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.

Mike Oldfield: Tubular Bells

Continuing my 70s mega-album theme, we come to Tubular Bells. Anyone who grew up in the 70s knows this album. I think it was mandatory that fathers owned it. My dad did and he used to play it in the car and I loved it. I am listening to it again for the first time in years and I am not sure it's stood the test of time in the way Dark Side Of The Moon has.

I am thoroughly enjoying listening to it again as it reminds me of a very specific period in my childhood and any music that does that is always special. But, how can I say this? It's really a dull album. I was reminded of it as I watched a documentary on Mike Oldfield. I remember imagining that Oldfield was older and heavy black rimmed glasses. A bit like Roy Orbsion if you will. I'll never forget my shock when I saw him and realised he was young and didn't wear any glasses, let alone black ones. Anyway, he really suffered making this, there are many tales of him cracking up, crying a lot and generally having a meltdown. I guess when you are doing everything with no bandmates or backing players, it's all on you.

The best bit is still the last eight minutes or so. I used to love the way he introduced the instruments. Not sure why, it sounds pretentious now in his home counties accent. "Glockenspiel!" "Bass Guitar!" "Two slightly distorted guitars!" "Mandolin!" Why were we all so entranced with this? He has a lot to thank Richard Branson and The Exorcist for.

Pink Floyd: Dark Side Of The Moon

This week I discovered my sister doesn't like Pink Floyd. W T actual F? I was amazed for two reasons: a) that I didn't know this when we rabbit on about pretty much anything to do with music, film and TV non-stop and b) that we are related. She had no idea I liked them. It's like a massive void in our sisterhood.

Now, I am no Floyd fan girl. I can't wax lyrical about Syd Barrett and every album they made. But some albums transcend everything and DSOTM is one of them. I listened to this a lot when it was obligatory to do so (early 20s) and have always returned to it. While driving across the desert last month with TeenBoy, I was on DJ duties. As previously discussed, in a Venn diagram of what we both find bearable musically, the crossover is very small. Nonetheless, I took a punt on this because any sane person likes this album and stone me if it's not the perfect driving across the desert music! I was proclaimed a DJ genius and we both had a very happy 40 or so minutes listening to the album and then an hour dissecting every song and why we liked it so much. Being married to a fellow geek has its benefits.

My favourite song is Time: "Ticking away the moments that make up a dull day." I love that line. I also adore "Hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way." Poetry I tell you. The whole song is a depressing one but it's so masterfully executed, it's easy to not notice.

Basically I think Dave Gilmour is wonderful and could listen to him all day long. I don't want to be shallow but also, he was very, very cute.

Just saying.

The Eagles - desert island discs

I've discussed my love for The Eagles previously. On our recent holiday to South Africa, I took one album with me: The Best of the Eagles. We listened to it every single day in the car and no, we didn't tire of it. My adoration of The Eagles is never far away however this week TeenBoy and I settled down to watch the new documentary about the band that has just been released.

It's brilliant. Totally brilliant. I think one would enjoy it even if not an Eagles fan although I find such people bizarre. It's over three hours so it's not something you undertake without serious thought but you won't regret it. They were so delightfully rock and roll with their arguing and bratty behaviour.

It got me to wondering what my eight Eagles songs would be on my island and so here we are.

You might think this is easy, let's find out.

1) Take it Easy - no brainer
2) Desperado - no brainer
3) Life in the Fast Lane - what an introduction!
4) Peaceful Easy Feeling - I love a little bit of country
5) Hotel California - could a list be serious without it? It's still a great song.
6) One of These Nights - one of these crazy old nights.
7) Take It To The Limit - one more tiiiiimmmmmeeeeee.
8) OK, I am already at number eight and we haven't got to Tequila Sunrise, Witchy Woman, Already Gone, Heartache Tonight, Lyin' Eyes, New Kid In Town, Best of My Love - aaarrrrgggghhhh! I am going with New Kid In Town as I love it.

Not easy at all. Don Henley is a genius, I am a huge fan of his solo career too. A New York Minute, Boys of Summer, The End of The Innocence... he may have mad hair but I love him.

So, my one I would pick is either Desperado or Take it Easy and it's impossible for me to pick - both are wonderful and the very definition of American rock.

Bruce Springsteen - Born in the USA

I am well aware that a die-hard Bruce fan would be blogging about Nebraska or some rare bootleg or whatever. Whatever indeed because I am a Born in the USA girl through and through. I first heard this album, appropriately enough, in America and I still think it's great today.

Firstly, what an album cover. Iconic and so clever. This is what the download generation is missing folks. Great album covers of their youth. I pity them. So yes, a fab cover and some proper rock songs contained therein. Obviously there is Dancing in the Dark with the famous Courtney Cox appearance. She looks so young!  Did you know that Brian De Palma filmed that video? Nope, me either until tonight. Not sure why they needed him to be honest, it doesn't look very difficult to make. I love Bruce's dancing in this - such 80s dancing. Also seen in the prom scene in Pretty in Pink and Demi Moore's dancing in St Elmo's Fire.

Another favourite is I'm On Fire. I adore this song and always have. It's very low key but lovely. In fact, looking at the playlist, I realise I love all the songs on this. It's so blue-collar America and perfect. I did American Studies at university and it used to amuse us that someone on the course had chosen to write a dissertation on the lyrics of Bruce Springsteen but now I wish I had been more imaginative with my subject matter. I could have done mine on the depiction of teenagers on film. Why didn't I do that? Oh such regrets...

Born in the USA (the song) is an anthem. I am feeling nostalgic just listening to it. I really must listen to this whole album again and soon.

My favourite track on the album is Glory Days. I just love it. It has such a great video that I remember watching endlessly at my dad's one summer, back when MTV was good. I just love that guy in the bandana! I sound about a hundred so I shall leave it there and you with Glory Days. Oh and Bruce is 62. How did that happen?

Michael Jackson - Thriller

What happened to Michael Jackson was a tragedy. Not the fact he died, although that's sad, but his whole life. When I listen to Thriller (the album) I always get a bit melancholic. So controversies aside, let's focus on the music.

Thriller is my favourite album of all time. I always come back to it and I can happily listen to every track. I have fond memories of listening to the cassette of this on my walkman on a holiday in Aldeburgh when I was 10 and being told to take my headphones off and join in family fun. Yawn. Why would any sane person want to do that when you can listen to Billie Jean? Answer me that! I listened to this on repeat constantly for about a year. I know every word to every song, every move to every video (although perhaps not to actually dance to) and everything about it is perfect.

So track by track. Let's do it:

Wanna be startin' something - wonderful opening to the album, I love the last minute of this one.
Baby be mine - smooooooth
The girl is mine - awwwwww, Jacko and Macca. Love the banter. 'I'm a lover not a fighter!'
Thriller - best dancing in a video. EVER.
Beat it - Van Halen on guitar. Perfection.
Billie Jean - simply one of the best songs ever written and perfectly executed.
Human Nature - I love this, it makes me want to fly into Manhattan and cycle round Central Park. I don't know why. It makes no sense.
PYT - a great track to do aerobics to!
The Lady in My Life - ok, I could probably live without this one but it's still listenable.

I did that without referring to the album. Impressive eh? Told you I knew it! My second favourite album is Off The Wall. We'll save that for another day.

RIP Jacko, ya freak. I miss 80s you. Let's close with another great video.