1985.

You may ask yourself, “What is so special about 1985?”. Well a lot, and to each person alive at that time, the different things. Let’s go back a year before that. Three things come to my mind when I think of 1984:
1. George Orwell’s novel by the same title (which was standard reading for us in our school’s American Literature class)
2. The year my mom’s brother was killed by a reckless driver.
3. A year that President Reagan was in office.

So, you might also ask yourself how 1985 was such a good year for me despite the tragedy in the family?
Well I don’t know how great a year it truly was; or if it was better than the remaining years of the 1980’s thereafter. But, my memory of that year is alive and well and kids are most perceptive when the country is going through change.

During the 1980’s, my parents brought me to the drive in theater. We watched “Superman” that way. And, E.T. we watched in the theater, followed by many contemporary Hollywood films in my youth.

I felt a certain sense of stability. It must have been President Reagan’s years in office (1984 and 1985) that felt great. So did Phil Collins contribute to that feeling of joy?

I think so. The connection was made in my mind.

As though there was harmony in the country. As if men and women did not hate each other. Men began to drift away from singing folk songs to their women; no more lullabies. Now, instead, there was a sense of dynamism, optimism, and a take-charge attitude, in which leadership was permitted to lead and was on good footing.

“Paul Simon” (my favorite folk musician) may have been the bridge for me from “Peter, Paul, Mary”, to “Phil Collins”.

Those of us who were younger, got to witness the good feelings in the country that the adults were living – or so I believed! We heard it in the music. The music doesn’t lie. Even the bitter is sweet, even the sadness had joy. We heard it in “Phil Collins”.

“Phil Collins” remains one of my favorite bands of all time. Yes, “Peter Gabriel” as well. “Dire Straits”, Australian band “Men at Work”, and others I might write about later. (These are of same genre).

But, listen to “Sussudio” (track 1) on Phil Collins’ “No Jacket Required”, and you’ll get a sense of that time (at least as I heard it).

The 80’s were a time of perceived stability and strength; where if nothing was perfect, at least we could handle our own country! Maybe this was confined to southern CA? I don’t think it was, but it may have been.

So in that way, 1985 was exciting. It was the year that Atlantic Recording Corp. put out (released) “No Jacket Required”.

This review is not a study on the lyrics.

If you like the sound of this track “Sussudio”, I invite you to check out the movie: “Beverly Hills Cop”. Again, the movie captures the same spirit. Its soundtrack, and the movie, are undefeated. They are similar also in that they incorporate back ground horns (brass), with synthesizer (electric keys) (which was quite modern). Flash forward many years, and you might like “Owl City” too.

Now, I recently reviewed Beastie Boys’ “License to Ill”. I want you to know, I do have another one of their albums. And, I have to tell you that “So Watcha Want” (from the “Check Your Head” album), is an amazing and electrifying song. You well know by now that there’s nothing wrong with enjoying different sounds! You can broaden your horizon.

Classical, Opera, Jazz, or Blues one day, and “Rage Against the Machine” (perhaps in the same week) too.

Try NOT listening to “So Watcha Want” for 10 years, then pop it in the player and have a listen. To me, that was like not eating a cheeseburger for 3 years, and then feasting on one!

So, is it possible to love to listen to Phil Collins and something very much unlike it? Most definitely.

But, getting back to “No Jacket Required” – my point is that the 1980’s CA, where I am, was a time where I think men had a certain euphoria in knowing that they could express joy, optimism, and dynamism. And, for me, this was a source of optimism. Other people’s joy became mine too!

Now, critics would say, (and they’re right to say), that the 1980’s was riddled with cocaine users, and the rough and tumble “me first” wall-street mentality. [See movie “Wall Street”, 1987 – “Greed is good”]. But, I did not know that when I was a boy in 1985.

So how much of music (or any art for that matter), is illusory? How much of
it deserves to define an era? Or to juxtapose and contrast it? Well, if you listen to “No Jacket Required”, you’ll get a hint at what Phil Collins might have thought when he recorded this album in those days.

The last song on the A side is entitled: “One More Night” – which foreshadows a relationship at its end. And the last song on the B side is entitled: “Take Me Home” – which foreshadows resignation and seeking of a comfort (at the same time). So, does the album champion enduring love? Or, sweet misery? You decide.

Ironic, is that while this tape gave and gives me optimism, Phil sang about loss! One track is even entitled “Doesn’t Anybody Stay Together Anymore”. How pessimistic is that? Very! Yet somehow, that music today when I hear it, reminds me of a time that was very safe! Does music today achieve that anymore?

I don’t know how to explain that to you, except to say that the quality of the music, and the honesty in it, are all these things: unique, strong, and safe.

This music preceded all the angst of the 1990’s which I’ll write about this week also. Much of it is so creative and not to disparage. And, that is why to this day, the 1980’s and the 1990’s contemporary music released in the USA, are clearly unique from each other. (Each era to be embraced, and, frequently revisited). Don’t you think so too?

I intend to write a bit about some of the bands of the 80’s and 90’s. And, I’ll do that soon.

If you like this album of his for the same reason, check out these bands:
“Simple Minds” [particularly album: “Once Upon a Time” on Virgin Records Ltd.
(1985)… which led me to the movie: “The Breakfast Club”], “Yes”, and,
these movies: “Top Gun” and “Tootsie” (which range macho and sensitive, respectively)!