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

[BimboBob]

Another great write up...I'm going to hang fire a bit to see if any of my 50 songs get a pick...;)

I'm turning full OB1.

 

[OB1]

Another great write up...I'm going to hang fire a bit to see if any of my 50 songs get a pick...;)

I'm turning full OB1.

LOL

I’m hanging on too as I have a long list I am trying to whittle down for the rest of my picks.

 

[BimboBob]

LOL

I’m hanging on too as I have a long list I am trying to whittle down for the rest of my picks.

I'm purposely staying away from Rock etc as I'll leave that up to you.

 

[threespires]

Wow. There's an awful lot I agree with (with one major point, which I will come to) as regards the music that I know. (Much of it I don't — as I've said previously, I was becoming detached from the rock/pop form, and that was compounded when synth/drum machine style kicked in a bit later in the decade. But let me not anticipate. There's also some stuff to diverge from, which is no bad thing.
But here it is. I'm sort of dipping in to this thread, from time to time, in an avuncular way. I realise that we're all of different generations, and when you say, @threespires, that you finally arrived in your music, I hear you, by God I hear you. I was born in ’53. I grew up in the fifties hearing Sinatra's Songs for Swinging Lovers at home, and having a pretty good ear, I knew every song on that note for note, and could at a push have sung some of Nelson Riddle's orchestral arrangements to boot, because I played it into the ground. But although I loved it so much, and still love it to this day, I knew, even at nine or so, that it most definitely was not ‘my’ music. It was more my music than Bud Flanagan's “Underneath the arches”, that's for sure! All that was the music of my parents — bluebirds over the white cliffs of Dover, etc. But even skiffle didn't sound right to me, no more than did the imitations of Eddie Cochrane that were doing the rounds in the UK at the beginning of the sixties (which Lennon and McCartney were happy to contribute to, of course). But when those guys from Liverpool came along, and found their voice — seconded by those guys from south-east London and Kent — well, within a year, I knew that ‘my’ music was here.
The sticking point. Politics in rock. Well, yes, obviously, Clash and others, I get that. But I cannot accept that politics, in the broad sense, wasn't also in the music of the sixties and seventies. It was just expressed differently. In the broadest sense, “The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll” is nothing if not political. Even “Substitute”, which may not seem it, is highly political. In the sense in which politics is in the living rooms, in the bedrooms, at the bus stops, in the streets and schools.
Maybe I've misread you.
Bowie, Fripp and Scary Monsters. Totally agree with what you say about what Fripp brings to that album. His guitar is like black lightning across a blue sky. It would, unquestionably, have been a considerably lesser piece without him. All things considered, it's maybe my favourite Bowie. (I never did quite get the glam rock period of his career).
Chrissie? Yep, that story doesn't surprise me in the slightest. I'm sure she could be extremely obnoxious. Ray Davies once wrote that she could be “an arrogant little bugger”. As I say, I've always been a bit in love with her — from a great distance. That first album simply knocked me for six. Can't remember any specific tracks, funnily enough, just the whole effect and sound of the thing: tough. But tender.
And my own nomination for 1980, since I've stated that I'm a huge fan of Costello. Get Happy!. Managed to be both a tribute to an Isley Brothers-type sound that was distant even then, while being resolutely contemporary to that year. Quite a feat. I'd hate to have to pick a track off it, but if you put a gun to my head — o.k. then, “New Amsterdam”.

Somehow I found myself down by the dockside/ Thinking ’bout the old days of Liverpool and Rotherhithe/Transparent people who live on the other side/Living a life that is almost like suicide. Saw him perform that in Liverpool, Christmas time, 1982.

I had forgotten that Closer came out that year, too. The first Pretenders, Get Happy! and that? Christ. Maybe the eighties wasn't such a bad decade…

To be honest I did wonder if I was overreaching with my suggestion that music became more politicised by 1980. I take your point about the politics of the everyday and also if I think too for example about some of the soul music of the 60s and 70s it was highly political. I suppose I was trying to convey that even very mainstream shows like TOTP found themselves playing bands that were writing songs that were explicitly and directly political but perhaps I'm just displaying a bias towards my own experiences and recollections.

Elvis Costello was one of a number of important artists I didn't get round to mentioning and as you say there's a lot to pick from off Get Happy! Though I sometimes think he comes across as a bit self-satisfied, I suspect if I had his breadth and depth of musical knowledge and ability I probably would to!

Somewhat bizarrely, now you've triggered the memory, it appears I do actually know all the words to Underneath the Arches! I can only assume my Mum or Dad sang it to me as a child.

On another point and I hope you don't mind me including you in this, but I regularly find myself assuming that posters in the music threads are younger than they actually transpire to be. It only really happens in the music threads and I think it's because people write about the music they love with a verve and passion that irrespective of chronological age makes them come across as youthful. I'm convinced our love of music keeps us young at heart.

 

[threespires]

I'm purposely staying away from Rock etc as I'll leave that up to you.

Bloody hell, two of you at it now and in concert. I look forward to the 20 hour playlist you produce between the pair of you. Your evolution from admonishing OB1 to becoming his partner in crime is duly noted.

In fairness I've got another dozen that I'm really hoping people put up and if not they'll become a coda as ob1 would have it.

Anyway, it's getting kind of late now, so I'll politely say goodnight.

 

[BimboBob]

Bloody hell, two if you at it now and in concert. I look forward to the 20 hour playlist you produce between the pair of you. Your evolution from admonishing OB1 to becoming his partner in crime is duly noted.

In fairness I've got another dozen that I'm really hoping people put up and if not they'll become a coda as ob1 would have it.

Anyway, it's getting kind of late now, so I'll politely say goodnight.

Is that your first choice...:)

 

[RobMCFC]

He's already had plenty of mentions on this thread, and although I don't think The River album is up to the standard of the other classic-era Bruce albums, the title track is probably his finest moment.

Huey Lewis & The News were the first band I saw in concert, and although that would be six years down the line, they got off the mark with their debut album in 1980. Although not a band associated with punk, you can hear the energy in this selection that Huey Lewis took from his time in London in the 70s playing with country rock band Clover.

Another band featuring heavily on this thread, but loved by only a small number of us, Rush produced one of their signature singles in 1980.

And finally, with the addition of Neil Finn to the line-up, Split Enz got a bit more poppy and produced their most well-known single.

"The River" - Bruce Springsteen

"Some of My Lies Are True (Sooner or Later)" - Huey Lewis & The News

"The Spirit of Radio" - Rush

"I Got You" - Split Enz

 

[threespires]

Great write-up threespires. I'd like to get in early with 'Fiery Jack' by The Fall. Tales me back to seeing them at Rafters when they opened with this number and Mark E Smith came onstage wearing a snorkel jacket looking like Kenny from South Park!

Haha, I bet no one backstage had the bottle to ask Mark why are you wearing a snorkel mate? Rafters had just morphed into Jilly's by the time I was out and about but I've heard plenty of stories of the place.

 

[Black&White&BlueMoon Town]

He's already had plenty of mentions on this thread, and although I don't think The River album is up to the standard of the other classic-era Bruce albums, the title track is probably his finest moment.

Huey Lewis & The News were the first band I saw in concert, and although that would be six years down the line, they got off the mark with their debut album in 1980. Although not a band associated with punk, you can hear the energy in this selection that Huey Lewis took from his time in London in the 70s playing with country rock band Clover.

Another band featuring heavily on this thread, but loved by only a small number of us, Rush produced one of their signature singles in 1980.

And finally, with the addition of Neil Finn to the line-up, Split Enz got a bit more poppy and produced their most well-known single.

"The River" - Bruce Springsteen

"Some of My Lies Are True (Sooner or Later)" - Huey Lewis & The News

"The Spirit of Radio" - Rush

"I Got You" - Split Enz

I almost mentioned the other night that I was going to let you go first on your picks, and I'm glad I did as now two artists/albums down for me that I can pivot elsewhere. (unless I swing back!)

I will say that next to @threespires excellent write-up on the year (loved that Reagan line about "since", well done), there wasn't a better album opener for the year from AC/DC's "Back in Black" than Rush's "The Spirit of Radio". Glad one got to rightfully lead this playlist off.

I think I'll add in my initial ones later once the rain starts falling in Manchester later today as it is now time to get out and about. Well done, and credit to both you and I the other night to not bring up Rush at any point to Mancitydoogle during our discussions. ;-)

If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice!

 

[threespires]

He's already had plenty of mentions on this thread, and although I don't think The River album is up to the standard of the other classic-era Bruce albums, the title track is probably his finest moment.

Huey Lewis & The News were the first band I saw in concert, and although that would be six years down the line, they got off the mark with their debut album in 1980. Although not a band associated with punk, you can hear the energy in this selection that Huey Lewis took from his time in London in the 70s playing with country rock band Clover.

Another band featuring heavily on this thread, but loved by only a small number of us, Rush produced one of their signature singles in 1980.

And finally, with the addition of Neil Finn to the line-up, Split Enz got a bit more poppy and produced their most well-known single.

"The River" - Bruce Springsteen

"Some of My Lies Are True (Sooner or Later)" - Huey Lewis & The News

"The Spirit of Radio" - Rush

"I Got You" - Split Enz

Don't know the Huey Lewis one so look forward to playing that. As a Rush non-hater I do like Spirit of Radio, I know some people are a bit cynical and think it was written just to elicit a particular response at gigs but it always comes across as very genuine to me.

As you note, Split Enz always had this kind of arty vibe attached to them but with little bro pitching in this is just a straight down the line top pop song.

The River has got me wondering the extent to which Springsteen's ubiquity inadvertently'mutes' the voices of other artists who sing about America? For example, I think one of the reasons I've never made much effort with Mellencamp is that subconsciously I think (almost certainly erroneously) I can get whatever he offers, from Springsteen. Lazy on my part but I bet I'm not the only one.

 

[threespires]

Another fine write-up and nice to see a couple of heavy rock tracks to start off the playlist. I did wonder if AC/DC would make the initial list but hard not to include something from the multi platinum monster. I wouldn’t describe either AC/DC or Motörhead as metal but my first pick is a metal masterpiece form the late great Ozzy Osbourne who released his first solo record in 1980 and introduced former Quiet Riot Randy Rhoads guitarist to a mass audience. Rhoads fret work and riffing elevates Crazy Train to classic status - the guitar solo would have made Eddie Van Halen proud.

When Ozzy played in Manchester at the Apollo in September, my mates and I had passes for backstage and after the gig went with infamous rock photographer Ross Halfin to a club (in Fallowfield I think) where Ozzy and (possibly) Sharon were having a very quiet drink.

I'd like you to stop sharing your gig history now please because it just makes me envious ;-) It reminds me of Forrest just popping up everywhere in history :-)

Agree neither of the first two are metal so apologies if I implied that.

Btw - I think you and Bimbo have missed the opportunity to completely mess with our minds by on the quiet swapping over each others nominations.

 

[threespires]

Excellent write-up @threespires I really enjoyed reading that. The first two of your choices are classics although I’m not sure how I’ll get on with the rest of your list. But there’s no doubting the quality of your wordsmithery.

It can be hard boiling down a whole year’s worth of events into a few paragraphs but there was an iconic TV moment that happened in this year that needs a mention.

Having settled in to watch another session of Cliff “The Grinder” Thorburn versus Alex “Hurricane” Higgins in the World Snooker championship final, I was one of millions of BBC viewers to be astonished to have the coverage interrupted by a news flash and live coverage of the SAS storming the Iranian embassy.

This was a time when I’d there was a newsflash, then you knew it was an event of gargantuan proportions - none of this “Breaking News” nonsense when the Bank of England announces a 0.1% change in the base rate.

I’ll add some musical selection tomorrow.

Your're absolutely right to highlight that, I'd long forgotten it interrupted the snooker but I do remember it was live on all three (!) channels simultaneously. I'm not sure most of us had even heard of the SAS prior to this. It did establish the template for us watching the news unfold before our eyes rather than it being reported retrospectively. Not sure where that's ultimately taken us is that helpful but that's another discussion!

 

[Lovebitesandeveryfing]

I suppose I was trying to convey that even very mainstream shows like TOTP found themselves playing bands that were writing songs that were explicitly and directly political but perhaps I'm just displaying a bias towards my own experiences and recollections.

Yes, I think that's right. Few on here will have seen it, but Ready, Steady, Go! was rougher at the edges, and always more prepared to go out on a limb and be “political” than TOTP. In its early days, it was maybe the best pop/rock programme there's been on the telly. TOTP was by contrast very “clean”, consciously so, I think.
I distinctly remember going into a record shop in Harrow to buy the Beatles' first EP. You know the one, where they appear to be jumping and jiving on a pile of Liverpudlian rubble, probably somewhere up Scotland Road? Released summer 1963. The actual manager/owner of the shop turned the corners of his mouth down, and I seem to remember him actually saying to me, “Why are you buying that rubbish?”. This is the guy who's trying to sell records to earn a living! Later in the decade, 1967, I was sitting at the Oval watching, I think, England vs Windies, and in a quiet interlude in the match, the lad next to me opened up the newspaper — probably the Telegraph — read through the article about Jagger and Richards being busted for drugs, and said to his dad, with bitter sincerity, “I hope they get life”. A lad about my age… Couldn't believe it. I thought naively that to be young was to be on same side, in the same army.
We were embattled. All that is political, I think you will agree.
As for the enduring flame of enthusiasm for the music that shaped you — yep, it's a fair cop, I've got to admit it, I'm a 71-year-old overgrown adolescent. My granddaughter said to me some time back, “You're my very big brother, basically”. !.
The more I think about the eighties — a decade I felt deeply alienated from, for many reasons — the more I realise that there is stuff there in rock and pop that I'm very fond of to this day. Stuff to be salvaged from so much that I did not like or relate to. Hopefully, we'll come to some of it in the regular contributors' suggestions…

 

[threespires]

Yes, I think that's right. Few on here will have seen it, but Ready, Steady, Go! was rougher at the edges, and always more prepared to go out on a limb and be “political” than TOTP. In its early days, it was maybe the best pop/rock programme there's been on the telly. TOTP was by contrast very “clean”, consciously so, I think.
I distinctly remember going into a record shop in Harrow to buy the Beatles' first EP. You know the one, where they appear to be jumping and jiving on a pile of Liverpudlian rubble, probably somewhere up Scotland Road? Released summer 1963. The actual manager/owner of the shop turned the corners of his mouth down, and I seem to remember him actually saying to me, “Why are you buying that rubbish?”. This is the guy who's trying to sell records to earn a living! Later in the decade, 1967, I was sitting at the Oval watching, I think, England vs Windies, and in a quiet interlude in the match, the lad next to me opened up the newspaper — probably the Telegraph — read through the article about Jagger and Richards being busted for drugs, and said to his dad, with bitter sincerity, “I hope they get life”. A lad about my age… Couldn't believe it. I thought naively that to be young was to be on same side, in the same army.
We were embattled. All that is political, I think you will agree.
As for the enduring flame of enthusiasm for the music that shaped you — yep, it's a fair cop, I've got to admit it, I'm a 71-year-old overgrown adolescent. My granddaughter said to me some time back, “You're my very big brother, basically”. !.
The more I think about the eighties — a decade I felt deeply alienated from, for many reasons — the more I realise that there is stuff there in rock and pop that I'm very fond of to this day. Stuff to be salvaged from so much that I did not like or relate to. Hopefully, we'll come to some of it in the regular contributors' suggestions…

For those of us who didn't live through the sixties, or who toddled through parts of it, it's too easy to forget the prevailing culture going into the 60s and how much new music was viewed as a threat to it and the broader status quo.

Btw - I meant to say, "like black lightning across a blue sky" ... what a fantastic way of describing Fripp's guitar .

 

[OB1]

He's already had plenty of mentions on this thread, and although I don't think The River album is up to the standard of the other classic-era Bruce albums, the title track is probably his finest moment.

Huey Lewis & The News were the first band I saw in concert, and although that would be six years down the line, they got off the mark with their debut album in 1980. Although not a band associated with punk, you can hear the energy in this selection that Huey Lewis took from his time in London in the 70s playing with country rock band Clover.

Another band featuring heavily on this thread, but loved by only a small number of us, Rush produced one of their signature singles in 1980.

And finally, with the addition of Neil Finn to the line-up, Split Enz got a bit more poppy and produced their most well-known single.

"The River" - Bruce Springsteen

"Some of My Lies Are True (Sooner or Later)" - Huey Lewis & The News

"The Spirit of Radio" - Rush

"I Got You" - Split Enz

Good man. I was pretty confident that you would knock two off my list. In fact, I didn’t even put “The River” on the list I was writing last night: I just thought Rob will include that. I am sure you have mentioned before how much you rate that song. It is brilliant. Essence of Springsteen, writing about believable characters and their lives. Not my favourite Bruce song but Top 10 for sure.

I also suspected that you would pick “Spirit”, which is my favourite song from Canada’s finest but I did not rush to suggest it. Possibly their most commercial radio friendly track, it does capture the spirit of radio. It is also one of the best songs you will see performed in concert, the way concert crowds play their part is always a frisson moment. You mention that only a few of us like Rush but we are not alone in the big wide world.

Don’t have Huey’s first album but do have a few. I did see him and Clover more than once in support slots - Thin Lizzy for sure.

 

[RobMCFC]

I think one of the reasons I've never made much effort with Mellencamp is that subconsciously I think (almost certainly erroneously) I can get whatever he offers, from Springsteen. Lazy on my part but I bet I'm not the only one.

True to a certain extent, but consider this: every album Mellencamp made from 1985 - 1996 is better than every album Springsteen made in that period. Maybe Devils & Dust would get in the top 5 of a combined list of albums in this period, but essentially, Mellencamp and his band were on fire in this period. I don't think Springsteen has ever made a band album as good as The Lonesome Jubilee and he's certainly never made an album as experimental as Mr Happy Go Lucky, but we'll get to that in due course.

 

[RobMCFC]

Don’t have Huey’s first album but do have a few. I did see him and Clover more than once in support slots - Thin Lizzy for sure.

I would say that that first album is an outlier in their catalogue - there's a certain energy and an influence of the late 70s in there. Definitely worth a listen as I know you are fan of some of his later work (and it's only 35 mins or so long).

The fact that you've seen Clover live - more than once - just underlines what threespires was saying - you are the Blue Moon forums king of the gigs!

 

[BimboBob]

I would say that that first album is an outlier in their catalogue - there's a certain energy and an influence of the late 70s in there. Definitely worth a listen as I know you are fan of some of his later work (and it's only 35 mins or so long).

The fact that you've seen Clover live - more than once - just underlines what threespires was saying - you are the Blue Moon forums king of the gigs!

Aah...but did he see Einsturzende Neubauten live in 1983 at the Lyceum?

 

[Saddleworth2]

For those of us who didn't live through the sixties, or who toddled through parts of it, it's too easy to forget the prevailing culture going into the 60s and how much new music was viewed as a threat to it and the broader status quo.

Btw - I meant to say, "like black lightning across a blue sky" ... what a fantastic way of describing Fripp's guitar .

But, but, lightening isn't black... its kind of white :-)

 

[OB1]

I'd like you to stop sharing your gig history now please because it just makes me envious ;-) It reminds me of Forrest just popping up everywhere in history :-)

Agree neither of the first two are metal so apologies if I implied that.

Btw - I think you and Bimbo have missed the opportunity to completely mess with our minds by on the quiet swapping over each others nominations.

That would have been funny.