Too Much Apple Pie

Things I've Learnt Watching YouTube

noreply@blogger.com (Kippers) — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 19:30:00 +0000

Number 2:

The video for Come Around by Daryll-Ann was filmed on April 5th 1994, the day that Kurt Cobain died.

Anyone making any sick jokes about them both being shot on the same day can see me later!

(I've not got an mp3 of this song handy at the moment but if there's any sort of demand for it I can stick it up here on Monday, when I should have access to the CD. So pipe up if you're interested!)

Fakes, Rattle & Roll

noreply@blogger.com (Kippers) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:18:00 +0000

A gorgeous slice of ethereal dream pop in the vein of The Innocence Mission and Mazzy Star for a Friday afternoon*, courtesy of Melbourne combo The Fakes. Bloody marvellous this is. (N.B. Any resemblance to a Del Amitri song title is purely coincidental.)

The Fakes - Always The Last To Know mp3

The Fakes on MySpace

Buy The Fakes downloads at Klicktrack

*other days and times of day are available. Please see your local calendar/clock/wristwatch/sundial for details. Times and conditions apply.

Sealey Love Songs

noreply@blogger.com (Kippers) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:45:00 +0000

A Dee C. Lee post on this blog? I never thought I'd see the day. *chortle*

Dee C. Lee - Come Hell Or Waters High mp3

Dee C. Lee - The Paris Match mp3

Mildly Interesting Pop Fact 1: Although the above two songs are cover versions - written by Judie Tzuke and Paul Weller respectively - Dee C. Lee wrote the song for which she's most famous herself. Which must have been some kind of consolation, royalties-wise, when Girls Aloud massacred See The Day in 2005. (I've not actually heard the Girls Aloud version, by the way. I'm just assuming they massacred it.)

Mildly Interesting Pop Fact 2: Dee C. Lee's real name is Diane Catherine Sealey. Which kind of makes sense when you think about it. (Although quite what made her think that "Lee" would be a more showbizzy surname than "Sealey" I don't know. Then again, "Dee C. Sealey" would probably have proved a bit cumbersome.)

Mildly Interesting Pop Fact 3: Cheryl Baker of Bucks Fizz's real name is Rita Crudgington. Which has little or nothing to do with the matter in hand, admittedly, but it's a fact I like to trot out whenever possible. Rita Crudgington! *snigger*

Trevor & Simon Podcasts

noreply@blogger.com (Kippers) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:43:00 +0000

Podcasts: everyone's doing them nowadays. Well, not everyone, obviously. I mean I'm not, and you're probably not either. But then again, perhaps you are. We just don't know. Well, you might, but I don't. Anyway, where was I? Oh yes. Podcasts: everybody's doing them nowad-

Bugger. Shall I start again?

*cough*

Amongst the seemingly endless lists of comedy podcasts doing the rounds these days, one that you never see advertised* is that of Trevor & Simon, the erstwhile Saturday morning TV comedy duo par excellence. In fact I wasn't even aware of its existence until yesterday - despite the fact that their podcast has been running since February (not continuously, obviously. I mean they've probably taken naps and the odd toilet break here and there).

But anyway, yes, Trev & Simon's podcast is my new favourite. I listened to the first one last night and it made me laugh a lot. But then I'd not expect anything else from two funny (ha ha, not peculiar) blokes who've known each other forever and have such a great rapport. Their producer Andrea chips in with some great lines of her own too. All in all its a marvellous way to pass an hour or so.

Here, filched from their blog, is a list of the stuff they talk about in that first episode:

Smiley Culture
Pob v Bod
What the podcast is going to be called
What we’ve been up to over the last ten years
Me (Simon) saying “Swing your pants” and annoying Trev
Outed by Jonathan Ross
Obama’s rubbishy car
Ghosts (Roman ones, poltergeists, ghosts who say ‘hello’)
Phantasm (the film)
Hammer Horror films
Raquel Welch and Fred Trueman
Marc Bolan
Trev’s family collection of porno (from when he was a child) versus my family’s Football Pink
Cake
Belief
Coronation Street is real
My blog- Mummified Fox
A question from Bruce

And here's the download link

As you can possibly tell, it made my day discovering this! I think they've done another eight podcasts since that opening one, too, so if you don't see much of me on here for a while you'll know where I've disappeared to!

Before I bugger off, here's some classic Going Live-era T&S Theatre Shop action.

And relax!

*I've subsequently learnt that T&S's pod has made both the Guardian's and Dave's top ten podcast lists, so forget what I said there about it not featuring anywhere. Just me spouting ill-informed rubbish again!

How Tikkled I am

noreply@blogger.com (Kippers) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:15:00 +0000

Any band signed by the venerable A West Side Fabrication have to be worth a listen - and so it proved with Tikkle Me, a winsome electro pop duo from Ekilstuna in Sweden, who recently released the rather fab Butterflies In My Tummy single on the label. Here's the also-ace promo vid!

You can download Butterflies In My Tummy for 80 piffling pence from Klicktrack.com

Tikkle Me's MySpace

Now That's What I Call A Christmas Album

noreply@blogger.com (Kippers) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 20:05:00 +0000

Christmas is coming
The goose is getting fat
A Very Cherry Christmas 5 is here
Let's take a look at that!

Track listing:

1. The School - Let Me Be The Fairy On Your Christmas Tree Tonight
2. Das Wanderlust - Someone To Pull Crackers With
3. Allo Darlin' - S P A C E Christmas
4. The Lovely Eggs - Tyrannosaurus Rex for Christmas
5. The 10p Mixes - Christmas Number One
6. Fever Fever - Little Drummer Boy
7. Detox Cute and the Beauty Junkies - Unhappy New Year
8. Sparky's Magic Piano - The Escape From Aled Jones
9. Persil - Dear Santa
10. Mia Vigar - What the Hell
11. Tiger MCs - The Way That You Arrived
12. Hearts! Attack - It Was Christmas That Killed Us
13. The Gresham Flyers - Mistletoe Misadventure
14. Foxes - Christmas Gifts
15. The Bobby McGee's - Sub Santalales
16. Shrag - Stop The Revelry
17. The Hi-Life Companion - Brockweir Winter Reverie
18. Doris and the Jumpers - Murder Under The Mistletoe
19. Humousexual - Come Take My Hand In Winter
20. The Shrieking Violets - Jethro (Song For)
21. Rebecca Wilmott - A Christmas Echo
22. The Pocket Gods - KFC (Kentucky Fried Christmas)
23. Master Solo - The Last Xmas Of Achiebald Sterling
24. Everett True - A Christmas Tale
25. Marble Krusher - Summer Toys (Winter Version)

A Very Cherry Christmas Volume 5 is released on November 15th, but you can pre-order your copy right now for six festive quid (plus a pound postage) from Cherryade Records

Things I've Learnt Watching YouTube

noreply@blogger.com (Kippers) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:05:00 +0000

#1 - Twiggy had a pop career!

Well, it was news to me anyway. Note how the Twigster cleverly utilises the skills she picked up sashaying along the catwalk in her modelling career as she, erm, sashays down the Top of the Pops set mocked-up to look like a catwalk, at the start of the first clip. This discotastic track was produced by David Essex, apparently. Owsaboutthatthen guys and gals? Rattle-rattle-jewellery-jewellery etc.

This one's good too, in a Reader's Digest Love Songs of the 70s 5-CD boxset type-way.

Pizzicato Five - Twiggy Twiggy/Twiggy vs James Bond mp3

Hip hop in the house (on the hill)

noreply@blogger.com (Kippers) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 21:21:00 +0000

A spot of old skool horror-film-inspired novelty hip hop for this Halloween night, mildly incongruous Captain Kirk samples and all. You can blame the previous post for putting the idea for this one in my head. So that'll be Lovebug Starski and Hutch, then! Ahem...

Lovebug Starski - Amityville (The House On The Hill) mp3

And if that's not enough to send a shiver down your spine, how about the following YouTube clip? It features Jamaican reggae stalwart Barrington Levy singing Under Mi Sensi live on Saturday morning kids' show No 73 in 1985, while Nicholas Parsons and host Sandi Toksvig cut a respective rug along to it on the dancefloor. Bizarre, incongruous, marvellous. Why don't they make 'em like this any more? Why?! Click here for the full horror. (The best bit occurs exactly two minutes in, by the way.)

Sweet (David) Soul Music

noreply@blogger.com (Kippers) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 21:06:00 +0000

Billy Paul - Don't Give Up On Us mp3

My Boss Was In An Indie Band Once

noreply@blogger.com (Kippers) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:29:00 +0000

No, not mine, silly. It's the title of the brilliant new single from MJ Hibbett & The Validators, and it's available to download at iTunes and other online purveyors of files musical - as is the album Regardez, Ecoutez et Repetez, which you can also buy on CD direct from the MJ Hibbett website. Hurrah!

Mildly Interesting Pop Fact: The titular boss (fnar fnar) is none other than Phil Wilson of the June Brides. Hear (or read, really) his thoughts on the subject at Fire Escape Talking.

We'll support you ever more

noreply@blogger.com (Kippers) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 10:37:00 +0000

Top-notch pop news ahoy. The legendary I, Ludicrous have only gone and released a brand new download single. We're The Support Band (a new recording of an old favourite) is available from itunes and all the usual online suspects. Here's the FAB promo video!

Three of a Kind #100

noreply@blogger.com (Kippers) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:20:00 +0000

A trio of cricket-themed songs, to bring up the Three of a Kind century. Lord's knows it's not been easy. We've maiden no ball effort to keep the partnership ticking over and, while we've almost been stumped a few times along the way and generally talked a lot of balls, we've never knowingly overstepped the mark or been caught out. It's been a good innings really; a real labour of glove. And this may sound like a silly point, but I think it's even made me a better all rounder person.

Righto ducks, time for a declaration I think. Over and out. (Extra information: the third track's a wrong 'un.)

The Duckworth Lewis Method - Jiggery Pokery mp3

Sherbet - Howzat mp3

The Commentators - N-N-Nineteen Not Out mp3

Song of the Day

noreply@blogger.com (Kippers) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:29:00 +0000

Swissair - One Nation Under A Gloom mp3

Swissair's MySpace

New Tender Trap free download single

noreply@blogger.com (Kippers) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 11:17:00 +0000

Not the most original post heading ever, I'll grant you, but I think it conveys the whole crux of the message pretty well. Anyway, yes, Amelia and chums are back (back! back!) with a brand new single, Fireworks, and a nifty accompanying video to boot.

Filmed in swanky Margate (in homage to Chas 'n' Dave no doubt) in their own inimitable style, here it is in its glorious entirety. Gercha!

Mildly Interesting Pop Fact: Tender Trap have been busy during the latest transfer window, securing the signings of not only Katrina "Police Cat/Sally Skull/Garden City Project/I've not actually heard of any of these bands" Dixon but also blog favourite Elizabeth "Allo Darlin'" Morris. Fancy!

Download Fireworks (plus b-side Grand National) for free at the Fortuna POP! website.

The worst TV programme of all time?

noreply@blogger.com (Kippers) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:55:00 +0000

FEARNE AND PARIS HILTON

(Thursday 22nd October, ITV2)

Fearne Cotton lets all her inhibitions go and does a spot of pole dancing when she meets Paris Hilton for her new TV show.

The bubbly presenter unleashed her wild side for her ITV2 show Fearne and..., which sees her following around famous women to find out what makes them tick.

Wearing a short zebra print dress, the blonde giggles her way through the routine as Paris looks on in amusement.

But leggy Fearne shows she's more than a pretty face as she twirls around the pole before cracking up.

The Housemartins - We're Not Deep mp3

My Life Story - You Don't Sparkle (In My Eyes) mp3

Three of a Kind #99

noreply@blogger.com (Kippers) — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 19:38:00 +0000

It's, like, three songs from the My So-Called Life album. Or whatever.

*sigh*

It's only the best angsty teen drama series ever (in my angsty perpetual teenager opinion)!

Daniel Johnston - Come See Me Tonight mp3

Frente - The Book Song mp3

Juliana Hatfield - Make It Home mp3

Now that's what I call music.

By the way, if you think Make It Home sounds suspiciously like Silent Night (which it does), then this is probably explained by the fact that it comes from the yuletide episode of MSCL in which Juliana Hatfield plays a sort of Christmas angel. Behold her dubious acting skills in this 'ere clip!

Buy the My So-Called Life DVD boxset - featuring all 19 fantastic episodes - for a ridiculously cheap £7.43 from The Hut.

Tutankamon feel the noise

noreply@blogger.com (Kippers) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 18:34:00 +0000

Q: What do you get if you team up the singer from Shout Out Louds, the guitarist from the Concretes and the one called Peter from Peter, Bjorn & John?

A: New Swedish supergroup Tutankamon!

Tutankamon - Have You Ever Been In Love?* mp3

Tutankamon's self-titled debut album is, apparently, out this week. I'm buggered if I can find it for sale anywhere, mind. I'm not entirely sure why I've put this bit in italics either.

*not to be confused with the Leo Sayer classic of the same name.

Video daze

noreply@blogger.com (Kippers) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 21:02:00 +0000

Just stumbled across the following clip on one of those random yet often rewarding YouTube trawls. It's an earnest Morrissey being interviewed on TV-am in 1984 by Paul Gambaccini (who was clearly on the run from the fashion police at the time). In it, the young Mozza explains why the Smiths don't - or didn't, at that time - make promo videos to accompany their singles.

Look out also for contributions from Henry "Game For A Laugh" Kelly and Toni "Play Away" Arthur!

Anyway, here is:

Morrissey on TV-am in 1984

(it's one of those 'embedding disabled by request' jobbies, hence the necessary clickage)

Mildly Interesting Pop Fact: Ironically, The Smiths started making promo videos about five minutes after that interview took place. Oh alright then, ten minutes.

Trans-X - Living On Video mp3

Hometown Boys & Girls

noreply@blogger.com (Kippers) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 15:55:00 +0000

Swedish indie classic ahoy! It's The Wannadies' 1990 gem My Home Town...

And here's Min Hemstad, a Swedish language cover of the very same song from Annika 'Hello Saferide' Norlin's other project Säkert (which, thanks to having known and liked the Wannadies' version for years, now becomes the first Säkert song I've ever understood the lyrics to!)

The Wannadies - My Home Town mp3

The Säkert version of the song can be found on the new Razzia Records compilation, There's A Razzia Going On Volume 2, which also, rather thrillingly, includes a previously unreleased Hello Saferide song, I Fold, and which can be ordered here.

Watch the birdie

noreply@blogger.com (Kippers) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 22:21:00 +0000

In Stephen Fry's latest Sunday night series, Last Chance To See, our erudite, ubiquitous hero goes off in search of endangered species. In this week's episode, Stephen was off to New Zealand on the trail of the kakapo, a "fat, flightless parrot which, when threatened with attack, adopts a strategy of standing very still indeed."

The kakapo also seems to have a predilection for shagging hapless TV cameramen, as the following clip illustrates perfectly. Seldom has the expression 'love hurts' rung quite so true!

Action Biker - Love For Sure mp3

A day in the life of a Swedish pop star...

noreply@blogger.com (Kippers) — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 21:04:00 +0000

The above video clip is from Asha Ali's rather ace blog (the accompanying music is hers too), which she updates regularly. It's written in English as well, which is a boon for those of us who happen to speak even less actual Swedish than the chef from the Muppets. (He was brilliant though, wasn't he?)

Anyway, I digress. All pop stars should keep a blog like Asha's one. (Well, all good pop stars, at least. I mean I wouldn't be all that fussed about hearing the daily witterings of, say, Will Young, Celine Dion or the members of Big Fun, to be perfectly honest with you.)

It (the blog - do keep up) is informative, has great clips like the one above and some great photos of Gothenburg to boot. And where else would you find out that Asha Ali's second album Hurricane will be released on October 7th on CD and digitally through iTunes? (Apart from here, obviously - and lots of other places too, I shouldn't wonder.)

But yes, please do go and buy Hurricane when the time comes, and enrich your life just that little bit further!

By the way, you know when bloggers write stuff along the lines of "I first wrote about so-and-so IN THIS POST three hundred years ago - aren't I clever?" (I'm paraphrasing, obviously) and link back to that previous post on the same artist? Well...

I first wrote about Asha Ali two years ago IN THIS POST - aren't I clever?

Oh.

Déjà vu is nothing to be scared of

noreply@blogger.com (Kippers) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 22:12:00 +0000

It's the Gallup UK Top 40 Singles of the Year 1984 - and your chance to download a whopping 7.5% of it! Imagine that!

Times must've been hard, pocket money-wise, in this year, as I only owned three of these on 7" (numbers 1, 15 & 37). I'd just discovered the delights of the compilation album in '84, mind, so subsequently own a lot of the songs here as part of various early Now double LPs (oh, and Hungry For Hits! Anyone remember that?).

Here are the runners and riders in full anyway. (Click on numbers 37, 19 & 12 to download.)

UK TOP 40 BESTSELLERS OF 1984

40 WE ALL STAND TOGETHER - Paul McCartney and the Frog Chorus
39 STREET DANCE - Break Machine
38 WOULDN'T IT BE GOOD - Nik Kershaw
37 THAT'S LIVIN' ALRIGHT - Joe Fagin
36 THE WILD BOYS - Duran Duran
35 JOANNA - Kool and the Gang
34 PRIDE (IN THE NAME OF LOVE) - U2
33 AUTOMATIC - Pointer Sisters
32 LIKE TO GET TO KNOW YOU WELL - Howard Jones
31 I WON'T LET THE SUN GO DOWN ON ME - Nik Kershaw
30 THE WAR SONG - Culture Club
29 GIRLS JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN - Cyndi Lauper
28 SELF CONTROL - Laura Branigan
27 DOCTOR DOCTOR - Thompson Twins
26 WHEN DOVES CRY - Prince
25 TOGETHER IN ELECTRIC DREAMS - Giorgio Moroder and Philip Oakley
24 RADIO GA GA - Queen
23 TIME AFTER TIME - Cyndi Lauper
22 I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER - Jim Diamond
21 THE POWER OF LOVE - Frankie Goes To Hollywood
20 NO MORE LONELY NIGHTS - Paul McCartney
19 HOLE IN MY SHOE - Neil
18 I WANT TO BREAK FREE - Queen
17 WHAT'S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT - Tina Turner
16 AGAINST ALL ODDS - Phil Collins
15 THE REFLEX - Duran Duran
14 99 RED BALLOONS - Nena
13 WHITE LINES (DON'T DON'T DO IT) - Grandmaster & Melle Mel
12 I FEEL FOR YOU - Chaka Khan
11 LAST CHRISTMAS - Wham!
10 WAKE ME UP BEFORE YOU GO GO - Wham!
9 GHOSTBUSTERS - Ray Parker Jr
8 FREEDOM - Wham!
7 AGADOO - Blacklace
6 HELLO - Lionel Richie
5 CARELESS WHISPER - George Michael
4 TWO TRIBES - Frankie Goes To Hollywood
3 RELAX - Frankie Goes To Hollywood
2 I JUST CALLED TO SAY I LOVE YOU - Stevie Wonder
1 DO THEY KNOW IT'S CHRISTMAS? - Band Aid

So there we have it. 1984 was all - or at least mostly - about Frankie Goes To Hollywood and Wham!. Oh, and Band Aid. Obviously. Amazing to think that enough people bought Culture Club's risible War Song to propel it into the year-end top 30 as well. Nice to see some actual novelty songs riding high in the chart though: Wacky Macca Thumbs Aloft and the Frog Chorus, Neil from the Young Ones and Blacklace's Agadoo. Ahh, Blacklace. They don't make them like that anymore. Mainly because one of them's dead.

Other songs that came out in 1984 but missed the year-end bestsellers list: Seven Seas by Echo & The Bunnymen, Young At Heart by The Bluebells, What Difference Does It Make and Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now by The Smiths, Each And Everyone by Everything But The Girl, Windjammer's Tossing & Turning, the Kane Gang's Closest Thing To Heaven, One Better Day and Michael Caine by Madness and this largely forgotten gem, which Mick is sharing with the world - or at least the music blog-reading bit of it - even as we speak.

Three of a Kind #98

noreply@blogger.com (Kippers) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 15:28:00 +0000

It's the Gallup UK Top 100 Singles of the Year 1986 - and your chance to download a whopping 3% of them! Imagine that!

1986 being the zenith (or nadir, depending on your point of view) of my chart-pop-buying lifespan, I bought no less then thirty-eight of the songs listed below on either 7" or 12" vinyl (including the one at #2), and could still happily listen to most of them on a constant loop for the rest of eternity (if I happened to be immortal. Which I'm not. Or am I? We just don't know yet).

Anyway, here is that hot/tepid/cold (delete as applicable) hundred. Click on numbers 73, 68 & 39 to download these frankly wondrous snapshots of a mid-1980s Smash Hits-reading teenager's idea of pop heaven!

UK TOP 100 BESTSELLERS OF 1986

100 WHY CAN'T THIS BE LOVE - Van Halen
99 BROKEN WINGS - Mr Mister
98 SING OUR OWN SONG - UB40
97 MIDAS TOUCH - Midnight Star
96 GREATEST LOVE OF ALL - Whitney Houston
95 LOOK AWAY - Big Country
94 SET ME FREE - Jaki Graham
93 NEW BEGINNING (MAMBA SEYRA) - Bucks Fizz
92 THROUGH THE BARRICADES - Spandau Ballet
91 OPEN YOUR HEART - Madonna
90 HUMAN - Human League
89 FRENCH KISSIN' IN THE USA - Debbie Harry
88 CALLING ALL THE HEROES - It Bites
87 SHAKE YOU DOWN - Gregory Abbott
86 STUCK WITH YOU - Huey Lewis & The News
85 PETER GUNN - The Art Of Noise & Duane Eddy
84 THE POWER OF LOVE/DO YOU BELIEVE IN LOVE - Huey Lewis & The News
83 DANCING ON THE CEILING - Lionel Richie
82 LIVING IN AMERICA - James Brown
81 FOR AMERICA - Red Box
80 SUBURBIA - Pet Shop Boys
79 HUNTING HIGH AND LOW - A-ha
78 EACH TIME YOU BREAK MY HEART - Nick Kamen
77 RAGE HARD- Frankie Goes To Hollywood
76 CAN'T GET BY WITHOUT YOU - The Real Thing
75 SECRET LOVERS - Atlantic Starr
74 ANYONE CAN FALL IN LOVE - Anita Dobson
73 THE RAIN - Oran 'Juice' Jones
72 VENUS - Bananarama
71 CAN'T WAIT ANOTHER MINUTE - Five Star
70 WALK THIS WAY - Run DMC
69 BURNING HEART - Survivor
68 LOVE CAN'T TURN AROUND - Farley 'Jackmaster' Funk
67 LOVE MISSILE F1-11 - Sigue Sigue Sputnik
66 CAMOUFLAGE - Stan Ridgway
65 WEST END GIRLS - Pet Shop Boys
64 HI HO SILVER - Jim Diamond
63 SYSTEM ADDICT - Five Star
62 ELOISE - The Damned
61 ADDICTED TO LOVE - Robert Palmer
60 WHAT HAVE YOU DONE FOR ME LATELY - Janet Jackson
59 HOW WILL I KNOW - Whitney Houston
58 LIVE TO TELL - Madonna
57 EVERY BEAT OF MY HEART - Rod Stewart
56 BROTHER LOUIE - Modern Talking
55 TOO GOOD TO BE FORGOTTEN - Amazulu
54 ONLY LOVE - Nana Mouskouri
53 AIN'T NOTHIN' GOIN' ON BUT THE RENT - Gwen Guthrie
52 ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS - David Bowie
51 BREAKOUT - Swing Out Sister
50 BORDERLINE - Madonna
49 WALK OF LIFE - Dire Straits
48 THORN IN MY SIDE - Eurythmics
47 STARTING TOGETHER - Su Pollard
46 HAPPY HOUR - The Housemartins
45 YOU TO ME ARE EVERYTHING - The Real Thing
44 (I JUST) DIED IN YOUR ARMS - Cutting Crew
43 SHOWING OUT - Mel & Kim
42 SOMETIMES - Erasure
41 LIVIN' ON A PRAYER - Bon Jovi
40 YOU CAN CALL ME AL - Paul Simon
39 MY FAVOURITE WASTE OF TIME - Owen Paul
38 I CAN'T WAIT - Nu Shooz
37 MANIC MONDAY - The Bangles
36 WORD UP - Cameo
35 LET'S GO ALL THE WAY - Sly Fox
34 YOU KEEP ME HANGIN' ON - Kim Wilde
33 HOLDING BACK THE YEARS - Simply Red
32 A KIND OF MAGIC - Queen
31 WONDERFUL WORLD - Sam Cooke
30 (TOUCH ME) I WANT YOUR BODY - Samantha Fox
29 ALL I ASK OF YOU - Cliff Richard and Sarah Brightman
28 SLEDGEHAMMER - Peter Gabriel
27 THE EDGE OF HEAVEN - WHAM!
26 GLORY OF LOVE - Peter Cetera
25 LESSONS IN LOVE - Level 42
24 IN THE ARMY NOW - Status Quo
23 WALK LIKE AN EGYPTIAN - The Bangles
22 ON MY OWN - Patti Labelle & Michael McDonald
21 THE SUN ALWAYS SHINES ON TV - A-ha
20 THE CHICKEN SONG/A NICE SOUTH AFRICAN - Spitting Image
19 CARAVAN OF LOVE - The Housemartins
18 RAIN OR SHINE - Five Star
17 REET PETITE - Jackie Wilson
16 THE FINAL COUNTDOWN - Europe
15 SPIRIT IN THE SKY - Doctor and the Medics
14 WE DON'T HAVE TO... - Jermaine Stewart
13 ROCK ME AMADEUS - Falco
12 A DIFFERENT CORNER - George Michael
11 TRUE BLUE - Madonna
10 SO MACHO/CRUISING - Sinitta
9 TAKE MY BREATH AWAY - Berlin
8 PAPA DON'T PREACH - Madonna
7 WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH - Billy Ocean
6 THE LADY IN RED - Chris De Burgh
5 CHAIN REACTION - Diana Ross
4 LIVING DOLL - Cliff Richard and the Young Ones
3 I WANT TO WAKE UP WITH YOU - Boris Gardiner
2 EVERY LOSER WINS - Nick Berry
1 DON'T LEAVE ME THIS WAY - The Communards

A worthy winner there in the Communards, I'm sure you'll agree (unless you remember the Harold Melvin version, in which case probably not). I remember Don't Leave Me This Way being a big floor-filler at all the school discos and parties I attended that year anyway (especially the bit near the end with the mega-long ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! baby!).

1986 also saw the release of fantastic singles such as Brilliant Mind by Furniture, Driving Away From Home by It's Immaterial, Panic, Bigmouth Strikes Again & Ask by The Smiths, E=MC2 by Big Audio Dynamite and New Order's Shellshock but none of these songs, despite all making the charts, were ever going to rob the likes of Madonna, George Michael and, umm, Nick Kamen of their rightful places in the year end chart.

There were also many memorable and/or innovative videos doing the rounds in '86: Sledgehammer, Addicted To Love, Reet Petite, Dancing On The Ceiling and Happy Hour, to name but several. But I know which 1986 video you really want to see here: Su Pollard's Starting Together! (Just don't tell Miss Cathcart!)

Happiness Is A Worn Pun

noreply@blogger.com (Kippers) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 10:16:00 +0000

I've taken my eye off the blog ball a bit lately (there it goes now, sailing over the crossbar. Wheeeee), largely because pretty much all the stuff I've been listening to and watching has been Beatles-related. I suppose I could write about the Fabs here but in all honesty they've probably been spoken about once or twice in other places, so I think I'll leave it, if it's all the same to you.

Here's some non-Beatles-related music, anyway, to tide us over until I can get my act together. Abnormal service will be resumed as soon as possible.

I love this song. Not only is it a ~~fab gear~~ fantastic bit of music, the lyrics - about how young people think they know everything in spite of all the evidence - are brilliant as well. I even loved it when I was young and thought I knew it all myself.

The Pursuit Of Happiness - She's So Young mp3

Three of a Kind #97

noreply@blogger.com (Kippers) — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 07:30:00 +0000

The weekend stops here!

Edson - Sunday, Lovely Sunday mp3

The Budgies - Lucky Sunday mp3

The Sundays - Gone mp3