Rock Evolution – The History of Rock & Roll - 1984 - (page 198)

threespires said:
Along with the music itself I also love the cover of the album this pick comes from. It's the painting Le trac by Michel Granger who also did the famous earth skull artwork for JMJ's previous album.

Jean Michel Jarre - Equinoxe Part 5
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I was going to nominate that too! Superb track from a superb album. Wish I'd seen him on tour, I used to be amazed as a kid watching his shows!
 
Mad Eyed Screamer said:
A few days to go until I can arrive properly in this thread - 1979….. Billy Idol, so much to answer for
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It does feel like 79 might be a bit of a changing of the guard here. The Clash, Joy Division, SLF, The Specials, The Slits, UK Subs will all hopefully bring some additional folks to the thread.

I've just realised I don't remember anything by The Jam being nominated to date?! That's madness.

The Jam - Down In The Tube Station At Midnight
 
threespires said:
It does feel like 79 might be a bit of a changing of the guard here. The Clash, Joy Division, SLF, The Specials, The Slits, UK Subs will all hopefully bring some additional folks to the thread.

I've just realised I don't remember anything by The Jam being nominated to date?! That's madness.

The Jam - Down In The Tube Station At Midnight
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And my write up won't mention any of them!
 
threespires said:
It does feel like 79 might be a bit of a changing of the guard here. The Clash, Joy Division, SLF, The Specials, The Slits, UK Subs will all hopefully bring some additional folks to the thread.

I've just realised I don't remember anything by The Jam being nominated to date?! That's madness.

The Jam - Down In The Tube Station At Midnight
Click to expand...
You want some Clash my friend? How about 'White Man in Hammersmith Palais' ?
 
hallsteve62 said:
You want some Clash my friend? How about 'White Man in Hammersmith Palais' ?
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Yep a 78 single. I assume @RobMCFC will take that as a nomination and add it to the playlist?

I could have sworn someone had nominated Tommy Gun but I can't see it anywhere, so I can only assume I've started dreaming about this bloody thread.
 
Notes on the 1978 playlist

Best songs on the playlist

1. "Darkness on the Edge of Town" - Bruce Springsteen - This album was the headliner in my write-up. It's in my top 5 albums of all time so I was glad when somebody nominated the brilliant title track.

2. "I Need A Lover" - Johnny Cougar (aka Mellencamp) - I've already talked about this. Despite that fact that he is my favourite all-time artist, I've criminally ignored his 1970s output, having only hard a few singles. This is one I'm familiar with (in its shorter form) but I haven't heard it for years and it's superb - even better than I remember.

3. "Winds of March" - Journey - I don't think I've heard Infinity before but this was a good track. Nice build-up, great vocals as even from Steve Perry and leads to a wonderful instrumental passage at the end. I bought a couple of ther albums in the 80s but never progressed beyond that.


Songs I didn't know but enjoyed
  • "San Lorenzo" - Pat Metheny Group - A relaxing instrumental
  • "Moving in Stereo/All Mixed Up" - The Cars - a good double.
  • "I Love the Sound of Breaking Glass" - Nick Lowe - I'm sure I must have heard this at some point but it sounded like a new song to me.
  • "Straight On" - Heart - continuing a good run of songs from a band I only previously knew in the 80s.
  • "Only You Can Rock Me" - UFO - another fine track from a band that's having a good outing in this thread.
  • "FM" - Steely Dan
  • "Equinoxe, Pt. 5" - Jean-Michel Jarre

Songs I already knew but enjoyed
  • "Goin' Down to Laurel" - Steve Forbert. I don't know many Steve Forbert songs outside Streets of This Town, but I know a couple from his debut and this is great.
  • "Sultans of Swing" - Dire Straits
  • "Hot Blooded" - Foreigner
  • "Life's Been Good" - Joe Walsh - some great slide work
  • "La Villa Strangiato" - Rush - Fantastic instrumental reaching classical heights of complexity.
  • "Who Are You" - The Who
  • "Dreadlock Holiday" - 10cc
  • "Don't Look Back" - Boston

Some catchy pop songs worthy of a mention
  • "Substitute" - Clout
  • "Rasputin" - Boney M
  • "Le Freak" - Chic

Songs I really didn't like

- I didn't like "Jocko Homo" by DEVO. I'll just leave that there.
 
BimboBob said:
Tomorrow's new write up will be posted up in the evening as i will be travelling during the day!
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I'm still working on my 1978 write-up and may not get to send it out until later tonight too (for me). Too much to do work-wise before MY travel, but suffice to say we're getting pretty pumped up for it.
 
The History of Rock & Roll - 1978

Now, as the years roll on
Each time we hear our favourite song
The memories come along
Older times we're missing
Spending the hours reminiscing

I had every intention of completing this earlier, but my PC had Windows 11 upgrade ideas tonight. Not good timing.

The first group from @RobMCFC had some great enjoyable classics with two great "Night" songs, first from Bruce and then Patti's co-authored song, followed by the Gerry Rafferty classic "Baker Street". The Rush and VH nods were also great familiar tunes, but the song that has stuck with me was the Midnight Oil "Run By Night", which I was previously unfamiliar with in getting into them much later in the 80's. What a great post-punk debut song that I especially enjoyed the fast paced tempo, guitars, and the familiar strong vocals from Peter Garrett that the band was famous for.

The Big Winners
This time I'm going for the trifecta, as all 3 of these songs bring back strong memories of listening to that year. First, I think next to Star Wars, seeing Grease in the movie theatre multiple times was such a big memory and enjoying discussing with middle school friends, all wanting to be in "high school" like the 20-somethings in the movie trying to pass as high school students. ;-) That movie had great vocal performances from Olivia Newton John and John Travolta, but it all started with the Frankie Valli title classic. "Grease" was the word indeed, and that beginning animated section of the movie was so iconic while that song played.
Next, I have to give the nod to Little River Band's "Reminiscing". Just a classic song that is so unique in so many ways. Yes, it's cheesy, but the pre-teen me just enjoyed that smooth sounds from the very underrated LRB that has stood the test of time. When I hear this song even now, it's just one I can't skip and brings back happy memories thinking ahead to the lyrics in the song and what it now means in reality to me, just celebrating 34 years of a lifetime plan this month.
The last one I find hard to explain, but the vocals from the soothing and sappy "Fool (If You Think It's Over)" from Chris Rea is just a classic tune from that year with that smooth sax made it all the way to #1 on the US easy listening charts.

When I think back to the songs I was listening to that year, those 3 stand out.

Top New Songs
  1. "Shot By Both Sides" - Magazine, well delivered post-punk rock song from its time
  2. "Airport" - The Motors, the band is back again this year with another catchy synth led song
  3. "Winds of March" - Journey, wasn't in to them back then, but great vocals and Neil Schon guitars prominently heard here
  4. "Burning Rope" - Genesis, while knowing "Follow You, Follow Me" from FM radio, this song not as much but very well done by the 3 left
  5. "Gator Country" - Molly Hatchet, a very good guitar led southern rock song
  6. "Rasputin" - Boney M., I probably heard this at some point, but I don't really remember it, and had to mention this somewhere
Top Songs I knew quite well
  1. "La Villa Strangiato" - Rush, probably one of their best classics musically. How this was put together and recorded is such a great story
  2. "Every Kinda People" - Robert Palmer, very nice bassline that drives Palmer's vocals along with the keys in this classic
  3. "I Need A Lover" - John "Cougar" (now) Mellencamp, the entering teenage anthem of the time, loved those initial piano keys that came in on this otherwise guitar led song. The guy could rock it in the '70s!
  4. "Life's Been Good" - Joe Walsh, the lyrics alone made this a classic of the times, the music and guitar playing here just took this to the next level
  5. "Roll With The Changes" - REO Speedwagon, probably the band of my adolescence, it all started with this song here. As soon as you are ready, indeed.
Honourable mention to the well known Heart, Boston, Foreigner, Petty, Stones, Who, Talking Heads, Steely Dan, and Squeeze classics
 
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