November 1981. After missing the previous two World Cups, England qualified for the 1982 tournament in Spain with a 1-0 win over Hungary. They had no problem getting in to the one in Russia next year, and they got a good draw. Take a moment to mourn for the Netherlands, the U.S., and Italy, who will all be watching from home this coming June. Now that you've done that, let's kick off our look at an old chart.
40 - "Me and Mr. Sanchez," Blue Rondo a la Turk
Named for a track from pianist Dave Brubeck's classic Time Out, these jazz-poppers had their only scrape into their home Top 40 with this samba tune about Mardi Gras. Perhaps inevitably, it was a #1 in Brazil. A fun little butt-shaker.
39 - "Thunder in the Mountains," Toyah
Birminghammer Toyah Wilcox started as an actress in the late 70s, and soon branched out into punk-pop music. The second of her eponymous band's two Top Fives was this synth-driven song about some kind of impending revolution. It's very much in the same mold as Hazel O'Connor and Lene Lovich, but I don't like it as much as what I've heard from thoseveral two.
38 - "Flashback," Imagination
This London funk band scored the third of their nine hits with this cool bit of reminiscence electro funk. Bonus points for their lead singer giving himself the name Leee John.
37 - "Daddy's Home," Cliff Richard
Sir Cliff went to #2 covering Shep and the Limelites. Jermaine Jackson did it better. When do you get to say that?
36 - "Turn Your Love Around," George Benson
George went Top Five at home with this smoothie, but just scraped into the Top 30 here. Another case where justice would be somewhere in between.
35 - "Paint Me Down," Spandau Ballet
The fifth hit for the Islington New Romantics was this funky bit that seems to equate painting and sex. Interesting comparison. I suppose both often involve viscous fluids. Is that enough of a connection?
34 - "Twilight," Electric Light Orchestra
ELO again, this time with some of their big pop rock about time travel. Not a standout.
33 - "Visions of China," Japan
This South London quartet started in the 70s as glam rockers, but it was a turn to an electronic goth sound that gave them nine 80s hits. Their second was this jittery number that talks about learning to fight and "building heroes." Maybe it's about Kung Fu movies? I don't know, but I find it interesting that they had two hits with titles inspired by China and only one inspired by their namesake country.
32 - "Cambodia," Kim Wilde
The Asian theme continues with the second-generation singer's fourth hit, a song about the wife of a military pilot who participated in Richard Nixon's covert bombing of Cambodia in the midst of the Vietnam War. An odd subject for an up and coming pop singer at any time, but Wilde does well with what her father and brother gave her. Not quite as incongruous as I expected.
31 - "Yes Tonight Josephine," The Jets
Not the Wolfgramms of Minnesota via Tonga, but a British rockabilly group with the first of their two hits. It's a cover of a 1958 Perry Como love song that's a play off of the saying "Not tonight, Josephine," which refers to Napoleon allegedly passing up sex with his empress. Though historians have since claimed that Josephine would have more likely been the reluctant one, as she had several other lovers whose company she preferred. All that is way more interesting than the song, although it has some retro charm and a good use of the Bo Diddley beat.
30 - "The Lunatics (Have Taken Over the Asylum)," Fun Boy Three
The first hit from the Specials offshoot was this cool, spooky track about how modern life is a former of insanity. Or something. Anyway, quite good, and a sleeper pick for your next Halloween mix.
29 - "Love Me Tonight," Trevor Walters
The first of two hits for the British reggae singer is this sweet bit of lovers' rock. Nice. That is all.
28 - "It's Raining," Shakin' Stevens
Old Shaky is back with his fourth Top Ten, a covery of a 1961 Irma Thomas hit about loneliness and bad weather. Okay, but I gotta track down the original.
27 - "Absolute Beginners," The Jam
Their fifth Top Five was this horn-heavy number about conquering tyranny with love. Not relevant to today's world at all, is it?
26 - "Tears are Not Enough," ABC
Their first hit was this danceable drama about a breakup. More rough-edged than their later hits. Cool to hear that side of them.
25 - "Tom Sawyer," Rush
The third hit here for the Canadian prog trio was their best known song. It imagines Mark Twain's mischievous young boy in the present day as a "modern day warrior" Standing up against injustice. The synths, the drums, and the guitar solo combined with the lyrics to make something truly iconic. Classic rock at its most...classic.
24 - "Let's Hang On," Barry Manilow
Barry scored just his third U.K. Top 20 with this Four Seasons cover. Neither artist nor subject are well-served.
23 - "The Voice," Ultravox
Midge Ure et al had their sixth hit with this synther about hearing things. Don't know what it means, but it's decent enough new wave.
22 - "Birdie Song," Tweets
It's that chicken dance song again. Well, at least it's not "Macarena."
21 - "Open Your Heart," The Human League
Their second Top Ten was this icy song with a warm message about staying positive about the world even when all you can see is awfulness. Another song that doesn't in any way apply to the world we live in right now.
In Part Two: gardening, sorcery, and two kinds of tops.
No comments:
Post a Comment