Singles Released This Week Years Ago

 

Let's take another journey into the past and listen to classic and forgotten songs.

1968: Love

1973: Stevie Wonder

1967: Spencer Davis Group

1971: Marvin Gaye

1971: Grateful Dead

1973: Elton John

1982: Joan Jet and the Blackhearts

1984: Echo and the Bunnymen

1965: Wayne Fontana & the Mindbenders

1965: The Temptations 

1977: Climax Blues Band

1982: Haircut One Hundred

1968: Blue Cheer

1978: Eruption

1970: Creedence Clearwater Revival

2009: The XX

1963: The Cascades

1983: Eurythmics

1967: Cream

Militant Funk

 

It was in the early 80's of the days close after post-punk when many bands tried to broaden their musical horizon and searched for more experiences in funk and dancefloor. This turning away from classical new sounds were different to many people I knew at these days but slowly I realized the roots they had and those bands opened my ears for sounds I ignored for a long time and guided me to the later upcoming sound of what made DJ-music established years later. Listening to these roots is still a pleasure and a part of my musical education.

He's Back

Since the days of Haircut 100's epic album Pelican West I was a fan of Nick Heyward's abilities about writing and arranging great pop songs. This record and his solo records were always an opportunity for me put them on the turntable. The more I was surprised that he released a new record after more than 15 years. That this record entered the record charts in the top twenty surprised me as well and when I listen to his new songs I have to admit that he didn't lost his ability to write great songs. It is not the best record this year so far but there were a lot songs on it that will grow and get your friend the more you will listen to them. If someone was searching for the perfect pop song, Nick Heyward is very close to it. A great artist is back with a bucket full of great songs. Good to have him back.

Indie Scene 1981

1981 was the year independent music changed his face. During the last years a lot of bands became highly rinsed playing short guitar based songs with a lot of verve. Now it seems that pop and the spirit of singer/songwriter get a foot in the door of new music. Fantastic bands like Haircut 100, Aztec Camera appeared on the scene as well as acts like Flock of Seagulls or Hazel O'Conner. I don't want to wail - it was a very good thing that happened to new music - they enriched us with their music. Now I could spread my musical spectrum to even this music.

In my hometown the first so called 'punk bands' showed up in some locations. Absolutely a few years too late but they had the power and the spirit in it. I remember a few concerts where there was for one hour totally weirdness listening to some young fellows playing mostly cover versions of their heroes. Still in 1981 the mainstream ruled my little town. The jazz purists refused to listen to this kind of music, the Deadheads were still smoking pot and the rest was listening to Phil Collins, Journey or Pat Benatar but the scene grew the more we outdistanced from them. I remember one of the first concerts by Fido and the Insects (one of the first local punk bands) in a very small club playing in front of 80 people watching them. Listening to them crudely sound wasn't fun at all but we loved their power and enthusiasm. A few month ago I watched them after more than 30 years when they played a reunion gig. Everyone's got older (and maybe wiser), the dudes learned how to play their instruments and the crowd was happy for another evening to remember these days.

Au Pairs - Inconvience
Aztec Camera - We Could Send Letters
Birthday Party - Release the Bats
Clock DVA - 4 Hours
Dave Stewart & Barbara Gaskin - It's my Party
Pigbag - Papa's got a brand new pigbag
Southern Death Cult - Fatman
The db's - Big Brown Eyes
Toyah - I want to be free

More of stuff like these you will find in an older post of mine.

Love's Got Me In Triangles

Haircut 100 was a English pop-funk based band from the early 1980s. Formed by Nick Heyward the released a couple of very good records. 'Pelican West' is the album where I took this song from. Haircut 100 made the sound of this summer when their record was published. Some catchy tunes with a big portion of funky guitar and bass and the voice of Nick Heyward made some hot days bearable.

Haircut 100 - Love's got me in triangles

You get what you give

Stumbled yesterday into the blog of Nick Heyward, where he posted his holiday top 10. I took his number one to publish, because it was one of my late 90s favorites. Gregg Alexander is an American singer/songwriter who got famous with the song 'You get what you give' and following his record 'Maybe you got brainwashed too'. Later he stopped making records for producing acts like Ronan Keating. Let's describe this song with the words of Mr. Heyward: It’s like Todd Rundgren on a quadruple espresso.

Enjoy and have a good time all out there.

New Radicals - You get what you give