Archive for December, 2009

Desert Island Discs

Published December 13th, 2009 in tracks, synthpop, work in progress, 1980s, audio and music. 0 Comments

The patent pending Ambrand.com 80s mix tape… aide de memoire… these songs should be preserved for the goodness of mankind,they are like precious works of art.

1980s
My love of the decade comes from soundtracks, mostly of Eddie Murphy movies. Some of these songs are so well known its hard to believe someone wrote them! They are so well known, and so referenced in popular culture - such as Family Guy - it’s as if they have always existed.

I;ve excluded Michael Jackson and Huey Lewis, because they would fill the page.

Addendum: Stevie Wonder, Huey Lewis, Michael Jackson have so many hits they could have their own pages, so I’ve tried to select the cream of the crop.
1990s
If a song is sampled many times its a rubber stamp of the popularity of its beat.

Jerry Vale

Published December 6th, 2009 in juke box, cover version, Italian Americans, sinatra and crooners. 0 Comments

Jerry Vale (born Gennaro Luigi Vitaliano, 1932, The Bronx, NY, USA) is an American singer. I only discovered him today via the “Related” secion of youtube while listening to Des O’Connor (please hold you laughter).

I can’t quite put my finger on Vale, I can hear influences from various - more famous - singers of his era.

This has a distinctive sound, its powerful, yet not reaching the overbearing tones of David Whitfield.

This would have suited the 1980s Perry Como.

Can’t you just hear Dean Martin?

and now we understand why, Vale covered other artists hits

this is his cover of the classic Tommy Edwards song - It’s all in the game.

here is the Tommy Edwards version, he really “owns” the song, I’ve never heard a better version.

At the time of writing Vale is still alive, he is truly a great artist.

Say hello to Texaco!

Published December 5th, 2009 in pacific northwest, esso so so so, john candy, imported oil, petroliana, sky chief and Texaco. 0 Comments

I’ve always liked the Pacific Northwest of the USA. The images of tall trees and wide, yet winding, roads gleaned from 1980s cult movies and second rate sitcoms like Harry and the Hendersons.

So when I found myself on a Wikipedia page that happened to contain a picture of a Texaco forecourt in WA, USA - indeed the entry for Texaco itself -I just had to delve further, and thanks to the magic of the interweb I am pleased to report my findings.

via Wikipedia

It is the Paradise Market Texaco, 6476 Mt Baker Hwy, Maple Falls, WA 98266, USA


View Larger Map

via Google Maps Streetview

The Bing Maps view, the embed option isin’t available so you have to click the link and open a new window :(

and finally picture from a local website, which advises you to “Fuel up on your way to the mountain [Mt Baker]”

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