35 years ago this week Joy Division completed the one and only promo video they made for the classic legendary song Love will Tear Us Apart.
The video was shot by the band themselves on the 28th April 1980 at TJ Davison studios where the band had previously rehearsed.
The video starts with singer Ian Curtis name carved on the door by an ex girlfriend who decided to send an abusive message as she knew they rehearsed there (the not nice words were etched out!).
The original production and sound was poor with some pictures etched in brown and the sync of the lyrics to video were noticeable but still it made this the more charming.
This was to be the last time the band would spend together as Ian took his life shortly after.
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
Thursday, March 12, 2015
Electric 80s
New Order - True Faith
The song was a big shift from there post punk days of the late 1970s as Joy division but the song showcased there talents on the electric dance scene. The song was released in 1987 and reached number 4 in the UK single charts and was there first song to hit the top 40 in America. The song was released as new material on there collection album 'substance' in 1987 and went on to become one of there famous songs. The video promo directed by Philippe Decoufle was a bizarre video with vibrant colours with dancers walking backwards and slapping each other furiously, it was compelling stuff. The song was written and produced by New Order and Stephen Hague and the song was released on the infamous Factory Records and assigned the FAC 183 label. A true classic song.
Ultravox - Vienna
Quite often a song comes along and for what ever reason although popular it never quite hits the top spot. Ultravox suffered that fate in 1981 where the song was number 2 for four weeks. It can be a combination of a better song or the British obsession with novelty records! unfortunately Ultravox suffered twice the first week to John Lennon and the next 3 weeks Joe Dolce 'shaddap your face'. The song was quite unique in it's sound with a mixture of Grand Piano, a deep synth bass and Viola solos in the middle. The song was based on the 1940s film 'The third man' which was based around the Austrian capital Vienna. This was reflected in the video the band produced which was very grandiose and suited the song. The song was written by all the Ultravox members and was produced by Conny Plank a famous German producer who worked with Kraftwerk and David Bowie amongst others. He was a big name in the synth electro sound and one Ultravox were keen to work with. The song is widely regarded as the anthem for the new romantic/synth pop era in the early 1980s and the song epitomised the new scene of music in the 1980s. The success helped encourage many more bands such as Depeche Mode to dominate the charts.
Lotus Eaters - The first picture of you
Lotus Eaters were a new wave synth band from Liverpool formed in the early 1980s. They shot to prominence after singing this song on BBC Radio 1 John Peel Sessions. The song sparked a plethora of record labels wanting to sign them up. They eventually signed to Arista Records and the song was produced by Nigel Gray who worked with the Police and Siouxsie and the Banshees. In 1983 the song received more radio air play than any other song that year. The song peaked at number 15 in the UK singles chart and the song is still played today for it's ambient sound which is easy on the ear for Radio. A true classic electric sound.
Tears for Fears - Mad World
This song in late 1982 took the charts by storm and peaked at number 3 in the UK charts and shot the band into the mainstream. The song was to be a b side to 'Pale Shelter' but decided it give its own life and what a masterstroke it was. The song was produced by Chris Hughes ex-Adam and the ants drummer and was written by Roland Orzabel about his images and dreams of his world. The promo video was a gloomy affair with Curt Smith trying to escape a room but was punctuated with the bizarre dance of Roland near the lake. The song was a popular one of the 1980s and can be seen on most compilations. The song was rejuvenated in 2003 when a remake for the Donnie Darko film saw the song become a Christmas Number One. A true classic synth/gloom song.
A flock of Seagulls - Wishing (If I had a photograph of you)
Possibly without sounding too hyped one of the all time classic new wave synth sounds of the early 1980s. This band from Liverpool scored there only top 10 UK hit with this gem. The song was released from the album Listen and was produced by the fijian maestro Mike Howlett who had success with OMD, Joan Armatrading, Gang of Four and Martha and the Muffins amongst others. The song was very heavily synth and became popular in the UK around that time and the success of this song was as good as it got for the Flocks but definitely opened the door for others to take on. such was it popularity it was heavily played on MTV early days due to it's futuristic appeal. The song was also voted in BBC Radio 6 2006 poll as the 2nd most popular synth song ever only beaten by Tubeway Army 'are friends electric?'. That gives you the measure of the song.
Art of Noise - Close (to the edit)
This innovative band became one of the best respected synth pop bands of its generation. The release of Close shown the full use of electronic music with sampling. Signed to ZTT records the founders of this label found time to form a four piece band and produce some classic material. The song was written and produced by Art of Noise in particular the key members were Trevor Horn and Paul Morley and the song became the first of three top 10 entries in the UK singles chart. The song was infamous for it's various remixes and was originally the unedited part of the earlier single 'Beat Box' but this song went onto become more successful.
Visage - Fade to Grey
Another classic electric song from the synthpop generation. Visage released this song late 1980 and the song went on to become a dance floor hit in the UK reaching the top 10 and was number one in various charts across Europe. The song was released on Polydor records around the same time as the album was released and was written and produced by Visage. Although the writing credits were given to Billy Currie, Chris Payne and Midge Ure. The French Lyrics were performed by Brigitte Arens who was Rusty Egan's girlfriend at the time. The song was also noted for it's video promo which featured the singer Steve Strange body being covered in paint and featured his friend Julia Fodor miming the French lyrics. The video was produced and directed by Godley & Crème. A true classic song which embraced the electric and euro pop feel and the song still holds relevance now.
Frankie goes to Hollywood - Relax
If there was one single that gained controversy in the 1980s then this was the one. It was the bands first single release and it didn't make much impact when released but when Radio One DJ Mike Read and the BBC refused to play the song for it's sexual nature and subsequently banned it, the song rose up the charts and reached number 1. Such was it's popularity it sold over 2 million copies and was the seventh best selling single in the UK. The song was pretty much in the charts for over a year and when they released there second single Two Tribes, Relax got another surge and was number 2! The band played the song originally on Channel 4 The Tube and a certain producer Trevor Horn saw this and signed them to ZTT records which he co owned with Paul Morley. He set to work on this and produced a more slick electronic sound. Once produced Paul Morley set to work on the marketing side where the Relax t-shirts etc..became the norm. Soon everyone heard of Frankie Goes to Hollywood.
David Bowie - Ashes to Ashes
This was a classic gem released in 1980 and was successful in its sound and the video promo that accompanied the song. The song was based on Major Tom who featured in his earlier work on space oddity. The song was a huge hit and reached number 1 on the UK single charts. It was released on RCA records and was produced as well by Bowie and his long time producer Tiny Visconti. The video was very iconic for the 1980s with Bowie in a Pierrot costume and leading certain group of new romantics including Steve Strange of the London Blitz kids. The video at the time cost over £250,000 and incorporated many visuals that were unusual at the time such as solarised colours. The song and video were a major influence on the New Romantic scene that followed shortly after. A true classic song.
Falco - Rock Me Amadeus
This song became the first German speaking song to hit number one in the UK and USA singles charts. Released in 1985 this Austrian artist enjoyed great success in Europe mainland but the UK and America was a little difficult but this tribute to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart seemed to do the trick. On the back of this the Video was a great eye catcher showing Falco as Amadeus through the times in a formal jacket to the wacky pink wig with a modern crowd of bikers mixing with 18th century patrons. Weird but it worked somehow! The Song was written by Falco and his Dutch pals the Bolland Brothers. The song has been proved popular in recent polls about the best of the 1980s and the song has really stood the test of time.
Belouis Some - Imagination
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This little gem became a huge hit for Belouis Some in 1986 after being re-released following disappointment in 1985. The song reached number 17 in the UK charts and reached the top 100 in America. Released on Parlophone records it was written by Belouis and produced by Thompson and Barbiero who had worked with the likes of Metallica, Madonna, Korn and Public enemy amongst others. The song was noted for it's video which featured nudity and caused controversy in many corners but this seemed to add fuel to the sales of the song as well as sound which proved popular on radio and the dance floor.
Simple Minds - Promised you a Miracle
This was the bands first commercial breakthrough in 1982 and peaked at number 13 in the UK charts. The song was released from the New Gold Dream album and the song help trigger a long sustained attack on the charts right up to the mid 1990s. This song and the album saw a move away towards to the electronic dance and the song was noted for it's electronic keyboard beat from Mick Macneill and combined with the deft riffs on guitar by Charlie Burchill. The song was released on Virgin and was written by Simple Minds and Produced by Pete Walsh and many critics defined this song as one of the bands most complete sounds. A true gem.
Kraftwerk - The Model
These guys were the originators of the electronic based sound. Starting in the early 1970s they produced some of the most innovative work on the music scene. Originally written and recorded in the late seventies by Hutter, Bartos and Schultz, the song went onto be number one in the UK in 1982 by a bizarre Circumstance. The song was released as a b side to 'Computer Love' in 1981 and the song reached the top 30 in the UK. However, DJ's and Radio were more interested in the B side and as a result EMI released it as a stand alone single and the song reached number one as a consequence. The song was released against the bands wishes and as a result the band rarely perform this song. That said the song put Kraftwerk in to many people conscience and a true electronic classic.
ABC - the look of love
This band broke onto the mainstream from the Sheffield electric scene in the early 1980s. They were led by lead singer Martin Fry and the above song came off there debut album The Lexicon of Love. The song was on Mercury records and was produced by the legendary Trevor Horn and the song reached number 4 in the UK singles charts. This proved to be the bands biggest hit. The video promo also got heavy airplay on MTV and featured the old British scenes of Carnivals and Puppet shows. The Video also featured cameos from Trevor Horn and journo Paul Morley who later formed ZTT records and Art of Noise.
Howard Jones - What is Love?
This synth pop legend enjoyed a huge amount of success in the early 1980s and this song peaked at number two in the UK singles charts. It also enjoyed a Top 40 entry on the American charts. The song came of the critically acclaimed album Human's Lib. The song released on WEA records and was written by Howard and Bill Bryant and this saw a period of success for Howard with synth pop classics.
OMD - Maid of Orleans (Waltz of Joan of Arc)
OMD were a top class synth band from Liverpool with McCluskey and Humphries referred to as the Lennon- McCartney of the synth world. This particular song came from there successful album Architecture and Morality. This song release came on the back of the previous single Joan of Arc and this song was also a tribute to the lady. Maid of Orleans faired better in the charts in the UK although both songs did reach the top 5. The song was written to celebrate the 550th birthday of Joan of Arc and was prominently a instrumental song featuring bagpipes, violins and a choir to give it a electro ambient sound. The video promo was directed by Steve Barron who directed memorable videos for Michael Jackson and A-ha and Joan was played by Julia Tobin who at the time worked for the RSC. The song was written and produced by OMD and was released on the DinDisc label. The song reached number 4 in the UK charts and remains one of the best pieces of music during the synth explosion in the early 1980s.
The song was a big shift from there post punk days of the late 1970s as Joy division but the song showcased there talents on the electric dance scene. The song was released in 1987 and reached number 4 in the UK single charts and was there first song to hit the top 40 in America. The song was released as new material on there collection album 'substance' in 1987 and went on to become one of there famous songs. The video promo directed by Philippe Decoufle was a bizarre video with vibrant colours with dancers walking backwards and slapping each other furiously, it was compelling stuff. The song was written and produced by New Order and Stephen Hague and the song was released on the infamous Factory Records and assigned the FAC 183 label. A true classic song.
Ultravox - Vienna
Quite often a song comes along and for what ever reason although popular it never quite hits the top spot. Ultravox suffered that fate in 1981 where the song was number 2 for four weeks. It can be a combination of a better song or the British obsession with novelty records! unfortunately Ultravox suffered twice the first week to John Lennon and the next 3 weeks Joe Dolce 'shaddap your face'. The song was quite unique in it's sound with a mixture of Grand Piano, a deep synth bass and Viola solos in the middle. The song was based on the 1940s film 'The third man' which was based around the Austrian capital Vienna. This was reflected in the video the band produced which was very grandiose and suited the song. The song was written by all the Ultravox members and was produced by Conny Plank a famous German producer who worked with Kraftwerk and David Bowie amongst others. He was a big name in the synth electro sound and one Ultravox were keen to work with. The song is widely regarded as the anthem for the new romantic/synth pop era in the early 1980s and the song epitomised the new scene of music in the 1980s. The success helped encourage many more bands such as Depeche Mode to dominate the charts.
Lotus Eaters - The first picture of you
Lotus Eaters were a new wave synth band from Liverpool formed in the early 1980s. They shot to prominence after singing this song on BBC Radio 1 John Peel Sessions. The song sparked a plethora of record labels wanting to sign them up. They eventually signed to Arista Records and the song was produced by Nigel Gray who worked with the Police and Siouxsie and the Banshees. In 1983 the song received more radio air play than any other song that year. The song peaked at number 15 in the UK singles chart and the song is still played today for it's ambient sound which is easy on the ear for Radio. A true classic electric sound.
Tears for Fears - Mad World
This song in late 1982 took the charts by storm and peaked at number 3 in the UK charts and shot the band into the mainstream. The song was to be a b side to 'Pale Shelter' but decided it give its own life and what a masterstroke it was. The song was produced by Chris Hughes ex-Adam and the ants drummer and was written by Roland Orzabel about his images and dreams of his world. The promo video was a gloomy affair with Curt Smith trying to escape a room but was punctuated with the bizarre dance of Roland near the lake. The song was a popular one of the 1980s and can be seen on most compilations. The song was rejuvenated in 2003 when a remake for the Donnie Darko film saw the song become a Christmas Number One. A true classic synth/gloom song.
A flock of Seagulls - Wishing (If I had a photograph of you)
Possibly without sounding too hyped one of the all time classic new wave synth sounds of the early 1980s. This band from Liverpool scored there only top 10 UK hit with this gem. The song was released from the album Listen and was produced by the fijian maestro Mike Howlett who had success with OMD, Joan Armatrading, Gang of Four and Martha and the Muffins amongst others. The song was very heavily synth and became popular in the UK around that time and the success of this song was as good as it got for the Flocks but definitely opened the door for others to take on. such was it popularity it was heavily played on MTV early days due to it's futuristic appeal. The song was also voted in BBC Radio 6 2006 poll as the 2nd most popular synth song ever only beaten by Tubeway Army 'are friends electric?'. That gives you the measure of the song.
Art of Noise - Close (to the edit)
This innovative band became one of the best respected synth pop bands of its generation. The release of Close shown the full use of electronic music with sampling. Signed to ZTT records the founders of this label found time to form a four piece band and produce some classic material. The song was written and produced by Art of Noise in particular the key members were Trevor Horn and Paul Morley and the song became the first of three top 10 entries in the UK singles chart. The song was infamous for it's various remixes and was originally the unedited part of the earlier single 'Beat Box' but this song went onto become more successful.
Visage - Fade to Grey
Another classic electric song from the synthpop generation. Visage released this song late 1980 and the song went on to become a dance floor hit in the UK reaching the top 10 and was number one in various charts across Europe. The song was released on Polydor records around the same time as the album was released and was written and produced by Visage. Although the writing credits were given to Billy Currie, Chris Payne and Midge Ure. The French Lyrics were performed by Brigitte Arens who was Rusty Egan's girlfriend at the time. The song was also noted for it's video promo which featured the singer Steve Strange body being covered in paint and featured his friend Julia Fodor miming the French lyrics. The video was produced and directed by Godley & Crème. A true classic song which embraced the electric and euro pop feel and the song still holds relevance now.
Frankie goes to Hollywood - Relax
If there was one single that gained controversy in the 1980s then this was the one. It was the bands first single release and it didn't make much impact when released but when Radio One DJ Mike Read and the BBC refused to play the song for it's sexual nature and subsequently banned it, the song rose up the charts and reached number 1. Such was it's popularity it sold over 2 million copies and was the seventh best selling single in the UK. The song was pretty much in the charts for over a year and when they released there second single Two Tribes, Relax got another surge and was number 2! The band played the song originally on Channel 4 The Tube and a certain producer Trevor Horn saw this and signed them to ZTT records which he co owned with Paul Morley. He set to work on this and produced a more slick electronic sound. Once produced Paul Morley set to work on the marketing side where the Relax t-shirts etc..became the norm. Soon everyone heard of Frankie Goes to Hollywood.
David Bowie - Ashes to Ashes
This was a classic gem released in 1980 and was successful in its sound and the video promo that accompanied the song. The song was based on Major Tom who featured in his earlier work on space oddity. The song was a huge hit and reached number 1 on the UK single charts. It was released on RCA records and was produced as well by Bowie and his long time producer Tiny Visconti. The video was very iconic for the 1980s with Bowie in a Pierrot costume and leading certain group of new romantics including Steve Strange of the London Blitz kids. The video at the time cost over £250,000 and incorporated many visuals that were unusual at the time such as solarised colours. The song and video were a major influence on the New Romantic scene that followed shortly after. A true classic song.
Falco - Rock Me Amadeus
This song became the first German speaking song to hit number one in the UK and USA singles charts. Released in 1985 this Austrian artist enjoyed great success in Europe mainland but the UK and America was a little difficult but this tribute to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart seemed to do the trick. On the back of this the Video was a great eye catcher showing Falco as Amadeus through the times in a formal jacket to the wacky pink wig with a modern crowd of bikers mixing with 18th century patrons. Weird but it worked somehow! The Song was written by Falco and his Dutch pals the Bolland Brothers. The song has been proved popular in recent polls about the best of the 1980s and the song has really stood the test of time.
Belouis Some - Imagination
#
This little gem became a huge hit for Belouis Some in 1986 after being re-released following disappointment in 1985. The song reached number 17 in the UK charts and reached the top 100 in America. Released on Parlophone records it was written by Belouis and produced by Thompson and Barbiero who had worked with the likes of Metallica, Madonna, Korn and Public enemy amongst others. The song was noted for it's video which featured nudity and caused controversy in many corners but this seemed to add fuel to the sales of the song as well as sound which proved popular on radio and the dance floor.
Simple Minds - Promised you a Miracle
This was the bands first commercial breakthrough in 1982 and peaked at number 13 in the UK charts. The song was released from the New Gold Dream album and the song help trigger a long sustained attack on the charts right up to the mid 1990s. This song and the album saw a move away towards to the electronic dance and the song was noted for it's electronic keyboard beat from Mick Macneill and combined with the deft riffs on guitar by Charlie Burchill. The song was released on Virgin and was written by Simple Minds and Produced by Pete Walsh and many critics defined this song as one of the bands most complete sounds. A true gem.
Kraftwerk - The Model
These guys were the originators of the electronic based sound. Starting in the early 1970s they produced some of the most innovative work on the music scene. Originally written and recorded in the late seventies by Hutter, Bartos and Schultz, the song went onto be number one in the UK in 1982 by a bizarre Circumstance. The song was released as a b side to 'Computer Love' in 1981 and the song reached the top 30 in the UK. However, DJ's and Radio were more interested in the B side and as a result EMI released it as a stand alone single and the song reached number one as a consequence. The song was released against the bands wishes and as a result the band rarely perform this song. That said the song put Kraftwerk in to many people conscience and a true electronic classic.
ABC - the look of love
This band broke onto the mainstream from the Sheffield electric scene in the early 1980s. They were led by lead singer Martin Fry and the above song came off there debut album The Lexicon of Love. The song was on Mercury records and was produced by the legendary Trevor Horn and the song reached number 4 in the UK singles charts. This proved to be the bands biggest hit. The video promo also got heavy airplay on MTV and featured the old British scenes of Carnivals and Puppet shows. The Video also featured cameos from Trevor Horn and journo Paul Morley who later formed ZTT records and Art of Noise.
Howard Jones - What is Love?
This synth pop legend enjoyed a huge amount of success in the early 1980s and this song peaked at number two in the UK singles charts. It also enjoyed a Top 40 entry on the American charts. The song came of the critically acclaimed album Human's Lib. The song released on WEA records and was written by Howard and Bill Bryant and this saw a period of success for Howard with synth pop classics.
OMD - Maid of Orleans (Waltz of Joan of Arc)
OMD were a top class synth band from Liverpool with McCluskey and Humphries referred to as the Lennon- McCartney of the synth world. This particular song came from there successful album Architecture and Morality. This song release came on the back of the previous single Joan of Arc and this song was also a tribute to the lady. Maid of Orleans faired better in the charts in the UK although both songs did reach the top 5. The song was written to celebrate the 550th birthday of Joan of Arc and was prominently a instrumental song featuring bagpipes, violins and a choir to give it a electro ambient sound. The video promo was directed by Steve Barron who directed memorable videos for Michael Jackson and A-ha and Joan was played by Julia Tobin who at the time worked for the RSC. The song was written and produced by OMD and was released on the DinDisc label. The song reached number 4 in the UK charts and remains one of the best pieces of music during the synth explosion in the early 1980s.
Classic 80s singles
Joy Division - Love will tear us apart
A song that was written in 1979 by post punk band Joy Division but was released in April 1980 following the death of lead singer Ian Curtis. The lyrics written by Ian were about his marital issues with wife Deborah and the struggles they had. Following Ian's death, Deborah had the title inscribed on his tombstone. The single reached number 13 in the UK singles chart. The song was recorded for the BBC radio show John Peel Sessions and was then re-recorded for a single release. It is one of the few songs that Ian Curtis played an instrument on, in this he played Guitar. The track was produced by Martin Hannett whose legendary production skills were being courted by many including a youthful band by the name of U2. Although the song in the UK never reached the top 10 it has been recognised as a popular and influential song. It's true legacy is that in the NME poll it was the best single of all time in 2002. To further cement this earlier this year in NME 60th anniversary it was named as top song in the best 100 songs over the last 60 years. It's a song that has been recorded by many artists in differing guises such is the popularity of the song. The remaining members of Joy Division who later went on to reform as New Order never played that song until they were inaugurated into the rock and roll hall of fame. Following that they went onto play more of the Joy Division set. It is one of those songs that has had a profound effect on the music scene and one that never gets tired of hearing.
To get the download from Amazon
The Specials - Ghost Town
The song was released in 1981 just as the band were about to go through a reorganisation they hit number one in the summer of 1981. The song described the issues that were going on in Britain such as unemployment, nationalisation, urban decay. There was inner city violence and the song aptly described Britain very well. The song was written by keyboardist Jerry Dammers who took into account a number of issues that Britain was facing and the song became a story for what the British public was facing. The song was produced by unknown John Collins who managed to produce that eerie ghost sound using the traditional synthesiser which was used at the beginning and end of the song. The song reached number one and stayed there for 3 weeks and was the band's most important contribution in there short existence but what an important message it sent. The cover of the single featured the iconic two skeletons sitting on a chair with one playing a piano. The video featured the band driving in a car around the empty urban streets of London. There was nothing fancy but it depicted the mood of the country and will remain an illustration of what was going on in Britain.
To download the tune
Ultravox - Vienna
Quite often a song comes along and for what ever reason although popular it never quite hits the top spot. Ultravox suffered that fate in 1981 where the song was number 2 for four weeks. It can be a combination of a better song or the British obsession with novelty records! unfortunatly Ultravox suffered twice the first week to John Lennon and the next 3 weeks Joe Dolce 'shaddap your face'. The song was quite unique in it's sound with a mixture of Grand Piano, a deep synth bass and Viola solos in the middle. The song was based on the 1940s film 'The third man' which was based around the Austrian capital Vienna. This was reflected in the video the band produced which was very grandiose and suited the song. The song was written by all the Ultravox members and was produced by Conny Plank a famous German producer who worked with Kraftwerk and David Bowie amongst others. He was a big name in the synth electro sound and one Ultravox were keen to work with. The song is widely regarded as the anthem for the new romantic/synth pop era in the early 1980s and the song epitomised the new scene of music in the 1980s. The success helped encourage many more bands such as Depeche Mode to dominate the charts.
Down load the tune
Frankie goes to Hollywood - Relax
If there was one single that gained controversy in the 1980s then this was the one. It was the bands first single release and it didn't make much impact when released but when Radio One DJ Mike Read and the BBC refused to play the song for it's sexual natureand subsequently banned it, the song rose up the charts and reached number 1. Such was it's popularity it sold over 2 million copies and was the seventh best selling single in the UK. The song was pretty much in the charts for over a year and when they released there second single Two Tribes, Relax got another surge and was number 2! The band played the song orginally on Channel 4 The Tube and a certain producer Trevor Horn saw this and signed them to ZTT records which he co owned with Paul Morley. He set to work on this and produced a more slick electronic sound. Once produced Paul Morley set to work on the marketing side where the Relax t-shirts etc..became the norm. Soon everyone heard of Frankie Goes to Hollywood.
To download the single
Alexander O'Neal - Fake
During the late 1980s there was a real surge in the R n B genre and there was no bigger character at the time than Alexander O'neal. He initially made his name as a backing singer and worked with the likes of Prince. He made a real impact when he duetted with Cherelle on Saturday Love. This thrusted him into the market and soon the release of his legendary album Hearsay would soon be in every home. One of the biggest singles was Fake which went to number one in America and hit number four in the UK. This was his only solo top 10 hit in the UK. The song was written and produced by James Harris and Terry Lewis on the Tabu label. The song was a relentless heavy percussioned bass song which became very friendly on the radio as well as the club scene. That was the peak for Alex on the singles charts but never the less made a contribution that wasto make RnB one of the most succesful genres of music in the decades to follow. To download the track
Dexy's Midnight runners - Come on Eileen
If there is one song that sums up the 1980s then this would one of the main tracks. A classic dancefloor filler with Celtic fused foot stomping sound that can get the most non conformist to dance. The song was released in 1982 and stormed it's way to the top and gave the band there 2nd number one in 3 years. The song was written by lead singer kevin Rowland, Jim Paterson and Billy Adams. It was released on the Mercury label and was produced by the Langley/winstanley co-op. The song started with folk sound and built up to a crescendo of foot stomping drumming over a bass line. A true disco floor classic. Also the song was famously renowned for its video, where the band wore Dungarees with no shirts. The Eileen featured in the video and the record sleeve was Maire Fahey who was the sister of Siobhan who was in Bananarama at the time. The song has sold 1.3 million copies and won the BRIT award in 1983 for the best single. To download the track Adam and the Ants - Stand and Deliver
At the height of there power the ants released a track from there album Prince Charming called Stand and Deliver. The single went straight into number 1 and stayed there 5 weeks. The song was released on the CBS label and the song was written by Ant and Pirroni and was produced by Chris Hughes. The song was famous more for it's video which featured Adam Ant as the dandy highwayman and the words stand and deliver was a common phrase for highwaymen. The single sold in excess of 1 million copies amd was easily there best selling single during there short life. To download the single Madness - Baggy Trousers
There was no band more productive in the 1980s than the Nutty Boys in terms of singles and weeks in the chart. One of there most famous singles was Baggy Trousers released in 1980. Madness had just signed to Stiff Records and released the album 'Absolutely' as follow up to 'One Step beyond' and the single Baggy trousers was released in September 1980. The song was written by Suggs and Chris Foreman and was about there schooldays in North London. The song spent 20 weeks in the charts and peaked at number 3 in the charts and was officially the 11th best selling single of 1980. The song would be best remembered for the video that accompained the song. It was shot in Kentish Town and showed sax player Lee Thompson hoisted in the air by a crane playing the saxophone. As a consequence of there wacky videos, they became more popular and every Madness single released was greeted with what the video would be like. The song is a very high paced which last just under 3 minutes but the band tweaked it for a well known beer advert in 2011 where they slowed the song right down and that version became very popular as the original. The song was produced by the duo Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley who worked a lot on the early Madness material.
To download the single
The Cars - Drive
This was a classic ballad song from the 1980s just when the ballad era was beginning to take hold on the singles and album charts. The song was released in 1984 and was on there album 'Heartbeat City' and the song proved to be there biggest hit worldwide. the song was written by band member Ric Ocasek and was produced by the legendary Mutt Lange who produced for Def Leppard, AC/DC and Nickelback amongst others and was released on the Elektra record label. The song initially eaked at number 5 in 1984 but the song took an unexpected twist a year later when at the Live Aid concert the song was used as a background montage showing the stricken famine in Africa. The interest in the song developed and the song peaked at number 4 in the charts. This proved to be the last song that made an entry on the charts but what a memorable song. To download the song, click below The Bangles - Manic Monday
Another classic ballady song sung by an all American girl group but the song was written by none other than Prince. Prince had written the song in 1984 which was intended for someone else but the Bangles got the nod in 1986 and was the first release from there second album 'different light'. The song was released on Columbia records and was produced by David Kahne who had previous with Paul McCartney, New Order and Linkin Park amongst others. The song peaked at number 2 in the USA and UK charts but ironically was kept off the top spot in America by Prince with his hit 'Kiss'. One of there most famous hits and only really eclipsed by 'eternal Flame' which hit the top spot both sides of the pond.
To download the tune, click below
Depeche Mode - New Life
New Life was the second single released by Depeche Mode and the song was a huge hit. The song was written by Vince Clarke before his departure from the band and he did feature on the track. The song was released in June 1981 and it began to gain popularity when the band appeared on Top of the Pops. That appearance was the breakthrough the band needed and the single peaked at number 11 in the UK charts. The song was produced by the band and Dan Miller who was the founder of Mute records. Still one of there popular songs and was generally regarded as one the front runners of the synth pop explosion.
To download the tune, click below
Kim Wilde - Kids in America
Like a bolt from the blue this young lady came onto the scene in 1981 on the wave of the synth pop/new wave era. The song was very much a family affair. Kim Wilde brother Ricky who had flirted with pop fame a few years earlier had done the music work for this and enlisted the help of his dad Marty who himself was a pop star in the 1950s/1960s to write the lyrics. The track was also produced by Ricky on the RAK label and the single released as Kim Wilde the solo artist. The song was a huge hit in the UK and peaked at number two in the UK singles charts only kept of the top by Shakin Stevens This Ole House and the song hit the top 30 in America a year later. Kim Wilde rock chick appeal ensured the song had a lasting appeal along with the video promo that went with it. The song has been covered by many including Nirvana, Bloodhound Gang to Atomic Kitten and One Direction. A right mix of genres.
To download the tune, click below
Fiction Factory - Feels like Heaven
Released in 1983 on the back of the rise of new wave and this Scottish band were one of the early movers in the synth era with this classic song. The song was written by lead singer Kevin Patterson and keyboardist Eddie Jordan and the song reached number 6 in the UK single charts. The band also produced the track and was released on CBS records. This was as good as it got for the band as subsequent album and single releases failed to dent the charts in the UK and the band then called it a day. However, this gem they left was well worth it as the song is featured heavily on many 1980 compilations.
The Adventures - Broken Land
The Adventures were a Northern Irish Pop rock band who found some limited fame in the late 1980s. The band moved to London after being backed by the pop mogul Simon Fuller and the release of the album 'Sea of love' proved to be the catalyst the band needed. The album performed well and broke into the top 30 in the UK album charts but the lead single was a classic. The release of 'Broken Land' was well received and peaked at number 20 in the charts and was reported to be the most played song on BBC Radio 1 during 1988. The song was written by the guitarist Pat Gribben and produced by Garry Bell on Elektra Records and the song spent 10 weeks on the UK charts before disappearing. Following singles released proved a bit harder to follow with not one denting the top 40 but they can be pleased with this Jewell they released.
To download the tune, click below
Roxy Music - Jealous Guy
There are certain groups and artistes one should avoid when doing covers. The Beatles and John Lennon would be a case in point. Roxy Music did that and put there own unique style to a John Lennon song from the 1970s and transformed the song and earned a number one spot in the UK. The song was recorded and released as a tribute to John Lennon who was murdered in 1980. The song was released on Polydor records and was produced by Bryan Ferry and Rhett Davies. The song was very popular and became one of Roxy Music famous hits. The band also appeared at Live Aid in 1985 and showcased this song. A true classic song with full of emotion in a wonderful tribute to John Lennon. One of the rare occasion where a cover has been fully justified.
A song that was written in 1979 by post punk band Joy Division but was released in April 1980 following the death of lead singer Ian Curtis. The lyrics written by Ian were about his marital issues with wife Deborah and the struggles they had. Following Ian's death, Deborah had the title inscribed on his tombstone. The single reached number 13 in the UK singles chart. The song was recorded for the BBC radio show John Peel Sessions and was then re-recorded for a single release. It is one of the few songs that Ian Curtis played an instrument on, in this he played Guitar. The track was produced by Martin Hannett whose legendary production skills were being courted by many including a youthful band by the name of U2. Although the song in the UK never reached the top 10 it has been recognised as a popular and influential song. It's true legacy is that in the NME poll it was the best single of all time in 2002. To further cement this earlier this year in NME 60th anniversary it was named as top song in the best 100 songs over the last 60 years. It's a song that has been recorded by many artists in differing guises such is the popularity of the song. The remaining members of Joy Division who later went on to reform as New Order never played that song until they were inaugurated into the rock and roll hall of fame. Following that they went onto play more of the Joy Division set. It is one of those songs that has had a profound effect on the music scene and one that never gets tired of hearing.
To get the download from Amazon
The Specials - Ghost Town
The song was released in 1981 just as the band were about to go through a reorganisation they hit number one in the summer of 1981. The song described the issues that were going on in Britain such as unemployment, nationalisation, urban decay. There was inner city violence and the song aptly described Britain very well. The song was written by keyboardist Jerry Dammers who took into account a number of issues that Britain was facing and the song became a story for what the British public was facing. The song was produced by unknown John Collins who managed to produce that eerie ghost sound using the traditional synthesiser which was used at the beginning and end of the song. The song reached number one and stayed there for 3 weeks and was the band's most important contribution in there short existence but what an important message it sent. The cover of the single featured the iconic two skeletons sitting on a chair with one playing a piano. The video featured the band driving in a car around the empty urban streets of London. There was nothing fancy but it depicted the mood of the country and will remain an illustration of what was going on in Britain.
To download the tune
Ultravox - Vienna
Quite often a song comes along and for what ever reason although popular it never quite hits the top spot. Ultravox suffered that fate in 1981 where the song was number 2 for four weeks. It can be a combination of a better song or the British obsession with novelty records! unfortunatly Ultravox suffered twice the first week to John Lennon and the next 3 weeks Joe Dolce 'shaddap your face'. The song was quite unique in it's sound with a mixture of Grand Piano, a deep synth bass and Viola solos in the middle. The song was based on the 1940s film 'The third man' which was based around the Austrian capital Vienna. This was reflected in the video the band produced which was very grandiose and suited the song. The song was written by all the Ultravox members and was produced by Conny Plank a famous German producer who worked with Kraftwerk and David Bowie amongst others. He was a big name in the synth electro sound and one Ultravox were keen to work with. The song is widely regarded as the anthem for the new romantic/synth pop era in the early 1980s and the song epitomised the new scene of music in the 1980s. The success helped encourage many more bands such as Depeche Mode to dominate the charts.
Down load the tune
Frankie goes to Hollywood - Relax
If there was one single that gained controversy in the 1980s then this was the one. It was the bands first single release and it didn't make much impact when released but when Radio One DJ Mike Read and the BBC refused to play the song for it's sexual natureand subsequently banned it, the song rose up the charts and reached number 1. Such was it's popularity it sold over 2 million copies and was the seventh best selling single in the UK. The song was pretty much in the charts for over a year and when they released there second single Two Tribes, Relax got another surge and was number 2! The band played the song orginally on Channel 4 The Tube and a certain producer Trevor Horn saw this and signed them to ZTT records which he co owned with Paul Morley. He set to work on this and produced a more slick electronic sound. Once produced Paul Morley set to work on the marketing side where the Relax t-shirts etc..became the norm. Soon everyone heard of Frankie Goes to Hollywood.
To download the single
Alexander O'Neal - Fake
During the late 1980s there was a real surge in the R n B genre and there was no bigger character at the time than Alexander O'neal. He initially made his name as a backing singer and worked with the likes of Prince. He made a real impact when he duetted with Cherelle on Saturday Love. This thrusted him into the market and soon the release of his legendary album Hearsay would soon be in every home. One of the biggest singles was Fake which went to number one in America and hit number four in the UK. This was his only solo top 10 hit in the UK. The song was written and produced by James Harris and Terry Lewis on the Tabu label. The song was a relentless heavy percussioned bass song which became very friendly on the radio as well as the club scene. That was the peak for Alex on the singles charts but never the less made a contribution that wasto make RnB one of the most succesful genres of music in the decades to follow. To download the track
Dexy's Midnight runners - Come on Eileen
If there is one song that sums up the 1980s then this would one of the main tracks. A classic dancefloor filler with Celtic fused foot stomping sound that can get the most non conformist to dance. The song was released in 1982 and stormed it's way to the top and gave the band there 2nd number one in 3 years. The song was written by lead singer kevin Rowland, Jim Paterson and Billy Adams. It was released on the Mercury label and was produced by the Langley/winstanley co-op. The song started with folk sound and built up to a crescendo of foot stomping drumming over a bass line. A true disco floor classic. Also the song was famously renowned for its video, where the band wore Dungarees with no shirts. The Eileen featured in the video and the record sleeve was Maire Fahey who was the sister of Siobhan who was in Bananarama at the time. The song has sold 1.3 million copies and won the BRIT award in 1983 for the best single. To download the track Adam and the Ants - Stand and Deliver
At the height of there power the ants released a track from there album Prince Charming called Stand and Deliver. The single went straight into number 1 and stayed there 5 weeks. The song was released on the CBS label and the song was written by Ant and Pirroni and was produced by Chris Hughes. The song was famous more for it's video which featured Adam Ant as the dandy highwayman and the words stand and deliver was a common phrase for highwaymen. The single sold in excess of 1 million copies amd was easily there best selling single during there short life. To download the single Madness - Baggy Trousers
There was no band more productive in the 1980s than the Nutty Boys in terms of singles and weeks in the chart. One of there most famous singles was Baggy Trousers released in 1980. Madness had just signed to Stiff Records and released the album 'Absolutely' as follow up to 'One Step beyond' and the single Baggy trousers was released in September 1980. The song was written by Suggs and Chris Foreman and was about there schooldays in North London. The song spent 20 weeks in the charts and peaked at number 3 in the charts and was officially the 11th best selling single of 1980. The song would be best remembered for the video that accompained the song. It was shot in Kentish Town and showed sax player Lee Thompson hoisted in the air by a crane playing the saxophone. As a consequence of there wacky videos, they became more popular and every Madness single released was greeted with what the video would be like. The song is a very high paced which last just under 3 minutes but the band tweaked it for a well known beer advert in 2011 where they slowed the song right down and that version became very popular as the original. The song was produced by the duo Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley who worked a lot on the early Madness material.
To download the single
The Cars - Drive
This was a classic ballad song from the 1980s just when the ballad era was beginning to take hold on the singles and album charts. The song was released in 1984 and was on there album 'Heartbeat City' and the song proved to be there biggest hit worldwide. the song was written by band member Ric Ocasek and was produced by the legendary Mutt Lange who produced for Def Leppard, AC/DC and Nickelback amongst others and was released on the Elektra record label. The song initially eaked at number 5 in 1984 but the song took an unexpected twist a year later when at the Live Aid concert the song was used as a background montage showing the stricken famine in Africa. The interest in the song developed and the song peaked at number 4 in the charts. This proved to be the last song that made an entry on the charts but what a memorable song. To download the song, click below The Bangles - Manic Monday
Another classic ballady song sung by an all American girl group but the song was written by none other than Prince. Prince had written the song in 1984 which was intended for someone else but the Bangles got the nod in 1986 and was the first release from there second album 'different light'. The song was released on Columbia records and was produced by David Kahne who had previous with Paul McCartney, New Order and Linkin Park amongst others. The song peaked at number 2 in the USA and UK charts but ironically was kept off the top spot in America by Prince with his hit 'Kiss'. One of there most famous hits and only really eclipsed by 'eternal Flame' which hit the top spot both sides of the pond.
To download the tune, click below
Depeche Mode - New Life
New Life was the second single released by Depeche Mode and the song was a huge hit. The song was written by Vince Clarke before his departure from the band and he did feature on the track. The song was released in June 1981 and it began to gain popularity when the band appeared on Top of the Pops. That appearance was the breakthrough the band needed and the single peaked at number 11 in the UK charts. The song was produced by the band and Dan Miller who was the founder of Mute records. Still one of there popular songs and was generally regarded as one the front runners of the synth pop explosion.
To download the tune, click below
Kim Wilde - Kids in America
Like a bolt from the blue this young lady came onto the scene in 1981 on the wave of the synth pop/new wave era. The song was very much a family affair. Kim Wilde brother Ricky who had flirted with pop fame a few years earlier had done the music work for this and enlisted the help of his dad Marty who himself was a pop star in the 1950s/1960s to write the lyrics. The track was also produced by Ricky on the RAK label and the single released as Kim Wilde the solo artist. The song was a huge hit in the UK and peaked at number two in the UK singles charts only kept of the top by Shakin Stevens This Ole House and the song hit the top 30 in America a year later. Kim Wilde rock chick appeal ensured the song had a lasting appeal along with the video promo that went with it. The song has been covered by many including Nirvana, Bloodhound Gang to Atomic Kitten and One Direction. A right mix of genres.
To download the tune, click below
Fiction Factory - Feels like Heaven
Released in 1983 on the back of the rise of new wave and this Scottish band were one of the early movers in the synth era with this classic song. The song was written by lead singer Kevin Patterson and keyboardist Eddie Jordan and the song reached number 6 in the UK single charts. The band also produced the track and was released on CBS records. This was as good as it got for the band as subsequent album and single releases failed to dent the charts in the UK and the band then called it a day. However, this gem they left was well worth it as the song is featured heavily on many 1980 compilations.
The Adventures - Broken Land
The Adventures were a Northern Irish Pop rock band who found some limited fame in the late 1980s. The band moved to London after being backed by the pop mogul Simon Fuller and the release of the album 'Sea of love' proved to be the catalyst the band needed. The album performed well and broke into the top 30 in the UK album charts but the lead single was a classic. The release of 'Broken Land' was well received and peaked at number 20 in the charts and was reported to be the most played song on BBC Radio 1 during 1988. The song was written by the guitarist Pat Gribben and produced by Garry Bell on Elektra Records and the song spent 10 weeks on the UK charts before disappearing. Following singles released proved a bit harder to follow with not one denting the top 40 but they can be pleased with this Jewell they released.
To download the tune, click below
Roxy Music - Jealous Guy
There are certain groups and artistes one should avoid when doing covers. The Beatles and John Lennon would be a case in point. Roxy Music did that and put there own unique style to a John Lennon song from the 1970s and transformed the song and earned a number one spot in the UK. The song was recorded and released as a tribute to John Lennon who was murdered in 1980. The song was released on Polydor records and was produced by Bryan Ferry and Rhett Davies. The song was very popular and became one of Roxy Music famous hits. The band also appeared at Live Aid in 1985 and showcased this song. A true classic song with full of emotion in a wonderful tribute to John Lennon. One of the rare occasion where a cover has been fully justified.
Wednesday, March 11, 2015
Classic albums
We will look at the classic albums from the 1980s.
The first one we will look at is U2 The Joshua Tree. U2 The Joshua Tree (released 1987) The album was released in 1987 and was U2 first album in 3 years and represented a more rockier album than the previous The unforgettable fire.
It was widely reported that this album could have been a double album and that the band had so much material that they could not fit on one album. It was decided that any singles released would feature 2 tracks on the b side and classic U2 songs such as Sweetest Thing, Silver and Gold, luminous times and Walk on Water were relegated to b sides.
They eventually decided on the 11 tracks which arguably was one of there strongest albums. The album followed a central theme of America carrying on from the previous album and promoted a number of different sounds from blues, gospel to pyschedelic rock and the album went to sell 25 million copies and went on to receive critical acclaim. The 3 singles that were released in the Uk represented how diverse U2 sounded with the ballad With or without you, to the gospel sounding I still havn't found what i'm looking for to the rockier Where the streets have no name.
The band had several interruptions during recordings with an Amnesty tour they had committed to and then the death of Bono's personal assistant Greg Carroll died in a motorcycle accident. They managed to get back on track and produce a masterpiece. The album was produced by Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno and was recorded and mixed by Flood and Steve Lilywhite. When ready to be released Bono had some doubts as to the quality but Island records persisted and released via a huge marketing campaign and was the first album to be released on Vinyl, CD and cassette on the same day. The record was an instant success and the attention the record got shot U2 into the top echelon of rock music, soon they were everywhere and even a front cover appearance on Time magazine as Rocks hottest ticket cemented there appreciation over in America.
I can remember the day I purchased the album and was one of those albums where you cannot be disappointed. Every song was a classic and was well crafted and if you think back to the songs that didn't make the cut you just know how good this album is.
The black cover and the four moody rock stars being photographed just gave the album the edge. The band shot the pictures at a desert in California by Anton Corbijn and became the symbol for U2 and a pilgrimage place for U2 fans to visit and try and find the tree. A classic album and those tracks in order are Where the streets have no name, I still havn't found what im looking for, With or without you, Bullet the blue sky, Running to stand still, Red hill mining town, In gods country, Trip through your wires, One tree hill, Exit and Mothers of the disappeared
INXS - Kick (1987)
INXS were a Australian band that benn going for 10 years with relative success but one album helped them crack the US/UK market. The album Kick was there 6th studio album and the success of the album was made up of four huge hits that came off the album.
INXS went for a friendly rock radio sound to which the record label Atlantic were not convinced this would work. The idea of the record is that every song could be a potential 3 minute radio song which obvioulsy appealed to the radio market particularly in America.
The band released four songs of the album all became huge anthems for the band and became stadium favourites. The songs in question were 'new sensation', 'devil inside', 'need you tonight' and the classic 'never tear us apart'. All the songs hit the top 10 in USA and 'Need you tonight' went number 2 in the UK which was there biggest hit of the album.
Tracks on the album Guns in the sky, New sensation, Devil inside, Need you tonight, Mediate, The loved one, Wild life, Never tear us apart, Mystify, Kick, Calling all nations and Tiny daggers The album has deservedly received critical acclaim and for me it is an easy listening upbeat album without any weak link, a truly global album as the 11th song indicated Calling all nations. A classic album.
Simple Minds - Once upon a Time (1985)
Simple Minds were on a wave of success when this album was released. They had huge success in the UK and Europe and they finally cracked America with a number 1 hit Don't you forget about me.
They then released the album on the back of this but omitted Don't you forget about me. The album was there seventh studio album and was there most succesful album at the time.
The album went to number one in the UK and the album spawned four singles which all hit the top 20 in the UK. Alive and Kicking peaked at no.7 and the follow up All the things she said hit no.9. As the album sales gathered Sanctify yourself got to no.10 and finally Ghostdancing managed to peak at no.13.
The album was produced by Jimmy Iovine who worked with U2 and Tom Petty and Bob Clearmountain who was responsible for defining INXS sound. The album featured the backing singer talent of Robin Clark who had previously worked with David Bowie and Luther Van Dross.
The tracks on the album were Once upon a time, All the things she said, Ghostdancing, Alive and Kicking, Oh jungleland, I wish you were here, Sanctify yourself and Come a long way The album and it's content was responsible for most of there stadium anthems and is widely regarded as one of there finest pieces of work.
Madness - Absolutely (1980)
This saw Madness release the follow up to the debut album 'one step beyond' and this was to prove one of the popular albums Madness released. The album peaked at number 2 in the UK album charts and the album spawned three top 10 singles also in the UK charts. Those releases were Baggy trousers, Embarrassment and Return of the los palmas 7.
The album lasted just under 40 minutes but featured 14 songs and was produced by Langer and Winstanley on stiff records. The name of the album was reported to be the catchphrase of the bands tour manager Tony Duffield. The cover of the album featured the band outside a tube station in Camden keeping the local links to which the band were famed for.
Tracks on the album Baggy trousers, Embarrassment, ERNIE, Close Escape, Not home today, On the beat pete, Solid gone, Take it or leave it, Shadow of fear, Dissapear. Overdone, In the rain You said The return of the los palmas 7
To purchase the album
The Specials - More Specials (1980)
The 1980s saw many genre of music come to the fore and one of the early ones in the 1980s was the Ska revival primarily in the Midlands.
One of the chief architects was the Specials. After there debut self titled album, the pressure was on to continue the success of what they started. The debut album was a bit hard hitting and a more hard beat sound, the follow up was a complete change still with the Ska sound but incorporating other influences such as Lounge music.
They also worked with different artisites on the album which included fellow Ska brothers such as Rhoda Dakar from the Body Snatchers and Lee Thompson from Madness. They also worked with American all girl rock band The GoGo's who included a certain Belinda Carlisle. The album did hit the top 5 in the UK album charts and off the album 2 singles Stereotype and Do Nothing hit the top 10 in the UK singles charts. the album was released on the iconic 2 Tone label and was produced by the originator of the revival Jerry Dammers.
The album hit the top 100 in America and included the iconic song Rat Race but this was not included on the UK version of the album.
The tracks on the album Enjoy yourself, Man at C&A, Hey, little rich girl, Do Nothing, Pearls Café, Sock it to 'em JB, Stereotype, Holiday Fortnight, I can't stand it, International Jet set and Enjoy yourself (reprise)
To listen or purchase
Joy Division - Closer (1980)
Some albums get to number one and then disappear into the emptiness of time. Others may not get that pivotal spot but will make an impression well beyond its year. Joy Division final album is that in the latter category and has sparked much debate regarding the material, the photography and the title of the album.
The album was released in 1980 by Factory Records following the death of lead singer Ian Curtis and is widely regarded as the blueprint for the Goth Rock genre. The album like the debut album Unknown Pleasures was produced by Martin Hannett and the album peaked at number 6 in the UK album charts.
The cover photo on the album depicts a family tomb originating from Genoa in Italy and was designed by Peter Saville as he did on the debut album. The songs on the album all lead to possible suggestions regarding Ian Curtis mind such as The Eternal, Isolation and Passover which illuminated a possible contemplation that this would be his final masterpiece.
The album is often cited in one of the must albums to listen to. The sound of the album does have a more atmospheric feel than the debut album and considering the circumstances it was released in it gives the impression that this could not get any better. Famously, the band did not release singles of any albums prefering to keep the two matters seperate.
The tracks include Atrocity, Exhibition, Isolation, Passover, Colony, A means to an end, Heart and Soul, Twenty four hours and The eternal Decades
To listen to or purchase
Paul Young - No Parlez (1983)
This was the debut album from the Luton based singer Paul Young. The album consisted of pop, soul and elements of new wave on the album.
The album was released in 1983 and the success of the album exceeded all expectations. No Parlez reached number one on the UK album charts and stayed there for five weeks. In fact the album stayed in the top 100 for 119 weeks and sales nearly exceeding one million.
The album was released on the CBS label and was produced by Laurie Latham who had previous credits with Echo & bunnymen, The Stranglers and Squeeze. The album featured three huge singles with Where ever I lay my Hat reaching number one, come back and stay and love of the common people also reaching the top 5. The album also featured many cover versions of soul and new wave and one song he attempted was Joy Division Love will tear us apart.
He also wrote a couple of songs with the moody Broken Man and tender trap. In 2008 the album was re-released as part of a 25th Anniversary tour.
The tracks include Come back and stay, Love will tear us apart, Wherever I lay my hat, Ku Ku Kurama, No parlez, Behind your smile, Love of the common people, Oh women, Iron out the rough spots, Broken man, Tender trap and Sex
The first one we will look at is U2 The Joshua Tree. U2 The Joshua Tree (released 1987) The album was released in 1987 and was U2 first album in 3 years and represented a more rockier album than the previous The unforgettable fire.
It was widely reported that this album could have been a double album and that the band had so much material that they could not fit on one album. It was decided that any singles released would feature 2 tracks on the b side and classic U2 songs such as Sweetest Thing, Silver and Gold, luminous times and Walk on Water were relegated to b sides.
They eventually decided on the 11 tracks which arguably was one of there strongest albums. The album followed a central theme of America carrying on from the previous album and promoted a number of different sounds from blues, gospel to pyschedelic rock and the album went to sell 25 million copies and went on to receive critical acclaim. The 3 singles that were released in the Uk represented how diverse U2 sounded with the ballad With or without you, to the gospel sounding I still havn't found what i'm looking for to the rockier Where the streets have no name.
The band had several interruptions during recordings with an Amnesty tour they had committed to and then the death of Bono's personal assistant Greg Carroll died in a motorcycle accident. They managed to get back on track and produce a masterpiece. The album was produced by Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno and was recorded and mixed by Flood and Steve Lilywhite. When ready to be released Bono had some doubts as to the quality but Island records persisted and released via a huge marketing campaign and was the first album to be released on Vinyl, CD and cassette on the same day. The record was an instant success and the attention the record got shot U2 into the top echelon of rock music, soon they were everywhere and even a front cover appearance on Time magazine as Rocks hottest ticket cemented there appreciation over in America.
I can remember the day I purchased the album and was one of those albums where you cannot be disappointed. Every song was a classic and was well crafted and if you think back to the songs that didn't make the cut you just know how good this album is.
The black cover and the four moody rock stars being photographed just gave the album the edge. The band shot the pictures at a desert in California by Anton Corbijn and became the symbol for U2 and a pilgrimage place for U2 fans to visit and try and find the tree. A classic album and those tracks in order are Where the streets have no name, I still havn't found what im looking for, With or without you, Bullet the blue sky, Running to stand still, Red hill mining town, In gods country, Trip through your wires, One tree hill, Exit and Mothers of the disappeared
INXS - Kick (1987)
INXS were a Australian band that benn going for 10 years with relative success but one album helped them crack the US/UK market. The album Kick was there 6th studio album and the success of the album was made up of four huge hits that came off the album.
INXS went for a friendly rock radio sound to which the record label Atlantic were not convinced this would work. The idea of the record is that every song could be a potential 3 minute radio song which obvioulsy appealed to the radio market particularly in America.
The band released four songs of the album all became huge anthems for the band and became stadium favourites. The songs in question were 'new sensation', 'devil inside', 'need you tonight' and the classic 'never tear us apart'. All the songs hit the top 10 in USA and 'Need you tonight' went number 2 in the UK which was there biggest hit of the album.
Tracks on the album Guns in the sky, New sensation, Devil inside, Need you tonight, Mediate, The loved one, Wild life, Never tear us apart, Mystify, Kick, Calling all nations and Tiny daggers The album has deservedly received critical acclaim and for me it is an easy listening upbeat album without any weak link, a truly global album as the 11th song indicated Calling all nations. A classic album.
Simple Minds - Once upon a Time (1985)
Simple Minds were on a wave of success when this album was released. They had huge success in the UK and Europe and they finally cracked America with a number 1 hit Don't you forget about me.
They then released the album on the back of this but omitted Don't you forget about me. The album was there seventh studio album and was there most succesful album at the time.
The album went to number one in the UK and the album spawned four singles which all hit the top 20 in the UK. Alive and Kicking peaked at no.7 and the follow up All the things she said hit no.9. As the album sales gathered Sanctify yourself got to no.10 and finally Ghostdancing managed to peak at no.13.
The album was produced by Jimmy Iovine who worked with U2 and Tom Petty and Bob Clearmountain who was responsible for defining INXS sound. The album featured the backing singer talent of Robin Clark who had previously worked with David Bowie and Luther Van Dross.
The tracks on the album were Once upon a time, All the things she said, Ghostdancing, Alive and Kicking, Oh jungleland, I wish you were here, Sanctify yourself and Come a long way The album and it's content was responsible for most of there stadium anthems and is widely regarded as one of there finest pieces of work.
Madness - Absolutely (1980)
This saw Madness release the follow up to the debut album 'one step beyond' and this was to prove one of the popular albums Madness released. The album peaked at number 2 in the UK album charts and the album spawned three top 10 singles also in the UK charts. Those releases were Baggy trousers, Embarrassment and Return of the los palmas 7.
The album lasted just under 40 minutes but featured 14 songs and was produced by Langer and Winstanley on stiff records. The name of the album was reported to be the catchphrase of the bands tour manager Tony Duffield. The cover of the album featured the band outside a tube station in Camden keeping the local links to which the band were famed for.
Tracks on the album Baggy trousers, Embarrassment, ERNIE, Close Escape, Not home today, On the beat pete, Solid gone, Take it or leave it, Shadow of fear, Dissapear. Overdone, In the rain You said The return of the los palmas 7
To purchase the album
The Specials - More Specials (1980)
The 1980s saw many genre of music come to the fore and one of the early ones in the 1980s was the Ska revival primarily in the Midlands.
One of the chief architects was the Specials. After there debut self titled album, the pressure was on to continue the success of what they started. The debut album was a bit hard hitting and a more hard beat sound, the follow up was a complete change still with the Ska sound but incorporating other influences such as Lounge music.
They also worked with different artisites on the album which included fellow Ska brothers such as Rhoda Dakar from the Body Snatchers and Lee Thompson from Madness. They also worked with American all girl rock band The GoGo's who included a certain Belinda Carlisle. The album did hit the top 5 in the UK album charts and off the album 2 singles Stereotype and Do Nothing hit the top 10 in the UK singles charts. the album was released on the iconic 2 Tone label and was produced by the originator of the revival Jerry Dammers.
The album hit the top 100 in America and included the iconic song Rat Race but this was not included on the UK version of the album.
The tracks on the album Enjoy yourself, Man at C&A, Hey, little rich girl, Do Nothing, Pearls Café, Sock it to 'em JB, Stereotype, Holiday Fortnight, I can't stand it, International Jet set and Enjoy yourself (reprise)
To listen or purchase
Joy Division - Closer (1980)
Some albums get to number one and then disappear into the emptiness of time. Others may not get that pivotal spot but will make an impression well beyond its year. Joy Division final album is that in the latter category and has sparked much debate regarding the material, the photography and the title of the album.
The album was released in 1980 by Factory Records following the death of lead singer Ian Curtis and is widely regarded as the blueprint for the Goth Rock genre. The album like the debut album Unknown Pleasures was produced by Martin Hannett and the album peaked at number 6 in the UK album charts.
The cover photo on the album depicts a family tomb originating from Genoa in Italy and was designed by Peter Saville as he did on the debut album. The songs on the album all lead to possible suggestions regarding Ian Curtis mind such as The Eternal, Isolation and Passover which illuminated a possible contemplation that this would be his final masterpiece.
The album is often cited in one of the must albums to listen to. The sound of the album does have a more atmospheric feel than the debut album and considering the circumstances it was released in it gives the impression that this could not get any better. Famously, the band did not release singles of any albums prefering to keep the two matters seperate.
The tracks include Atrocity, Exhibition, Isolation, Passover, Colony, A means to an end, Heart and Soul, Twenty four hours and The eternal Decades
To listen to or purchase
Paul Young - No Parlez (1983)
This was the debut album from the Luton based singer Paul Young. The album consisted of pop, soul and elements of new wave on the album.
The album was released in 1983 and the success of the album exceeded all expectations. No Parlez reached number one on the UK album charts and stayed there for five weeks. In fact the album stayed in the top 100 for 119 weeks and sales nearly exceeding one million.
The album was released on the CBS label and was produced by Laurie Latham who had previous credits with Echo & bunnymen, The Stranglers and Squeeze. The album featured three huge singles with Where ever I lay my Hat reaching number one, come back and stay and love of the common people also reaching the top 5. The album also featured many cover versions of soul and new wave and one song he attempted was Joy Division Love will tear us apart.
He also wrote a couple of songs with the moody Broken Man and tender trap. In 2008 the album was re-released as part of a 25th Anniversary tour.
The tracks include Come back and stay, Love will tear us apart, Wherever I lay my hat, Ku Ku Kurama, No parlez, Behind your smile, Love of the common people, Oh women, Iron out the rough spots, Broken man, Tender trap and Sex
Alternative 80s
This page is dedicated to the countless alternative or Indie that made the 80s charts interesting. The Indie scene really grew in the 1980s and causing the major labels to adopt new strategies to become more 'indie'. I will look at the songs that really turned this genre into a relevant scene.
The Pixies - Monkey gone to Heaven Were an American alternative band and this song enjoyed great success long after it's release in 1989. The song touched on Environmental and biblical issues which were not the usual topics for hit singles but unusually worked. The song was written by singer Black Francis and produced by Gil Norton who had worked with Echo and the Bunnymen amongst others. The song peaked at number 60 in the UK singles charts but the song was popular amongst the written media. It was the single of the year in Melody Maker 1989 poll and NME ranked it 35 in the greatest Indie anthems of all time. A true classic song.
Killing Joke - Love like blood Killing Joke were a post punk band from London who formed in the late seventies and the above single is probably there most famous with the song being there only top 20 hit in the UK, peaking at 16 in 1985. The song was a very dark gothic feel to it and was produced by Chris Kimsey who had worked with New Model Army and Anti nowhere league amongst others.The song was released on E'G records and the track was Featured on the 'Night Time' album which peaked at 11 in the UK album charts and the work on that album is regarded as there finest with 'Kings and Queens' and 'eighties'.
New Model Army - No Rest An alternative rock band from Bradford and often expressed political and humanitarian messages in there material and were vocal against American imperialism which caused a few issues as they could not play over there! No Rest was one of there biggest commercial successes in the UK peaking at 28 in the singles chart.
The Smiths - What difference does it make? The smiths hailed from Manchester and was taken from the debut album 'The Smiths'. The track written by Morrissey and Johnny Marr and released on Rough Trade Records. The track was produced by John Porter who had worked with Japan and Billy Bragg amongst his credits. The song infamously was released without any video and Morrissey quipped that the video market would not last! The song peaked at number 12 in the UK single charts. A true classic guitar song to listen to.
Jesus and Mary Chain - April Skies An alternative rock band from Scotland and these guys shot to prominence with the album Psychocandy and the release of singles Upside Down and Just like honey which made an appearance in the top 50. After the early problems they encountered with personnel changes, arrests, concert meltdowns and general bad press, the band settled down and released the album Darklands and from this the gem 'April Skies'. The track became there first top 10 hit peaking at number 8. The song was written by the Reid brothers and was also produced by Bill Price who includes Sex Pistols and The Clash on his credits. The heavy influence of Guitars and Bass made this a true gem in between all the manufactured pop.
All about Eve - Martha's Harbour The band consisted of Julianne Regan and Andy Cousin and they perfected the early art of Goth Rock mixed with Folk. They shot to prominence with the haunting sound of Martha's Harbour with dreamlike lyrics which caught the imagination of the British public. The song was a top 10 hit in the UK and the song only consisted of Regan's vocals, Cousins acoustic guitar and sound affects of the sea. The song received publicity when an appearance on Top of the Pops where they sang over a dubbed version did not happen as the music did not relay to them, they just sat there until the end of the song unaware of what happened, TOTP invited them back and they did a live version to make up for the glaring error.
The Pixies - Monkey gone to Heaven Were an American alternative band and this song enjoyed great success long after it's release in 1989. The song touched on Environmental and biblical issues which were not the usual topics for hit singles but unusually worked. The song was written by singer Black Francis and produced by Gil Norton who had worked with Echo and the Bunnymen amongst others. The song peaked at number 60 in the UK singles charts but the song was popular amongst the written media. It was the single of the year in Melody Maker 1989 poll and NME ranked it 35 in the greatest Indie anthems of all time. A true classic song.
Killing Joke - Love like blood Killing Joke were a post punk band from London who formed in the late seventies and the above single is probably there most famous with the song being there only top 20 hit in the UK, peaking at 16 in 1985. The song was a very dark gothic feel to it and was produced by Chris Kimsey who had worked with New Model Army and Anti nowhere league amongst others.The song was released on E'G records and the track was Featured on the 'Night Time' album which peaked at 11 in the UK album charts and the work on that album is regarded as there finest with 'Kings and Queens' and 'eighties'.
New Model Army - No Rest An alternative rock band from Bradford and often expressed political and humanitarian messages in there material and were vocal against American imperialism which caused a few issues as they could not play over there! No Rest was one of there biggest commercial successes in the UK peaking at 28 in the singles chart.
The Smiths - What difference does it make? The smiths hailed from Manchester and was taken from the debut album 'The Smiths'. The track written by Morrissey and Johnny Marr and released on Rough Trade Records. The track was produced by John Porter who had worked with Japan and Billy Bragg amongst his credits. The song infamously was released without any video and Morrissey quipped that the video market would not last! The song peaked at number 12 in the UK single charts. A true classic guitar song to listen to.
Jesus and Mary Chain - April Skies An alternative rock band from Scotland and these guys shot to prominence with the album Psychocandy and the release of singles Upside Down and Just like honey which made an appearance in the top 50. After the early problems they encountered with personnel changes, arrests, concert meltdowns and general bad press, the band settled down and released the album Darklands and from this the gem 'April Skies'. The track became there first top 10 hit peaking at number 8. The song was written by the Reid brothers and was also produced by Bill Price who includes Sex Pistols and The Clash on his credits. The heavy influence of Guitars and Bass made this a true gem in between all the manufactured pop.
All about Eve - Martha's Harbour The band consisted of Julianne Regan and Andy Cousin and they perfected the early art of Goth Rock mixed with Folk. They shot to prominence with the haunting sound of Martha's Harbour with dreamlike lyrics which caught the imagination of the British public. The song was a top 10 hit in the UK and the song only consisted of Regan's vocals, Cousins acoustic guitar and sound affects of the sea. The song received publicity when an appearance on Top of the Pops where they sang over a dubbed version did not happen as the music did not relay to them, they just sat there until the end of the song unaware of what happened, TOTP invited them back and they did a live version to make up for the glaring error.
80s Film Soundtracks
The 1980s saw many big films and behind most big films was a huge soundtrack which record labels cottoned on to. As a result the 80s saw a huge rise in songs released in conjuction with films to boost the popularity and marketing potential. Some artistes relied solely on the film industry and produced constant scores for them. Where would survivor be without the Rocky films and vice versa?
I will take a look at some of the biggest film soundtracks of the 1980s.
Simple Minds - Don't you forget about me (The Breakfast Club)
A huge anthem for the brat pack film, the song intended for Billy Idol and then rejected by Bryan Ferry but was passed to Simple Minds and that decision led to a number one in America. Written by Keith Forsey the song was huge both sides of the pond and in the UK remained in the top 100 for almost 2 years such was it's popularity. It remains one of there most requested songs.
Huey Lewis and the News - Power of Love (Back to the future)
This again was a huge hit and earned Huey Lewis a cameo role in the film and a academy award to sit with a number one in America. The song was co written by Lewis and Colla and remains an integral part of the film.
Ray Parker Jr - Ghostbusters (Ghostbusters)
Probably and arguably one of the biggest films in the 80s behind ET. Written and produced by Parker the song reached number one in America and number two in the UK as Ghostbusters gripped the world in 1984. It was nominated for an academy but fell short at the final hurdle. The song was written to be similar to a advert and was many years used as this for a 118 advert in the UK. The song also courted legal issues as was similar in riff to a Huey Lewis song and was eventually settled out of court.
Irene Cara - Fame and Flashdance
This young lady firmly put the dance floor back into the public conscious with these two huge hits of the 80s. Fame Written by Gore and Pritchard it was wrote for the original film and won the academy award that year as a number one in the UK, it wasn't until the TV spin off series was released in 1982 that the song hit the shores here and again enjoyed a number one success as Fame became a huge success. It remains one of the few songs in the UK to sell one million plus copies. Flashdance written by Miroder, Forsey and Cara again enjoyed huge success topping the charts in America, countless awards and a number 2 in the UK. The song again featured in another film The Full Monty in 1997.
Harold Faltermeyer - Axel F (Beverley Hills Cops)
One of the most recognised names in Film scores and producing synth pop with his German background. This instrumental classic enjoyed number 2 peaks in the UK and America. The song enjoyed a revival by that annoying Crazy Frog but thankfully didn't do too much damage to this synth classic.
Kenny Loggins - Footloose (Flashdance)
Another classic song from the Flashdance film which saw Kevin Bacon dancing mentally to this toe tapper. The song reached number one in America and was a top 10 hit in the UK. The song was written and produced by Loggins and Pitchford. The song has been covered recently in films such as Alvin and the Chipmunks and Glee!
Phil Oakey and Giorgio Miroder - Electric Dreams (Electric Dreams)
This brief partnership produced an absolute gem of a song in the 1980s. Both written and produced by Miroder the song reached number 3 in the UK singles charts and many thought the song actually eclipsed the film itself! Miroder came up with the concept and Director of the film Steve Barron suggested Phil Oakey as he had worked with him on the Human League promo video 'don't you want me' and the rest they say is history.
Joe Cocker - Up where we belong (an officer and a Gentlemen)
A weepy girlie film saw the lead song smash the charts and take the Grammy award for that along with the film success. Joe duetted with Jennifer Warnes. It went to number one in America and number 7 in the UK charts. The song was famously used at the end where Zak would sweep his intended of her feet at the factory thus the tears and cheers. The song was used against the producer and Gere advices but when they saw the final cut they were overwhelmed by the nature of the song.
Vangelis - Chariots of Fire
Arguably the biggest British film of the 1980s and this instrumental classic was pivotal to the ambience of the film. Composed by a Greek man who manages to catch the essence of the film and earned an Oscar for the musical score. The song reached number one in America and number 12 in the UK but the album did reach number in the UK. The song enjoyed a comeback for the 2012 London Olympics when MR Bean played the song at the opening ceremony.
Echo & the Bunnymen - People are Strange (Lost Boys)
This featured heavily on the Lost Boys film and was a cover by the 1970s rockers The Doors. The song was released as a single in the UK and peaked at number 29. The song was ironically produced by Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek. A classic 2 minute song which is perfect for films and this song proved to be a popular one amongst fans of 80s film music.
Psychedelic Furs - Pretty in Pink (Pretty in Pink)
Another classic gem from the 1980s and this post punk band came to prominence with this track for Pretty in Pink. The song was originally released in 1981 after being produced by Steve Lillywhite of U2 fame and the song just failed the top 40 but was revamped for the 1986 movie and the song made the top 20 in the UK and just outside the top 40 in America. A true pop guitar sound.
Starship - Nothings gonna stop us now (Mannequin)
A huge hit which went number one on both sides of the pond and also the second best selling song in the UK in 1987. It was the main song for the romantic comedy film and was nominated for a academy award in 1987 but unfortunately missed out. The song featured Grace Slick on vocals who at the time was the oldest vocalist to get to number one in America at the time.
Duran Duran - View to a Kill (James Bond Film)
A song written by Duran Duran and John Barry and this song reached number one in America and number two in the UK. At the time Duran Duran were one of the biggest bands at the time and was the last song recorded before the original line up broke up. They met up with Barry who was the Bond composer and came up with this classic song which also saw Simon Le Bon play a James Bond character in the video promo.
A-ha - Living Daylights (James Bond Film) Again
John Barry worked with A-ha on this song and the song didn't fare well in America and didn't make the top 100 but was a top 5 hit in the UK. Despite the lack of success in America it sold over 2 million copies.
Survivor - Eye of the Tiger (Rocky)
A true heart beating song of the 1980s and a must for anyone who deems themselves a underdog in this world. It topped the charts in America and UK and was a last minute song originally when Stallone was unable to get permission to use a Queen song, Survivor came up with this effort and help revolutionise the film. The song alone has sold over 9 million copies such is the popularity of the song.
To purchase some of the 80s movie hits click below:
Simple Minds - Don't you forget about me (The Breakfast Club)
A huge anthem for the brat pack film, the song intended for Billy Idol and then rejected by Bryan Ferry but was passed to Simple Minds and that decision led to a number one in America. Written by Keith Forsey the song was huge both sides of the pond and in the UK remained in the top 100 for almost 2 years such was it's popularity. It remains one of there most requested songs.
Huey Lewis and the News - Power of Love (Back to the future)
This again was a huge hit and earned Huey Lewis a cameo role in the film and a academy award to sit with a number one in America. The song was co written by Lewis and Colla and remains an integral part of the film.
Ray Parker Jr - Ghostbusters (Ghostbusters)
Probably and arguably one of the biggest films in the 80s behind ET. Written and produced by Parker the song reached number one in America and number two in the UK as Ghostbusters gripped the world in 1984. It was nominated for an academy but fell short at the final hurdle. The song was written to be similar to a advert and was many years used as this for a 118 advert in the UK. The song also courted legal issues as was similar in riff to a Huey Lewis song and was eventually settled out of court.
Irene Cara - Fame and Flashdance
This young lady firmly put the dance floor back into the public conscious with these two huge hits of the 80s. Fame Written by Gore and Pritchard it was wrote for the original film and won the academy award that year as a number one in the UK, it wasn't until the TV spin off series was released in 1982 that the song hit the shores here and again enjoyed a number one success as Fame became a huge success. It remains one of the few songs in the UK to sell one million plus copies. Flashdance written by Miroder, Forsey and Cara again enjoyed huge success topping the charts in America, countless awards and a number 2 in the UK. The song again featured in another film The Full Monty in 1997.
Harold Faltermeyer - Axel F (Beverley Hills Cops)
One of the most recognised names in Film scores and producing synth pop with his German background. This instrumental classic enjoyed number 2 peaks in the UK and America. The song enjoyed a revival by that annoying Crazy Frog but thankfully didn't do too much damage to this synth classic.
Kenny Loggins - Footloose (Flashdance)
Another classic song from the Flashdance film which saw Kevin Bacon dancing mentally to this toe tapper. The song reached number one in America and was a top 10 hit in the UK. The song was written and produced by Loggins and Pitchford. The song has been covered recently in films such as Alvin and the Chipmunks and Glee!
Phil Oakey and Giorgio Miroder - Electric Dreams (Electric Dreams)
This brief partnership produced an absolute gem of a song in the 1980s. Both written and produced by Miroder the song reached number 3 in the UK singles charts and many thought the song actually eclipsed the film itself! Miroder came up with the concept and Director of the film Steve Barron suggested Phil Oakey as he had worked with him on the Human League promo video 'don't you want me' and the rest they say is history.
Joe Cocker - Up where we belong (an officer and a Gentlemen)
A weepy girlie film saw the lead song smash the charts and take the Grammy award for that along with the film success. Joe duetted with Jennifer Warnes. It went to number one in America and number 7 in the UK charts. The song was famously used at the end where Zak would sweep his intended of her feet at the factory thus the tears and cheers. The song was used against the producer and Gere advices but when they saw the final cut they were overwhelmed by the nature of the song.
Vangelis - Chariots of Fire
Arguably the biggest British film of the 1980s and this instrumental classic was pivotal to the ambience of the film. Composed by a Greek man who manages to catch the essence of the film and earned an Oscar for the musical score. The song reached number one in America and number 12 in the UK but the album did reach number in the UK. The song enjoyed a comeback for the 2012 London Olympics when MR Bean played the song at the opening ceremony.
Echo & the Bunnymen - People are Strange (Lost Boys)
This featured heavily on the Lost Boys film and was a cover by the 1970s rockers The Doors. The song was released as a single in the UK and peaked at number 29. The song was ironically produced by Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek. A classic 2 minute song which is perfect for films and this song proved to be a popular one amongst fans of 80s film music.
Psychedelic Furs - Pretty in Pink (Pretty in Pink)
Another classic gem from the 1980s and this post punk band came to prominence with this track for Pretty in Pink. The song was originally released in 1981 after being produced by Steve Lillywhite of U2 fame and the song just failed the top 40 but was revamped for the 1986 movie and the song made the top 20 in the UK and just outside the top 40 in America. A true pop guitar sound.
Starship - Nothings gonna stop us now (Mannequin)
A huge hit which went number one on both sides of the pond and also the second best selling song in the UK in 1987. It was the main song for the romantic comedy film and was nominated for a academy award in 1987 but unfortunately missed out. The song featured Grace Slick on vocals who at the time was the oldest vocalist to get to number one in America at the time.
Duran Duran - View to a Kill (James Bond Film)
A song written by Duran Duran and John Barry and this song reached number one in America and number two in the UK. At the time Duran Duran were one of the biggest bands at the time and was the last song recorded before the original line up broke up. They met up with Barry who was the Bond composer and came up with this classic song which also saw Simon Le Bon play a James Bond character in the video promo.
A-ha - Living Daylights (James Bond Film) Again
John Barry worked with A-ha on this song and the song didn't fare well in America and didn't make the top 100 but was a top 5 hit in the UK. Despite the lack of success in America it sold over 2 million copies.
Survivor - Eye of the Tiger (Rocky)
A true heart beating song of the 1980s and a must for anyone who deems themselves a underdog in this world. It topped the charts in America and UK and was a last minute song originally when Stallone was unable to get permission to use a Queen song, Survivor came up with this effort and help revolutionise the film. The song alone has sold over 9 million copies such is the popularity of the song.
To purchase some of the 80s movie hits click below:
80s Anorak Track - Furniture
Were a new wave band formed in London in the late 1970s but enjoyed a rare piece of success in 1986 when they broke the top 30 in the UK with the release of Brilliant Mind.
They went from various small independent labels until they were signed by major independent label Stiff Records.
The song was produced by Mick Glossop and the song peaked at number 21 in June 1986. The song was released from the album The Wrong People.
The band were beginning to build momentum and quickly released Love your shoes but Stiff Records suffered financial disaster and were only able to press a certain amount of copies which quickly went.
The album was released and Stiff Records went into liquidation. ZTT took over but did not press any copies thus any build up or momentum was lost and the band success quickly receeded. Sadly the success never came back and the demise of the band occurred in 1992. Notably the singer Jim Irvin went on to be a feature Editor for MOJO magazine.
80s Anorak Track - Stan Ridgway
In 1986 saw an American singer hit the top 5 in the UK with a lyrical narrative song named Camouflage.
The song was released from the 1986 album 'The Big Heat' on IRS records and this unusual song stormed the UK charts, although it did not chart in the USA.
The song was about a young soldier who was on a mission in Vietnam and became separated from his patrol. Alone and afraid he meets up with a Marine called Camouflage and they fight there way back to base only to be told that the very man who helped him was already dead!
Unusual topic which captured the UK imagination rather than the Americans. Following that the solo success went on hold as Stan went on to write and produce many films scores.
The song was released from the 1986 album 'The Big Heat' on IRS records and this unusual song stormed the UK charts, although it did not chart in the USA.
The song was about a young soldier who was on a mission in Vietnam and became separated from his patrol. Alone and afraid he meets up with a Marine called Camouflage and they fight there way back to base only to be told that the very man who helped him was already dead!
Unusual topic which captured the UK imagination rather than the Americans. Following that the solo success went on hold as Stan went on to write and produce many films scores.
Steve Strange 1959-2015
Earlier this month saw the premature death of 80s pop singer/promoter/ club host Steve Strange.
The man from South Wales aimed to put the glamour back into the pop industry after the demise of punk rock and the emerging sound of synth pop.
Born as Steven Harrington, he became interested in music after watching a Sex Pistols concert in Wales and quickly formed a band The Moors Murderers who had amongst its personnel Soo Catwoman and Chrissie Hynde.
At the same time he started working for Malcolm McLaren and with the demise of his first band he joined the Photons but then he left he met up with some fellow like minded people and his career took off.
Using his stage name of Steve Strange he formed Visage with Rich Kids members Rusty Egan and Midge Ure and Magazine members Barry Adamson, John McGeoch and Dave Formula. The band was started purely a studio project to release material to coincide with there day to day jobs. They signed to Radar Records and released TAR in 1979 but the single was not a massive hit.
The success was around the corner when Steve appeared in David Bowie 'Ashes to Ashes' promo video and the whole new romantic scene took off. They released 'Fade to Grey' on Polydor records and enjoyed a top 10 hit in the UK. Further top 20 hits followed on the back of this with 'mind of a toy', 'visage' and 'the damned don't cry'.
They also released 3 albums with 'visage' a top 20 success and 'the anvil' a top 10 and there most successful album. The band split in 1985 following some low sales but there music was the fledgling sound for the new romantic scene.
Also Steve was involved with Rusty Egan as a nightclub host and DJ respectively. They started at Billys club in Soho, London before moving to Blitz Club in Covent Garden. Steve had a strict door policy of admitting the weird and wonderful but it attracted huge success and a result they moved to Club for Heroes On Baker Street, London for 2 nights a week.
They eventually settled at Camden Palace for 2 years and became the scene for famous people to attend. When this success all died down he moved to Ibiza and became part of the new party scene hosting for the rich and famous.
Visage did reform in 2012 and released 'Hearts and Knives' album which enjoyed some moderate success and gave a blast back to the early 1980s.
RIP Steve Strange
The man from South Wales aimed to put the glamour back into the pop industry after the demise of punk rock and the emerging sound of synth pop.
Born as Steven Harrington, he became interested in music after watching a Sex Pistols concert in Wales and quickly formed a band The Moors Murderers who had amongst its personnel Soo Catwoman and Chrissie Hynde.
At the same time he started working for Malcolm McLaren and with the demise of his first band he joined the Photons but then he left he met up with some fellow like minded people and his career took off.
Using his stage name of Steve Strange he formed Visage with Rich Kids members Rusty Egan and Midge Ure and Magazine members Barry Adamson, John McGeoch and Dave Formula. The band was started purely a studio project to release material to coincide with there day to day jobs. They signed to Radar Records and released TAR in 1979 but the single was not a massive hit.
The success was around the corner when Steve appeared in David Bowie 'Ashes to Ashes' promo video and the whole new romantic scene took off. They released 'Fade to Grey' on Polydor records and enjoyed a top 10 hit in the UK. Further top 20 hits followed on the back of this with 'mind of a toy', 'visage' and 'the damned don't cry'.
They also released 3 albums with 'visage' a top 20 success and 'the anvil' a top 10 and there most successful album. The band split in 1985 following some low sales but there music was the fledgling sound for the new romantic scene.
Also Steve was involved with Rusty Egan as a nightclub host and DJ respectively. They started at Billys club in Soho, London before moving to Blitz Club in Covent Garden. Steve had a strict door policy of admitting the weird and wonderful but it attracted huge success and a result they moved to Club for Heroes On Baker Street, London for 2 nights a week.
They eventually settled at Camden Palace for 2 years and became the scene for famous people to attend. When this success all died down he moved to Ibiza and became part of the new party scene hosting for the rich and famous.
Visage did reform in 2012 and released 'Hearts and Knives' album which enjoyed some moderate success and gave a blast back to the early 1980s.
RIP Steve Strange
Stuck at number 2..
This week in 1981 saw the classic synth ballad 'Vienna' by Ultravox peak at number 2 for an incredible 4 weeks and one of those tunes that was never destined to be number 1.
The single was released of there self titled album and the previous 2 offerings had made an imprint on the charts but these release was to take the charts by storm and bad luck prevented the band enjoying a chart topping hit in the UK.
Released by Chrysalis records in January 1981, the song written by the band and produced by the legendary German electrical pioneer Conny Plank had a mixture of synth fused with orchestral grand piano sound and backed by a thumping bass sound.
The song was inspired and based on the 1940s film 'The Third Man' which was based around the Austrian capital Vienna. The song rose steadily but was kept of the top spot by firstly John Lennon 'Woman' (Released following the untimely death of John Lennon) and then the novelty hit 'Shaddap your face' by Joe Dolce for a further 3 weeks.
A small consolation was that the single sold more than the number ones and also won the 1981 BRIT award.
The official Charts Company granted the song an honorary number one after a poll in 2012 saw it voted the best song never to get to number one!
The video shot by Russell Mulcahy was based mainly in London's Covent Garden and a few stills in Vienna. A classic song that sadly didn't get the top spot it deserved.
The single was released of there self titled album and the previous 2 offerings had made an imprint on the charts but these release was to take the charts by storm and bad luck prevented the band enjoying a chart topping hit in the UK.
Released by Chrysalis records in January 1981, the song written by the band and produced by the legendary German electrical pioneer Conny Plank had a mixture of synth fused with orchestral grand piano sound and backed by a thumping bass sound.
The song was inspired and based on the 1940s film 'The Third Man' which was based around the Austrian capital Vienna. The song rose steadily but was kept of the top spot by firstly John Lennon 'Woman' (Released following the untimely death of John Lennon) and then the novelty hit 'Shaddap your face' by Joe Dolce for a further 3 weeks.
A small consolation was that the single sold more than the number ones and also won the 1981 BRIT award.
The official Charts Company granted the song an honorary number one after a poll in 2012 saw it voted the best song never to get to number one!
The video shot by Russell Mulcahy was based mainly in London's Covent Garden and a few stills in Vienna. A classic song that sadly didn't get the top spot it deserved.
Kings of the wild frontier
In 1980 saw the album charts dominated by ABBA but a scally lot from London were about to unleash there post punk Burundi sound and knock the Swedish Popsters of there perch.
This week in 1981 saw Adam and the Ants rise to the top of the album charts with Kings of the Wild Frontier. Released in November 1980 the album knocked off ABBA in January 1981 and cemented there position as the most talked about group in the early 1980s.
The album was released by CBS and wasn't without it's early problems. Adam backing suffered a mass exit when music Guru the late Malcolm McLaren persuaded the band to leave and form his own supergroup Bow Wow Wow to complement the thriving New Romantic scene.
Undeterred Adam continued with his long term musical partner Marco Pirroni to finish the album. The album was three single releases in the UK and were all huge hits. The self titled song reached number 2 and this was followed by Dog eat Dog which reached number 2 and the perhaps the true Ant anthem Antmusic peaked at number 2 only kept off the top spot by John Lennon's Imagine.
The album was a huge international hit and the album received several distinctions including best selling UK album in 1981, the 1982 BRIT award for best album and was featured in the music book '1001 albums you must listen to before you die'.
The tracks on the album are:- Dog eat Dog
Antmusic
Feed me to the lions
Los Ranceros
Ants invasion
Killer in the home
Kings of the Wild Frontier
The magnificent 5
Don't be square (be there)
Jolly Roger
Making History
The human beings
Thomas Dolby
Thomas Dolby may not be a name that springs out of the 1980s but This artist had a major influence on the early 80s scene both individually and working with other big acts of the age.
Born as Thomas Robertson but changed his name to dolby as he was always messing about with Musical instruments and tapes and Dolby was a reference to the audio Noise reduction process that was common on stereos in the 1970s/1980s.
When Thomas did get success Dolby Labs did take issue with the name but ultimately Thomas was able to continue with the name. His first success was the release of the 1982 album 'the golden Age of Wireless' which spawned the huge hit 'She blinded with me with Science'. That particular song featured the well known TV professor Magnus Pyke who also featured on the video promo.
In 1983 he started to work on side projects called Dolby's cube which was concentrating more on Dance Music which was starting to take off. He worked with Lene Lovich and George Clinton amongst others.
In 1984 he released his second album 'The flat Earth' which peaked at number 14 in the UK charts. The album featured his UK top 20 single 'Hyperactive' Towards the end of the 1980s he released 'Aliens ate my buick' a more heavily dance and funk influence but the album did not peak as high as his previous releases.
During the 1980s he worked with other artistes. Prominent work included Thompson Twins album Set, Foreigner album 4, Def Leppard release Pyromania, Belinda Carlisle and also time to produce some of Prefab Sprout best offerings. He also toured extensively and was for a number of years support act for another new wave/tech band Depeche Mode.
During the 1980s he released 17 singles in various guises with one top 20 hit, he also released 3 albums and a notable top 20 success in the UK.
Born as Thomas Robertson but changed his name to dolby as he was always messing about with Musical instruments and tapes and Dolby was a reference to the audio Noise reduction process that was common on stereos in the 1970s/1980s.
When Thomas did get success Dolby Labs did take issue with the name but ultimately Thomas was able to continue with the name. His first success was the release of the 1982 album 'the golden Age of Wireless' which spawned the huge hit 'She blinded with me with Science'. That particular song featured the well known TV professor Magnus Pyke who also featured on the video promo.
In 1983 he started to work on side projects called Dolby's cube which was concentrating more on Dance Music which was starting to take off. He worked with Lene Lovich and George Clinton amongst others.
In 1984 he released his second album 'The flat Earth' which peaked at number 14 in the UK charts. The album featured his UK top 20 single 'Hyperactive' Towards the end of the 1980s he released 'Aliens ate my buick' a more heavily dance and funk influence but the album did not peak as high as his previous releases.
During the 1980s he worked with other artistes. Prominent work included Thompson Twins album Set, Foreigner album 4, Def Leppard release Pyromania, Belinda Carlisle and also time to produce some of Prefab Sprout best offerings. He also toured extensively and was for a number of years support act for another new wave/tech band Depeche Mode.
During the 1980s he released 17 singles in various guises with one top 20 hit, he also released 3 albums and a notable top 20 success in the UK.
Everything she does is magic
On this day in 1981 The Police had a huge number one hit in the UK with Every little thing she does is magic.
The also reached the top 3 in America. It was released from the critically acclaimed album Ghosts in the Machine and the song was a blend of rock and reggae.
Jean Roussel played the keyboards on the song and his previous credits included Cat Stevens and Bob Marley.
Roussel was invited by Sting to perform and the other team members Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland were not too happy but the result was a fine piece of Reggae rock.
The song was recorded in Canada and was written by Sting as early as 1976 but was finally put down on record in 1981. The song was produced as always by the band and Hugh Padgham and was released on A&M records.
A Good Heart
In 1985 this week saw Feargal Sharkey hit the top of the UK singles charts with a Good Heart. The song was released on Virgin Records and was on his self titled solo album.
The song was written by American singer Maria McKee and was about her relationship with Benmont Tench who was a member of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. The song was produced by synth legend David A Stewart of Eurythmics fame and another 80s legend appeared on backing was none other than Boy George.
In a twist and to be fair in love and war Feargal next single release was You Little Thief which was written by Tench about his relationship with McKee. That song peaked at number 5 in the UK singles charts. The song remained for 2 weeks at the top until Wham broke up the party.
Tears for Fears
The band formed in 1981 by Roland Orzabel and Curt Smith and were part of the New Wave electronic scene that dominated the British and American charts in the early 1980s.
The boys left an earlier band Called Graduate which was heavily influenced by the MOD scene and they decided to branch out into the electronic sound that had gripped the UK. They signed to Parlophone records and with most bands of that era, there first few releases were not commercially successful.
They released singles 'suffer the children' and 'Pale Shelter'. however, success arrived in November 1982 when they released 'Mad World' and the song peaked at number 3 in the UK charts just before Christmas and this gave the band huge exposure for the release of the debut Album 'The hurting' which was released in March 1983.
The album was produced by Chris Hughes who was the drummer with Adam and the Ants and the album touched on distress and therapy in pretty much every song.
The album was a huge success and stayed in the UK charts for over 12 months and peaked at number one in the UK. the album also spawned single success with 'Change' and 'pale shelter'.
In 1984 they began work on a new album and after a production change they went back to Chris Hughes, they released 'Mothers Talk' and this was followed by the huge international hit 'Shout' another top 5 hit. This was the prelude to the much anticipated album 'songs from the big chair' which debuted at number 2 and again like the first album hung around the album charts for over 12 months in the UK and was number one in the USA.
The album paved the way for a plethora of new singles releases including 'Everybody wants to rule the world', 'Head over heels' and 'I believe'. There success was huge on both sides of the pond. They performed at the MTV awards in 1985 and whilst in a hotel bar they discovered a singer/pianist Oleta Adams for whom they were do to later work.
The success in the UK continued with a BRIT award in 1986 for the best single plus countless nominations from best group to best producer. The band were also due to headline Live Aid in America but had to pull out on the morning as a number of backing band had quit due to the expiration of the contracts! the members were replaced but not in time so the band decided to give proceeds from the upcoming world tour to Band Aid.
They also got involved with Sport Aid and re wrote there classic to 'everybody wants to run the world'. The band were quiet for a while until 1989 came the release of the new album 'seeds of love' which saw a huge production budget of over a million pound. The album saw a more Jazz and Blues touch to the album and saw contributions from Phil Collins and Oleta Adams.
The album was a huge success and saw the release of the singles 'sowing the seeds of love' and 'woman in chains'. After the album the duo split and Curt Smith left due to management issues and the way the band was moving musically. This left Roland to carry on the name for pretty much all of the 1990s until they got back together in 2000.
During the 1980s They released 3 albums with 2 number ones. They released 16 singles including re-releases and enjoyed 7 top 10 hits and although a number one was avoided in the UK they did enjoy 2 number ones in America with Shout and everybody wants to rule the world.
The boys left an earlier band Called Graduate which was heavily influenced by the MOD scene and they decided to branch out into the electronic sound that had gripped the UK. They signed to Parlophone records and with most bands of that era, there first few releases were not commercially successful.
They released singles 'suffer the children' and 'Pale Shelter'. however, success arrived in November 1982 when they released 'Mad World' and the song peaked at number 3 in the UK charts just before Christmas and this gave the band huge exposure for the release of the debut Album 'The hurting' which was released in March 1983.
The album was produced by Chris Hughes who was the drummer with Adam and the Ants and the album touched on distress and therapy in pretty much every song.
The album was a huge success and stayed in the UK charts for over 12 months and peaked at number one in the UK. the album also spawned single success with 'Change' and 'pale shelter'.
In 1984 they began work on a new album and after a production change they went back to Chris Hughes, they released 'Mothers Talk' and this was followed by the huge international hit 'Shout' another top 5 hit. This was the prelude to the much anticipated album 'songs from the big chair' which debuted at number 2 and again like the first album hung around the album charts for over 12 months in the UK and was number one in the USA.
The album paved the way for a plethora of new singles releases including 'Everybody wants to rule the world', 'Head over heels' and 'I believe'. There success was huge on both sides of the pond. They performed at the MTV awards in 1985 and whilst in a hotel bar they discovered a singer/pianist Oleta Adams for whom they were do to later work.
The success in the UK continued with a BRIT award in 1986 for the best single plus countless nominations from best group to best producer. The band were also due to headline Live Aid in America but had to pull out on the morning as a number of backing band had quit due to the expiration of the contracts! the members were replaced but not in time so the band decided to give proceeds from the upcoming world tour to Band Aid.
They also got involved with Sport Aid and re wrote there classic to 'everybody wants to run the world'. The band were quiet for a while until 1989 came the release of the new album 'seeds of love' which saw a huge production budget of over a million pound. The album saw a more Jazz and Blues touch to the album and saw contributions from Phil Collins and Oleta Adams.
The album was a huge success and saw the release of the singles 'sowing the seeds of love' and 'woman in chains'. After the album the duo split and Curt Smith left due to management issues and the way the band was moving musically. This left Roland to carry on the name for pretty much all of the 1990s until they got back together in 2000.
During the 1980s They released 3 albums with 2 number ones. They released 16 singles including re-releases and enjoyed 7 top 10 hits and although a number one was avoided in the UK they did enjoy 2 number ones in America with Shout and everybody wants to rule the world.
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