer Terry Hall.

From 1981 to 1983, three former members of the Specials formed their own group. Hall (vocals), Neville Staple (percussion and vocals) and Lynval Golding (guitar and vocals) became Fun Boy Three, a band that worked in Ska and heavy percussion into their music. They also helped launch the musical career of Bananarama who provided some backing vocals.

Laura Branigan - Branigan

This month marks the 30th anniversary of the release of the debut album from American singer-songwriter Laura Branigan (1957-2004). In March of 1982, Branigan hit the charts and did well in the US (number 34 on the Billboard Hot 200), Canada (number 14) and Australia (number 50).

Public Enemy - Yo! Bum Rush the Show

Happy fifty-third birthday today (March 16th) to rapper and television personality Flavor Flav (the stage name for William Jonathan Drayton, Jr.).

The roots of the rap/hip-hop group known as Public Enemy stem from New York City in the early 80's. Chuck D and Flavor Flav started out as local MCs trying to make a name for themselves; Chuck D had a demo tape called Public Enemy #1 which is where the group’s name would eventually come. The duo hooked up with the Bomb Squad (Hank and Keith Shocklee and Eric “Vietnam” Sadler), Professor Griff and a local DJ named Terminator X.

Asia - Asia

In 1981, a British rock super group was formed with members from a number of former progressive rock bands. Keyboardist Geoff Downes was a member of Yes and the Buggles. Guitarist Steve Howe was a member of Yes, GTR and Tomorrow. Drummer Carl Palmer was a member of Emerson, Lake & Palmer, and Atomic Rooster. Lead singer, bassist and guitarist John Wetton had previously been a part of King Crimson, Uriah Heep, and Roxy Music. Together, the quartet became known as Asia.

On March 15th of 1982, thirty years ago from today, the group released their self-titled debut Asia. The record went multi-Platinum in the US and Gold in the UK. Chart-wise, it reached number 15 in Japan, number 11 in the UK and number 1 on the US Billboard Hot 200 chart (it spent seven non-consecutive weeks at the top spot). In fact, Billboard has gone on record to say that it was the best-selling album in the US for the year of 1982.

TV: Survivor - One World (episode 5)

Last week's episode Survivor: One World was epic. We saw a first in Survivor history - a tribe who won immunity giving it up to the other side so they could go to tribal to take care of an immediate problem. My jaw dropped just as much as Jeff's did.

The title of the episode this week is "A Bunch of Idiots". I can't wait to see who utters this phrase but I am betting it will be one of the smarter women since Colton and the guys are about to have their alliance rocked to its very core.

Let's look at the episode...

Richard and Linda Thompson - Shoot Out the Lights

Tomorrow (March 15th) marks the 30th anniversary of the release of Shoot Out the Lights, the sixth and final studio album from the British husband and wife folk duo Richard and Linda Thompson. Due to complications, the couple soon split but remained a professional couple to get through the promotional tour for the album in 1982.

According to my research from Rolling Stone magazine, as of 2003 the album had sold just under a half a million copies. While many music fans might not remember this album (and I count myself in that category), the record was a critical hit. It appeared on many year-ending best of lists in 1982. Rolling Stone magazine ranked it at number 9 in its list of the 100 Best Albums of the 80’s and at number 333 on its list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

Neil Sedaka - The Hungry Years

A very happy seventy-third birthday today (March 13th) to American singer/songwriter and pianist Neil Sedaka.

Growing up, I can fondly remember hearing the classic 60’s songs by Sedaka on the radio, both ones he recorded himself and those he wrote for others.

In 1975, he released his second album on Elton John’s Rocket label. Hungry Years was the American edition of his earlier release Overnight Success on the British Polydor label. This continued his renewed presence on the US Billboard charts after a decade-long absence period from 1964 to 1974.