jlh | Ladies and Gentlemen, Rock and Roll

So to do its part in the 25th anniversary of MTV, VH1 Classic is going to take the day of August 1 and rerun the entire first day of MTV's programming from August 1, 1981. (Clear your TIVO people.) As a sneak preview, they've been playing just that first hour. Now, we all know what that first song was, but the rest of the hour is an interesting mix from back when MTV thought of itself as a formatted, FM-like rock station. Which means some awesome stuff from the rocking ladies, like Pat and Chrissy, a bit of New Wave, and then some really dreadful early 80s rock bullshit. Granted, they were limited by which rockers were making videos then, but still. (Watching this on the TIVO last night, I had to IM Heidi squeefully when Split Enz showed up, natch.)

"Video Killed the Radio Star" | The Buggles
We all remember this.

"You Better Run" | Pat Benetar
An excellent performance video of Pat and her band in some alley, with Pat in her signature striped top, tight trousers, spunky little cropped hair and TONS of blush.

"She Won't Dance" | Rod Stewart
I have no memory of this not very good song, with Rod in a horrible jump suit that has some odd asymetrical cut out over his chest and a bunch of girl singers in typical early 80s mini skirts.

"You Better You Bet" | The Who
B&W, performance, awesome.

"Little Susie's on the Up" | Ph.D
Song is terrible, video some weird story about some girl doing something or other, with ballroom dancing.

"We Don't Talk Anymore" | Cliff Richard
There's so much going on here, I can't even put it into words. Your basic crappy early 80s video for a fairly banal synth-driven pop song, including bonus beauty shots of Sir Cliff.

"Brass in Pocket" | The Pretenders
Oh my yes. Chrissy working that hair, man.

"Time Heals" | Todd Rundgren
So for some reason they are putting Todd into a lot of classic surrealist paintings. I don't really get it. And yes, when he sings the chorus about time healing the first time, he's in "The Persistence of Memory."

"Take It on the Run" | REO Speedwagon
Concert footage. Big hit record. Whatever.

"Rockin' the Paradise" | Styx
I remember seeing the Behind the Music of Styx where the guitar player said of Mr Roboto, "I thought I was in a rock band, not musical theater." He really should have known at this point.

"When things go Wrong" | Robin Lane & the Chartbusters
I think Robin is the girl standing on the cliff with the horse. I also think this might be some kind of French Lieutenant's Woman homage, or something.

"History Never Repeats" | Split Enz
Squee! Floppy haired young Neil in bed! Poor dorky Neil at the school dance! Neil as a harlequin! Neil in a wartime drum corps! Tim being goofy on the TV!

"Hold on Loosely" | .38 Special
I like this song, but in what universe does that segue work? Anyway, concert film, big hit record, whatever.