Growing Up on MTV: Live Tracks
March 14th, 2008 | by Scott |In the early days it was apparent that most bands had yet to begin making expensive and glossy videos. As you can see from the first day of MTV programming there were a preponderance of live videos from existing concert shows.
Videos 9 and 10 would come from two of my favorite acts in the 80s. REO Speedwagon and Styx. It’s interesting to me that the albums that these two songs came from, Hi Infidelity and Paradise Theatre, predated the birth of MTV. As ubiquitous as these bands would be over the next 4-5 years on MTV their star had been largely solidified before the advent of videos. Maybe they weren’t made for video?
It’s obvious that Kevin Cronin had a face made for radio. But, man, they could rock. I had the treat of seeing them perform on May 1st 1982 in Memphis along with Joan Jett, Survivor and Kansas. I was supposed to go with a buddy of mine from school but he backed out at the last minute because he wanted to go see Friday the 13th part 2 instead. (How’s that for great decision-making skills?) My dad drove me, dropped me off at the Liberty Bowl, and picked me up when it was over. What a day.
In addition to “Take It On The Run” they would go on to play “Keep On Loving You,” “Don’t Let Him Go,” and “Tough Guys” on that first day. I remember “In Your Letter” being a live track as well but it must have been held off for day 2.
Styx was my favorite band in the early 80s before I drifted into harder rock and heavy metal. I got to see them in Little Rock when Magic 105 hosted a bogus petition drive to get them to come to Barton Coliseum. You know that it had the mark of a ploy when Styx announces they are coming and that same week the tickets go on sale. But, hey, it sold out in a day so it worked. That would have been sometime in 1983 on their Kilroy Was Here tour.
In addition to Rockin’ The Paradise, they would go on to play The Best Of Times on Day One.
Other live videos that first day included my favorite two drummer band .38 Special:
And the only video to be played twice on the first day was this classic clip by April Wine:
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8 Responses to “Growing Up on MTV: Live Tracks”
By terri on Mar 14, 2008 | Reply
I never liked Styx but I loved REO Speedwagon. 38 Special - There is nothing I like better than that opening to Hold On Loosely
By Jeff Slater on Mar 14, 2008 | Reply
I was not a big fan of Styx (though “The Grand Illusion was a good album), but I did like REO. I saw April Wine at a small venue in the suburbs of Detroit in 1981 or 82. They were very good live.
Terri — I saw 38 Special along with Iron Maiden and Rainbow in 1982 (Rainbow was the headliner). We had seats on the main floor, 10 rows from the stage. We stood on the arms of our chairs! That was a wild show. We watched Richie Blackmore smash a beautiful white Fender Stratocaster and shove the remains into a big Marshall amp.
Just a side note: Richie Blackmore (former guitarist for Deep Purple and Rainbow) is now doing Renaissance music. Here is his Web Site.
By len on Mar 14, 2008 | Reply
I loved Paradise Theater. Don’t know what happened to my vinyl copy. I remember the petition to get them to come. Alas, I was unable to attend. That jumpsuit Tommy Shaw is wearing has really stood the test of time well! In fact, all of their outfits are pretty cheesy. Still, that is great music and a great trip down memory lane. Thanks for posting it.
By Kevin Bussey on Mar 14, 2008 | Reply
Man,
are you bringing back memories! I love all of them. I saw 38 special with Molly Hatchet. I was on the front row and couldn’t hear for a week! I love Styx and Tommy Shaw was from Bama and I had a college friend who was his cousin. Rollin’ with the changes is one of my favs.
By terri on Mar 14, 2008 | Reply
I saw 38 Special/Bon Jovi twice in 1986 and once before then… they didn’t come close to North Alabama without me being there!
By Steve Allison on Mar 15, 2008 | Reply
When were you in Memphis Scott? I was at U of M there from 72-74 and met my wife at the CofC student center. FM100 played a lot of Styx then. And the summer of 73 Deep Purple’s Smoke on the Water played incessantly. Renaissance music is great. Thanks for the link Jeff.
By Scott on Mar 16, 2008 | Reply
How can you people not like Styx? That’s just unAmerican.
Steve, I never lived in Memphis. I just drove over from Little Rock.
By len on Mar 24, 2008 | Reply
I listened to Rockin’ The Paradise today. “Let’s stick together and futurize our attitudes”….that is some deep thinking right there.