In September 1982 Tears for Fears released Mad World, it wasn’t the first single from their debut album but was the first successful one in the UK. Graham and I loved Tears for Fears. Mad World has been used in films and covered several times. Their first album, The Hurting, is an album around theContinue reading “Completely in Command”
Tag Archives: 80s
He Scans the World Outside
The Human League made two albums (Reproduction and Travelogue, both of which are fine examples of synth music and include wonderful tracks like Being Boiled and WXJL Tonight) and then split into Heaven 17 and a new Human League (see post https://fivemilesout.home.blog/2020/10/01/once-we-were-years-ahead-now-those-thoughts-are-dead/). Their synth dominated pop music were in the vanguard of the New RomanticContinue reading “He Scans the World Outside”
He’s Licking His Lips, He’s Ready To Win
The Scorpions are a German heavy Metal band. German heavy metal is a distinct sub-genre, though one I am not too familiar with. For me it is Michael Schenker and a few other guys. The Scorpions track on the Axe Attack compilationis soft, so I had never gone looking for them. My friend Neil wasContinue reading “He’s Licking His Lips, He’s Ready To Win”
You Play Russian Roulette This Way
The 1970s. Hollywood finally threw off the shackles of historical epics and musical extravaganzas and started producing far more interesting material (well it started in 1967/69) but this is when it really hit. Well after 1970 it did. In 1970 Patton – the story of General Patton in World War 2 – won. It feelsContinue reading “You Play Russian Roulette This Way”
All Those Lonely, Lonely Times
If you are going to cover a song then for heaven’s sake do something really different with it. The Pet Shop Boys almost robotic quality renders almost everything different form their contemporaries or other groups. West End Girls was something totally different when it was released late in time at university. There was some scepticismContinue reading “All Those Lonely, Lonely Times”
He Goes, Like, Bag Your Face
Frank Zappa has had a lengthy and innovative career. I am not a fan but there is one track that I really love. When I was staying at Royston between 1981 and 1984 I usually stayed with Graham but a couple of times I stayed with John Bonney. In 1982 I moved from Graham’s toContinue reading “He Goes, Like, Bag Your Face”
Once We Were Years Ahead, Now Those Thoughts Are Dead
They were two thirds of the Human League. When the band split (the Human League went on to release the hugely successful album Dare) they kept 1% of the Human League income for not getting the name. That kept Heaven 17 going in their early days. Their first album was Penthouse and Pavements – quiteContinue reading “Once We Were Years Ahead, Now Those Thoughts Are Dead”
What It Takes To Make A Pro Blush
The summer of 1981. Riots on the streets of the UK. Mass unemployment and in particular youth unemployment as the government closed down failing industries, without putting enough retraining and mitigating actions in place (or any of those things actually). I think it has been hard to imagine how much despair there was, though sadlyContinue reading “What It Takes To Make A Pro Blush”
I’m So Tired of Trying
David Coverdale was the second lead singer in Deep Purple in the band’s third line up. Generally considered less impressive than the Ian Gillan era it is still much better than what followed it and Coverdale is an impressive vocalist. He formed Whitesnake and they were a solid metal band, though with a taste forContinue reading “I’m So Tired of Trying”
Working For the Black Gas
The Tube was Channel 4’s music show. Much more of a music show than Top of the Pops it was presented by Jules Holland and Paula Yates. It was anarchic, coming live from Tyne Tees, it featured a magazine section, bands that were not famous and bands that were, all doing a set of songsContinue reading “Working For the Black Gas”
Five Miles Out 