Happy new year, Dan. Great post. I was just thinking yesterday about what a tradition Dick Clark was on New Year’s Eve. Watched him every year as a kid and even years later in and after college, I can remember parties where everything stopped at about 11:50, and the TV came on to watch Uncle Dick announce the ball drop. Re 1981, I have this theory that decades don’t really “begin” until a few years in, as you point out here, 1981 was basically microwaved 70s, until he ice started cracking late in the year. Same with the 90s, I have always described the early, pre-Nirvana 90s as the highwater mark of the 80s, just one look at the crap that charted that year will confirm.
Anyway, great post - love your writing. Happy New Year to you and yours!
Welcome aboard! I turned 60 in October and feel exactly the same as you write. I love your take on 1981, all very interesting those in-between era moments, more drastic but similar to the '60's into 70's boogie/soft rock into REO/Styx etc, all very interesting. It's telling too, how distinctive eras were, so easy to identify via photos but since sometime in the 90's you'd be hard pressed to figure out what 'era' the last 30 years is if you couldn't see whatever tech gadget they were holding.
Lovely jangle on "One Sunny Day" - Fantastic shot for the accompanying artwork.
Look forward to watching '81 Rockin' eve, especially with the commercials, always a treat. When I first started working in the film biz drivin' trucks all over the place including the studios and the guy who was training me to just say "working for Dick Clark productions" to the guards at the security gates to hurry up the process. Things were a bit looser back then, so fun.
Thanks for all you do, Dan. Your posts never fail to entertain and inform. Always enjoy reading them. Looking forward to more of that. All the best for the coming year!
Rock-on! Backwards and forwards. R&R is here to stay!
Happy new year, Dan. Great post. I was just thinking yesterday about what a tradition Dick Clark was on New Year’s Eve. Watched him every year as a kid and even years later in and after college, I can remember parties where everything stopped at about 11:50, and the TV came on to watch Uncle Dick announce the ball drop. Re 1981, I have this theory that decades don’t really “begin” until a few years in, as you point out here, 1981 was basically microwaved 70s, until he ice started cracking late in the year. Same with the 90s, I have always described the early, pre-Nirvana 90s as the highwater mark of the 80s, just one look at the crap that charted that year will confirm.
Anyway, great post - love your writing. Happy New Year to you and yours!
Thanks, Rob! And totally agree about the 90s - 1990 was a really grisly year for music!
Great post Dan. I appreciate all of this.
Thank you, Tamara! Happy New Year to you and yours!
And to you.
Only Air Supply could have improved that lineup.
What??!! No Bonnie Tyler or Little River Band?
Happy New Year, Dan! 🎉💥
Backatcha, Gary! 🥂
Happy New Year, Dan!
Same to you, Mickey!
May this very special birthday year generate more creativity than ever. Carry on Boldly!
Welcome aboard! I turned 60 in October and feel exactly the same as you write. I love your take on 1981, all very interesting those in-between era moments, more drastic but similar to the '60's into 70's boogie/soft rock into REO/Styx etc, all very interesting. It's telling too, how distinctive eras were, so easy to identify via photos but since sometime in the 90's you'd be hard pressed to figure out what 'era' the last 30 years is if you couldn't see whatever tech gadget they were holding.
Lovely jangle on "One Sunny Day" - Fantastic shot for the accompanying artwork.
Look forward to watching '81 Rockin' eve, especially with the commercials, always a treat. When I first started working in the film biz drivin' trucks all over the place including the studios and the guy who was training me to just say "working for Dick Clark productions" to the guards at the security gates to hurry up the process. Things were a bit looser back then, so fun.
Thanks for all you do, Dan. Your posts never fail to entertain and inform. Always enjoy reading them. Looking forward to more of that. All the best for the coming year!
Thanks so much, Brady - and backatcha!