Originally Posted by Kid B:
“Not to worry, For some reason I had you down for a backing singer!”
“Not to worry, For some reason I had you down for a backing singer!”
I'd make a good backing singer actually! I like my harmonies!
Top Of The Pops 1982 - BBC4
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Originally Posted by Elvisfan4eva:
“Watching the repeats now.”
“Watching the repeats now.”
Me too, lord knows why though! Neither was that good.
Looking at popscene, looks like BBC Four won't show the edition from the week I was born (if they get to 1986 anyway) as it was a Mike Smith edition, disapointingly.
Originally Posted by starry:
“Heartbreaker I think is a nice song, I like the part leading to the chorus. The chorus, if judging it by really high standards, doesn't match the fluidity of All the Love In the World, it's more stiff.”
“Heartbreaker I think is a nice song, I like the part leading to the chorus. The chorus, if judging it by really high standards, doesn't match the fluidity of All the Love In the World, it's more stiff.”
Yes, as i commented previously, ''Heartbreaker'' does work, and ''All The Love In The World'' too, melodically especially, but they both veer a little too far into blandness, for me. The Gibb brothers work with Barbra Streisand, and especially on the singles ''Woman In Love'' and Guilty'', tend to stay on the right side of the line, in appearing very credible songs, and not straying into appearing quite so wishy washy. I don't think the brothers ever bettered their collaboration with Streisand, with any of their later pop star associations.
Originally Posted by Andy_JS:
“"This distraction turns me sideways" — what a great line to start off with.
”
“"This distraction turns me sideways" — what a great line to start off with.
”
The following line 'out of chin stock has me wawing' is a corker too.
I know exactly how he feels.
Never good to get too low on chin stock, especially if visitors come.
I've only two chins left in stock & therefore it's going straight on my shopping list.
Hope Aldi haven't sold out. It is nearly Christmas.
Woman in Love I can understand, very emotional vocal, powerful melody, lyrics pretty good. But Guilty? I just heard it again and I was thinking as I was listening 'I bet this did well in the US'. I checked and it did, top 5. Sounds really middle of the road to me, and a trite hook in the chorus. Even if someone wants to argue for the lyrics I'd say there's some good lines but also cliches too. But the music is the main matter to me and I find it disappointing.
This TOTP2 Christmas special has quite a varied mix of stuff... Johnny Mathis and a peculiar dance troupe backing his 'Sleigh Ride', Dennis Waterman and George Cole, Damon Albarn eating Christmas Pud while miming, Cerys and Tom, The Bluebells, and Kate Bush poncing around on a chair... and i'm only 30 minutes in...! ...and followed up by Rod's Faces, Pipes of Peace, and a cracking Jackson 5 performance of Rockin' Robin, and then Chrissie Hynde... some good picks (among the obvious Noddy classic and Last Christmas...
The only TOTP I'm really disappointed we probably won't see is the Christmas Day 1983 programme. Mike Smith is one of four presenters, and I estimate he appears on screen for around 2 minutes or so. It's such a shame that it won't be shown when Smith wasn't on screen for around 57 or 58 minutes of the show.
Originally Posted by starry:
“Woman in Love I can understand, very emotional vocal, powerful melody, lyrics pretty good. But Guilty? I just heard it again and I was thinking as I was listening 'I bet this did well in the US'. I checked and it did, top 5. Sounds really middle of the road to me, and a trite hook in the chorus. Even if someone wants to argue for the lyrics I'd say there's some good lines but also cliches too. But the music is the main matter to me and I find it disappointing.”
“Woman in Love I can understand, very emotional vocal, powerful melody, lyrics pretty good. But Guilty? I just heard it again and I was thinking as I was listening 'I bet this did well in the US'. I checked and it did, top 5. Sounds really middle of the road to me, and a trite hook in the chorus. Even if someone wants to argue for the lyrics I'd say there's some good lines but also cliches too. But the music is the main matter to me and I find it disappointing.”
Yes starry, i very much agree with you.
''Woman In Love'' is perhaps the finest collaboration the Bee Gees ever did outside the group, although there have been a number of notable ones. ''Guilty'' certainly isn't up there with that song, but i still like it more than many of their efforts. It isn't a bad duet between Barbra and Barry Gibb, but it almost sounds like Barbra Steisand appearing as a guest vocalist on what fundamentally sounds more of a Bee Gees track. I suppose although like you say, it has a middle-of-the-road feel, there are also still elements of the Bee Gees late seventies R+B influences, and especially with Barry's vocal, which i think may have been for the final time in the British singles chart. I think you could definitely draw a line from ''Jive Talkin' through to ''Guilty'', but thereafter, the group more or less ditch that more US influenced seventies R+B sound.
Originally Posted by starry:
“Cry Baby Cry has a decent production, though it's as much about the energy. But I still think that many will find the chorus flat, not characterful enough in the melody or not catchy enough. That's likely why though in the charts it's not remembered much.
Ultravox came up a few pages ago. Love's Great Adventure I definitely liked at the time, and it is still pleasant to me though not as good as I used to think I expect. The break in the middle is nice and it has a good video. But one that passed me by relatively at the time was their 84 classic, Dancing With Tears in My Eyes. That one shows they were far from finished as a group.”
“Cry Baby Cry has a decent production, though it's as much about the energy. But I still think that many will find the chorus flat, not characterful enough in the melody or not catchy enough. That's likely why though in the charts it's not remembered much.
Ultravox came up a few pages ago. Love's Great Adventure I definitely liked at the time, and it is still pleasant to me though not as good as I used to think I expect. The break in the middle is nice and it has a good video. But one that passed me by relatively at the time was their 84 classic, Dancing With Tears in My Eyes. That one shows they were far from finished as a group.”
Yes, i have to admit to being surprised at all the love for the Blue Zoo track, on this thread, because your summary sums up how i feel about ''Cry Boy Cry'' too. However, of course, we are all entitled to our opinions!
I believe with Ultravox as with many of the acts who came to prominence in the 1980/81 period, who could be loosely associated to the New Romantic movement, there were high artistic intentions initially, with a harder more electronic sound etc, which by 1982, gave way to a much more accessible 'pop' sound. There was a definite mellowing all round with the likes of Ultravox, Spandau Ballet, Adam Ant, etc. and it is interesting to see how their output from 1982, compares. I didn't include Duran Duran on that list, as i never thought their music, had such high artistic intentions to begin with, although for me, i believe their 1982 output, did outshine what they had released in 81. The rest i am a little unsure about.
I think Spandau Ballet definitely had already run themselves artistically dry before the recording of their 'Diamond' album, and by the time those latest singles were released off the album in 82, it looked like their career may have been stalling. ''Paint Me Down'' and ''She Loved Like Diamond'' both flopped badly, and it was left for Trevor Horn to salvage something for their next single, ''Instinction''. However, he was very unhappy with Tony Hadley's vocal on the original track, but Tony refused to re-record it. I believe with the 'Diamond' album proving less successful, as well as the singles, Gary Kemp perhaps realised it was time to drop the bombast and arty pretentions, and get down to writing some seriously memorable tunes. The early Spandau singles i did enjoy from 80/81, but i have always found it difficult to sit through their rather pretentious debut album, 'Journeys To Glory'.
Originally Posted by andyd1302:
“Never good to get too low on chin stock, especially if visitors come.”
“Never good to get too low on chin stock, especially if visitors come.”
Chicken stock?
Originally Posted by Andy_JS:
“The only TOTP I'm really disappointed we probably won't see is the Christmas Day 1983 programme. Mike Smith is one of four presenters, and I estimate he appears on screen for around 2 minutes or so. It's such a shame that it won't be shown when Smith wasn't on screen for around 57 or 58 minutes of the show.”
“The only TOTP I'm really disappointed we probably won't see is the Christmas Day 1983 programme. Mike Smith is one of four presenters, and I estimate he appears on screen for around 2 minutes or so. It's such a shame that it won't be shown when Smith wasn't on screen for around 57 or 58 minutes of the show.”
As its a Xmas special (ie not requiring the Top 30/40 rundown links), surely a bit of careful editing out of Smitty will still leave the show broadcast-able.?
Originally Posted by Kid B:
“Chicken stock?”
“Chicken stock?
”
After Googling the lyrics to 'Cry Boy Cry', it's suggested the lyrics are definitely...
'out of chin stock has me wawing'
My thinking was the only chins I have in stock are the ones attached to the 'Southern Region' of my face, but what in the name of bloody hell Blue Zoo were on about is anyone's guess to be honest.
I'm as confused as you are Kid B, but I often try to offer some explanation on such matters at zero cost, however surreal or forensically dubious!
Lyrics made up on the hoof under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs would be my best guess.
Originally Posted by andyd1302:
“After Googling the lyrics to 'Cry Boy Cry', it's suggested the lyrics are definitely...
'out of chin stock has me wawing'
My thinking was the only chins I have in stock are the ones attached to the 'Southern Region' of my face, but what in the name of bloody hell Blue Zoo were on about is anyone's guess to be honest.
I'm as confused as you are Kid B, but I often try to offer some explanation on such matters at zero cost, however surreal or forensically dubious!
Lyrics made up on the hoof under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs would be my best guess.”
“After Googling the lyrics to 'Cry Boy Cry', it's suggested the lyrics are definitely...
'out of chin stock has me wawing'
My thinking was the only chins I have in stock are the ones attached to the 'Southern Region' of my face, but what in the name of bloody hell Blue Zoo were on about is anyone's guess to be honest.
I'm as confused as you are Kid B, but I often try to offer some explanation on such matters at zero cost, however surreal or forensically dubious!
Lyrics made up on the hoof under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs would be my best guess.”
I still haven't watched the Blue Zoo performance, so I'm even more intrigued now!
By the way, a full version of the 4th November Mike Smith episode is now doing the rounds:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/dbllh7a8n0...82%29.avi?dl=0
Originally Posted by SgtRock:
“I still haven't watched the Blue Zoo performance, so I'm even more intrigued now!
By the way, a full version of the 4th November Mike Smith episode is now doing the rounds:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/dbllh7a8n0...82%29.avi?dl=0”
“I still haven't watched the Blue Zoo performance, so I'm even more intrigued now!
By the way, a full version of the 4th November Mike Smith episode is now doing the rounds:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/dbllh7a8n0...82%29.avi?dl=0”
Nice one Sarge, I'll give it a look later. Blue Zoo also gets a big thumbs aloft from me.
Originally Posted by andyd1302:
“Lyrics made up on the hoof under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs would be my best guess.”
“Lyrics made up on the hoof under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs would be my best guess.”
Which might cause them to forget their shopping list and as a consequence, be out of stock cubes!
'Chin stock' doesn't ring any bells with me at all, no and I'm glad I'm not the only one befuddled by it.
Originally Posted by Jedikiah:
“Yes, as i commented previously, ''Heartbreaker'' does work, and ''All The Love In The World'' too, melodically especially, but they both veer a little too far into blandness, for me. The Gibb brothers work with Barbra Streisand, and especially on the singles ''Woman In Love'' and Guilty'', tend to stay on the right side of the line, in appearing very credible songs, and not straying into appearing quite so wishy washy. I don't think the brothers ever bettered their collaboration with Streisand, with any of their later pop star associations.”
“Yes, as i commented previously, ''Heartbreaker'' does work, and ''All The Love In The World'' too, melodically especially, but they both veer a little too far into blandness, for me. The Gibb brothers work with Barbra Streisand, and especially on the singles ''Woman In Love'' and Guilty'', tend to stay on the right side of the line, in appearing very credible songs, and not straying into appearing quite so wishy washy. I don't think the brothers ever bettered their collaboration with Streisand, with any of their later pop star associations.”
It is hard to beat "Woman in Love" and "Guilty" but overall, I do think that Diana Ross's "Eaten Alive" is a better album than "Guilty". Some understated songs on that album which showed the Gibbs' and Diana's versatility.
Originally Posted by starry:
“Woman in Love I can understand, very emotional vocal, powerful melody, lyrics pretty good. But Guilty? I just heard it again and I was thinking as I was listening 'I bet this did well in the US'. I checked and it did, top 5. Sounds really middle of the road to me, and a trite hook in the chorus. Even if someone wants to argue for the lyrics I'd say there's some good lines but also cliches too. But the music is the main matter to me and I find it disappointing.”
“Woman in Love I can understand, very emotional vocal, powerful melody, lyrics pretty good. But Guilty? I just heard it again and I was thinking as I was listening 'I bet this did well in the US'. I checked and it did, top 5. Sounds really middle of the road to me, and a trite hook in the chorus. Even if someone wants to argue for the lyrics I'd say there's some good lines but also cliches too. But the music is the main matter to me and I find it disappointing.”
No!!! "Guilty" is brilliant!
Originally Posted by Jedikiah:
“Yes starry, i very much agree with you.
''Woman In Love'' is perhaps the finest collaboration the Bee Gees ever did outside the group, although there have been a number of notable ones. ''Guilty'' certainly isn't up there with that song, but i still like it more than many of their efforts. It isn't a bad duet between Barbra and Barry Gibb, but it almost sounds like Barbra Steisand appearing as a guest vocalist on what fundamentally sounds more of a Bee Gees track. I suppose although like you say, it has a middle-of-the-road feel, there are also still elements of the Bee Gees late seventies R+B influences, and especially with Barry's vocal, which i think may have been for the final time in the British singles chart. I think you could definitely draw a line from ''Jive Talkin' through to ''Guilty'', but thereafter, the group more or less ditch that more US influenced seventies R+B sound.”
“Yes starry, i very much agree with you.
''Woman In Love'' is perhaps the finest collaboration the Bee Gees ever did outside the group, although there have been a number of notable ones. ''Guilty'' certainly isn't up there with that song, but i still like it more than many of their efforts. It isn't a bad duet between Barbra and Barry Gibb, but it almost sounds like Barbra Steisand appearing as a guest vocalist on what fundamentally sounds more of a Bee Gees track. I suppose although like you say, it has a middle-of-the-road feel, there are also still elements of the Bee Gees late seventies R+B influences, and especially with Barry's vocal, which i think may have been for the final time in the British singles chart. I think you could definitely draw a line from ''Jive Talkin' through to ''Guilty'', but thereafter, the group more or less ditch that more US influenced seventies R+B sound.”
Interesting your comments about the R&B influence. There was a black guy I used to work with in the late 90s who thought himself very cool and up to date with all the hip hop sounds, yet "Guilty" was one of his favourite songs!
Watched last week's show and for all it wasn't one of the best, barring Culture Ciub and Bauhaus, I was in stitches at the insane performance by The Piranhas( always liked Tom Hark, but had forgotten about Zambezi). You had the singer sounding like Jonah Lewie, a drummer dressed as a parrot, and the female backing singers dressed as schoolgirls chasing the singer around and making odd vocal noises like bo. Madness, but totally in the spirit of the show around 1982 where acts like The Firm and Toto Ceolo added some humour and zaniness to the show. ( A total contrast to the shows from 1979 where the audience and acts seemed immobile).
Blue Zoo get a thumbs up from me, too. Hard to think of anything that looks or sounds more 1982. I kind of remember the song, but not the band - I might have been getting them confused with Blue Mercedes, Blue Aeroplanes or even Blue! The singer looks like the missing link between Julian Cope and Howard Jones. Incidentally, it said "out of tune, stuck" on the subtitles. I suspect that the lyric overall makes less sense than your average Duran Duran song.
I'd go as far as to say that Blue Zoo elevated that edition to being the better of the two poor editions this week. Things I didn't notice while watching the Friday episode first time - the lady on the right in Raw Silk was wearing a rather revealing top. Also, among the characters dancing behind Raw Silk was what you might call "African Warrior" - not sure what that had to do with Halloween!
The Tears For Fears video must be one of the lowest budget videos we've seen recently. Surely they could have done better than that? Eddy Grant's video budget must have been mostly spent on getting to the location.
Thanks to BBC4 for giving us the whole of the Bazza song in an ultra-extended playout.
I'd go as far as to say that Blue Zoo elevated that edition to being the better of the two poor editions this week. Things I didn't notice while watching the Friday episode first time - the lady on the right in Raw Silk was wearing a rather revealing top. Also, among the characters dancing behind Raw Silk was what you might call "African Warrior" - not sure what that had to do with Halloween!
The Tears For Fears video must be one of the lowest budget videos we've seen recently. Surely they could have done better than that? Eddy Grant's video budget must have been mostly spent on getting to the location.
Thanks to BBC4 for giving us the whole of the Bazza song in an ultra-extended playout.
Great song though it was, I'm surprised no-one discussed the completely bonkers dancing in the Mad World video.
It reminds of a slightly tempered version of Ian Curtis' famous "She's Lost Control" moment............
Both great songs though.
It reminds of a slightly tempered version of Ian Curtis' famous "She's Lost Control" moment............
Both great songs though.
Originally Posted by Rolling Stone:
“It reminds of a slightly tempered version of Ian Curtis' famous "She's Lost Control" moment.............”
“It reminds of a slightly tempered version of Ian Curtis' famous "She's Lost Control" moment.............”
I was always thinking he just needed the loo in that one.
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