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Anything else take your fancy from this playlist? I got Volume 2 at the same time. This was a No1 album actually, in the days when compilations and artists albums slugged it out against each other in the same album charts.
The track was Heart & Soul, I've checked it out online and I'm sure the versions available don't quite sound like the same production as on the K-Tel compilation album, yet they were all supposed to be original artists. It's my oldest surviving personally owned music cassette.
For a double album called Chart Hits 81 what does not make sense to me is the high number of totally non hits that are actually on it, some of which you've noted above and also that Exile one missed the entire top fifty. Nothing below, except Exile at 54 actually charted in the UK. Odd choices, and very much not chart hits in 81 or any other year before or since.
Green Man wrote: If you were a Castway what be pick for Desert Island Discs?
I am intrigued about your taste and knowledge of music Rich!
Why the intrigue GM?
Anyway, answering your Desert Island Discs question, my eight tracks would be;
1) Tainted Love - Soft Cell.
2) I'll Find My Way Home - Jon & Vangelis.
3) Woman In Love - Barbra Streisand.
4) China Girl - David Bowie.
5) Big Log - Robert Plant.
6) This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both Of Us - Sparks.
7) Party Fears Two - Associates.
8) Babooshka - Kate Bush.
In truth this is an almost impossible ask. I've omitted many genres I love and groups and artists and now feel guilty for doing so, like some decent rock and disco.
From that compilation album this is a highly glossy piece of brilliant soul/dance, yet why is it never heard on radio, released this week in 1981 it was a decent sized hit at the time, peaked at No12 in late September 1981. Something about the music genres of this era endures strongly.
Rich wrote: Green Man wrote: If you were a Castway what be pick for Desert Island Discs?
I am intrigued about your taste and knowledge of music Rich!
Why the intrigue GM?
Anyway, answering your Desert Island Discs question, my eight tracks would be;
1) Tainted Love - Soft Cell.
2) I'll Find My Way Home - Jon & Vangelis.
3) Woman In Love - Barbra Streisand.
4) China Girl - David Bowie.
5) Big Log - Robert Plant.
6) This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both Of Us - Sparks.
7) Party Fears Two - Associates.
8) Babooshka - Kate Bush.
In truth this is an almost impossible ask. I've omitted many genres I love and groups and artists and now feel guilty for doing so, like some decent rock and disco.
It's very tricky, I have to pick.
1, Slade - My Oh My
2, Heaven - Psychedelic Furs
3, Luskus Delph - Procol Harum
4, Expresso Love - Dire Straits
5, The Balance - Moody Blues
6, Ways To Be Wicked - Lone Justice (JK cover version will also do)
That's an interesting Slade pick, My Oh My, the first huge hit of theirs I can actually remember first hand at the time it was being a hit and being bitterly disappointed those bloody Flying Pickets turned up and prevented Noddy getting access to the No1 spot for Christmas in 1983 ten years after they had done so with their sixth and biggest topper, the big festive one. Great song I agree, brings back great memories of Christmas '83.
I discovered their song How Does It Feel only in 2012 and couldn't stop playing it for a while. I couldn't work out how it ever passed me by, it was the one that broke their run of big hits but shouldn't have done, it was just as good as all the rest, if not better.
I'll go through those tunes you listed and give an opinion in a day or two, just heard a bit of The Promises track, Baby It's You, quite enjoyable, needs another listen. Keyboardist has an interesting fashion, looks like he's wearing a rucksack with straps while wearing a tie but needed to remember the shirt goes first! That did well down under apparently, No1 in NZ and No2 in Australia. 7 out of 8 of yours I just don't know.
Rich wrote: That's an interesting Slade pick, My Oh My, the first huge hit of theirs I can actually remember first hand at the time it was being a hit and being bitterly disappointed those bloody Flying Pickets turned up and prevented Noddy getting access to the No1 spot for Christmas in 1983 ten years after they had done so with their sixth and biggest topper, the big festive one. Great song I agree, brings back great memories of Christmas '83.
I discovered their song How Does It Feel only in 2012 and couldn't stop playing it for a while. I couldn't work out how it ever passed me by, it was the one that broke their run of big hits but shouldn't have done, it was just as good as all the rest, if not better.
I'll go through those tunes you listed and give an opinion in a day or two, just heard a bit of The Promises track, Baby It's You, quite enjoyable, needs another listen. Keyboardist has an interesting fashion, looks like he's wearing a rucksack with straps while wearing a tie but needed to remember the shirt goes first! That did well down under apparently, No1 in NZ and No2 in Australia. 7 out of 8 of yours I just don't know.
Slade had some right bangers and excellent B-sides. I lost my copy of Slade's B-sides CD set, and it's very expensive to buy now as it's no longer in print. I lost a lot during the two burglaries.
There are 3 outstanding Slade tribute bands, but Slady are the best ones to see hands down.
Flying Pickets were no more than a novelty act who drank too much whilst listening to Showaddywaddy IMHO.
I love How Does It Feel it's like Lennon meets Jethro Tull who meets the brass section of Power Station.
Promises were Canadians, and Canadians are not known for their dress sense, but again, his bare chest, blonde hair, predates He-Man. I wonder if Honey is attracted to the keyboardist?
I'd be interested to hear your views on my list after you have listened to each one, Rich.
Here's my response to your 8 Desert Island picks GM now I've had time to do them all justice with a couple of plays each.
1. Slade - My Oh My.
The only track I knew of your picks, have always loved the track, it was a fab comeback single that did the business, powerful and anthemic, well produced and fit for a different decade to their previous 70s stuff. It obviously has advantage that I know it so well and can place it to a memorable time. 9/10
2. Psycheledic Furs - Heaven.
I'm quite surprised I don't ever recall hearing this one, as it just made top thirty in 1984 according to my books, a year where anything that charted I expected to know. This passed me by, no recognition at all for it. I found it surprisingly bland and low key if I'm honest and not what I expected. I like his voice though and love the biggie they had, Pretty In Pink. 3/10
3. Procol Harum - Luskus Delph.
What the heck does that mean? A very funereal track came to mind. I wasn't overly keen. I do like Pandora's Box of theirs though. 4/10
4. Dire Straits - Expresso Love.
Not for me at all, dull and uninspiring. I either really like a Dire Straits song or hate one. I never tire of listening to 6 minutes of Private Investigations though, which others may find dull but manages to reach levels of moodiness and atmosphere that this one didn't. 2/10
5. Moody Blues - The Balance.
It was kind of alright but didn't ignite much enthusiasm in me, and once again I will cite another of theirs, Question, which I love loads and have often played. This I believe comes from the same 1970 album. 4/10
6. Lone Justice - Ways To Be Wicked.
A great voice, and a bit country in style, not my kind of mid 80s music though. I'm not a great fan of country music, it takes a good one for me to enjoy that genre. I thought they had a couple of hits but turns out they did next to nothing, but I knew the name. 5/10
7. Greg Kihn Band - Breakup Song.
Catchy "ah, ah, ah" bit helped make this track okay and memorable quite instantly. I was expecting something like the Steve Miller Band with this and there were elements there. Good production, enjoyed hearing it for the first time. Would listen again. Don't know a lot about him other than I recognised his name as someone who passed recently and discovered he did last August. 7/10
8. Genesis - Visions of Angels.
I was expecting to like this as there is very little of theirs that I dislike after 1978 (my fave being 'Mama') but I drifted off thinking of something else while listening to it. Plodding with no direction. I wasn't expecting to hear such an old Genesis track, I'd no idea they were recording as early as 1970. 2/10
Would I be right in assuming lyrics are very important to you? I'm more of a tune first, lyrics second type of listener to music. I'm not so hung up on guitar based music either, and like tracks made with other methods like synths for example. I like a good bassline too. I nearly added Autobahn by Kraftwerk to my own 8 infact. You have a different taste in music I feel, while there is no doubt we also have a clear overlap too. I'm pleased you liked Hi Gloss. Feel free to rate my 8 if you have time like I have here, I'd be interested to see what you say. I felt like I was detecting a possible 10 to 12 year age gap between us as I listened, rightly or wrongly.
Actually GM it was your honourable mention of Promises, Baby It's You that you kept just outside your 8 that I liked the best of the whole lot. I've listened to that a few times now, really like the song, love the production, love the female lead singer's voice on it and her look along with the shirtless keyboardist, so it's a good job you thought to add it as an afterthought!
I enjoyed reading your opinions, we do overlap and we both know what we like.
I do love good lyrics that tell a story. I do like some concept albums.
I own all Moody Blues albums and they did reinvent themselves in the 80s to be friendly like Genesis. Wildest Dreams is the prime example.
JK, produced the first Genesis album. Which is underrated and underappreciated. I own about 3 versions of the album. One CD version is a clear needle drop; it's closer I am going to get to the original LP.
I love this song. Genesis were teenagers when they recorded the LP.
Even as a kid, I was into album music and prog and heavy rock, whilst other people liked punk, bubblegum and glam. I did like glam, hence Slade being in my top 8. I just remember it came and went. I remember at school we had to bring out our favourite record in, I bought Ted Nugent. It was either that or You and Me by the Moody Blues; I was in school with too many philistines so they wouldn't have appreciated it. I didn't buy singles-only albums.
I still beat myself up for losing this Thoughts & Words album. Thoughts and Words made the hairs of my neck stand up when I first heard this from my uncle's record collection, in the late 70s. Especially these 2 songs.
1) Tainted Love - Soft Cell. A song that needs no introduction, I was never a fan of the song itself, but I loved the music video even back then. It has to be a 1/10, it' just down to personal taste and preference.
2) I'll Find My Way Home - Jon & Vangelis. Has to be 10/10, Two juggernauts from prog joining forces, making a gentle melodic song, but it's a powerhouse and got to number 6. It's a song that hospital radio played a lot.
3) Woman In Love - Barbra Streisand. You must be the only bloke to admit they like Streisand, even gay guys keep that quiet.
In all seriousness, it was one my mother's favourite songs. I love the guitar riff; I would have paid money to hear Kris Kristofferson do a version. It's a decent movie and you must watch Songwriter from 1984. So it's a 2/10, just not for me.
4) China Girl - David Bowie. 8/10, I was never into Bowie, clutch your pearls if needed. It's such a memorable song. I love the tune, though.
5) Big Log - Robert Plant. Smouldering Robert in a funnel vest. I remember the video well. I give it a 3/10, it's a nice song for night driving. There was nothing melodic about it,
6) This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both Of Us - Sparks. 10/10.
7) Party Fears Two - Associates. 10/10, my late father's favourite song from the 1980s, despite him not liking many songs from the 80s, he said the Associates have something special. Another band with a tragic ending. I still have his copy of Sulk.
8) Babooshka - Kate Bush. 0/10 I couldn't stand it back then, and the video was cringe.
I do like Hi-Gloss; thanks to you, their type of music was never on my radar like Cameo. It was more background for clubs.
Green Man wrote: Rich wrote: That's an interesting Slade pick, My Oh My, the first huge hit of theirs I can actually remember first hand at the time it was being a hit and being bitterly disappointed those bloody Flying Pickets turned up and prevented Noddy getting access to the No1 spot for Christmas in 1983 ten years after they had done so with their sixth and biggest topper, the big festive one. Great song I agree, brings back great memories of Christmas '83.
I discovered their song How Does It Feel only in 2012 and couldn't stop playing it for a while. I couldn't work out how it ever passed me by, it was the one that broke their run of big hits but shouldn't have done, it was just as good as all the rest, if not better.
I'll go through those tunes you listed and give an opinion in a day or two, just heard a bit of The Promises track, Baby It's You, quite enjoyable, needs another listen. Keyboardist has an interesting fashion, looks like he's wearing a rucksack with straps while wearing a tie but needed to remember the shirt goes first! That did well down under apparently, No1 in NZ and No2 in Australia. 7 out of 8 of yours I just don't know.
Slade had some right bangers and excellent B-sides. I lost my copy of Slade's B-sides CD set, and it's very expensive to buy now as it's no longer in print. I lost a lot during the two burglaries.
There are 3 outstanding Slade tribute bands, but Slady are the best ones to see hands down.
Flying Pickets were no more than a novelty act who drank too much whilst listening to Showaddywaddy IMHO.
I love How Does It Feel it's like Lennon meets Jethro Tull who meets the brass section of Power Station.
Promises were Canadians, and Canadians are not known for their dress sense, but again, his bare chest, blonde hair, predates He-Man. I wonder if Honey is attracted to the keyboardist?
I'd be interested to hear your views on my list after you have listened to each one, Rich.
I scored three 10/10 jackpots with my choice of 8 songs then GM, not bad. I was feeling quite smug about that, and then you gave Babooshka NOTHING! Tut, tut, tut.
On Streisand, we have the mum thing in common there, mine bought it at the time it topped the charts and I recall her playing it lots. I'm not sure what I thought of it at that point, still a primary school child, but I soon really liked it and have never changed view - production is awesome, songwriters impeccable and vocal goes without saying. The opening line lyric always hits me too - "Life is a moment in space, when the dream is gone, it's a lonelier place". It's so profoundly true.
On your father and his love for that Associates song, I agree it's one of the best pop hits of the decade. My own young father who had been into music seemed strangely detached in the 1980's from popular music and hit songs. He bought absolutely nothing and acted as if everything was rubbish that he heard or saw on TOTP. Music seemed to end with the sixties to him. He was only in his early 30's when the eighties decade began too, and had bought heaps in the 60's. I'm not sure what happened there. Even my grandad of nearly 80 was liking listening to records I bought and played to him in 1983 from the likes of Depeche Mode (Everything Counts) and Eurythmics (Who's That Girl?) and Elton John (I'm Still Standing). I was shocked when he enjoyed sitting there listening to me belt out Depeche Mode one afternoon having just bought it after staying with my grandparents in the school summer holidays. My own dad half his age would have turned his nose up at all of the new groups. At home in the 80's I used to wait until he was out of the house until I dared play some of this music on the great big radiogram's turntable in the living room with some decent volume. I never owned my own record player!
My partner and I are big fans of Jon Anderson and Vangelis—we own a fair number of their CDs and records, and we never get bored with them. Their music has a timeless quality that keeps us coming back, Jon's voice is one of a kind, even nonsensical Yes albums have their charm.
As for my dad, he didn’t own much from the 1980s music scene. His collection was mostly limited to a few albums by Crosby, Stills & Nash, Supertramp, and The Moody Blues. Those bands were already considered a bit old-school by then, but they were still releasing new material.
One album he did have, like half the country was Brothers in Arms by Dire Straits. Not because he was a huge fan, but because every Hi-Fi store used it to demo their new Hi FI setups. It was the first album recorded and mixed entirely digitally, so it sounded crisp and clean. But that had more to do with the CD format than the expensive Hi-Fi gear. Honestly, it was just a cheap sales tactic.
He did enjoy the mix tapes my sisters made for him to play in the car. That was more his speed. I didn’t see much of my family during the '80s since I was living abroad, but we stayed in touch. I was always sending records back home.
When my parents visited me in New York, I had MTV on constantly. My dad was fixated—he couldn’t take his eyes off it. It was a whole new world for him. I am sure I liked the band Vixen but didn't want to say.
He did like Adam Ant, too. I tolerated him, but I was never really a fan.
He bought absolutely nothing and acted as if everything was rubbish that he heard or saw on TOTP
I think we will be the same now if TOTP was still on the air, I can't imagine the fans' reactions if Swiftie was on miming. Then again if she took a huge shit inside a Lada, her fans would watch and give her a standing ovation. Like Billie Eilish, who spat water over her fans, and one yelled out, "Give me your coronavirus".
I suppose it would be very weird if anyone in their fifties was acting all keen and eager to listen to all the music a 16 year old loves, and we hold our own youthful music dear to our hearts and memories of course we do, but having said that, as JK has mentioned before when talking about the lack of mass appeal music, many of those hits singles and albums from the 80s, and 70s (not so much the 60s I think) transcended the generations and were liked by a wide age spectrum, as I said previously, some of the then current music I bought could be liked by a 14 year old boy and an 80 year old man.
One of the strongest memories I have of parental disgust at something I was watching on TOTP was in late 1982/early 1983 when Malcolm McLaren was in the charts with his big top ten hit Buffalo Gals. I enjoyed that track and still do, it was different and quirky and full of the record scratching. The utter disgust he had when he saw me listening to that on that show, the lecture I got and the look on his face was as if I'd just been caught taking a sly fag or drugs in the front room in front of the TV, not just enjoying a bit of music. In a sense I felt he was holding me personally responsible for what was being shown!
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