This week (January 19, 2010) is the 59^th birthday for Martha Davis, the lead singer of the band The Motels. The band had two hit songs in the early 80s and to celebrate Davis' birthday, I decided to feature them in this issue. I have always enjoyed the voice of Martha Davis and thus both of these songs.

From the 1982 album All Four One, the single "Only The Lonely" would reach #9 on the Billboard Hot 100. This week's first Flashback Video is "Only The Lonely" by The Motels...

The Motels - Only the Lonely Music Video 1982 - The funniest videos clips are here

Then in November of 1983, from the album Little Robbers, the single "Suddenly Last Summer" would also reach #9 on the Billboard Hot 100. Oddly enough, Tennessee Williams who in 1958 authored a play titled "Suddenly Last Summer" passed away in February of 1983 just as The Motels were hitting the studio to record this album. Martha Davis has said in various radio interviews that the song was written while reflecting on her life and how you know summer is ending when you hear the ice cream truck go by for the last time and you know he won't be back for a while. This week's second Flashback Video is "Suddenly Last Summer" by The Motels...

That song appears on my Best Songs with the word Summer in the Title list. It does not matter what other musicians she surrounds herself with, The Motels are all about the voice of Martha Davis. Davis most recently released a solo album, Beautiful Life, along with another album with The Motels, This, both in 2008. Davis is still touring with a band under the name The Motels and singing those two great 80s classics.

That will wrap up another issue of Kickin' it Old School. Thanks for reading. If you are interested in reading any of my other 80s related issues, please click there for a summary of those. If you want to see the past issues of Flashback Videos, just type that into the Google Search Box at the top of the right hand column and it should give you a list of all of them. You can also always click on the Archives in the upper left hand column or use that Google Search Box to find any past issues or topics you may have missed. If you are a fan of Kickin' it, PLEASE CLICK ON THE FACEBOOK LOGO in the upper right hand column. This will take you to the Fan Page where I ask you to then click on "Become a Fan". Even if you are not a Facebook member yet, please consider joining and registering as a fan at that page. You can also follow Old School on Twitter by clicking on the FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER LOGO also in the upper right hand column. This will take you the page and you can just click on the box that says "Follow". Let other 80s fans know about it as well! Peace and much love.