Fleetwood Mac

For over 30 years I have declared that I don't like Fleetwood Mac. I probably said it on this blog. I think my dislike was based on the album Tango In The Night and that bloody song, Everywhere. I still want to pull my eyelashes out if I hear it. Also Big Love, such an irritating song. Tweeness.

Anyway, I like to think I am big enough to admit when I am wrong. Sort of. I still dislike those two songs but something odd happened to me. I started thinking, I fancy listening to some Fleetwood Mac. And boom, about 40+ years after everyone else, I discovered Rumours. It's a bit embarrassing. A few months ago, a friend's 15 year old son sat me down and explained who Drake and Stormzy was as I blinked at him. And there's me now all like, yeah man I've discovered Fleetwood Mac.

God help me. Anyway, if you're interested, I am enjoying The Chain (a work of genius), Dreams (although thunder doesn't only happen when it's raining - annoying), Don't Stop, Go Your Own Way and I quite like Little Lies. As usual, nothing earth shattering here.

I still think Stevie Nicks is a pain in the arse.

Frankie Goes To Hollywood

I am not sure any group quite sums up the 80s like Frankie. Recently I have rediscovered the masterpiece that is Welcome To The Pleasuredome. Have you listened to this lately? It sounds fresh as a daisy and is still wonderful. I've become a bit obsessed with it having not listened to it for about 30 years, I can't stop listening to it.

Trevor Horn was a genius. The production on this is so good, the songs transition beautifully and when the introduction to Welcome To The Pleasuredome starts, it transports me back to 1984. I think that's the best track on the album but who doesn't love Relax? That song could be released now and would be a massive hit. There's also a lovely cover of Do You Know The Way To San Jose? Holly Johnson had a great voice. I like Two Tribes but it's not my top Frankie song. What strikes me listening to it again is how well put together it is, it's a proper album designed to listen in one go rather than lift the singles out.  Even Teenboy agrees on the genius of Frankie.

They had such a stunning debut and then it all fell apart so quickly. They burned bright and faded fast but this is a wonderful album and I recommend you all listen to it again and dig out your Frankie says relax t-shirts.

Here's the best song.

The Police - Every Breath You Take

How have I not written about this yet? I'm in the sixth year of this blog and no mention of this masterpiece. I am just watching something I recorded last month about the top 10 richest song and I simply can't believe I've missed talking about this.

David Hepworth (I trust my discerning readers to know who he is) says: "this song is a masterpiece!" and I agree. I love it so much and I never tire of hearing it. If it comes on the radio, I do a little yay to myself and turn up the dial.

I know Sting annoys people. He's up there with Bono in the ranks of pompous, worthy ageing rock star but I like him. His voice is one of my favourite singing voices and he's hot.

 

This is by far the best song The Police every produced. The lyrics are clever, it's catchy and it sounds timeless, it's not obviously from the 80s.

David Bowie, Alan Rickman and Glenn Frey in the same week. Trust me, I am not ignoring them but I am not ready to write about it yet. 

Top Ten songs from 80s movies

Inspired by just watching the Carly Simon video for Let The River Run. I am now watching Africa by Toto which is not, to my knowledge, featured in an 80s film but god, I love it. If you feel the same way, read this.

Anyway, to my list. Oh, this is so hard. SO HARD. How can I pick just ten? Let me dive in and see how I get on.

Now, strictly speaking I am cheating from the start because this isn't really a song and it has no video to go with it. But I love this more than life itself and it's from one of my favourite movies ever (not just the 80s) and therefore I am having it. The love theme from St Elmo's Fire.

Footloose! Kenny Loggins is the king of the 80s soundtrack. This is the very definition of a 'they don't make 'em like they used to' song. It's impossible to sit still to and it really does make me want to kick off my Sunday shoes. Added bonus of Kevin Bacon dancing of course.

 

It would be too easy to pick What A Feeling from Flashdance and yes, I do love it. However, Maniac by Michael Sembello is also a classic.

Fame! I want to live forever. This was huge. I still love watching the video. Dancing is a big thing for me.

If you want cheese, this video delivers in spades. Carly mingling with the characters from Working Girl. It's deeply odd but what an anthem.

I could include the entire Dirty Dancing soundtrack. While I love Time of My Life, this montage is when they fall in love and I can watch it over and over again.

I could also include the whole Pretty Woman soundtrack. One of the greatest soundtracks of our time. Go West! Roxette! I've always adored this little love song though.

I can't find any video that went with Crocodile Dundee and this song. Mental As Anything - Live It Up. Best band name ever. This is perfect pop.

I hate Simple Minds but to not include this would be all kinds of wrong. And it's the one thing they did right.

The finest rom com ever made give me my final choice. Nobody else gave me a thrill, with all your faults I love you still. Another great soundtrack. 

No Top Gun songs? No room. Although the theme from Top Gun would be on my list on a different day and a different mood. Also Oh Yeah by Yello. What have I missed? Tell me your choices.

Kylie Minogue: Abbey Rd sessions

As previously discussed, I like Kylie and have enormous goodwill towards her. However, I haven't listened to her for years. Today I went to my local coffee shop to get my lunchtime sandwich and music was playing, it was familiar yet not. It took me a while to realise it was Kylie. I asked the owner who told me it was the Abbey Rd sessions. Seeing as I am completely out of the loop on music these days, I'd not heard of this album. He raved about it (it turns out we have similar musical taste, they were playing Abba the other weekend) and I just listened to some of it on iTunes.

It's fab and I highly recommend it. He is going to give me a copy of his CD so I think it could be my soundtrack for the next month until I get throughly sick of it.

Axel Foley's theme

I am currently working on a project with someone called Axel. I don't know how anyone is meant to keep a straight face. Every meeting or call I have with him, the Foley theme goes through my mind.

It's brightening up my day.

Great music videos

I am an MTV kid of the 80s. I used to go and spend summers with my dad in Boston and while he worked, I would watch MTV for hours and hours. We didn't have it at home, there was no such thing as cable or satellite when I was a teenager let me tell you and certainly not in Essex. So I used to soak up the videos like a sponge. Some songs I swear I like because of the videos. I believe the golden age of video is behind us or maybe I think that because I am nostalgic for the 80s. There probably are some wonderful music videos being made now but they are so overly sexualised. I don't want to see tits and ass. I want creativity, innocence, humour and images that fit a song to perfection.

I've been musing on this for a while now and as such, here are some videos I think just work. They complement a song and make it sound better. They are videos that you instantly think of when you hear the song on the radio.

Michael Jackson understood the power of the video and it's hard to imagine a better video that the one for Billie Jean. The steps lighting up! It's all unmistakably 80s but it works beautifully. I much prefer it to the video for Thriller.

 

While I am on Jacko, Beat It. Also fantastic and so iconic with that red jacket. In fact, this video is all about the red jacket. I used to jump for joy when this came on MTV.

Lionel Richie, All Night Long. This is the perfect video. It evokes warm summer night and a party atmosphere. I love how colourful it is. I can't watch this without dancing. Also, cute kids!

A large house at night, a gothic atmosphere, a full moon, a wind machine, doors being opened dramatically, long white dresses, curtains billowing, mysterious ninja dancers, men in pants cartwheeling. It can only mean one thing. Bonnie is in the house. It's all just fantastic.

Duran Duran were a huge video band. Bands often became over ambitious as they became uber successful. Wild Boys is a ridiculous video. However, Rio is perfect. It doesn't take itself seriously. It's glam and aspirational. We all wanted to be on that yacht with a blue telephone.

Club Tropicana has a similar feel. I prefer this to Rio (much as I love Rio) because a) George Michael can actually sing b) it's a better song and c) It has Shirley and Pepsi in it! Also, I still want that lilo. Listening to this transports me to Spanish holidays of my youth.

George Michael made some great videos. I also love Careless Whisper (of course) for its utter cheesiness, Fast Love, and of course, Freedom. Supermodels! Every time I watch this I am captivated by Naomi Campbell's drop dead beauty.

Madonna. This entire post could be devoted to Madonna videos. She understands the power of video like no other. The Like A Virgin video makes an average song sound good and that's a real talent. I can't think of a single Madonna video I don't like. Obviously the pinnacle of her career is Vogue. If I had to pick my favourite video of all time, then this would be it. The dancing still looks as fresh as a daisy and the entire concept is genius.

I also love Hung Up, especially when she struts into that club. The woman knows how to dance.

Madonna's natural successor is of course, Lady Gaga. Poker Face is a beautifully looking video. That opening shot of her coming out of the pool is so cool.

Bad Romance as well. I could watch this over and over. The visuals in this are stunning. She was so good and now, meh. Whatever.

And finally, Beyonce, Crazy in Love. Utter perfection.

I shall be returning to this theme as I think of more great videos I love.

Haircut 100

The 80s was the decade of some truly perfect pop. I was not a huge Haircut 100 fan but who doesn't adore Love Plus One? It's a bonkers song: "where do we go from here? Is it down to the lake I fear?" It's so catchy and frothy though. This song will always remind me of rollerskating in Maldon. I only went once (not being someone who is fond of balancing on tiny wheels) but they played this and I thought I was fabulous. No doubt I was wearing neon too.

Also, when I worked at Our Price in Kingston, Nick Heyward came into the shop. It was terribly exciting.

Now That's What I Call Music

Thirty years ago this album was released. Obviously I had it in vinyl. I still can't listen to You Can't Hurry Love without expecting Duran Duran's Is There Something I Should Know immediately after it. I was reminded of this album because I heard The Safety Dance on an episode of The Carrie Diaries. The track listing for the original Now album makes my heart sing. It's like a history lesson in 80s pop. Let's explore.

It opens with Phil Collins. I mean, why? And he is covering a Supremes song. It's like the worst of the 80s right off the bat. Then we move to one of the worst Duran Duran songs. Then another cover with UB40's Red Red Wine which I can't even discuss I hate it so much. Then, wait for it, Limahl. Anyone sane would give up but no, what's this? Heaven 17's Temptation. A classic of our time indeed. Things are looking up.

KC and the Sunshine Band with Give It Up follows which I love. I had forgotten how much I loved this and I am just listening to it now. It's going on my workout playlist. Double Dutch by Malcolm McClaren and the mighty Bonnie closes side one.

Side two and we have Karma Chameleon. I bloody hate this song. I feel I should like it being an 80s kid but god it's awful isn't it? The only people who like this are those who are too young to remember it the first time round. Culture Club did some good songs but this wasn't one of them. The magnificent Safety Dance follows and what is this video about? Bonkers.

Mike Oldfield bores us and then we come to Down Under. Possibly one of the greatest songs ever recorded. Not much else to say about side two except to ponder how Paul Young was ever successful.

Side three and New Edition hit us up with Candy Girl. Bobby Brown!

Limahl left Kajagoogoo and they decided to press on without him. To the regret of all of us. This is the worst of the 80s. Another cover with Tina Turner's Let's Stay Together. Al Green did it better. But we have Human League to save us. (Keep Feeling) Fascination with a great use of 80s brackets there. And Howard Jones with New Song - love, love, love it. More UB40, there is no explanation. Peabo and Roberta close side three with Tonight I Sellotape My Glove To You as my sister likes to call it.

Side four and Tracey Ullman with They Don't Know. A contender for one of my favourite 80s songs this, I adore it. The bells! Then Will Powers Kissing with Confidence, another fave. Skipping over Genesis to The Love Cats. This is totally perfect pop from a band that didn't really do pop. Then we have Simple Minds with a song nobody remembers, Waterfront? Anyone? The tedious Madness follow and we close with yes, just what we all wanted, another Culture Club song, Victims.

I am puzzled. I loved this album, I listened to it a great deal because I was 12 and hadn't built up a large collection of music and had not discovered my parents Beatles albums yet. I had remembered it being brilliant. It's clearly not. It has about 8 good songs on it and then bad songs by bands that weren't even that good to start with. I mean, Kajagoogoo? But the good songs really are properly good, we have Bonnie, The Cure, Tracey (although I admit it might just be me that loves this), Men at Work and the mighty Men Without Hats. Men did us proud in 1983.

I wish I'd kept my original vinyls but alas, they have long gone. Looking at the cover takes me back to fluro socks, Frinton-on-sea and poring over Smash Hits. Bliss.

New York City playlist

Well hello there my friends. Apologies for the lack of posts recently. I entered a world in which I was trying to obtain a US visa and what with that and a trip to Spain, my life has been a little busy. I needed a visa because I am moving to New York City for six months. Much excitement as I am a little bit in love with New York. OK, I am a lot in love with New York, more specifically Manhattan. Show me someone who doesn't skip with excitement at the smell of a pretzel stand and I'll show you a fool.

In one short week I shall be flying west and as with all major life events, I plan to theme it with an appropriate playlist. I thought I'd share my initial thoughts on this with you.

First up, my all-time favourite Randy Crawford and Streetlife. This song pretty much hums in my head as I power walk around Manhattan. I think it's the introduction that makes it so appealing.

I am an 80s kid so there is always a place for Fame. I love the old cab and cassette player in this. Baby look at me...

Oh Madonna, I will always love you for Into The Groove. I am planning a tribute visit to Battery Park. Goddammit, I still want to be her in this video.

Rapture by Blondie. I don't actually think any playlist is complete without this. Added bonus - it has a very Manhattan vibe. Also, if I can't be Madonna, can I be Debbie please?

It Had To Be You. From one of the best New York films ever made. Sing it Harry.

Only Barbra is allowed to sing this. Apologies for the subtitles! 2.13 gets me every time.

Across 110th Street. I adore this song. Another great opening.

And possibly my favourite New York song from Billy Joel. I love the lyrics to this, so evocative.

Christopher Cross gave us this masterpiece. Well, Burt Bacharach did of course. Maybe now I will understand what it means to be caught between the moon and New York City?

I could do this all night so it's time to close this one out with the bible of songs for us working girls. Sing it Carly! I'll try and avoid having a Melanie Griffith hair do while I am there but no promises...

Tell me your New York songs.

Dire Straits

Like any self-respecting 80s teenager, I went through my Dire Straits phase. Did you know Brothers in Arms is the seventh best selling UK album of all time? I bought it. Twice actually as I had on tape and then bought the CD.

I still like a few of the songs on it. Money For Nothing is a great song and I won't hear anything against it. A fabulous opening and Sting yodelling away, what more could you want? Brothers in Arms is a perfectly lovely song but I remember being irritated that they'd copied Aha with their video. Also, The West Wing played this for too long in an otherwise flawless episode from season 2. Your Latest Trick was Susan Tully's (Michelle from Eastenders if you are a bit slow) favourite song. I remember reading that in Smash Hits and thinking she had taste!

Ha!

However, my favourite song on the album was (and is) Walk of Life. I just love this. I don't know why but it makes me happy.

My searching to bring you this well-researched blog post tells me it's Mark Knopfler's birthday today. What a coincidence. He is 64 today, happy birthday Mark. I wonder if he still wears those headbands. Of course Dire Straits were about more than just one album but I am not going to linger over Romeo and Juliet or Sultans of Swing. For me, they were pretty much all about one album. And I am off to dig out my CD. I'll leave you with Susan's favourite.

Starship - We Built This City

Look at that cover! It's 80s heaven. I much prefer this song to Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now which is overplayed and nowhere near as fun. I've just looked up the lyrics. For 30 years I assumed the line was 'Marconi plays the number" but it's not! It is "Marconi plays the mamba" which I don't think is as good. I mean, San Francisco was not built on Cuban music was it?

No matter, it's an 80s classic and I love it and it has a video they only made in the 80s. Magical.

 

Beach Boys - Kokomo

I don't know how I've not talked about The Beach Boys yet. There is much to discuss on this topic however today I am just going to leave this here. Kokomo, one of the best summer songs ever and perfect for this scorching weather. I wish I was in Aruba, Jamaica, Bermuda, Bahama...

Sheena Easton

Back in time we go to the early 80s when Sheena was a big star. Ahhhh, such innocent times. The Scottish lass who made it big on The Big Time. Whenever I think of Sheena, I think of my nan disapprovingly saying that she'd ruined herself with all that make-up and she looked much better with a natural pretty face! Grandmothers are on this earth to make such comments.

What to make of Sheena? Did you know she'd been married four times? That is was watching The Way We Were that made her want to be a singer? She was huge in America of course and the fact is, she could actually, properly sing.

This video is hilarious, she looks strangely contemporary in it with her turquoise jumpsuit.

 

Sheena did two songs for the About Last Night album (one of my favourite albums, obviously) and both are songs I still listen to. It formed a montage in the film and wouldn't you know, here it is. Bonus Rob Lowe in this post.

Natural Love. Another montage scene but I can't find it on YouTube. I could describe it scene by scene but I will spare you. Suffice to say, it's the song they move in together to. And a giant bear is involved. It's very bouncy - the song, not the bear.

You haven't really made it until you've done a Bond theme. It's not a total classic but it's still pretty good. Very slinky.

However, her highpoint for me will always be U Got The Look. Your body's heck a slammin'. Only Prince could write such a lyric. This is when she sexed up. Of course Prince doesn't allow his songs on YouTube so I can't show you a proper version of it but hey, we all know it right? It's a brilliant song.

I am a bit disappointed to see what she looks like now. Housewife of New Jersey springs to mind. Sheena, go and find your Prince again.

John Farnham - You're The Voice

I heard this on the radio the other day and found myself singing along. Worryingly I knew every word. I'm not Australian so how did this happen?

By rights I should hate this song, it has bagpipes in it and there is no instrument on earth I loathe more than bagpipes. But I have a soft spot for it. It's almost a power ballad don't you think? I am going to call it one.

I thought John Farnham was a one hit wonder but Wikipedia tells me he has had loads of hits in Australia. In fact it seems he is the Cliff Richard of Australia, I don't consider that a compliment but there is no denying Cliff is popular. I had no idea. Every Australian I know goes mad for this song but I didn't realise he was such a legend.

You're The Voice is a great rousing song to listen to when driving through majestic countryside. Or sitting at home in London eating your porridge on a Saturday morning.

Rockwell - Somebody's Watching Me

We come to one of my favourite songs from the 80s. If you've ever wondered who Rockwell was (and let's face it, who hasn't?) I can tell you he is the son of Motown CEO Berry Gordy. Which explains quite a lot and how he got Michael Jackson to sing on his one and only hit. Wikipedia tells me they were childhood friends.

The best thing about this song is the line, "I wonder who's watching me now, who? The IRS!" It's at 2:40 and it makes me giggle every time I hear it. Which is not nearly enough because it's a great song.

 

Wet Wet Wet: Angel Eyes

I heard this on the radio the other day and was transported back to the 80s in a flash. Generally, like all sane people, I dislike Wet Wet Wet a great deal. Goodbye Girl is a dirge of a tune. And Love Is All Around? No, it's not. Marti Pellow singing style makes me want to stick hot pins in my eyes. Yet, yet...

I have a soft spot for this ridiculous song. Sample lyric: "people say I'm so automatic, people say I am not so systematic." What does that even mean? It draws me in though. It's quite evil. I know what it's doing yet I can't help but like it. It's has a marvellously 80s video of nonsense too. Now I've just listened to Temptation and admit I quite like that too. Oh my god. "Sing along, sing along baby, sing along for the love of the children." Nooooooo! No wonder he turned to heroin.

Be afraid, I just read the group reformed back in 2004. If I never have to see Marti Pellow's face again, I shall be happy.

Islands in the Stream

How have I not mentioned this before? It's only one of my favourite songs ever. Looking at the photo above gives me the warm and fuzzies. Written by The Bee Gees, this song is total perfection and the ideal way to start the weekend.

"Everything is nothing if you've got no one." I love that line. Dolly is magical in this video. The pair of them are so effortless. Thanks to my dad who sent me a one line email checking I hadn't neglected this song. That was all it said. Obsession clearly runs in the family.

Slow Smoochers - Roberta & Peabo, Tonight I Celebrate My Love For You

Ahhhh. I've not listened to this for years but it lurks in my iTunes library and it's a perfect smoocher.  I love Robera Flack for The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face which has to be one of the most romantic songs ever. I have no idea who Peabo is but it's always amused me that he is called Peabo. I've just found out more about him and can tell you he was actually born Robert Peapo. Peapo! I like to think this friends call him Pea.

To the song. Well, it's just a simple little ballad but it's cute and it's from the 80s so it wins a spot here.

Slow Smoochers - Phyllis Nelson, Move Closer

I was listening to Michael Caine on the Desert Island Disc archive this morning. I've never been much of a Caine fan but he was very funny and seemed like a thoroughly nice man. One of the songs he picked was Phyllis Nelson's Move Closer and he didn't pick it ironically. This made me like him more. Whats more it sparked a genius idea for my blog - how about we do a series regarding last songs at the disco? How about that? Are you as excited as me?

I practically skipped to work listing possible contenders. It's going to be a fun June! So thank you Sir Michael and let's take it away with Phyllis. First of all, the 80s weren't kind were they? What is that look?! Her hair is bigger than any hair I've ever seen! This is such a classic smoocher, I can't imagine you actually need to move when dancing to this. This is the very definition of a one hit wonder.

I am very sad to learn that Phyllis died in 1998, sorry to be the one to tell you this. RIP Phyllis and thank you for this classic...