Saddleworth2
Well-Known Member
Just listening to the playlist. What a songwriter Paddy McAloon was. Just a genius.
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Rock Evolution – The History of Rock & Roll - 1985 - (page 203)
- Thread starter RobMCFC
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GoatersLeftShin
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Brilliant write up as usual @Saddleworth2 and there's some songs on the list I'm not familiar with so I'm looking forward to hearing them!
Sorry I've not been around to contribute much, but I've just been busy with getting ready for Christmas/work/travel. I've not really been able to go through all the messages since the original post so apologies in advance if these have been nominated but not yet added to the playlist.
Paul Hardcastle - 19
It's hard to imagine now how this sounded back in 1985. It just sounded like nothing else - this new 'House' or proto-House sound was just completely different to anything else around. It's just not structured like a normal pop song and makes use of samples. There's no chorus as such, not much singing and is heavy on the drums and that slightly acidy bassline - this is the sign of things to come. Whilst 1985 might still be classed as a 'rock' year songs like 19 are seeping through from what is soon to be a full-scale invasion.
The Pogues - Sally MacLennane
Part of my family are of Irish descent and as a kid I seemed to hear this album way too much and to be honest, I resented it and didn't like it at the time. However, as I've got older I've realised what a classic Rum, Sodomy and the Lash is. Shane MacGowan was a fine songwriter when he wasn't as cooked as a goose, a performer. I've lost count of the number of arguments my family have had over whether he was just completely pissed or absolutely fucking annihilated and unable to perform at their gigs over the years!
This album is a superb example of how smashing two genres together (Irish folk and punk) can produce some amazing music. I could've picked a number of tracks from this album I've got with Sally MacLennane as it just sums them up.
Dead Or Alive - You Spin My Round
You Spin Me Round is the first single from Stock Aitken and Waterman. It's also one of those songs you can pretty much play at any party and it gets people up.
SAW are about to become THE music producers now. This song is their 'blueprint' and has everything they are about to reproduce over and over again - catchy, highly produced and up-tempo. At the time I didn't like SAW songs but over time I've started to begrudgingly accept they could write a tune. Whilst they didn't write this, the production on it is superb.
Sorry I've not been around to contribute much, but I've just been busy with getting ready for Christmas/work/travel. I've not really been able to go through all the messages since the original post so apologies in advance if these have been nominated but not yet added to the playlist.
Paul Hardcastle - 19
It's hard to imagine now how this sounded back in 1985. It just sounded like nothing else - this new 'House' or proto-House sound was just completely different to anything else around. It's just not structured like a normal pop song and makes use of samples. There's no chorus as such, not much singing and is heavy on the drums and that slightly acidy bassline - this is the sign of things to come. Whilst 1985 might still be classed as a 'rock' year songs like 19 are seeping through from what is soon to be a full-scale invasion.
The Pogues - Sally MacLennane
Part of my family are of Irish descent and as a kid I seemed to hear this album way too much and to be honest, I resented it and didn't like it at the time. However, as I've got older I've realised what a classic Rum, Sodomy and the Lash is. Shane MacGowan was a fine songwriter when he wasn't as cooked as a goose, a performer. I've lost count of the number of arguments my family have had over whether he was just completely pissed or absolutely fucking annihilated and unable to perform at their gigs over the years!
This album is a superb example of how smashing two genres together (Irish folk and punk) can produce some amazing music. I could've picked a number of tracks from this album I've got with Sally MacLennane as it just sums them up.
Dead Or Alive - You Spin My Round
You Spin Me Round is the first single from Stock Aitken and Waterman. It's also one of those songs you can pretty much play at any party and it gets people up.
SAW are about to become THE music producers now. This song is their 'blueprint' and has everything they are about to reproduce over and over again - catchy, highly produced and up-tempo. At the time I didn't like SAW songs but over time I've started to begrudgingly accept they could write a tune. Whilst they didn't write this, the production on it is superb.
BimboBob
Well-Known Member
Did we miss Sly Fox's Let's Go All The Way?
Damn.
Damn.
Mad Eyed Screamer
Moderator
Their dominance over the charts was as vulgar as Simon Cowell's annual manipulation of the Xmas chart 2 decades later. Yes SAW brought us Rick Astley and Kylie. But they also fostered upon us Sonia. And for that your honour, a crime so unforgiveable had been committed......Dead Or Alive - You Spin My Round
You Spin Me Round is the first single from Stock Aitken and Waterman. It's also one of those songs you can pretty much play at any party and it gets people up.
SAW are about to become THE music producers now. This song is their 'blueprint' and has everything they are about to reproduce over and over again - catchy, highly produced and up-tempo. At the time I didn't like SAW songs but over time I've started to begrudgingly accept they could write a tune. Whilst they didn't write this, the production on it is superb.
Saddleworth2
Well-Known Member
Ok, I will stick them on for you mate.Brilliant write up as usual @Saddleworth2 and there's some songs on the list I'm not familiar with so I'm looking forward to hearing them!
Sorry I've not been around to contribute much, but I've just been busy with getting ready for Christmas/work/travel. I've not really been able to go through all the messages since the original post so apologies in advance if these have been nominated but not yet added to the playlist.
Paul Hardcastle - 19
It's hard to imagine now how this sounded back in 1985. It just sounded like nothing else - this new 'House' or proto-House sound was just completely different to anything else around. It's just not structured like a normal pop song and makes use of samples. There's no chorus as such, not much singing and is heavy on the drums and that slightly acidy bassline - this is the sign of things to come. Whilst 1985 might still be classed as a 'rock' year songs like 19 are seeping through from what is soon to be a full-scale invasion.
The Pogues - Sally MacLennane
Part of my family are of Irish descent and as a kid I seemed to hear this album way too much and to be honest, I resented it and didn't like it at the time. However, as I've got older I've realised what a classic Rum, Sodomy and the Lash is. Shane MacGowan was a fine songwriter when he wasn't as cooked as a goose, a performer. I've lost count of the number of arguments my family have had over whether he was just completely pissed or absolutely fucking annihilated and unable to perform at their gigs over the years!
This album is a superb example of how smashing two genres together (Irish folk and punk) can produce some amazing music. I could've picked a number of tracks from this album I've got with Sally MacLennane as it just sums them up.
Dead Or Alive - You Spin My Round
You Spin Me Round is the first single from Stock Aitken and Waterman. It's also one of those songs you can pretty much play at any party and it gets people up.
SAW are about to become THE music producers now. This song is their 'blueprint' and has everything they are about to reproduce over and over again - catchy, highly produced and up-tempo. At the time I didn't like SAW songs but over time I've started to begrudgingly accept they could write a tune. Whilst they didn't write this, the production on it is superb.
Saddleworth2
Well-Known Member
we did but I will stick it on seeing as there are a couple of other late onesDid we miss Sly Fox's Let's Go All The Way?
Damn.
Black&White&BlueMoon Town
Well-Known Member
The History of Rock & Roll - 1985
The whole wide world, an endless universe
Yet we keep looking through the eyeglass in reverse
Don't feed the people, but we feed the machines
Can't really feel what international means
In different circles we keep holding our ground
In different circles, we keep spinning 'round and 'round and 'round
What stood out to me on the first 10 tracks was the vocals focused songs, of the female persuasion. I knew what was coming when I moved from '85 to '86 to give @Saddleworth2 and Kate Bush their time to shine, and I was not disappointed. Of the first 6 songs, I only knew of Suzanne Vega's and the Eurythmics, the first of which was a minor hit that year. None of the others really charted or were heard much in the US, so it was nice to hear those. I was more familiar with Sade's "The Sweetest Taboo" which was a bigger hit in the US that year. I enjoyed Prefab Sprout, both here and from threespires' nomination, so probably that and Kate Bush's full album are ones for me to listen to further. Marillion's homage to Genesis was quite remarkable as even I had to check more than a couple times to confirm the band I was listening to while hearing the playlist. The other tracks I was well familiar with, with Tears For Fears and Dire Straits being the highlights.
The Big Winner
“Head Over Heels” – Tears For Fears, try as I might, this song and "Broken" that precedes it and that whole album is just the strongest memory I will take from that year. That album and this song changed a lot for me, and was the soundtrack to my senior year as one chapter was ending and a new one was beginning.
I'm going to refocus the next section down for the sake of time, but there were a lot of good songs both old and new here.
Top New Songs
On Second Thought
I wasn't familiar with The Smiths that year until my college roommate played this album pretty much non-stop that fall semester. I remember that time well. I think I listened more intently this time, and both songs nominated "Well I Wonder" and "The Headmaster Ritual" were very enjoyable. A band I later learned to appreciate over time, we'll see how much they show up in next year's write up. ;-)
The whole wide world, an endless universe
Yet we keep looking through the eyeglass in reverse
Don't feed the people, but we feed the machines
Can't really feel what international means
In different circles we keep holding our ground
In different circles, we keep spinning 'round and 'round and 'round
What stood out to me on the first 10 tracks was the vocals focused songs, of the female persuasion. I knew what was coming when I moved from '85 to '86 to give @Saddleworth2 and Kate Bush their time to shine, and I was not disappointed. Of the first 6 songs, I only knew of Suzanne Vega's and the Eurythmics, the first of which was a minor hit that year. None of the others really charted or were heard much in the US, so it was nice to hear those. I was more familiar with Sade's "The Sweetest Taboo" which was a bigger hit in the US that year. I enjoyed Prefab Sprout, both here and from threespires' nomination, so probably that and Kate Bush's full album are ones for me to listen to further. Marillion's homage to Genesis was quite remarkable as even I had to check more than a couple times to confirm the band I was listening to while hearing the playlist. The other tracks I was well familiar with, with Tears For Fears and Dire Straits being the highlights.
The Big Winner
“Head Over Heels” – Tears For Fears, try as I might, this song and "Broken" that precedes it and that whole album is just the strongest memory I will take from that year. That album and this song changed a lot for me, and was the soundtrack to my senior year as one chapter was ending and a new one was beginning.
I'm going to refocus the next section down for the sake of time, but there were a lot of good songs both old and new here.
Top New Songs
- "In a Manner of Speaking" - Tuxedomoon, hauntingly good minimalistic song with some great background sounds throughout
- Goodbye Lucille #1" - Prefab Sprout, great bass line led me in and the "Ooh Johnny Johnny Johnny" was a clincher. Listening more to this band from County Durham is on my list now.
- "Take the Skinheads Bowling" - Camper Van Beethoven, I was aware of the band, just never heard this song. Quite catchy. Anything, anything...
- "Bastards of Young" - The Replacements, more familiar with their later decade output, but this song sounded very similar to future hits, but still enjoyable lyrics from Paul Westerberg and Co.
- "Mr. Bad Guy" - Freddie Mercury, had not heard anything from his solo album, and liked the synths and keys on this track.
- "Between the Wars" - Billy Bragg, a note to my non-UK ears self, he said "arming for peace my boys" not "aren't we the Beastie Boys". Still, great lyrics all around.
- "All You Zombies" - The Hooters, originally heard a few years prior on local Philly radio, this was a close runner up to TFF.
- "Life in a Northern Town" - Dream Academy, loved the lyrics and the dreamy tempo of the song.
- "Rain On The Scarecrow" - John Mellencamp, strong memories of laughingly singing the lyrics to this song with freshman friends as an overplayed dining hall hit over the speakers: "Hey calling it your job ol' hoss sure don't make it right"...
- "Marathon" - Rush, "Mystic Rhythms" or "Territories" as I initially quote above would have been my song choice from this album, but this song selection is a fine choice as well. Better people, better food, and better beer - that whole album is one of Neil's best lyrical efforts of that decade.
- "This Is Not America" - David Bowie, Pat Metheny Group, amazing vocals by Bowie on this classic track from The Falcon and the Snowman film. This track helped redeem Bowie's output after his 1984 album Tonight.
On Second Thought
I wasn't familiar with The Smiths that year until my college roommate played this album pretty much non-stop that fall semester. I remember that time well. I think I listened more intently this time, and both songs nominated "Well I Wonder" and "The Headmaster Ritual" were very enjoyable. A band I later learned to appreciate over time, we'll see how much they show up in next year's write up. ;-)
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