Bideodromage
An introduction to some of the musical goings-on way back in the 1980s. We have: The Vapors, Falco, Eddy Grant, Dead or Alive, XTC, Pete Shelley, Lene Lovich, Echo and the Bunnymen, Fiction Factory, Split Enz, Squeeze, Tears for Fears, and The Housemartins. Some of these performances are not, strictly speaking, from the 80s, but that decade claims all of the hits above during the time it held sway.
The great Jackie Wilson gives two electric performances of Higher and Higher, circa 1974. His mindboggling gifts are on full display throughout; it’s as if time/space were suspended.
We have here a modest collection of three of the most brilliant, gifted vocalists ever: Peggy Lee, Chris Connor, and Dusty Springfield. All videos are live performances.
A soupçon of personal favorites, from a decade rich in great material. In order, we have: Edison Lighthouse, Pilot, Lee Michaels, Zager and Evans, Daddy Dewdrop, The Fortunes, The Ides of March, King Harvest, Hurricane Smith, Clint Holmes, Jigsaw, Walter Egan, John Stewart, Looking Glass, Tee Set, and JD Souther.
The Scottish band Pilot emerged in 1974 with {arguably…} the greatest pop single ever recorded. Written by lead vocalist David Paton, and produced by Alan Parsons {with whom Paton and two other members were to later join forces}, “Magic” became a monster hit for the group. The first and last videos are live; the 2nd is lip-synched, to the studio version of the song.
One of the greatest performers, ever. Period.
The diminutive Williams constitutes one of the leading lights in the composer-ing of the last century.
Perry Farrell and various iterations of the Addiction.
Some high-water moments from Steely Dan, Albert Hammond, Sr., King Harvest, Hurricane Smith, Brownsville Station, Sly Stone, Billy Paul, Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show, Stealers Wheel, The Sweet, Edgar Winter, The Isley Brothers, Dobie Gray, Stories, and Skylark.
Joaquin Phoenix, who won the Oscar for best actor, and Billie Eilish, who performed a subdued, poignant, and haunting version of Paul McCartney’s “Yesterday”, were two of the vastly gifted artists amongst the assemblage at the 2020 Academy Awards ceremony.
