Here’s An Odd Mix of My Favorite Early MTV Videos
Originally posted on October 11, 2008
This old fella has been feeling very nostalgic lately, especially for the sweet, sweet mindless TV watching of my youth, in particular, the videos MTV played during its first few years of existence. Some are fabulous, some are pretty bad, but oddly enough, I loved them all.
Whenever you mention very early MTV in a group, someone will no doubt jump in and ruin the chat with, “Yeah…Video Killed the Radio Star!” No shit pal, that’s novice stuff. I’m not talking about the popular tunes of the era you heard comics discussing on VH1’s Best of The 80s. I’m waxing poetic about the mostly-obscure and forgotten vids that you — my fellow fourth-level dwarfs and basement-dwelling music nerds— watched and thoroughly enjoyed from day one when the MTV astronaut landed on the Moon and we all fell in love with Martha and Alan.
Behold my nostalgia!
“We Can Get Together” by Icehouse
These guys had one of the first MTV “Triple Dips” with the song “Icehouse” on the album “Icehouse” by the band “Icehouse.”
“Swords of a 1000 Men” by Tenpole Tudor
Top-notch drinking/sword-fight song. Also, check out “Wunderbar”.
“No Time to Lose” by The Tarney-Spencer Band
Watching this super mellow video made me want to get high and I didn’t even know what that was.
“I Got You” by Split Enz
New Zealand’s finest export put out a lot of stellar videos, this is one of their best.
“Too Late” by The Shoes
Zero stage presence, but these Midwest mop tops produced some stellar power pop. Also, check out “Tomorrow Night”.
“So Long” by Fischer Z
There’s really nothing more exhilarating than belting out “Why didn’t you tell me? Oooohh… you should’ve told me.”
“Guilty” by Classix Nouveaux
Peppy goth goodness.
“Ah! Leah!” by Donnie Iris
This nerd had some serious pipes.
“We Don’t Talk Anymore” by Cliff Richard
Oodles of great video toaster effects in this one. Also, he’s kinda dressed like Mork.
“All Night Long” by Rainbow
This video made me want to do things all night long, like play Ladybug on ColecoVision and drink maple syrup straight from the bottle.
“Fantasy” by Aldo Nova
Aldo had me at guitar laser gun.
“Hold On Loosely” by 38 Special
Imagine a rock song better than this? Don’t bother, it’s impossible.
“Looking For Clues’ by Robert Palmer
Before there was “Big,” there was Mr. Palmer dancing on a toy xylophone.
“What’s He Got” by The Producers
This high-energy piece of 80s neon pop still holds up.
“Sign of a Gypsy Queen” – April Wine
Three words: Triple Guitar Threat
“Pop Music” by M
The backup singer with the headphones had just the right amount of energy.
“Never Say Never” by Romeo Void
Punk as fuck.
“Passing Strangers” by Ultravox
We all remember “Vienna” but don’t overlook this sleeper.
“So This is Love” by Van Halen
“I got myself a brand new Oakland scarf right here…” Um, okay. Also, see equally rockin’ “Unchained”.
“Some of My Lies Are True” by Huey Lewis & The News
Before their slew of middling 80s megahits, there was this masterpiece of choreography, mullets, and mellifluous melodic harmonies.
(Keep Feeling) Fascination by The Human League
Everybody sings! One of the best jams ever.
“Calling All Girls!” by Hilly Michaels
Not a huge fan of novelty songs, but this silly and saturated rotoscoped gem has some serious charm.
“Time Heals” by Todd Rundgren
Todd Rundgren rules.
“I Wanna Be A Lifeguard” by Blotto
I grew up in a beach town so this meant a lot to me.
“Message of Love” by The Pretenders
God bless The Pretenders.
“Magic Power” by Triumph
Guys, relax, you can like both Rush and Triumph.
“Homosapien” by Pete Shelley
Buzzcocks frontman with a very strong toe dip in the new wave scene.
“Holiday’ by Nazareth
Mama mama please!
“Talk To Ya Later’ by The Tubes
Maybe my favorite video from this era, it had everything: solid concept, dizzying camerawork, catchy as hell, keyboard and guitar solos, sunglasses.
U da best! Love Rock Music as it reminded me of driving to St. Peters in Point Pleasant with DJ Commesso and crew in dads car to play some hoops!
Any Devo?
U da best! Love Rock Music as it reminded me of driving to St. Peters in Point Pleasant with DJ Commesso and crew in dads car to play some hoops!
Any Devo?
This was a fantastic collection! These are songs that I loved then and have since almost forgotten about; I actually was doing a search for The Shoes…my friends and I thought they were hot back then…they never went anywhere. Thanks so much for putting this together…Donnie Iris, Icehouse..these are so great!
This was a fantastic collection! These are songs that I loved then and have since almost forgotten about; I actually was doing a search for The Shoes…my friends and I thought they were hot back then…they never went anywhere. Thanks so much for putting this together…Donnie Iris, Icehouse..these are so great!
If Pinhead and Marilyn Manson mated the Classix Nouveaux guy would be the resulting love child.
If Pinhead and Marilyn Manson mated the Classix Nouveaux guy would be the resulting love child.
I see I’m a little late to the party but this collections of videos was very enjoyable. I didn’t recognize a few but I got MTV about a year or so after its debut. Maybe they stopped running a few by then. I especially like the Split Enz video and remember it very clearly. (Pearl Jam did a good cover of that song BTW)
I also must say the bald guy in Midnight Oil has nothing on the Voldemort dude in Classix Nouveaux; he’s creepy as hell.
Do you think the Producers were sabotaged by having a bald guy?…they seemed like a catchy band but I’ll bet chrome dome had a little something to do with their not making it. How many teens want a band poster on their wall where one member looks like your orthodontist?