SMASH HITS singles 8/11/84 helmed by Neil Tennant

this one is impossible. totally.

what a week for singles!

his DOA review is hysterical - there's not the screaming Big Tune... what?!?!

Yes, I'd like to ask NT about that now.

4 or 5 of these are all time faves but someone has to step up for Shockheaded Peters and that is going to be me.

It's definitely in the running here too.

someone i know played it on their radio show and got a load of grief about it and ended up having to make a big apology. i don't quite understand the controversy, if anyone could explain....?

It surely has to be the fact he sings "with a boy on my arm" although he clearly means "young man" - do you know what the apology consisted of?

Strawberry Switchblade all the way. Shame they didn't record more stuff.

I'd never heard the Sylvester: a mix of Art of Noise + Shannon. Neil Tennant otm, slightly.

I'd never heard that one either.

This was the dawn of my discovering there was an 'underground' - in the US, these were mostly unknown aside from ABC. There's a good 10 songs on this list that I could easily vote for but will go with the Blue Nile track that I first heard on MTV (!).

Let's say Tennant listened to "...Millionaire" and thought, "Hm, we can do better *plays 'Opportunities'* "

I didn't realise that OMD released Never Turn Away as a single - wikipedia says it only got to 70 in the UK charts (and 29 in Ireland).

the wiki page for the single also quotes that Neil Tennant review, alongside Ned Raggett and the music critic of the Reading Eagle

Reading Eagle writer Carl Brown Jr. named "Never Turn Away" the standout track from Junk Culture, calling it "a soft, subtle song that succeeds from both a melodic and lyrical viewpoint".[2] Conversely, Smash Hits reviewer and Pet Shop Boys singer Neil Tennant described the track as "sad, drifting music" and "boring".[3] OMD frontman Andy McCluskey later joked, "Well, he would know!"[4]

Retrospectively, John Bergstrom in PopMatters described the song as "beautiful".[5] Ned Raggett in AllMusic singled out the "elegiac" number as one of the highlights from its parent album.[6]

I always thought that this one must have started out as OMD trying to imitate La Folie by the Stranglers

Let's say Tennant listened to "...Millionaire" and thought, "Hm, we can do better *plays 'Opportunities'* "

OMD frontman Andy McCluskey later joked, "Well, he would know!"[4]

It's so interesting reading these old Tennant reviews in the in the context of having heard the music he'd later make himself, a lot of them do seem to be him taking people to task for making a ad version of the kind of record he would later make himself

'bad version', that is

Right off the bat, Ill have to go with Art of Noise. A perfect meld of experimental and pop. Theres a few here I am not familiar with though.

Bought at the time: Sylvester (7"), Dead Or Alive (12"), Art Of Noise (cassette single), The Pogues (7"), Blue Nile (12"), Matt Bianco (12").

Taped off the radio: Culture Club, "Blasphemous Rumours", Strawberry Switchblade, Eurythmics.

"Rock The Box" didn't quite seem to fit into any genre category - an electro/Hi-NRG/proto-freestyle hybrid, at an unfashionable BPM - but wow, doesn't this hold up well?

"You Spin Me Round" was massive on gay dancefloors almost as soon as it first emerged (I bought my copy in mid-December), but it still spent 12 weeks outside the Top 40, slowly gathering momentum. With this, "You Think You're A Man", and Hazell Dean's "Whatever I Do" & "Back In My Arms", SAW felt like Hi-NRG's saviours, showing up just as Ian Levine and Bobby Orlando's formulas had started fading, and reinvigorating an increasingly flaccid genre.

I know where Tennant's coming from with his Art Of Noise review - yes, it's a flashy, pop-aimed rework of "Beat Box", with bolted-on whizzy bits that actually end up diluting the original - but it worked fine at the time, its video even more so. I don't think either have aged particularly well, though: they were too much tied to that particular moment, and nothing ages like the self-consciously contemporary. I bought it on cassette as, like "Two Tribes" before it, the cassette version (over 20 mins long) was a marathon re-edit of most of the previously issued mixes, making it the ultimate version to end all versions.

I well remember the crashing disappointment of "The War Song", which ended Culture Club's short-lived imperial phase almost overnight; indeed, the Spitting Image parody ("war is naughty, naughty naughty, and people who go to war are naughty people") remains more firmly lodged in my memory than the original.

I was a bit sniffy about Strawberry Switchblade, which sounds more like 1982 than 1984, but then I'd been abroad for a year, and had come back a bit "God, are people still doing this, haven't we all moved on". I'm OK with it now though, it's cute.

ABC and Shockheaded Peters were written about a lot, but never actually played on the radio, so passed me by. The soundtrackiness of "I, Bloodbrother Be" suggests that Barry Adamson might have been involved, but no.

Matt's Mood II, the flip of "Half A Minute", was the cooler of the two sides - it's a sound which I very much associate with the back end of 1984.

I saw Miquel Brown perform "Black Leather" at a local midweek monthly gay night - to mass indifference, despite having recently topped the Hi-NRG chart. See comments above re SAW and Ian Levine.

Anyhow, this must have been a good fortnight, as I resuscitated the personal chart on November 17th after a long gap. Still couldn't pad it out to a full 30, though. Three Bronski Beat tracks? Fine. Two Paul Hardcastle tracks? Hmm.

01 Slippery People - Staple Singers
02 I Feel For You - Chaka Khan
03 Half A Minute/Matt's Mood II - Matt Bianco
04 Weekend Girl - The SOS Band
05 Tuch Me - Fonda Rae
06 Together In Electric Dreams - Giorgio Moroder & Philip Oakey
07 ERC Prime Cuts From Greatest Hi-NRG Hits (medley) - Various
08 Let It All Blow - Dazz Band
09 Why? - Bronski Beat
10 Rock The Box - Sylvester
11 Lost In Music (1984 remix) - Sister Sledge
12 It Ain't Necessarily So - Bronski Beat
13 Keep On Keepin' On - The R3dsk1ns
14 Forgive Me Girl - Force MD's
15 Close (To The Edit) - Art Of Noise
16 Freedom - Wham!
17 I Feel Love - Bronski Beat
18 Eat Your Heart Out - Paul Hardcastle
19 The Power Of Love - Frankie Goes To Hollywood
20 You, Me & He - Mtume
21 Treat Her Like A Lady - The Temptations
22 Keeping Secrets - Switch
23 You Used To Hold Me So Tight - Thelma Houston
24 Eye To Eye - Chaka Khan
25 In The Name Of Love - Ralph MacDonald/Bill Withers
26 Junk Funk - SPK
27 Dirty/Respirer - Hard-Corps
28 Rain Forest - Paul Hardcastle

I thought it went w/out saying that "You Spin Me Round" is one of the greatest records of all time.

Incidentally, not only were these the singles that week but the main album of the week was Welcome to the Pleasuredome.

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6A6vokYh5MaodQDDd3IsNV

missing only:

the non-live version of Eurythmics - Sexcrime
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcTP7YWPayU

Musical Youth - Let's Go To the Moon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CnvcujlH1s

Gary Numan - Berserker
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVrjX98OIiQ

Thanks, pal!

It surely has to be the fact he sings "with a boy on my arm" although he clearly means "young man" - do you know what the apology consisted of?

could be though does seem obvious what he means. i don't - i'll try and see if i can find it.

I thought it went w/out saying that "You Spin Me Round" is one of the greatest records of all time.

it does!

"even the shit stuff is pretty good!"

I meant, and of course it was obvious, that there's usually a big load of nothing or terrible in these pages but I don't think anything here is terrible. The Adventures' Send My Heart, which I'd never heard before is good. The Shakatak track is pretty decent. I didn't listen to the David Essex tune, maybe that's a dodo. I'll never find out. David Essex's Rock On is one of my all-time favourite songs, so i'd rather not hear the awful stuff.

Thanks, as always, to mike t-d for the insight into his mind, then and now! :)

Strawberry Switchblade all the way. Shame they didn't record more stuff.

You could say that it's a shame they did :)

"You Spin Me Round"

Here is the full issue: https://www.flickr.com/photos/51106326@N00/albums/72157643160675875/

Treasure by the Cocteau Twins got 8/10 on the albums. Frankie's debut got 7/10 which is both generous and not-enough at the same time since there are several 10/10 songs on it but if it was only those songs then it wouldn't be the epic mess that it is.

"since yesterday" which is an all-time classic and prob one of the best singles of the 80s

mr. tennant's thoughts on hi-nrg were accurate

The one unarguable dud is Musical Youth - Tennant OTM. Shakatak, David Essex and Miquel Brown are far from great, but they're not entirely devoid of merit. The pitchy lead vocals on the New Edition (weirdly mimed on the video by someone whose voice has clearly broken) are part of its charm (cf. Sarah Brand).

Oh, it's "The Medal Song" not "The War Song", duh. This really was a brutal end to Culture Club's imperial phase: after seven consecutive hits, none placing lower than #4, it peaked at a humiliating #32. No further UK singles from Waking Up With The House On Fire were released, and they didn't put out another single until March 1986.

Of the previously unheards, The Adventures please me the most. The Nik Kershaw sounds better now than it did then, when I was opposed to him on principle, although I forget what that principle was. "I Bloodbrother Be" doesn't sound anything like I thought it would; I was fully expecting a lost classic, but it's OK.

David Essex really loves cod-calypso songs where he welcomes people to an island

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgFQcphOw_Q

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmhlqNfQ7YQ

The "Rock The Box" video is the very essence of 1984 and I love it. WHAT A TUNE. Way, way better than I had remembered it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jwyHRimHkQ

Strawberry Switchblade all the way. Shame they didn't record more stuff.

You could say that it's a shame they did :)

Actually, jed, that's a fair point. I was aware they'd covered Dolly's Jolene, thought it was a brave choice, but only having heard it a moment ago...Christ.

That's what I was thinking of!

Scottish groups have a thing for Jolene. One Dove also did a cover of it, for some reason.

oh man that rock the box video is everything

Oh, it's "The Medal Song" not "The War Song", duh. This really was a brutal end to Culture Club's imperial phase: after seven consecutive hits, none placing lower than #4, it peaked at a humiliating #32. No further UK singles from Waking Up With The House On Fire were released, and they didn't put out another single until March 1986.

Basically, "The War Song" sold quickly but people cooled off with it and its 'people are stupid' message. I think it was trying to be rap without actually rapping. I thought at the time it caused "The Medal Song" to suffer the sale slump, but I guess it wasn't a strong single anyway.

It's not good but, for some reason, I could probably sing along and know almost every word even though I probably haven't heard it since '84 and won't be refreshing my memory of it now.

I never minded "The War Song" -- what's wrong with the message? George otm.

Since we are posting the videos, the video for "I, Bloodbrother be" actually only surfaced in 2014, it wasn't around in '84.

I wanna walk through Sodom with a boy on my arms
who's so damn pretty, I don't know where I am

&

So, weep in a way and rejoice in another
We'll never feel the pain of being a Mother

are both such majestic couplets.

I never understood the lyric

I look a bit like Charlie v. Doctor Battering-Ram

and thought it must be a very opaque reference.

It gets my vote because there's nowt like it. It fades into repetition in its latter half when it should be going somewhere else, but whatever...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MisfJux-dek

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MisfJux-dek

ah well, no embeds, you'll have to google it.

and, apparently, none of the band were gay!

Where's NickB with his arcane knowledge, when you need him?

I have long wondered about that I look a bit like Charlie v. Doctor Battering-Ram line, which I always misheard as being something about Charlie Manson.

Also, I've never seen the video before - wow!

AFAIK Karl Blake wrote the words.

I believe he used to go out with (the wonderful) Danielle Dax who he was in the Lemon Kittens with, and yes, it is very odd none of the band were gay. It is on my list of mysteries to get to the bottom of. I speak to D. Dax from time to time so shall endeavour to see if she has some insight.

Apropos of nothing, I think EURYTHMICS - SEXCRIME has aged terribly but I will forever love that 1984 soundtrack for Julia, perhaps thee most underrated Eurythmics song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buGo4dm5xGI

I don't agree with you on SEXCRIME actually, I think it still sounds good! I agree with you on Julia, though. I'd be interested to see that 1984 adaptation again. I remember Richard Burton and John Hurt being amazing in it. Burton's voice!

In 1984, Nineteen Eighty-Four was my favourite book, Eurythmics had been my favourite band since "Love Is a Stranger" and John Hurt was my favourite actor. Suffice to say the film briefly became my favourite film as well (although these days I think it's better served by its original score, despite liking the strange semi-industrial Eurythmics pieces). The album I think is MASSIVELY underrated - "Ministry of Love", "Julia", "For the Love of Big Brother" - absolute highlights of their catalogue. I'm certain the latter was a Touch outtake or written without the film in mind. Also Annie in a boiler suit was cryptically sexy to 14 year old me.

I really enjoy 1984's combo of instrumentals, word-less scat singing, and more conventional songs ("Sexcrime" and "Julia") in between. Even "For the Love of Big Brother" puts the vocals (to my ear) on the same level as the music, rather than conventionally front and center.

Love this wordless one. Also reminds me of being 14 in the coolest clothing store I'd ever been (Comme Des Garcons), this soundtrack playing and and poured concrete everywhere, below street-level store with just little spotlights on individual pairs of exorbitantly priced socks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0crqcKA8c8

Oh, that's great. Did you buy the socks?

Eurythmics had been my favourite band since "Love Is a Stranger"

They have a slew of great songs but Love Is A stranger is surely THEE ONE, the all-time-great unimpeachable and truly majestic Eurythmics song and one of the greatest songs of the 80s & of all-time, for what its worth. Sorry/Not Sorry for going heavy on the superlatives.

it's the stutter sampling that ruins Sexcrime for me though oddly i still love Doubleplusgood which uses it too, but is to my ears a better song.

I was obsessed with the book and then the film in 1984 which i saw a load of times. i watched it again recently and it has aged well and does work better without most of the Euryhhmics music on it. also in 1984 i wrote about Nineteen Eighty-Four when i did my Higher English exam. it would have felt rude not to.

Sim0n0tron played Sexcrime to very good effect, first track after the bells at a H0tmanay a few years ago, which is probably why I like it :)

Oh, that's great. Did you buy the socks?

Did not get the socks! Even then, they were probably $50 or more. And of course I'd love to have them in a drawer now.

the Numan tune is actually pretty good, one of his few decent singles from that era

yay for the Eurythmics love here, I got off the train with BYT and Revenge, but Savage was an incredible resurrection. Title track probably my favourite ever of theirs (competition from LIAS, The Walk, Jennifer and Here Comes the Rain Again).
Good call on the vocal mixing in 1984, probably a big part of the fascination for me.

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

HCTRA is Eurythmics' best album, followed by Savage, though I enjoy much of BLT despite the reactionary climate in which the album thrived.

So confused by these acronyms. Pretty sure there's no Eurythmics album "Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato" but what is HCTRA?

SDAMOT, who am I to disagree

You're a terrible trouble maker, Alf.

that's what my OKCupid profile sez

WIL2U?

<3

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

Decent showing for The Shockheaded Peters!

Total invisibility for The Pogues - no votes, no discussion - which is a measure of how far their stock has fallen.

damn, missed this but probably would've just voted for AON or indeed 'Rock The Box' ("from LiverPOOOL to Wales!")

I remember Morrissey made "I Bloodbrother Be" his Single of the Week when he guest-reviewd for NME round about the same time; it was the only mention of the group or record I ever saw in the press and never heard it on the radio or saw it in shops.

I have to say that Since Yesterday sounds awful to me, now. My memory of it is vastly superior to the actual track. I remember erstwhile ILXor Cozen did a cover of it!

apologies to the seven voters!

The production on it is peak 80s production awfulness but i can get over that as Since Yesterday is such an incredible song.

Rose's trajectory after that where she became a big part of the Current 93 / Coil family always fascinates me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHWsXFrzpBg

These Tennant blurbs are enjoyable but I think Pet Shop Boys's music functioned as critique of pop music with more precision and empathy.

It's a shame that the original images of the magazine for these are not displaying, it just says "not viewable in your region" now but maybe they can be viewed outside of the EU/UK.

Some great stirmonster in this one. I took a long break from ILX but always wanted to do more of these and have found a few more very pollable ones but my heart wouldn't be in it without stir. Miss the big man a lot! I'm sure we all do! Endless LOVE to him!

Where's NickB with his arcane knowledge, when you need him?

― Heavy Messages (jed_), Sunday, 8 August 2021 00:00 (four years ago)

Indeed! Always a highlight of these threads and absent on this (surely the best) one.

It seems extraordinary that Neil Tennant, of all people, couldn't hear the brilliance of "You Spin Me Round". Even Homer nods, I guess.

I'm in the EU and they're loading for me. xp

"The production on it is peak 80s production awfulness but i can get over that as Since Yesterday is such an incredible song."

Strawberry Switchblade's album is a real missed opportunity, and I blame the production. "Trees and Flowers" - produced by Bill Drummond and David Balfe, no less - sounds great, but the album that followed has tinny drums with patterns that never change, and plinky-plonk synthesisers that come across as perfunctory. As if the album was churned out as quickly as possible. The production makes a bit of sense on "Since Yesterday" because the song has a kind of plastic, child-like emotional range, but I think that as just an accident. It's about nuclear war, isn't it?

e.g. this is a great tune, lovely vocal harmonies, neat little upwards bit in the chorus, but the drums never change and the synthesiser arrangement sounds like a bunch of Casio presets in a way that comes across as naff rather than cute:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RswYI-QqouM

Kero Kero Bonito should kidnap the master tapes and redo all the music. In the hands of another producer, or a label that didn't treat them as a disposable novelty, the album would have been much better. My other enduring memory of the band is Rose McDowall's "Jolene"-era leather catsuit:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D460HMTTYiE

I like to imagine that Japanese culture was deeply affected by that performance. Because of that clip my google search history now has "making leather out of cat skin" in it. Because leather doesn't necessarily have to be made from cows. It can be made from bees, for example. Etsy also has leather catsuits for actual cats, which raises all kinds of moral questions. Yes, it appears that cat hide leather is an actual thing.

"I shouldn't want to tear the flesh, to wear the flesh, to be born unto new worlds where his flesh is my key."