A Concise Guide To Eighties' Music - Karl Vorderman (best ebook reader ubuntu txt) 📗

Side 2
1. Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On); 5:46 1. Once In A Lifetime; 4:19
2. Crosseyed and Painless; 4:45 2. Houses In Motion; 4:30
3. The Great Curve; 6:26 3. Seen And Not Seen; 3:20
4. Listening Wind; 4:42
5. The Overload; 6:00
I think that I have about fourteen studio albums from 1980 in my possession, so this is clearly my favourite year in the history of popular music. I have a marginal preference for 'Remain In Light' which perhaps represents the creative peak of the extremely creative and quirky quartet, Talking Heads. I have often regarded these New Yorkers as the Pink Floyd of punk, in that they were always a bit more arty and cleverer than their peers and contemporaries. This bizarre album is a case in point. It features new ethnic sounds and rhythms before 'world music' was championed by the likes of Peter Gabriel and Paul Simon. The project also showcases the production talents of Brian Eno (a refugee from Roxy Music). 'Once In A Lifetime' made a deserved splash in the singles charts, but it is eclipsed by the excellent 'Houses In Motion'. 'Seen And Not Seen' is another highlight, but pride of place goes to the energetic opener which descends into the refrain: "Goes on/And the heat goes on/ Goes on/And the heat goes on." Chart material it wasn't. Compulsive listening it was.

1981
The song of the month for January 1981
Vienna by Ultravox (peak chart position: No.2)
The British record-buying public have been known to let themselves down on a number of occasions. One such notable instance was when they allowed the rather silly novelty song 'Shaddap Your Face' to occupy the Number One position ahead of the magnificent 'Vienna'. Dear oh dear. It is actually quite ironic but 'Vienna' actually sold more copies than the masterpiece from the Joe Dolce Music Theatre. Anyhow, this is unquestionably Ultravox's finest track and it is a strong candidate for the accolade of best song of 1981, although it was actually recorded the previous year. Its black and white video is as memorable as the song itself.

The song of the month for February 1981
Jealous Guy by Roxy Music (peak chart position: No.1)
The tragic death of John Lennon not surprisingly prompted the release of much of his esteemed material into the public domain as record companies and other artists both cashed in on his death and paid their own unique tribute. For example, George Harrison stepped forth with the admirable 'All Those Years Ago', Elton John released 'I Saw Her Standing There', Phil Collins recorded a formidable version of 'Tomorrow Never Knows' and Roxy Music finally made it to the top of the hit parade with their re-working of a song that had first surfaced on the 'Imagine' album. To be fair to Roxy Music, their own effort improves on Lennon's solo original.

The song of the month for March 1981
Just A Feeling by Bad Manners (peak chart position: No.13)
Maybe it's just a feeling on my part, but the crazy bunch of Bad Manners never received the kudos that they perhaps merited. 'Just A Feeling' narrowly missed out on the British Top Ten, which is regrettable given the terrific harmonica of Winston Bazoomies. Bad Manners with their cartoon frontman, Buster Bloodvessel, were responsible for many oddball tunes which are nothing if not interesting. This fine single was a product of the aptly-titled 'Loonee Tunes' album, which also contained such gems as the hit single 'Lorraine', 'El Pussycat', and the energetic 'Undersea Adventures Of Ivor The Engine.' Now that's what I call a bit of culture.

The song of the month for April 1981
Flowers Of Romance by Public Image Limited (peak chart position: No.24)
Don't be fooled by the song title folks. There was nothing remotely floral or romantic about this John Lydon composition. The punk legend was enjoying a new lease of life, free from the manoeuvrings of the dastardly Malcolm McLaren, and with Public Image Limited he now had the opportunity to express his own art and individuality. 'Flowers Of Romance' is short and to the point. It builds with an awesome drumbeat before young Johnny unleashes his cynicism:"I can't depend on these so-called friends." The tune sounds a bit sinister, revealing John's wicked sense of humour and it certainly stood out from all the other songs in the Top 40.

The song of the month for May 1981
One Day In Your Life by Michael Jackson (peak chart position: No.1)
Michael Jackson had previously visited the top of the British singles lists in collaboration with the rest of his family on the dancefloor classic 'Show You The Way To Go'. The former infant prodigy subsequently decided that the way to go was on his own, away from any family assistance. It was slightly ironic that whilst Jackson had enjoyed new critical acclaim and increased record sales with the tremendous 'Off The Wall' album of 1979, the song which propelled him to the summit of the British charts had been recorded long before 'Off The Wall'. 'One Day In Your Life' is a beautiful item, and only a heart of stone could fail to agree.

The song of the month for June 1981
Friday Night, Saturday Morning by The Specials (peak chart position: No.1)
It seems rather strange that the hugely popular Specials should choose to go their separate ways at the very time when they ought to have been dining out on the glory of their most successful single, 'Ghost Town'. Unfortunately group disharmony decreed that this would be the last outing for Coventry's finest septet. It probably seems rather sacrilegious of me but I have a preference for the flip side of 'Ghost Town'. Here one finds Lynval Golding's 'Why' which addresses a recent racist knife attack on him. However, I am especially keen on 'Friday Night, Saturday Morning'. Terry Hall's travails about a night on the pull are most amusing.

The song of the month for July 1981
Girls On Film by Duran Duran (peak chart position: No.5)
With the demise of Two Tone and British ska, a new fad stepped into the vacuum. It was now the turn of the New Romantics with their synthesizers and their melodrama to capture the attention of the teenage market. Birmingham's Duran Duran were certainly bedroom poster material, but they were also responsible for many great singles. After 'Planet Earth' had introduced them to the music industry, the group really found their feet with the admirable 'Girls On Film'. Critics may have scoffed at what they perceived as escapist, make believe nonsense, but Duran Duran and their glamorous videos certainly struck a chord with Britain's 'yoof'.

The song of the month for August 1981
Day After Day by The Pretenders (peak chart position: No.45)
Day After Day was the least successful of the four tracks issued from the Pretenders' second album, yet it is arguably the most impressive. It took me a while to warm to this tune, but its piano and the heavier guitar sound distinguishes it from the rest of the group's jangly guitar repertoire. This was one of the last occasions when music enthusiasts would have the opportunity to acquaint themselves with the product of a band that soon descended into turmoil in June 1982 when bass player Pete Farndon was sacked for excessive drug use literally days before the talented guitarist James Honeyman-Scott died from a drugs overdose.

The song of the month for September 1981
Prince Charming by Adam And The Ants (peak chart position: No.1)
How appropriate that the flamboyant Adam Ant should sing that "ridicule is nothing to be scared of". In 1981, Adam and his insects, having fled from their punk origins, were the flavour of the month, for just about every month. Previously 'Stand And Deliver' with its amusing tale of a highwayman (no laughing matter for his victims) had climbed to the top of the British charts, and the Ant colony colonised the pop summit again in the autumn with another large dollop of tongue-in-cheek lyrics. 'Prince Charming' was indeed a charmer of a single, but hereafter vocalist Stuart Goddard would slowly slide from fame into the oblivion of depression.

The song of the month for October 1981
Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic by The Police (peak chart position: No.1)
I must confess to being more lukewarm than most to the 'great' Police. However, 'Every Little Thing' was a deserved chart-topper. This particular love song was a far cry from