Hi all,
I went to my friend's 80s party over the weekend. I thought I'd share my story.

Aside form dressing up in 80s fashion, I suggested that we play records.

I brought all of mine (everyone was surprised how many I had). Of course, I didn't have a proper box to carry them in so I used my laundry basket (the long rectangular ones)! The only problem was, the basket was made of plastic so the records were bending from their weight. I thought of using a hardcover book-- an Encyclopedia Britannica from the 80s! But that wasn't enough. Then I thought of putting other 80s books in there: one about the eurthmics, a Calvin & Hobbes book, and a Bloom County book (best one to bring back 80s history).

I had 15 minutes to think of what to wear as I was too lazy to go out and buy stuff. Except for leather straps (a la a-ha) which I bought at an arts and crafts store. I opened my closet which is pretty much devoid of all my 80s clothes except for some pins and a thin tie. I immediatley saw a shirt-- "OK, that I'll wear out without being buttoned at the top. Um..... the tie is worn loose, and the pins all over".

I also decided to wear running shoes (sneakers) with my jeans as I remember wathcing "The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole" and the kids wore running shoes with anything.

As for the record player-- ok, we used my ex-DJ friend's (who dressed up as a breakdancer and revealed that he used to breakdance) turntable (so he did some scratching). I think apart from him, I was the only one who knew how to use a turntable.

All night, I kept hearing songs being played at the wrong speed-- some they didn't notice! I was actually asked "how does the record player know which speed to play at?" :D

Apparently, I was confusing them as I had also brought my 12" which looked like LPs, smelled like LPs, tasted like LPs, but did not play like LPs (at 33rpm). Good thing I didn't step on them ;)

I also heard the complaint about how much work it takes to use records! :D

THESE are not from kiddies of today. No, these were from the 80s children! I think we should get Sally Struthers to campaign for these unfortunates ;)

I played with a rubik's cube all night as unfortunately, the hockey playoffs were on, so that pretty much killed the 80s environment until "Who's the Boss" came on and then "Footloose". DJ friend revealed how he used to sovle the rubik's cube during class all the time.

One piece of advice for those of you having an 80s theme party in the future: don't have a pizza delivered! The host of our party wore those shirts with the frills (like the kids did at the prom in "footloose"). He got some pretty dirty looks from the pizza guy :D

Hey, i hope you will share your secrets with me, how to solve that damn Rubiks Cube! :)

And who cares about Pizza guys... ;)

well, according to my friends, you have to solve one side first then complete the first row, then the second row, then the third.

I was still stumped.

Now that was no hint at all!! I have no problem with the first side, but as soon as i try to do the second row i will destroy the first side again! I am just to stupid for that thing. :(

Originally posted by sketcher
I think we should get Sally Struthers to campaign for these unfortunates ;)


Classic, sketcher. Sounds like you had a lot of fun.

thanks for the compliments :cheers:

But seriously, remember how you'd be careful when handling records? Now with CDs being ok if they are full of fingerprints, i was scandalized at how the records were treated that night. GASP! :dizzy:

But I'd love to have another 80s party again and hear records played at the wrong speed anytime! :jester:


I'm also having way too much fun with the smilies.

Sheesh, are record players really that out of date??? :lol:

Originally posted by Recker
Sheesh, are record players really that out of date??? :lol:

I went to a record fair in Copenhagen in 2001. I was looking at old 7" records of Depeche Mode when this young girl asked the owner of the booth how she was supposed to fit the record into her cd player. :rolleyes:

Sounds like you had a great time anyways, Sketcher. I always cringe when I see people handle vinyl poorly. I don't really miss vinyl anymore, but it's a great idea for a 80's theme party.