SotD82 - Part 13
Find Jimmy's other SotD82 articles here
Having taken a little break over the summer, I’m amused to return to half written reviews where I’ve recorded some thoughts and memories from summer 1982, but as we move into autumn, my memories seem to be moving with the seasons. [Thanks for sharing! – Ed] This week’s selection sits squarely in the summer of 40 years ago but worry thyself not, dearest reader, we will catch up.
First cab-off-the-rank is a record that has suffered as a result of decades of overplaying. When it was first released it was an absolute banger (some say it still is) but over the years, in my mind, it’s lost its impact (on me). Don’t get me wrong, Don’t Go is indeed a banger and a step away from the writing for Depeche Mode that Vince Clarke had been doing. Alison Moyet’s voice deep, rich and soaring across the electronics sent the dancefloor aflame in 1982. It’s a fantastic example of where post-disco dance music was heading.
In 1980 Dexy’s Midnight runners had a hit with Geno, a record I’ve come to love. Come On Eileen has remained a party anthem for 40 years and I don’t think it’s tired out. To me it’s bizarre to think this was a no.1 hit in the US as I think it’s stereotypically British, if indeed there’s such a thing. Once you get to the too-ra-loo-rye-ay (come on, Eileen, ta-loo-rye-ay) at the end of the record, the tempo increasing as well as the volume, memories kick in of parties where everyone is in a circle, arms around each other’s shoulders, hi-kicking like mad. Go on, try it.
Education and entertainment wrapped in a jaunty melody. I’m not aware of knowing what a Stool Pigeon was before I heard this record by the quite remarkable August Darnell (aka Kid Creole). For a brief moment during 1982, Kid Creole and the Coconuts seemed to be omnipresent, and the airwaves were buzzing with their records. Stool Pigeon comes on the back of the, er, wonderful I’m A Wonderful Thing, Baby [seriously?? – Ed].
Education and entertainment wrapped in a jaunty melody. I’m not aware of knowing what a Stool Pigeon was before I heard this record by the quite remarkable August Darnell (aka Kid Creole). For a brief moment during 1982, Kid Creole and the Coconuts seemed to be omnipresent, and the airwaves were buzzing with their records. Stool Pigeon comes on the back of the, er, wonderful I’m A Wonderful Thing, Baby [seriously?? – Ed].
[The 12” remix is here, and their marvellous TotP appearance is below - Ed]
It was around this time last year that I started to think about sketching out the record I wanted to review this year and I’m wondering why I included this [didn't it "reach out and grab ya?" - Ed]. There must’ve been a reason. A memory perhaps? The band has credentials a mile long and I’ve searched in vain to find the record from the early years that pinned this to me. From psychedelic rock to American rock to pop pulp, Abracadabra sees the Steve Miller Band reach for commercial success.
It was around this time last year that I started to think about sketching out the record I wanted to review this year and I’m wondering why I included this [didn't it "reach out and grab ya?" - Ed]. There must’ve been a reason. A memory perhaps? The band has credentials a mile long and I’ve searched in vain to find the record from the early years that pinned this to me. From psychedelic rock to American rock to pop pulp, Abracadabra sees the Steve Miller Band reach for commercial success.
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