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

There's a few songs that need to be on this list and a couple that I'm adding in. Special mention to a few that I'm not including that maybe can go in the Coda. Dire Straits - Special Investigation, Midge Ure - No Regrets, OMD - Maid Of Orleans and XTC - Senses Working Overtime.

First up, Wham! Although the album would come later, this song only charted as a band had pulled out of a Top Of The Pops recording and they were drafted in at the last minute as their replacement. Result? A number 3 single and success!

Wham! - Young Guns (Go For It!)

Their third single from their first album and their highest charting hit this year. A band that would evolve from their early synth style with later albums. Oh how they would evolve...

Talk Talk - Today

The next song was a from a band at the peak of their powers. A bonkers video, par for the course, and just a very catchy tune. Their only number 1 as well.

Madness - House Of Fun

I can't leave the next song off this list as I'll get put in the dog house. It was one of my wedding songs, bizarrely, as we chose a few that the evening DJ had to play on pain of death.

A Flock Of Seagulls - Wishing (If I had A Photograph Of You)

And finally...to book end the list, a band that started it all off...

Blancmange - Living On The Ceiling 12"
 
BimboBob said:
There's a few songs that need to be on this list and a couple that I'm adding in. Special mention to a few that I'm not including that maybe can go in the Coda. Dire Straits - Special Investigation, Midge Ure - No Regrets, OMD - Maid Of Orleans and XTC - Senses Working Overtime.

First up, Wham! Although the album would come later, this song only charted as a band had pulled out of a Top Of The Pops recording and they were drafted in at the last minute as their replacement. Result? A number 3 single and success!

Wham! - Young Guns (Go For It!)

Their third single from their first album and their highest charting hit this year. A band that would evolve from their early synth style with later albums. Oh how they would evolve...

Talk Talk - Today

The next song was a from a band at the peak of their powers. A bonkers video, par for the course, and just a very catchy tune. Their only number 1 as well.

Madness - House Of Fun

I can't leave the next song off this list as I'll get put in the dog house. It was one of my wedding songs, bizarrely, as we chose a few that the evening DJ had to play on pain of death.

A Flock Of Seagulls - Wishing (If I had A Photograph Of You)

And finally...to book end the list, a band that started it all off...

Blancmange - Living On The Ceiling 12"
Click to expand...

At the risk of outing myself as an occasional Dire Straits listener I think the track is Private Investigations.

Didn't realise we hadn't had Maid of Orleans.

I thought you would put Talk Talk in at some point, my only argument would be whether they'd reached the height of their power yet, though I suppose commercial that's true.

Going to listen to this playlist alongside the 72 one to see what a decade has done.
 
May I put forward the Associates - Party fears two?.
How anybody can sing in that manner and it sounding fucking brilliant is testimony to the late great Billy McKenzie. From the fantastic album Sulk. I remember listening to it when I was 8 or 9 when it came out thinking I'd never heard anything like this ever! Still one of my favourite songs to this day. William it really WAS something.
 
threespires said:
At the risk of outing myself as an occasional Dire Straits listener I think the track is Private Investigations.

Didn't realise we hadn't had Maid of Orleans.

I thought you would put Talk Talk in at some point, my only argument would be whether they'd reached the height of their power yet, though I suppose commercial that's true.

Going to listen to this playlist alongside the 72 one to see what a decade has done.
Click to expand...
No idea why I typed Special Investigations .
 
The Lightbowne Cowboy said:
May I put forward the Associates - Party fears two?.
How anybody can sing in that manner and it sounding fucking brilliant is testimony to the late great Billy McKenzie. From the fantastic album Sulk. I remember listening to it when I was 8 or 9 when it came out thinking I'd never heard anything like this ever! Still one of my favourite songs to this day. William it really WAS something.
Click to expand...
It's already on the list mate. Page 182 I believe.
 
threespires said:
I'm guessing because it got to number 1 in 1982 and that was the year I think most in the UK became aware of it. Not sure who nominated but maybe they weren't around for the 78 list?

Ongoing debate I suppose do you go for release year or the year it had an impact?
Click to expand...
One of those rare instances, where it fell down the UK charts before reaching number 1 the following week #2 > #3 > #1.
 
threespires said:
Putting Eddie aside for a moment. I only recently found out that both Robert Fripp and Michael Nyman were in The Flying Lizards.
Click to expand...
I think this is the first time since Bluemoon incipience TS that I was familiar with a piece of musicality prior to your good self.

I had never heard of the sackbut let alone listened to a of piece of music at least to my knowledge that thrived on its awe- inspiring sound until I first listened to Michael Nyman which I can thank my mother for despite studying music history in school and so I must have been a somewhat stolid student or the course was not that enigmatic.

Of course his work on The Piano is legendary now but there is something about the Title The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat that any married man can relate to.

I on occasion don't feel worthy to be able to listen to some of his pieces IMO a musical erudite.
 
Last edited:
Will put this in here as there has been discussions on the band in previous years.

Went to watch New Dawn Fades a play about Joy Division at the Old Rep in Birmingham last night.

It was very good with special mention to the actors who played Wilson and Ian.
Some good musical moments and it covered most of the definitive points but also was a bit of a love letter to Manchester and it's history.
Well worth catching if your a fan of the band or that time
 
Mancitydoogle said:
Think this is quite apt for some of the nominations for this year and it was televised in 1982

Click to expand...


They did one on punk and one on 2-tone/ska too. I laughed as much as anyone at the time but I look back at them now and can't help but think they were a bit reactionary (he said adopting a po-faced armchair revolutionary expression).
 
Mancitydoogle said:
Think this is quite apt for some of the nominations for this year and it was televised in 1982

Click to expand...

Even I recognized Rowan Atkinson right away. Well played and thanks for sending this out.

My one regret is Spotify wasn't as kind as serving this up for the Coda, because it was certainly attempted!
 
Ok, true story here, after Mancitydoogle's video above played, this one got queued up in my list to watch next, and of course, once I saw this, I couldn't help myself but click.... (BAITED!!!)



MCD, when this first started, this is how I imagine you trying to listen to Rush. I was going to ask if she is related to you in some way? ;-)

1760730668048.png

Also, the fact this voice coach did not recognize the Stones' "Paint It Black" before the band went into Rob's 1980 pick of "The Spirit of Radio" told me all I needed to know on where I thought this was going to go.

Sorry, but this was too funny not to share and it simply made my Friday watching her watch them perform.

Favourite moment just after 16:00: "Stop It! That transition was soooooo smooth!"
 
Last edited:
MCD, when this first started, this is how I imagine you trying to listen to Rush. I was going to ask if she is related to you in some way? ;-)

1760776603027.png


Ha ha that’s exactly how I listen to Rush with my hands over my ears when Geddy Lee starts ‘singing’
I think I would’ve known the into was PIB though.
I have to say they are excellent musicians they just need a vocalist.

;-)
 
Mancitydoogle said:
Ha ha that’s exactly how I listen to Rush with my hands over my ears when Geddy Lee starts ‘singing’
I think I would’ve known the into was PIB though.
I have to say they are excellent musicians they just need a vocalist.

;-)
Click to expand...
Sorry, I still trust in that vocal coach.
1760792703376.png
 
The History of Rock & Roll - 1982 (Revenge Of The Synth)

1760792944432.png

We.... are young but getting old before our time
We'll leave the TV and the radio behind
Don't you wonder what we'll find
Steppin' out tonight?

I would have been surprised if the music exceeded the story on the first 10 that @BimboBob offered up, and in this case, the keyboard that had me most captivated was the one providing the letters on p 181, which is a credit to the author and his storytelling. I was hooked from "hands were shaking"...

But don't get me wrong, I enjoyed those selections and "The Sun and the Rainfall" from Depeche Mode was both new and quite the standout track of the first group for me. A close contender for a Big Winner as well as the subtlety of the music and the melody was quite entrancing. Next was a band I don't think I can say I'd even listened to, but I did enjoy "Nobody's Fool" as well with the smooth sax and pronounced bass by Haircut 100, some good straightforward pop. "Nowhere Girl" by B-Movie also was a clear winner with a dreamy and hypnotic sound with the keys on full display. I could even hear some touches of AFoS, but these guys sounded better despite the heavier subject matter of alienation.

I am very familiar with "All Of My Heart", "Visions In Blue", and "Save A Prayer", the first two from a relationship coming up in a little over few years time-wise from where the needle is now. It was impossible to miss Duran Duran on Friday Night Videos on NBC (free TV) or MTV in the US at that time.

The Big Winner
“Steppin' Out” – Joe Jackson, this was close, but almost not fair as I remember first hearing this track the time it came out and was just in awe of the synths, piano, and most of all Joe Jackson's voice on this. It is just one of my all time favourite songs as he hits all the notes here. Get into a car and drive as I got my driver's license that year brings back memories of driving down the road listening to this as a teen. Tough to top that, I'd say.

Top New Songs
  1. "Walking on a Wire" - Richard & Linda Thompson, pretty sad lyrics on the breakup of a marriage sung from Linda's point of view with Richard's amazing guitarwork matching the mood
  2. "Soldier of the Line" - Magnum, although I can't find that this band inspired Spinal Tap a few years from now, I couldn't stop thinking about the association given I was also unfamiliar with this band, though they were obviously better with a great melodic hard rock sound
  3. "Today" - Talk Talk, not a single in the US, but another enjoyable track from a band I've also enjoyed immensely from BB beyond the popular at the time
  4. Simple Minds tracks "New Gold Dream" and "Hunter And The Hunted", familiar with other tracks off of their '82 album from my Glittering Prize 81/92 compilation, just not these two
  5. "Read About It" - Midnight Oil, a very nice cowbell opening, I'm really enjoying hearing this Aussie band in their earlier years from when I later caught them
  6. "Golden Brown" - The Stranglers, very well delivered synths song from a band a few years away from hearing the first time
  7. "Town Called Malice" - The Jam, always interesting how the songs of the time differed so much between our countries, but back then, based on radio play, I'm convinced it WAS a thing
  8. "Temptation" - New Order, popular at some US dance clubs, but not a place I was back then
  9. "Wall of Death" - Richard & Linda Thompson, RT and related bands has been quite the enjoyment for me on BlueMoon
  10. "Sweet Little Woman" - Joe Cocker, nice funky slow down song from JC, very well done
  11. "Kids Don't Follow" - The Replacements, great guitars in this punk song as an answer to U2's "I Will Follow"
Top Songs I Knew Quite Well
  1. "Someday, Someway" - Marshall Crenshaw, just a fantastic throw-back track to a time before this decade. I still enjoy this immensely.
  2. Springsteen's Nebraska songs, loved the whole album and is very underrated in his whole catalog. Looking forward to catching the film on this album and the making of very soon.
  3. "Sirius/Eye In The Sky" - Alan Parsons Project, the vocalists may change on track to track, but I always enjoyed the albums and Eric Woolfson was my favourite
  4. "Telegraph Road" - Dire Straits, I found this song and album later in college, an enjoyable music ballad on some impressive time signature changes telling the story of the physical Telegraph Road in Michigan for industrial and societal change and decline over time. The guitar at the end as the momentum picks up has always been the highlight after the lyrics finished
  5. "You Took" - The Church, yes sorry, this is a Late Add, but I forget to mention how much I enjoyed these 4 songs from that album including this track from their 2023 concert
  6. "I Keep Forgettin'" - Michael McDonald, another vocalist that is just tough to top on this bluesy funky song, the background female singers add so much to this song
  7. "I.G.Y." - Donald Fagen, nice chill song also with great backing female vocals that make this
  8. "Don't Change" - INXS, the song that made the band what they would become later that decade
  9. "Don't Tell Me You Love Me" - Night Ranger, one of the few songs from Jack Blades and Co. that I enjoyed from them
  10. "Dirty Laundry" - Don Henley, the lyrics beat the music on this, but both are great
  11. "Jack & Diane" - John Cougar (Mellencamp), hold onto sixteen as long as you can...
Honorable mention to Rush, Asia, Benatar, Frida, and Supertramp that same year.

On Second Thought
This didn't just happen this week, but “Rock The Casbah" from The Clash, is a song I appreciated later when hearing this group's entire musical GH catalog and really got into them in the 90's, but back in the 80's, I was not a fan of this overplayed song. It was an immediate "turn the station", except when sang in jest on the school bus. I suppose once lyrics became available online that I owe "Sherrr-ie" an apology for those of us singing that she "don't like it" back in the day.
 
Last edited:
1983

In 1983, I was 26 married with two kids and another on the way. Thatcher won a landslide victory in the General Election and used that as a mandate to push through her ‘modernisation’ of the UK. The festering sore that was her relationship with the Trade Union movement cranked up a couple of notches in tension amid mine closures and very high unemployment. Life would become interesting when the strike hit in 84 but that is for another year.

The wages of a Bank clerk did not run to frivolities like albums and gigs and I had little time to listen to the radio even if I had wanted. To make ends meet I had taken a second job in a bar in a nearby mining village which is where I listened to music. Much of it through gritted teeth. The pub was run by a couple called Adam and Betty. She was about 5 feet in heels and about the same measurement wide. She wore a gold sovereign ring on every one of her pudgy fingers and used to tell me they came in handy if she needed to clout someone. I was a very obedient employee. The couple owned a huge fuck off Alsatian called Jasper. Jasper would attack to order although to be fair, I only witnessed that once. It was enough of a deterrent just to see the dog with his forepaws resting on the bar as he reared up to search for some miscreant. He looked like he was over 6ft tall when he did that although thinking back that couldn’t be right (could it?). To complete the pub weaponry there was a baseball bat behind the bar. It sounds like there was constant trouble but there really wasn’t. The nuclear deterrent of sovereign rings, attack dog and baseball bat was quite enough to keep the natives relatively well behaved. I learned quite a bit about life, different perspectives and the effect of alcohol on folk in the two or three years I worked there and the experiences helped shape my politics for a lifetime.

There were two jukeboxes in the pub, one in the lounge and one in the public bar so I could be subjected to fresh musical atrocities depending on which was the busiest. Unfortunately my pleas of ‘put some Zeppelin on’ fell on deaf lugs so my abiding memories of music that year are based on the records that played on those bloody juke-boxes. A small number of songs I loved, many others I just about tolerated, a few are ear worms that I despise to this day. It’s a populist collection of classic bangers and throw away tat. It’s for you to decide which is which.

1. Culture Club – Karma Chameleon
Probably the most played on the lounge bar juke box. Karma Chameleon by Culture Club became one of the biggest hits of the decade, reaching number one in the UK and the US. The song is known for an upbeat rhythm, and distinctive harmonica line. Lead singer Boy George wrote the lyrics which are about fear of rejection and the pressure to conform. He later explained that the song reflects the idea of people not being true to themselves, changing their personality depending on who they're with. The song’s success helped make Culture Club one of the most popular bands of the 1980s. It also became a symbol of Boy George’s unique style and the colourful, gender-fluid image. Funnily enough, there didn’t seem to be many New Romantics drinking in my pub more is the pity. It shows what a good song it was in that it seemed to be popular with a wide age range of punters.

2. Big Country – In a Big Country
I covered The Crossing some time ago in the album thread. This was one I always perked up for when it was played. It was the soundtrack of some very raucous evenings when some of the local youngsters dared to interlope (the other pub in the village was their pub with newcomers often welcomed by a swift pool cue across the bridge of the nose. It didn’t seem to have the deterrents that our pub had and brawls were a regular feature). Famous for its soaring guitar sound that mimics bagpipes — achieved using the e-bow and effects pedals. The song reflects themes of hope, pride, and perseverance. I still like Big Country very much and it is very sad that Stuart Adamson gave into his demons. The Band always made me feel very Scottish for some reason - maybe it was the Bagpipe guitars :-)

3. The Smiths – This Charming Man
Released in October 1983, This Charming Man was The Smiths’ breakout single, combining Johnny Marr’s jangly guitar work with Morrissey’s witty, ambiguous lyrics. It tells a subtly homoerotic story of a young man being picked up by an older gentleman — a bold move for its time. The track helped cement the band’s place as leaders of the indie movement and earned them a devoted following before their debut album even dropped. It's considered one of the most important songs of the '80s British indie scene. So ok, this wasn’t played that much on the juke box but it’s so good I could’t leave it out. My memory is poor these days but I’m sure I first saw Morrisey performing this whilst distributing gladioli to the audience. Despite that I still play their music pretty regularly and this does take me back to 83

4. Kajagoogoo – Too Shy
This synth-pop smash hit came out in early 1983 and reached number one in the UK and top five in the US. Fronted by the peroxide-haired Limahl, Kajagoogoo seemed destined for stardom, but internal tensions led to Limahl being ousted later that year. Produced by Nick Rhodes of Duran Duran, Too Shy became a one-hit wonder in many countries — a perfect example of early MTV-era style over staying power. Popular in both bars with the younger set. I really hated it but years later Nick Begg (the bassist) became a bit of a hero when I saw him perform with Steve Hackett.

5. Dexys Midnight Runners – Come On Eileen
So this was my biggest ear worm hate and it was played incessantly. I have never hated a song so much since I had to listen to Frosty the Snowman every 20 minutes from October to December in the 70’s when I worked as a waiter in a hotel (Does Santa sleep with his whiskers over or under the sheets was just as contemptible). Although released in 1982, believe me it was still going strong chez Betty’s for most of 83. It did peak in the US in 1983, making it a global hit so I have included it.

6. U2 – New Year’s Day
Released in January 1983, New Year’s Day was the lead single from U2’s War album. The song’s lyrics were inspired by the Polish Solidarity movement, though Bono initially wrote it as a love song to his wife. With its distinctive piano riff and political overtones, it became U2's first UK Top 10 hit and helped establish them as a politically conscious rock band (oh no). It marked a turning point in their sound — more anthemic and driven — setting the stage for their stadium-filling future.

7. Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton – Islands in the Stream
This song was usually selected by one/some of the middle aged women in the Lounge Bar and it almost always was played towards the end of the night when a fair few vodka and cokes had been imbibed. It almost always prompted a singalong. The less said about that the better.

Written by the Bee Gees, Islands in the Stream became a huge crossover hit, topping the pop, country, and adult contemporary charts. Despite coming from different musical backgrounds, Rogers and Parton had effortless chemistry. The song’s name was inspired by an Ernest Hemingway novel, though the lyrics have no connection. It remains one of the most iconic duets in pop and country history. I have always had a soft spot for Dolly and her vocal performance on this was top notch

8. Spandau Ballet – True
Released in April 1983, True is a smooth, romantic ballad that became Spandau Ballet’s biggest hit and a staple of '80s soft pop. Lead singer Tony Hadley’s cracking vocals and the song’s polished production gave it an almost Motown-esque feel. It’s often mistakenly thought of as a wedding song, despite being about unrequited love and obsession. Its saxophone solo is one of the most memorable of the decade.

9. The Police – Every Breath You Take
Released in May 1983, this song topped the Billboard Hot 100 for eight weeks and is often mistaken for a love song — despite being about jealousy and surveillance. Sting wrote it during a difficult divorce, and the lyrics have a possessive, stalker-like tone. Ironically, it’s often used at weddings. Musically minimalist, it’s driven by Andy Summers’ haunting guitar riff. The track won Song of the Year at the 1984 Grammys and remains one of The Police’s best songs.

10. Men Without Hats – The Safety Dance
This quirky synth-pop anthem was released as a single in 1983 (from their 1982 album Rhythm of Youth). It's often interpreted as a dance tune, but it’s actually a protest song against club policies banning pogo dancing. Lead singer Ivan Doroschuk used the song to champion freedom of expression, especially through dance. The medieval-themed music video (complete with a dwarf and maypole) became an early MTV staple and helped the band achieve cult status. It is a song that is especially poignant to Mrs S and I. It was a favourite of my nephew who tragically was killed on his motorcycle in collision with an ambulance. There irony of which would not have been lost on him. At his funeral his close friends all wore daft hats and this was played.

So that was my 1983 musically. No gigs, no albums, no holidays or world trips. Just work, work, work and that random assortment of bangers and tat which through osmosis managed to sear into my memory banks for good or bad. I’m sure a great many more tasteful choices will be made to supplement my meagre selection.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Unread Posts

Don't have an account? Register now and see fewer ads!

SIGN UP
Back
Top