MT USA on disc
Jim Carroll
Long before Other Voices and No Disco flew the flag for music television in Ireland, there was MT USA.
Running from 1984 to 1987, the Sunday afternoon show took its cues from then broadcast newbie MTV.
Each episode featured presenter Vincent Hanley standing on various New York street corners introducing videos from such stars as ZZ Top, Cyndi Lauper, The Bangles, Men Without Hats and, in case you had forgotten, the legendary Dennis Deyoung.
A double-CD and DVD compilation featuring acts from the show’s heyday goes on release today.
You forgot to mention Bruce and “Dancing in the Dark” ALOT. Those were not his glory days….
Legendary indeed. Who’ll ever forget ‘Desert Moon’? Most people except me, I imagine!
My dad owned way too many ZZ Top albums for my liking.
“My dad owned way too many ZZ Top albums for my liking.”
Stop making me feel old. ‘Eliminator’ was the only album to own back in 1983. Every discerning 10 year old had ZZ Top written on their schoolbag.
Back in those days you had three choices:
1. Get busy listening to ZZ Top
2. Get busy emigrating
3. Get busy with a heroin addiction
Ah, the eighties were just great
Ah Matt…those summer nights, when we were young…we bragged of things we’d never done, we were dreamers… only dreamers..
Sorry Matt.
I just have horrible memories of my dad’s album collection. ZZ Top doesn’t bring fond memories. I was born in 85 so I couldn’t own “Eliminator” in 83 unfortunately.
Actually, one of my dad’s records which I have great memories of (and still listen to – to this day) is Prefab Sprout – Steve Mcqueen!
Seeing as so many bands are reforming lately, what are the chances of Paddy McAloon getting the band back together in 2008?
liz – ah, the memories…
matt – you and a few other people close to On The Record remember “Desert Moon with great fondness
pedro – now we know who to blame for a lot of things. And Prefab Sprout ROCK – I was a huge mcaloon fan
liz – stop it, stop it, stop it!
Steve McQueen is still one of my favourite albums. I picked up ‘Faron Young’ on seven inch a few weeks ago. I’d forgotten how good it was.
Pedro – I must be your father.
Liz – I’m still a dreamer. They’re just a bit more sordid these days.
Pedro – I must be your father.
On The Record – We Reunite Families.
Oh wow. Will be getting my hands on this for sure! I remember being stuck at home for weeks with a bout of measles and this was about the only thing that saved me from full on delirium.
“Pedro – I must be your father”
Hahahahaha!
Brilliant.
Faron Young, When Love Breaks Down, GOODBYE LUCILLE #1!!!!
Cracking album.
sublime record.
i can still belt out an off key version of Appetite whenever i hear that song.
my copy was called two wheels good. i rectified that with the re-issue this past summer.
ZZ Top are one of those bands (like ver Quo) who were awesome before they started to rack up the hits. Some of their earlier, bluesy stuff is sublime. ‘Eliminator’ was the beginning of the end for them really, but what a way to go. I can probably still drum to every part of that album if given half an opportunity.
is there a track listing – heard there is a DVD with it as well …..
Introduced me to
REM – Radio Free Europe
Doors – Gloria
and many many more
and of course alan parsons project and loads more “ropey” stuff
does anybody know the track list i wnna get it for my mam
Because On The Record hearts its readers….
CD1
Pat Benatar – Love Is A Battlefield
Journey – Don’t Stop Believing
Survivor – Eye of the Tiger
ZZ Top – Legs
Steve Miller Band – Abracadabra
Joe Jackson – Steppin’ Out
Debarge – Rhythm of the Night
Matthew Wilder – Break My Stride
Wang Chung – Dance Hall Days
Kenny Loggins – Footloose
Mr Mister – Kyrie
Peter Cetera – Glory Of Love
Huey Lewis & The News – The Power of Love
Meatloaf – Dead Ringer for Love
Falco – Rock Me Amadeus
Suzanne Vega – Marlene on the Wall
Men Without Hats – The Safety Dance
John Waite – Missing You
Dennis Deyoung – Desert Moon
CD2
Aha – Take On Me
Go West – We Close Our Eyes
Aretha Franklin – Who’s Zoomin Who
Pointer Sisters – Jump
Nik Kershaw – I Won’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me
Dan Hartman – I Can Dream About You
The Bangles – Walk Like An Egyptian
King – Love & Pride
Bonnie Tyler – Total Eclipse of the Heart
George Michael & Aretha Franklin – I Knew You Were Waiting for Me
Starship – Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now
Cyndi Lauper – Girls Just Wanna Have Fun
Miami Sound Machine – Dr Beat
James Brown – Living In America
Billy Ocean – When The Going Gets Tough
Nena – 99 Red Balloons
Jim Diamond – I Should Have Known better
Ashford & Simpson – Solid
Dave Lee Roth – California Girls
DVD
George Michael & Aretha Franklin – I Know You Were Waiting for Me
Starship – Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now
Bonnie Tyler – Total Eclipse of the Heart
Cyndi Lauper – Girls Just Wanna Have Fun
Nena – 99 Red Balloons
Billy Ocean – When The Going Gets Tough
Miami Sound Machine – Dr Beat
The Bangles – Walk Like An Egyptian
Aha – Take On Me
Do you know what’s really, really scary? I know EVERY single one of those tunes (even the Mr. Mister one). I bet most readers do too. I wonder is that down to how crap today’s pop charts are by comparison or to the fact that, back then, MT USA and its videos were the only game in town?
I hate to admit it but with only a few exceptions I have practically every single one of those tunes on seven inch. Some have held up better than others, most notably Joe Jackson’s Steppin’ Out
King! Love & Pride!! They just don’t make ‘em like they used to.
Ah, the Pat Benatar ‘shimmy.’ I remember the videos were a very mixed bag. Still, it didn’t matter if at least at some stage during the show Pat Benatar’s over choreographed Love is a Battlefield aired. Ah, thoughts of that ‘shimmy’ still give me goose pimples. Ah bliss.
I’m so excited…and I just can’t hide it …Im about to lose control and I think I like it!!!! I have been waiting YEARS for an MTV compliation like this!
does anyone know where to get this?
hi , i remember vincent did a full show tribute on mtusa irish acts only,u2,thin lizzy,undertones,rory gallagher etc. does anybody know where i can get my hands on this episode.
Its in Tower Records
I see from the track list that the dvd is quite short!!!!! I was hoping all tracks would also be available on dvd…..very upset
sorry matt, did you say the tribute show to irish bands on mt usa was in tower records. cannot see it.
todd – i think he means the MT USA double-CD and DVD. I would say it’s available in all good record shops (and Golden Discs)
BTW the DVD just has the video clips and not the intros from Fab Vinny.
God this is the best news I’ve heard in ages! Have heard Denis De Young twice on the radio this week already – bliss!! Trying to explain the allure of MT USA to two work colleagues in their early 20′s – they’ve no idea whatsoever of the joy of Sunday afternoons in front of the box, (colour if you were really lucky!) watching Vincent Hanley in New York (I mean how cool was that!). These youngsters, with their iPod’s, Play stations, satellite/cable/digital tv, everything on demand lifestyles, just don’t understand how provileged we were to have MT USA!
this is a late entry, but i am searching high and low for a copy of this…Where can we buy it from??!!? There is noone on the web selling it that i can find.
http://www.towerrecords.ie/viewdetails.asp?hfldUnitID=351925
Thanks Jim, i checked the links and called Tower Records. Apparently its not on their system, but is this definatly the right one?? There are no details about it on the webpage?? I feel im getting closer to the answer though!
Hey, got a copy in Golden Discs today, Tesco’s also have it but were sold out. Shame Laura Brannigan didn’t make it on there – “Self Control” being the height of scandal in them days, bless…
i remember queuing to get jim diamond’s autograph at tots to teens in limerick. it was like the beatles had come to town – we were sooo deprived in those days.
Kinda hoped, when I heard that this was being released, that Sheena Easton’s excellent “Almost Over You” (only good thing she ever done) might at least make the album, if not the DVD. (I mean, if Matthew Wilder can get on it…….)
Can someone answer me a quick question?
Was this also shown on TV in the United States?
I remember his death was reported in America, but can’t remember the circumstances…
back from drunken night with 13 DUFC supporters .. we remember a video .. black and white about uncle in prison and end of video car pulls up and man gets out … was a big hit and we all remember a bit but not the singer or title ? any help
checkout facebooks group ” i watched mtusa with Vincent Hanley every sunday evening in the 80s ‘ for a trip down memory lane!!
Worth buying for Desert Moon on its own. Mystified by the lack of Heart numbers, though.
can anyone tell me where i can get a copy of the cd? I,ve been googling this for weeks and nothing has come up.
This CD is not complete without Tony Carey’s “Fine Fine Day”….. look it up on youtube and you will remember it……..
I got the CD in Tesco Mitchelstown on Saturday so I’d imagine it’s in any Tesco??
Bought it as a crimbo present for my sister in Golden Discs Wilton so having a quick sconce at it FuNnNnNnY – Cindi Lauper “girl jsyy wann have fun and now Nena with das hairy sweaty armpits and leathers… bring it on…
Redhat – I am almost sure it was Tony Carey’s Fine Day – see number 39. Great to hear it again – thanks della!
I’ve always thought a-ha were a fantastic band. Has anyone here heard their latest album “Analogue” (it’s from 2005)? I think that’s a brilliant album.
Bring back George Michael in those small shorts!!!
Ah yes – the good ole days, Im with you all the way there – “Soooooo Excited”. Has to be one of the most memorable events of the 80s. Tad disappointed with the DVD – more of the real favourites would’nt go amiss on this. Now Paul – steady on there ! – Mathew Wilder’s “Break my Stride” gets my vote over Sheena Easton’s dreary “Almost over you” anyday – and indeed that equally dreary video of her playing a piano singing it with a soft-focus lens. Sorry…. but Mathew’s lyrics are far more likely to get one out of bed in the morning !
Vincent Hanley was an absolute GOD and never got the recognition he deserved. This man should have awards (IRMA, Hot Press, whatever) named after him. Sunday afternoons with MT-USA kept me sane in the 80s – it was also the main reason that my homework took so long to do. We did not realise exactly how lucky, even blessed we were having this guy piping the stuff into our own homes once a week. His grafting and the work the folks at MT-USA did at the time set standards for everyone else in the business – they were the first people to do it (wall-to-wall videos) and the contracts that they negotiated set the standards for when MTV Europe was launched in the late 1980s.
Desert Moon? Lord, that takes me back. How about “Don’t answer me” by the Alan Parsons Project, and Don Henley “The Boys of Summer” of course.
I’m ashamed to admit I’ve actually seen ‘King’ live. but i think i can crawl back my dignity by being at a Prefab Sprout ‘Steve Mcqueen’ tour gig too. oh and ZZ top that year… shite credibility gone again… t’was 1985 and I was younger & foolish… wish i hadn’t read the track listing. can;’t get that go west song out of my firggin head.
just ordered cd dvd on Amazon. Cant wait to see it. Anyone know were you can see old episodes of this brill show. I watched it in a house were I babysat on weekends. Bliss. Though remember George Michael, Careless Whisper and Bruce Springsteen, The River and Nikita by Elton John. They should bring it back