Friday, October 22, 2010

Throwback Training Tunes vol. 9 – 1989 & 1990 edition

Adding entries for two more years to the list in today’s post.  After checking in iTunes, and briefly (aka lazily) checking into other sources, some of today’s suggestions seem to be a little difficult to find via the legal well-known online music sources.  With a little initiative you can most likely locate them via illegal lesser-known file sharing routes.  I certainly wouldn’t advocate anything illegal, especially something as heinous as trying to find a hard-to-find song.  Could there be any greater crime against humanity?

If you’re still playing along at home, and are interested in the songs that I indicate are hard to find, shoot me an email and I may be able to offer some help locating them.

Quick reminder of the ‘rules’ of the throwback:
  • Building a playlist with running songs from each of the last 20 years of the 20th century (1980-1999)
  • None of the songs in this list can be in any of the existing playlists on my iPod.  As much as I love all the blogging runners and running bloggers out there, this list is for me too.
  • Mainstream to alternative, well-known to abundantly obscure, anything is a potential candidate
  • I’m test-driving anything I post with a listen during at least two training runs
  • Trying to link to a video or audio-clip of the songs


Prior Throwbacks:


Today’s Throwbacks:

Always Saturday – Guadalcanal Diary (1989) – I have to laugh at the irony of songs like this one.  When alternative music was moving more and more into the mainstream in the late 80s, bands like Guadalcanal Diary would put out albums of their normal disenfranchised music, but they would typically include one pop-ish tune in the hopes of it becoming popular, so they could then wallow in the irony of one of their songs going mainstream, and put out a smarmy, sarcastic video where they basically mocked anyone that would like the song.  The irony is that 20+ years later, the only songs of theirs that are worth listening to, and are even remembered, are usually the pop songs that they included due to their disdain for mainstream music listeners.  Whatever the motivation behind the song, this one is a nice diversion during a run.  Kinda laid-back, with lyrics that make you think of lazy weekends.  Craptastic and bizarre video as well, which doesn’t do the song any favors with first-time listeners.

Slide – Flesh for Lulu (1989) – This was a favorite band during the college years, that had two great albums (‘Long Live the New Flesh’ & ‘Plastic Fantastic’), and then faded away.  Saw these guys in concert at a small club in D.C. and it was probably the best live show I’ve ever seen.  This is a GREAT song for getting you pumped up during a run.  I like a lot of their songs, but this is definitely the best of the bunch for a running playlist.  This one appears to be fairly hard to find, but I would HIGHLY recommend it. Couldn’t find a video for this one, but while looking for a video discovered that this was on the soundtrack for the movie ‘Uncle Buck’ with John Candy.  Not an association I would have come up with in a million years.

Head Like a Hole - Nine Inch Nails (1989) – Angry, angry song, from an angry, angry band … but sometimes you need a little angry.  Never really been a bit fan of NIN, but this song gets the blood pumping.  Similar effect during a run as the handful of Eminem songs that seem to pop up on many of the running playlists that folks post.

Forgotten Years – Midnight Oil (1989) – These guys made a living off of being political and preachy with their music, and I like several  of their songs, but I found the ultra-political angle a little tiring after a while.  This song is from the ‘Blue Sky Mining’ album, which I recall really liking during college.  This song is a little preachy as well, but it’s a positive message and is set to some really good music.  Strong chorus that’s really helpful when the legs are getting a bit weary.  And who doesn’t love any song from a giant bald man?

Stone Cold Yesterday – The Connells (1990) – This may be the band that I’ve seen in concert more times than any other.  LOVED this band during college.  Interestingly, interesting to me anyhow, these guys are from right here in Raleigh, and the lead singer worked in the UNC music department for a while.  I think they may still be making music, but the band lineup has changed several times, so I don’t really know what they would sound like today.  This is the title track from the ‘Stone Cold Yesterday’ album, which has a great guitar-driven sound and a strong chorus.  This one seems hard to find as well, which is a shame.  I’d highly recommend checking out any of their first 5 albums, especially ‘Fun & Games’.

Rush - Big Audio Dynamite II (1990) – How to describe this song?  The more I listen to it, it’s kind of a cross between the Clash and an alternative incarnation of the Black Eyed Peas.  I know, that’s a hard picture to paint in your mind.  You’ve probably heard this song at some point in time, and may not realize it.  Just a fun, quirky song with lots of changes in beat and pacing that takes your mind off the running at hand for a while.

16 comments:

  1. I just added Forgotten Years last week. A great running song. I also LOVE BAD - Rush.

    Another throwback: Replacements (Happy Hour, Kiss me on the Bus).

    ReplyDelete
  2. Once, when I worked at a record store in high school, I got in trouble for dancing behind the counter to Big Audio Dynamite's "Rush". That's a memory I just can't forget :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Blue Sky Mining and Diesel and Dust were great albums. After that, not so much.

    ReplyDelete
  4. How much I love Mama goin knock you out...

    ReplyDelete
  5. Generally fun stuff. I like the The Connells. Nice band from NC I saw in Seattle once. Guadalcanal Diary - wow someone other than me new about this Athens, Ga. band? You lose me with INXS, and a few of the others - but I like your lists. Keep evolving.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Love these posts!!!!!

    Love -
    Rush
    Foreigner
    Soul coughing

    ReplyDelete
  7. Some great songs this week!! Interesting that you've seen The Connells more than any other band =)

    ReplyDelete
  8. I just listened to the B.A.D. song, you are right, definitely recognizable. I gotta say, I've never heard of The Connells. For your consideration: Billy Idol, Flesh for Fantasy.

    ReplyDelete
  9. This comment may take me off the blog roll, but I remember sitting with my friends in college at this awesome sub shop loving it when Boy George came on MTV. Eeks.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Enjoyed this post. Can't wait to hear about the Outer Banks Marathon. How about Sinead O'Connor? or perhaps Bobby Brown - pre-whitney? I KNOW I'll be off the blog roll now.

    ReplyDelete
  11. This post is great and interesting.

    --Keep running like no one is looking.
    ~kizzy oakley

    ReplyDelete
  12. how could you not be a fan of NIN?? I know it's moody/brooding music, but I saw them in concert once, and they were amazing.

    ReplyDelete
  13. oh man, Mandika...now, that brings back some memories.

    ReplyDelete
  14. This site is really cool! I found here alot of information that I was looking for. I am really happy to be a part of This site! oneminuteworldreview-education

    ReplyDelete