Today was the first day of week three out of four of this particular busy work period. I’m halfway through!
I’m managing the work quite well now that I’ve got used to the lack of sleep. I’m also still managing to keep up with my running and blogging, so I’m feeling a lot more balanced and happy than I was last time round. Don’t get me wrong, I’d still kill for a day where I could just sit on the sofa and stare vacantly into space (not to mention a long soak in the bath…or a lie-in…or any of those other things that I don’t have time for at the moment), but in less than two weeks’ time I will be able to do all of that again. Just have to keep pushing on!
This is the way the world looked in March 1991 (actually April, as March was photo-less – we seem to be having that issue a lot at the moment). Rocks and trees are some of those lovely timeless things that haven’t changed since before humans were around and will still be here long after we’ve gone, so I imagine these ones still look the same. I don’t think little girls wear hair ribbons as much as they used to, though (and coats are definitely not as stylish nowadays).
Let’s see what was on the radio at the time!
Track 1: The Clash – Should I Stay Or Should I Go
No idea why this early ’80s classic was back in the charts, but I love it – one of my favourite Clash songs – and as chart music quality was rapidly declining at this point, I’ll take what I can get!
Track 2: Scritti Politti and Shabba Ranks – She’s A Woman
Nice tune, but there’s a bit too much going on throughout the track, so it sounds a bit messy.
Track 3: The Source and Candi Staton – You Got The Love
…and my heart just sank as I realised that the Florence & The Machine song from 2009, which I always quite liked, is a pointless ’00s cover of this track. The lesson: never become complacent about your level of music knowledge.
(This is why I hate pointless covers so much, incidentally – I’ve always felt really aggrieved to learn that chart songs I adored when I was growing up in the ’90s were actually bland, unimaginative, nothing-new, cash-in covers of ’70s and ’80s songs. While I typically transfer my affection to the original in such cases, I still feel pretty cheated.)
Track 4: The KLF and The Children Of The Revolution – 3AM Eternal
Nice stormy-atmosphere intro, nice vocals, nice chillout track. Good stuff.
The version I found on Spotify has some random sampling of The Blue Danube in, for some bonus relaxation points.
Track 5: C&C Music Factory and Freedom Williams – Gonna Make You Sweat
One of those ‘ohh, it’s this one!’ moments. I always just assumed this track was called Everybody Dance Now. Classic dance tune, anyway, and I’ll be up on the wedding dancefloor for this.
Track 6: Nomad and MC Mikee Freedom – (I Wanna Give You) Devotion
Dull and repetitive dance song with boring sung vocals and uninspired rapping. Not for me.
Track 7: EMF – I Believe
I really like EMF, and this is a great guitar-driven dance track. Happily nodding along here.
Track 8: 808 State – In Yer Face
Nice electro track, love the instrumentals on this.
Track 9: Massive Attack – Unfinished Sympathy
Massive Attack were really killing it during this period – really like this one. The way it builds is beautiful.
Track 10: MC Hammer – Pray
‘Not on Spotify’ Type 2: YouTube Pause (TM).
This one’s not bad – I quite like the melody on the sung vocals and it’s nice and upbeat. Could do without the sampling of When Doves Cry, though (I do NOT like it when brilliant classic pop tunes are sampled as backing music in newer songs).
Track 11: Kim Appleby – GLAD
Nice piece of solid pop, a welcome breather from all the dance and hip-hop. Lovely.
Track 12: Kylie Minogue – What Do I Have To Do?
Another great upbeat pop track from the ever-reliable Kylie (who’s still having chart hits in 2018, incidentally, but we won’t talk about that just yet).
Incidentally, I’m sure most people realise that Kylie Minogue guest starred in an episode of Doctor Who (Voyage of The Damned, 2007), but the only reason I’m pointing that out…
Track 13: Hale & Pace and The Stonkers – The Stonk
…is that Hale & Pace did too (Survival, 1989). Nice bit of prophetic track-listing there, Now! compilers!
‘Not on Spotify’ Type 2: YouTube Pause (TM).
Daft novelty track from the comedy duo, which, judging by the lyrics and video, I’m guessing was for Comic Relief. I actually quite like those guitar instrumentals.
Track 14: 2 In A Room – Wiggle It
Quite like the backing track and the chorus, but the verse is a bit repetitive.
Track 15: Vanilla Ice – Play That Funky Music
I wasn’t aware that Vanilla Ice did an awful cover of the Wild Cherry classic, but I’m not exactly surprised. It’s very different to the original, so not a pointless cover, but there’s nothing good about all the stuff that’s different, especially not the typically bad rapping.
Track 16: Jesus Loves You – Bow Down Mister
Not a fan of the all-over-the-place vocals in the intro, or the folky guitar bit that follows. Apparently this was Boy George’s project post-Culture Club. It’s very different to his previous stuff, and not my cup of tea, unfortunately.
Track 17: Enigma – Sadness [Part 1]
Always love that monastic chanting. Great classic chillout track.
Track 18: Praise – Only You
‘Not on Spotify’ Type 2: YouTube Pause (TM)
Another nice chillout track – lovely vocals.
Track 19: Oleta Adams – Get Here
For some reason, they always played this one on the radio on ferries in the early ’90s when I was travelling with my family, so I strongly associate it with cabin bunk beds and pristine white sheets. Classic ballad, lovely tune.
Track 20: Rick Astley – Cry For Help
Who knew Rick Astley was still having hits into the ’90s? Wow.
The track’s got a nice tune and a good atmospheric chorus – quite like this one.
Track 21: Robert Palmer – Mercy Mercy Me/I Want You
Good, interesting track from Robert Palmer – great vocals, nice tune.
Track 22: Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes – (I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life
The Dirty Dancing soundtrack classic, back in the charts for some reason (I’d like to think that reason was that none of the new stuff being released was anywhere near as good, but I know that music taste is subjective, blah blah boring blah, and so others will disagree. They’re wrong though – this feelgood singalong number complete with epic sax solo is worth a million repetitive house tracks).
Track 23: The Righteous Brothers – You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’
Another old track back in the charts, this time from the ’60s. A bit saccharine for me, but it’s such a classic I’ll forgive it.
Track 24: Seal – Crazy
Great epic atmosphere, brilliant tune. A classic in my book.
Track 25: Banderas – This Is Your Life
Bit of a repetitive dance number, though the vocal melody is quite interesting.
Track 26: Stevie B – Because I Love You (The Postman Song)
Slow track, but it’s got a great atmosphere – I really quite like this.
Track 27: Chris Rea – Auberge
Could do without the ‘music video’ whistling and car noises on the intro. Just start the track, please.
Once it gets going, it’s quite interesting, if a bit slow.
Track 28: Chris Isaak – Blue Hotel
Typical dramatic atmosphere from Chris Isaak, with some great Spanish-tinged guitar. Great tune.
Track 29: Free – All Right Now
Slightly annoying chorus, but it is a good chant-along track, especially after a few pints.
Incidentally, an old uni mate whose surname is Allwright once told me that her dad had declared this their official family song. I did do some googling to see if I could find a good equivalent for mine, but in all honesty I don’t think I’m into the family song thing.
Track 30: INXS – Disappear
Great solid pop song, nice tune, good rockier chorus. I like this one.
Track 31: Belinda Carlisle – Summer Rain
Really interesting tune with a great atmosphere on the verses – big fan of this.
Track 32: The Railway Children – Every Beat Of The Heart
A little saccharine for me, but the tune is quite nice.
Track 33: Thunder – Love Walked In
Bit more acoustic-y than I usually go for, but I really like the tune and the atmosphere, especially when it goes full-on rock ballad a couple of minutes in.
Track 34: Queen – Innuendo
You can always rely on Queen for a nice dramatic tune. Good track to end today’s compilation.
I’ve always liked Strongbow Cloudy Apple – it’s sweeter and less fizzy than regular Strongbow, and it makes for a really nice refreshing pint. Definitely a regular drink in places where I can find it.
Day 18, and today’s Now! compilation takes us to 19th November 1990.
This is the way the world looked in November 1990 (actually December, but November was another one of those months we didn’t take any photos). Pirate Lego, thankfully, hasn’t changed (or at least it hasn’t if you keep all your stuff from childhood! The new larger pirate minifigures are just wrong). Also, those twentieth century carpets are still a regular sight in British pubs, who obviously all got a job lot circa 1980.
Here’s some music from some people who may have grown out of Lego by 1990, ’cause apparently it’s only millennials who keep playing with that stuff into adulthood.
Track 1: The Beautiful South – A Little Time
Nice tune, vocals and atmosphere, but this track’s a bit slow for me.
Track 2: Steve Miller Band – The Joker
This one was later a Modos classic when I hung about there in 2008-2011 – it was always on DJ Mantash’s playlist. Good times.
Track 8: The Righteous Brothers – Unchained Melody
No idea why this was back in the charts, but it’s a ’60s favourite for me, so I’m not complaining!
Track 9: Belinda Carlisle – (We Want) The Same Thing
Probably my favourite Belinda Carlisle track – brilliant, epic rock ballad.
Track 10: Status Quo – The Anniversary Waltz [Part 1]
Irritating retro-tinged dad-rock medley of all of Status Quo’s worst tracks. Not my cup of tea.
Track 11: INXS – Suicide Blonde
Great instrumentals, nice upbeat atmospheric pop-rock. Really like this one.
Track 12: Public Image Ltd – Don’t Ask Me
Good tune, like the guitar intro, interesting vocals (well, it is John Lydon). Great track.
Track 13: Talk Talk – It’s My Life
I’m a little surprised to find this featuring so late, ’cause I had it in my head as being late ’80s. Great synth line, great tune.
Track 14: The LAs – There She Goes
The LAs crack the definitive ’90s sound early on. Super acoustic and plaid-sounding.
Track 15: Tina Turner – Be Tender With Me Baby
Pretty dull ballad, but some of the instrumentals are quite interesting.
Track 16: Robert Palmer and UB40 – I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight
Standard reggae tune from UB40, with Robert Palmer’s vocals giving it plus points.
Track 17: Pet Shop Boys – So Hard
Pet Shop Boys enter the ’90s with some slightly harder electro. The usual great synth lines are still intact though.
Track 18: Bass-O-Matic – Fascinating Rhythm
Nice bassline (as you might expect) but everything else is a bit generic.
Track 19: Soul II Soul and Kym Mazelle – Missing You
Boring soul track with standard early ’90s beat, nothing special.
Track 20: DNA and Suzanne Vega – Tom’s Diner
Love that jaunty singalong hook! Fantastic track.
Track 21: Sting – Englishman In New York
An all-time favourite – lovely, melancholy song with beautiful lyrics and a gorgeous sax solo. Love this one.
Track 22: The Cure – Close To Me ’90
Really like this 1990 reworking of the 1985 classic. Great track from the Cure.
Track 23: Neneh Cherry – I’ve Got You Under My Skin
‘Not on Spotify’ Type 2: YouTube Pause (TM).
Not enough melody here for me, although there’s quite a nice bassline that starts up mid-track.
Track 24: Blue Pearl – Little Brother
Dull tune, annoying vocals. Not keen on this one.
Track 25: Kylie Minogue – Step Back In Time
Annoying chorus alert! It would be a solid pop song, but that chorus makes it the kind of unwanted earworm that I need to cleanse with OMG ANYTHING OTHER THAN THIS.
Track 26: Kim Appleby – Don’t Worry
Nice ’70s-retro-tinged pop tune. Quite like this one.
Track 27: Technotronic – Megamix
Largely enjoyable medley of dance tracks, some better than others.
This silly novelty track was played at every birthday party I went to in the early ’90s. It’s not high art, let’s face it, but I still find myself happily nodding along.
Track 30: Betty Boo – Where Are You Baby?
For some reason, I’ve got a vague, distant memory of Betty Boo being a figure of derision in Smash Hits in the early ’90s. But then, lots of artists were, so I could be getting confused.
The track’s not much to write home about either way – bad rap verse, mid-century-retro-tinged chorus. Not my thing.
Track 31: The Adventures Of Stevie V – Dirty Cash (Money Talks)
Like the atmosphere on this one – good solid pop, with a bit of sax in there for good measure.
Track 32: MC Hammer – Have You Seen Her?
Irritating slow track from MC Hammer with slightly creepy vocals. Not a fan of this one.
Track 33: Jimmy Somerville – To Love Somebody
Odd, slow reggae cover of the Bee Gees classic. Still, better than the saccharine ballads that usually end these compilations.
Well, it’s been a while (since 15th July 2017, when I absolutely killed myself bombing it round Newcastle Town Moor to run 32:29), but I’ve finally got a new parkrun PB!
I ran 31:46 this morning. I did push myself, but I didn’t go completely flat out, so I know I could do even better in the future. I probably won’t push for it next week, as I don’t want to run too hard the week before the Sunderland 10k, but hopefully over the summer I will be able to get down to sub-30 minutes.
Now for a few slow, steady runs leading up to Sunderland!
Day 17 and we’ve arrived in the 1990s with our Now! compilation journey! This one was released on 23rd April 1990.
This was the way the world looked in April 1990 (actually March – we apparently didn’t take any photos in April – but I don’t imagine it changed much in the course of a couple of weeks). I was clearly much hardier as a child, because I spent a lot of time on British beaches in months when it’s traditionally too cold to do so (i.e. every month of the year), whereas nowadays I’ll stand and shiver for a couple of minutes before going back into the pub.
Let’s see what the 1990s have in store for us!
Track 1: Erasure – Blue Savannah
More solid synthpop from Erasure. Great tune, great epic atmosphere.
Track 2: The Rebel MC – Better World
‘Not on Spotify’ Type 2: YouTube Pause (TM).
Repetitive beats make for a dull intro, but it’s better once a bit of melody kicks in.
Track 3: Paula Abdul – Opposites Attract
Good beat, but the tune’s a bit dull for my liking.
Track 4: Beats International – Dub Be Good To Me
Classic dance track, really like this tune. Great vocal melody.
Track 5: UB40 – Kingston Town
Bit of a slow one from UB40, with an irritating tune. Not really a fan.
Track 6: Candy Flip – Strawberry Fields Forever
Weird synth cover of the Beatles classic. Pretty much a pointless cover other than the synth, as the vocals definitely don’t do anything new.
Track 7: Tina Turner – I Don’t Wanna Lose You
Fairly standard Tina Turner ballad, a bit dull for me.
Track 8: Phil Collins – I Wish It Would Rain Down
Phil Collins turns his hand to a rock ballad. To be fair, that guitar is just the right level of over-the-top for me, so I quite like this one.
Track 9: Happy Mondays – Step On
Love this one! Classic track – I will always dance to this at weddings, in clubs, and in my chair right now.
Track 10: Primal Scream – Loaded
Another classic dance track – love those trumpet hooks.
Track 11: Depeche Mode – Enjoy The Silence
How were Depeche Mode not on a Now! compilation throughout the entirety of the ’80s? *blink*
Anyway, this classic synthpop track is not a bad way to start. Epic tune, great vocals, has had me on the dancefloor of a thousand goth clubs.
Track 12: Jesus Jones – Real Real Real
Great upbeat rock-tinged track. Happily nodding along here.
Track 13: Inspiral Carpets – This Is How It Feels
Lovely electro instrumentals, beautiful classic song. Really like this one. Another example where Carter USM did a great and not-at-all-pointless cover.
Track 14: The House Of Love – Shine On
Really like this one! Great tune – love those guitar instrumentals.
Track 15: Faith No More – From Out Of Nowhere
Another great guitar riff. Not so keen on the vocals, but it’s a good tune.
Track 16: The Quireboys – Hey You
I quite like the rock turn this Now! compilation has taken! This one’s a great head-nodder.
Track 17: Technotronic and MC Eric – This Beat Is Technotronic
Great dance track, really like the melody on this one. Geth just arrived home and talked all over it, so I wasn’t quite able to hear it properly!
Track 18: Lonnie Gordon – Happenin’ All Over Again
Like the tune, but the vocal line is a bit repetitive for my liking.
Track 19: 49ers – Don’t You Love Me
‘Not on Spotify’ Type 2: YouTube Pause (TM).
Nice upbeat dance track, interesting vocal. Bit dull otherwise.
Track 20: Jimmy Somerville – Read My Lips (Enough Is Enough)
Another solid pop track from Jimmy Somerville. Great atmosphere on this one.
Track 21: Cliff Richard – Stronger Than That
More saccharine vocals from Cliff Richard. His band are doing a good job at the pop-rock though.
Track 22: Jam Tronik – Another Day In Paradise
Interesting electro cover of the Phil Collins track. Really like this one.
Track 23: JT & The Big Family – Moments In Soul
Interesting instrumentals, good atmosphere, but some of the samples are a little irritating.
Track 24: Mantronix and Wondress – Got To Have Your Love
Nice bass intro, nice instrumentals, good solid pop, though the vocals are a bit dull until the chorus kicks in.
Track 25: Bizz Nizz – Don’t Miss The Party Line
Great electro dance tune, though I could do without the live crowd on the track.
Track 26: E-Zee Possee and MC Kinky – Everything Starts With An ‘E’
Another live crowd spoiling the otherwise good guitar intro. Then the weird vocal starts and it all goes south. Also, I’m guessing that title is a drug reference (the ‘ec-ec-ec-ec-ecstasy‘ lyric is also a bit of a clue), which means the 1990s have properly arrived.
Track 27: D-Mob and Nuff Juice – Put Your Hands Together
‘Not on Spotify’ Type 2: YouTube Pause (TM).
Is that a brief sample of the Halloween theme at the start? If so, it makes the track 100% more awesome, even though the rest of it is a bit of a messy sample-fest.
Track 28: Adamski and Seal – Killer
Absolute classic – that chorus is great, and the instrumentals are wonderfully epic.
Track 29: Orbital – Chime
Upbeat dance track with some interesting instrumentals – good head-nodder, though it gets a bit repetitive after a while.
Track 30: Tongue ‘N’ Cheek – Tomorrow
Nice sweeping piano intro, then it goes a bit house, then a bit ’70s retro. Once it gets going, it’s pretty much pop-by-numbers, with a random rap late in the track (yup, the ’90s are definitely here…sigh).
Track 31: Electribe 101 – Talking With Myself
Good instrumentals, dull vocal. Bonus points for the James Bond theme randomly popping up in the middle of the song, though.
Track 32: Sydney Youngblood – I’d Rather Go Blind
Problematic title and theme, for starters. Fairly tuneless intro, repetitive vocals, out-of-kilter instrumentals. Not a fan of this one.
I’ve been doing Pilates for about eighteen months now. My physio decided she was going to start running a class, and I’ve been going ever since. I found it really helped with the chronic back and leg pain I used to have – that has all disappeared with my weight loss, but it used to be really crippling – and I do a few exercises last thing at night, every day.
I find it especially useful during busy transcription periods, because I use two computers for transcription and so I’m spending twelve hours a day hunched in various positions over a desk, which gives me a lot of neck and shoulder pain. Knowing the right stretches to do in order to mitigate that at the end of the day is a real lifesaver at the moment.
I think it’s also why I’m not getting so many running injuries at the moment (touch wood!) I hope that will continue.
This is the way the world looked in November 1989, when I was small and Christmas trees were…silver. I am 100% positive that nobody usually put up their Christmas trees in November back in the ’80s – that is most definitely a 21st century thing due to ongoing Christmas creep – but I think my great-aunt and great-uncle got the decorations out early that year so that the wee bro and I could ‘help’. Of course, in my world, Christmas decorations still look like that – or even older – ’cause my mum and her mum before her have been keeping them all as heirlooms since the ’40s.
So, we’ve reached the end of the ’80s in our Now! compilation journey. Let’s enjoy those last few glorious tracks!
Track 1: Tears For Fears – Sowing The Seeds Of Love
So I was super gutted when Tears For Fears announced their tour last autumn, ’cause the tickets were pricy, we would have had to travel to Leeds, and I just couldn’t justify the expense at the time. It was one of my big gig regrets for 2018.
In the last week, they’ve announced they’ve had to postpone the tour to 2019 for medical reasons. The tickets all became available again, I found out Alison Moyet was supporting (which I hadn’t known before), and I was feeling a bit more flush than I had in the autumn. I bought tickets for the Leeds gig. Of course I did.
So I’m going to see Tears For Fears (and Alison Moyet) in February 2019, and now I don’t have to feel sad and disappointed every time one of their tracks comes on Vintage TV (which is approximately every five minutes). Winning!
Anyway, this track. It’s a bit ‘pre-1990s’ for my liking, especially ’cause I adore their early-to-mid-1980s stuff so much, but it’s a nice tune and I always find myself singing along when it comes on Vintage TV. Which, as I say, is often.
Track 2: Belinda Carlisle – Leave A Light On
Really like this singalong track. Lovely vocals, lovely tune.
Track 3: Erasure – Drama!
Lovely tinkly slow synth intro before the beat bangs in. Epic atmosphere, great track.
Track 4: Debbie Harry – I Want That Man
Really like the tune on this one. Nice upbeat pop.
I think you can probably guess, however, how I feel about the line ‘here comes the twenty-first century/it’s gonna be much better for a girl like me‘. Yeah. I’m glad someone’s optimistic.
Track 5: Sydney Youngblood – If Only I Could
Gotta love those bouncy instrumentals. Great head-nodder.
Track 6: Curiosity Killed The Cat – Name And Number
I’ve always really liked this one! That chorus is great.
Fun fact: Little Mix avoided a pointless cover of this by doing that strange 2010s thing where you cover the chorus only and then do a completely different verse, meaning you can call the track a different name (in this case How Ya Doin’?).
Nice jaunty instrumentals, and in comes Jacqui Abbott on the vocals – we are definitely post-Housemartins now. Not my favourite Beautiful South track, but it’s a nice tune with typically whimsical lyrics.
Track 8: Wet Wet Wet – Sweet Surrender
A bit slower from Wet Wet Wet, but I really like those instrumentals. Chorus could be more epic, though.
Track 9: Queen – Breakthru
Nice vocal harmony intro to a slightly erratic track. The tune is a bit dull, but it’s still pretty solid from Queen.
Track 10: Tina Turner – The Best
Classic singalong track – one of those ones where I’m up on the dancefloor at the wedding disco. Epic song.
Track 11: Transvision Vamp – Born To Be Sold
Slower and a bit acoustic from Transvision Vamp today. I still really like it, though.
Church bell intro! You don’t hear that on every pop song, but then it is Kate Bush. Love the tune too, nice epic atmosphere.
Track 14: Fine Young Cannibals – I’m Not The Man I Used To Be
For some reason, on Now! #16 there were a few tracks that featured on the CD release only. I don’t know if it’s because CDs had more space, and the Now! compilers were excited about the novelty of that, or what. Anyway, this is the first of them.
Nice instrumentals, but this track is a bit slow and dull for my liking.
Track 15: Then Jerico – Sugar Box
A bit saccharine, but I quite like the tune, especially when it gets a bit rockier as the track goes on.
Track 16: Living In A Box – Room In Your Heart
Wow. We’ve reached 1989 and even Living In A Box were doing dull ballads. Nothing to elevate this one.
Track 17: Richard Marx – Right Here Waiting
I’ve always had a soft spot for this ballad. It’s the kind of thing I should hate, but I don’t.
Track 18: Milli Vanilli – Girl I’m Gonna Miss You
It’s Milli Vanilli and their possibly-fake vocals again! I actually really like this one, it’s a lovely tune and theme.
Track 19: The Rebel MC and Double Trouble – Street Tuff
‘Not on Spotify’ Type 2: YouTube Pause (TM).
Nice upbeat dance track, like the sampling. Good stuff.
Track 20: Bobby Brown – On Our Own
Good instrumentals and sung vocals on this one – the rap’s a bit dull though.
Track 21: Technotronic and Felly – Pump Up The Jam
Classic dance track – another ‘oh, it’s this one!’ moment. Happily chair-dancing right now.
Track 22: Lil’ Louis – French Kiss
Another track that was on the CD release only.
Repetitive intro that goes on too long – get on with it! The shortest version I was able to find is eight minutes long, so it takes forever to get going. Not my kind of thing, especially when it slows down and brings in the orgasm noises. I’m guessing this is not the version that was on the Now! compilation.
Track 23: Adeva – I Thank You
Highly pre-1990s dance track. Vocals a bit over-the-top for me.
Track 24: D-Mob and Cathy Dennis – C’mon And Get My Love
Really like the drum machine on that intro. Solid dance tune.
Track 25: De La Soul – Eye Know
‘Not on Spotify’ Type 2: YouTube Pause (TM).
Too repetitive for me, and I don’t like the backing tune.
Track 26: Inner City – Whatcha Gonna Do With My Lovin’
Not an Inner City fan anyway, and this one is kind of slow and repetitive. Not for me.
Track 27: Big Fun – Can’t Shake The Feeling
‘Not on Spotify’ Type 2: YouTube Pause (TM).
Something about the tune annoys me. It’s fairly pop-by-numbers otherwise.
Track 28: Cliff Richard – I Just Don’t Have The Heart
Actually quite an upbeat one from Cliff Richard! His vocals are still super cheesy and irritating though.
Track 29: Jimmy Somerville and June Miles Kingston – Comment Te Dire Adieu
Great track! Daft French atmosphere, awesome tune. I’m chair-dancing again here!
Track 30: Brother Beyond – Drive On
Another ‘CD release only’ track..
A bit cheesy, but I really quite like this – it’s just nice, pure, upbeat pop.
Track 31: Shakespear’s Sister – You’re History
Really squawky and squeaky in the vocals, with Siobhan Fahey going a bit overboard, obviously still feeling that post-Bananarama freedom. Quite an interesting tune, though.
Track 32: Oh Well – Oh Well
‘Not on Spotify’ Type 2: YouTube Pause (TM).
Nice funky melody, quite a nice track when they’re not rapping.
Track 33: Neneh Cherry – Kisses On The Wind
Bit of a messy sample mishmash at the start, but it’s okay once it gets going.
Track 34: Redhead Kingpin & The FBI – Do The Right Thing
Headache-inducing intro, repetitive track. Not my cup of tea.
Track 35: Fresh 4 and Lizz E – Wishing On A Star
Not a fan of this drum ‘n’ bass cover, but at least it does something different to the Rose Royce original.
The box next to the phone box is an Edinburgh police box. Police boxes are still fairly common in Edinburgh, but as they’re obviously not used for their original purpose anymore, they’ve all been turned into coffee stands.
The other phone boxes you can see in the background will be featured next week!
Update May 2022: some interesting developments to be found on Google Street View!
Day 15’s Now! compilation was released on 14th August 1989.
This is what the world looked like in August 1989. Beautiful sunshine, beautiful view, and I’m clearly complaining about something, ’cause I’m four. At least I’m complaining while wearing an awesome ’80s coat though.
On with the tracks!
Track 1: Queen – I Want It All
Brilliant track, one of my favourites from Queen. Wonderful guitar solo from Brian May, of course, but the best bit is when it goes quiet for a drums ‘n’ chanting singalong. Great stuff.
Track 2: Simple Minds – Kick It In
After an uninspiring slow intro, this track does what it says on the tin, thankfully. Vocals a bit experimental for my liking, though.
Track 3: Fine Young Cannibals – Good Thing
Bit of a retro-sounding track from Fine Young Cannibals. Nice tune, but a bit repetitive for me.
Track 4: Holly Johnson – Americanos
I’m not hugely keen on Holly Johnson’s post-FGTH solo stuff. There’s something irritating about the tune and instrumentals on this one.
Track 5: Transvision Vamp – Baby I Don’t Care
Great pop-rock track from Transvision Vamp. Nice singalong chorus, great guitar.
Track 6: INXS – Mystify
Nice bouncy instrumentals, nice vocals, lovely epic quiet chorus. Really like this one.
Track 7: Roxette – The Look
Love this track! Great guitar, great vocals, awesome tune. Roxette are one of those bands where I like pretty much all of their stuff, but this is a real standout.
Track 8: Stevie Nicks – Rooms On Fire
Slight aside for a minute while I bemoan the fact that I am no longer going to try and get tickets to see Fleetwood Mac this year because they’ve had drama again, with Lindsey Buckingham quitting, and I WANTED TO SEE ALL FIVE OF THEM BECAUSE THAT’S THE CLASSIC LINEUP DAMMIT. This is the only gig disappointment of 2018 that I have not been able to mitigate somehow.
Anyway, this Stevie Nicks solo track is lovely and epic, absolutely holding its own against the Fleetwood Mac back catalogue. Cracking song.
Track 9: Paul McCartney – My Brave Face
Nice upbeat track, nice tune. Good head-nodder.
Track 10: Gerry Marsden, Paul McCartney, Holly Johnson and The Christians – Ferry ‘Cross The Mersey
‘Not on Spotify’ Type 2: YouTube Pause (TM).
Never been keen on any version of this track, ’cause the chorus annoys me. I do appreciate the instrumental treatment of this one, though.
Track 11: The Beautiful South – Song For Whoever
So, back on Saturday when I was listening to Now! #10, Geth went on this big ominous ramble during Build by the Housemartins that that was the point when the Housemartins were starting to sound like the Beautiful South, and that it would only be a matter of time before the former went bang and the latter rose from the ashes. That did of course happen in the late ’80s, but as much as I do prefer the Housemartins, I don’t think the Beautiful South are a bad thing. This song is lovely and has just the right level of whimsy for my liking.
Track 12: Kirsty MacColl – Days
Beautiful cover of the Kinks track. There’s enough interesting things done with the instrumentals here (not to mention MacColl’s gorgeous vocals) to make the cover non-pointless, and the result is lovely and sweeping.
Track 13: Danny Wilson – The Second Summer Of Love
Not sure about this folk-rock track – I quite like the bridge, but the chorus is a bit cheesy.
Track 14: Waterfront – Cry
Good instrumentals on the intro, but the track is a bit generic. Sax solo does save it a bit.
Track 15: Hue & Cry – Violently
Another slow one from Hue & Cry – again, a bit dull for me. They just never matched Labour Of Love as far as I’m concerned.
Track 16: Cliff Richard – The Best Of Me
1989: the year everyone decided Cliff Richard was a thing again for some reason. This one is mouldy cheddar, but what do you expect?
Track 17: Soul II Soul and Caron Wheeler – Back To Life (However Do You Want Me)
I’ve always liked that ‘back to life/back to reality‘ hook. Nice head-nodder as well.
Track 18: Neneh Cherry – Manchild
Nice tune and great instrumentals, but it’s a bit slow for me.
Track 19: Bobby Brown – Every Little Step
Dull tune, but the beat’s all right.
Track 20: Inner City – Do You Love What You Feel
Nice intro – then the dull vocal kicks in. Not a fan.
Track 21: D-Mob and LRS – It’s Time To Get Funky
Good dance track, quite like this one.
Track 22: Donna Allen – Joy And Pain
Love that sax! Nice tuneful ballad, even if the vocals are a bit repetitive.
Track 23: Gladys Knight – Licence To Kill
Love a James Bond soundtrack song! (We’ll gloss over the missed opportunity of A View To A Killfor now.) Epic almost-orchestral instrumentals, building atmosphere, great vocals – this is what you want.
Track 24: Natalie Cole – Miss You Like Crazy
Super saccharine ballad, annoying chorus. Not my thing.
Track 25: Pet Shop Boys – It’s Alright
More classic synthpop from Pet Shop Boys. Love those synth hooks.
Track 26: Jive Bunny & The Mastermixers – Swing The Mood
Novelty cartoon rabbit that I quite liked at the time, being four. The mix of classic swing and rock ‘n’ roll tracks leaves a little to be desired, though.
Track 27: Swing Out Sister – You On My Mind
Nice upbeat track, lovely tune, good vocals – I quite like this one.
Track 28: Bananarama – Cruel Summer ’89
I don’t know whose idea this 1989 remix was, but it’s a good excuse to hear some classic Bananarama again! Great track when it’s not the weird remix bit.
Track 29: De La Soul – Say No Go
‘Not on Spotify’ Type 1: lazy tribute version substitute.
Finally, some rap that’s actually interesting! Great instrumentals too.
Track 30: Norman Cook and MC Wildski – Blame It On The Bassline
‘Not on Spotify’ Type 2: YouTube Pause (TM).
Here’s another phoenix from the ashes of the Housemartins’ split, back in the days before he was going by Fatboy Slim. This was actually the Beats International project, although I guess they hadn’t come up with the name yet.
Really quite like this mishmash of samples, especially the Blame It On The Boogie hooks.
Track 31: Double Trouble and The Rebel MC – Just Keep Rockin’
Nice upbeat dance track – happily nodding along here.
Track 32: The Cure – Lullaby
My favourite song from my favourite band! Now THIS is a good way to end a compilation. Indescribably beautiful mournful track – I will adore it forever.
