We didn't have any issues with pandemics in May of 1982 since we had David Banner (40 some odd years since the show premiered and it still sounds so wrong) and his alter ego the Incredible Hulk to take care of such things for us.
One thing I enjoy about researching the past is pinning down exactly what I was doing and where I was at in a place of time. As the cover notes the Miss USA pageant was going to be broadcast on Thursday at 8 p.m. on Channel 5. I may not recall watching it, but my mother watched all of the big network televised pageants so it was definitely on in our house. Something I know for certain that I watched was the network television premiere of Caddyshack which was airing May 9th. I missed out on seeing it in the theatre and somehow had not sneaked a look at it on cable television when we had lived in town. We were living out in the country on Jimmy C. Newman's farm by this point in time so even an edited Caddyshack was a big television treat for me.
Sound Seventy Productions was still going strong in 1982 with a couple of big concerts coming to Nashville soon. Chicago was on the cusp of a huge comeback with the release of their Chicago 16 due to be released in June. "Hard To Say I'm Sorry" would be released on May 16th and would hit number 1 later on that year. The next time they played the middle Tennessee area it would be at Murphy Center instead of the much smaller capacity Grand Ole Opry House.
One of the oddest bills would be the 38 Special concert. Point Blank makes sense, but having New Wave Of Heavy Metal artists Iron Maiden open at Municipal Auditorium seems insane to me. My musical tastes are very broad, but I doubt many of the 38 Special fans would have known what to think about Iron Maiden who were touring with new lead singer Bruce Dickinson to promote their The Number Of The Beast record which had been released in March. If you happened to be there on this night let me know in the comments. I bet it was wild.
Iron Maiden live in 1982
Capitol Records were pushing Iron Maiden along with perpetual money makers The Beatles and up and coming The Motels with specials on their music at local Sound Shops and The Turntable Record Shops. I bought Reel Music and The Number Of The Beast. I've always thought Reel Music ws trying to cash in on the Stars On 45 phenomenon.
We know decades all get nice little categories assigned to them like the Seventies was the Me Decade or the 1920's was the Jazz Age or the Roaring 20's, but we also know that these times don't necessarily begin with clean cut precision. Many boomers (OK boomer) think the Sixties didn't die until Saigon fell. Well, for this Gen X kid, I'm saying the Eighties didn't begin until the Brooke Shields doll was released. You could have gotten one at Cain Sloan along with lots of cool Eighties style clothes to go with it.
There's even a ring for you!
"Now wait a second! The Eighties didn't begin with a Brooke Shields doll. It began with me!" Well....who the heck are you? "Why I'm Pac-Man released by NAMCO in 1980. I am where the Eighties begins. Space Invaders was cool, but I'm the Alpha video game. I gobbled up multitudes of quarters and inspired clothes, cereal, pop music tunes, advertising copy, and Saturday morning cartoons too. I even survived Atari putting out a terrible version of me."
Ok, Pac-Man. You win. I think I'll go pick my Pac-man shirt up at Cain Sloan and then run over to Wendy's and see if I can win myself an Atari console through their Pac-Mania contest.
10 minutes of Pac-Man related commercial from 1981-1986
Let's head back to the Nashville music scene which was going strong at Cantrell's. The punk/New Wave band hailing from the hippie commune The Farm was coming to play on Friday night. I used to see The Nuclear Regulatory Commission album pretty regularly back when record stores were allowed to be open. I might pick it up one of these days.
NRC white sugar
The White Animals, who could usually be found playing Cantrell's, were at the Ringside Seat this week. I've been a massive fan of them since at least my junior year of high school.
White Animals I Need You So
If you were in the mood for some country and bluegrass you could venture out to Opryland and see Ricky Skaggs or Reba McEntire. Perhaps if you timed it right you could catch both of them.
Ricky Skaggs Heartbroke in 1982
Reba McEntire from 1982
The Rodeway Inn Central featured Johnny Porrazo and lots and lots of drinks. You would not go thirsty there my friend.
I have never heard of Fantasy House, but I would have loved to see what they had back in 1982.
Joan Jett don't forget the Blackhearts
Freeze-Frame
Go-Go's pretty sure I posted this just weeks ago, but hey it's the Go-Go's who rule!
That's all for this week. Come back next Sunday for another one of these forays into the past.
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