Not enough thumbs up on TH-cam to show how great the Motels are. MD could write a paragraph of information in one short phrase. Also packed with feelings and emotions. Martha and Kansas wrote poetry and put it to music. 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍...
This is true. I remember reading an interview with Tom Bailey and Allanah Currie of Thompson Twins (when they became Babble in the 90s), and she said exactly the same thing - you can't go back and recapture the magic of that point in time. That's why they decided against a Thompson Twins reunion (although Tom Bailey is currently touring and performing Thompson Twins songs! Allanah retired from music to focus on visual art).
She sure is. I hear songs from back in the day, and I'm transported to the place I was when I first heard it, or to a time in my life when I heard it playing.
My band opened for Martha Davis and The Motels at a club in New Jersey back in 2019. I must say that for all of the celebrities I’ve met, both Martha and Marty were the most extremely nice down-to-earth friendly people. As far as performing, Martha’s voice was just as great as it was 40 years ago and the entire band sounded really good. In talking to Marty, he himself was amazed that the original hit-period lineup lasted only lasted a few years but this latest lineup was around for 16 years at the time!
My connection with this band is deeply personal: my older brother introduced me to them shortly before he died tragically at the age of 18. Total Control still conjures memories of him nearly 40 years later.
The Motels created a sound that helped define the 80s. Plus…the video for “Only the Lonely” was one of the first that was on ALL OF THE TIME! I believe Martha Davis won an MTV Award for that video. Love The Motels!!!
She deserved to. Also, I find it interesting how different she looks between 'Only' and 'Suddenly'. It was purposeful, of course, but you'd hardly guess if you didn't know she was the same. exact. girl.
I was just starting my teens when the Motels broke through. I hated going to school because I was bullied constantly. My parents and I never got along and I hated being around most people at the time. The Motels released Only The Lonely and I loved it. The chorus was perfect. Martha's voice was soulful and gritty. I felt like someone else felt the same way I do in the world. When Suddenly Last Summer came on, it was exactly as Martha mentioned. Melancholy and a bit sad. Summer was fleeting and life goes by so fast when you're young. The song encapsulated my feelings. Great songs, great music. Another reason I favor music from the 80's.
It is nearly midnight where I am and I was just about to call it quits for another day when I saw your comment. I am sorry and understand your words. The often lifelong impact of negative experiences in our formative years can be awful. I wish you well and keep on enjoying the brilliant eighties!
I saw the Motels in concert several years ago. Despite having hurt her leg, Martha came out after the concerts and spent a long time signing autographs and meeting the concert goers. Truly talented and classy.
I saw the Motels play at Lost 80's live in LA in 2022. Martha outsang all of the other bands. Her voice is still amazing. If you have a chance to see them live I highly recommend it.
Underappreciated is right. The Motels had such a cool vibe. The music biz is a crap shoot at the best of times and a lot of things can make or break a band’s success. Loved Martha’s voice. Thanks for featuring her and these special tunes, Adam!
Adam, let me start by saying that I LOVE Martha Davis! The way she sounds when singing a song is a combination of things. She sounds vulnerable while strong, mysterious while laying her cards on the table, the “girl next door” while being the “unattainable Goddess”. There are more contradictions about how she does what she does, but I can’t sit here all day trying to think of how to verbalize her multilayered presentation. That would be like trying to describe the taste of chocolate to someone who’s never tasted it, and having them KNOW exactly what it tastes like before they ever have a chance to taste it! And the band is ALWAYS strictly first-rate. I would really like to hear some new material by the glorious Motels!
The Motels did very well here in Australia. "Total control" was a huge hit and later on "Take the L out of lover". Martha is beautiful , i had the hots for her when i was a kid.
Never really paid a lot of attention to the Motels, but this post has helped me realize that I should have. Those were much deeper and stronger compositions than I’d ever realized. That’s why you are the Professor. Your work teaches us to appreciate music we otherwise wouldn’t!
I don't remember where I heard it,but Martha was originally supposed to sing the Ronnie Spector part on Eddie Money's Take Me Home Tonight. She asked Eddie why Ronnie wasn't doing it. He just hadn't asked thinking she wouldn't do it. So Martha deserves some credit for bringing back Ronnie.
I love hearing about a band that got along so well with each other. So refreshing! It's sad to know Martha was actually lonely at the height of her popularity though. Too funny that they didn't know they were No. 1 on the Rock chart until you told them! Very enjoyable interview, Adam. Have an excellent day.
I remember the first time I heard The Motels I was absolutely blown away! Such depth for a New Wave band! No sugar coating at all. Just pure truth! Never knew that Martha was pregnant at the age of 14! What a ordeal to go through! Another great band destroyed by "The Machine". Thank you so much for this interview.❤
In the 80's I was a straight up metalhead. They are one of the few "pop" bands I liked. Most likely because of the hauntingly beautiful vocals and catchy melodies. Thank you, The Motels!!
Every time I hear a Motels song I am warped right back in time to late '83 through summer 1984. Their songs had a lot of airplay coupled with MTV rotation. That was a great period of my youth that I often long to be back in. Thanks for the everlasting music that lives in my heart Martha and team!
Perfect timing for this video to drop during summer. Here I am in my early 50s, being taken back to my early teens, and still amazed at how the Motels captured not just the longing for summer, but also the knowing it was flash in the pan. They recorded a full variety and depth of emotions. Great song, great work Professor.
🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉 Love, Love, Love the Motels! And Love Martha Davis! Martha and Terri Nunn of Berlin were very very pretty women. And both had killer voices that were different from other chart groups. Suddenly Last Summer is a great song........ my favorite Motels song. Thanks Professor! Love what you do.
I can't believe Martha, a Cali girl that's aged hasn't ruined her face with surgery. Impressed is an understatement. Real people still exists. Beautiful
Martha was such a sultry singer. I loved the passion in her voice and the way she interpreted they lyrics of the songs. This was a great band even if they disappeared shortly after. It seems we didn't realize they had gone because there was just so much high quality music at the time but even their small contribution shines and that just shows you how wonderful they were. I hadn't thought of this band for a long time so thanks for the reminder, Adam. I'll be binging on "The Motels" music today. Cheers from Ottawa, Canada🍁
The Motels are a solid band, owning their own sound, writing honestly, and producing some impressive works. I hope they continue for a long time and enjoy the journey.
The Church - Under The Milky Way The Cure - Pictures of You Joy Division - Atmosphere Queen - One Year Of Love Queen - Who Wants To Live Forever U2 - Mothers of the Disappeared U2 - Running To Stand Still U2 - With Or Without You When In Rome - If Only
Can’t wait to watch this! “Only The Lonely” is one of my two co-favorite songs from 80’s top 40 radio (the other is Naked Eyes cover of “Always Something There To Remind Me”). It still brings chills to me. And I also can’t wait to learn more about “Suddenly Last Summer” - another fave. “Only The Lonely” still takes me back to the early days of MTV. Martha Davis rules!! Thx for this Professor!
I saw Martha and the Motels at The Brixton (now closed) in Redondo Beach a few years back. A friend was in the band that was the opening act. He got me on "the list" so I was able to go in early and back stage. Martha was there relaxing with a few others having a glass of wine. I was able to meet her and speek to her briefly. She was super nice and spoke to us for a few. The show was amazing. Small venue and a great crowd that were truely fans. She still has that lovely smokey voice. The encore was Only the Lonely. She absolutly Nailed the high knote ate the end and brought down the house. I will never forget that evening. Thanks for featuring The Motels.
Though it was Martha Quinn, very, very cool that you know that reference- I met Fee Waybill a few years ago and dropped that reference on him and he laughed and was happy to accept that title. Cool points for it!!
@@Whisper_292 my apologies, I read too fast and remembered wrong- very cool indeed!!! (I do beg your pardon on that- I gotta slow down on these 🤦🏼♂️👌🏼)
The mystical Motels. I must admit that they were another act whose tracks I heard after they disappeared from the mainstream. I only first learned their name (without associating it with "Only the Lonely" or "Suddenly Last Summer") when I was 15 and first read the autobiography of the late, great Tina Turner. It mentions how she'd covered their song "Total Control", a recording which was featured on the aforementioned *We Are the World* LP. I can relate to what Martha says about not having cable TV. My household dished it several years ago, shortly before the pandemic lockdown.
This was a great interview. Thank you so much for the work you do unearthing the fascinating back stories of these remarkable artists. As a musician myself, I appreciate the candid humor and humility of the sax player. It was a great solo and played with passion you can feel, and I can understand why they opted to tweak the high note rather than try to re-create the emotion with another take. And Martha Davis' voice is otherworldly good. Again, great interview. Thanks!
One of the most underrated bands from the 80s. Listening to those two major hits was like a stolen piece of my time that no one could own. I went for years not buying their stuff because when I heard it on the radio it was like stepping back into my younger years that only I owned and if I bought the albums then they would/could become 'routine' and I never want that. (Prime example is Layla. Never bought the album until i was in my 50s and it became just another old favorite) NOT gonna happen with the Motels! Great interview Adam!
Apologies Adam for the harsh comment on the recent Jefferson Starship video. THIS interview was awesome. I was aware of the 80's hits but I'm already looking up the 2 newer albums for a listening binge. Thank you also to some of the commenters who have seen them perform recently and that they are still killing it on stage. I would love to hear them live.
There are certain songs that have been played so much that you can live the rest of your days without hearing it again. I can tell you that The Motel's Suddenly Last Summer and Only the Lonely are not in this category. Every part of each of those songs is perfection and timeless. I can never tire of these two classic tunes. Great interview PoR!
The mercurial nature of her voice rafting through a fog of loneliness makes this band one of the most intriguing and engrossing. Lyrics rising from her psychological state made the universal selfishness and suffering a platter she and the audience feeds upon. The melodic valleys and peaks create an ambiance mirroring Victorian Historical Romances places one's self as the wispy woman standing alone on the midnight shadowed cliffs of Dover with the wind whipping the hair and gossamer nightgown above the roaring waves crashing onto the rocks. Love listening to The Hotel's after a few glasses of wine out in the gazebo of the backyard with the firepit roaring.
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 Politically there was a lot of ridiculousness. Greed was paramount for some people. However, as a teenager, growing up with Saturday morning cartoons, spending time outside all day, and such unbelievable variety and amazing music it was a wondrous glorious time to live.
Its so true what she said. You cant go home, but you can always go back to the music. Our connection to music is personal and enduring. The 80's were such a fertile time for musical creativity. Thanks for this interview.
So good to see this today! I loved The Motels from the first time I heard them on the radio! In just a few bars they created this atmospheric melancholy wet-streets-at-night vibe that just epitomized the existential lyrics Martha would sing! I lived in that world she was describing so well and loved how she articulated what that was like! I was not aware they had new music out. I will be looking into that for sure! Thanks for featuring another underrated gem!
Find this song Last Summer on youtube about 2 years ago. I am a 80' guy Instantly love it. The song was acompanying me at the sad moment after my wife died of cancer.
What a treat! You covered two of my favorite songs two days in a row. For me, the lyrics of Suddenly Last Summer seem simple but do an incredible job of showing how we experience time and emotion when we're young and in love, when we want to hold onto that feeling forever but suddenly it's nothing more than last summer.
The Motels were huge in Australia back in the 80s.use to hear them all the time on the radio. I used to think that Martha was Iva Davies (Icehouse) sister .i still listen to Motels today great band
This one made my heart hurt. I am still recovering from Tina Turner, and this was like a reopened wound. Her ripping up the Pope on SNL was an incredible move.
Oh guys and girls, I'm a kid from this era, right before I decided I was a hard rocker. Listened to this a lot. There was a group of us that spanned the teen ages who all hung out together, and one older guy was tuned in on great music, including this. That handful of years was pretty incredible, but bittersweet, looking back. I ended up living in my childhood home of then again, for about a decade now. But you can't go home. We used to get together in the driveway right next door, but the essence of those years is no longer there. It would make a good Motels video. Some beauty from then, like Martha's, should be preserved forever.
Fun fact: Martha Davis appeared in Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure as one of the 3 most important people in the world, alongside Clarence Clemons and Fee Waybil. (Incidentally, Jane Weidlin of The Go-Go's played Joan of Arc).
Hilarious - Martha said "Hey!" at one point, and I instantly thought of the patter between her and Fee on "Monkey Time". - Hadn't thought of that song for YEARS, but it still cracks me up - "treat your monkey right"! 🙊
@@Sdragnasty Thanks for that! I never heard their version before! I just looked it up on TH-cam. Didn't realize they had worked together outside of Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure! 🙂
Just love the Motels. Martha Davis is on my top ten list of female artists. I remember getting a call from a friend and I was playing 'Only the Lonely', on the stereo, I was asked who is that singer? I said Martha Davis from the Motels. My friend said 'wow, I need to get that tape. What a voice...it just sticks with me. And that sax....awesome, just awesome.
Miss my childhood sooooo much. This song was a big part of that childhood. I was born in January of 1971. My Grandparents are gone now, my mom is gone now. Everything that was then is now gone. The Motels are one of my favorite bands and their songs are amazing. I loved "Shame" too. They had such a magical way about them. Their music takes me back to a time I miss more than I can say. And it's true ..... You can never go home again 😢
Truly interesting things to dissect. Many factors do go into why such a thing happens, and it seems to be a recurring theme for 80s and 90s gems! Cheers as always
I loved that era of female led new wave bands. For me, The Motels and Quarterflash seemed to go hand in hand; they were the perfect balance to the Pat Benatars and Hearts of the scene. I miss those days!
@@littlecatfeet9064I would recommend Find Another Fool, Take Me to Heart, Take Another Picture & Nightshift (title song from the movie featuring Michael Keaton & Henry Winkler), all great songs by Quarterflash!
What cool and unassuming people they are! I truly enjoyed listening to their comments. The only thing I liked more was watching their faces as they listened to your insights. I had forgotten about The Motels. Thanks for the rewind!
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 If you haven't heard Mission of Mercy by the Motels you should check it out. It was a very popular alternative song back in the early 80s....
Only The Lonely.. one of the most underrated songs of the 80's. you touched on it.... haunting, touching, introspective. it made you look at yourself and your place in life. and the melody... one of my favorite songs. also Martha's description of writing open .. not overly laying out all the details... letting the listeners/readers imagination help paint the picture.. wow.
When I was in high school, I had several people ask me if I was the young model in the Suddenly Last Summer video. It's so eerie, but she looked just like me! I only found out later it was Martha's daughter, Maria, so people kept calling me Motel girl. It was funny.
This (really awesome) interview, along with the recent videos on Men at Work and Huey Lewis and The News, makes me miss those big, gloriously obnoxious sax solos of the early 80s. 🎷🎷🎷❤
Waaay back in high school (mid 80's) I actually won tickets to see "The Motels" off our popular AM radio station at the time, CHUM (in Toronto, Ontario). The disc jockey at the station mentioned that it was possible that the band might need to move the venue from where they were originally playing, to a popular bar named "The El Mocambo' and that I would have to be over 19 years old (our legal drinking age in Ontario) to see them. I told them that the tickets were for my older sister (for her birthday). I borrowed my sister's friend's I.D. to enter the bar, and we had a blast! The Motels were awesome in person, and I was sitting, basically, right in front of Martha! Along with the tickets, I won their entire box set of albums, which I still have -- a great memory, for sure! As always, an awesome interview -- thank you! ❤ *Sidenote*: Not relevant, perhaps, however, a fun fact: At the time, we had a local new wave band in Toronto named "Martha and the Muffins' (Echo Beach) -- thought it was interesting that we had 'two Martha's' in the music scene, at the same time!
The Motels have a few of my fave '80s songs. All of them remind me of summer as a preteen myself, but they also make me sad (or nostalgic?) such that sometimes I can't listen. Martha had a real mournful, soulful voice that was the sound of a lonely LA then and the longing for endless summer. Interesting that her sad story I never even knew until now, and I get teary just thinking about it. Can you ever go back?😢 p.s. Their songs and videos could make you feel like you're walking along a secluded beach or in a dark downtown jazz club or speakeasy. The great thing about this '80s band, though, is that they were supremely, truly talented. The guitars were there, the lyricism was poetry, but they also were unafraid to use horns! You don't hear any of that in today's new music, so I'll have to check out their 2018 release. Maybe in a way, you can go back...
Summer is my favorite season - well, except for some recent years - and this song sounds like a sunset on the streets of LA from the view of your apartment window. It’s that good.
@@laurat1129 I live on the opposite coast but your description made me realize what imagery came to mind when I thought of this song! So thanks Laura for the revelation.
Something I'm learning from this channel, if you just listened to the radio, you missed out on a bunch of great songs. I can't recall ever knowing about the Motels until I encountered them on your channel. Thank you so much for bringing great music back into our lives.
I have so many great memory’s of this song. This band is so original. Great interview, it is so good to hear about the origins of their beautiful songs.
My all time favorite episode of VH1's Bands Reunited program, I probably know the members better than most 80s bands. Suddenly last Summer is a great song, even if the band thought it was housewives rock.
Loved them. They remind me of my prime years. The 80s will always be my favorite period in my life. The music from this decade transports me back in time where I could live forever in my mind.
Adam, you nailed it describing the ethereal quality of both Motels hits. Like Missing Persons, there is a sophisticated approach to what seems on the surface to be accessible pop New Wave. I loved the chromatic angular descent figure Martha talked about on the keyboards in the bridge of Suddenly Last Summer. Glad to see they are back.
I remember hearing Only the Lonely for the first time, and I was hooked. Needed to her everything by the Motels after that. Suddenly last Summer came out and they captured my attention again. So fortunate to see them live. Great interview.
That haunting descending keyboard line in Suddenly Last Summer defined the melancholy side of 80's music for me. A flashy decade where everyone could seem to be having lots of fun and still feel completely isolated inside.
I’ve been a HUGE fan of the Motels from the start and it was an awesome experience seeing them perform live many years ago. Martha is… and always will be one of the most beautiful, talented and memorable singers ever. One of my most favorite songs from the Motels is Tragic Surf… talk about haunting‼️ As a side note: I’m not sure if Quarterflash has been reviewed. Rindy Ross is another vocalist of that time who blew me away… & the lyrics and sax solos…INCREDIBLE‼️
Love The Motels. Been listening to them again recently. Only the Lonely is such a great song. Classic 80s. Takes me back , but I appreciate it now more than I did as a kid. Great interview
Great interview Professor. The Motels are like a remote drop band for me. Whenever I hear them on Sirius XM, no changing stations until it’s over. The melancholyness of those songs put me in a happy place. The last concert I went to before this thing called Covid hit was The Motels. February 19, 2020 at the House of Blues Las Vegas. Martha Davis is a treasure.
I loved their 2 hits, her voice was so haunting and the songs just had so much meaning to me…we lied about each others drinks…every relationship I was in during the 80’s!
Poll: Who is your pick for the most underrated band of the 80s?
Quarterflash or The Motels
Mister Mister
Big Country
Warrant
ABC
Kentucky Headhunters
The The
Martha Davis' voice is exquisite, how she and The Motels weren't bigger still surprises me.
It is a mystery to me.
Same!
Not enough thumbs up on TH-cam to show how great the Motels are. MD could write a paragraph of information in one short phrase. Also packed with feelings and emotions. Martha and Kansas wrote poetry and put it to music. 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍...
@@Code.Name.V Toyah.
I would say improper management of the band.
Martha is 100% right.
You can’t truly go back and capture the magic of a moment in time.
Music is a way to transport us back and helps us relive them.
That's right! Wise words! You a fan of the band Jenny?
@@ProfessorofRockI’ve always loved their music, they are unique in their sound and style!
This is true. I remember reading an interview with Tom Bailey and Allanah Currie of Thompson Twins (when they became Babble in the 90s), and she said exactly the same thing - you can't go back and recapture the magic of that point in time. That's why they decided against a Thompson Twins reunion (although Tom Bailey is currently touring and performing Thompson Twins songs! Allanah retired from music to focus on visual art).
She sure is. I hear songs from back in the day, and I'm transported to the place I was when I first heard it, or to a time in my life when I heard it playing.
And that is why I believe music has its healing powers. It makes us long for the good old days.
Martha Davis is one of my favorite voices. Loved the Motels!
So did I, my friend.
My band opened for Martha Davis and The Motels at a club in New Jersey back in 2019. I must say that for all of the celebrities I’ve met, both Martha and Marty were the most extremely nice down-to-earth friendly people. As far as performing, Martha’s voice was just as great as it was 40 years ago and the entire band sounded really good. In talking to Marty, he himself was amazed that the original hit-period lineup lasted only lasted a few years but this latest lineup was around for 16 years at the time!
My connection with this band is deeply personal: my older brother introduced me to them shortly before he died tragically at the age of 18. Total Control still conjures memories of him nearly 40 years later.
The Motels created a sound that helped define the 80s. Plus…the video for “Only the Lonely” was one of the first that was on ALL OF THE TIME! I believe Martha Davis won an MTV Award for that video. Love The Motels!!!
Good call! That's right!
She deserved to. Also, I find it interesting how different she looks between 'Only' and 'Suddenly'. It was purposeful, of course, but you'd hardly guess if you didn't know she was the same. exact. girl.
It’s a beautiful video too.
And a beautiful lady!
@@edryba4867 Yes indeed!!!!!!!
I was just starting my teens when the Motels broke through. I hated going to school because I was bullied constantly. My parents and I never got along and I hated being around most people at the time. The Motels released Only The Lonely and I loved it. The chorus was perfect. Martha's voice was soulful and gritty. I felt like someone else felt the same way I do in the world. When Suddenly Last Summer came on, it was exactly as Martha mentioned. Melancholy and a bit sad. Summer was fleeting and life goes by so fast when you're young. The song encapsulated my feelings. Great songs, great music. Another reason I favor music from the 80's.
Motels also did Suddenly last summer
One of the most underappreciated but super powerful songs out there, and I’m sorry you had to go through an experience nobody deserves.
It is nearly midnight where I am and I was just about to call it quits for another day when I saw your comment. I am sorry and understand your words. The often lifelong impact of negative experiences in our formative years can be awful. I wish you well and keep on enjoying the brilliant eighties!
@@eightiesmusic1984 I love your very kind comment to that person!
@@cattymajiv Thank you very much!
I saw the Motels in concert several years ago. Despite having hurt her leg, Martha came out after the concerts and spent a long time signing autographs and meeting the concert goers. Truly talented and classy.
I saw the Motels play at Lost 80's live in LA in 2022. Martha outsang all of the other bands. Her voice is still amazing. If you have a chance to see them live I highly recommend it.
She has still got it!
I should get tickets to see them. I heard she still blows people away live. Rock on, Depeche Toad 🐸
I would have loved to have been there. I also love Depeche.
Totally agree! I saw Martha, Terri Nunn, The Bangles and Pat Benatar. AMAZING
Yep. I’m from Australia and those are the two I remember best and couldn’t understand why they weren’t mentioned.
Underappreciated is right. The Motels had such a cool vibe. The music biz is a crap shoot at the best of times and a lot of things can make or break a band’s success. Loved Martha’s voice. Thanks for featuring her and these special tunes, Adam!
One of my favorite 80s singers. She still has it!
Adam, let me start by saying that I LOVE Martha Davis! The way she sounds when singing a song is a combination of things. She sounds vulnerable while strong, mysterious while laying her cards on the table, the “girl next door” while being the “unattainable Goddess”. There are more contradictions about how she does what she does, but I can’t sit here all day trying to think of how to verbalize her multilayered presentation. That would be like trying to describe the taste of chocolate to someone who’s never tasted it, and having them KNOW exactly what it tastes like before they ever have a chance to taste it! And the band is ALWAYS strictly first-rate. I would really like to hear some new material by the glorious Motels!
Martha is such a sweet soul. She really knows how to sell song lyrics.
The Motels did very well here in Australia. "Total control" was a huge hit and later on "Take the L out of lover". Martha is beautiful , i had the hots for her when i was a kid.
Thanks for showing the Motels some love. Martha Davis had an amazing voice. It's a shame they weren't bigger than they were.
Love Martha and her haunting melodies
Very cool. Haunting is exactly right!
Me too. She is an expert at haunting melodies.
Never really paid a lot of attention to the Motels, but this post has helped me realize that I should have. Those were much deeper and stronger compositions than I’d ever realized. That’s why you are the Professor. Your work teaches us to appreciate music we otherwise wouldn’t!
Great video. "Only the Lonely" is in my top 5 favorite songs of the 1980s. Martha's voice is so unique!
I don't remember where I heard it,but Martha was originally supposed to sing the Ronnie Spector part on Eddie Money's Take Me Home Tonight. She asked Eddie why Ronnie wasn't doing it. He just hadn't asked thinking she wouldn't do it. So Martha deserves some credit for bringing back Ronnie.
Get outta here I never knew that. Thanks!
Just like Martha sang….
@@StrategyInformer-sjgold LOL
I always like The Motels. Suddenly Last Summer is actually my favorite song by them. Love the vibe, love their sound. Enjoyed the vid!
Agreed. Very haunting! Did you ever catch them live?
@@ProfessorofRock - No, never have. I would've loved to have seen them though.
They captured the perfect mode of haunting.
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 - Agreed 100%
I love hearing about a band that got along so well with each other. So refreshing! It's sad to know Martha was actually lonely at the height of her popularity though. Too funny that they didn't know they were No. 1 on the Rock chart until you told them! Very enjoyable interview, Adam. Have an excellent day.
No kidding. It's rare. Thanks Jill!
I was surprised that they didn’t know all this time!
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980, they seemed shocked that it was ranked as a rock song!
@@jillwklausen The guitars have that rock edge, to be fair, but it is organic new wave alright!
Their music is hauntingly beautiful, and so is Martha’s voice, nobody sounds like her 💜👏👏👏
I remember the first time I heard The Motels I was absolutely blown away! Such depth for a New Wave band! No sugar coating at all. Just pure truth! Never knew that Martha was pregnant at the age of 14! What a ordeal to go through! Another great band destroyed by "The Machine". Thank you so much for this interview.❤
Depth is exactly right! They are so good!
They earn that sophistication point from me!
In the 80's I was a straight up metalhead. They are one of the few "pop" bands I liked. Most likely because of the hauntingly beautiful vocals and catchy melodies. Thank you, The Motels!!
Every time I hear a Motels song I am warped right back in time to late '83 through summer 1984. Their songs had a lot of airplay coupled with MTV rotation. That was a great period of my youth that I often long to be back in. Thanks for the everlasting music that lives in my heart Martha and team!
Perfect timing for this video to drop during summer. Here I am in my early 50s, being taken back to my early teens, and still amazed at how the Motels captured not just the longing for summer, but also the knowing it was flash in the pan. They recorded a full variety and depth of emotions. Great song, great work Professor.
It is like the quintessential summer song right now.
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 yes it is.
🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
Love, Love, Love the Motels!
And Love Martha Davis!
Martha and Terri Nunn of Berlin were very very pretty women. And both had killer voices that were different from other chart groups.
Suddenly Last Summer is a great song........ my favorite Motels song.
Thanks Professor!
Love what you do.
Probably the two most underrated female singers of 80s classics.
I can't believe Martha, a Cali girl that's aged hasn't ruined her face with surgery. Impressed is an understatement. Real people still exists. Beautiful
Martha was such a sultry singer. I loved the passion in her voice and the way she interpreted they lyrics of the songs. This was a great band even if they disappeared shortly after. It seems we didn't realize they had gone because there was just so much high quality music at the time but even their small contribution shines and that just shows you how wonderful they were. I hadn't thought of this band for a long time so thanks for the reminder, Adam. I'll be binging on "The Motels" music today. Cheers from Ottawa, Canada🍁
Their massive hits stayed in our minds for so long, that’s why. Cheers to you, Gio! 🍻
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 Cheers, buddy.
The Motels are a solid band, owning their own sound, writing honestly, and producing some impressive works. I hope they continue for a long time and enjoy the journey.
Good call! They have some haunting tunes...
I hope we get more new stuff from them. 😊
🎶🎵 It's like I toooooold you, Only the Lonely can play...." 🎵🎶
Still love this one! Thanks for another great interview and video, Professor! 🙏
Allison! It's been a long time! Where've you been?
Such a great song, right?
I love how honest he is about how ability often doesn't quite match vision. Musicians keep growing as they work.
I'm Australian and we absolutely adored Martha Davis down here, and I still do.
Poll: What is your pick for the most haunting song of the 80s?
The Church - Under The Milky Way
The Cure - Pictures of You
Joy Division - Atmosphere
Queen - One Year Of Love
Queen - Who Wants To Live Forever
U2 - Mothers of the Disappeared
U2 - Running To Stand Still
U2 - With Or Without You
When In Rome - If Only
Blasphemous Rumors, Depeche Mode
I'll nominate "In the Air Tonight" by Phil Collins.
"Life in a Northern Town" by Dream Academy
3 that come to mind for me are
Life's what you make it - Talk Talk
Lunatic Fringe - Red Rider
Ghost Town - The Specials
Additional classics - “Shame” (1985), "Celia" (1980) and “Take the L” (1981) - from a standout American band. Absolute legends. Thank you!
I remember “Shame”
I remember hearing this song many times in the 80's and 90's. I had no idea who sang it. I love it. Thank you.
My first Motels album was “Careful” which has the minor hit “Danger”. The 80’s was a great decade for music!
Can’t wait to watch this! “Only The Lonely” is one of my two co-favorite songs from 80’s top 40 radio (the other is Naked Eyes cover of “Always Something There To Remind Me”). It still brings chills to me. And I also can’t wait to learn more about “Suddenly Last Summer” - another fave. “Only The Lonely” still takes me back to the early days of MTV. Martha Davis rules!! Thx for this Professor!
I really appreciate how down to earth Martha and Marty are. A lot of these younger musicians could learn from them.
"The only thing that can really do that is music." loved that quote
I saw Martha and the Motels at The Brixton (now closed) in Redondo Beach a few years back. A friend was in the band that was the opening act. He got me on "the list" so I was able to go in early and back stage. Martha was there relaxing with a few others having a glass of wine. I was able to meet her and speek to her briefly. She was super nice and spoke to us for a few. The show was amazing. Small venue and a great crowd that were truely fans. She still has that lovely smokey voice. The encore was Only the Lonely. She absolutly Nailed the high knote ate the end and brought down the house. I will never forget that evening. Thanks for featuring The Motels.
Martha Davis: one of The Most Important People in the World.
Suddenly Last Summer is arguably the dreamiest song ever. Beautiful, amazing piece.
Good call! Such a great slice of 80s new wave pop.
Though it was Martha Quinn, very, very cool that you know that reference- I met Fee Waybill a few years ago and dropped that reference on him and he laughed and was happy to accept that title. Cool points for it!!
@Paul_Simon Nope, I just checked IMDb, and it was indeed Martha Davis. Still, very cool meeting Fee Waybill! He sounds like a nice guy.
@@Whisper_292 my apologies, I read too fast and remembered wrong- very cool indeed!!! (I do beg your pardon on that- I gotta slow down on these 🤦🏼♂️👌🏼)
@@Paul_Simon No problem whatsoever!
The mystical Motels. I must admit that they were another act whose tracks I heard after they disappeared from the mainstream. I only first learned their name (without associating it with "Only the Lonely" or "Suddenly Last Summer") when I was 15 and first read the autobiography of the late, great Tina Turner. It mentions how she'd covered their song "Total Control", a recording which was featured on the aforementioned *We Are the World* LP.
I can relate to what Martha says about not having cable TV. My household dished it several years ago, shortly before the pandemic lockdown.
Great post Eric.
Some of my friends survive on streaming services. They are just fine without cable.
Only the Lonely. My favorite. Her voice, the saxophone and 9 million memories flood back.
I loved their Careful album in 1980. No radio hits but I loved the new wave sound. Martha has lived an amazing life.
This was a great interview. Thank you so much for the work you do unearthing the fascinating back stories of these remarkable artists.
As a musician myself, I appreciate the candid humor and humility of the sax player. It was a great solo and played with passion you can feel, and I can understand why they opted to tweak the high note rather than try to re-create the emotion with another take.
And Martha Davis' voice is otherworldly good.
Again, great interview. Thanks!
One of the most underrated bands from the 80s. Listening to those two major hits was like a stolen piece of my time that no one could own. I went for years not buying their stuff because when I heard it on the radio it was like stepping back into my younger years that only I owned and if I bought the albums then they would/could become 'routine' and I never want that. (Prime example is Layla. Never bought the album until i was in my 50s and it became just another old favorite) NOT gonna happen with the Motels! Great interview Adam!
Apologies Adam for the harsh comment on the recent Jefferson Starship video. THIS interview was awesome. I was aware of the 80's hits but I'm already looking up the 2 newer albums for a listening binge. Thank you also to some of the commenters who have seen them perform recently and that they are still killing it on stage. I would love to hear them live.
There are certain songs that have been played so much that you can live the rest of your days without hearing it again. I can tell you that The Motel's Suddenly Last Summer and Only the Lonely are not in this category. Every part of each of those songs is perfection and timeless. I can never tire of these two classic tunes. Great interview PoR!
So true!
I feel the same way, JJ! Rock on 🤘
Can’t think of two more haunting hypnotizing pop songs from the 80’s. ❤
The mercurial nature of her voice rafting through a fog of loneliness makes this band one of the most intriguing and engrossing. Lyrics rising from her psychological state made the universal selfishness and suffering a platter she and the audience feeds upon. The melodic valleys and peaks create an ambiance mirroring Victorian Historical Romances places one's self as the wispy woman standing alone on the midnight shadowed cliffs of Dover with the wind whipping the hair and gossamer nightgown above the roaring waves crashing onto the rocks. Love listening to The Hotel's after a few glasses of wine out in the gazebo of the backyard with the firepit roaring.
I was 13 when Suddenly Last Summer came out and every time I hear it it takes me right back to being 13. The power of music is intense!
Her singing is so mesmerizing! Her sound is so haunting! I remember loving watching them on MTV! Great interview PofR!
The 80s were a great decade for me. Never forget them.
Agreed!
Same.
I wish I lived in the 80s. 🙁
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 Politically there was a lot of ridiculousness. Greed was paramount for some people. However, as a teenager, growing up with Saturday morning cartoons, spending time outside all day, and such unbelievable variety and amazing music it was a wondrous glorious time to live.
@@galaxywolf969 MTV kept you all inside on the rainy days as well!
There is something about their songs that I always have enjoyed. Their music is timeless. It isn't limited to an epoc, in my opinion.
Love the "Motels"! Martha Davis is awesome! Awesome episode Professor! Thanks for keeping the music alive!
Its so true what she said. You cant go home, but you can always go back to the music. Our connection to music is personal and enduring. The 80's were such a fertile time for musical creativity. Thanks for this interview.
So good to see this today! I loved The Motels from the first time I heard them on the radio! In just a few bars they created this atmospheric melancholy wet-streets-at-night vibe that just epitomized the existential lyrics Martha would sing! I lived in that world she was describing so well and loved how she articulated what that was like! I was not aware they had new music out. I will be looking into that for sure! Thanks for featuring another underrated gem!
Wet streets at night is a perfect way to put it. Agreed 💯
That is it exactly! The song evokes regret and nostalgia, ... change.
Amen!
Thanks RC32! Are you a fan of their music?
Like notes of flavor in your coffee ☕️
Find this song Last Summer on youtube about 2 years ago. I am a 80' guy Instantly love it. The song was acompanying me at the sad moment after my wife died of cancer.
So sorry for your loss. Peace to you.
So sorry, Riazor. Sending love and hugs from afar ❤🫂
As a lead singer, Martha is in my top 10 female singers. I saw her perform live and her voice was amazing and this was in the early 2000’s.
What a treat! You covered two of my favorite songs two days in a row. For me, the lyrics of Suddenly Last Summer seem simple but do an incredible job of showing how we experience time and emotion when we're young and in love, when we want to hold onto that feeling forever but suddenly it's nothing more than last summer.
The Motels were huge in Australia back in the 80s.use to hear them all the time on the radio. I used to think that Martha was Iva Davies (Icehouse) sister .i still listen to Motels today great band
Rest in peace to Sinead O'Connor 💔 what a beautiful voice and fantastic protest singer
I was so sad to hear of this. RIP.
This one made my heart hurt. I am still recovering from Tina Turner, and this was like a reopened wound. Her ripping up the Pope on SNL was an incredible move.
Saw them playing live, back in the days. I love their sound and compositions.
Oh guys and girls, I'm a kid from this era, right before I decided I was a hard rocker. Listened to this a lot. There was a group of us that spanned the teen ages who all hung out together, and one older guy was tuned in on great music, including this. That handful of years was pretty incredible, but bittersweet, looking back.
I ended up living in my childhood home of then again, for about a decade now. But you can't go home. We used to get together in the driveway right next door, but the essence of those years is no longer there. It would make a good Motels video.
Some beauty from then, like Martha's, should be preserved forever.
Loved the Motels! ❤🎶🎶 What a fun interview.
So good!
Fun fact: Martha Davis appeared in Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure as one of the 3 most important people in the world, alongside Clarence Clemons and Fee Waybil. (Incidentally, Jane Weidlin of The Go-Go's played Joan of Arc).
who is fee waybil?
@@shack8110 The lead singer of The Tubes. And Clarence Clemons was a member of Bruce Springsteen's E-Street Band.
Hilarious - Martha said "Hey!" at one point, and I instantly thought of the patter between her and Fee on "Monkey Time". - Hadn't thought of that song for YEARS, but it still cracks me up - "treat your monkey right"! 🙊
@@Sdragnasty Thanks for that! I never heard their version before! I just looked it up on TH-cam. Didn't realize they had worked together outside of Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure! 🙂
@@mysticwolf75 Finally! Maybe now my brain will let go of that Old Chestnut so I'll remember where I put my keys instead! 🥴
Just love the Motels. Martha Davis is on my top ten list of female artists. I remember getting a call from a friend and I was playing 'Only the Lonely', on the stereo, I was asked who is that singer? I said Martha Davis from the Motels. My friend said 'wow, I need to get that tape. What a voice...it just sticks with me. And that sax....awesome, just awesome.
Miss my childhood sooooo much. This song was a big part of that childhood. I was born in January of 1971.
My Grandparents are gone now, my mom is gone now. Everything that was then is now gone.
The Motels are one of my favorite bands and their songs are amazing. I loved "Shame" too. They had such a magical way about them. Their music takes me back to a time I miss more than I can say. And it's true ..... You can never go home again 😢
Thanks Stacy! Their music is quite mystical! Have you ever caught them live?
@@ProfessorofRock No unfortunately I haven't. I hope someday I can❤️
That’s right, Stacy. We have a powerful time machine in the magical potion that is music.
Truly interesting things to dissect. Many factors do go into why such a thing happens, and it seems to be a recurring theme for 80s and 90s gems! Cheers as always
So true! Thanks RC32. Have a great day!
@@ProfessorofRock Likewise man!
Different singers interpret it in different ways. Cheers to you, RC32. 🤘
I loved that era of female led new wave bands. For me, The Motels and Quarterflash seemed to go hand in hand; they were the perfect balance to the Pat Benatars and Hearts of the scene.
I miss those days!
Yes, love both The Motels and Pat Benatar. Starting to appreciate Heart and will check out Quarterflash again because I only know Harden My Heart.
@@littlecatfeet9064I would recommend Find Another Fool, Take Me to Heart, Take Another Picture & Nightshift (title song from the movie featuring Michael Keaton & Henry Winkler), all great songs by Quarterflash!
Loved this band! Martha had one of the great voices of the 80's and the songwriting was superb.
What cool and unassuming people they are! I truly enjoyed listening to their comments. The only thing I liked more was watching their faces as they listened to your insights.
I had forgotten about The Motels. Thanks for the rewind!
I've always really liked Remember the Nights, and wonder why they never play it in concert since it's one of their bigger hits....
Great song!
I almost forgot about that one, but another excellent song from them.
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 If you haven't heard Mission of Mercy by the Motels you should check it out. It was a very popular alternative song back in the early 80s....
I LOVE only the lonely.
It's so haunting.
Great song!
Only The Lonely.. one of the most underrated songs of the 80's. you touched on it.... haunting, touching, introspective. it made you look at yourself and your place in life. and the melody... one of my favorite songs. also Martha's description of writing open .. not overly laying out all the details... letting the listeners/readers imagination help paint the picture.. wow.
I think this one of your best interviews... the fact that you are telling them your perspective and they are reacting with you.... top notch!!!
When I was in high school, I had several people ask me if I was the young model in the Suddenly Last Summer video. It's so eerie, but she looked just like me! I only found out later it was Martha's daughter, Maria, so people kept calling me Motel girl. It was funny.
Oh wow! Have you ever Seen them live? They're really good.
@@ProfessorofRock Yes, I saw them live in the mid 1980s, they opened for Supertramp.
Oh wow. Now I can visualize you look just like Martha’s daughter.
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 Only when we were both teens. I don't know what she looked like in later years.
@@dranet47 She must have hid herself from the public eye in recent years.
This (really awesome) interview, along with the recent videos on Men at Work and Huey Lewis and The News, makes me miss those big, gloriously obnoxious sax solos of the early 80s. 🎷🎷🎷❤
More to come!
Saxes were a careless whisper of the 80s it seems 😉
What a treat!! Thanks for reminding us of the greatness of Only the Lonely and the greatness of the Motels!!
Waaay back in high school (mid 80's) I actually won tickets to see "The Motels" off our popular AM radio station at the time, CHUM (in Toronto, Ontario). The disc jockey at the station mentioned that it was possible that the band might need to move the venue from where they were originally playing, to a popular bar named "The El Mocambo' and that I would have to be over 19 years old (our legal drinking age in Ontario) to see them. I told them that the tickets were for my older sister (for her birthday). I borrowed my sister's friend's I.D. to enter the bar, and we had a blast! The Motels were awesome in person, and I was sitting, basically, right in front of Martha! Along with the tickets, I won their entire box set of albums, which I still have -- a great memory, for sure! As always, an awesome interview -- thank you! ❤ *Sidenote*: Not relevant, perhaps, however, a fun fact: At the time, we had a local new wave band in Toronto named "Martha and the Muffins' (Echo Beach) -- thought it was interesting that we had 'two Martha's' in the music scene, at the same time!
Haha, you REALLY wanted to see them. You must be a hardcore new wave fan like me. 😊
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 🥰!!
The Motels have a few of my fave '80s songs. All of them remind me of summer as a preteen myself, but they also make me sad (or nostalgic?) such that sometimes I can't listen. Martha had a real mournful, soulful voice that was the sound of a lonely LA then and the longing for endless summer. Interesting that her sad story I never even knew until now, and I get teary just thinking about it. Can you ever go back?😢
p.s. Their songs and videos could make you feel like you're walking along a secluded beach or in a dark downtown jazz club or speakeasy. The great thing about this '80s band, though, is that they were supremely, truly talented. The guitars were there, the lyricism was poetry, but they also were unafraid to use horns! You don't hear any of that in today's new music, so I'll have to check out their 2018 release. Maybe in a way, you can go back...
Thanks for sharing. Mournful is a great word for it!
Summer is my favorite season - well, except for some recent years - and this song sounds like a sunset on the streets of LA from the view of your apartment window. It’s that good.
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 Hmm… do we know each other?😉
@@laurat1129 I live on the opposite coast but your description made me realize what imagery came to mind when I thought of this song! So thanks Laura for the revelation.
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 That's nice, but srsly... who R U?
Man, I forgot how AWESOME this song is! Thanks for the reminder Prof!!
Thanks for listening
It’s an 80s classic.
Something I'm learning from this channel, if you just listened to the radio, you missed out on a bunch of great songs. I can't recall ever knowing about the Motels until I encountered them on your channel. Thank you so much for bringing great music back into our lives.
I have so many great memory’s of this song. This band is so original. Great interview, it is so good to hear about the origins of their beautiful songs.
Thanks Natasha! Rock on! Do you have a favorite song by them?
They were definitely candid.
@@ProfessorofRock Only the lonely💃🏿
My all time favorite episode of VH1's Bands Reunited program, I probably know the members better than most 80s bands.
Suddenly last Summer is a great song, even if the band thought it was housewives rock.
Love it! Thanks PEter!
They really need to bring it back, it was a great show.
It’s nowhere near housewives rock to me!
R.I.P. Guy Perry
Loved them. They remind me of my prime years. The 80s will always be my favorite period in my life. The music from this decade transports me back in time where I could live forever in my mind.
So underappreciated!!! ❤❤
I remember when it first came out my friends, and I thought it was the Pretenders!
I can understand that. Both great bands!
Even Chrissie Hynde would have been blown away by their music.
Adam, you nailed it describing the ethereal quality of both Motels hits. Like Missing Persons, there is a sophisticated approach to what seems on the surface to be accessible pop New Wave. I loved the chromatic angular descent figure Martha talked about on the keyboards in the bridge of Suddenly Last Summer. Glad to see they are back.
I remember hearing Only the Lonely for the first time, and I was hooked. Needed to her everything by the Motels after that. Suddenly last Summer came out and they captured my attention again. So fortunate to see them live. Great interview.
That haunting descending keyboard line in Suddenly Last Summer defined the melancholy side of 80's music for me. A flashy decade where everyone could seem to be having lots of fun and still feel completely isolated inside.
I’ve been a HUGE fan of the Motels from the start and it was an awesome experience seeing them perform live many years ago.
Martha is… and always will be one of the most beautiful, talented and memorable singers ever.
One of my most favorite songs from the Motels is Tragic Surf… talk about haunting‼️
As a side note:
I’m not sure if Quarterflash has been reviewed. Rindy Ross is another vocalist of that time who blew me away… & the lyrics and sax solos…INCREDIBLE‼️
This is the first time I have gone back and watched your again... and again... and again. Wow.... just wow.
Love The Motels. Been listening to them again recently. Only the Lonely is such a great song. Classic 80s. Takes me back , but I appreciate it now more than I did as a kid. Great interview
Great interview Professor. The Motels are like a remote drop band for me. Whenever I hear them on Sirius XM, no changing stations until it’s over. The melancholyness of those songs put me in a happy place. The last concert I went to before this thing called Covid hit was The Motels. February 19, 2020 at the House of Blues Las Vegas. Martha Davis is a treasure.
I completely love this entire interview! ❤
Only the lonely was my favorite song when I was a kid and still is. And the video is a masterpiece .
Martha and the Motels have such an awesome and unique sound! Excellent!
I loved their 2 hits, her voice was so haunting and the songs just had so much meaning to me…we lied about each others drinks…every relationship I was in during the 80’s!