Tag Archive for 1980’s

15th July 2012

The Blue Nile – Tinseltown in the rain

Posting Orange Juice earlier in the week made me think of this, from my favourite Glasgow band and in fact one of my favourites of all time, The Blue Nile. It has an utterly classic 80’s sound and is perfect mellow Sunday night listening.

RjK


12th July 2012

Orange Juice* – Rip it up (NAT)

This is not strictly speaking a new band (although to my surprise I haven’t posted OJ before). It just felt appropriate to post something orange today. The 12th of July will forever make me think of home, regardless of far from it I am (and despite how banal things in Ardoyne may appear this evening).

This track is one of my very favourites from the 80’s, probably in my top 5 which is very rarefied air. Orange Juice are one in a long line of richly-talented Glasgow bands and they brought the fantastic Edwyn Collins (who I posted last year) to prominence. Pretty special video here too.


RjK 

*Artist #483

The Waterboys – Sweet Thing

I thought of this after posting Paul McCartney earlier in the week. It is a cover of one of my very favourite songs of all time, which I posted last year. Whilst this doesn’t quite hit the same heights and didn’t have the same impact upon me, the refrain of Blackbird (at approx. 4:30) really adds to this version.
Blackbirds singing in the dead of night…
It is taken from Fisherman’s Blues, which is a very enjoyable album with a stellar sleeve (see below).
 
/RjK

20th May 2012

Prefab Sprout – The king of Rock ‘n’ roll

Classic 80’s track, these guys really know how to put together a catchy tune. Great video here too, perfectly of it’s time. 

When she looks at me and laughs, I remind her of the facts. I’m the king of rock’n’roll. Completely…

Short post today. Feeling pretty jaded after a big weekend, a big month really. I had an excellent day yesterday, despite the disappointing result. The Ulster fans made for a wonderful atmosphere and the team should be proud of a great season. They just came up against a superior side on the day. 

RjK

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Aswad* – Don’t turn around

For anyone new to the blog, I do something a little different on Thursdays and Fridays. On Thursdays I highlight an artist that is new to the blog and that I have discovered recently and on Fridays I post something I feel a little guilty about enjoying.
This is a feelgood tune for a sunny Friday afternoon. It has been slightly sullied by a poor, mid-90’s Ace of Base cover version but still puts a smile on my face any time I hear it. I vividly remember when I was living in California listening to BBC radio while cooking and dancing around the kitchen full of joy when the DJ played this tune.
What a great video too! Hello leather jackets and waistcoats… 
RjK
*Artist #441

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Frankie Knuckles* – Your Love

I need to pull myself together…

RjK

*Artist #438

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Francis Bebey* – New Track (NAT)

There has been a bit of a world music drought on the blog of late, so I thought I would feature this today. Like all the world music I love it is simple and joyful. Really, you can’t ask much more from a song.
Francis Bebey was a real renaissance man. Born in Cameroon, he was a writer and sculptor as well as make great music like this. This track is taken from a compilation of his I have been listening and enjoying recently.
So I am readying myself for a weekend in Barcelona on a friend’s stag do. Does anyone have any tips, for sightseeing or just plain survival?
RjK

*Artist #434

13th April 2012

Wham! – I’m your man (GPF)

Sorry for late post, I’ve been MIA at a family reunion for the past 36 hours.

The event culminated in a big, wedding style shindig. There was a wedding band that was trashy and glorious in just about equal parts. They played this at one point and I was unable to fight my inexplicable weakness for Wham! and George Michael.

This track and video (hello black leather gloves!) couldn’t be more perfectly 80’s.

But where we’re going baby, there ain’t no such word as no…

RjK

28th March 2012

Fleetwood Mac – Gypsy

As I said last week I have been thinking that my focus has been too fixed on new music of late. You don’t get much more classic than Steely Dan or Fleetwood Mac.

RjK

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The Housmartins* – Happy Hour (GPF)

Tonight’s post is something akin to live blogging. I am just home from a convivial evening with a good friend celebrating the fact that he had avoided deportation. This was on the stereo in one of the bars we stumbled across. I had forgotten how fun it is – 3 minutes of pop perfection with a spirited video to match (look closely here to spot a very young Fatboy Slim). 

It’s happy hour again…

RjK

*Artist #392