This week in 1979 saw the release of I'M THE MAN - THE 7-INCH ALBUM, Joe Jackson’s complete second album issued as 5 x 7"-single in a 7"-box with poster, (November 1979)
Another underrated performer who done some great songs.
Huge fan.
Excellent in loads of different genres. Done some Classical, 3 superb jazz albums (ever wondered how Steve Vai and Iggy Pop would cover great jazz songs?).
And anyone who can do great pop songs like "I'm the Man" and "Kinda Kute", as well as co-writing/performing "Left of Center" with Suzanne Vega deserves a wider audience.
On this date in 1983, Two-Tone Records released the compilation LP, THIS ARE TWO TONE, (November 27th, 1983).
Serving to highlight the high energy of the early 80s ska-revival as well as the depth of the label's roster, ‘This are Two Tone’ offered six tracks from The Specials, three from The Selecter, two from The Beat, and one each from Madness, The Bodysnatchers, The Swinging Cats, Rico and Rhoda Dakar.
This date in 1981 saw the re-release of THE MODEL by KRAFTWERK as a double A-side single with COMPUTER LOVE, (December 18th 1981).
Originally issued as the track DAS MODEL (later DAS MODELL) on the 1978 album DIE MENSCH-MASCHINE (‘The Man-Machine’), the song was issued as a German single the same year coupled with the track ‘Neonlicht’ (‘Neon Lights’).
This date in 1981 saw the re-release of THE MODEL by KRAFTWERK as a double A-side single with COMPUTER LOVE, (December 18th 1981).
Originally issued as the track DAS MODEL (later DAS MODELL) on the 1978 album DIE MENSCH-MASCHINE (‘The Man-Machine’), the song was issued as a German single the same year coupled with the track ‘Neonlicht’ (‘Neon Lights’).
Merry Xmas @lucy4 and all the readers of this excellent thread. I haven't heard that in years-can quite see why
By way of revenge, here is my favourite Christmas joke of the time, which (for good reason) I haven't told for many years. So....
It was Easter at Santa's Grotto. Sales had not gone well, and surplus stock was proving hard to shift. Santa has sent some fairies out to flog Xmas trees.
One fairy comes back after a full day "selling" to the big shops. Santa said "How many Xmas trees have you sold today?" "None" she replied. "Why is that?" "Well, Santa, er, I ask to speak to the Manager, and I, er, ask if he could possibly see his way to taking some, er, trees..." "Stop right there" said Santa. "you have to be more confident and direct".
The next day the fairy strides confidently into the store. "Oi!" she said "Where do you want me to put this Xmas tree?"
And that, dear children, is why you will find the fairy positioned where it is on the Xmas tree. To remember exactly what happened next...
Merry Xmas @lucy4 and all the readers of this excellent thread. I haven't heard that in years-can quite see why
By way of revenge, here is my favourite Christmas joke of the time, which (for good reason) I haven't told for many years. So....
It was Easter at Santa's Grotto. Sales had not gone well, and surplus stock was proving hard to shift. Santa has sent some fairies out to flog Xmas trees.
One fairy comes back after a full day "selling" to the big shops. Santa said "How many Xmas trees have you sold today?" "None" she replied. "Why is that?" "Well, Santa, er, I ask to speak to the Manager, and I, er, ask if he could possibly see his way to taking some, er, trees..." "Stop right there" said Santa. "you have to be more confident and direct".
The next day the fairy strides confidently into the store. "Oi!" she said "Where do you want me to put this Xmas tree?"
And that, dear children, is why you will find the fairy positioned where it is on the Xmas tree. To remember exactly what happened next...
That took me about 6 times to read before I got it (8 bottles of Henry Weston's Vintage Cider didn't help) but in the end I did. Seasons Greetings to you and yours.
Another Christmas classic that you won't hear on the radio.
PETER & THE TEST TUBE BABIES - I'M GETTING **** FOR CHRISTMAS As seasonally unsophisticated as you would expect and hope for, PETER & THE TEST TUBE BABIES deliver the true meaning of the festive season with I'M GETTING **** FOR CHRISTMAS.
THE REGENTS - 7TEEN (1979) British new wave outfit THE REGENTS scored a No. 11 hit with the single 7TEEN in 1979. The group consisted of Bic Brack, Brian Gaylor, Catherine Best, Damian Pew and Martin Sheller. "One-hit wonders simply do not come any better than this piece of observational sexual politics-pop which stormed into the UK Top Twenty around Christmas 1979,"
On this date in 1989, THE STONE ROSES performed WATERFALL on the Tony Wilson hosted show 'The Other Side of Midnight', (January 15th 1989). The clip begins with Wilson introducing the band, one that he admitted he'd previously “seriously disliked” for their “rock ’n’ roll stance”. After hearing their Elephant Stone single, he changed his mind. “’89 begins, then, with a complete admission of error on my part - big apologies,” announced Wilson. “Fifth Rose” Cressa, the Roses’ own Bez, dances away in the background.
Decade 77-87 - a grown up disco: new wave, punk, postpunk, goth & indie.
On this date in 1981, ‘The Old Grey Whistle Test’ featured a promo clip of THE SPECIALS performing ENJOY YOURSELF (January 17th 1981)
Taken from a Specials’ 1980 Tokyo concert (one of four Tokyo concerts completed that tour), the band perform in front of a crowd with little idea how they will react. Starting off slowly and sedately at a gig that began at 6.30 p.m. (the time Japanese gigs would typically start), audience response builds slowly but by the finale the crowd have assembled at the front and begun to party. More waving and bopping than skankin’ but they’ve enjoyed themselves and the gig finishes at a very polite 9 p.m.
Decade 77-87 - a grown up disco: new wave, punk, postpunk, goth & indie.
On this date in 1981, ‘The Old Grey Whistle Test’ featured a promo clip of THE SPECIALS performing ENJOY YOURSELF (January 17th 1981)
Taken from a Specials’ 1980 Tokyo concert (one of four Tokyo concerts completed that tour), the band perform in front of a crowd with little idea how they will react. Starting off slowly and sedately at a gig that began at 6.30 p.m. (the time Japanese gigs would typically start), audience response builds slowly but by the finale the crowd have assembled at the front and begun to party. More waving and bopping than skankin’ but they’ve enjoyed themselves and the gig finishes at a very polite 9 p.m.
Not because they didn't do great songs. They did. "Gangsters", "Too much too young", "Ghost Town", "Free Nelson Mandela".
Because they could have been great. They should have been great. Mentioned in the same breath as the all-time greats. But, for whatever reason, it did not quite happen.
Decade 77-87 - a grown up disco: new wave, punk, postpunk, goth & indie.
On this date in 1981, ‘The Old Grey Whistle Test’ featured a promo clip of THE SPECIALS performing ENJOY YOURSELF (January 17th 1981)
Taken from a Specials’ 1980 Tokyo concert (one of four Tokyo concerts completed that tour), the band perform in front of a crowd with little idea how they will react. Starting off slowly and sedately at a gig that began at 6.30 p.m. (the time Japanese gigs would typically start), audience response builds slowly but by the finale the crowd have assembled at the front and begun to party. More waving and bopping than skankin’ but they’ve enjoyed themselves and the gig finishes at a very polite 9 p.m.
Not because they didn't do great songs. They did. "Gangsters", "Too much too young", "Ghost Town", "Free Nelson Mandela".
Because they could have been great. They should have been great. Mentioned in the same breath as the all-time greats. But, for whatever reason, it did not quite happen.
I think The Specials disbanded 12-18 months too soon,he obviously wanted to go in a slightly different direction though Fun Boy Three wasn't that far away from The Specials. In my opinion Terry Hall's song writing/lyrics can hold their own against any in musical history.
Decade 77-87 - a grown up disco: new wave, punk, postpunk, goth & indie.
On this date in 1981, ‘The Old Grey Whistle Test’ featured a promo clip of THE SPECIALS performing ENJOY YOURSELF (January 17th 1981)
Taken from a Specials’ 1980 Tokyo concert (one of four Tokyo concerts completed that tour), the band perform in front of a crowd with little idea how they will react. Starting off slowly and sedately at a gig that began at 6.30 p.m. (the time Japanese gigs would typically start), audience response builds slowly but by the finale the crowd have assembled at the front and begun to party. More waving and bopping than skankin’ but they’ve enjoyed themselves and the gig finishes at a very polite 9 p.m.
Not because they didn't do great songs. They did. "Gangsters", "Too much too young", "Ghost Town", "Free Nelson Mandela".
Because they could have been great. They should have been great. Mentioned in the same breath as the all-time greats. But, for whatever reason, it did not quite happen.
I think The Specials disbanded 12-18 months too soon,he obviously wanted to go in a slightly different direction though Fun Boy Three wasn't that far away from The Specials. In my opinion Terry Hall's song writing/lyrics can hold their own against any in musical history.
Disbanded too soon? Undoubtedly. But the fact that Jerry Dammers never came back was the worst part.
Terry Hall? Good. But not great like Hall and Dammers together were. For me, anyway.
Comments
Excellent in loads of different genres. Done some Classical, 3 superb jazz albums (ever wondered how Steve Vai and Iggy Pop would cover great jazz songs?).
And anyone who can do great pop songs like "I'm the Man" and "Kinda Kute", as well as co-writing/performing "Left of Center" with Suzanne Vega deserves a wider audience.
Nominated for 5 Grammies, too.
On this date in 1979, THE BEAT released their debut single, a cover of Smokey Robinson's TEARS OF A CLOWN, (November 24th, 1979).
On this date in 1983, Two-Tone Records released the compilation LP, THIS ARE TWO TONE, (November 27th, 1983).
Serving to highlight the high energy of the early 80s ska-revival as well as the depth of the label's roster, ‘This are Two Tone’ offered six tracks from The Specials, three from The Selecter, two from The Beat, and one each from Madness, The Bodysnatchers, The Swinging Cats, Rico and Rhoda Dakar.
Originally issued as the track DAS MODEL (later DAS MODELL) on the 1978 album DIE MENSCH-MASCHINE (‘The Man-Machine’), the song was issued as a German single the same year coupled with the track ‘Neonlicht’ (‘Neon Lights’).
By way of revenge, here is my favourite Christmas joke of the time, which (for good reason) I haven't told for many years. So....
It was Easter at Santa's Grotto. Sales had not gone well, and surplus stock was proving hard to shift. Santa has sent some fairies out to flog Xmas trees.
One fairy comes back after a full day "selling" to the big shops. Santa said "How many Xmas trees have you sold today?" "None" she replied. "Why is that?" "Well, Santa, er, I ask to speak to the Manager, and I, er, ask if he could possibly see his way to taking some, er, trees..." "Stop right there" said Santa. "you have to be more confident and direct".
The next day the fairy strides confidently into the store. "Oi!" she said "Where do you want me to put this Xmas tree?"
And that, dear children, is why you will find the fairy positioned where it is on the Xmas tree. To remember exactly what happened next...
"Dad, are you going to put the Xmas tree up yourself this year?"
"No-I was thinking it could go in the Living Room this year..."
PETER & THE TEST TUBE BABIES - I'M GETTING **** FOR CHRISTMAS
As seasonally unsophisticated as you would expect and hope for, PETER & THE TEST TUBE BABIES deliver the true meaning of the festive season with I'M GETTING **** FOR CHRISTMAS.
British new wave outfit THE REGENTS scored a No. 11 hit with the single 7TEEN in 1979.
The group consisted of Bic Brack, Brian Gaylor, Catherine Best, Damian Pew and Martin Sheller.
"One-hit wonders simply do not come any better than this piece of observational sexual politics-pop which stormed into the UK Top Twenty around Christmas 1979,"
The clip begins with Wilson introducing the band, one that he admitted he'd previously “seriously disliked” for their “rock ’n’ roll stance”. After hearing their Elephant Stone single, he changed his mind.
“’89 begins, then, with a complete admission of error on my part - big apologies,” announced Wilson.
“Fifth Rose” Cressa, the Roses’ own Bez, dances away in the background.
On this date in 1981, ‘The Old Grey Whistle Test’ featured a promo clip of THE SPECIALS performing ENJOY YOURSELF (January 17th 1981)
Taken from a Specials’ 1980 Tokyo concert (one of four Tokyo concerts completed that tour), the band perform in front of a crowd with little idea how they will react.
Starting off slowly and sedately at a gig that began at 6.30 p.m. (the time Japanese gigs would typically start), audience response builds slowly but by the finale the crowd have assembled at the front and begun to party.
More waving and bopping than skankin’ but they’ve enjoyed themselves and the gig finishes at a very polite 9 p.m.
Not because they weren't good. They were.
Not because they didn't do great songs. They did. "Gangsters", "Too much too young", "Ghost Town", "Free Nelson Mandela".
Because they could have been great. They should have been great. Mentioned in the same breath as the all-time greats. But, for whatever reason, it did not quite happen.
Terry Hall? Good. But not great like Hall and Dammers together were. For me, anyway.