It's that time of the week again here at 20 Years Before 2000...It's time for the THROWBACK JAM OF THE WEEK! These are the jams currently on my trusty Creative ZEN MP3 player and they encompass everything from Motown R&B classics to hip-hop and rap from the 90s! I would like to share them with you in the hopes that they can get you on your feet and bring back some sweet nostalgic memories! So throw on your jump suit, cut your hair in the fresh rat tail style and grab something TO THE EXTREME as we take you back! Without further ado, here is the 20 Years Before 2000 THROWBACK JAM OF THE WEEK...
Artist: Vanilla Ice
Song: Play That Funky Music Album: Hooked(Released 1989) Peak Billboard Hot 100 Position: 4
Bonus Fun Fact: The original composer of the song "Play That Funky Music", Rob Parissi never gave permission for Vanilla Ice to sample his music and won a $500,000 copyright infringement lawsuit!
Originally published by Harper/Collins in 1991, the Simpsons Uncensored Family Album is a scrapbook through the history of the quintessential Nuclear Family through the eyes of it matriarch Marge Simpson. It is filled with mementos from Homer and Marge's years growing up in Springfield to the present day with their 3 children Bart, Lisa & Maggie. I love the way this book is presented through the characters viewpoint of events and how it incorporates classic scenes from some of the best episodes. I wanted this book back when I was a Simpsons fan in the 90's and I finally grabbed a copy at a used book store for around $1. Let's take a look inside and delve into the backstory of one of the most iconic animated families in television history....
I loved seeing these photos of Homer and Marge from before they had children. It really gives you a glimpse into the people they would become and how they got there. I may be getting too deep with this one, but it's always cool to see what your parents were like before you born. It gives you a deeper appreciation for them as people. Plus it's pretty surprising to see Homer's High School Certificate of Merit.
Here is where it all began. This was the start of the Simpsons clan. Baby Bart has finally arrived. I wonder if he got his name from the package shown on this page. Who would include that in a family scrapbook?
I included this page because of the El Barto Wanted poster. I always thought Bart was cool and strived to be an underachiever (and be proud of it). I gotta give Chief Wiggum some credit, he was pretty close with this sketch though.
"Bart's Dog Gets an F" was an early episode highlight for the Simpsons. It finally put the spotlight on Santa's Little Helper and the results were amazing. Who can forget when the family dog destroys Homer's new $125 pair of Assassins sneakers. Great scene, great episode & cool page in the Simpsons family album.
I just added this page because it reminds me of the day I first watched the Simpsons Christmas special when it aired on FOX 5 on December 17th, 1989. I watched it when it very first aired and I have been a fan of the show ever since.
This Simpsons Family Tree was especially interesting to me. If you follow the lines to the left you will see that Homer is actually related to Mr. Burns in some crazy way! Interesting stuff. I wonder if this book is cannon to the series? What a cool way to end this entertaining trip through the first few decades of the Simpsons Family History. Now enjoy where it all began with the first Simpsons short that aired on The Tracey Ullman show on April 19th, 1987.
This weekthe comic book I am most excited to read is...
SCOOBY DOO TEAM UP #46
High school principal Jefferson Pierce is used to teenagers acting like monsters-but not when they start turning into actual monsters! Even Scooby and the gang might have their hands full with an entire horrifying homecoming, but fortunately, they're not alone-because Jefferson Pierce is secretly the electrifying hero Black Lightning! Is it all a plot by Tobias Whale and his ruthless gang, the 100? Or is Garfield High doomed to become the Ghoul School?
It's that time of the week again here at 20 Years Before 2000...It's time for the THROWBACK JAM OF THE WEEK! These are the jams currently on my trusty Creative ZEN MP3 player and they encompass everything from Motown R&B classics to hip-hop and rap from the 90s! I would like to share them with you in the hopes that they can get you on your feet and bring back some sweet nostalgic memories! So throw on your Reeboks, cut your hair in the fresh baldy style and grab some Pepsi & Taco Bellas we take you back! Without further ado, here is the 20 Years Before 2000 THROWBACK JAM OF THE WEEK...
Artist: Shaquille O'Neal feat. Def Jef
Song: (I Know I Got) Skillz Album: Shaq Diesel(Released 1993) Peak Billboard Hot 100 Position: 35
Bonus Fun Fact: This is Shaq's only song to reach top 40 status on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The single reached Gold status in the US for selling over 500,000 copies and was featured in the movie Pineapple Express!
I collect a lot of things from the 80s & 90s. Mostly stuff that reminds me of my childhood like toys, comics and cards. Some of these items can be pretty scarce or out of my price range. I have compiled a list of these items in the hopes that I will find them and be able to cross them off that list some day. Here are 5 items that I have on my wish list that I hope to add to my collection.
Li'l Bendable Gremlin Creatures
Average Price: $18 each
I remember loving these little creatures as a kid. Produced by Marty Toys you would find these toys everywhere from your local Shop Rite Supermarket to KB Toys. There wasn't much to these little guys except the bendy feature, but the designs were cool and I remember Mooky being my favorite. One of my memories of owning these creatures was sharing a hot dog with my blue Mooky at a local Howard Johnson's restaurant. Those were good times!
FLEER Dragon's Lair Card Box
Average Price: $125 per box
These scratch off cards were great! Not only did you get to collect a set of cool cards & stickers but you got a game with it also! The goal as it is with most of these types of cards is to make it to the end of the maze without getting too many skulls that would end your turn. I love collecting vintage non-sport boxes of cards and this one is high on my want list.
The Smurf Chase: Wind up Gargamel
Average Price: $50
I have some vague memories of owning this figure as a very young child. I remember loving it and detaching the Smurf from the toy itself. Beyond that my memories are lost. I do know one thing though, I really was big into the Smurfs early in my life and would love to have this piece back in my possession. My Mom could tell you stories about my Smurf obsession that would make me cower as an adult. Now that you know too much, let's move on...
M.U.S.C.L.E Trash Can
Average Price: $35
There were so many ways you could have purchased your M.U.S.C.L.E. figures in the 80s. In small packs of 4, large boxes of 28 and my personal favorite the trash can filled with 10 figures. I remember my mom breaking down and buying me and my brother one of the cans while on a shopping trip to Shelby's department store. We busted that thing open while she was still shopping and sat on the steps in the store and played with our cool new toys! I still have some of my M.U.S.C.L.E. figures, but sadly the trash can has been lost.
Silverhawks Burger King Toys
Average Price: $75 per set
These toys hit a sensitive spot in me. When I was in grade school we went on a field trip to the local library, probably to learn the Dewey Decimal System. Anyway while we were there I got busted playing with my Tally-Hawk pencil topper instead of listening to the lecture. My teacher took my prized possession and I never saw it again. This tragedy needs to be amended and one day it will be when I purchase a new Silverhawks pencil topper and rise back to the height of writing utensil AWESOMENESS! Below is the commercial from 1987 for the Silverhawks Meal Pack!
This weekthe comic book I am most excited to read is...
NAOMI #1
DC's biggest, newest mystery starts here! When a fight between Superman and Mongul crashes into a small Northwestern town, Naomi (last name?) begins a quest to uncover the last time a super-powered person visited her home-and how that might tie into her own origins and adoption. Follow Naomi's journey on a quest that will take her to the heart of the DC Universe and unfold a universe of ideas and stories that have never been seen before. Join writers Brian Michael Bendis, David Walker and breakout artist Jamal Campbell in Wonder Comics' massively ambitious new series and star... NAOMI.
(W) Brian Michael Bendis, David F. Walker (A) Jamal Campbell
It's that time of the week again here at 20 Years Before 2000...It's time for the THROWBACK JAM OF THE WEEK! These are the jams currently on my trusty Creative ZEN MP3 player and they encompass everything from Motown R&B classics to hip-hop and rap from the 90s! I would like to share them with you in the hopes that they can get you on your feet and bring back some sweet nostalgic memories! So throw on your Polyester Suit, cut your hair in the fresh braided style and grab some mangos in Trinidad with attorneys as we take you back! Without further ado, here is the 20 Years Before 2000 THROWBACK JAM OF THE WEEK...
Artist: Wyclef Jean feat. Pras & John Forte
Song: We Tryin' To Stay Alive Album: The Carnival(Released 1997) Peak Billboard Hot 100 Position: 45
Bonus Fun Fact: The Bee Gees were not fans of this song sampling their hit Staying Alive. Barry Gibb told MTV News "Don't like it. Don't approve of it. Don't like it."
