♫ Remembering the 80s ♫: I CAN’T TELL YOU WHY – Eagles (Soft Rock/Blue-eyed Soul)

Remember this one? It was released February 4, 1980

It’s one of my all-time favourite classics, from one of my all-time favourite bands, the Eagles, and when it first came out I could totally relate to it. I was fairly young at the time, probably too young to be dating boys or even know anything about relationships but yet, I understood it. Perhaps it was from watching family friends growing up around me and the struggles they went through in their relationships. Who knows. All I know is, I could relate to it. I also remembered loving the mellow, laid-back-style riff of the music… and still do.

The song, “I Can’t Tell You Why” was written by band members Timothy B. Schmit, Glenn Frey, and Don Henley of that great old American rock band and it was recorded in March of 1978 and was the first song finished for the album, The Long Run and it was also the first Eagles song to feature Schmit on lead vocals.

♫ Remembering the 70s ♫: SAMBA PA TI – Santana (Latin American/Rock)

Remember this one? SAMBA PA TI by Santana? It was released in 1970.

Translated into English as “Samba For You”, this classic slow-burning piece by the Latin rock band, Santana, is a legendary instrumental featured on their Abraxas album which starts off slow and mellow then flows into an extended play out in a faster tempo – a classic example of what this band is all about blending a truly unique mix of Latin American, Blues and Rock style influences.

♫ Remembering the 80s ♫: DO YOU REALLY WANT TO HURT ME - Culture Club (New Wave, Blue-eyed Soul, Reggae)

Remember this one - DO YOU REALLY WANT TO HURT ME by Culture Club? I sure do! I remember thinking how unique Boy George was at the time - the way he sang, the way he dressed. His lyrics made no sense to me sometimes but I didn't care because the rhythm did it for me. 

♫ Remembering the 70s ♫: FOOLED AROUND AND FELL IN LOVE by Elvin Bishop (Soft Rock)

Remember this song?  FOOLED AROUND AND FELL IN LOVE by Elvin Bishop?

When I first heard it on the radio being sang by Rod Stewart, oh about 8 years ago or so, I remembered thinking "I know this song. It sounds familiar." Then I looked it up and sure enough, it was another classic rock song I grew up to in the 70s. Rod Stewart's version wasn't bad I have to admit, but the original version by Elvin Bishop holds its own special memories for me. Nevertheless, I was delighted to learn it was also one of many 1970s song featured in the highest-grossing superhero film of 2014, Guardians of the Galaxy - a movie I have yet to watch!

♫ Remembering the 70s ♫: A HORSE WITH NO NAME by America (Folk Rock)

Remember this one – A HORSE WITH NO NAME by the band, America? Sure you do!

The song was covered by a band in the bar Robin Williams’ character hangs out at in the 1987 movie Good Morning, Vietnam and is also featured in the video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas on the fictional classic rock radio station K-DST – just to name a few places in pop culture where it was used.

I’ve read numerous times about the oddly-written lyrics of this song but you’d think the title itself would be some indication of what’s to come. Besides, does it really matter? I think not.

The lyrics may be trite but it only adds more to the effectiveness of this almost melancholy-type tune which also evocatively describes what this song is all about – being in the desert, which is often dry and nonsensical.

Even though the song was released in late 1971 in Europe, it was released in the USA in early 1972.

♫ Remembering the 80s ♫ : NOTHING'S GONNA STOP US NOW by Starship (Rock)

Remember this one - NOTHING'S GONNA STOP US NOW by Starship?

Some may link this song to the movie, Mannequin, a 1987 romantic comedy fantasy film about a chronically underemployed artist (actor Andrew McCarthy) who gets a job as a department-store window dresser and falls in love with a mannequin (played by Kim Cattrall), who comes to life on occasion, but only for him. Contrary to popular belief, this was not the theme song of the movie. In fact, the song was only played during the ending credits of the movie.
Either way, I remembered it as another great classic song of the 1980s...