THE MEAT WAGON – APRIL 16, 2025

1986

Air Date: 04.16.25 7PM CST

Family Ties, was huge in ‘86, and that’s where we’re starting off. This was the first year of the show where Johnny Mathis and Denise Williams took over the performance duties of the theme song, one of the very few TV themes at the time that wasn’t written by Alan Thicke. 

1986 brought my first taste of Fishbone, which became a turning point in my musical tastes, but I still had several years of Metal ahead of me before I started making the gradual shift to other styles of music. As I look at the layout of the next few episodes, things are going to be awkward for a few more years before it gets a little more coherent. It’s hard to remember all of the details from so many years ago, but we’re giving it a shot with the records I still have in my collection.

• Johnny Mathis and Denise Williams – Without Us
• Peter Gabriel – Sledgehammer
• Lionel Richie – Dancing on the Ceiling
• Van Halen – Why Can’t this be Love
• Metallica – Battery
• Iron Maiden – Wasted Years
• Eric B. and Rakim – Eric B. Is President
• Beastie Boys – She’s Crafty
• Fishbone – I Wish I Had a Date
• Bad Brains – I Against I
• Dag Nasty – Circles
• Naked Raygun – Home of the Brave
• Cro-Mags – We Gotta Know
• The Two Felipes – Hot Crossed Buns
• Descendents – Cheer
• Poison Idea – Ugly American