The Island Ear, Issue 156E, December 11-25, 1984.

Back with another Island Ear, the free music publication I enjoyed as a kid growing up on Long Island. This time out, Dave Wakeling and Ranking Roger of General Public stare out from a Christmasy cover.

The Record Report for Long Island music sales, with IE masthead.

Fast Forward movie ad.
(It was named for the VCR remote button most employed throughout a home viewing.)

Ear-Rings album reviews.

Mods & Rockers in Hicksville (oy!), 007 in Franklin Square, Audio Unlimited of Garden City Park.

More reviews.

New Year's Eve at Malibu in Lido Beach, Fox's in Massapequa, Prime Cuts in Little Neck.

Hot Flashes music news (with shout-out to Ben Manilla), L.I. Record Collector of Hempstead.

Spit in Levittown joined forces with RCA, Record World, and WLIR for a futuristic leather & lace contest. What perv thought up this promotion? I'm looking at you, Larry the Duck!

Pizan's Perpetually Pitiful Puzzle, ads for Universal Soundstage in Centereach and Sutton Place in Rockville Centre.

Jimmy Byrne's in Flushing, super gifts from Record World (and the Record Shops at TSS).

Moving Pictures has the end-of-the-year movie wrap-up: Best, worst, neither.

Some holiday cheesecake from Focus II Guitar Centers.

Writers' picks for best albums and singles.

All kinds of cool stuff from The Record Collection in Massapequa Park.

Videoviews looks at a VHS cassette called Scrooge's Rock 'n Roll Christmas, which I happen to have in my collection. (Are you really that surprised?)
Island Sound was your one stop DJ headquarters--unless you had to stop at both locations (Oceanside and Merrick) to find what you wanted.

Leathers Only had a Christmas sale which I almost certainly passed by in my holiday shopping at the Tri-County Flea Market in Levittown. The Reconing Center in Bay Shore has a rather personal question. Arnie's Paradise and Christina's Paradise were separate salons, so apparently Arnie and Christina found working apart to be blissful.

Joan Jett was not too hot on light colors, but she liked bright colors. Hmm. Charles St. Cafe in Glen Cove had a gourmet buffet for New Year's Eve. (With champagne toast? Doesn't it get soggy?)

Key Largo in West Islip had some name bands, and Cosmic Debris suggested you "put some debris under your tree."

Along with the notable quotes from the last twelve months of IE interviews, they also for some reason included forgettable ones. Oh, I think it's like a joke.

Speakerkits of Bellerose, Sparks in Huntington, the catchily-named Percussion Repairs Music Store of Patchogue, and Governor's Comedy Shop in Levittown. (What, no mention of Jokey Jokeman? Awwwwwwww!)

Locally gives a good review to the Culture Club cover band Boy and Company, but not so much the frontman, Bob Ivo. (You're expecting a "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" joke, but I'm not biting.) Record Van wants your old crap, to sell at the Belmont and Roosevelt Raceway Flea Markets, or the Busy Bee Mall.

Pizazz Artistic Hairstyling Center in Lindenhurst claimed to be the Island's most popular hair salon (I think The Lemon Tree would have something to say about that!), and Titus Oaks touted its tremendous jazz selection.

UA offered season's greetings (and mostly lousy movies) in this two-pager with Starace illustration.

IE's Giveaway Poll gave away Beatles stuff, and the page doubled as an envelope.

Brokerage in Bellmore, Justin Sound Studios in Smithtown, Amazing Comics of Sayville, and Dublin Pub in New Hyde Park.

For the Musician examines endorsements, plus ads for Barry Athletic of Rockville Centre and your various Sam Ash stores.

More ads: Suite 88 in Stewart Manor, Spize in Farmingdale (where there was little actual farming going on), Tabs Ale House in Wantagh, Creamsone Records in Merrick, and Advance Concert Tickets in some guy's room in his parents' house.

The year in Metal was evidently a good one, and February's in Elmont fought the United States Marine Corps for your attention.

Shuster Sound and Slipped Disc in Valley Stream, and more Spit.

The General Public interview.

Music Trends Ltd in Levittown, Footloose (the Club) in Forest Hills.

It was Island Ear Nite at Fox's and Jonathan Reiss captured the alleged fun.

Rumrunner of Oyster Bay, and 007 hosting "Screamer of the Week" parties with Bob Waugh.

Where it's At told who was playing where (meaning advertisers), when.

Fanny Funbun's Nitetips (a listing of which advertisers had promotional events); Quiz winners; IE wanted interns and delivery persons; and ads for Quest End nerd stuff and "D.J." Bruce's Upbeat Entertainment.

Here are the hot hits on local stations (WLIR, WBAB, Z-100, WNEW-FM, WAPP, WPLJ, WRCN), plus MTV's top vids, and what the Brits were digging.

Another UA ad for the back cover, spotlighting their "Midnight Madness" cult flicks, such as... Beverly Hills Cop?

Leave a comment with your memories of this golden era of Long Island nightlife, and please describe throwing up all over your acid-washed jeans behind Rockbottom's dumpster.
Don't deny it, your derry friends took pictures!