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

Jazzman said:
Right, I have difficulties with 1981, but it was the year of one of my all time favourite albums, Time by ELO. Heard it to death a few years later when I started at University. It still is in my all time top 10. I nominate:

21st Century Man - ELO

Many years later I got to know of Jon and Vangelis. I love and nominate:

I'll Find My Way Home - Jon and Vangelis
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I'd have picked Ticket To The Moon from Time. A great album though.
 
BimboBob said:
I'd have picked Ticket To The Moon from Time. A great album though.
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I think you could pick almost every song. 21st Century Man reflects my melancholia during that time. I lost my father suddenly at end of 1980, and it took me several years to overcome this. I was 13 when it happened, had to grow up instantaneously and struggled with this until I left home to start at University.
 
threespires said:
I previously described OB1's write up as 'nice', having read it a second time I'm embarrassed I used such a wholly inappropriate word for what is a staggeringly comprehensive description of the music landscape. Having already shot my bolt on my four choices there's a whole raft of artists and songs mentioned in it that are worthy of inclusion and that I hope people pick. In terms of additional thoughts to add I find myself picking through the crumbs from OB1s table but a few things spring to mind.

I'll get a couple of things off my chest first: I'm only the most casual of layman when it comes to Rush but Red Barchetta is my favourite track of theirs, so I was very happy to see that make the cut. On the flip side, if O'Brien were to tell me that Room 101 contains my 1981 musical hell and gave me a choice of Shaddupa your Face or Don't Stop Believin' I would take my chances with the former over the latter every time :-)) I'm not going to claim it's use in The Sopranos is anything other than completely iconic but even that's not enough for it to be rescued in my miserable bastard point of view.

Moving swiftly on, OB1 mentioned Difficult to Cure and I remember my longer haired school pals debating at excessively long length the merits of Joe Lynn Turner relative to Dio and Bonnet. I never ventured the opinion that I preferred Bonnet over both of the others because that was anti-Dio sacrilege. Though rather different in style, Difficult To Cure also had an endless final track like Penthouse and Pavement. What I was surprised by looking at the '81 album chart last night was that both Gillan and Whitesnake got higher in the charts than Rainbow that year albeit only #2 compared to #3.

Looking at the album charts made me notice one cultural phenomena of the time that hasn't been mentioned is Not The Nine O'Clock News. Obviously much of it looks quite tame now but at the time it seemed pretty edgy. To distract kids from setting fire to shit at dinner times, one of the more savvy teachers would tape it and put it on at lunchtimes in one of the classrooms - it was always packed. They released two albums in 1981 both of which went into the top 10 which given that they were mostly spoken word was very impressive. They also off course had parody songs too, probably my favourite of which was There's a Man in Iran aka the Ayatollah song which contained the fantastic lyric " don't Khomeini any closer or I'll fall for your charms". I think I read somewhere that this was where Stephenson first met Connolly as he was playing the Ayatollah in the sketch.

Songs/Artists not mentioned but worthy imo include three or four tracks off Pretenders II; One in Ten by UB40; Radio Free Europe which got REM off and running (I notice they released a 'new' version of it earlier this year in response to the cut in funding of said service); Spellbound by Siouxsie; I know a lot of people were done with The Undertones by this point but I like It's Going To Happen; Reward by Teardrop Explodes was another big hit. Though not really my cup of tea and yet to make it big, Level 42 had their debut album this year. Though I was some way away from discovering them at this point, Penguin Cafe Orchestra released their second album which was the first of theirs I purchased and one which if you're prepared to surrender to the eccentricity can be a real 'happy place' record.

Meanwhile on the folk front there was also an enjoyably curious solo album from Richard Thompson released prior to the following years herculean final effort with Linda. Strict Tempo is an instrumental album (subtitled Traditional and Modern Music for All Occasions) and if you're a fan of the occasional Polka or Hornpipe it's a thoroughly enjoyable though commercially suicidal record. I wonder how many times in music history record company execs have despaired at a sentence from an artist that starts "listen, I've had this idea..."

I realise I've probably blown my chance of any leeway after my Journey comment but were MC-OB1 to allow me to have Luther Vandross as a free historical pick for the benefit of the thread story :-) then I'd probably go with Funeral Pyre by the Jam as my final pick.
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MC-OB1 thinks about as much of the Jam as you do Journey but I will add it to the coda. I'll also add Spellbound by Souxise. There's plenty more tracks that I think should be on the playlist but I am largely holding back for now to see what others come up with. You may be able to add to the coda before we are finished.

I am going to add a couple of things that I do not expect anyone else to come up with. I mentioned a couple of movie going experiences in my US trip bit and will dip into the relevant soundtracks.
 
OB1 said:
MC-OB1 thinks about as much of the Jam as you do Journey but I will add it to the coda. I'll also add Spellbound by Souxise. There's plenty more tracks that I think should be on the playlist but I am largely holding back for now to see what others come up with. You may be able to add to the coda before we are finished.

I am going to add a couple of things that I do not expect anyone else to come up with. I mentioned a couple of movie going experiences in my US trip bit and will dip into the relevant soundtracks.
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Never actually said I didn't like Journey (you'll just have to imagine me sticking my tongue out at you at this point). I actually think my single biggest issue with them is the production values; why does everything have to sparkle like a wealthy woman's neck? I'd prefer if they were less shiny.
 
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I would like to nominate one more. The Genius, Le Roi, Jean Michel Jarre released Magnetic Fields in 1981. I only bought it a couple of years later as I got my first turntable in 1982.
To me JMJ is one of the greatest musicians ever. He invented everything, built his own instruments, made music instantly recognizable and completely unique.

I put to you:

Magnetic Fields, Pt. 4 - Jean Michel Jarre
 
threespires said:
Never actually said I didn't like Journey (you'll just have to imagine me sticking my tongue out at you at this point). I actually think my single biggest issue with them is the production values; why does everything have to sparkle like a wealthy woman's neck? I'd prefer if they were less shiny.
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Horses for courses. It's not gritty music.
 
Jazzman said:
I would like to nominate one more. The Genius, Le Roi, Jean Michel Jarre released Magnetic Fields in 1981. I only bought it a couple of years later as I got my first turntable in 1982.
To me JMJ is one of the greatest musicians ever. He invented everything, built his own instruments, made music instantly recognizable and completely unique.

I put to you:

Magnetic Fields, Pt. 4 - Jean Michel Jarre
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Because I'm crass and poppy I might have gone for Pt 2. but Pt 4 is more grown up with a more interesting rhythmic structure.

Man had a Fairlight by this stage in proceedings, if you want a (admittedly niche) laugh have a look at the Fairlight MCL manual from the time, bearing in mind this was a piece of kit that probably cost close to £50K in today's money. It's easy to forget how much work the pioneers in this space had to put in.
 
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BimboBob said:
"The very first time we went into the studio was to do a track called 'Photographic' for a sampler album. A different version of that later ended up on their first album [1981's Speak and Spell]. I had my ARP sequencer sync'd to tape and Vince just couldn't believe it. They immediately got into it. In terms of structure and arrangement I left their ideas alone, because I thought the songs were great and wanted them to go down as faithfully as possible."

"Keen to expand his synth arsenal, Daniel soon moved up in the world, buying an ARP 2600 modular synth with its optional analogue sequencer, which he uses (and enthuses about) to this day. Many dismiss analogue sequencers as primitive devices today, but Daniel leaps to their defence. "They certainly didn't seem primitive at the time; they were the highest of hi‑tech, and the ARP stayed my main sequencer for years. It only had 16 note steps, but was a tremendously creative tool. I remember the first time I showed it to Vince Clarke; he was mesmerised by it, and so the ARP became crucial to the early development of Depeche Mode. In the end, though, I was desperate to get something MIDI, because the control voltages from the ARP are very unstable, and you could never get a CV‑to‑MIDI converter that worked properly."

So as there was one at Blackwing when the record was made then I'd say...probably!
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While I remember, I was staggered to discover that the ARP 2600 was partly developed and marketed as an educational instrument to be rolled out in schools and apparently it was sold to them. Mostly HE I'd imagine, but supposedly some high schools too.

Now I don't know about you but I've heard plenty of people reminisce about their plastic descant recorders in school music lessons but I've never had anyone say to me "do you remember when Sir used to get the state of the art semi-modular synthesiser out so we could have a crack at little brown jug", the mind boggles as to what sort of schools were buying them.
 
threespires said:
Moving swiftly on, OB1 mentioned Difficult to Cure and I remember my longer haired school pals debating at excessively long length the merits of Joe Lynn Turner relative to Dio and Bonnet.
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This was one of the albums I bought in Singapore and to my surprise contained a reference to the job I was doing at the time! Can't Happen Here has great lyrics that still resonate today, but it's the reference to "Huge supertankers on Arabian trips" that was relevant to me, as I was on this at the time, having headed to Singapore from the Gulf:
1758734717826.png
Bonus points to anyone who knows this ship's claim to fame!

Blue Öyster Cult's Fire of Unknown Origin has already been mentioned and Veteran of the Psychic Wars was originally released on that album, one of their best songs. However, BÖC also released a number of excellent live albums over the years and, although not released until 1982 on Extraterrestrial Live, the live version of the above song was recorded at the Hollywood Sportatorium, Florida, in October 1981, so I think counts for inclusion. I reckon it contains one of the greatest guitar solos of all time, by the legendary Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser.
 
homerdog said:
This was one of the albums I bought in Singapore and to my surprise contained a reference to the job I was doing at the time! Can't Happen Here has great lyrics that still resonate today, but it's the reference to "Huge supertankers on Arabian trips" that was relevant to me, as I was on this at the time, having headed to Singapore from the Gulf:
View attachment 170373
Bonus points to anyone who knows this ship's claim to fame!

Blue Öyster Cult's Fire of Unknown Origin has already been mentioned and Veteran of the Psychic Wars was originally released on that album, one of their best songs. However, BÖC also released a number of excellent live albums over the years and, although not released until 1982 on Extraterrestrial Live, the live version of the above song was recorded at the Hollywood Sportatorium, Florida, in October 1981, so I think counts for inclusion. I reckon it contains one of the greatest guitar solos of all time, by the legendary Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser.
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I cheated and looked it up so I'll wait to see if anyone knows without looking.
 
Black&White&BlueMoon Town said:
Well done, as it was soon on my list, but I think I'll just stay in Canada for my next one.
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The Good Book says it's better to give than to receive
I do my best to do my part
Nothin' in my pockets, I got nothin' up my sleeve
I keep my magic in my heart

And the good news here for Mancitydoogle is this Canadian band won't be one he is going to Rush to not listen to. But... the apple didn't exactly fall far from the tree on this one as I first introduced them in this thread in 1979. Their best album however was this in 1981 to this rising high schooler when this came out this very month that year in September.

I'm only on pick 2, so I'm taking my time with this as I find the slow roll works best for me. OB1 is welcome to hold (your) fire as I still have time on my remaining selections. ;-)

To name another band, it's pretty appropriate that the guitar solo of my 1981 blockbuster-can't-get-enough-of-this-song starts at 311 in.

I will also note that this song was one of the first song mantras where the lyrics really stuck with me throughout that whole decade of "Growin' Up", and inspired me to be such the stickler I am on what is conveyed in a song in addition to the music. That has well rewarded me on many various Manchester-based, Americana, indie, and alt folk bands I enjoy to this day.

Words to live by in this song, as we only get one shot in this life, and these lyrics still resonate with me:

You think that a little more money can buy your soul some rest
You better think something else instead
You're so afraid of being honest with yourself
You'd better take a look inside your head
Nothing is easy, nothing good is free, but I
I can tell you where to start
Take a look inside your heart
There's an answer in your heart

Fight The Good Fight - Triumph
 
threespires said:
Songs/Artists not mentioned but worthy imo include ... Radio Free Europe which got REM off and running (I notice they released a 'new' version of it earlier this year in response to the cut in funding of said service);
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I see they actually had a 1981 version of this song before re-recording it in 1983 for their debut album. I didn't know that. After hearing the Spotify version of the 1981 track, I much prefer the one from their debut album in a couple years.

I think I'll hold on that as that also wouldn't be the song I choose from that 1983 release, even though it was their first popular song on college radio.
 
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homerdog said:
To be fair, I wouldn't expect anybody to know otherwise!
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It was quite an interesting read, just three things I learnt.... Apparently there was no stage that was big enough for the interior shots which was how they ended up building the huge 007 Stage at Pinewood. The scale model used for exterior footage fooled the captain of the real boat at the premier. Catherine Deneuve really wanted to play the Barbara Bach role and offered to do it for virtually half what she normally charged but that was still 3 times more than Broccoli's limited of what he was prepared to pay for a female lead so Bach got the job 4 days before shooting started.
 
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Black&White&BlueMoon Town said:
I see they actually had a 1981 version of this song before re-recording it in 1983 for their debut album. I didn't know that. After hearing the Spotify version of the 1981 track, I much prefer the one from their debut album in a couple years.

I think I'll hold on that as that also wouldn't be the song I choose from that 1983 release, even though it was their first popular song on college radio.
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Tbh I didn't know either, just came across it reading about something else in 81 so had a listen. I actually like it more than the version on murmur, it's got a basic rough and ready feel to it.

A bit like Ceremony I quite like it when different versions of songs exist, not so much remixes but more evolutions created by the bands themselves.
 
As we're in a music history thread I'm going to note the passing this week of not a superstar but still one of our great musicians.

RIP the wonderful Danny Thompson.
 
threespires said:
While I remember, I was staggered to discover that the ARP 2600 was partly developed and marketed as an educational instrument to be rolled out in schools and apparently it was sold to them. Mostly HE I'd imagine, but supposedly some high schools too.

Now I don't know about you but I've heard plenty of people reminisce about their plastic descant recorders in school music lessons but I've never had anyone say to me "do you remember when Sir used to get the state of the art semi-modular synthesiser out so we could have a crack at little brown jug", the mind boggles as to what sort of schools were buying them.
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Definitely not at my college. Though to be fair to them I was nowhere near the music block. I was in history and archeology. The cool section.
 
threespires said:
Tbh I didn't know either, just came across it reading about something else in 81 so had a listen. I actually like it more than the version on murmur, it's got a basic rough and ready feel to it.

A bit like Ceremony I quite like it when different versions of songs exist, not so much remixes but more evolutions created by the bands themselves.
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It's a bit faster paced of a song that at that tempo, and it doesn't feel like it would belong on Murmur in that form, kind of a punkish "we'll play this speed in the bar/pub" initial version.

Don't get me wrong, to quote another band you mentioned, it's nice to hear it differently, I just felt when they slowed it down a notch for Murmur, it sat better with me. I'll let OB1 decide about it, I just can't lose one of my remaining ones on it this year. ;-)
 
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