1985
The year began like it did the previous year - The Smiths 2nd album released like its predecessor, in the month of February.
I was actually dreading it, fearing that how could the band lyrically top their debut and Hatful of Hollow compilation.
On first hearing I wasn’t impressed. Maybe City had lost or I wasn’t feeling well, but the soft jingle jangle of last year was replaced with a harder sound and the opening two tracks of Headmaster Ritual and Rusholme Ruffians were not what I was expecting / hoping for. I let the album sit there for a full 6 days before finally deciding to give it another go.
Wow! What an album! Whatever the reason it now agreed with me and was a constant throughout the coming months.
A funny thing though, as soon as That Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore finished, I was flipping it straight onto the other side. After 3 months of playing the album, I played it whilst in bed one day and as the song ended I couldn’t be arsed getting out and flipping it - and then heard something I hadn’t heard before - the song’s reprise! A whole new version of the song opening up for me that I didn’t know existed!
In March I saw the band at the Palace Theatre, supported by James.
New Order released the album Low Life and I went to the Isle of Man for the week to watch City’s pre season tour. I don’t know his name but he lived in Cheadle or Cheadle Hume and he had a ghetto blaster and when walking around Douglas in the day I could hear him belting out the album all week. I think it’s the only tape he took with him.
Saw the band at the Hacienda, 7pm gig, first two tacks being live at the end of the Oxford Road Show. They did a later show the same night. The lad from Cheadle / Hume was there too. He was mad on New Orser. I heard he passed away a few years later…..
I saw Cabaret Voltaire earlier in the year, my first trip to the Hac.
Other top tunes. The Cure In between days. First time I heard it I thought it was New Order based on the long intro!
The Waterboys - Whole of the moon, witnessed on the excellent Tube.
Fine Young Cannibals with Johnny come home and a great cover of Suspicious Minds
The Bunnymen with Bring on the dancing horses
Jesus and Mary Chain - tastes like honey
Lloyd Cole and the Commotions - lost weekend
Dream Academy - life in a northern town
And Siouxsie & the Banshees still there with me with Cities in dust and the album Tinderbox. This was the first year I hadn’t seen them since 1980.
The gig of the year was Springsteen at Roundhey Park, Leeds. Got a coach from Chorlton Street via Piccadilly Records. I think they had 5 booked.
3 hours of great entertainment in the baking sun of a cricket field offering no shade. I still have the ticket but thankfully not the sunburn
Playlist
The Smiths - Well I Wonder
A beautiful song that could have sat on the previous album and the musically softest tune on the Meat Is Murder album. The tale of a smitten crush where the narrator wonders if the subject of his attention “sees him when they pass” and also begs “please, keep me in mind”. The song ends with a tap running into a sink…….
Siouxsie & The Banshees - The quaterdrawing of the dog
How could this possibly work? A Siouxsie & The Banshees song - without Siouxsie’s voice all over it? An instrumental track, a b side to Cities In Dust. A song that rises higher as it nears the end and just when you think it has ended, it finds a little more life in it. One of those songs I yearn for it to continue…..
Tracy Ullman - Terry
Included this version as the original by Kirsty MacColl was released in 1983!
A great song and check out Kirsty’s video with a cameo from Ade Edmondson.
Terry was one of a handful of songs of Kirsty’s that Ullman covered, the most well known being “They don’t know” which has Paul McCartney in the video.
