Greg Kihn - 1981-08-05 - West Orange, NJ (FM)

Greg Kihn

1981-08-05

South Mountain Music Fair

West Orange, NJ

WNEW-FM broadcast

320 kbps

Artwork Included

01. Introduction

02. Round And Round

03. The Girl Most Likely

04. Womankind

05. Rendezvous

06. Valerie

07. Higher And Higher

08. Sheila

09. Can't Stop Hurting Myself

10. Things To Come

11. The Break-up Song

12. Roadrunner

13. Sweet Jane

Greg Kihn - 1981-08-05 - West Orange, NJ (FM)

Today we bring you the first of several shows this month that I actually was at! MTv, a  cable television station that would revolutionize music, and in the process almost live up to the title of the first video ever played on the station, The Buggle's Video Killed The Radio Star, launched on August 1, 1981.  Four days later, on April 5, 1981, 45 years ago this very day, I saw Greg Kihn at the South Mountain Music Festival in West Orange, NJ, as captured in the FM broadcast recording.  It would be the only time I saw Kihn in concert. Believe it or not, those 2 disparate evens have much in common. MTV would enable a host of new acts, from Blondie to The Pretenders to Pat Benatar to The Clash to Robin Lane, to rise up and garner mainstream attention.  Greg Kihn was one such act, as his video of the Break Up song - simply a clip of the tune being played live - was among the first aired by MTV. As a result of that video being played alongside ones by the artists mentioned earlier, Kihn sometimes was referred to as a new wave act, even though he was really a straight ahead rock and roller. Kihn later received even more attention on MTv for his video for the song Jeopardy. It was one of the first “concept” videos aired on MTV, and was later spoofed by Weird Al Yankovic in the video I Lost on Jeopardy. TWithin a few years, even the largest acts in rock, such as Bruce Springseen. Dire Straits, and Peter Gabriel, just to name a few, "would want their MTv."

Greg Kihn - 1982-04-21 - San Francisco, CA (SBD)

Greg Kihn Band

1982-04-21

Old Waldorf 

San Francisco, CA

Soundboard Recording

320 kbps

Artwork Included

01. Introduction

02. When The Music Starts

03. Everyday > Saturday

04. Sheila

05. Womankind

06. Happy Man

07. Every Love Son

08. Valerie

09. Reelin' And Rockin'

10. Dedication

11. Seeing Is Believing

12. Sound System

13. The Girl Most Likely

14. Higher And Higher

15. The Break-Up Song

16. Can't Stop Hurting Myself

17. Testify

18. True Confessions

19. Roadrunner > Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)

20. Radio

Greg Kihn - 1982-04-21 - San Francisco, CA (SBD)

1980s - #3: When is a new wave post not a new wave post? When it includes Greg Kihn! When MTV launched on August 1, 1981, many of the earliest music videos the station aired were from emerging new wave artists such as Blondie, The Cars, Elvis Costello, The Pretenders, and Nick Lowe, just to name a few. That said, at some point, it seemed that almost any MTV video from a new artist became classified as new wave, whether or not the artist truly fit that genre. Such was the case with Greg Kihn, whose video for the Breakup Song - simply a clip of the tune being played live - was among the first aired by MTV. As a result of that video being played alongside ones by the artists mentioned earlier, Kihn was sometimes was referred to as a new wave act, even though he was really a straight ahead rock and roller. Kihn later received even more attention on MTV for his video for the song Jeopardy. It was one of the first “concept” videos aired on MTV, and was later spoofed by Weird Al Yankovic in the video I Lost on Jeopardy. New Wave or not, Kihn’s video singles did well on the charts, with The Breakup Song reaching #15 and Jeopardy climbing all the way to the #2 position.  This soundboard recording captures Kihn in San Francisco, on April 21, 1982, 42 years ago today.

Greg Kihn - 1983-03-20 - Santa Barbara, CA (FM)

Greg Kihn 

1983-03-20

Arlington Theater

Santa Barbara, CA

FM Broadcast

320 kbps

Artwork Included

01. Bill Minkin introduction 

02. Stand Together 

03. Happy Man >

04. Every Love Song 

05. Talking To Myself

06. Jeopardy 

07. Valerie  

08. You Keep A Knockin' 

09. Break Up Song 

10. Testify  

11. Fascination 

12. Tear That City Down   

13. Can't Stop Hurting Myself    

14. Reunited  

Greg Kihn - 1983-03-20 - Santa Barbara, CA (FM)

1983 - When MTV launched on August 1, 1981, many of the earliest music videos the station aired were from emerging new wave artists such as Blondie, Elvis Costello, and The Pretenders, just to name a few. That said, at some point, it seemed that almost any MTV video from a new band became classified as new wave, whether or not the artist truly fit that genre. Such was the case with Greg Kihn, whose video for the Breakup Song - simply a clip of the tune being played live - was among the first aired by MTV. As a result of that video being played alongside ones by the artists mentioned earlier, Kihn sometimes was referred to as a new wave act, even though he was really a straight ahead rock and roller. Kihn later received even more attention on MTV for his video for the song Jeopardy. It was one of the first “concept” videos aired on MTV, and was later spoofed by Weird Al Yankovic in the video I Lost on Jeopardy. New Wave or not, Kihn’s video singles did well on the charts, with The Breakup Song reaching #15 and Jeopardy climbing all the way to the #2 position. This FM broadcast catches Kihn on March 20, 1983, 4 decades ago today, in Santa Barbara. Download this one, and while you listen, you just might want your MTV!

Greg Kihn - 1983-07-04 - Milwaukee, WI (FM)

Greg Kihn

1983-07-04

Henry Maier Festival Park

Milwaukee, WI

FM Broadcast

320 kbps

Artwork Included

01. Paint It Black

02. Fascination

03. Tear That City Down

04. Route 66

05. Talking To Myself

06. Happy Man

07. Every Love Song

08. Someday

09. Jeopardy

10. Run Around Sue >

11. I Fall To Pieces

12. Too Bad

13. Can't Stop Hurting Myself

14. The Breakup Song

15. Testify

16. Roadrunner > Just My Imagination

17. Everybody Needs Somebody To Love

18. The Kids Are Alright

Greg Kihn - 1983-07-04 - Milwaukee, WI (FM)

About a month after the Santana concert at South Mountain mentioned in the previous post today, I was back on the hill on August 5, 1981 for Squeeze, whose lead in band that night was Greg Kihn, That was the only time I saw the man whose tune Jeopardy was later parodied by Weird Al Yankovic in a video that received extensive airplay on MTV,  Kihn was such a good sport that he actually appeared in the video! 

This FM broadcast captures Kihn amidst his MTv fame, in Milwaukee, on July 4, 1983, 39 years ago today.

Greg Kihn - 1981-08-21 - Atlanta, GA (FM)

Greg Kihn 

1981-08-21

Agora Ballroom

Atlanta, GA

FM Broadcast

256 kbps

Artwork Included

01. When The Music Starts

02. Rendezvous

03. Womankind

04. Desire Me

05. Can't Stop Hurting Myself

06. Sheila

07. The Breakup Song (They Don't Write 'Em)

08. Beside Myself

09. Magic Bus > Cold Hard Cash

10. True Confessions

11. Roadrunner

Greg Kihn - 1981-08-21 - Atlanta, GA (FM)

I saw Greg Kihn at South Mountain Music Fair on August 5, 1981, opening fopr Squeeze. That was the only time I saw the man whose tune Jeopardy was later parodied by Weird Al Yankovic in a video that received extensive airplay on MTV, Kihn was such a good sport that he actually appeared in the video! 

This FM broadcast captures Kihn a few weeks later during that same 1981 tour, in Atlanta on August 21, 1981, 4 decades ago today!

Greg Kihn - 1984-07-14 - Santa Cruz, CA (FM)

Greg Kihn Band

1984-07-14

The Catalyst

Santa Cruz, California

FM Broadcast

192 kbps

Artwork Included

01. Route 66

02. Fascination

03. Tear That City Down

04. Confrontation Music

05. Happy Man

06. Every Love Song

07. Worst That Could Happen

08. The Rock

09. Stand Together

10. Jeopardy

11. Twist And Shout

12. The Break Up Song

13. Reunited

14. For Your Love

Greg Kihn - 1984-07-14 - Santa Cruz, CA (FM) 

When MTV launched on August 1, 1981, many of the earliest music videos the station aired were from emerging new wave artists such as Blondie, Elvis Costello, and The Pretenders, just to name a few. That said, at some point, it seemed that almost any MTV video from a new band became classified as new wave, whether or not the artist truly fit that genre. Such was the case with Greg Kihn, whose video for the Breakup Song - simply a clip of the tune being played live - was among the first aired by MTV. As a result of that video being played alongside ones by the artists mentioned earlier, Kihn sometimes was referred to as a new wave act, even though he was really a straight ahead rock and roller. Kihn later received even more attention on MTV for his video for the song Jeopardy. It was one of the first “concept” videos aired on MTV, and was later spoofed by Weird Al Yankovic in the video I Lost on Jeopardy. New Wave or not, Kihn’s video singles did well on the charts, with The Breakup Song reaching #15 and Jeopardy climbing all the way to the #2 position. This FM broadcast catches Kihn on July 14, 1984, 3 dozen years ago today, in Santa Cruz. Download this one, and while you listen, you just might want your MTV!

 

Greg Kihn - 1981-08-28 - Reseda, CA (FM)

Greg Kihn

1981-08-28

Wolf and Rissmiller's Country Club

Reseda, CA

FM Broadcast

320 kbps

Artwork Included

01. In Concert 81-10 Intro #1

02. Commercial - Levi's

03. Commercial - Budweiser

04. In Concert 81-10 intro #2

05. Rendezvous

06. Womankind

07. Valerie

08. Trouble In Paradise

09. Girl Most Likely

10. Commercial - Budweiser

11. Commercial - Freshen Up Gum

12. Commercial - Levi's

13. In Concert 81-10 Break

14. Sheila

15. Higher and Higher

16. The Break Up Song

17. Can't Stop Hurting Myself

18. For Your Love

19. Commercial - Levi's

20. Commercial - Freshen Up Gum 

21. In Concert 81-10 Break

22. Around and Around

23. Things To Come

24. Roadrunner

25. In Concert 81-10 credits

26. In Concert 81-10 promo spot

Greg Kihn - 1981-08-28 - Reseda, CA (FM) 

When MTV launched on August 1, 1981, many of the earliest music videos the station aired were from emerging new wave artists such as Blondie, The Cars, Elvis Costello, The Pretenders, and Nick Lowe, just to name a few. That said, at some point, it seemed that almost any MTV video from a new artist became classified as new wave, whether or not the artist truly fit that genre. Such was the case with Greg Kihn, whose video for the Breakup Song - simply a clip of the tune being played live - was among the first aired by MTV. As a result of that video being played alongside ones by the artists mentioned earlier, Kihn was sometimes was referred to as a new wave act, even though he was really a straight ahead rock and roller. Kihn later received even more attention on MTV for his video for the song Jeopardy. It was one of the first “concept” videos aired on MTV, and was later spoofed by Weird Al Yankovic in the video I Lost on Jeopardy. New Wave or not, Kihn’s video singles did well on the charts, with The Breakup Song reaching #15 and Jeopardy climbing all the way to the #2 position. As promised, here’s part 2 of our August double shot of Greg Kihn from 1981. This FM broadcast captures Kihn at the height of his success on August 28, 1981, 37 years ago today.

Greg Kihn - 1983-03-19 - Valencia, CA (FM)

Greg Kihn Band

1983-03-19

Six Flags Magic Mountain

Valencia, CA

FM Broadcast

320 kbps

Artwork Included

01. Westwood One Intro

02. Curious

03. Happy Man

04. Every Love Song

05. Fascination

06. Tear That City Down

07. Valerie

08. Jeapardy

09. Can't Love Them All

10. Too Bad

11. Can't Stop Hurting Myself

12. Testify

13. The Break Up Song

14. Westwood One Outro

15. Show Promo

Greg Kihn - 1983-03-19 - Valencia, CA (FM)

Yet another guilty pleasure we're featuring this month at So Many Roads. When MTV launched on August 1, 1981, many of the earliest music videos the station aired were from emerging new wave artists such as Blondie, Elvis Costello, and The Pretenders, just to name a few. That said, at some point, it seemed that almost any MTV video from a new band became classified as new wave, whether or not the artist truly fit that genre. Such was the case with Greg Kihn, whose video for the Breakup Song - simply a clip of the tune being played live - was among the first aired by MTV. As a result of that video being played alongside ones by the artists mentioned earlier, Kihn sometimes was referred to as a new wave act, even though he was really a straight ahead rock and roller. Kihn later received even more attention on MTV for his video for the song Jeopardy. It was one of the first “concept” videos aired on MTV, and was later spoofed by Weird Al Yankovic in the video I Lost on Jeopardy. New Wave or not, Kihn’s video singles did well on the charts, with The Breakup Song reaching #15 and Jeopardy climbing all the way to the #2 position. This FM broadcast catches Kihn on Marc h 19, 1983, 35 years ago today, in Valencia, CA.  Download this one, and while you listen, you just might want your MTV! 

Greg Kihn - 1992-12-17 - San Francisco, CA (FM)

Greg Kihn

1992-12-17

Slim's

San Francisco, CA

KFOG-FM Broadcast

320 kbps

Artwork Included

01.  KFOG Intro

02.  Roadrunner

03.  Jeopardy

04.  Remember

05.  Hole In The Head

06.  Can't Stop Hurting Mystelf

07.  The Break up Song

08.  Sweet Jane

09.  KFOG Outro

Greg Kihn - 1992-12-17 - San Francisco, CA (FM)

Born in Baltimore in 1949, Greg Kihn is yet another musician who found success when he moved to San Francisco in 1972. After 9 years of touring and building a local following, he became an “overnight sensation” in 1981 with The Break Up Song, which became a top 20 hit when the video for the tune received extensive airplay on the then fledgling MTv network. Kihn would have his biggest hit 2 years later, when his tune Jeopardy climbed to #2 on the Billboard charts. Kihn received even more attention when Al Yankovic released a parody entitled I Lost On Jeopardy. Yankovic also produced an accompanying music video for MTv, and Kihn was a good enough sport to appear in it! This FM broadcast captures Kihn several years after all the MTv fame, years later, in San Francisco, on December 17, 1992, 23 years ago today.

Greg Kihn - 1984-08-01 - Capitol, Passaic, NJ (SBD)

Greg Kihn Band
1984-08-01
Capitol Theatre
Passaic, NJ
Soundboard Recording
320 kbps
Artwork Included

01. Route 66
02. Fascination
03. Tear That City Down
04. Confrontation
05. Talking To Myself
06. The Worst That Could Happen
07. Got To Be The Rock
08. Stand Together
09. That's What Friends Are For
10. Jeopardy
11. Reunited
12. The Breakup Song (They Don't Write 'Em)

Greg Kihn - 1984-08-01 - Capitol, Passaic, NJ (SBD)

When is a new wave post not a new wave post? When it includes Greg Kihn! When MTV launched on August 1, 1981, many of the earliest music videos the station aired were from emerging new wave artists such as Blondie, The Cars, Elvis Costello, The Pretenders, and Nick Lowe, just to name a few. That said, at some point, it seemed that almost any MTV video from a new artist became classified as new wave, whether or not the artist truly fit that genre. Such was the case with Greg Kihn, whose video for the Breakup Song - simply a clip of the tune being played live - was among the first aired by MTV. As a result of that video being played alongside ones by the artists mentioned earlier, Kihn was sometimes was referred to as a new wave act, even though he was really a straight ahead rock and roller. Kihn later received even more attention on MTV for his video for the song Jeopardy. It was one of the first “concept” videos aired on MTV, and was later spoofed by Weird Al Yankovic in the video I Lost on Jeopardy. New Wave or not, Kihn’s video singles did well on the charts, with The Breakup Song reaching #15 and Jeopardy climbing all the way to the #2 position. This soundboard recording captures Kihn at the Capitol Theater in Passaic on August 1, 1984, 3 decades ago today.

Greg Kihn - 1986-04-16 - Boston, MA (FM)

Greg Kihn

1983-04-16

The Channel

Boston MA

FM Broadcast

192 kbps

Artwork Included

01. Introduction

02. Fascination

03. Tear That City Down

04. Happy Man

05. Curious

06. Can't Stop Hurting Myself

07. Hit The Road Jack

08. Every Love Song

09. Talking To Myself

10. Jeopardy

11. Testify

12. The Break Up Song

Greg Kihn - 1986-04-16 - Boston, MA (FM) 

Born in Baltimore in 1949, Greg Kihn is yet another musician who found success when he moved to San Francisco in 1972. After 9 years of touring and building a local following, He became an “overnight sensation” in 1981 with The Break Up Song, which became a top 20 hit when the video for the tune received extensive airplay on the then fledgling MTv network. Kihn would have his biggest hit 2 years later, when his tune Jeopardy climbed to #2 on the Billboard charts. Kihn received even more attention when Al Yankovic released a parody entitled I Lost On Jeopardy. Yankovic also produced an accompanying music video for MTv, and Kihn was a good enough sport to appear in it! This FM broadcast captures Kihn 3 years later, in Boston on April 16, 1986, 28 years ago today. Download this one and you’ll once again “want your MTv.”

Greg Kihn - 1981-08-12 - The Ritz, NY (FM)

Greg Kihn

1981-08-12

The Ritz, NY

FM Broadcast

320 kbps

Artwork Included

01. NBC The Source 82-20 Introduction by George Taylor Morris

02. When The Music Starts

03. Rendezvous

04. Womankind

05. The Girl Most Likely

05. Moulin Rouge

07. NBC The Source 82-20 Break - George Taylor Morris

08. Commercial - Delco

09. Commercial - U.S Army

10. Valerie

11. Can’t Stop Hurting Myself

12. Higher And Higher

13. Sheila

14. Things To Come

15. Commercial - Sun-In Hair Lightener

16. Beside Myself

17. The Break Up Song (They Don't Write 'Em)

18. Band Intros

19. Roadrunner

20. NBC The Source 82-20 Break - George Taylor Morris

21. Commercial - U.S. Army

22. True Confessions

23. NBC The Source 82-20 Break - George Taylor Morris

24. Commercial - Delco

25. For Your Love

26. NBC The Source 82-20 Credits - George Taylor Morris

Greg Kihn - 1981-08-12 - The Ritz, NY (FM) 

When MTV launched on August 1, 1981, many of the earliest music videos the station aired were from emerging new wave artists such as Blondie, The Cars, Elvis Costello, The Pretenders, and Nick Lowe, just to name a few. That said, at some point, it seemed that almost any MTV video from a new artist became classified as new wave, whether or not the artist truly fit that genre. Such was the case with Greg Kihn, whose video for the Breakup Song - simply a clip of the tune being played live - was among the first aired by MTV. As a result of that video being played alongside ones by the artists mentioned earlier, Kihn was sometimes was referred to as a new wave act, even though he was really a straight ahead rock and roller. Kihn later received even more attention on MTV for his video for the song Jeopardy. It was one of the first “concept” videos aired on MTV, and was later spoofed by Weird Al Yankovic in the video I Lost on Jeopardy. New Wave or not, Kihn’s video singles did well on the charts, with The Breakup Song reaching #15 and Jeopardy climbing all the way to the #2 position. This FM broadcast captures Kihn at the height of his success at the Ritz in NY on August 12, 1981, 31 years ago today. .

Greg Kihn - 1985-05-21 - Boston, MA (FM)

Greg Kihn Band

1985-05-21

The Paradise Club

Boston, MA5

FM Broadcast

192 kbps

Artwork Included

01. Stage And Radio Intro

02. Route 66

03. Go Back

04. Land Of 1,000 Dances

05. Lucky

06. The Boys Won't Leave The Girls Alone

07. Thunder Road (Intro) > Twist And Shout

08. Can't Stop Hurting Myself

09. They Rock By Night

10. Jeopardy

11. I Can Only Give You Everything > Gloria

12. Reunited

13. The Break Up Song

14. Radio Announcer Encore Break

15. Lucille

16. Announcer Wrap Up

Greg Kihn - 1985-05-21 - Boston, MA (FM)

When is a new wave post not a new wave post? When it includes Greg Kihn! When MTV launched on August 1, 1981, many of the earliest music videos the station aired were from emerging new wave artists such as Blondie, The Cars, Elvis Costello, The Pretenders, and Nick Lowe, just to name a few. That said, at some point, it seemed that almost any MTV video from a new artist became classified as new wave, whether or not the artist truly fit that genre. Such was the case with Greg Kihn, whose video for the Breakup Song - simply a clip of the tune being played live - was among the first aired by MTV. As a result of that video being played alongside ones by the artists mentioned earlier, Kihn was sometimes was referred to as a new wave act, even though he was really a straight ahead rock and roller. Kihn later received even more attention on MTV for his video for the song Jeopardy. It was one of the first “concept” videos aired on MTV, and was later spoofed by Weird Al Yankovic in the video I Lost on Jeopardy. New Wave or not, Kihn’s video singles did well on the charts, with The Breakup Song reaching #15 and Jeopardy climbing all the way to the #2 position. This FM broadcast catches Kihn on May 21, 1985, 27 years ago today, in Boston. Download this one, and while you listen, you just might want your MTV! By the way, for more on Kihn and MTV, go here.