OLD SCHOOL #48 Poolside ’83

Professor Mikey here, parked in a DeLorean equipped with an 8-track outside a typical public swimming pool on a typical summer afternoon in 1983.  It was weird getting here, but I think I found the right tunes so we should be good for an afternoon in a world ruled by Ronald Reagan, Michael Jackson, Prince, and Madonna and one particular lifeguard.

Like all decades, the 80s have taken a while to really kick in. MTV has been around for a couple of years. Everybody is excited about  The Return of the Jedi coming out this summer. By Christmas, people will be selling their souls to get their kid a Cabbage Patch Doll.

But right now it’s hot and it’s pretty much a tubular party in the deep end. The music reflects the times. Disco is gone but the beat remains. Electricity is the star, in the drums, in the keyboards. Just about anything that can be plugged is plugged in, and it drives a sound that is thumping mad.

The idea is to recreate the soundtrack of what we were swimming to that endless summer of 1983. We go back as far as last September when the ‘82 pools closed, and don’t go past August of ‘83 so we can get the essence of a true moment in Coppertone time. And have some fun.

Also, since this is a podcast generated in a different century, we have to mind a few rules. Don’t worry, you are getting the real thing. Know though that it really is the summer of Michael Jackson. During a five day period in June, Michael sold 750,000 copies of Thriller. 

Toto’s “Africa” got played a few zillion times a day on American radio, which was completely ruled by financial decisions. So I had to snip a few songs just so the moneylenders wouldn’t block the whole podcast.

But I’m pretty sure we will get by. The Eighties are essentially the Fifties with cocaine. And enough electricity to power a small midwestern city. At the pool we turn up the amps and bring the heat. It’s a Cruel Summer of never ending smashes and splashes.

Welcome to Professor Mikey’s Old School #48, Poolside ‘83.

We’ve been rocking out quite a bit here on this special wet and wild edition Old School. Like any good DJ Professor Mikey knows when it’s time to change the tempo a little. Also this is an educational program, so let’s do some math. You heard right. If you were born somewhere between February and April or May in 1984, there’s more than a good chance that you were made during the summer of 1983. Thinking about your parents hooking up is not top of mind for most podcasts, but the odds speak for themselves. These upcoming artists had a direct effect on a little population spike. Some might call this a slow dance, or a moonlight swim in this case.

Here are Patti Austin, James Ingram, and Marvin Gaye. And maybe your mom and your dad. And a little surprise, just like you. Poolside ‘83 and music for a night swim.

Saying goodbye to Poolside ‘83 isn’t going to be easy. It was a complicated time, but there was a lot of fun. We’ve learned complications and no fun equals, well, no fun. Remember in 1983, we were about a year from the first CDs.  Money changed over time. What you could buy for a dollar in 1983 will cost you three dollars today. The idea of cel phones was around, but not like we have today. They were big clunky devices with long antennas that looked like walkie talkies from Mattel.

Hidden Valley Ranch dressing was introduced, as were the Mario Brothers.

But that summer left a playlist that craved a swimming pool, or some way to stay wet and wild. I’ll listen to this podcast anytime I need to return. You can too.

While this was getting put together, I also compiled a playlist of these and many other songs that were as available as sunshine and chlorine in 1983. Go to Professor Mikey’s Old School on YouTube and click on playlists.

Old School is produced for educational purposes. Any and all music heard in this program resides within the public domain, is licensed through the podcast carrier, or is used within the guidelines of fair use provided for in Section 107 of the copyright act of 1976.

This podcast is brought to you by Retrofit, a free private newsletter you can subscribe to for free or with a modest donation at retrofit.substack.com.  I’m Professor Mikey, thanks for listening. 

Lets spend just a few more minutes in the water and be the last ones out of the pool.

Cruel Summer Bananarama

Too Shy Kajagoogoo

Der Kommissar After the Flood

Let’s Dance David Bowie

Come on Eileen Dexy’s Midnight Ramblers

Church of the Poison Mind Culture Club

Gloria Laura Brannigan

Electric Avenue Eddie GrantAfter

Well Dressed Man ZZ Top

Baby Come to Me Patti Austin and James Ingrahm

Sexual Healing Marvin Gaye

True Spandau Ballet

King of Pain The Police

Keep Feeling Fascination Human League

Hungry Like the Wolf Duran Duran

Putting on the Ritz Taco

Sweet Dream Eurythmics

Pass the Dutchie Musical Youth

White Lines (Don’t Do It) Grandmaster Flash

Holiday Madonna

Jeopardy Greg Kihn Band

She Blinded Me with Science Thomas Dolby

Photograph Flock of Seagulls

Wild World Tears for Fears

Radio Free Europe REM

Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye Bananarama

Overkill Men at Work

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