Today's AT40

Is February 25th, 1984, with Michael Jackson's Thriller and MTV both at the height of their popularities.  I was then enjoying my first winter that actually had snow in it, a lowly freshman in a new world.

Starting things off is a lost Olivia Newton John track, Desperate Times, where we're starting to hear the effects of cheap all-synth production values, but that's followed up by the effects of good all-synth production values: The Thompson Twins' Hold Me Now, and Howard Jones's New Song.

At 36, a song I liked at the time (though the video sucked), Manfred Man's "Runner".  Still a pretty good early-80s rocker.  beyond this, we're hitting stuff I recall from the last time this one ran, last year, so my comments will probably be short 'cause I'll just repeat myself...

Interesting essays on Disney's early 1940s output

Can be found at the blog Passport2Dreams, with fantastic analyses of the two "Latin" films and their effects on the studio.  Here's the links to the series, Disney's New Spectatorship:

• Intro
• The American Legend segments in Melody Time and Make Mine Music
• Saludos Amigos
• Three Caballeros

Enjoy!