Retro Friday: Billboard's Top Ten, 20 Years Ago

The idea that 1991 was TWENTY years ago continues to frighten me. Where did the time go? Check out this montage of Billboard's top ten songs, from the week of September 14, 1991. For those of you complaining about modern top 40 music, check out the top ten back then: Marky Mark, Michael Bolton, C&C Music Factory, Bryan Adams, Color Me Badd... WOW. Enjoy this journey back in time to the bad.

As we know now, however, this was the end of that era of music. A week later, Nirvana's "Nevermind" was released -- and with it, music went in a whole new direction -- thankfully.

Choice Cuts, Ol' Skool Edition

Meeting up with friend of Franklin Avenue JustJenn yesterday, I knew that she would be bearing gifts of the delicious variety. And she did: Those red velvet cupcakes (above) are as tasty as they look.

I had to come up with something to return the favor: And so I decided to bring along the Gift of Old Skool.

Here's the rundown of my brand-new Ol' Skool mix, of which Jenn got the first copy yesterday:

YES, THIS IS OL’ SKOOL. mix by mike

1. Crossover EPMD

2. Treat 'Em Right Chubb Rock

3. Expression (Half-Step) Salt-N-Pepa

4. Express Yourself N.W.A.

5. Do For Love 2Pac Feat. Eric Williams

6. Strobe Light Black Sheep

7. Hand On The Pump Cypress Hill

8. L.A.’s Hottest Music is on Power 106

9. Poison Bell Biv DeVoe

10. Say No Go De La Soul

11. I Left My Wallet In El Segundo A Tribe Called Quest

12. It's A Shame (My Sister) Monie Love featuring True Image

13. Case Of The P.T.A. Leaders of the New School

14. Principal's Office Young MC

15. You'z A Ganxta DJ Quik

16. Around The Way Girl LL Cool J

17. Regulate Warren G

18. Children's Story Slick Rick

19. No More Lies Michel'le

20. I Wish (LP Version) Skee-Lo

21. It Was A Good Day Ice Cube

Retro Friday: The Jacksons Edition

Tripiest video ever from the Jacksons/Jackson Five? From 1980, it's almost like the director of this video to "Can You Feel It" had just seen a screening of "Xanadu"... or had been freebasing in front of an Earth, Wind and Fire LP.

Actually, according to Wikipedia, the video was directed by Bruce Gowers and Robert Abel, and was even voted one of the 100 best videos of all time, in a 2001 United Kingdom poll to mark the 20th anniversary of MTV. (Gowers, who also directed Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody," is now the director of "American Idol's" live episodes.) Check it out.

Also: The Jacksons are coming to town! (See below)

Retro Friday: The Humpty Snub Edition

Poor Humpty Hump. While Sir Mix-A-Lot's "Baby Got Back" still gets all the attention years later, "The Humpty Dance" has been more or less forgotten.

You can't find "Humpty Dance" on the roster at Karaoke bars. You don't see Burger King using "Humpty Dance" in an advertisement for kids' meals.

Why have aging white guys like myself and the folks handling the advertising account for Burger King kept the "Baby Got Back" torch alive, but not "The Humpty Dance"? Both early 1990s songs are still catchy, but I have to agree with this guy: "Baby Got Back" is played out. Next time you need to make an early 1990s ironic hip-hop reference, let it be "The Humpty Dance."

Retro Friday: Hollywood Village People

Back one summer when my family was living in the Philippines, one of the Manila TV stations would play music videos every morning before signing on. Thing is, they were the same videos every single day. If I remember, the videos included "Suddenly," from Olivia Newton-John and Cliff Richards, and "In the Navy" from the Village People. I still remember my sister and I marching around the house to this video when we were kids... hey, at the time, we really did assume it was just a song about the joys of the Navy.

I bring up the Village People because they're among this year's Hollywood Walk of Fame recipients. Also receiving stars: Ben Kingsley, Hugh Jackman, Felicity Huffman, William H. Macy, Cameron Diaz, Robert owney Jr., Tim Burton, Leslie Caron, Charles Durning, Ralph Fiennes, William Petersen, Kyra Sedgwick, John Stamos, Mark Burnett, Chuck Lorre, Kenny "Baby Face" Edmonds, Dave Koz, The Miracles, Doug Morris, Rush, Shakira, Tinkerbell (!), KFI's Bill Handel and Harry Shearer, who's receiving his star for his KCRW show, not "The Simpsons" or "Spinal Tap." also provides voices for characters on "The Simpsons."

Retro: Everyday is Halloween

Hmm, if you've got little ones standing close to you, shoo them away before checking out this video. Ministry never made a video for their classic 1980s track "Everyday is Halloween," but this homemade version -- uploaded (and created?) by YouTube user deeky666 -- will more than do. It's a nicely cut montage of some creepy and gorey horror scenes, as set to the synth track (from back before Ministry went full-on industrial).

Retro Friday: It's Not MTV, It's MV3

The syndicated series "MV3," seen locally on Channel 9 (then known as KHJ), offered up music videos for viewers who didn't yet receive MTV. KROQ's Richard Blade was a featured host, while dancers performed to the latest New Wave hits in local L.A. clubs. Here's the (painfully long) opening credits.

Retro Friday: Richard Blade and The Smiths, 1986

Here's Richard Blade, 21 years ago, introducing The Smiths to the MTV syndication audience in 1986, on the show "Rock 'N Roll Evening News" (which lasted very briefly). Morrissey ultimately disses the Blade, who still puts together a piece on the band's fan base.

Retro Friday: Karaoke Favorites Edition

There are some songs at karaoke that the on-screen lyrics aren't necessary -- I already know the words. Yup, I can't remember what I had for lunch yesterday, but I can pull back 17 years and still remember all the lyrics to "The Humpty Dance." Here you go -- Digital Underground for your Friday.