Seeing as we have threads for the 90's,00's and 10's let's see how an 80's one goes?
Reaching No.6 here and No.5 in the UK in 1989
Kon Kan - I Beg Your Pardon
there are 2 videos to it.
Strangely the song itself, videos and the whole imaging around this song sounds like a mid - late 1990s song. You wouldnt associate it with the 1980s.
For many years my favourite Eurythmics single has been Sexcrime. The extended mix particularly and the highlight of Gerry Ryan’s The Twelve Inches Of Christmas radio show of 25 December 1984. Julia was the second single from the 1984 (For The Love Of Big Brother) soundtrack album and is aptly summarised as “Fragile, crystalline, ghostly and beautiful. The Eurythmics excelled at this kind of ethereal electronica like no one else.” (Lord Of The Reedy River). Another great nugget from Aaronc4899 – “It’s about anyone who has lived their life alone, but once had a special, but ultimately doomed, relationship.” The single version has only been on CD once – find it on Woman In Love Volume 6; thanks again to our Dutch friends.
Eurythmics - Julia (7" Mix)
Malcolm McLaren reached Number 13 in the UK with Madame Butterfly in 1984. I always found that song interesting and it's one you don't really hear played anymore. I remember hearing it on Dublin superpirate Sunshine Radio on its "Saturday Survey" charts. I know it was played on a few stations but I always associate it with that.
Classic. There was no radio edit in the UK so it was great to hear the entire six minutes. Nice album too - Fans. A great-sounding early CD.
Released in 1985 and reaching No.12 on the Hot 100 it never charted here but was a staple on the music channels.
David Lee Roth - Just a Gigolo/I Ain't Got Nobody.
he had a minor hit in 1988 with Just Like Paradise which is another lost gem from the super pirates
Sorry if anyone posted this already. Great song from 1983. Did quite well in Germany and NZ. I remember ut getting some airplay here, probably Nova.
Sampled by Skepta as well.
Monie Love - "Grandpa's Party"
Speaking of samples, most would only know this song from the Flo Rida hit I Cry. Never charted here but reached No.23 in the UK in 1988.
Brenda Russell - Piano in the Dark
A rare gem from the rubbish end of the 80s ....
I see Marion Fossett died yesterday aged 71. Apart from being Ring mistress with her family circus she reached No.3 in 1981 with that years Eurovision entry. Sheeba were Marion, Frances Campbell who went on to present for BBC NI and Maxi who later hosted Eurovision.
Sheeba - Horoscopes
Good memories of that. Has never had a digital / CD release. If they were English, that would not be the case.
Released in November 1984 and reached 12 in the UK in mid-January 1985 complete with two TOTP appearances. I bought the 7" in Ross Records once it went out of the charts. Smiley (real name David Emmanuel) had a sad end, dying in a police raid on his home in 2011.
Smiley Culture - Police Officer
I don't think Maxi hosted a Eurovision, perhaps a national song contest ??
Maxi in the early to mid 80s began a 30 year career on RTE Radio and TV. Also did some presenting work in UK for BBC Radio 2 and Thames TV.
Maxi was also in "Maxi, Dick & Twink".
Your right, it was when Johnny Logan won in 1987.
Maxi had a short lived tv game show called Rapid Roulette. Also did the 2fm breakfast show for a while
I was reminded of Swamp Thing by The Chameleons when someone posted Swamp Thing by the Grid in the forgotten 90s radio hits thread (and, yes, they are connected!). I heard this a number of times on alternative Dublin pirate Capitol/Nitesky Radio during the second half of the 1980s and that is how I got to know it.
Sounds like the Blow Monkeys to me!
Seemed to disappear without a trace over here after this one. I think they're still performing in Scotland occasionally. Odd video.
Mid to late 80s saw a spike in Scottish bands hitting the top 40...... Deacon Blue, Wet Wet Wet, Hipsway, Big Country.....
This band had great writing, production and session players but never achieved the success that dire pub rock dossers like Texas did.
Another Barry Lang Beatbox favourite.....
I think they were unlucky not to have a top 40 hit in Britain.
The above Jocelyn Square was one of three songs by Love and Money to get quite a bit of airplay on 2FM. All great songs.
The other two were:
Strange Kind of Love
Hallelujah Man
Great track. The follow up Ask The Lord is top too.
September 1986: Love Can’t Turn Around on Top Of The Pops. If you saw it, you never forgot it. Such flamboyance and joy! For most people in UK and Ireland, it was their first exposure to house music. Daryl Pandy’s freestyle performance was amazing – “How y’all doin'” – and his six octave vocal range. The House Remix 12″ was later included on the fantastic Now Dance ’86 – The 12″ Mixes, which ended up under many a Christmas tree.
Farley Jackmaster Funk - Love Can't Turn Around
Johnny McElhone went onto form a small Scottish band called Texas.
Strange kKind Of Love is a great album, still sounds fresh.
James Grant still does loive shows but rarely outside Scotland, afaik.
Vis. Texas. I could never stand them, tbh. Soz. :)
Who remembers 'Twilight Cafe' by singer-songwriter Susan Fassbender (RIP)? It peaked at Number 21 in the UK in 1981 with a total chart stay of eight weeks.
