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Post by raliverpool on Sept 16, 2013 14:59:06 GMT 1
960 Breathe - Don't Tell Me Lies (1986)
A little bit of an odd one for me personally. This was the debut single by the British pop group which originally made UK#77 in February 1986, but despite Peter Powell supporting it, it failed to get close to the Top 40. The a few months late the horrible Calling All The Heroes by It Bites came along with a similar synth riff and an awful video and went Top 10 .... Two and a half years after this single was released Breathe had a transatlantic Top 5 smash with Hands To Heaven which I always found really dull. So early in 1989 this song was reissued with a new video and promptly reached USA#10, but still failed to reach the UK Top 40 peaking at #45.
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Post by raliverpool on Sept 16, 2013 15:08:26 GMT 1
959 Housemartins - There Is Always Something There To Remind Me (1988)
Not to be confused with the Bacharach & David standard. The final single by the lyrically socialist/Marxist jangle pop 4th best band in Hull (the three bands that were "better" were Red Guitars, Everything but the Girl and The Gargoyles) before they split to form The Beautiful South; Beats International; become a successful writer of children books; get sent to prison for 6 years for assault with an axe and setting fire to the house of the victim respectively. This only reached UK#35 but faired better in Ireland #17.
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Post by raliverpool on Sept 16, 2013 15:15:12 GMT 1
958 Go West - We Close Our Eyes (1985)
The pop duo signed to Chrysalis debut single was composed by both members Peter Cox and Richard Drummie. Recognizable by its synthesizer hook, and a memorable music video directed by Godley & Creme (now that's something of a common occurrence in this countdown). Peaking at UK#5 and USA#41 (where they later had 3 Top 40 hits). However this went to #1 in the land of Lorde (New Zealand). This is their only entry in my countdown.
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Post by raliverpool on Sept 16, 2013 15:25:41 GMT 1
957 Pixies - Here Comes Your Man (1989)
Boston's alternative rock band the Pixies (whom I regard as the greatest band to ever come out of the USA), written and sung by the band's frontman Black Francis. Produced by Gil Norton, it was released as the second single from the group's second album Doolittle in June 1989. Apparently Frank Black wrote this song by imagining what the Velvet Underground would have come up with having heard Mink DeVille's "Spanish Stroll" and REM's "Carnival of Sorts". The video was a confirmation of their anti lip-sync stance. (They refused to do TV shows if they had to mime). This track reached UK#54 and had what I personally think was a better B-side "Into The White" sung by bassist Kim Deal.
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Post by raliverpool on Sept 16, 2013 15:33:15 GMT 1
956 Soft Cell - What! (1982)
This synth pop anthem was a cover of Judy Street's 1966 Northern Soul anthem "What?" apparently recorded under the influence of MDMA. This was their 5th and final of 5 consecutive UK Top 4 hit singles (UK#3). It also made #6 in both France and Ireland. Please enjoy the very Pop Art inspired video.
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Post by raliverpool on Sept 16, 2013 15:38:30 GMT 1
955 In Tua Nua - All I Wanted (1988)
The Irish folk rock group scored a UK#69 hit with this cracking proto-Texas folk rocker, this was their 5th of 5 Top 30 hits in Ireland (Ire #17).
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vastar iner
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I am the poster on your wall
Posts: 17,428
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Post by vastar iner on Sept 16, 2013 15:44:52 GMT 1
I wouldn't call the Pistols one-dimensional, their album had songs about anarchy, Communism, suburban alienation, abortion and a mickeytake. They just didn't have the longevity of The Clash, which in itself was a statement.
I have a list in preparation, but it's a tenth as big.
And as The Housemartins are from Hull, is that a sign that fellow Hullians Indians In Moscow are coming up...?
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Post by raliverpool on Sept 16, 2013 15:53:54 GMT 1
954 Leonard Cohen - Hallelujah (1984)
Taken from the legendary Canadian songwriter's 7th studio album Various Positions was this album's lead single release. Cohen wrote around 80 draft verses for "Hallelujah", with one writing session at the Royalton Hotel in New York where he was reduced to sitting on the floor in his underwear, banging his head on the floor. His original version, as recorded on his Various Positions album, contains several biblical references, most notably evoking the stories of Samson and traitorous Delilah from the Book of Judges as well as the adulterous King David and Bathsheba: "she cut your hair" and "you saw her bathing on the roof, her beauty in the moonlight overthrew you". This track features Jennifer Warnes on backing vocals and reached #7 in the 1984 Canadian Xmas chart. In an April 2009 CBC Radio interview, Cohen said that he finds the number of covers of his song "ironic and amusing" given that when he first wrote it, his record company wouldn't put it out. However, he now thinks the song could benefit from a break in exposure: "I was just reading a review of a movie called Watchmen that uses it and the reviewer said – 'Can we please have a moratorium on "Hallelujah" in movies and television shows?' And I kind of feel the same way...I think it's a good song, but I think too many people sing it. I really appreciated it when firstly John Cale, then Jeff Buckley, Rufus Wainwright and k.d. lang covered it as they all did great interpretations of the song's lyrics, but every time it is sung on a TV talent show somewhere in the world (it was first performed on Norwegian Idol in 2006, 2 years before Alexandra Burke bludgeoned it to death) I feel the soul of the song is being destroyed piece by piece."
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Post by raliverpool on Sept 16, 2013 16:00:36 GMT 1
953 Joe Jackson - Steppin' Out (1982)
Released as a single in August 1982, it became the Berlin based singer/songwriter's biggest Billboard Hot 100 hit in the USA #6, the same peak was later achieved in the UK in January 1983. The music video for the song, directed by Steve Barron, featured a housekeeper pretending she was a Cinderella figure. This jazz tinged track featured according to one review a "mélange of simple piano hooks, rudimentary electronic treatment and classic vocal pop, with a rhythm track that is quaint in its simplicity and driving enough to invoke images of the big city at night."
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Post by raliverpool on Sept 16, 2013 16:10:51 GMT 1
952 INXS - The One Thing (1982)
The Australian outfit released this single as the lead single from their 1982 album Shabooh Shoobah. "The One Thing" brought INXS their first Top 40 hit in the USA #30; having already peaked at #14 in Australia; and was a Top 40 hit in Canada. The video is so stylishly decadent Duran Duran-esque posing it has to be seen to be believed.
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Post by raliverpool on Sept 16, 2013 16:23:00 GMT 1
951 Diana Ross - My Old Piano (1980)
My Old Piano was the third and final single to be released by Diana Ross from her hit album Diana. Unlike the two previous singles (Upside Down, I'm Coming Out) which made #1 and #5 respectively this failed to trouble the Billboard Top 100, at Radio networks had been influenced by the "Disco Sucks" movement resulting in this song having non-existent airplay. Thankfully as Europe did not have the racist/homophobic/awful taste in music movement, Europe could still enjoy the genius of Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards song-writing/production/musicianship as this song went Top 5 all over Europe doing better than the previous single.
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Post by suedehead on Sept 16, 2013 16:35:19 GMT 1
954 Leonard Cohen - Hallelujah (1984)Taken from the legendary Canadian songwriter's 7th studio album Various Positions was this album's lead single release. Cohen wrote around 80 draft verses for "Hallelujah", with one writing session at the Royalton Hotel in New York where he was reduced to sitting on the floor in his underwear, banging his head on the floor. His original version, as recorded on his Various Positions album, contains several biblical references, most notably evoking the stories of Samson and traitorous Delilah from the Book of Judges as well as the adulterous King David and Bathsheba: "she cut your hair" and "you saw her bathing on the roof, her beauty in the moonlight overthrew you". This track features Jennifer Warnes on backing vocals and reached #7 in the 1984 Canadian Xmas chart. In an April 2009 CBC Radio interview, Cohen said that he finds the number of covers of his song "ironic and amusing" given that when he first wrote it, his record company wouldn't put it out. However, he now thinks the song could benefit from a break in exposure: "I was just reading a review of a movie called Watchmen that uses it and the reviewer said – 'Can we please have a moratorium on "Hallelujah" in movies and television shows?' And I kind of feel the same way...I think it's a good song, but I think too many people sing it. I really appreciated it when firstly John Cale, then Jeff Buckley, Rufus Wainwright and k.d. lang covered it as they all did great interpretations of the song's lyrics, but every time it is sung on a TV talent show somewhere in the world (it was first performed on Norwegian Idol in 2006, 2 years before Alexandra Burke bludgeoned it to death) I feel the soul of the song is being destroyed piece by piece." Some of the "talent show" versions of Hallelujah are a perfect example of singers who can sing the notes but not the words.
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Post by Shireblogger on Sept 16, 2013 18:00:37 GMT 1
Four top choices in the latest batch.
I thought Breathe's "Don't Tell Me Lies" was a pleasant little number, and I bought it first time around.
Joe Jackson's "Steppin' Out" was great, but was, sadly, the only decent song he recorded after the "Look Sharp !" LP, which, I suspect, was 70s not 80s.
"What" is my favourite Soft Cell track of all, and would definitely have landed a much higher place on my list. Plinky plinky synth lines, and Marc Almond at the peak of his pleading vocal delivery. Pure pathos, and brilliant for it.
And, of course, In Tua Nua were simply wonderful. I entered this track in Havenvision a couple of years ago, and it did pretty badly. Hey ho. Obviously not indie dance enough.
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Post by rubcale on Sept 16, 2013 18:31:10 GMT 1
Quite surprised to see the Diana Ross track here. Of all Diana's UK singles the success of this one really surprised me.
Never intended as a single it was surprisingly actually chosen as the follow-up to Upside Down in the UK in preference to I'm Coming Out. Diana was in the UK and Sharon Davis of Motown asked her if she would record a video of it
The video was cobbled together in a room at The Inn On The Park Hotel on Park Lane.
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vastar iner
Member
I am the poster on your wall
Posts: 17,428
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Post by vastar iner on Sept 16, 2013 19:39:20 GMT 1
INXS' sudden early 80s success, combined with Bob Hawke's high tax regime, caused their accountant to tell them to lose some money sharpish. He suggested they invest it in films, which seldom made their money back; they could do someone a favour and not be clobbered by a punitive rate.
They took that advice and put it in a local project that was expected to vanish without trace.
Although perhaps you've heard of it? Crocodile Dundee?
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vya
Member
Posts: 8,776
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Post by vya on Sept 16, 2013 20:44:41 GMT 1
As far as Breathe goes, the track I rate most highly (how highly? not quite sure) is "How Can I Fall". This one's alright in my book.
I recall "Here Comes Your Man" getting some scathing reviews at the time, but it's a pretty fine bit of fairly light summery pop music, a lot less dark than usual...while it's really not their finest work, it's still a welcome change and worth a listen.
"What!" is fabulous. In the charts at the same time as "Wot!" by Captain Sensible, which really wasn't.
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Post by smokeyb on Sept 16, 2013 22:56:34 GMT 1
983 U2 - I Will Follow I liked a lot of their early stuff, but less and less as the years went by, this was a good track
979 Supertramp - It's Raining Again Showing my age here, but I remember all their 70’s stuff, and play their greatest hits regularly
973 Madness - Tomorrow's (Just Another Day) How can this be so low in your countdown, brilliant song by one of the best acts of the 80’s, would be in my top 100. Hoping there will be a few more much higher up in your countdown
966 The Clash - Bankrobber I’m in the Clash camp rather than the Sex Pistols, much preferred their output
965 Spandau Ballet – Instinction Never really took to this track at the time, the Spans like Duran Duran embraced the videos and it definitely helped propel their career
962 Julian Lennon - Now You're In Heaven Never heard this song before but the dummy reminds me of the Anthony Hopkins film “Magic”
958 Go West - We Close Our Eyes Liked this at the time, it had a catchy chorus, you can currently find them on the 80’s Rewind Tour
956 Soft Cell - What! Quite liked them at the time, but if I remember correctly amongst my friends I was in a minority of one
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Post by raliverpool on Sept 17, 2013 11:34:19 GMT 1
950 Kajagoogoo - Big Apple (1983)
Confession time here, I could never stand Limahl's voice, so I was delighted when he was fired from the Leighton Buzzard jazz-funk pop outfit and Nick Beggs took over the vocal duties with this cracking yet slight tune which sounds like they were "inspired" by Duran Duran's Last Chance On The Stairway. This made UK#8, and was their second biggest seller internationally.
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Post by raliverpool on Sept 17, 2013 11:43:29 GMT 1
949 H2O - I Dream To Sleep (1983)
This Glasgow band were fronted by singer lead singer Ian Donaldson (Not to be confused with the 1990s American "Punk" band, or the late 2000s Leicester based garage duo). This was the first and biggest of four singles which troubled the UK chart (#17). I think it is fair to say the duo formed by Theo Hutchcraft and Adam Anderson have based their entire career on this track!
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Post by raliverpool on Sept 17, 2013 11:55:11 GMT 1
948 Phil Fearon And Galaxy - Everybody's Laughing (1984)
This delightfully cheesy summery jazz-funk pop track was a UK#10 hit in the summer of 1984, the 6th of 10 UK singles to make the charts (and 3rd of 4 Top 10 hits) for the various combination of Galaxy and Phil Fearon which were all the work of Phil Fearon with various musicians. The blonde with the big hair who sings backing vocals on this track is Dorothy "Dee" Galdes the future lead vocalist of Baby D who of course scored a UK #1 hit in 1994 with Let Me Be Your Fantasy. She is also the wife of Phil Fearon and some of you may very well remember their daughter Stephanie finished as a semi-finalist on the 2010 BBC talent search Over the Rainbow. The video is worth watching as it pokes gentle fun of numerous pop videos and numerous famous scenes from musicals.
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