Child of the 80s
A lot was going on when I decided to put this mix together in 08'. The concept I had been thinking about for a while was inspired by "Audiobiography" (off the Razah's Ladder album) which I planned on putting together through a series of mixtapes that for me, starts with the 80s. The first few moments of my life that I could remember were spent overseas in Rockenhuasen, Germany, where my father was stationed. My earliest recollection of music began with MJ's Thriller LP. Early on, I watched music videos like most children watched cartoons. While my mother or father cooked or cleaned up around the apartment, to keep me occupied, the music video channel was usually their first choice. It was one of the reasons I loved 'The World is Yours' video by Nas years later. As an adult, it reminded me of my time as a child in front of the television set mesmerized by the 'music video'.
The Child of the 80s mixtape explores the period in between 1980-89. Some tracks, such as A-Ha's "Take on Me" & Phil Collins' "In the Air Tonight" I can attach to specific memories. Others, I recall either through my time in the backseat of my mother or father's Plymouth & Hyundai listening to the radio as they drove around El Paso/Ciudad Juarez. Some songs stand out from Steve Crosno's Studio 14. Other tracks I'd discover later on in life when I started digging in Northern New Mexico and through the availability of the world wide web. When it comes to 80s music, thats the category I label it under, whether Soft Rock, House, Punk, Garage, Techno... I just call it 80s (a sound that seemed to influence many others or vice versa, from the most soulful eg. Aretha Franklin/Willie Hutch to jazz giants like Miles Davis/Herbie Hancock).
Like most radio programs and mixtapes/podcast I've hosted, there are several clips of miscellaneous subject matter scattered throughout Child of the 80s, that again, are specific to the 1980-89 era. I started the tape's background off with Ronald Reagan's inauguration, for a number of reasons. One of those, I attribute to my 2nd grade teacher, Mrs. Barkeley at Parkland Elementary, who's teaching style had a major impact on my life years after. That year, I won an MLK Day Award that was presented to me at the Chamizal Theater. Afterwards, during the last few days of school, she congratulated me again, and as an added reward for the MLK prize, passed me a text of all the presidents with Ronald Reagan on the cover. The book was titled Mr. President, A Book of U.S. Presidents by George Sullivan.
In planning the mixtape, I felt that as an intro to the 80s and reference to the political nightmares of our time, Reagan's inauguration was an appropriate start. It also complimented part of what I was hoping to accomplish, which was to create a tape that flickered with memories of very specific scenes during the 80s, such as the scene from the film Colors, Karate Kid, Stand & Deliver, Iron Eagle, Bad Boys, etc. As a film junkie, the 80s blessed my childhood with multiple references, including the infamous Scarface film which I recall watching at around the age of seven or eight years old. I remember the VHS dub included Conan the Barbarian, which after watching a film like Scarface felt like a waste of time...Needless to say, films of all types, especially martial arts films of the 80s are scattered throughout this tape, playing the background in subliminal tone.
This is the 1st Chapter. I'm currently listening to a track by the Cure called "A Forest" which I've stored for Chapter 2. In addition, multiple covers for Child of the 80s have been designed for people that submit their 80s pictures (cover images will be posted soon).
On a side note, much thanks to the individuals at KRUX 91.5 fm that hosted an 80s platform during the weekdays around 06', 07', taking request for tracks like Joe Esposito's "You're the Best Around". It was a show I use to imagine and wish I had the 80s catalog to host.
An online program I listen to from time to time these days is 1980s.FM
Til' the next chapter...
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