Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Live Aid 1985 - The Greatest show on the Earth
There had been charity concerts before, notably George Harrison concert for Bangladesh in 1971, but never one on this scale. This was a 16 hour concert held transatlantic with 69 acts and watched by an estimated 1.5 billion people.
I remember the whole build up to the day with Sir Bob Geldof making perennial demands on TV with 'Just give us your bleedin money' in his broad Dub accent. The initial target of Live aid was to make £1 million pounds but as the weeks and days progressed towards the event, the eventual amount pledged was estimated to be over £100 million. The ethos of the project was to save lives and it did, approximately 2 million were saved.
The catalyst for the whole event was when in October 1984 a BBC news report by Michael Buerk from Korem in Ethiopia which showed the horrific scenes of young children dying from starvation. This prompted Bob Geldof into action and within weeks had assembled all the musicians and singers he could to form Band Aid. a single was released called 'Do they know its Christmas'. It was a enormous success and went to number one and shattered all records. However, not content with this Geldof decided to think a bit bigger and look at doing a concert. The idea was hatched by Bob and his sidekick Midge Ure and Live Aid was born.
With the idea hatched they needed someone to promote and organise and Harvey Goldsmith was the man largely responsible for putting the idea into a reality. the two concerts were held at Wembley Stadium London and the JFK stadium in Philadelphia. It was set to go on 13th July 1985 and BBC radio DJ Richard Skinner opened the show with his co-host Andy Kershaw and we were ready to rock. Veteran rockers Status Quo kicked off the show with Rockin all over the world and this set the tone for a mouth watering 16 hours of live music. They were followed by Bob and Elvis Costello. A band from bob home town of Dublin came to prominence during this concert. U2 made an lasting impression with there performance. they were due to play 3 songs but the second song Bad went on for 14 minutes as Bono jumped off the stage to help a girl who was being crushed in the crowd. She was saved and had the despair turn to joy as she danced with Bono on the stage.
Another notable performance was by Queen, there 20 minute set was regarded as one of the finest live performances seen. Lead singer Freddie Mercury led the 70,000 plus crowd in clapping unison and captivated the audience with a mesmeric performance which sadly you don't see these days. The crowd was completely in his hands. Other memorable performances included David Bowie, The Who and Paul McCartney whose microphone failed but like a true performer carried on. Also Phil Collins made appearances at both concerts. At Wembley he teamed up with Sting then over the pond he drummed for Eric Clapton and the reunion of Led Zeppelin.
My personal memory is still clear. That day I was playing 5 a side tournament in Wellingborough (which we won!) and i can remember all the cars had the radio on to listen to this musical extravaganza. We did hope to get knocked out early so we could get home and watch but we just kept winning. I did get home and we had an abundance of VHS tapes recording the event to keep for posterity. The tapes didn't last long but the memory lingers on. A fantastic day of music and never to be repeated the same in my opinion.
To enjoy the whole concert
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
80s Music Revisited: House music - Second summer of Love
80s Music Revisited: House music - Second summer of Love: Hip-hop, synth-pop and rare groove may have dominated the clubs in the early 1980s but from the mid eighties a new genre was to emerge from ...
House music - Second summer of Love
Hip-hop, synth-pop and rare groove may have dominated the clubs in the early 1980s but from the mid eighties a new genre was to emerge from Chicago in House dance music.
Taking its name from the Warehouse, a largely gay club where DJ Frankie Knuckles complemented 1970's electronic rock and soul and gave it a new beat. Chicago house was born and was to explode big time in Europe.
The most distinctive Chicago track was Phutures 'Acid Tracks'. A trance beat with a heavy bass sound with backing by a Roland TB-303 synth sound. This 12 minute track released in 1987 effectively became the blue print for euro style 'acid house'. The track Landed in the UK that year via DJs Danny Rampling and Paul Oakenfold who returned from the euro Acid capital of Ibiza.
Acid house first took hold in clubs such as Shoom in London and the Hacienda in Manchester.
During 1988 the whole thing exploded, it moved out of clubs into a more wider rave scene. More and more out of town locations such as open fields or empty warehouses were becoming prime locations and causing anxiety to communities, police and the government. It was proclaimed the second summer of love. This was due to the party goers use of Ecstasy and the infamous 'smiley' logo. The whole rave culture soon prompted tabloid scare stories and the inevitable Police crackdown on unorganised raves. The whole culture had developed quickly and soon all young people were embracing the whole euphoria of being lost in a ecstatic haze of visual stimulation and a lot of hands in the air music.
From a music point of view, the early pioneers in the UK were 808 state and a Guy Called Gerald both from Manchester. Although some concede that S-Express big chart success in 1988 'Theme from S-Express' and MARRS 'Pump up the Volume' made the initial breakthrough into peoples conscience. We then saw an onslaught on the charts from acts like Coldcut, Bomb the Bass and Yazz.
However, as with many genres music changes and evolves into other styles and House music was no different. By the early 1990 super clubs such as Ministry of Sound in London or Cream in Liverpool signalled the end of the traditional rave and bought it back in house prompting different styles such as ambient to hardcore techno.
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For further listening
Friday, November 25, 2011
80s Music Revisited: Madchester - One Love
80s Music Revisited: Madchester - One Love: Occasionally, a town or city is integral to a style of music that the music takes it name from the area. In the 1960's Liverpool gave birth ...
Madchester - One Love
Occasionally, a town or city is integral to a style of music that the music takes it name from the area. In the 1960's Liverpool gave birth to the merseybeat sound and in the late 1980's Manchester released the Madchester phenomenon. The Madchester sound was sandwiched in between the second summer of love Acid house and grunge.
Manchester was home to the Buzzcocks, The Fall, John Cooper-Clarke and was seen by many as the second city of punk. Following the reincarnation of New Order and the rise of Factory Records, New Order introduced a strong dance orientation to there music following a visit to America. This change in scene provided the cornerstone of the 'baggy' movement with Stone Roses and Happy Mondays leading the charge.
The whole Madchester scene was about clubbing, music and being blissed out on MDMA(ecstacy) and baggy theme was influenced by the clothes being worn by the bands and the followers. Although the roses and Mondays had been going since the mid eighties the catalyst for the success was the Factory Records run Hacienda Club which became the temple for all everything Madchester. The club introduced a new groove based sound and embracing this was the Happy Mondays. The Mondays gave a blissed out feel almost psychedelic dance music. They embraced funky rhythms with hip hop beats topped with low energy lyrics. It was a unique style but worked well on songs such as Step on, Loose fit and Hallelujah. The Mondays sound was quintessentially Madchester for its chaotic mix.
In the early 1980's Manchester had produced one of the most important guitar bands The Smiths and another was to follow in the late 1980s. The Stone Roses were also influenced by 1960s guitar pop but they added a dance influence to there music and none more significant than on Fools Gold from there debut album Stone Roses.
Other bands soon started to get success on the Madchester bandwagon. James (Sit down) and Inspiral carpets (this is how it feels) enjoyed top 10 hits and were guitar based bands while on the house and techno style A guy called Gerald enjoyed huge commercial success with Voodoo Ray was quoted as Madchester unofficial anthem and 808 State (Cubik the big single) were making contributions on the dance scene. Also The Charlatans came on to the scene with the one and only and Mock Turtles (Steve Coogans brother was on lead) gave us the infectious Can you dig it. There were some pretenders with Liverpool The Farm and Colchester Blur nailing there Madchester flag to the mast. According to some this killed the Madchester credentials.
As with many phenomenons they go as quickly as they came. The popular press and Music mags were turning attention to the Seattle based grunge music and the Madchester faded, The roses and Mondays went into decline and only really the Charlatans, Inspiral Carpets and 808 state were making any further strides, but while it lasted it was one hell of a rave.
To listen to some of the sounds of Madchester, click on the artist name or song. Enjoy!
Stone Roses - Fools gold
Stone Roses - I wanna be adored
Happy Mondays - Step on
Happy Mondays - Hallelujah
Charlatans - The only one I know
Inspiral Carpets - This is how it feels
James - Sit down
A guy called Gerald - Voodoo Ray
808 state - Cubik
Recommended purchasing or listening, click on the either the artist or soundtrack for further details.
Stone Roses - Stone Roses
Happy Mondays - Bummed
808 state - Ninety
Madchester Anthems
Manchester was home to the Buzzcocks, The Fall, John Cooper-Clarke and was seen by many as the second city of punk. Following the reincarnation of New Order and the rise of Factory Records, New Order introduced a strong dance orientation to there music following a visit to America. This change in scene provided the cornerstone of the 'baggy' movement with Stone Roses and Happy Mondays leading the charge.
The whole Madchester scene was about clubbing, music and being blissed out on MDMA(ecstacy) and baggy theme was influenced by the clothes being worn by the bands and the followers. Although the roses and Mondays had been going since the mid eighties the catalyst for the success was the Factory Records run Hacienda Club which became the temple for all everything Madchester. The club introduced a new groove based sound and embracing this was the Happy Mondays. The Mondays gave a blissed out feel almost psychedelic dance music. They embraced funky rhythms with hip hop beats topped with low energy lyrics. It was a unique style but worked well on songs such as Step on, Loose fit and Hallelujah. The Mondays sound was quintessentially Madchester for its chaotic mix.
In the early 1980's Manchester had produced one of the most important guitar bands The Smiths and another was to follow in the late 1980s. The Stone Roses were also influenced by 1960s guitar pop but they added a dance influence to there music and none more significant than on Fools Gold from there debut album Stone Roses.
Other bands soon started to get success on the Madchester bandwagon. James (Sit down) and Inspiral carpets (this is how it feels) enjoyed top 10 hits and were guitar based bands while on the house and techno style A guy called Gerald enjoyed huge commercial success with Voodoo Ray was quoted as Madchester unofficial anthem and 808 State (Cubik the big single) were making contributions on the dance scene. Also The Charlatans came on to the scene with the one and only and Mock Turtles (Steve Coogans brother was on lead) gave us the infectious Can you dig it. There were some pretenders with Liverpool The Farm and Colchester Blur nailing there Madchester flag to the mast. According to some this killed the Madchester credentials.
As with many phenomenons they go as quickly as they came. The popular press and Music mags were turning attention to the Seattle based grunge music and the Madchester faded, The roses and Mondays went into decline and only really the Charlatans, Inspiral Carpets and 808 state were making any further strides, but while it lasted it was one hell of a rave.
To listen to some of the sounds of Madchester, click on the artist name or song. Enjoy!
Stone Roses - Fools gold
Stone Roses - I wanna be adored
Happy Mondays - Step on
Happy Mondays - Hallelujah
Charlatans - The only one I know
Inspiral Carpets - This is how it feels
James - Sit down
A guy called Gerald - Voodoo Ray
808 state - Cubik
Recommended purchasing or listening, click on the either the artist or soundtrack for further details.
Stone Roses - Stone Roses
Happy Mondays - Bummed
808 state - Ninety
Madchester Anthems
Thursday, November 24, 2011
80s Music Revisited: This Charming Smith
80s Music Revisited: This Charming Smith: The Smiths were born in Manchester in 1982 and an aspiring laureate by the name of Morrisey teamed up with the guitar skills from Johnny Mar...
This Charming Smith
The Smiths were born in Manchester in 1982 and an aspiring laureate by the name of Morrisey teamed up with the guitar skills from Johnny Marr. Also mentioned in background were the two other members Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce.
It is fair to say Morrisey singing style was different along with his views and style. The name was christened as a shot at the fancy names of the synth bands that were dominating the charts and felt it was his duty to bring things back to perspective.
During there four year existence, The Smiths enjoyed huge influence and a cult appeal. They released four studio albums and countless singles although the highest placed single only reached number 10. Just when mainstream success was on the verge, the band split!
All the members of the Smiths had come from a Punk background and were influenced by 1960's guitar along with the bard of Salford Punk Poet John cooper Clarke. Soon the band released the first single Hand in glove which was championed by Radio one DJ John Peel, However, the single didn't make any impact on the charts. This didn't stop the band from pursuing and the release of This Charming Man and What difference does it make made the top 30 with people now starting to take notice of the band.
Also the look of the band was taking note with a simple shirt and jeans as opposed to the glitzy attire of the new romantics. The loose shirts, NHS glasses and Gladiolas in the back pocket certainly made the smiths different. Also during an appearance on the Old Grey whistle Test Morrisey wore a fake Hearing Aid Kit to show support for the hard of hearing. Unusual but who else could have handled with such mysterious beauty.
With the growing success, they released the first album imaginatively named The Smiths and reached the heady heights of number two. this was followed up by two singles Heaven knows I'm miserable now (there first top 10 hit) and William, it was really nothing (on the b-side was the iconic song How soon is now?). Controversy was always around the corner with certain songs touted by the press as distasteful with subjects of paedophilia and the moors murders. However, Morrisey gained a mutual friendship with Ann West who was the mother of one of the victims Lesley Ann Downey. Morrisey was in fact taking a swipe at the tabloids who sensationalise the devils and forget about the victims and there families.
The band then released the album Meat is Murder (Morrisey is a Vegetarian) with the album gaining critical acclaim and reaching number one in the charts. Again two singles followed with Shakespeare Sister and That Joke isn't funny anymore. The latter barely making the top 50.
The band were fairly prolific in the album market along with there touring and in 1986 they released The Queen is Dead. This saw the release of singles Bigmouth Strikes again and there is a light that never goes out. By this time the band were having issues with the record label Rough Trade and band member Andy Rourke was fired, replaced and reinstated.They then became a 5 piece band with Rourke replacement Craig Cannon staying. After releasing the biggest hits Panic and Ask, Cannon left the band and The Smiths left Rough Trade to join EMI.
1987 saw the release of there final studio album Strangeways here we come. This saw shoplifters of the world and Sheila take a bow released as singles. However, it was to come to an abrupt end, with Marr on the verge of a breakdown and members leaving and with musical differences between Marr and Morrisey the band split.
Although the time was short, the music and influence they spread had far more impact. This encouraged other guitar bands from the Manchester area to take it on and aspire the likes of the Stone Roses and Oasis. For that we are eternally grateful.
Recommended listening or purchasing, please click on the title track for further information on The Smiths
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
80s Music Revisited: Is there an Alternative scene.
80s Music Revisited: Is there an Alternative scene.: Although Independent labels had always co-existed along side the majors, it was the punk inspired indie boom of the late 1970's that introdu...
Is there an Alternative scene.
Although Independent labels had always co-existed along side the majors, it was the punk inspired indie boom of the late 1970's that introduced this 'Alternative' market. During the early 1980's independent labels started to blossom and in particular Rough Trade Records. However, The majors cottoned onto this and formed there own 'fake indie labels' presumably to cash in on this growing market.
In Britain The Smiths spearheaded the guitar based indie scene built on classic rock sounds and more came onto the scene called the 'C86' movement. The 1980s was still heavily influenced by synth and pop melodies and rock had become distant since the early 1970s. Although Punk Rock had a bash it disappeared virtually within a year. The British tastes were changing and many were yearning for that guitar sound of the 1960's and early 1970's.
So alternative music is essentially music that differs in sound, social comment and its region. There were many sub genres such as Goth Rock, Industrial music or the Madchester scene. Most acts attained minor success but mainly due to low exposure as music was limited to air play on radio, record sales and MTV was in its infancy stage. Today with the mediums of social media, blogs, Internet, downloads etc.. the minor today would quickly become the major..if its good enough that is!
The Smiths championed by many to signal the end of the new wave/ synth era as they embraced the more guitar laden music with witty or political messages. Despite the band having a short career with limited success they set the footprint for others to follow and go on that next stage. This was further proofed when NME magazine released the infamous C86 cassette which featured bands such as The Wedding Present, Primal Scream and the Soup dragons amongst others. This important cassette was deemed as the beginning of Indie Music and helped band all these groups together to further progress this genre of music.
Other forms of rock began to emerge. Jesus and the Mary chain were unleashed from Scotland with a distinct sound of rock with a 1960s feel. Also New Order, completely changed from the Joy Division Goth Rock sound to a more techno and house music mixed with rock. Also the Term shoegazing came into being with Bands like My Bloody Valentine, Ride and Lush. The term was used to describe the musicians who on stage would not move and just look down whilst playing the instruments. The term showmanship was not on there agenda.
Towards the end of the 1980's The Madchester scene was now dominating the news and press with the second summer of love. A drug fuelled period was based around the Hacienda Club in Manchester owned by New Order and Factory Records. This saw bands like The Stone Roses and Happy Mondays mix guitar with acid house rhythms.
The music liberated the industry as production wasn't the be all. It encouraged bands to find there niche and although some may have held unorthodox views on the whole some creative sounds were developed and helped influence the next generation. Also it encouraged more women into that genre with many females fronting rock bands such as My Bloody Valentine and Lush.
To listen to some sounds of 1980s alternative music, click on the artist name or the song. Enjoy!
The Smiths - This Charming Man
The Smiths - What difference does it make
Soup Dragons - I'm Free
Primal Scream - Come Together
The Wedding Present - My Favourite Dress
New Order - Regret
My Bloody Valentine - Only Shallow
Ride - Unfamiliar
Lush - Ladykillers
Stone Roses - I wanna be adored
Happy Mondays - Step on
Recommended purchasing or further listening. For further information click on the artist name or title track
The Smiths - Queen is dead
Jesus and the Mary chain - Psychocandy
New Order - Power, corruption and Lies
Alternative 80's
Dark side of the 80's
In Britain The Smiths spearheaded the guitar based indie scene built on classic rock sounds and more came onto the scene called the 'C86' movement. The 1980s was still heavily influenced by synth and pop melodies and rock had become distant since the early 1970s. Although Punk Rock had a bash it disappeared virtually within a year. The British tastes were changing and many were yearning for that guitar sound of the 1960's and early 1970's.
So alternative music is essentially music that differs in sound, social comment and its region. There were many sub genres such as Goth Rock, Industrial music or the Madchester scene. Most acts attained minor success but mainly due to low exposure as music was limited to air play on radio, record sales and MTV was in its infancy stage. Today with the mediums of social media, blogs, Internet, downloads etc.. the minor today would quickly become the major..if its good enough that is!
The Smiths championed by many to signal the end of the new wave/ synth era as they embraced the more guitar laden music with witty or political messages. Despite the band having a short career with limited success they set the footprint for others to follow and go on that next stage. This was further proofed when NME magazine released the infamous C86 cassette which featured bands such as The Wedding Present, Primal Scream and the Soup dragons amongst others. This important cassette was deemed as the beginning of Indie Music and helped band all these groups together to further progress this genre of music.
Other forms of rock began to emerge. Jesus and the Mary chain were unleashed from Scotland with a distinct sound of rock with a 1960s feel. Also New Order, completely changed from the Joy Division Goth Rock sound to a more techno and house music mixed with rock. Also the Term shoegazing came into being with Bands like My Bloody Valentine, Ride and Lush. The term was used to describe the musicians who on stage would not move and just look down whilst playing the instruments. The term showmanship was not on there agenda.
Towards the end of the 1980's The Madchester scene was now dominating the news and press with the second summer of love. A drug fuelled period was based around the Hacienda Club in Manchester owned by New Order and Factory Records. This saw bands like The Stone Roses and Happy Mondays mix guitar with acid house rhythms.
The music liberated the industry as production wasn't the be all. It encouraged bands to find there niche and although some may have held unorthodox views on the whole some creative sounds were developed and helped influence the next generation. Also it encouraged more women into that genre with many females fronting rock bands such as My Bloody Valentine and Lush.
To listen to some sounds of 1980s alternative music, click on the artist name or the song. Enjoy!
The Smiths - This Charming Man
The Smiths - What difference does it make
Soup Dragons - I'm Free
Primal Scream - Come Together
The Wedding Present - My Favourite Dress
New Order - Regret
My Bloody Valentine - Only Shallow
Ride - Unfamiliar
Lush - Ladykillers
Stone Roses - I wanna be adored
Happy Mondays - Step on
Recommended purchasing or further listening. For further information click on the artist name or title track
The Smiths - Queen is dead
Jesus and the Mary chain - Psychocandy
New Order - Power, corruption and Lies
Alternative 80's
Dark side of the 80's
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
80s Music Revisited: Poster Boys Duran Duran
80s Music Revisited: Poster Boys Duran Duran: If there was ever a band to enjoy the early success of MTV then Duran Duran would be one of the best candidates. They became the poster boys...
Poster Boys Duran Duran
If there was ever a band to enjoy the early success of MTV then Duran Duran would be one of the best candidates. They became the poster boys for synth-pop during the early and mid eighties thanks to there manufactured sound and damn good looks. There music became the embodiment of the big in America, Model dating and hedonistic life style.
They spearheaded what was regarded as the Second British invasion of America in 1983 and MTV regularly endorsed there songs with massive playtime. They took music to a new high gloss level and this was portrayed in the no expense spared promo videos. However, the band could not shake of that image and many didn't take there work seriously enough.
The Band was formed in 1978 in Birmingham by Nick Rhodes, John Taylor, Steven Duffy and then later joined by Andy Taylor, Simon Le Bon and Roger Taylor. Although there were 3 Taylors none of them were related. Stephen Duffy left the band in 1979 and the rest of the guys carried on the band. They eventually signed for EMI records. There first hit was Planet Earth which hit the top 20 and was quickly followed by careless memories which didn't make the impact hoped. It wasn't until the third single Girls on Film that things took off. The reason why because of the video which showed Topless women grappling with each other. A massive success although heavily edited for the MTV censors.
They followed this success with other material such as hungry like a wolf (Jungle colonial scenes) and Rio(bikini clad women). The band were living out theres and many others fantasies. As the months progressed everybody had heard of Duran Duran. The teen market exploded as the band were on all magazines and papers and they adorned most teenagers walls, they were dubbed the fab five by the popular press and Princess Diana expressed her interest by claiming they were her favourite band.
Over the pond Duran Duran were making huge strides and the release of Something I should know cemented there position as the top band and was quickly followed by the Union of the snake , new moon on Monday and the Reflex which went to number one on both sides of the Atlantic. By the time they released Wild Boys they were at there peak and even graced the cover of Rolling Stone magazine and picking Grammy awards for there video work. They really cracked onto a winning formula.
During the mid eighties, the band took on side projects and effectively the band split in two with the results the Power Station and Arcadia hitting the airwaves. As soon as the project finished the band got back together and recorded the theme for the new James Bond film A View to a Kill. This was a huge hit going top in America and number 2 in the UK. This turned out to be last single the original 5 would record.
The band took a break and soon Roger and Andy Taylor were to declare they were out which left the remaining three to continue with help from other musicians. They released Notorious which did OK but by the end of the eighties the music scene was changing and Duran Duran were increasingly getting left behind. They tried to shed that old familiar teen idol image for a more serious sound but they somewhere along the line were not being taken in by the public, although sales of All she wants is were enough for a top 10 hit, the fall from the pedestal and the lack of promotion from there record label made the end of the eighties a time to take stock and reinvent the group for the nineties and beyond.
To there credit the band has done this and although have been derided by many, there music has stood the test of time and they still live on as a guilty pleasure.
To view Duran Duran songs during the 80s, click on the song title. Enjoy!
Planet Earth
Rio
Hungry like a wolf
Is there something I should know
Wild Boys
Girls on film - Censored one
A view to a kill
Notorious
Reflex
Recommended Listening or purchasing of Duran Duran Albums in the 80's. Click on the title for more information.
Duran Duran
Rio
Seven and the ragged Tiger
Arena
Notorious
They spearheaded what was regarded as the Second British invasion of America in 1983 and MTV regularly endorsed there songs with massive playtime. They took music to a new high gloss level and this was portrayed in the no expense spared promo videos. However, the band could not shake of that image and many didn't take there work seriously enough.
The Band was formed in 1978 in Birmingham by Nick Rhodes, John Taylor, Steven Duffy and then later joined by Andy Taylor, Simon Le Bon and Roger Taylor. Although there were 3 Taylors none of them were related. Stephen Duffy left the band in 1979 and the rest of the guys carried on the band. They eventually signed for EMI records. There first hit was Planet Earth which hit the top 20 and was quickly followed by careless memories which didn't make the impact hoped. It wasn't until the third single Girls on Film that things took off. The reason why because of the video which showed Topless women grappling with each other. A massive success although heavily edited for the MTV censors.
They followed this success with other material such as hungry like a wolf (Jungle colonial scenes) and Rio(bikini clad women). The band were living out theres and many others fantasies. As the months progressed everybody had heard of Duran Duran. The teen market exploded as the band were on all magazines and papers and they adorned most teenagers walls, they were dubbed the fab five by the popular press and Princess Diana expressed her interest by claiming they were her favourite band.
Over the pond Duran Duran were making huge strides and the release of Something I should know cemented there position as the top band and was quickly followed by the Union of the snake , new moon on Monday and the Reflex which went to number one on both sides of the Atlantic. By the time they released Wild Boys they were at there peak and even graced the cover of Rolling Stone magazine and picking Grammy awards for there video work. They really cracked onto a winning formula.
During the mid eighties, the band took on side projects and effectively the band split in two with the results the Power Station and Arcadia hitting the airwaves. As soon as the project finished the band got back together and recorded the theme for the new James Bond film A View to a Kill. This was a huge hit going top in America and number 2 in the UK. This turned out to be last single the original 5 would record.
The band took a break and soon Roger and Andy Taylor were to declare they were out which left the remaining three to continue with help from other musicians. They released Notorious which did OK but by the end of the eighties the music scene was changing and Duran Duran were increasingly getting left behind. They tried to shed that old familiar teen idol image for a more serious sound but they somewhere along the line were not being taken in by the public, although sales of All she wants is were enough for a top 10 hit, the fall from the pedestal and the lack of promotion from there record label made the end of the eighties a time to take stock and reinvent the group for the nineties and beyond.
To there credit the band has done this and although have been derided by many, there music has stood the test of time and they still live on as a guilty pleasure.
To view Duran Duran songs during the 80s, click on the song title. Enjoy!
Planet Earth
Rio
Hungry like a wolf
Is there something I should know
Wild Boys
Girls on film - Censored one
A view to a kill
Notorious
Reflex
Recommended Listening or purchasing of Duran Duran Albums in the 80's. Click on the title for more information.
Duran Duran
Rio
Seven and the ragged Tiger
Arena
Notorious
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
80s Music Revisited: MTV - The New Generation
80s Music Revisited: MTV - The New Generation: Before the introduction of MTV, rock and pop on television was limited in the UK to Top of the Pops, Old Grey Whistle Test and a odd appeara...
MTV - The New Generation
Before the introduction of MTV, rock and pop on television was limited in the UK to Top of the Pops, Old Grey Whistle Test and a odd appearance on variety shows. MTV then became the worlds first 24 hour television station. Beaming on air from August 1981, they kicked off the programme with the novelty record by British Band Buggles with the appropriately titled Video Killed the Radio Star. with this exposure it developed the booming development of the Promotional Pop video.
'You will never look at music the same way again' claimed the channel, even there developers which included ex-monkees member Mike Nesmith. Even they could not envisage how big this would develop into.
Music and visuals were just important now, you had VJ's and most Public houses were dispensing with the traditional jukebox and installing the video juke box. It was a boom industry.
After MTV introduced us to the Buggles Video, next in line was Pat Benatar You Better Run. This showed early the versatility of the channel as they embraced all types of music unlike some radio channels. They got behind the metal revival which saw Van Halen and Def Leppard taking the plaudits and the photogenic Duran Duran were benefiting from this new type of exposure into the American homes.
However, Black Artists found it a struggle to get any air time as MTV felt this didn't fit into there strategy. It wasn't until head of CBS records Walter Yetnikoff denounced MTV and that they would not be able to play any artist from CBS. On the basis of that MTV relented and played Michael Jackson Billie Jean and this then paved the way for Prince, Whitney Houston to move into the same playing field. The first black artist to play on MTV was the Specials with Rat Race but the band was of mixed race with a white lead singer which fitted in with there scheduling.
It was the video of Michael Jackson beat it which had Eddie Van Halen doing a guitar solo earned the song much rotation play. Still feeling the criticism of the absence of black music as the decade progressed dedicated programmes were exposed to the masses such as street music and hip-hop and introduced to us in the mid to late eighties.
There were starting to be many imitators of MTV but many failed. American Media Mogul and owner of CNN Ted Turner set up a rival channel to match MTV playing a wider broad of music compared to MTV but after a month he conceded and MTV purchased the channel and thus became VH1.
MTV has moved on form its original Rock roots and is a very diverse channel in all types of music. One of its successful innovations from the eighties is MTV unplugged where artists would perform acoustic and music performed in its raw output. To this day this programme still holds relevance with all types of genre being represented.
MTV did revolutionise the music industry but with the countless reality shows and the routine pop and R&B acts this has tended to diminish the MTV effect.
To see the MTV debut all the way back in 1981 click on the link below. Enjoy!
MTV debut in 1981 - Buggles kicked it all off
Recommended reading
I want my MTV - The uncensored story of the video revolution
Recommended purchasing or listening from the 80s
The Very Best of MTV Unplugged featuring some acts from the 80s
'You will never look at music the same way again' claimed the channel, even there developers which included ex-monkees member Mike Nesmith. Even they could not envisage how big this would develop into.
Music and visuals were just important now, you had VJ's and most Public houses were dispensing with the traditional jukebox and installing the video juke box. It was a boom industry.
After MTV introduced us to the Buggles Video, next in line was Pat Benatar You Better Run. This showed early the versatility of the channel as they embraced all types of music unlike some radio channels. They got behind the metal revival which saw Van Halen and Def Leppard taking the plaudits and the photogenic Duran Duran were benefiting from this new type of exposure into the American homes.
However, Black Artists found it a struggle to get any air time as MTV felt this didn't fit into there strategy. It wasn't until head of CBS records Walter Yetnikoff denounced MTV and that they would not be able to play any artist from CBS. On the basis of that MTV relented and played Michael Jackson Billie Jean and this then paved the way for Prince, Whitney Houston to move into the same playing field. The first black artist to play on MTV was the Specials with Rat Race but the band was of mixed race with a white lead singer which fitted in with there scheduling.
It was the video of Michael Jackson beat it which had Eddie Van Halen doing a guitar solo earned the song much rotation play. Still feeling the criticism of the absence of black music as the decade progressed dedicated programmes were exposed to the masses such as street music and hip-hop and introduced to us in the mid to late eighties.
There were starting to be many imitators of MTV but many failed. American Media Mogul and owner of CNN Ted Turner set up a rival channel to match MTV playing a wider broad of music compared to MTV but after a month he conceded and MTV purchased the channel and thus became VH1.
MTV has moved on form its original Rock roots and is a very diverse channel in all types of music. One of its successful innovations from the eighties is MTV unplugged where artists would perform acoustic and music performed in its raw output. To this day this programme still holds relevance with all types of genre being represented.
MTV did revolutionise the music industry but with the countless reality shows and the routine pop and R&B acts this has tended to diminish the MTV effect.
To see the MTV debut all the way back in 1981 click on the link below. Enjoy!
MTV debut in 1981 - Buggles kicked it all off
Recommended reading
I want my MTV - The uncensored story of the video revolution
Recommended purchasing or listening from the 80s
The Very Best of MTV Unplugged featuring some acts from the 80s
Monday, November 14, 2011
80s Music Revisited: The Human League - Avant Garde pioneers
80s Music Revisited: The Human League - Avant Garde pioneers: Human League originally started in 1977 as an all male group and pioneering what we knew then as synth pop. The band were from Sheffield and...
The Human League - Avant Garde pioneers
Human League originally started in 1977 as an all male group and pioneering what we knew then as synth pop. The band were from Sheffield and the band was set up by Martin Gore and Ian Craig-Marsh in which they played local gigs with there electronic equipment but felt the the time was right to get a lead singer. There first choice Glenn Gregory (he later went on to join them with Heaven 17) was not available so they contacted Phil Oakey purely on his persona as he had no musical training.
They adopted the Human League name from a Science Fiction game and went to work on gaining a record contract. They released Being Boiled and this became a success and on the back of that they played live sets mainly at Sheffield University. As the stage was all electronic keyboards and cables there look on stage needed spicing up, so they worked with Phil Oakeys friend Philip Adrian Wright to become director of visuals and make the set more futuristic with films and photography in the background.
After the initial success they signed to Virgin records but sales of records and a lack of interest in ticket sales saw much conflict within the band and subsequently they were overtaken by Gary Numan, Visage and Ultravox as the leading players in this genre of music. Before they undertook a UK tour Ware and Oakey clashed over many things forcing Ware to leave the group and and along with Craig-Marsh departure they went on to form Heaven 17.
With the departure of the two Phil was left with picking up the pieces and a UK tour to complete as they faced heavy lawsuits. It is regarded as folklore that Phil went out with his girlfriend to pick up a backing singer and spotted two girls dancing in a nightclub at Crazy Daisy's in Sheffield. He approached them purely as dancers and background singers to go on tour. They accepted his offer and after parental permission (the girls Jo Catherall and Susanne Sulley were only 17 & 18) they hit the road. However, the tour was not a great success with many expecting the all male group and the group and in particular the Girls came in for undue criticism but stuck with it they did.
They were still heavily in debt to Virgin records and had to do something or face a perilous future. Success was around the corner with the release of the album Dare which spawned the huge hit Don't you want me. Buoyed by this they followed up with The Sound of the Crowd and Love Action. Virgin unexpected sales from the album Dare saw another huge hit Open your heart hit the top. The Dare album went triple platinum and spent 77 weeks in the charts with four weeks at number one. The single Don't you want me sold over 2 million worldwide and this firmly put the band in the public imagination.
The hard work didn't stop there as a follow up was needed to Dare album, Mirror man and keep feeling fascination were successful singles and finally Louise charted just outside the top 10 and this was all on the album Hysteria which didn't quite match the heights of Dare. Further singles followed with the politically charged The Lebanon and Life on your own failing to hit the top 10.
To lick there wounds they went off to America and the result of the album was Crash which the huge hit Human graced our ears. Although a number 8 hit in the UK it went to Number one in the USA. The band capitalised on this by touring extensively for 2 years and the eighties ended on a high note for the band.
The Human League were pioneers and more say by the complete shift in what was a completely male orientated genre to taking on two girls and shifting peoples opinions. It was a brave act but one that paid off and to this day the Phil Oakey, Jo Catherall and Susanne Sulley are still together and touring and that's the biggest compliment you can give this band.
To view the bands work in the eighties click on the song title. Enjoy!
Being Boiled
Don't you want me
The Lebanon
Open Your Heart
Keep Feeling Fascination
Love Action
Sound of a Crowd
Recommended Purchasing/Listening- more details click on album title
Dare
Hysteria
Crash
They adopted the Human League name from a Science Fiction game and went to work on gaining a record contract. They released Being Boiled and this became a success and on the back of that they played live sets mainly at Sheffield University. As the stage was all electronic keyboards and cables there look on stage needed spicing up, so they worked with Phil Oakeys friend Philip Adrian Wright to become director of visuals and make the set more futuristic with films and photography in the background.
After the initial success they signed to Virgin records but sales of records and a lack of interest in ticket sales saw much conflict within the band and subsequently they were overtaken by Gary Numan, Visage and Ultravox as the leading players in this genre of music. Before they undertook a UK tour Ware and Oakey clashed over many things forcing Ware to leave the group and and along with Craig-Marsh departure they went on to form Heaven 17.
With the departure of the two Phil was left with picking up the pieces and a UK tour to complete as they faced heavy lawsuits. It is regarded as folklore that Phil went out with his girlfriend to pick up a backing singer and spotted two girls dancing in a nightclub at Crazy Daisy's in Sheffield. He approached them purely as dancers and background singers to go on tour. They accepted his offer and after parental permission (the girls Jo Catherall and Susanne Sulley were only 17 & 18) they hit the road. However, the tour was not a great success with many expecting the all male group and the group and in particular the Girls came in for undue criticism but stuck with it they did.
They were still heavily in debt to Virgin records and had to do something or face a perilous future. Success was around the corner with the release of the album Dare which spawned the huge hit Don't you want me. Buoyed by this they followed up with The Sound of the Crowd and Love Action. Virgin unexpected sales from the album Dare saw another huge hit Open your heart hit the top. The Dare album went triple platinum and spent 77 weeks in the charts with four weeks at number one. The single Don't you want me sold over 2 million worldwide and this firmly put the band in the public imagination.
The hard work didn't stop there as a follow up was needed to Dare album, Mirror man and keep feeling fascination were successful singles and finally Louise charted just outside the top 10 and this was all on the album Hysteria which didn't quite match the heights of Dare. Further singles followed with the politically charged The Lebanon and Life on your own failing to hit the top 10.
To lick there wounds they went off to America and the result of the album was Crash which the huge hit Human graced our ears. Although a number 8 hit in the UK it went to Number one in the USA. The band capitalised on this by touring extensively for 2 years and the eighties ended on a high note for the band.
The Human League were pioneers and more say by the complete shift in what was a completely male orientated genre to taking on two girls and shifting peoples opinions. It was a brave act but one that paid off and to this day the Phil Oakey, Jo Catherall and Susanne Sulley are still together and touring and that's the biggest compliment you can give this band.
To view the bands work in the eighties click on the song title. Enjoy!
Being Boiled
Don't you want me
The Lebanon
Open Your Heart
Keep Feeling Fascination
Love Action
Sound of a Crowd
Recommended Purchasing/Listening- more details click on album title
Dare
Hysteria
Crash
Sunday, November 13, 2011
80s Music Revisited: The rise of Synth-Pop
80s Music Revisited: The rise of Synth-Pop: The mass production of digital equipment such as Yamaha DX7 prompted a flood of synth artists during the early eighties. Although the equipm...
The rise of Synth-Pop
The mass production of digital equipment such as Yamaha DX7 prompted a flood of synth artists during the early eighties. Although the equipment was made overseas the music was very British in its origins and so much that it had an impact on American music when the so called 'second' British invasion occurred in line with the music changing MTV channel.
Synth Pop arose after the post punk period and was an introduction to the new wave era. Since then the British eighties really embraced the the synthesiser. The early inductees were Tubeway Army which then saw lead singer Gary Numan go on his own. Ultravox and Visage had strong connections and took on the Synth feel. Also during that early eighties there was another two bands from Sheffield that made there mark on the pop world they were the Human League and Heaven 17.
Following those bands they were notable successes on both sides of the pond. Soft Cell, Depeche Mode, A Flock of Seagulls along with A-ha, Bronski Beat, OMD and Japan spread the word and soon lots of artists were benefiting from this type of music. Many in the musical world felt threatened and feared this would be the end of the conventional band. suspicions were further confirmed when Howard Jones ,Nik Kershaw and the Thompson Twins enjoyed long success in the charts. As the decade progressed we then saw the Pet Shop Boys, Erasure and The Communards reinvigorate the Synth Pop sound.
The Synth Pop sound did start to suffer when Britain was yearning for more guitar sounds and the indie bands started to fight back. So rather than fight it many embraced the sound of the guitar along with synth sound and Depeche Mode and Ultravox started to combine the two in the mid eighties.
But back to the beginning, Gary Numan was considered to be the man to introduce us to this genre, Following on from his punk days he produced an electronic kind of pop-rock with a futuristic sound dominated by machines. Ultravox and Visage took on the baton and embraced this new sound. However, the two most successful products of this school were Sheffield's Human League and Basildon's Depeche Mode. Both bands suffered personnel problems but fought on.
The Human League began as a synth arty type band but the band then split into two in 1980. Martyn Ware and Ian Craig-Marsh evolved into Heaven 17 and Phil Oakey hired musicians Jo Callis and Ian Burden along with backing singers/dancers Jo Catherall and Susanne Sulley (plucked from a nightclub in Sheffield) to complete the new line up. The Human League then produced the definitive Synth-pop album Dare which spawned the huge hit Don't you want me.
Depeche Mode suffered equally with the League. Vince Clarke the composer of there early hits (New Life, Just cant get enough) left in 1981. Clarke went on to find much success with Erasure and Yazoo but the Mode fought on Martin Gore the main singer took on the songwriting which culminated in the huge hit Enjoy the Silence and the album Music for the Masses by turning synth pop into a more guitar based sound appealing to all sorts of fans.
Synth Pop was making big roads in 1981 when Soft Cell went to the top with Tainted Love and followed up with Bedsitter. Also OMD (Enola Gay and Souvenir), Japan (I second that emotion), Ultravox (Vienna and The Voice) and even Kraftwerk (The Model).
We then saw Liverpool A Flock of Seagulls gain more success in the USA with the advent of the pop promo for MTV and they saw two hits I ran and the iconic Wishing (I had a photograph of you) gaining popularity. By the mid eighties more came on the scene but incorporated more instruments to move away from the backlash against synth pop. Howard Jones (New Song, Like to get know you well, What is Love) and Nik Kershaw (Wouldn't it be good, the riddle) carried on the work and were ably assisted by Bronski Beat (Small Town boy), a-ha (Take on me and the sun always shines on TV) and The Thompson Twins (hold me now and you take me up) were able to appeal to a new found market.
Towards the end of the decade the UK moved towards Dance music and rock driven material, synth pop started to fade. There were only a handful of duos fighting for the existence with Pet Shop Boys (West End Girls) , Erasure (Sometimes) and the Communards (don't Leave me this way) keeping in the public interest.
To have a look at the artists from the synth pop era click on the name or song. Enjoy
Soft Cell - Bedsitter
Bronski Beat - Hit that perfect beat
Depeche Mode - Everything counts
Flock of seagulls - Wishing
A-ha - Take on me
OMD - Tesla Girls
Japan - I second that emotion
Gary Numan - Cars
Human League - Don't you want me
Heaven 17 - Temptation
Recommended listening/Purchasing
Electronic - The very best of Synth and New Wave
Electronic 2 - The very best of synth and new wave
Synth Pop arose after the post punk period and was an introduction to the new wave era. Since then the British eighties really embraced the the synthesiser. The early inductees were Tubeway Army which then saw lead singer Gary Numan go on his own. Ultravox and Visage had strong connections and took on the Synth feel. Also during that early eighties there was another two bands from Sheffield that made there mark on the pop world they were the Human League and Heaven 17.
Following those bands they were notable successes on both sides of the pond. Soft Cell, Depeche Mode, A Flock of Seagulls along with A-ha, Bronski Beat, OMD and Japan spread the word and soon lots of artists were benefiting from this type of music. Many in the musical world felt threatened and feared this would be the end of the conventional band. suspicions were further confirmed when Howard Jones ,Nik Kershaw and the Thompson Twins enjoyed long success in the charts. As the decade progressed we then saw the Pet Shop Boys, Erasure and The Communards reinvigorate the Synth Pop sound.
The Synth Pop sound did start to suffer when Britain was yearning for more guitar sounds and the indie bands started to fight back. So rather than fight it many embraced the sound of the guitar along with synth sound and Depeche Mode and Ultravox started to combine the two in the mid eighties.
But back to the beginning, Gary Numan was considered to be the man to introduce us to this genre, Following on from his punk days he produced an electronic kind of pop-rock with a futuristic sound dominated by machines. Ultravox and Visage took on the baton and embraced this new sound. However, the two most successful products of this school were Sheffield's Human League and Basildon's Depeche Mode. Both bands suffered personnel problems but fought on.
The Human League began as a synth arty type band but the band then split into two in 1980. Martyn Ware and Ian Craig-Marsh evolved into Heaven 17 and Phil Oakey hired musicians Jo Callis and Ian Burden along with backing singers/dancers Jo Catherall and Susanne Sulley (plucked from a nightclub in Sheffield) to complete the new line up. The Human League then produced the definitive Synth-pop album Dare which spawned the huge hit Don't you want me.
Depeche Mode suffered equally with the League. Vince Clarke the composer of there early hits (New Life, Just cant get enough) left in 1981. Clarke went on to find much success with Erasure and Yazoo but the Mode fought on Martin Gore the main singer took on the songwriting which culminated in the huge hit Enjoy the Silence and the album Music for the Masses by turning synth pop into a more guitar based sound appealing to all sorts of fans.
Synth Pop was making big roads in 1981 when Soft Cell went to the top with Tainted Love and followed up with Bedsitter. Also OMD (Enola Gay and Souvenir), Japan (I second that emotion), Ultravox (Vienna and The Voice) and even Kraftwerk (The Model).
We then saw Liverpool A Flock of Seagulls gain more success in the USA with the advent of the pop promo for MTV and they saw two hits I ran and the iconic Wishing (I had a photograph of you) gaining popularity. By the mid eighties more came on the scene but incorporated more instruments to move away from the backlash against synth pop. Howard Jones (New Song, Like to get know you well, What is Love) and Nik Kershaw (Wouldn't it be good, the riddle) carried on the work and were ably assisted by Bronski Beat (Small Town boy), a-ha (Take on me and the sun always shines on TV) and The Thompson Twins (hold me now and you take me up) were able to appeal to a new found market.
Towards the end of the decade the UK moved towards Dance music and rock driven material, synth pop started to fade. There were only a handful of duos fighting for the existence with Pet Shop Boys (West End Girls) , Erasure (Sometimes) and the Communards (don't Leave me this way) keeping in the public interest.
To have a look at the artists from the synth pop era click on the name or song. Enjoy
Soft Cell - Bedsitter
Bronski Beat - Hit that perfect beat
Depeche Mode - Everything counts
Flock of seagulls - Wishing
A-ha - Take on me
OMD - Tesla Girls
Japan - I second that emotion
Gary Numan - Cars
Human League - Don't you want me
Heaven 17 - Temptation
Recommended listening/Purchasing
Electronic - The very best of Synth and New Wave
Electronic 2 - The very best of synth and new wave
Friday, November 11, 2011
80s Music Revisited: Visage A look, a Vision for the future
80s Music Revisited: Visage A look, a Vision for the future: Having made his name from doorman to the extrovert host of one of the coolest clubs in London. Steve Strange was involved with clubs Billy's...
Visage A look, a Vision for the future
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Having made his name from doorman to the extrovert host of one of the coolest clubs in London. Steve Strange was involved with clubs Billy's, Blitz and Club for Heroes. From these surroundings two of the biggest bands of the eighties emerged Culture Club and Spandau Ballet. He now needed a band to explore his pop star quality. Steve Strange Born Steven Harrington in Wales was the very icon of a New Romantic.
The Latin meaning of Visage is a look, a vision and the old Anglo norm meaning is face. This encapsulated the whole ethos of a new romantic. He set about forming a super group and this consisted of Rusty Egan a DJ and ex Rich Kids Drummer, Midge Ure and Billie Currie From Ultravox and finally three members of Howard Devotos Magazine - John Mckeogh, Barry Adamson and Dave Formula. The band was very strictly a studio band as members took time out to perform. With That Steve Strange became the singular face of the band. With the advent of the pop promo and pop magazines Visage did not need to perform live to secure there success.
Steve Strange was now the modern day David Bowie Ziggy Stardust. The concept of wearing make up and outlandish costumes (many designed by Bryan Ferry's tailor, Anthony Price) from this it paved the ways for the likes of Boy George and Marilyn to build on this acceptance. The bowie theme continued as he appeared in the iconic video for Ashes to Ashes like the passing of the old romantic to the new romantic. Following this Visage released Fade to Grey which mixed English and French Lyrics with a hint of Kraftwerk and Bowie. This record encapsulated the whole New Romantic period. The first album also included Mind of a Toy and Visage and this reached number 13 on the charts. Strange and Egan continued to host there successful club nights creating the first Superclub in Camden Palace in London.
Guitarist John McKeogh left to join Siouxsie and the Banshees and Visages next album The Anvil Reached number 6 in April 1982. The damned don't cry was released to mixed reviews and Night train was possibly there last notable achievement. The magic began to wear off as the eighties progressed. Midge and Billie left as Ultravox success took off, which left Strange and Egan working with session musicians. The Last album Beat Boy sadly limped its way into oblivion. The Innovation that previously worked was now being taken over by the likes off Frankie goes to Hollywood and Wham. As a result what started as a project ended with Egan returning to DJ'ing and production and Strange carried on his fronting club nights and a brief foray into pop with the short lived band Strange Cruise.
Egan and Strange did get together for a one off performance for Living TV series Pop Goes The Band Where they preformed Fade to Grey.
Recommended Purchasing
Having made his name from doorman to the extrovert host of one of the coolest clubs in London. Steve Strange was involved with clubs Billy's, Blitz and Club for Heroes. From these surroundings two of the biggest bands of the eighties emerged Culture Club and Spandau Ballet. He now needed a band to explore his pop star quality. Steve Strange Born Steven Harrington in Wales was the very icon of a New Romantic.
The Latin meaning of Visage is a look, a vision and the old Anglo norm meaning is face. This encapsulated the whole ethos of a new romantic. He set about forming a super group and this consisted of Rusty Egan a DJ and ex Rich Kids Drummer, Midge Ure and Billie Currie From Ultravox and finally three members of Howard Devotos Magazine - John Mckeogh, Barry Adamson and Dave Formula. The band was very strictly a studio band as members took time out to perform. With That Steve Strange became the singular face of the band. With the advent of the pop promo and pop magazines Visage did not need to perform live to secure there success.
Steve Strange was now the modern day David Bowie Ziggy Stardust. The concept of wearing make up and outlandish costumes (many designed by Bryan Ferry's tailor, Anthony Price) from this it paved the ways for the likes of Boy George and Marilyn to build on this acceptance. The bowie theme continued as he appeared in the iconic video for Ashes to Ashes like the passing of the old romantic to the new romantic. Following this Visage released Fade to Grey which mixed English and French Lyrics with a hint of Kraftwerk and Bowie. This record encapsulated the whole New Romantic period. The first album also included Mind of a Toy and Visage and this reached number 13 on the charts. Strange and Egan continued to host there successful club nights creating the first Superclub in Camden Palace in London.
Guitarist John McKeogh left to join Siouxsie and the Banshees and Visages next album The Anvil Reached number 6 in April 1982. The damned don't cry was released to mixed reviews and Night train was possibly there last notable achievement. The magic began to wear off as the eighties progressed. Midge and Billie left as Ultravox success took off, which left Strange and Egan working with session musicians. The Last album Beat Boy sadly limped its way into oblivion. The Innovation that previously worked was now being taken over by the likes off Frankie goes to Hollywood and Wham. As a result what started as a project ended with Egan returning to DJ'ing and production and Strange carried on his fronting club nights and a brief foray into pop with the short lived band Strange Cruise.
Egan and Strange did get together for a one off performance for Living TV series Pop Goes The Band Where they preformed Fade to Grey.
Recommended Purchasing
Thursday, November 10, 2011
80s Music Revisited: New Romantics
80s Music Revisited: New Romantics: New romantics or Blitz kids Was a musical movement in the very early eighties (1980-1984) aimed at the more younger market. It primarily sta...
New Romantics
New romantics or Blitz kids Was a musical movement in the very early eighties (1980-1984) aimed at the more younger market. It primarily started in London at clubs such as Billy's or Blitz and as a result of increased exposure this began to spread far and wide in the UK.
Bands closely associated with this movement were Ultravox, Duran Duran, Visage, Spandau Ballet, ABC and Culture Club. A number of these bands adopted the Synthesiser feel in there music and coupled with the glossy look and glamorous videos were a hit on the fledgling MTV channel which paved the way for success in the USA. As the decade wore on many of the bands moved away from Synth Pop culture for a more rockier edge and some in particular Duran Duran still continue today.
New Romantics was seen as a revival of Glam Rock from the seventies. Fashion was a big part of the movement where both sexes could dress in the same clothes and use the same brands of make up. The fashion was based on romantic themes with frilly white shirts from the English period mixed with American and french overtures. The hairstyles incorporated the infamous mullet and wedges. The movement was seen as escapism form the normal with much emphasis on the design and image and how you portrayed yourself to the public. The gender bender scenario was a little difficult for some members of the public to accept.
The movement was started by two men Rusty Egan and Steve Strange who originally ran a club night at Billy's but as the popularity grew they moved to Blitz bar in covent garden London. They ran a Tuesday night evening called 'Club for Heroes' Where Steve would work on the door and Egan as the DJ. Admittance was strict and the more outlandish costume you wear the more likely you were to get in.
Popularity grow and more clubs opened in London, Birmingham, Liverpool and Manchester. However, Egan and Strange met with Ultravox members Billy Currie and Midge Ure where the ultimate new romantic band formed called Visage which spawned classics like fade to grey and the damned don't cry.
The music was very heavily based on synth sound and eerie feel with rhythmic drumming. It was based heavily on earlier artists such as David Bowie and Kraftwerk. Although attempts were made to move away from the synthesiser feel and Culture Club added a spin of reggae and Motown to there sound.
However, as with most movements there is a limited life span and there was a anti-synth brigade coming into the picture with the likes of indie, metal and pop making more inroads to the public attention. What the New Romantic period bring was change and the ability to change opinions on music with the introduction of digital equipment which helped many in songwriting and making music.
Now enjoy some of the acts that made up the New romantic scene. As they say in the X factor this is in no particular order. Click on the act or the song. Enjoy!
Ultravox - The Voice
Ultravox - Vienna
Visage - Fade to Grey
Visage - The Damned don't cry
Duran Duran - Planet Earth
Duran Duran - Careless memories
Spandau Ballet - Chant No 1
Spandau Ballet - Cut a Long story short
ABC - Poison arrow
ABC - The look of love
Culture Club - Do you really want to hurt me
Marilyn - Calling your name
Recommended purchasing of new romantics albums
Ultravox - Vienna
Visage - Visage
Duran Duran - Duran Duran
Spandau Ballet - Journeys to Glory
ABC - The Lexicon of Love
Culture Club - Kissing to be clever
Bands closely associated with this movement were Ultravox, Duran Duran, Visage, Spandau Ballet, ABC and Culture Club. A number of these bands adopted the Synthesiser feel in there music and coupled with the glossy look and glamorous videos were a hit on the fledgling MTV channel which paved the way for success in the USA. As the decade wore on many of the bands moved away from Synth Pop culture for a more rockier edge and some in particular Duran Duran still continue today.
New Romantics was seen as a revival of Glam Rock from the seventies. Fashion was a big part of the movement where both sexes could dress in the same clothes and use the same brands of make up. The fashion was based on romantic themes with frilly white shirts from the English period mixed with American and french overtures. The hairstyles incorporated the infamous mullet and wedges. The movement was seen as escapism form the normal with much emphasis on the design and image and how you portrayed yourself to the public. The gender bender scenario was a little difficult for some members of the public to accept.
The movement was started by two men Rusty Egan and Steve Strange who originally ran a club night at Billy's but as the popularity grew they moved to Blitz bar in covent garden London. They ran a Tuesday night evening called 'Club for Heroes' Where Steve would work on the door and Egan as the DJ. Admittance was strict and the more outlandish costume you wear the more likely you were to get in.
Popularity grow and more clubs opened in London, Birmingham, Liverpool and Manchester. However, Egan and Strange met with Ultravox members Billy Currie and Midge Ure where the ultimate new romantic band formed called Visage which spawned classics like fade to grey and the damned don't cry.
The music was very heavily based on synth sound and eerie feel with rhythmic drumming. It was based heavily on earlier artists such as David Bowie and Kraftwerk. Although attempts were made to move away from the synthesiser feel and Culture Club added a spin of reggae and Motown to there sound.
However, as with most movements there is a limited life span and there was a anti-synth brigade coming into the picture with the likes of indie, metal and pop making more inroads to the public attention. What the New Romantic period bring was change and the ability to change opinions on music with the introduction of digital equipment which helped many in songwriting and making music.
Now enjoy some of the acts that made up the New romantic scene. As they say in the X factor this is in no particular order. Click on the act or the song. Enjoy!
Ultravox - The Voice
Ultravox - Vienna
Visage - Fade to Grey
Visage - The Damned don't cry
Duran Duran - Planet Earth
Duran Duran - Careless memories
Spandau Ballet - Chant No 1
Spandau Ballet - Cut a Long story short
ABC - Poison arrow
ABC - The look of love
Culture Club - Do you really want to hurt me
Marilyn - Calling your name
Recommended purchasing of new romantics albums
Ultravox - Vienna
Visage - Visage
Duran Duran - Duran Duran
Spandau Ballet - Journeys to Glory
ABC - The Lexicon of Love
Culture Club - Kissing to be clever
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
80s Music Revisited: New Wave UK
80s Music Revisited: New Wave UK: The term new wave was first used in the popular press in 1976 to describe Punk music. The definition was used to categorise bands that were ...
New Wave UK
The term new wave was first used in the popular press in 1976 to describe Punk music. The definition was used to categorise bands that were not exactly punk but did relate to that genre of music.
Punk Music was a bit anarchic in its music, lyrics and production whereas New Wave was experimental, Lyrics with substance and the production was more finely tuned than Punk and for this it was deemed New Wave. Many bands were influenced by Punk but did not want to be associated with it!
New wave in the UK came to imply a less noisy raucous beat often synthesised and the term Post Punk was used to describe bands such as Gang of Four, The Cure, Siouxsie and the Banshees and Joy Division.
Gang of Four were a band from Leeds who's debut album Entertainment made big impressions in the UK and America. This led to appearing on Radio one John Peel sessions which widened there appeal. following the success of the Peel sessions they released the single At home hes a tourist. The song had charted and were asked to appear on the national institute of Top of the Pops, however, they had to change some of the lyrics as were subversive. Consequently they refused and was banned by BBC radio and TV. As a result there record Label EMI also lost interest and the band were to go through personnel changes and eventually call it a day.
The Cure a band from Crawley, started in the 70's but came to prominence in the 80s as part of the New wave movement and later there lyrics and mood of music would pioneer the Gothic Rock Genre. After the release of the album Pornography this placed them firmly in the music conscience. The song Lovecats gained commercial interest as was there first top ten hit. Although they had a unique strange look, the band got more interest with the John Peel sessions and more commercial success followed in the UK and America. As the decade progressed there recordings were more upbeat with Just Like Heaven and Friday I'm in love. Although they have gone through various personnel changes the band still remain active, Robert Smith the singer has remained as the figure head and the success of 13 albums being released still shows they are now regarded as one of the finest alternative bands.
Siouxsie and the Banshees were formed in London by Siouxsie Sioux and Steven Severin. They sold out many venues during there infancy period but had no record deal as they wanted complete control over everything as documented on the Old Grey whistle test appearance on the BBC. Eventually Polydor took the risk and the first single Hong Kong Garden hit the top 10. The albums quickly followed with The Scream and Join Hands in the late seventies. In the early eighties they started to experiment with drum machines and synthesisers in albums such as Kaleidoscope. The band had a few issues with personnel through personalities and addictions but they eventually called it a day in 1996. The biggest hit they had was a top 3 hit with a Beatles cover Dear Prudence.
Joy division were a band from Salford and they caught the attention of TV personality Tony Wilson who quickly signed them on his record Label Factory Records. They released the album Unknown Pleasures to critical acclaim which led to the John Peel Sessions and appearances on the Whistle Test. However the band were beset with issues mainly singer Ian Curtis who had bouts of depression and was diagnosed with epilepsy which would occur sometimes in concerts. On the eve of there maiden American tour Ian Curtis had committed suicide. The band released the album Closer and released the iconic single Love Will Tear us Apart, the music which has inspired many groups such as rock giants U2. following the death of Ian, the band reformed and became New Order who went onto even greater commercial success.
To sample the above bands please click on the bands name. Enjoy!
Gang of Four - At home he's a Tourist
The Cure - Lovecats
The Cure - Just Like Heaven
Siouxsie and the Banshees - Hong Kong Garden
Siouxsie and the Banshees - Dear Prudence
Joy Division - Love Will Tear us apart
Joy Division - Atmosphere
Recommended purchasing
The Cure - Pornography
Siouxsie and the Banshees - Kaleidoscope
Gang of Four - Entertainment
Joy Division - Unknown Pleasures
Joy Division - Closer
Punk Music was a bit anarchic in its music, lyrics and production whereas New Wave was experimental, Lyrics with substance and the production was more finely tuned than Punk and for this it was deemed New Wave. Many bands were influenced by Punk but did not want to be associated with it!
New wave in the UK came to imply a less noisy raucous beat often synthesised and the term Post Punk was used to describe bands such as Gang of Four, The Cure, Siouxsie and the Banshees and Joy Division.
Gang of Four were a band from Leeds who's debut album Entertainment made big impressions in the UK and America. This led to appearing on Radio one John Peel sessions which widened there appeal. following the success of the Peel sessions they released the single At home hes a tourist. The song had charted and were asked to appear on the national institute of Top of the Pops, however, they had to change some of the lyrics as were subversive. Consequently they refused and was banned by BBC radio and TV. As a result there record Label EMI also lost interest and the band were to go through personnel changes and eventually call it a day.
The Cure a band from Crawley, started in the 70's but came to prominence in the 80s as part of the New wave movement and later there lyrics and mood of music would pioneer the Gothic Rock Genre. After the release of the album Pornography this placed them firmly in the music conscience. The song Lovecats gained commercial interest as was there first top ten hit. Although they had a unique strange look, the band got more interest with the John Peel sessions and more commercial success followed in the UK and America. As the decade progressed there recordings were more upbeat with Just Like Heaven and Friday I'm in love. Although they have gone through various personnel changes the band still remain active, Robert Smith the singer has remained as the figure head and the success of 13 albums being released still shows they are now regarded as one of the finest alternative bands.
Siouxsie and the Banshees were formed in London by Siouxsie Sioux and Steven Severin. They sold out many venues during there infancy period but had no record deal as they wanted complete control over everything as documented on the Old Grey whistle test appearance on the BBC. Eventually Polydor took the risk and the first single Hong Kong Garden hit the top 10. The albums quickly followed with The Scream and Join Hands in the late seventies. In the early eighties they started to experiment with drum machines and synthesisers in albums such as Kaleidoscope. The band had a few issues with personnel through personalities and addictions but they eventually called it a day in 1996. The biggest hit they had was a top 3 hit with a Beatles cover Dear Prudence.
Joy division were a band from Salford and they caught the attention of TV personality Tony Wilson who quickly signed them on his record Label Factory Records. They released the album Unknown Pleasures to critical acclaim which led to the John Peel Sessions and appearances on the Whistle Test. However the band were beset with issues mainly singer Ian Curtis who had bouts of depression and was diagnosed with epilepsy which would occur sometimes in concerts. On the eve of there maiden American tour Ian Curtis had committed suicide. The band released the album Closer and released the iconic single Love Will Tear us Apart, the music which has inspired many groups such as rock giants U2. following the death of Ian, the band reformed and became New Order who went onto even greater commercial success.
To sample the above bands please click on the bands name. Enjoy!
Gang of Four - At home he's a Tourist
The Cure - Lovecats
The Cure - Just Like Heaven
Siouxsie and the Banshees - Hong Kong Garden
Siouxsie and the Banshees - Dear Prudence
Joy Division - Love Will Tear us apart
Joy Division - Atmosphere
Recommended purchasing
The Cure - Pornography
Siouxsie and the Banshees - Kaleidoscope
Gang of Four - Entertainment
Joy Division - Unknown Pleasures
Joy Division - Closer
80s Music Revisited: Sounds of the 80s - 2 Tone Ska revival
80s Music Revisited: Sounds of the 80s - 2 Tone Ska revival: To many the defining sound of the eighties was digital technology. Every genre had technological influence such as rock, Acid House, Hip-Hop...
Sounds of the 80s - 2 Tone Ska revival
To many the defining sound of the eighties was digital technology. Every genre had technological influence such as rock, Acid House, Hip-Hop or synth Pop. The decade began with Rock and Pop occupying the top spots with the impact of Punk and New Wave through to Disco, then the American influence of Hip hop which bought the likes of sampling, cultural experiences and social comment which bought the new vocal of 'Rap' into the mainstream and changed the face of music forever.
One of the early sounds of the 80s was the Ska revival, which was a purely British thing that revolved around the 2 tone record label based primarily in Coventry between 1979 and 1981. It is fact that one record help ignite this revival. The music was based on a upbeat rhythm heavily indebted to the likes of The Skatalites and The Pioneers from Jamaica.
The record in question was Gangsters by the Special AKA although an upbeat tempo The singer Terry Hall managed to bring a downbeat deadpan delivery of the song which was to become the trademark for the Specials. The groups key song writer Jerry Dammers changed the name from Special AKA to the Specials and the movement took off. The 2 Tone label with its iconic black and white logo (Based on a old album cover of Pete Tosh) and its important message of racial integration. Most 2 tone label acts were of mixed race and was proud of its heritage too. Many of the acts released old ska tunes or tributes to those who started the movement. The Specials covered Dandy Livinstones A message to you Rudy, Madness a tribute to Prince Buster aptly named The Prince and The Beat covered Smokey Robinson Tears of a Clown.
By 1981 most of the acts had moved on to bigger labels as part of the contract the group only had to release one single before moving on and The Specials split into 2 with Terry Hall, Lynval Golding and Neville Staples forming the Fun Boy 3. The 2 Tone label disappeared after a run of 10 hit singles and thus having a major impact on music and culture in Britain. The label eventually succumbed and the defining song it ended with was the socially critical impression of Britain in the midst of a recession with Ghost Town.
The main acts on the Label were The Specials, The Beat, The Selector, The Body snatchers and Madness. Bad Manners were considered part of the movement but never released anything on the label (although they did feature on a live album called Dance Craze released by 2 Tone). The Bands were either from the Midlands or London. The Specials and Selector from Coventry and The Beat from Birmingham represented the Midlands and Madness, Bad Manners and The Body snatchers from London.
The music was helped by cultural groups such as Rudies, Skinheads and Mods as they helped broaden the appeal with discos primarily playing 2 Tone and the old Jamaican ska.
The top 2 Tone singles in no particular order. Click on the artist to see the video. Enjoy!
Special AKA - Gangsters
Special AKA - Too Much Too Young
The Specials - Do Nothing
The Specials - Ghost Town
The Specials - Rat Race
Madness - The Prince
Madness - Madness
The Beat - Tears of a Clown
The Selector - On My Radio
The Body Snatchers - Lets do rocksteady
Recommended purchasing of 2 Tone Finest releases
The Specials - The Specials
The Specials - More Specials
Various - Dance Craze
The Selector - Too Much Pressure
Various - Two Much Two tone
One of the early sounds of the 80s was the Ska revival, which was a purely British thing that revolved around the 2 tone record label based primarily in Coventry between 1979 and 1981. It is fact that one record help ignite this revival. The music was based on a upbeat rhythm heavily indebted to the likes of The Skatalites and The Pioneers from Jamaica.
The record in question was Gangsters by the Special AKA although an upbeat tempo The singer Terry Hall managed to bring a downbeat deadpan delivery of the song which was to become the trademark for the Specials. The groups key song writer Jerry Dammers changed the name from Special AKA to the Specials and the movement took off. The 2 Tone label with its iconic black and white logo (Based on a old album cover of Pete Tosh) and its important message of racial integration. Most 2 tone label acts were of mixed race and was proud of its heritage too. Many of the acts released old ska tunes or tributes to those who started the movement. The Specials covered Dandy Livinstones A message to you Rudy, Madness a tribute to Prince Buster aptly named The Prince and The Beat covered Smokey Robinson Tears of a Clown.
By 1981 most of the acts had moved on to bigger labels as part of the contract the group only had to release one single before moving on and The Specials split into 2 with Terry Hall, Lynval Golding and Neville Staples forming the Fun Boy 3. The 2 Tone label disappeared after a run of 10 hit singles and thus having a major impact on music and culture in Britain. The label eventually succumbed and the defining song it ended with was the socially critical impression of Britain in the midst of a recession with Ghost Town.
The main acts on the Label were The Specials, The Beat, The Selector, The Body snatchers and Madness. Bad Manners were considered part of the movement but never released anything on the label (although they did feature on a live album called Dance Craze released by 2 Tone). The Bands were either from the Midlands or London. The Specials and Selector from Coventry and The Beat from Birmingham represented the Midlands and Madness, Bad Manners and The Body snatchers from London.
The music was helped by cultural groups such as Rudies, Skinheads and Mods as they helped broaden the appeal with discos primarily playing 2 Tone and the old Jamaican ska.
The top 2 Tone singles in no particular order. Click on the artist to see the video. Enjoy!
Special AKA - Gangsters
Special AKA - Too Much Too Young
The Specials - Do Nothing
The Specials - Ghost Town
The Specials - Rat Race
Madness - The Prince
Madness - Madness
The Beat - Tears of a Clown
The Selector - On My Radio
The Body Snatchers - Lets do rocksteady
Recommended purchasing of 2 Tone Finest releases
The Specials - The Specials
The Specials - More Specials
Various - Dance Craze
The Selector - Too Much Pressure
Various - Two Much Two tone
Friday, November 4, 2011
80s Music Revisited: Should have been Number one!
80s Music Revisited: Should have been Number one!: The eighties is no different from any other decade on songs that should have been number one and a few that should not have reached the pinn...
Should have been Number one!
The eighties is no different from any other decade on songs that should have been number one and a few that should not have reached the pinnacle. I will do a countdown in my opinion the top 10 that should have reached the top but didn't due to a better song or in some cases a worse song. To watch the video and relive those moments click on the artist name and you will see the video via You Tube. Here Goes
10 - Heaven 17 Temptation
Sheffield band Heaven 17 released this in April 1983 and peaked at number two. It was taken form there album The Luxury Gap
9 - Kim Wilde Kids In America
The song was written by her brother Ricky and Father Marty and peaked at number two in January 1981. This song was her debut and unsurprisingly did very well in the USA.
8 - Yazoo Only You
Again peaked at number two in 1982. Was written by Vince Clarke whilst in Depeche Mode but they declined the song so Yazoo gained the success. The song did go number one but by the Flying Pickets.
7 - INXS Need you tonight
Peaked at number two in 1987 and was the fourth single release from the album Kick. A mix of electronic and rock and worked well.
6 - Salt n Pepa Push it
Originally a B side track was released in 1987 and peaked at number two for this up and coming Rap group.
5 - Cyndi Lauper Girls just wanna have fun
Although written by a man (Robert Hazard) this song became a feminist anthem and peaked at number two in 1983.
4 - New Order Blue Monday
Peaked at number three after release in 1983 but a club classic. The longest single in the charts at over 7 minutes and became the biggest selling 12" disc ever. It kept the Hacienda club financially straight.
3 - Ultravox Vienna
Peaked at Number Two in 1981 and was kept of the top by John Lennon Woman and Joe Dolce Shaddap your face. It was never destined to go to the top but still a top tune.
2 - Wham Last Christmas
The biggest selling single never to get to number one. It was kept of the top by Band Aid Do they know its Christmas.
1 - The Pogues Fairy tale of New York
Denied the top spot in 1987 by Pet Shop Boys Always on My mind. A classic tune including the late Kirsty MacColl on backing. A favourite at Christmas and its legacy continues.
10 - Heaven 17 Temptation
Sheffield band Heaven 17 released this in April 1983 and peaked at number two. It was taken form there album The Luxury Gap
9 - Kim Wilde Kids In America
The song was written by her brother Ricky and Father Marty and peaked at number two in January 1981. This song was her debut and unsurprisingly did very well in the USA.
8 - Yazoo Only You
Again peaked at number two in 1982. Was written by Vince Clarke whilst in Depeche Mode but they declined the song so Yazoo gained the success. The song did go number one but by the Flying Pickets.
7 - INXS Need you tonight
Peaked at number two in 1987 and was the fourth single release from the album Kick. A mix of electronic and rock and worked well.
6 - Salt n Pepa Push it
Originally a B side track was released in 1987 and peaked at number two for this up and coming Rap group.
5 - Cyndi Lauper Girls just wanna have fun
Although written by a man (Robert Hazard) this song became a feminist anthem and peaked at number two in 1983.
4 - New Order Blue Monday
Peaked at number three after release in 1983 but a club classic. The longest single in the charts at over 7 minutes and became the biggest selling 12" disc ever. It kept the Hacienda club financially straight.
3 - Ultravox Vienna
Peaked at Number Two in 1981 and was kept of the top by John Lennon Woman and Joe Dolce Shaddap your face. It was never destined to go to the top but still a top tune.
2 - Wham Last Christmas
The biggest selling single never to get to number one. It was kept of the top by Band Aid Do they know its Christmas.
1 - The Pogues Fairy tale of New York
Denied the top spot in 1987 by Pet Shop Boys Always on My mind. A classic tune including the late Kirsty MacColl on backing. A favourite at Christmas and its legacy continues.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
80s Music Revisited: 1989 Bubblegum Pop Rules
80s Music Revisited: 1989 Bubblegum Pop Rules: 1989 is obviously last in this particular decade and the news had its ups and downs. The Ayatollah Khomeini had a $3 million bounty on autho...
1989 Bubblegum Pop Rules
1989 is obviously last in this particular decade and the news had its ups and downs. The Ayatollah Khomeini had a $3 million bounty on author Salman Rushdie. 1989 saw the Hillsborough disaster where 96 Liverpool fans lost there lives at the Sheffield Ground. We also saw live coverage of the Tienanmen Square massacre in Beijing where protesters stood up to the Army amongst the biggest civil disturbance seen in China.
There was a disaster on the River Thames in London where 57 died when the Marchioness collides with a barge. 1998 also saw the release of the Guildford Four following there conviction on IRA bombings some 14 years previous.
Eastern Europe was also changing and Romania executed there dictator leader Nicolae Ceausescu and his wife Elena. Also the Berlin Wall was open for people to travel freely and was eventually knocked down by a united Germany.
The UK singles chart was monopolised by a group of producers who enjoyed 7 number ones in 1989. They were Stock Aitken and Waterman (SAW). There hit factory produced so much music that the charts were becoming there own.
Music was being categorised and with the advent of SAW, they could appeal to a broad market from young kids, teens, Mums and Grans. As a result the traditional group seem to be lost in the shake up and in fact in 1989 you could argue only 3 groups hit the top. The Bangles with Eternal Flame, New Kids on the Block with You got it and Simple Minds with there first UK number one single Belfast Child which went on for nearly 7 Minutes.
2 Dance collaborations also hit the top with Londons Soul to Soul melodic Back to Life and this was backed by Black Box Ride on time which went on to be the biggest selling single of 1989.
There were further gathering of the troupe's when Scouse Legends The Christians, Holly Johnson, Paul McCartney and Gerry Marsden went to the top with Ferry across the Mersey which was produced by SAW. Also Band Aid 2(effectively the new pop generation) released Do they know its Christmas which was produced by SAW also enjoyed the top spot. Also 1989 saw a group of musicians turn old 1950s music into the 1980's. Jive Bunny for there crimes released Swing the mood, That's what I like and Lets party and all went to the top but at least they gave SAW some competition.
Duets also enjoyed some success with Kylie and Jason heart warming Especially for you which went top and was produced by SAW. Also we saw the unusual combination of Marc Almond and Gene Pitney go top with something gotten hold of my heart. Although contrasting voices it did work and the public thought so.
The solo artists were to enjoy the lion share of the success. Jason Donovan Matched Jive bunny with 3 number ones with his Kylie duet under his belt he went on to record further success with Two many broken hearts and sealed with a kiss (produced by SAW). Kylie also had a top hit with Hand on your heart and the cheeky scouser Sonia also went to the top with You'll never stop me from loving you (Produced by..you guessed it SAW). Also Madonna endured a controversial year and it didn't help with the release of Like a prayer but she had the consolation it went to number one. Also Rochdale's Lisa Stansfield classic all around the world also enjoyed success at the top to cap a fine year and a definite change in music genre from the early eighties.
Did You Know?
James Brown got 6 years in Jail following a lengthy Police chase across two states.
Pepsi drops Madonna in following the release of the Like a Prayer promo. They feared religious groups would boycott Pepsi.
Sky TV launched.
Deaths in Music
Pete de Freitas the drummer with Echo and the Bunnymen died in a motorbike crash.
Irving Berlin the Composer and Lyricist died at the grand age of 101.
Alan Murphy the guitarist with bands such as Kate Bush, go west and Level 42 died of AIDS.
Ewan MacColl the folk singer and father of Kirsty died.
The album charts was the same as the singles as solo artists enjoyed large success. Roy Orbison legendary album kicked things off and other senior artists also enjoyed the number one accolade. Paul McCartney Flowers in the dirt and Tina Turner foreign affair struck one for the old brigade. The gravel voice of Chris Rea and his road to hell drove all the way to the top and Phil Collins but seriously also made a dent on the number one slot.
Holly Johnson debut album Blast did exactly that and went all the way. The second album is sometimes a problem if the first one was good. However, Tracey Chapman bucked the trend with Crossroads. The artist known as Prince at the time also went to the top with his Batman soundtrack. Gloria Estefan enjoyed the album chart top spot with not one but two albums. Anything for you and cuts both ways finding there way to coveted top spot. Jason Donovan was enjoying rich success and his album Ten Good Reasons enjoyed two spells at the top and was the biggest selling album of 1989.
The groups also had success and Erasure joined the Gloria Estefan bracket with two number one albums The Innocents and Wild. Manchester's Simply Red released A new flame and this album enjoyed three spells at the top during 1989. Another Mancunian band New Order recorded success with Technique. Established acts were not to be outdone. Simple Minds released Street Fighting Years and this went straight to number one, Queen the Miracle also went top and Eurythmics We too are one also went to one!
Fine young cannibals were moving dance floors and the raw and the cooked helped even the most wooden dancers to move there feet ( I include myself in that bracket). Tears for Fears were enjoying a purple patch and the songwriting was rewarded when the seeds of love went to number one.
Deacon Blue were just breaking into the mainstream and some catchy tunes helped the cause from the album When the world knows your name went to number one. Wendy James rebel look got her noticed and her band Transvision Vamp went to the top with the Velveteen album. The album number one saw two contrasting albums from London. Soul to Soul matched the single success with the Club classic album and the London stage cast went to the top with the Aspects of Love soundtrack. How could you define the eighties. I will try later on!
Recommended Listening/Purchasing
Cuts both ways - Gloria Estefan
Ten good Reasons - Jason Donovan
Technique - New Order
A new flame - Simply Red
When the world knows your name - Deacon Blue
Velveteen - Transvision Vamp
There was a disaster on the River Thames in London where 57 died when the Marchioness collides with a barge. 1998 also saw the release of the Guildford Four following there conviction on IRA bombings some 14 years previous.
Eastern Europe was also changing and Romania executed there dictator leader Nicolae Ceausescu and his wife Elena. Also the Berlin Wall was open for people to travel freely and was eventually knocked down by a united Germany.
The UK singles chart was monopolised by a group of producers who enjoyed 7 number ones in 1989. They were Stock Aitken and Waterman (SAW). There hit factory produced so much music that the charts were becoming there own.
Music was being categorised and with the advent of SAW, they could appeal to a broad market from young kids, teens, Mums and Grans. As a result the traditional group seem to be lost in the shake up and in fact in 1989 you could argue only 3 groups hit the top. The Bangles with Eternal Flame, New Kids on the Block with You got it and Simple Minds with there first UK number one single Belfast Child which went on for nearly 7 Minutes.
2 Dance collaborations also hit the top with Londons Soul to Soul melodic Back to Life and this was backed by Black Box Ride on time which went on to be the biggest selling single of 1989.
There were further gathering of the troupe's when Scouse Legends The Christians, Holly Johnson, Paul McCartney and Gerry Marsden went to the top with Ferry across the Mersey which was produced by SAW. Also Band Aid 2(effectively the new pop generation) released Do they know its Christmas which was produced by SAW also enjoyed the top spot. Also 1989 saw a group of musicians turn old 1950s music into the 1980's. Jive Bunny for there crimes released Swing the mood, That's what I like and Lets party and all went to the top but at least they gave SAW some competition.
Duets also enjoyed some success with Kylie and Jason heart warming Especially for you which went top and was produced by SAW. Also we saw the unusual combination of Marc Almond and Gene Pitney go top with something gotten hold of my heart. Although contrasting voices it did work and the public thought so.
The solo artists were to enjoy the lion share of the success. Jason Donovan Matched Jive bunny with 3 number ones with his Kylie duet under his belt he went on to record further success with Two many broken hearts and sealed with a kiss (produced by SAW). Kylie also had a top hit with Hand on your heart and the cheeky scouser Sonia also went to the top with You'll never stop me from loving you (Produced by..you guessed it SAW). Also Madonna endured a controversial year and it didn't help with the release of Like a prayer but she had the consolation it went to number one. Also Rochdale's Lisa Stansfield classic all around the world also enjoyed success at the top to cap a fine year and a definite change in music genre from the early eighties.
Did You Know?
James Brown got 6 years in Jail following a lengthy Police chase across two states.
Pepsi drops Madonna in following the release of the Like a Prayer promo. They feared religious groups would boycott Pepsi.
Sky TV launched.
Deaths in Music
Pete de Freitas the drummer with Echo and the Bunnymen died in a motorbike crash.
Irving Berlin the Composer and Lyricist died at the grand age of 101.
Alan Murphy the guitarist with bands such as Kate Bush, go west and Level 42 died of AIDS.
Ewan MacColl the folk singer and father of Kirsty died.
The album charts was the same as the singles as solo artists enjoyed large success. Roy Orbison legendary album kicked things off and other senior artists also enjoyed the number one accolade. Paul McCartney Flowers in the dirt and Tina Turner foreign affair struck one for the old brigade. The gravel voice of Chris Rea and his road to hell drove all the way to the top and Phil Collins but seriously also made a dent on the number one slot.
Holly Johnson debut album Blast did exactly that and went all the way. The second album is sometimes a problem if the first one was good. However, Tracey Chapman bucked the trend with Crossroads. The artist known as Prince at the time also went to the top with his Batman soundtrack. Gloria Estefan enjoyed the album chart top spot with not one but two albums. Anything for you and cuts both ways finding there way to coveted top spot. Jason Donovan was enjoying rich success and his album Ten Good Reasons enjoyed two spells at the top and was the biggest selling album of 1989.
The groups also had success and Erasure joined the Gloria Estefan bracket with two number one albums The Innocents and Wild. Manchester's Simply Red released A new flame and this album enjoyed three spells at the top during 1989. Another Mancunian band New Order recorded success with Technique. Established acts were not to be outdone. Simple Minds released Street Fighting Years and this went straight to number one, Queen the Miracle also went top and Eurythmics We too are one also went to one!
Fine young cannibals were moving dance floors and the raw and the cooked helped even the most wooden dancers to move there feet ( I include myself in that bracket). Tears for Fears were enjoying a purple patch and the songwriting was rewarded when the seeds of love went to number one.
Deacon Blue were just breaking into the mainstream and some catchy tunes helped the cause from the album When the world knows your name went to number one. Wendy James rebel look got her noticed and her band Transvision Vamp went to the top with the Velveteen album. The album number one saw two contrasting albums from London. Soul to Soul matched the single success with the Club classic album and the London stage cast went to the top with the Aspects of Love soundtrack. How could you define the eighties. I will try later on!
Recommended Listening/Purchasing
Cuts both ways - Gloria Estefan
Ten good Reasons - Jason Donovan
Technique - New Order
A new flame - Simply Red
When the world knows your name - Deacon Blue
Velveteen - Transvision Vamp
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
80s Music Revisited: 1988 Boys V Girls
80s Music Revisited: 1988 Boys V Girls: The news in 1988 saw Sue Lawley whilst reading the BBC news being attacked by protestors. 1988 also saw the launch of the perennial event th...
1988 Boys V Girls
The news in 1988 saw Sue Lawley whilst reading the BBC news being attacked by protestors. 1988 also saw the launch of the perennial event that is Red Nose Day. The author Salman Rushdie launched his book Satanic Verses and subsequently went into hiding.
We also saw the Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday concert at Wembley stadium, unfortunately Mr Mandela was still in prison at that time.
The year ended with several disasters. A 165 Oil workers were killed in a blast on the Piper Alpha platform in the North Sea. The Clapham Junction rail crash claimed 35 lives and injured 132 and the PAN AM flight 103 is blown up over lockerbie with 270 innocent victims taken.
In terms of the UK number ones, pop was making big strides and there were some notable achievements. Belinda Carlisle went top with Heaven is a place on earth and the American theme continued with Tiffany I think were alone now. The next inductee was The little actress from Neighbours Kylie Minogue who started a trend of Neighbours actors to grace the charts although not all at number one!! she went top with I should be so lucky. The boys were not to be outdone, Bros hit the top with I owe you nothing and Pet Shop Boys with Heart.
Dance was making an impact and some of those acts included a number one for S Express with S Express, the Timelords with doctorin the Tardis and Yazz and the plastic population with the feel good disco anthem The only way is up.
Reggae had a success in line of Aswad who scored there first number one with Don't turn around. In that bracket in terms of first number one Fairground Attraction went number one with there first release Perfect.
The Celtic influence was still making number one tunes. Scotland's Wet Wet Wet had a little help from my friends. The Irish had success with the haunting Orinocco Flow by Enya and U2 had there first UK number one single with Desire after many years of trying.
The UK desire for power ballads went into overdrive. Glenn Madeiros kicked the ball rolling with Nothing going to change my love for you. Phil Collins pushed it further with a groovy kind of love. The Hollies re-released He ain't heavy and two young ladies finished off the ballad section with Robin Beck First Time and Whitney Houston One moment in time. Plenty of wedding songs there for 1988!
To finish the year Cliff Richard topped the charts with the yuletide classic Mistletoe and Wine (the biggest selling single in 1988) and continuing his record of a number one in every decade since the 1950s! Absolute longevity and still going now.
Did you know?
Michael Jackson purchases a ranch in Santa Ynez, California and changes the name to Neverland.
Celine Dion wins the eurovision for Switzerland with ne partez pas sans moi.
Acid House music sweeps the UK in the second summer of love. The smiley logo is born. :-)
CD outsells vinyl for the first time.
Deaths in Music
Saw Andy Gibb the younger sibling of the BeeGees die very young. Also Divine the Singer and Drag Entertainer die before the Hairspray hit the theatres. Irish Folk Star Ciaran Bourke died after a long illness and the iconic Voice of Roy Orbison also passed away.
The album charts saw many successes. The HITS v NOW battle was fading as NOW 11,12 and 13 all tasted top table but also we saw two other compilations of Hot City Nights and Nite Flite also soar to the top.
Solo artists had great success with Terence Trent Darby the Hardline continuing. Also the Mancunian poet Morrisey went top with Viva Hate. Two Americans Prince (Lovesexy) and Tracey Chapman (Tracey Chapman) also enjoyed the fruits of the summer. Chris DeBurgh also had a spell with his Flying Colours and Cliff enjoyed a number one single and album with Private Collection ending a great year for the peter pan of pop.
British groups success was limited and the three lucky bands were Johnny Hates Jazz with Turn back the clock, Erasure The Innocents and Wet Wet Wet with the soulful Popped in and souled out.
Rock also enjoyed a renaissance amongst all the pop success. Iron Maiden thrusted there way with the Seventh son of a Seventh son. Dire straits Money for nothing made money for someone. Bon Jovi release of New Jersey also went top and U2 follow up to Joshua Tree was Rattle and Hum and this enjoyed a spell at the top to coincide with the release of the same title film.
Two artists had an album which had two separate spells at the top. First was Fleetwood Mac with Tango in the night and Kylie with The Album which went onto be the biggest selling album of 1988.
Recommended Listening/Purchasing
Viva Hate - Morrisey
Tracey Chapman - Tracey Chapman
Rattle and Hum - U2
New Jersey - Bon Jovi
Popped in and souled out - Wet Wet Wet
We also saw the Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday concert at Wembley stadium, unfortunately Mr Mandela was still in prison at that time.
The year ended with several disasters. A 165 Oil workers were killed in a blast on the Piper Alpha platform in the North Sea. The Clapham Junction rail crash claimed 35 lives and injured 132 and the PAN AM flight 103 is blown up over lockerbie with 270 innocent victims taken.
In terms of the UK number ones, pop was making big strides and there were some notable achievements. Belinda Carlisle went top with Heaven is a place on earth and the American theme continued with Tiffany I think were alone now. The next inductee was The little actress from Neighbours Kylie Minogue who started a trend of Neighbours actors to grace the charts although not all at number one!! she went top with I should be so lucky. The boys were not to be outdone, Bros hit the top with I owe you nothing and Pet Shop Boys with Heart.
Dance was making an impact and some of those acts included a number one for S Express with S Express, the Timelords with doctorin the Tardis and Yazz and the plastic population with the feel good disco anthem The only way is up.
Reggae had a success in line of Aswad who scored there first number one with Don't turn around. In that bracket in terms of first number one Fairground Attraction went number one with there first release Perfect.
The Celtic influence was still making number one tunes. Scotland's Wet Wet Wet had a little help from my friends. The Irish had success with the haunting Orinocco Flow by Enya and U2 had there first UK number one single with Desire after many years of trying.
The UK desire for power ballads went into overdrive. Glenn Madeiros kicked the ball rolling with Nothing going to change my love for you. Phil Collins pushed it further with a groovy kind of love. The Hollies re-released He ain't heavy and two young ladies finished off the ballad section with Robin Beck First Time and Whitney Houston One moment in time. Plenty of wedding songs there for 1988!
To finish the year Cliff Richard topped the charts with the yuletide classic Mistletoe and Wine (the biggest selling single in 1988) and continuing his record of a number one in every decade since the 1950s! Absolute longevity and still going now.
Did you know?
Michael Jackson purchases a ranch in Santa Ynez, California and changes the name to Neverland.
Celine Dion wins the eurovision for Switzerland with ne partez pas sans moi.
Acid House music sweeps the UK in the second summer of love. The smiley logo is born. :-)
CD outsells vinyl for the first time.
Deaths in Music
Saw Andy Gibb the younger sibling of the BeeGees die very young. Also Divine the Singer and Drag Entertainer die before the Hairspray hit the theatres. Irish Folk Star Ciaran Bourke died after a long illness and the iconic Voice of Roy Orbison also passed away.
The album charts saw many successes. The HITS v NOW battle was fading as NOW 11,12 and 13 all tasted top table but also we saw two other compilations of Hot City Nights and Nite Flite also soar to the top.
Solo artists had great success with Terence Trent Darby the Hardline continuing. Also the Mancunian poet Morrisey went top with Viva Hate. Two Americans Prince (Lovesexy) and Tracey Chapman (Tracey Chapman) also enjoyed the fruits of the summer. Chris DeBurgh also had a spell with his Flying Colours and Cliff enjoyed a number one single and album with Private Collection ending a great year for the peter pan of pop.
British groups success was limited and the three lucky bands were Johnny Hates Jazz with Turn back the clock, Erasure The Innocents and Wet Wet Wet with the soulful Popped in and souled out.
Rock also enjoyed a renaissance amongst all the pop success. Iron Maiden thrusted there way with the Seventh son of a Seventh son. Dire straits Money for nothing made money for someone. Bon Jovi release of New Jersey also went top and U2 follow up to Joshua Tree was Rattle and Hum and this enjoyed a spell at the top to coincide with the release of the same title film.
Two artists had an album which had two separate spells at the top. First was Fleetwood Mac with Tango in the night and Kylie with The Album which went onto be the biggest selling album of 1988.
Recommended Listening/Purchasing
Viva Hate - Morrisey
Tracey Chapman - Tracey Chapman
Rattle and Hum - U2
New Jersey - Bon Jovi
Popped in and souled out - Wet Wet Wet
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