John Lennon: Instant Karma

John Lennon: Instant Karma
VH1
Song released 6 February 1970
Music Video
VHS
B

This recording, originally aired on Top of the Pops, shouldn't work, with its strange mix of dancing teens, a blindfolded Yoko holding up cue cards with concepts like "peace" and "hope," and Lennon (definitely not coming across as lip-synching) snarling his way through this catchy but bittersweet tune.  But it does work and is perhaps more interesting now than at the time.

George Harrison: Blow Away

George Harrison: Blow Away
VH1
14 February 1979
Music Video
VHS
B-

This came out late enough in the '70s that it not only is pretty much a Music Video As We Know Them, but there are some not bad special effects.  It's not a very memorable song though.

Ringo Starr: Back Off Boogaloo

Ringo Starr: Back Off Boogaloo
VH1
Song released 17 March 1972
Music Video
VHS
B-

One of Ringo's Top Ten hits, this sort of has an actual video, although why he's befriending Frankenstein is lost in the mists of time.

Paul McCartney: Maybe I'm Amazed

Paul McCartney: Maybe I'm Amazed
VH1
Song released 17 April 1970
Music Video
VHS
B-

McCartney's early solo hit paired with pictures of him and his family from that time, airing on an 8-Track Flashback episode dedicated to the Beatles' independent careers in the '70s.

American Bandstand: Yvonne Elliman and David Gates [fragment]

Note the AB/VH1 logo

American Bandstand: Yvonne Elliman and David Gates [fragment]
ABC originally [taped off VH1]
February 11, 1978
Concert
VHS
B-

First Elliman shows off her cleavage and her voice for "If I Can't Have You," and then rhinestone-studded Gates sings the title tune for "Goodbye Girl."

Swing Out Sister: Breakout

Swing Out Sister: Breakout
VH1
Song released 1986
Music Video
VHS
C+

This looks like a badly dated local commercial for a fabric supply warehouse.  The song isn't bad though.  And this is the 100th music video I've reviewed.

Abba: Take a Chance on Me

Abba: Take a Chance on Me
VH1
Song released January 1978
Music Video
VHS
B-

Some more silly photographic techniques and still somewhat clumsy dancing.  I should note that Agnetha Fältskog was one of the prettiest celebrities of the '70s, oddly enough a little like early Suzanne Somers.

Abba: Knowing Me, Knowing You

Abba: Knowing Me, Knowing You
VH1
Song released February 14, 1977
Music Video
VHS
B-

The two (then still intact) couples sing that "breaking up is never easy," in a snowy setting.

Abba: Dancing Queen

Abba: Dancing Queen
VH1
Song released August 15, 1976
Music Video
VHS
B-

The choreography on Top of the Pops two years later is still a little awkward, but the photography has improved, so we don't get things like close-ups of half a hand.

Abba: SOS

Abba: SOS
VH1
Song released June 1975 (Sweden)
Music Video
VHS
B

Wow, I'm sorry I said anything about the photography in the previous video!  I laughed my butt off at the use of a kaleidoscope and other presumably cutting-edge mid-'70s flourishes.  The funny thing is, this song would become an Oscar-worthy performance by Meryl Streep in the otherwise cheesy Mamma Mia! movie.

Abba: Waterloo

Abba: Waterloo
VH1
Song released March 4, 1974
Music Video
VHS
B-

The clumsy choreography and photography, not to mention a jarring perm, can't sink what's arguably the group's catchiest song.  (Originally aired on Top of the Pops, but the ex taped it off of 8-Track Flashback.)

Parliament: Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof off the Sucker)

Parliament: Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof off the Sucker)

VH1

Song released April 1976

Music Video

VHS

B

Although the kaleidoscope of stills, concert footage, and that '90s chalky title cards thing doesn't work per se, you can't sink this unsinkable classic, and the costumes did make me say, "Wow!"

Wild Cherry: Play That Funky Music

Wild Cherry: Play That Funky Music
VH1
Song released April 1976
Music Video
VHS
B-

The catchy, funky song not shot in a particularly interesting way.

Dexys Midnight Runners: Come On Eileen

Dexys Midnight Runners: Come On Eileen
VH1
Song released 25 June 1982
Music Video
VHS
B

It may seem odd that I'm giving the video itself a lower grade than the live performance on SNL.  But it is kind of odd, all those overalls and possible stalking.  Still a lovely song though.

Tom Cochrane: Life Is a Highway

Tom Cochrane: Life Is a Highway
VH1
Song released September 20, 1991
Music Video
VHS
B

Extremely catchy song paired with random "mildly weird Americana" imagery, like the circus fat man married to a midget.

Swing Out Sister: Am I the Same Girl

Swing Out Sister: Am I the Same Girl
VH1
Song released 1992
Music Video
VHS
C+

Yes, if you're a ghostly white girl in a vaguely Latin American setting.

Annie Lennox: Walking on Broken Glass

Annie Lennox: Walking on Broken Glass
VH1
Song released 22 August 1992
Music Video
VHS
B+

Lennox's woman in red scorned (by John Malkovich) act is a delight, but what really caps this is of course Hugh Laurie as yet another upper-class twit, again the Prince Regent according to Wikipedia.

INXS: Not Enough Time

INXS: Not Enough Time

VH1

Song released September 3, 1992

Music Video

VHS

B

Laughably over-the-top visuals-- although they didn't seem so a quarter century ago-- meet sexy vocals and lyrics.

B-52s: Love Shack

B-52s: Love Shack
VH1
Song released June 20, 1989
Music Video
VHS
B

The band performing as a band in the title building, with a prehistoric appearance by RuPaul.  Not a lot to this, but the song remains catchy and joyous, and it's fun to see "You're what???"/"Tin roof.  Rusted!" acted out.

Howard Jones: New Song

Howard Jones: New Song
VH1
Song released September 17, 1983
Music Video
VHS
C+

This video is weird and not necessarily in a good way.