The Toy Box

Retro Spins: Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - Organisation

Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark released their self titled debut album in February of 1980, and because they were (self admittedly) too naive at the time, didn't say no when their label, Dindisc immediately asked for a follow-up to be delivered prior to Christmas of that same year. For the tracks that would become Organisation, O.M.D. would enlist Malcolm Holmes, who would become their permanent drummer. They would also enlist Gong bassist, Mike Howlett, as Producer.

Overall, Organisation would feature a much darker tone than their debut, with one exception, the opening track, Enola Gay. The song would also become their first top ten hit in the UK, peaking at number eight. The album as a whole would reach number six and become their second gold certified record.

It would be this single that kept coming back around to my radar as I spent many a nights scouring the internet for lists of, "the best", "the forgotten", etc. songs / albums of the 80's. However, when I heard the tune, I couldn't quite put my finger on just why it continued to make these lists. To me, it was just generic. Oddly though, as time went by, and Enola Gay kept coming back around, it started to grow on me. Then one day I got a bug that told me, "Buy every 80's album from O.M.D.", and well, then that happened, and here we are.

Organisation kicks off with the single hit, and it sets a nice tone. Unfortunately, that tone is then immediately stripped away for the much darker tone mentioned above. Things become gloomy, hopeless, and perhaps even a little depressing. It's interesting how an instrument in the right hands can evoke varying emotions of sound. Happy one minute, playful the next, then dash to the opposite spectrum of deep and dark. The latter is hit strongly on the head of the nail by the band.

The second side of the record opens with the drab, The Misunderstanding, which easily could have been a song by The Cure. I think this aspect is what really hooked me on it. Though prior to it, and for a bit after, I really didn't hear much more than interested me, this changed with the track, Promise. However, it would be the last on the album to do so.

Unlike its predecessor, which only had one appealing song, things were on the up and up for Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark. I went from previously only enjoying one track, to three. Hopefully this upward trend continues.

Their follow-up album, 1981's Architecture & Morality is one I've already played through that one, and I suppose in a retrospective read through of that post, I have to back pedal on the above. Mainly because that one too only yielded one track which made the cut for my shuffle. Regardless, I'm still hopeful, and will press on to their 1983 released Dazzle Ships, an album met mostly with negative reviews upon its release. Oh...

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Disclaimer: They Toy Box does not endorse or contribute to piracy. Retro Spins posts are intended for educational and entertainment purposes only. None of the music discussed here is available for sale, downloading or distribution.

THIS WEEK ON THE CHARTS
December 14, 1985

Countdown To Christmas With Classic Cartoon Holiday Specials - Bugs Bunny's Loony Christmas Tales

December in the 80's was a magical time of year to be a kid. Not only did we get all the fantastic toys for Christmas, but every year, throughout the holiday season, the television would segue from regularly scheduled programing to air animated holiday specials. They'd come on just late enough that it could be a family event, but early enough that we'd get to enjoy it just before bedtime.
Each half hour block was special. Perfectly crafted with just the right number of advertisements to remind us of all the toys on store shelves, the treats to be had from local restaurants and grocery stores, and all other manners of consumption in between. But at the heart of it was that cartoon which would come out of hiding just once a year, fill your eyes with wonder, bringing smiles, laughter, action, adventure, drama, but at the root of it, a classic holiday message of peace, giving, love, and joy.
It's become my own personal tradition each year to pull a holiday special off the DVD shelf each day to enjoy. It's a ritual which not only has become my way of counting down the twenty-four days of December leading up to my favorite holiday, but my way of reminding myself that no matter what's happening in the world, my day-to-day grind of work, life, health, trials, and tribulations, that for a moment, all of that can be put a side, and I can simply become a kid again, even if it's just at heart.
While I wish I could share the actual special with all of you, be it by inviting you all to my home to join me in front of the fireplace with a bowl of popcorn, sadly, that's just not feasible. However, between sites such as Youtube, Arhcive.org, Dailymotion, and Vimeo, you can probably find them to watch. Of course, for those of you so bold, you could also pick them up on DVD yourself, something I would highly recommend. If not for yourself, for your children.

Bugs Bunny's Looney Christmas Tales is a half-hour Christmas television special, starring the Looney Tunes characters, in which Bugs Bunny presents three separate Christmas stories.
Bug's Bunny's Christmas Carol

Scrooge (Yosemite Sam) is counting money in the counting house of his firm when Bob Cratchit (Porky) comes in, wanting to borrow a lump of coal as he is freezing. Scrooge refuses, and just after this Bugs comes in with Christmas decorations and mistletoe. He is tossed out, and decides that "somebody oughta teach that little humbug some Christmas spirit". Bugs then borrows a piece of coal and places it in the office of Cratchit, who graciously thanks him. However, Sylvester, Scrooge's cat, notices this and warns him, causing him to take back the coal and fire Cratchit, also throwing out some carolers (Elmer Fudd, Pepé Le Pew and Foghorn Leghorn) that Bugs let into his office. Cratchit invites Bugs to dinner, introducing him to his youngest son, Tiny Tim (Tweety). "Kinda puny, isn't he?" Bugs notes. "If you had to live on birdseed, you'd be puny too!" Tim retorts. Scrooge sends the light company to take the last candle (as Cratchit is past due) and a notice that the house is being foreclosed, forcing Cratchit to move out by midnight. Bugs decides this is the last straw.

First, Bugs annoys Scrooge with carolers, causing him to go out to deal with him, and he slips. Next, he puts snow into Scrooge's hot bath. He then acts like a ghost dragging around chains and beating a drum, which causes Scrooge to investigate. He does so, and accidentally slips down the stairs and into the cold, along with Sylvester. They go back to bed, but Bugs appears acting like a ghost. Sylvester quickly flees, but Scrooge is stopped by the door closing. As the ghost, Bugs threatens to take Scrooge to see "the man in the red suit" (the Devil, though Scrooge first guesses Santa Claus). Scrooge quickly promises to change.

He immediately makes good on his promise, giving money to the poor and making Bob Cratchit a partner in his firm. Tweety raises a toast to him, and Bugs kisses him. Scrooge (now going by the name of Sam) still hates kissing, though.
Freeze Frame

Wile E. (Grotesques appetitus) chases Road Runner (Semper food-ellus) through the desert for a while before looking in a book about roadrunners to find out the bird's weakness and is flabbergasted to learn that roadrunners hate cold and snow and can be easily caught in snow drifts. He orders an ACME Little Giant Snow-Cloud Seeder, which is supposed to make instant snow. However, every time he uses the machine, it causes a large pile of snow to drop on him no matter where he stands, and he eventually discards the useless device. The device does get in one final shot, causing another pile to fall on the edge of the outcropping. This added weight becomes too much to handle, as the edge breaks off and, with the Coyote trapped inside, falls.

Wile E. paces around, trying to figure out another way to use Road Runner's hatred of snow to his advantage. He then gets the idea to switch around two signs reading "Snow Summit" and "Desert Crossing" so that Road Runner will instead take the path to the snowy mountains.

Road Runner, sure enough, takes the wrong path and ends up getting himself stuck on a frozen lake. Wile E. puts on some ice skates and skates a circle around the bird, but it causes the entire lake around the circle to break apart, dropping Wile E. into the water below. As Road Runner revs up his ice floe like a boat, the now-frozen Wile E. walks out of the water.

The Coyote purchases a pair of Acme Jet-Propelled Skis and uses them to chase Road Runner, but he ends up hitting a tree. He then buys a dog sled and a dozen sled dogs to pull it, but when he tries to open the crate containing the dogs, they mercilessly attack him. After managing to shut them back in the crate, Wile E. looks at the camera with a terrified face zooming it in on him a couple times before he faints. He looks at the invoice and reads an important note at the bottom: "Sled dogs love coyotes - especially for supper!" He breaks into a fit of laughter before passing out. He next buys an Acme Rocking Horse to sled downhill while twirling an Acme Road Runner Lasso, but he ends up getting himself tied up in the lasso and stuck on some railroad tracks; the rocking horse comes to life and gallops away before the train can hit him. Wile E. weakly holds up a sign with one word, "Mommy", just before he's hit. Finally, Wile E. tries rolling a giant snowball in hopes of dropping it on Road Runner from a cliff, but as expected, he falls off the cliff himself, with the giant snowball coming down after him. Wile E. climbs out from under the snowball, unharmed, but now wearing a Santa-like snow beard and a red umbrella like a hat, and rings a bell while holding up a sign that reads "Merry Xmas" and "Happy New Year".
Fright Before Christmas

At the North Pole, as Santa Claus is preparing for his Christmas Eve flight, a cargo plane is flying the Tasmanian Devil overhead. Taz escapes from his confinement and ends up parachuting out and landing near Santa's workshop, where he accidentally gets himself into Santa's suit, which was hanging out to dry, and inadvertently takes control of Santa's flying sleigh when he spooks the reindeer.

At Bugs's house, Bugs is reading A Visit from St. Nicholas to his nephew Clyde. Speedy Gonzales begs to differ when Bugs reads that there wasn't a mouse stirring. They suddenly hear a noise on the roof, and Clyde thinks that it is Santa, so Bugs sends him to bed. Taz, who landed the sleigh on the roof, then drops down Bugs' chimney, and Bugs, despite noticing that this Santa is in fact "an unreasonable facsimile", gives him a warm welcome. He goes to the kitchen to make a snack for Taz and brings him a plate of milk and cookies; Taz responds by eating the whole table.

Bugs reads his nephew's "brief" Christmas list to Taz, during which Taz starts eating some of the ornaments and lights on Bugs' tree, uncharacteristically giving himself indigestion upon eating a green bauble and then electrocuting himself after eating the lights like spaghetti, before eating Clyde's wish list. Bugs then says he'll make some popcorn and hands a can of it to Taz, who promptly swallows it before Bugs can get the popper, and since he is standing next to the fireplace, the popcorn starts popping inside his body. After then spinning through a piano, Taz then takes a look at one of the presents under the tree, at which point Bugs sets up a fake gift exchange desk and asks Taz if he'd like to exchange it for a bigger one. Taz takes the bigger present and tries to open it, but Bugs advises him to wait until he's outside to do so, so as not to ruin the surprise. Taz spins outside with the present and opens it up; it is a self-inflating rubber raft. He eats the whole raft, which then expands inside his body and sends him floating like a UFO starship into the sky ("I'm glad he liked the self-inflating rubber life raft. Tasmanian devils are awfully hard to buy for.").

Clyde returns and tells his uncle Bugs that Santa didn't put anything in his stocking and also left his sleigh and reindeer behind. Bugs, however, tells him that they just need to return the sleigh to the real Santa. With that, they take control of Santa's sleigh and take off for the North Pole. Bugs wishes everyone happy holidays.

This is another new one for me. While I've owned the Golden Age of Looney Tunes, Volume 5, I wasn't aware that this was on there until deep diving for "new" holiday specials to add to my seasonal watch list.

Originally released in 1979, it benefits from the voice acting of Mel Blanc on every single character, with exception of the two females, played by Looney Tunes alum, June Foray. It's a blast to watch, and this one will definitely be a reoccurring one for me moving forward. I just wish I had found it sooner.

Wanting to get a little more holiday joy, I pulled out a couple more DVD's and enjoyed some random Christmas themed episodes. Today's picks were:

A Springfield Summer Christmas for Christmas, Bobby, It's Cold Outside, Gone Boy, Grift of the Magi, Holidays of Futures Passed, I Won't Be Home for Christmas, Kill Gil, Volume I & II, Manger Things, Marge Be Not Proud, and Miracle on Evergreen Terrace from the Simpsons

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Comics Corner: Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man 95

Title: Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man
Issue Number: 95
Release Date: October 1984

Highlights

First appearance of Bobbie, Eddie, and Phil
The Answer deduces that the reason Silvermane isn't responding is because he's searching for Dagger, drawn to her by the last time they fought and she withdrew his life force into herself
As Peter Parker sleeps, his symbiote costume again envelopes him, and takes him unaware out into the night
Kingpin's wife remains bedridden from her attack by the underground Morlocks
Reference is made to Daredevil 180, and Marvel Team-Up 141
Peter awakens after being returned back to his apartment by the symbiote, still feeling exhausted, but unaware why
A well announced drug deal goes down at the docks, all designed to lure Cloak, Dagger, and Silvermane to the same place
The Answer deduces that Dagger could be the solution to what ails Kingpin's wife, and is instructed to bring her to him
Cloak pulls the drug dealers and Silvermane inside of him, feeding on their light to give him the strength to puruse the Answer
Spider-Man throws a spider tracer at Cloak, but misses, just as the mysterious man disappears

Low Points

None

Oddities

None

Rating (based on a 1 through 5 Stans grading system)

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Retro Spins: Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark

Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark still remains relatively uncharted territory for me. After deciding one day I needed their entire 80's discography, I still don't understand why, I played through their 1981 released Architecture & Morality. That Retro Spin didn't go as planned, with me not coming away with anything more than one song. I noted in that post that it was all the more disappointing because of the volume of albums, and their overall price, which was a premium.

Disappointed, I put the band on hiatus until today, where I'm going to make a push to get through them. While my plan is to go through all six in chronological order, back to back, I may need to take a break (or two) in between this process to not fatigue myself.

I already talked about the band's inception in my aforementioned post (you can follow the above link for that), so there's not much to say about their history at this point without regurgitating that. Instead, I'll just dive right into their self titled debut.

Synth pop is definitely in its infancy on this one. It sounds experimental, and I can feel the excitement that would have been happening in 1980 from this up and coming style. Was it for me? Not necessarily. This type of music always sounds like unfinished demoes to my ears. Like there should be a lot more instruments edited in instead of just a drum machine and synthesizer.

With that said, I did find some joy in the track Electricity, mainly for the keyboard hook which led the tune from start to finish. While I hoped to find more like this tucked between the ten tracks, this unfortunately never happened. I wasn't necessarily hearing bad stuff, but neither was anything of particular interest to me.

Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark mainly stayed popular in the UK during their first year. As a result, their first two albums weren't readily available in the US. Instead, a compilation album, O.M.D., would be released in 1981, compiling the "best" tracks from their self titled debut and follow up, Organisation. However, their biggest breakthrough wouldn't come until their inclusion on the 1986 soundtrack, Pretty In Pink, with their massive hit, If You Leave.

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THIS WEEK ON THE CHARTS
December 13, 1980

THIS WEEK ON THE CHARTS
December 13, 1986

Countdown To Christmas With Classic Cartoon Holiday Specials - A Chipmunk Christmas

December in the 80's was a magical time of year to be a kid. Not only did we get all the fantastic toys for Christmas, but every year, throughout the holiday season, the television would segue from regularly scheduled programing to air animated holiday specials. They'd come on just late enough that it could be a family event, but early enough that we'd get to enjoy it just before bedtime.
Each half hour block was special. Perfectly crafted with just the right number of advertisements to remind us of all the toys on store shelves, the treats to be had from local restaurants and grocery stores, and all other manners of consumption in between. But at the heart of it was that cartoon which would come out of hiding just once a year, fill your eyes with wonder, bringing smiles, laughter, action, adventure, drama, but at the root of it, a classic holiday message of peace, giving, love, and joy.
It's become my own personal tradition each year to pull a holiday special off the DVD shelf each day to enjoy. It's a ritual which not only has become my way of counting down the twenty-four days of December leading up to my favorite holiday, but my way of reminding myself that no matter what's happening in the world, my day-to-day grind of work, life, health, trials, and tribulations, that for a moment, all of that can be put a side, and I can simply become a kid again, even if it's just at heart.
While I wish I could share the actual special with all of you, be it by inviting you all to my home to join me in front of the fireplace with a bowl of popcorn, sadly, that's just not feasible. However, between sites such as Youtube, Arhcive.org, Dailymotion, and Vimeo, you can probably find them to watch. Of course, for those of you so bold, you could also pick them up on DVD yourself, something I would highly recommend. If not for yourself, for your children.

A doctor visits the Waterford family, whose son Tommy is ill. The doctor admits that the chance of Tommy recovering before Christmas is bleak. Meanwhile, the Chipmunks have a recording session. Alvin is not very happy about having to work on Christmas, but after Dave tells him that he can play his prized Golden Echo harmonica, he suggests that Dave can get everything set up in the studio while he and his brothers go window shopping. Dave agrees to this, and tells them not to be late. At the music store, Alvin sees another Golden Echo harmonica, and tells his own harmonica that it's the best harmonica in the world. At that moment, Tommy's mother and sister arrive at the store, and he overhears Tommy's sister tell her mother that if Tommy had the Golden Echo harmonica, it would make him feel better. Alvin feels bad about Tommy's illness, so much that during the recording session, he can't sing in tune with the others. Dave gives the Chipmunks a break, so Alvin visits the Waterfords' house and presents Tommy with his (Alvin's) own harmonica, returning in time to finish the session.

Later, while the Chipmunks are decorating the tree, Simon and Theodore congratulate Alvin for what he did. However, Alvin tells Simon and Theodore that they can't tell Dave, as the harmonica was a gift from him to Alvin, and Alvin fears Dave's feelings would be hurt if he learned what happened. Alvin plans to save his money and buy a new harmonica after Christmas, but when Dave gets a phone call from Carnegie Hall that they want Alvin to play his harmonica on Christmas Eve, Alvin is forced to make a plan to get enough money for a new harmonica. The Chipmunks gather up all the dogs in the neighborhood, and set up a photo booth, where children can have their photo taken with Santa Claus (Alvin). Unfortunately, the presence of a cat draws Dave's attention. As Simon and Theodore are unable to tell him the truth, Dave mistakes Alvin's actions for greed, and sends him to his room. This leads to a dream sequence involving Clyde Crashcup, who says that he has invented Christmas (which is now February 12) and Santa (Abraham Lincoln in a sleigh consisting of a hollowed-out pumpkin pulled by four elephants). Alvin tells him he needs money, and when Dave comes to check up on him, he is saying "money" in his sleep, causing Dave to give up.

On Christmas Eve, two hours before the concert, Simon and Theodore give Alvin the money they have saved up, and wish him luck on buying the harmonica. Upon being asked where Alvin is, they respond that he's not here right now. Luckily, just as Dave is complaining, he gets a phone call from Tommy's mother, who tells him about Alvin's harmonica and the wonders it worked for Tommy. At the music store, Alvin is depressed, as he still doesn't have enough money for a new harmonica. Just then, a mysterious old woman appears, and buys the harmonica for Alvin, only asking for a song in return. Alvin plays a song, but when he finishes, he finds that the woman has disappeared. Dave, Simon, and Theodore arrive, and Dave apologizes to Alvin for mistaking his (Alvin's) actions for greed and tells him they have a surprise for him. At the concert, Alvin learns that Tommy has fully recovered, and he joins the Chipmunks on stage. Santa Claus flies over the city as the Chipmunks sing "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" in the background. Upon returning to the North Pole, he is greeted by his wife, who is revealed to be the same woman who bought Alvin the harmonica.

It has everything you'd want in a holiday special; kindness, giving, and the spirit of the holidays. Further, it comes from one of my all-time favorite 80's cartoons, Alvin and the Chipmunks. Yet, would you believe A Chipmunk Christmas is not one of my favorites?

It's true. I watch it every year more so because I feel like I should because it's a classic from the 80's. Ironically, even if I found ten more holiday special DVD's to add to my collection, I'd probably never take it out of rotation.

Wanting to get a little more holiday joy, I pulled out a couple more DVD's and enjoyed some random Christmas themed episodes. Today's picks were:

Can't Squeeze Cheer From A Cheese Log from Rocko's Modern Life
Babies in Toyland, and the Santa Express from Rugrats
The Stingiest Man in Town, the 1978 Rankin / Bass classic

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Comics Corner: Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man 94

Title: Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man
Issue Number: 94
Release Date: September 1984

Highlights

First appearance of Jonathon Ohnn, AKA The Spot
It's the body of Silvermane that Kingpin had the Answer steal from the morgue, and it is resurrected in his robotic form
Dagger feels her light fading, and collapses as her and Cloak chase down drug dealers
Sha Shan invites Peter Parker, Harry Osborn, and his wife Liz to lunch to talk about her concerns over Flash
Harry tells Sha Shan that Flash is an adult, and will figure himself out, meanwhile as they leave, Flash comes to the restaurant to see Peter holding her hand, offering words of comfort - Of course he gets the wrong impression
Peter returns home to find Mrs. Muggins eves dropping at his door, he sneaks up on her and gives her a startle
Peter calls Felecia, and asks to see her to talk about their argument in the previous issue
Reference is made to Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man 70
Kingpin has a submission collar put on Silvermane to control him, and sends him to the city to take care of some petty loan shark as a test
Spider-Man joins the fight, and when the battle is over, Kingpin orders Silvermane be redirected back to him, but the android doesn't respond to the command
Spider-Man loses the fight to Silvermane, and literally crawls to Black Cat's apartment, telling her they need to find Cloak and Dagger

Low Points

None

Oddities

None

Rating (based on a 1 through 5 Stans grading system)

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Retro Spins: Oingo Boingo - Boi-ngo

Well this is sad. Today, I'm posting my last Oingo Boingo album from the 80's.

The band wrapped up the era with 1987's Boi-ngo, and the last to feature keyboardist, Mike Bacich. By this point in time, Danny Elfman was big into film scoring, having gotten his start with Tim Burton's Pee-Wee's Big Adventure. By the end of 1988, he'd have ten films under his belt.

While most of the band supported him, there were some frictions from others, who thought he was more interested in films than the band. With even Danny Elfman saying that scoring films was more appealing than trying to maintain a successful rock band, while continuing to tour, it's understandable why they would think that. Ultimately, the band would continue on, with them even performing some of his scores at their shows.

Whether it was from Elfman's focus on scores, or the album as a whole just not appealing to critics, they often didn't, Boi-ngo didn't perform well upon its release. It would, however, peak higher on the album charts (at 77) than their more popular previous, and gold certified album, Dead Man's Party (which peaked at 98).

Personally, I think the album has quite a few good tracks, most of them, actually. So, I don't understand why it was met with such lackluster fanfare.

With that said, I would say where it suffers the most for me is once again what I mentioned during my review of Nothing To Fear (yesterday). My main exposure to a lot of these songs was on the later released Boingo Alive, which featured re-recorded "live" versions. As such, those became my go to over the originals. Still, I like the majority of this album as a whole, and in fact, only really skip one track when playing through it, that being Outrageous.

Ironically, two of the songs which made the final cut were actually recording during the sessions for Dead Man's Party. Those included, Not My Slave, and New Generation. On the other hand, there were several tracks recorded for this album which didn't make it to the final product. These included, Mama, Inside, Remember My Name, Cinderella Undercover, Tears Will Flow, and Find You. Additionally, the band would record the track, Happy, which was used for the forthcoming soundtrack to Summer School, but only credited to Elfman.

Oingo Boingo followed up Boi-ngo with the above noted double "live" album, Boingo Alive. While this massive tome of a compilation was recorded live, it was without an audience, delivering with it a high quality which could easily be mistaken as a studio recording. This was followed in 1989 by the true greatest hits, The Best of Oingo Boingo: Skeletons in the Closet.

The band entered the 90's as a solid eight piece for Dark at the End of the Tunnel (1990), and increased to ten members for their final studio album, 1994's Boingo. This was followed up by a massive farewell tour, which concluded in 1995, and was released as their final live album in 1996, Farewell: Live from the Universal Amphitheatre, Halloween 1995. To date, this has been followed by two additional compilations. While Elfman has continued to pursue both scoring films, and releasing the occasional studio album, there have been no reunion tours to date of Oingo Boingo.

On that note, my journey through their 80's discography comes to an end. They remain one of my favorite bands of the era, and are among the few which I boast a full discography of, and even like their material from the 90's.

As for Elfman's continued solo career, I found his 2021 released Big Mess to be a bit of a misstep. It's dark tone, focusing on how much the pandemic and government suck really wasn't what was needed at the time. I recall a lot of people reviewing it saying that they listened to music to escape life, and didn't want to be discouraged and brought down by it, which is what Big Mess ultimately did to people.

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THIS WEEK ON THE CHARTS
December 12, 1981

THIS WEEK ON THE CHARTS
December 12, 1987

Countdown To Christmas With Classic Cartoon Holiday Specials - He-Man She-Ra Christmas Special

December in the 80's was a magical time of year to be a kid. Not only did we get all the fantastic toys for Christmas, but every year, throughout the holiday season, the television would segue from regularly scheduled programing to air animated holiday specials. They'd come on just late enough that it could be a family event, but early enough that we'd get to enjoy it just before bedtime.
Each half hour block was special. Perfectly crafted with just the right number of advertisements to remind us of all the toys on store shelves, the treats to be had from local restaurants and grocery stores, and all other manners of consumption in between. But at the heart of it was that cartoon which would come out of hiding just once a year, fill your eyes with wonder, bringing smiles, laughter, action, adventure, drama, but at the root of it, a classic holiday message of peace, giving, love, and joy.
It's become my own personal tradition each year to pull a holiday special off the DVD shelf each day to enjoy. It's a ritual which not only has become my way of counting down the twenty-four days of December leading up to my favorite holiday, but my way of reminding myself that no matter what's happening in the world, my day-to-day grind of work, life, health, trials, and tribulations, that for a moment, all of that can be put a side, and I can simply become a kid again, even if it's just at heart.
While I wish I could share the actual special with all of you, be it by inviting you all to my home to join me in front of the fireplace with a bowl of popcorn, sadly, that's just not feasible. However, between sites such as Youtube, Arhcive.org, Dailymotion, and Vimeo, you can probably find them to watch. Of course, for those of you so bold, you could also pick them up on DVD yourself, something I would highly recommend. If not for yourself, for your children.

While everybody in Eternia's royal palace is preparing for Adam and Adora's birthday, Adam is helping Man-At-Arms finish up the Sky Spy, a space shuttle intended to spy on Skeletor. The moment they head back to the palace, though, Orko gets inside the ship and messes around with the controls, causing the ship to blast off with him in it. Skeletor catches sight of the aircraft and, despite not knowing what it is or who is flying it, he gives chase after it in the Collector. Before he can take it down, He-Man and She-Ra, who are also unaware that Orko is in the Sky Spy, show up and punch a hole in the Collector, throwing it off course.

Orko, meanwhile, tries to get the Sky Spy to land by way of a magic spell, which causes the shuttle to disappear from Eternia's atmosphere and crash-land somewhere on Earth. Immediately following this, he meets two children named Miguel and Alisha, who had gone out to get their family's Christmas tree and become lost in doing so. Orko brings them into the crashed Sky Spy, where they explain Christmas to him.

Back on Eternia, everyone discovers that Orko is missing when they find his magic spellbook near the Sky Spy's launch pad. Man-At-Arms manages to pull up the coordinates for the Sky Spy's location, which Queen Marlena recognizes as Earth's coordinates. Unfortunately, Man-At-Arms' Transport Beam needs a Carium Water Crystal, of which there are none on Eternia, in order to gain enough power to bring Orko back. Adora suggests that there might be one on Etheria, and, after secretly transforming into She-Ra, rides off on Swift Wind.

Once on Etheria, She-Ra enlists the help of Mermista to attain the crystal, which is guarded by a fierce creature known as the Beast Monster. They manage to secure the crystal in their possession, but just as She-Ra and Swift Wind prepare to leave, they are halted by a group of huge android menaces, the Monstroids, having been told about them by some friends of hers known as the Manchines. The Monstroids trap them and leave for their headquarters, allowing She-Ra and Swift Wind to escape.

Upon Adora's return with the crystal, Man-At-Arms gets the Transport Beam working, and sure enough, Orko and the Sky Spy are transported back in, but Orko has brought Miguel, Alisha and their Christmas tree with them. After explanations are made, the children are told that it may take a few days for the crystal to recharge before they can return to Earth, and they are quite distressed that they might miss Christmas. Queen Marlena, sympathizing with these children from her own planet, decides to combine Adam and Adora's birthday party into a Christmas party. Meanwhile, Skeletor and Hordak are summoned by their supreme master, Horde Prime, who believes that the Christmas spirit that is now being brought to Eternia is the only thing that could stop his rise to power. He orders them to go capture the two Earth children, promising a reward, which sparks a fierce competition between Skeletor and Hordak.

Soon, just as Bow finishes writing a song he wrote about Christmas, Hordak shows up and uses a tractor beam to capture Miguel and Alisha, taking Orko with them. He and his minions do not get far, though, before their ship is brought down by the Monstroids, who take the children hostage to deal with Horde Prime themselves, and force Hordak and his men to retreat. Luckily, the Manchines show up to rescue Orko and the children. The Monstroids try to stop them from escaping, but He-Man and She-Ra, having been told of the children's location by Peekablue, show up just in time to handle them, with help from the other Manchines.

But during the battle Skeletor arrives and captures Miguel, Alisha, and a Manchine puppy named Relay. Hordak reappears and shoots down Skeletor's sky-scooter, crash-landing him in a snowy mountain range; because of this, Skeletor is now forced to bring his prisoners to Horde Prime on foot. During the trek, he experiences an uncharacteristic urge of kindness that results in him fitting the children with winter jackets to protect them from the cold, bringing Relay along so he doesn't freeze to death, and even protecting the children from a snowbeast. He also inquires the children about Christmas, all the while trying to reassure them - and himself - that he is still a bad guy.

Just as Horde Prime arrives in his ship, He-Man, She-Ra and Orko finally catch up. But Hordak also arrives, knocks Skeletor out by deflecting the latter's laser blast, and distracts He-Man and She-Ra by sending out his Horde Troopers. Just in the nick of time, Relay succeeds in waking Skeletor, who saves his would-be captives by shooting down Horde Prime's arriving ship. Infuriated, Horde Prime attempts to shoot Skeletor, but He-Man and She-Ra lift his ship up and throw it into space before he gets the chance. To He-Man's surprise, the children thank Skeletor for saving them, and Skeletor is relieved to learn that Christmas only happens once a year.

Back at the palace, as the good guys celebrate their Christmas party, Adam, dressed as Santa Claus, gives the children flying belts. Man-At-Arms then uses the Transporter to send Miguel and Alisha back to their home on Earth, where they are welcomed back by their parents. At the end of the special, Prince Adam and Orko deliver a very special Christmas moral. Adam states that "Though we celebrate it and get presents, Christmas is about caring, sharing and goodwill and its spirit is within all of us". And in fun fashion, Orko states that what makes him happy on Christmas is...presents.

By the power of Grayskull, and for the honor of it too, it's the tried and true formula of the Christmas spirit filling the heart of the bad guy, causing him to change his ways...even if just for one night. It features He-Man and his sister She-Ra, as well as a multitude of the Eternian cast. It has action, adventure, and of course, the usual moral to the story.

Wanting to get a little more holiday joy, I pulled out a couple more DVD's and enjoyed some random Christmas themed episodes. Today's picks were:

Anatomy Park, Rattlestar Ricklactica, and Ricktional Mortpoon’s Rickmas Mortcation from Rick & Morty
Seasons Greetings from Robotech
Nestor, the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey, the 1977 Rankin / Bass classic

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Comics Corner: Marvel Team-Up 144

Title: Marvel Team-Up
Issue Number: 144
Release Date: August 1984

Highlights

First appearance of Chu Yang, Yo Ling, The Tiger Claws, Do Yang, and Wu Fong, Lady Wang, and Do Chi Wong
First appearance of the locations Do Yang's House, Dragon Lady, Lin Chow Restaurant, and Wu Fong's Import Store
Do Yang has been murdered, and Moon Knight attends the private wake at his home, swearing to get revenge against his murderer, White Dragon
Joe Robertson wants Peter to get photos around Chinatown
Reference is made to The Amazing Spider-Man 185
The Tiger's Claw want Philip Chang to lead them against White Dragon, but Chang sticks to his vow to never again raise his hands in violence
Moon Knight discovers that Kingpin freed White Dragon from prison, and is using him to take control of Chinatown
While Moon Knight battles White Dragon, Spider-Man frantically searches for the bomb planted by the traitor, Chu Yang

Low Points

None

Oddities

None

Rating (based on a 1 through 5 Stans grading system)

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Retro Spins: Oingo Boingo - Nothing To Fear

Oingo Boingo has never been a band that critics and the general public seemed to take notice of, let alone praise for their efforts. Of their eight studio albums between 1981 and 1994, only one has received any sales certifications, that being 1985's Dead Man's Party, certified gold. Truth be told, they never really hit my radar until the 90's, as noted in my review of their debut, Only A Lad.

What's unique about the band, to me, is that the majority of the exposure I got to them at first was their 1991 compilation, Best O' Boingo. The tracks are taken from the "live" album, Boingo Alive (1988), which while recorded live, didn't feature an audience. Essentially, what you get is an assortment of updated versions of some of their more prominent tracks. Because this was my main introduction to a lot of these songs, I actually prefer the '88 versions over their originals. This in turn makes it a bit difficult for me to listen to the original studio album versions because I find them to be inferior.

With that said, there are some exceptions. The aforementioned Dead Man's Party, 1982's Nothing To Fear, and any releases which came after 1988. These are the albums where my first listening sessions came from those initial studio releases, and take me to the opposite spectrum where I prefer those versions over the re-recorded ones.

Basically, my appreciation for the band is all over the place.

I don't necessarily recall when I first heard Nothing To Fear. Though I do know it was after the noted compilation album, and Dead Man's Party. It must have been during my earlier stages of really taking notice of them, and actively seeking to add their entire discography to my infant collection from the early 2000's. This was back when I spent a lot of time on the road for work, and a trip to Tower Records came every few weeks to get something new to listen to.

The album as a whole stands out from the previous debut, 1981's Only A Lad, for the inclusion more prominent guitar and drum work, and heavier reliance on synthesizers. In general, it's a harder rocking album, leaning further away from the synth pop / new wave sound of Lad. It's also among my favorites, probably my second best from the band.

Oingo Boingo were never hit makers. They've only had two singles which hit the Billboard Hot 100, Weird Science (which peaked at 93), and Just Another Day (which peaked at 90), both from Dead Man's Party. As such, you're not going to find tracks on Nothing To Fear that most people are going to know, which is a shame, because there are a lot of hidden gems.

Of the ten, I personally have seven of them on my shuffle list. With that said, I don't necessarily hate the last three, they're just not among my favorites. Still, I could listen to this one from start to finish, and if I were collecting records still for the wall, it'd be a contender. I'm really trying not to add a third row of framed records to my toy room, and notations like this are kind of making that difficult to avoid.

Ultimately, I'd say if you are unfamiliar with Oingo Boingo, definitely check this one out. You may just find something new for your ears, and perhaps even open a door to a whole new band to enjoy.

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THIS WEEK ON THE CHART
December 11, 1982

Countdown To Christmas With Classic Cartoon Holiday Specials - It's Christmas Time Again, Charlie Brown

I don't know about you, but with just fifteen days left until Christmas, I'm getting all kinds of antsy and excited. What have you asked Santa for?

December in the 80's was a magical time of year to be a kid. Not only did we get all the fantastic toys for Christmas, but every year, throughout the holiday season, the television would segue from regularly scheduled programing to air animated holiday specials. They'd come on just late enough that it could be a family event, but early enough that we'd get to enjoy it just before bedtime.
Each half hour block was special. Perfectly crafted with just the right number of advertisements to remind us of all the toys on store shelves, the treats to be had from local restaurants and grocery stores, and all other manners of consumption in between. But at the heart of it was that cartoon which would come out of hiding just once a year, fill your eyes with wonder, bringing smiles, laughter, action, adventure, drama, but at the root of it, a classic holiday message of peace, giving, love, and joy.
It's become my own personal tradition each year to pull a holiday special off the DVD shelf each day to enjoy. It's a ritual which not only has become my way of counting down the twenty-four days of December leading up to my favorite holiday, but my way of reminding myself that no matter what's happening in the world, my day-to-day grind of work, life, health, trials, and tribulations, that for a moment, all of that can be put a side, and I can simply become a kid again, even if it's just at heart.
While I wish I could share the actual special with all of you, be it by inviting you all to my home to join me in front of the fireplace with a bowl of popcorn, sadly, that's just not feasible. However, between sites such as Youtube, Arhcive.org, Dailymotion, and Vimeo, you can probably find them to watch. Of course, for those of you so bold, you could also pick them up on DVD yourself, something I would highly recommend. If not for yourself, for your children.

It's Christmastime Again, Charlie Brown is composed of several Christmas-themed storylines, all taken directly from the Peanuts comic strip:

Linus van Pelt tries unsuccessfully to use a cardboard box as a sled.

Charlie Brown unsuccessfully tries to sell wreaths door-to-door before Thanksgiving. Franklin points out that Charlie Brown is adding to the commercialism of Christmas, but Charlie Brown disagrees "until I sell one." (Violet and the original Patty make cameos in this sketch, a rare 1990s appearance for the two.)

Peppermint Patty worries about her Christmas book report.

Peppermint Patty and Marcie attend a performance of Handel's Messiah. The following day at school, Peppermint Patty writes about the performance. Neither she nor Marcie know Handel's first name, so Peppermint Patty credits the piece to "Joe Handel."

Snoopy becomes a Santa on the street, Lucy and Sally beg to differ.

Woodstock and his bird friends play chamber music inside a snowman's hat.

Charlie Brown tries to explain the true meaning of Christmas to his sister Sally, who is convinced that the true meaning of Christmas is "getting all you can get while the getting is good" when she is writing a letter to Santa, but she tunes him out. She also writes to Mrs. Claus, who she calls Mary Christmas.

Snoopy, Woodstock and his friends dance with the candy canes that were on Charlie Brown's tree.

Sally goes to Linus' house for the meaning of Christmas and complains to Linus about calling birds in "The Twelve Days of Christmas". Linus tells Sally about Albert Schweitzer and how he does not like Christmas presents because he hated to write thank-you notes. Sally asks who Albert Schweitzer was.

Charlie Brown sells his entire comic book collection in order to buy Peggy Jean a nice pair of gloves, only to find that she has already bought a pair.

The kids participate in a Christmas play, where Marcie plays The Virgin Mary, Franklin gets the role of Gabriel, Peppermint Patty unwillingly plays a sheep, and Sally, who has to say the line "Hark!" in the same play to summon a herald angel, inadvertently yells "Hockey stick!". Later, Harold (herald) Angel drops by to visit Charlie Brown, looking for Sally.

Values, morals, and heartwarming lessons fill this holiday special featuring all the classic Peanuts characters. Satisfying in every way, and the perfect cartoon to get you in the holiday spirit.

Some of you may be asking, "Where's the classic, A Charlie Brown Christmas?" There are always a specific top three I save for the final days of my countdown to Christmas, and it's among them.

Wanting to get a little more holiday joy, I pulled out a couple more DVD's and enjoyed some random Christmas themed episodes. Today's picks were:

When S.A.V.A.G.E. Stole Santa from Rambo: The Force of Freedom
X-Mas Marks the Spot from the Real Ghostbusters
A Scooter for Yaksmas, and Son of Stimpy from th Ren & Stimpy Show
The Little Drummer Boy, Book II, the 1976 Rankin / Bass classic

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Comics Corner: Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man 93

Title: Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man
Issue Number: 93
Release Date: August 1984

Highlights

First appearance of Jim, and the NYPD officers, Bo, and Woody
First appearance of West 23rd Street Police Morgue, and Flash and Sha Shan's Apartment
Mrs. Muggins sees something black moving in the bathroom behind Peter, but when he goes to look, he only finds his black suit hanging to dry
Reference is made to Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars
Flash and Sha Shan are still having issues - Flash has a bag packed, and heads out the door early morning, and when asked where he's going, his response is, "Out!"
The Answer uses Black Cat to get her and Spider-Man back together
In the process of the commotion of a fake bomb, the Answer also steels an unidentified corpse from the morgue
The unidentified body is taken to Kingpin's labs

Low Points

Peter once again flip flops his thinking, now unsatisfied that Black Cat is only interested in Spider-Man, and not the real him
Spider-Man and Black Cat once again argue over his true identity. which she refuses to accept

Oddities

None

Rating (based on a 1 through 5 Stans grading system)

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Retro Spins: Stevie Nicks - The Other Side Of The Mirror

The Other Side Of The Mirror is an album I bought to check a box. The previous three Stevie Nicks albums all made their way to my collection for a specific song, or multiple hits. Whereas with her final release of the decade, I'd heard nothing from it. Instead, I picked it up because there was only one left to have her entire 80's run.

After the release of Fleetwood Mac's Tango In The Night in 1987, Lindsey Buckingham official said goodbye at the beginning of their tour, and was replaced by Rick Vito and Billy Burnette. Though Mac seemed to be unhindered by the loss, the tour would need to be put on a short hiatus when Nicks developed myalgic encephalomyelitis, chronic fatigue syndrome, resuming, and finishing up in 1988.

Fleetwood Mac would then once again go on hiatus, and Nicks would continue efforts on her solo career, carving out what would become The Other Side Of The Mirror. Aided by the international success of Mac's Tango In The Night, Nicks would see a boost in sales, making Mirror her most successful release in the UK. The single Rooms On Fire would chart in both the UK and USA.

I was admittedly curious to see what could be found in the unknown of the album, and really surprised with how good the first three tracks, Rooms On Fire, Long Way To Go, and Two Kinds Of Love were.

From there, things stayed relatively enjoyable, but shifted out of the territory of shuffle worthy to just okay, and then skippable. Overall, it just felt like a generic rock album, with nothing to really offer long term. It's a common flaw with albums from 1988 to 1989, especially from legacy artists.

Stevie would return to Fleetwood Mac for 1990's Behind The Mask, but upon its completion leave because of a dispute with Mick Fleetwood over her decade (plus) old hit, Landslide. Nicks wanted to use it on her forthcoming solo greatest hits album, but Fleetwood wouldn't allow it, instead wanting to have it on Mac's upcoming compilation.

While I wish I could say that she simply continued her solo career, and all was well, that would be a lie. Because of her chronic exhaustion, which led to the brief pause in the Tango In The Night tour, Nicks had gotten addicted to klonopin. After a serious fall in 1993 from the side effects of the drug, she went on a strenuous detox program.

That same year, Fleetwood Mac would also reunite. However, while praising the music, the public also shifted their attention to her severe weight gain, brought on by the drug. She vowed to never set foot on another stage until she lost the weight, which she did.

Nicks would stick with Fleetwood Mac until the untimely death of Christine McVie, and in between that continued her solo career, releasing four additional albums through 2014.

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THIS WEEK ON THE CHARTS
December 10, 1983

THIS WEEK ON THE CHARTS
December 10, 1988