The Excellent Eighties

This former member of the British band Coldcut, who gave them a hit song with "People Hold On!", made one of the most influential splashes on the music scene in years, her strong steady take on 70s done high tech style soul, turned her into the most credible white artist to do justice to the genre since Teena Marie. The almost ahead of its time synths and grooves lend a unique one of a kind flare to the nostalgic stylings of the songs and Ms Stansfield's warm and easy on the ears, but undeniably sexy and soulful vocals. The big hit off here is the sweeping, string laced, Barry White influenced "All Around The World!", but just about all the songs are in the same class of impeccable production and style. Other hits include the subtly pulsating and warmly joyous "This Is The Right Time!", and the kicking mid tempo numbers "You Cant Deny It!" and "Live Together!".

TV giant Gene Roddenberry, who changed the face of television with his first legendary sci-fi series about moral issues and conflicts explored in an intergalactic setting, got to strike lighting again with this outstanding follow up show that proved to have an even longer and more influential run than its predecessor. After the first Star Trek series was abruptly taken off the slot, growing fan support had stepped in and tried as hard as possible to keep the show alive in the public mind. finally after a decade of waiting Star Trek was alive once more as an ongoing film series featuring the original cast on new big screen adventures. The success of these films paved the way for a new television series that would be completely different from anything Star Trek fans had seen before, with all new starships,crew,aliens and special effects that would take the television world by storm. This new series takes place almost a century after the events of the previous show and the Federation is more at peace with other races, but that does'nt mean that this an intergalactic pleasure cruse show, as old foes are now at peace, new ones are discovered, alliances are shaky and there are greater challenges to be found both without and within than ever before. Helming this great adventure is a strong cast of characters more complex and varied than the previous crew and brought to life by an equally strong set of actors led by veteran Shakespearian actor Patrick Stewart as the charismatic, intellectual captain Jean Luc Picard. The other chief officers include the young and dashing first officer Will Riker, played with charming glee and suave by Johnathon Frakes, the matronly ships doctor Beverly Crusher, played by former Muppeter Gates McFadden who brings a warm, but sturdy glow to her role along with her enthusiastic inventor son, played with innocent eagerness by Wil Wheaton, from the 80s cult hit Stand By Me, the perky and ever resourcefull chief engineer Geordi LaForge, played by Roots star Levar Burton, the beautiful, telepathic ships counselor Deanna Troi, played by the elegant Marina Sirtes, the Klingon chief security officer Worf, whose strong presence is brought to life by Micheal Dorn and the one of a kind android commander Data played with remarkable intensity by Brent Spiner who won an Emmy award for his performance, one of many the show earned including the Peabody award. The show has also cranked out some of sci-fi's most memorable villans including the sneeringly omnipresent Q, performed by a game John DeLancie, the cold but agressive, reptile like Cardassians, the humorously sleazey Ferengi and the virus like man/machine hybrid race, the Borg. Some of the many standout guest performers have included Jean Simmons, David Warner, Paul Winfield who also appeared in the second of the Star Trek film series, Paul Sorvino, Fionnula Flanagan, original series stars Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelly, James Doohan and Mark Lenard , up and comers Kirsten Dunst, Ashly Judd and Famke Janssen, Denise Crosby in an early regular role as the first chief security officer, Whoopi Goldberg in an ongoing role as the ships bartender, original series guest star Diana Muldar as a second season temporary replacement for Dr Crusher and Gene Roddenberry's wife Majel Barrett, nurse Chapel from the original series who plays Deanna's loving, but irritating mother. The show ran from 1987 to 1994, which also saw the debut of their first movie, which has since spawned sequels and subsequent spinoff shows. This show is available in various complete season box sets as well as in individual season sets.

The final great album from the Wolfgramm family only gave them two minor hits, the pulsating dance number "You Better Dance!" and the lovely ballad "The Same Love!", but there is much more to this album, especially in a string of gorgeous ballads, including such standouts as "How Can I Be Sure?", "In My Dreams!" and "Do You Remember?", that sport a more slick and mature sound than the group has ever attempted before. Another standout is the joyously upbeat "Under Any Moon!", a bouncy duet with teen crooner Glenn Mederios, that also appears in the film "The Karate Kid Part 3" and on its soundtrack album.

For many 80s kids a Christmas staple, this outrageously clever and creative cinematic fable from producer Steven Spielberg, screenwriter Chris Columbus, who due to the success of this film, gained enough credibility to become a director and would go on to direct the mega smash Home Alone and Harry Potter film series and director Joe Dante who made a name for himself after helming this project, became a monster smash, dark comedy holiday hit. After a kind young man's inventor father gives him a furry and unusual little creature for Christmas, many more of the little guys start popping out everywhere and after a certain stage become after midnight, vicious and nasty little monsters who like to mess with electrical equipment and have a taste for human flesh! The story sounds disgusting, but other than a couple of brief gory moments of slime and goo, the film is relatively light in tone, though never without a biting sense of humor and a refreshing feeling of innocence and wonder is held throughout. Featuring some amazing special effects and likable characters, the film also includes a now famous Jerry Goldsmith score and a rare performance by music producer Micheal Sembello, from Flashdance's hit song "Maniac!", who performs the theme song "Mega Madness!". A sequel followed in 1988 with Gilligan and returning director Dante.

The soundtrack to the hit holiday comedy features the top ten hit theme song, a cover of Jackie De Shannonn's 70s hit "Put A Little Love In Your Heart!", which is performed by Annie Lennox in her first non Euerythmics project, though the song is produced by Annie's Eurerythmics partner Dave Stewart and joining Annie is Gospel/R&B singer Al Green. Also worth noting is the appearance of Nat King Cole's daughter Natalie's take on his holiday classic "The Christmas Song." Other highlights include the pulsating "The Love You Take!", performed by Dan Hartman and Denise Lopez, the rap/dance jam "Get Up N Dance!" performed by Kool Moe Dee and the smooth jazz rendition of "We Three Kings!" performed by Miles Davis, Larry Carlton, David Sanborn and Paul Shaffer who all appeared in the film playing the song as street musicians.

The one that started it all! Americas first family of dysfunction and stars of the longest running comedy series, not to mention animated series of all time, got their legendary start with a pilot episode that also happened to be their first Christmas special. The Simpsons first came to life in 1987 as one minute shorts for the Tracy Ullman show, created by struggling cartoonist Mat Groening who came up with the idea right on the spot, as the show originally wanted to use Groening's comic strip "Life In Hell", but he was hesitant and so supposedly using his own family as a base, he created a template for biting, yet somehow charming satire. After three years of running, the shorts proved so popular that the idea for a series was presented and on December 1989, the world was officially introduced to the loving but screwball Simpson family. Big hearted and big bellied dad Homer, caring and just a tad neurotic mom Marge, who stands out in a crowd with a tall shock of blue hair, never ending environmental crusader and super brainiac daughter Lisa, ever quiet and resourceful baby Maggie and of course the rambunctious and super bad boy Bart. In this holiday episode, Homer, is short on money this Christmas and is determined to make it a very special one for his family, even if it means, in Bart's own words "to sink so low." as to get a part time job as a department store Santa, who cant afford to have lunch, so he swipes a bite of a little kids donut as their picture is taken. Even this little gig isn't enough to give the family a proper Christmas, so Homer and Bart take a risk at the dog track and put their faith on a dog named Santa's little helper, to pull off a Christmas miracle. This episode introduces many now familiar characters including Moe the bartender, alcoholic Barney, nerdy neighbor Flanders and Homers ever cynical sister in laws Patty and Selma. This holiday themed disc includes 4 more later Christmas episodes. All episodes on this disc can also be found on various "the Simpsons" season box sets with the pilot, officially titled "Simpsons Roasting On An Open Fire", appearing in chronological order on season one.

The Wolfgramm family's second album is their first Christmas release, which offers a simple but charming collection of all original tunes and a cover of the James Ingram/Linda Ronstandnt theme song from the Don Bluth animated feature "An American Tail!" "Somewhere Out There!".

The immortal Lausangua loving fat cat, created by cartoonist Jim Davis, has been the star of the biggest and most beloved comic strip since Peanut's. In the tradition of the much loved Peanuts holiday TV specials, Garfield got to have 3 of his own in the mid to late 80s just as his strip was skyrocketing. The first of these is the Emmy winning and slightly creepy "Garfield's Halloween Adventure", which finds our selfish but always likable hero, teaming up with his dim witted but loyal best dog Odie on Halloween night for some trick or treating, but they are unknowingly about to stumble upon a long lost treasure and some long dead pirates who mean to reclaim it. The classic screwball scenario of "Garfield's Thanksgiving" finds Garfield's hopeless romantic owner John, desperate to win over his long time crush, who just happens to be Garfield's steady but stern Vet, who forces Garfield to go on a diet just in time for the holiday, to quote Garfield himself "when people celebrate food by eating as much of it as possible!" John is able to talk his girl into coming over for a Thanksgiving dinner, but John has one big problem, he cant cook! Enter Grandma, who's always a scene stealer thanks to some wonderful voice work by "The Little Mermaid's Ursala" Pat Carrol. Grandma appears again in "A Garfield Christmas", which finds Garfield being dragged out of his nice warm bed to be with Johns family on the family farm for Christmas. But Garfield needn't stay blue because Odie has a special gift for him. All 3 specials are peppered with delightful songs performed by the silky smooth voices of Lou Rawls and Desiree Goyette and feature the impeccable voice of Lorenzo Music who captures Garfield's demeanor perfectly.

The First Lady of Christian music shines at her best on her first holiday album. A hit with both Christian and secular music fans alike, this album glows with warmth, care and a timeless charm that has kept it a favorite today. Amy's warm and accessible vocals blend well with the equally warm and accessible mix of synths and traditional instruments. Standouts include the now classic, Country lite ballad "Tennessee Christmas.", the joyfully whimsical rendition of "Sleigh Ride!", the subtle but touching "Heirlooms.", the upbeat pop/gospel of "Love Has Come!", a gorgeous reworking of "Oh Little Town Of Bethlehem!" and the show stopping highlight "Emmanuel!", a moody but exciting gospel/early electro pop number that is unforgettable. Simply put, a Christmas must!

Johnny Depp, that enigmatic genius of a performer has had many classic moments in the last decade and a half of cinema , frequently at home most comfortably with friend and fellow enigmatic genius behind the camera, Tim Burton, working together to create their unique brand of quirky dark fantasy and humor, best shown in the bizarre classics “Ed Wood.”, Sleepy Hollow.” and “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.”. When asked to choose between my two favorite Johnny Depp moments, I must say it is a hard choice. Depp has delivered countless memorable lines, looks and scenes, but two that particularly stand out for me and my family would be a hilarious moment in “Ed Wood.” which is director Tim Burton's lone foray into non fiction as he lovingly depicts the life and work of Hollywood's king of really bad B movies. Depp excels as the title figure, playing director Ed Wood with a naive, but infectiously sweet innocence and delusional but steadfast sense of belief in his dreams of movie making glory, no matter what the powers that be or even his actress girlfriend say. While there are highlights too numerous to mention in this oddball classic, one moment that had us all in stitches is when on Halloween night Ed is in the home of actor friend Bela Lugosi, played by Martin Landau in an Oscar winning performance, legendary for playing the iconic role of Count Dracula, but now a washout. When some trick or treaters ring the bell and Bela comes out at them in his Dracula costume, fangs and all, a boy teases him saying “Those teeth don't scare me!”, but then Ed comes out and says “How bout these?” and pulls out for all to see, his entire row of front teeth, scaring the kid away. Bela than asks “How d'you do that?” and Ed holds them up replying with glee “Dentures. Lost my pearlies in the war!”. Our other all time favorite Depp moment would have to be from not only his most famous non Tim Burton collaboration, but his most famous role ever and one that is now being called one of cinemas classic characters. Come on! You all know it! Captain Jack Sparrow, that charming, but clumsy rogue from the blockbuster Pirates of the Caribbean movies. Depp more than sinks his literally golden teeth into this juiciest of roles, he completely reinvents the very name of Pirate, both modernizing, but never inappropriately and honoring the beloved caricatures of the genre. Captain Jack has endless memorable lines and looks, but his almost iconic opening entrance, looking majestic and heroic standing on the tip of what's expected to be a great big sea vessel, but is in fact the mere few feet high tip of a practically one man row boat thats sinking by the minute,but manages to stay afloat just in time to let him step effortlessly on the dock. Ultimately this takes the prize as our favorite moment in Depp history as he almost single handedly creates a classic movie moment without speaking a word. As this now international character assures us, Johnny Depp will continue to amaze and entertain with his seemingly endless array of colorful characters and almost mesmerizing performances, one of which is the upcoming Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Sweeny Todd in Tim Burton's latest collaboration with this versatile performer. You can visit Sweeny Todd on MySpace. A film version of the Tony award winning Broadway musical written by Stephen Sondhiem in the late 70s, Sweeny Todd was a wrongly accused and imprisoned man who after years of hatred in his heart returns to London to set up position as a barber, a barber with revenge on his mind. Joining Depp in this anticipated production are the great British character actors Alan Rickman and Helena Bonham Carter. To find out more about the film, the Broadway musical and the original legend, click here at visit the official Sweeney Todd movie site