I’m one week into an extremely busy work period at the moment, with one major project plus multiple smaller ones meaning I’m working twelve-hour days, seven days a week. I have these every so often – it’s just the nature of freelancing – and thankfully it’s never more than a few weeks at a time. Still, a period like this requires some fairly big coping strategies, and these are the ones I’ve developed:
1. Schedule every last minute
The first thing I always do with a major project is sit down and plot out a schedule for the work up to the deadline, so that I know exactly what will get done when – if I don’t have an idea of this, I find it very stressful. Sometimes this means that if things take longer than expected, I have to work a bit longer on that particular day, but having plotted everything out means that this is kept to a minimum.
2. Book in some non-negotiable non-work time
By ‘non-negotiable’, I mean things that I can’t back out of. For this particular project, the busy period happens to coincide with my ongoing mission on this blog to review one Now! compilation a day leading up to 20th July; each review takes me a couple of hours, due to the length of the compilations, so that’s time that I absolutely have to spend doing non-work stuff. During my last busy work period, which was in October to November, I had NaNoWriMo going on during the latter part, so I had a commitment every day to spend a couple of hours writing fiction. Writing is nice and relaxing for me, but a less ‘thinky’ non-negotiable thing might be meeting up with friends, such as for the birthday afternoon tea I’m going to in a couple of weeks’ time, or some ‘me time’, such as the vintage fair I’m going to on Sunday (my first vintage fair trip since the house move! I can’t wait!), or a scheduled class that I pay for every week, such as Slimming World or my Pilates class. I’m also having to make running a non-negotiable during this particular busy work period, otherwise I’ll struggle with the Sunderland 10k in a few weeks’ time!
3. Postpone all non-essentials
When I’m working twelve-hour work days, other than sleeping, eating and keeping myself clean and presentable, I only have time for work and the scheduled non-negotiables I described above. Everything else gets shunted to ‘afterwards’. This generally includes cleaning the house, catching up with TV and the music charts, and, for this particular period, the ongoing project of sorting out the new house. It just means I will be doing all that stuff with a renewed appreciation when the work period is over!
4. Book in cooking and sleeping time
During a busy work period, looking after myself often takes a back seat. It’s simply not possible to get as much sleep as I usually would, as I have to be up at the crack of dawn every day to start work, but I make sure I’m at least getting six hours a night. Similarly, I need to schedule my food preparation time, otherwise I’ll end up just grabbing something unhealthy and feeling worse for it.
These periods are always a bit of a slog, but they are manageable. Obviously it would be nice if they’d balance out a bit better with the weeks where I don’t have any work at all, but the benefits of being a freelancer are absolutely worth it for me!
Day 9 equals Now! #9, which was released on 23rd March 1987.
This is how the world looked in March 1987. Well, it did in our house; maybe other people had moved on from the endless brown furnishings. I’m not sure that every toddler was lucky enough to have such an excitingly squishy new toy to play with that month, either *poke poke poke*. Sadly, said toy is not displayed on my display shelves with my other stuff from the ’80s. It is now over six foot tall and resident in Canada, and I only get to see it occasionally 🙁
Here are some tracks that may have floated into my tiny brother’s tiny ears.
Track 1: Jackie Wilson – Reet Petite
I hear this one regularly every Christmas period due to its status as the 1986 UK Christmas number one. As a result, it’s slightly Christmas-associated in my book, and also slightly annoying.
Track 2: Mental As Anything – Live It Up
I wasn’t familiar with this one. Nice chorus, good upbeat track.
Track 3: Simply Red – The Right Thing
This one’s a bit repetitive for me, though I like the instrumentals.
Track 4: Erasure – Sometimes
This is Geth’s go-to Erasure DJing track, so I kind of associate it with 2.55pm in a goth club. Great tune, though.
Track 5: Robbie Nevil – C’est La Vie
It’s a bit dull, but there’s something I quite like about it, maybe just ’cause it’s been featured on so many ’80s compilations I’ve heard.
Track 6: Hot Chocolate – You Sexy Thing
This was a hit again ’cause it had a new remix for its tenth anniversary, though I can’t work out whether it was the original or the remix that was featured on this compilation. Classic tune either way.
Track 7: The Blow Monkeys – It Doesn’t Have To Be This Way
I’ve always liked this one – great chorus, great saxophone riffs.
Incidentally, the Blow Monkeys are going to be supporting Level 42 at that gig at the Sage Gateshead in October! I should really stop going on about said gig on here and go buy tickets instead.
Track 8: The Housemartins – Caravan Of Love
One of my favourite Housemartins tracks – lovely a cappella cover of an Isley Brothers song from the previous year.
Track 9: Boy George – Everything I Own
Hmm, not for me, this one. Boy George has basically brought the ‘annoying’ aspect of Culture Club songs into his solo career.
Track 10: UB40 – Rat In Mi Kitchen
Nice jaunty, daft tune. Love the whimsy of this one.
I should, however, point out that as a professional editor, I absolutely hate that misspelling of ‘my’ in the title. Just why?
Track 11: The Gap Band – Big Fun
Like the atmosphere of this one, though the samples and vocals are a bit dull.
Track 12: Five Star – Stay Out Of My Life
I’m not a huge Five Star fan, and I find this one pretty dull, though some of the instrumental hooks are quite interesting.
Track 13: Pepsi & Shirlie – Heartache
It’s a bit pop-by-numbers, but I really like that the girls from Wham! got to go and have some hits by themselves (great vocals too now that they’re not playing second fiddle to George Michael!) before fading into obscurity again.
Track 14: Bananarama – Trick Of The Night
Love that sax intro, love the atmosphere of this one. Great track.
Track 15: Berlin – Take My Breath Away
Another one from my original ’80s playlist circa 2001. A bit overplayed due to the Top Gun connection, but a stunning pop ballad.
Track 16: Freddie Mercury – The Great Pretender
Wonderfully cheesy over-the-top dramatic number. I’d expect no less from Freddie Mercury.
Track 17: Ben E King – Stand By Me
Nice ’60s classic – back in the charts, I believe, due to the film of the same name. Lovely singalong track.
Track 18: Curiosity Killed The Cat – Down To Earth
Nice slightly laid-back track. It’s a bit ‘background’ for me, but I do like it.
Track 19: The Communards – So Cold The Night
A slightly more dramatic one from the Communards, with a great epic atmosphere.
Track 20: Steve ‘Silk’ Hurley – Jack Your Body
Like the tune, but the vocal sample is really irritating!
Track 21: Taffy – I Love My Radio (Midnight Radio)
Great synth line, great catchy vocals! Will be adding this to the playlist.
Track 22: Nick Kamen – Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever
Lyrics a bit cheesy for my liking, though the tune is quite nice, and that sax solo is great.
Track 23: A-ha – Manhattan Skyline
Interestingly slow verses before it kicks in with a great upbeat chorus. Nice epic atmosphere, great track from A-ha.
Track 24: Westworld – Sonic Boom Boy
Quite a fun wee track, good chant-along head-nodder.
Track 25: Bon Jovi – Livin’ On A Prayer
Hair metal headbanging time! Most definitely a guilty pleasure. This was a Cav classic circa 2001-2002 (i.e. played regularly at the Cavendish, a godawful cheap nightclub in Edinburgh that sold VK Apple alcopops for £1 each, resulting in a thousand hangovers during that era. Ah, teen years. The club still exists but, several name changes later, is now called Atik).
Track 26: Genesis – Land Of Confusion
Probably my favourite Genesis song – I love this one! Bonus points also for the Spitting Image video.
Track 27: Europe – The Final Countdown
More headbanging, another guilty pleasure, and also, incidentally, another Cav classic (see above). I can almost taste the VK Apple, which is not a good thing.
Track 28: Gary Moore – Over The Hills And Far Away
Love this folk-tinged bit of classic rock! I’ve spent my adulthood in goth clubs hearing the Nightwish cover, but I prefer this original version.
Track 29: Ward Brothers – Cross That Bridge
‘Not on Spotify’ Type 2: YouTube Pause (TM).
Nice bit of upbeat pop, currently chair-dancing here. Great synth in the instrumentals.
Track 30: Pretenders – Hymn To Her
Great lyrics, though the track is a bit slow for me. Nice tune too.
The Street View image linked above is actually the 2016 image rather than the most recent 2018 update, because the 2018 photo is RAMMED with people due to having been taken in August during the Festival. You can click through on the upper left box on the Street View page to see the 2018 picture.
I really like this row of three. It’s quite hard to catch a picture of them without tourists hanging off the doors in order to do the same thing during busy times (and you can see someone actually using the one on the left here! Wonderful to see it being used!), but it was worth hanging around on this particular day, ’cause I think they’re very pretty all lined up like that.
Day 8’s Now! compilation was released on 24th November 1986.
Um, I’m not sure I can really say that this is what the world looked like in November 1986, given that my face pretty much takes up this whole photo. It’s what I looked like in November 1986, though, and I bet you can’t get dungarees that cute nowadays.
Let’s move onto the music.
Track 1: Duran Duran – Notorious
Yup, I still love Duran Duran. I also wish the Now! compilers would start putting their tracks later in the mix. I appreciate the need to start with a great tune, but sometimes it’s nice to save the best for last!
The song is one of my favourites (and not just for that Sparkle Motion bit in Donnie Darko that everyone always brings up). I love the ‘no-no-notorious’ hook, the way the verses build, the funk guitar – great track.
Track 2: Pet Shop Boys – Suburbia
Another great track from Pet Shop Boys – absolutely beautiful chorus and synth line.
Track 3: Aerosmith and Run DMC – Walk This Way
Bit overplayed these days, but still a classic, although I have to say I prefer the original version that Aerosmith did themselves.
Track 4: The Communards and Sarah Jane Morris – Don’t Leave Me This Way
A childhood favourite and one of the first pop songs I learnt to sing along to! I guess when you’re a toddler it’s easier to hit those high notes.
I discovered while Richard Coles was competing on Strictly last year that he’s responsible for the longest piano solo of the ’80s, which occurs in the middle of this song. Plus points!
Track 5: Swing Out Sister – Breakout
Nice and upbeat, but there’s something about the vocal that annoys me.
Track 6: Steve Winwood – Higher Love
Charming song, always liked this one. Great instrumentals, and I love that singalong chorus.
Track 7: Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark – (Forever) Live And Die
A bit slower than usual for OMD, but still a lovely tune.
Track 8: Genesis – In Too Deep
Nice epic instrumentals building throughout the song – really like this one.
Track 9: Cameo – Word Up
Another classic. There have been a lot of pointless ’90s, ’00s and ’10s covers in an attempt to replicate the greatness of this song, but nothing has come close to the original.
Track 10: Grace Jones – I’m Not Perfect (But I’m Perfect For You)
I do like Grace Jones, and I really like the atmosphere of this track, especially during the verses.
Track 11: Mel & Kim – Showing Out (Get Fresh At The Weekend)
I’ve got a huge soft spot for Mel & Kim, and I really like this one, even though every time it pops up on Vintage TV Geth complains that they never show Respectable, which he apparently remembers as being a much bigger hit.
Track 12: Jermaine Stewart – We Don’t Have To Take Our Clothes Off
I love this one! I never actually heard it until 2011, when it re-entered the charts after being featured in a Dairy Milk TV advert. Great pop track.
Track 13: Jaki Graham – Step Right Up
Probably the best out of the Jaki Graham tracks that the Now! compilers have chosen recently. Nice upbeat track with a catchy chorus.
Track 14: Janet Jackson – What Have You Done For Me Lately?
Quite a fun tune, but the lyrics annoy me.
Track 15: The Human League – Human
I really like this lovely, introspective track – a bit of a departure from the Human League’s earlier stuff, but really nice.
Track 16: Boris Gardiner – I Want To Wake Up With You
Bit cheesy for my liking, though I like the reggae beat.
Track 17: Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush – Don’t Give Up
‘Not on Spotify’ Type 2: YouTube Pause (TM).
Lovely duet, lovely tune. Really like this one.
Track 18: The Housemartins – Think For A Minute
I don’t think the Housemartins did a bad tune, and this is gorgeous as usual.
Track 19: Madness – (Waiting For) The Ghost Train
‘Not on Spotify’ Type 2: YouTube Pause (TM).
Madness turn their hand to ‘spooky’. Another one for the Hallowe’en playlist!
Track 20: Status Quo – In The Army Now
I really like the atmosphere of this one, and I’m not the biggest Status Quo fan. Great track.
Track 21: Huey Lewis & The News – Stuck With You
A bit daft and cheesy, but it’s a nice head-nodder.
Track 22: Big Country – One Great Thing
This is a better Big Country track than has been included on Now! compilations so far. Nice chant-along chorus.
Track 23: Billy Bragg – Greetings To The New Brunette
I like Billy Bragg’s stuff, though I wouldn’t necessarily add it to a typical ’80s party playlist. It’s more for post-party listening circa 4am. This one’s got a nice tune and awesome lyrics.
Track 24: Cutting Crew – (I Just) Died In Your Arms
A favourite from back during my first flush of ’80s nostalgia in the early ’00s – I played it over and over. I was lucky enough to see Cutting Crew play back in November, and the crowd naturally went absolutely nuts for this one. I think that was the point that Geth and I decided we were no longer going to be stuck in the upper gallery at the Sage, where the party is decidedly not happening. Apart from anything else, you can’t take drinks into the upper levels! This decision turned out to be a good one on Monday night, when we went to the Kim Wilde gig and enjoyed a much more high-energy atmosphere down on the floor.
Speaking of Kim Wilde…
Track 25: Kim Wilde – You Keep Me Hangin’ On
Is it another excuse to post the slightly blurry video I took of Kim Wilde performing this song on Monday night? I think it is!
I like most stuff that Kim Wilde has done, but this is my absolute favourite track of hers. Stunning cover of the ’60s classic that brings it storming into 1986 – amazing epic atmosphere.
Track 26: It Bites – Calling All The Heroes
Good pop track, though the messed up beat at the start annoys me a bit. Great singalong chorus.
Track 27: Doctor & The Medics and Roy Wood – Waterloo
Utterly daft cover. Sadly, I’m going to have to class it as a ‘pointless ’80s cover’, as it’s just not different enough from the Abba version.
Track 28: Debbie Harry – French Kissin’ In The USA
Okay song, but this has never come close to her Blondie classics for me.
Track 29: Robert Palmer – I Didn’t Mean To Turn You On
I really like Robert Palmer’s stuff, and this one is great – awesome instrumentals throughout.
Incidentally, it’s interesting in today’s climate to hear a song of this theme from a male singer.
Track 30: Paul Hardcastle – The Wizard
More interesting sampling from Paul Hardcastle. Some great bits of tune on this track.
Track 31: Gwen Guthrie – (They Long To Be) Close To You
Nice gentle cover of the Carpenters track. Not at all a pointless cover – it’s very different.
Track 32: Nick Berry – Every Loser Wins
Really dislike this one, sorry. Cheesy ballad that I believe was released as an Eastenders tie-in. Not a fan.
This one was a bit of an accidental cider. Yes, I know. My life’s just like that.
Basically, during the intermission at the Kim Wilde gig on Monday, Geth went to the bar to get us another round. He asked for an Old Mout Kiwi and Lime (already logged), which is the variety I usually drink, but when he brought it back to me in the venue, I discovered that it was instead an Old Mout Passionfruit and Apple:
Old Mout Passionfruit and Apple.
Oh well, means another cider to log!
Passionfruit and Apple is similar to Kiwi and Lime in that it’s just the right sweetness for a fruit cider in my book – not cloying like Kopparberg or Rekorderlig, but sweet enough that I can down it if I have to. The flavours are lovely together, and I’d drink this variety a lot more often if I didn’t like Kiwi and Lime so much!
We’ve been doing this for a whole week. Doesn’t time fly?
Day 7 takes us to 11th August 1986.
In August 1986, the world looked like this, complete with the freedom to put a toddler in whatever ungodly beige thing I’m wearing here. Not one of my finer looks!
Let’s see what might have been blaring on the radio while I was toddling around that balcony.
Track 1: Peter Gabriel – Sledgehammer
Great start! Awesome upbeat song, a real classic (doing the chair dance right now). The video won lots of awards but I’ve never been a fan of it, though I’m sure it was groundbreaking at the time.
Track 2: UB40 – Sing Our Own Song
I do like the almost MIDI-videogame-music-esque instrumentals that run through this song. Nice tune too.
Track 3: Sly Fox – Let’s Go All The Way
Nice beat, but the tune’s a bit dull for me.
Track 4: Level 42 – Lessons In Love
And with the awesome guitar intro to this song, Level 42 are reminding me that I really should buy tickets to that show I was talking about yesterday. I love this track.
Track 5: Pet Shop Boys – Opportunities (Let’s Make Lots Of Money)
I’m so glad Pet Shop Boys have caught the eye of the Now! compilers! I love pretty much everything they’ve ever done, and this brilliant track is no exception. Love that slow synth intro that bangs into the chorus – awesome.
Track 6: Pete Wylie – Sinful!
Repetitive beats, lack of melody, boring samples, not really my thing. It does get slightly more interesting as it builds.
Geth arrived home while this was playing and thought it was by James. I’ve not asked how many drinks he had at his work’s wine reception, but it looks like a few.*
Track 7: Stan Ridgway – Camouflage
I do like this jaunty tune, though the vocals annoy me. If I can find an instrumental version, I think I’ll be adding it to my regular playlist.
Track 8: The Art Of Noise and Max Headroom – Paranoimia
Like the synth at the start of this, like the sampling, love Max Headroom. Fun track.
Track 9: Chris De Burgh – Lady In Red
Blurgh, far too much cheese here. I don’t dislike everything he’s done, but this one is a real eye-roller.
Track 10: David Bowie – Absolute Beginners
Lovely song, up to the usual Bowie standard. Nice video too, featuring a red phone box (though it’s filmed in black and white).
Track 11: Genesis – Invisible Touch
I really like the Genesis singles of this era. Great catchy chorus, great instrumentals.
Track 12: Simple Minds – All The Things She Said
It’s bad that when I see that title my mind automatically goes to the 2002 Tatu hit, right? I think that’s pretty bad.
This song, meanwhile, is a great upbeat track from Simple Minds, no male-gaze lesbianism in sight.
Track 13: The Housemartins – Happy Hour
Happy hour, happy song, happy Dee, quite literally. This one always cheers me up.
Track 14: Big Country – Look Away
One of the Big Country songs that irritates me for some reason. I think it’s the tune.
Track 15: Furniture – Brilliant Mind
I’ve always really liked the atmosphere of this one. It builds beautifully.
Track 16: Midge Ure – Call Of The Wild
Nice pop tune, but it’s a bit forgettable.
Track 17: Wham! – The Edge Of Heaven
Were Wham! still going at this point? I lose track. Great catchy song though.
Track 18: Owen Paul – My Favourite Waste Of Time
I’m going to call this a guilty pleasure. Should I feel guilty about it? I’m not sure.
Track 19: Amazulu – Too Good To Be Forgotten
Unfortunately this song does not do what it says on the tin. It may be unforgettable, but that’s due to the irritating tune that threatens to become an unwanted earworm if you hear it too often.
Track 20: Doctor & The Medics – Spirit In The Sky
Never been sure about this cover. It’s very nearly a pointless ’80s cover in my book, as there’s little to differentiate it from the Norman Greenbaum original other than the harder guitar and interesting synth hooks, but I can’t help but love the video.
Track 21: Bananarama – Venus
My favourite Bananarama song! Perfect piece of pop.
Track 22: Bucks Fizz – New Beginning (Mamba Seyra)
I do quite like a lot of Bucks Fizz’s stuff, but I’m not hugely keen on this one. It’s a bit dull.
Track 23: A-ha – Hunting High And Low [Remix]
I quite like this one, even though it’s one of A-ha’s slower tracks. There’s something quite epic about it.
Track 24: Simply Red – Holding Back The Years
Nice ballad, though I’d have to be in a pretty sleepy mood to put it on.
Track 25: Billy Ocean – When The Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going
Love this classic soundtrack song! Though I’ve never seen The Jewel In The Nile (or Romancing The Stone, come to think of it), which I should sort out at some point.
Fun fact: Boyzone did a pointless ’90s cover of this in 1999 (well, I shouldn’t really call it pointless, seeing as it raised a lot of money for Comic Relief, but you know what I mean).
Track 26: Jaki Graham – Set Me Free
Nice upbeat pop song, though I’m not hugely keen on the vocals.
Track 27: Nu Shooz – I Can’t Wait
With a band name like this, what can go wrong?
I do like that jingly bit at the start. I also just realised that Mann sampled this for Buzzin’ in 2010 and now I’m annoyed on Nu Shooz’ behalf.
Track 28: The Real Roxanne and Hitman Howie Tee – Bang Zoom (Let’s Go-Go)
The rap bit’s all right, but the sampled tune irritates me. Not a fan.
Track 29: Lovebug Starski – Amityville (The House On The Hill)
‘Not on Spotify’ Type 1: lazy tribute version substitute.
Nice cheesy horror-themed track, very ’80s. One for the Hallowe’en party playlist.
Track 30: Midnight Star – Headlines
Argh, that irritating vocal! Not a fan of this one.
Track 31: Aurra – You And Me Tonight
Lot of spoken samples in the intro, repetitive backing track, dull vocals. Not my thing.
Track 32: Patti LaBelle and Michael McDonald – On My Own
Pretty dull ballad, though the tune on the chorus is nice.
I was super excited about going to see Kim Wilde at the Sage last night. Geth had spotted the flyer for the gig when we were at the Sage for the Go West and Cutting Crew gig back in November, and so I booked tickets ASAP. I’ve had a few disappointments with not getting tickets for various gigs I wanted to go to in 2018, so I was really looking forward to this one.
The support act wasn’t advertised, but it was Lawrence Hill. He’s a talented guitarist and was doing some very cool stuff with loop pedals, but some of the between-song-banter didn’t go down too well with the North East audience. At one point, he introduced his song Driving To Win by asking who’d recently taken a road trip to the South of France…um, it’s a bit further to go from here than it is from London! Then, when the song actually started:
Lyrics:Are we driving to win or are we driving to lose…
Me, in my head: OH GOD THAT PUN, THAT PUN, THAT IS UNBEARABLE
Me out loud to Geth: Driving ‘Toulouse’, geddit?
Geth: 🙁 🙁 🙁 I wasn’t enjoying this song BEFORE you pointed that out.
After the support, there was about fifteen minutes of intermission (Geth took the opportunity to get us another round) before Kim Wilde and her band came on. The energy was fantastic from the start.
Kim Wilde on stage. Note the keytar player! At some point I am going to work out how to get my new phone camera to focus properly.
The tour was in support of her new album, Here Come The Aliens, which is a great album. I had listened to it yesterday before the gig and really enjoyed it, but the songs are even better live. Album lead track 1969 is the best song for me, and the band played a great performance of it during the encore.
Kim also played a lot of her old ’80s stuff, which of course went down a storm. My highlights were Cambodia, Kids In America (with which the band closed) and my favourite, You Keep Me Hangin’ On, which I couldn’t resist filming:
The show was really enjoyable, with great energy start to finish. It was the first gig I went to this year, but it’s going to take some beating!
In November 1985, the world looked like this. Knitted hats just aren’t what they used to be.
I doubt any of the artists on Now! #6 looked as cool as me and Dad in our knitted hats, but let’s have a listen anyway.
Track 1: Queen – One Vision
A favourite going back to childhood – we had the A Kind Of Magic album on CD in the ’90s and always played it in the car.
I don’t think anyone disputes nowadays that the last line is definitely sung as ‘fried chicken‘, right?
Track 2: Nik Kershaw – When A Heart Beats
Nice rock-tinged track, probably the best Nik Kershaw track the Now! compilers have included so far.
Track 3: Feargal Sharkey – A Good Heart
I quite like this one in moderation. Good chair-swayer, and great lyrics.
Track 4: Eurythmics – There Must Be An Angel (Playing With My Heart)
I’ve got a soft spot for this one because it was used for one of the idents on VH1 Classic back in the ’00s, when Geth and I lived in Edinburgh and could still get Virgin TV with its huge variety of music TV channels. Love that chorus.
Track 5: Simple Minds – Alive And Kicking
Slightly rockier sound from Simple Minds today, great tune, especially the singalong bridge.
Track 6: Bryan Adams and Tina Turner – It’s Only Love
‘Not on Spotify’ Type 1: lazy tribute version substitute.
Nice epic guitar riff all the way through – quite like this one.
Track 7: Gary Moore – Empty Rooms
Love the atmosphere of this one, with that wailing guitar at the start. Everything I like in an ’80s rock ballad.
Track 8: Marillion – Lavender
Not keen on this one – the repetitive chorus annoys me.
Track 9: Elton John – Nikita
A song from a different world, where the Iron Curtain meant that English boys weren’t allowed to date Russian girls, or something. It’s quite a nice tune, but there’s something a little dull about it for me.
Track 10: Kate Bush – Running Up That Hill
Love this one. I think I came to it late and it was actually the Placebo cover in 2003 that introduced me to it (the Placebo covers album did that for a lot of songs). In this case, the original is much better though.
Track 11: Level 42 – Something About You
Nice upbeat pop, quite like this one!
Side note: Geth and I noticed when we were at the Sage Gateshead for the Kim Wilde gig last night that Level 42 will be playing there in October. I may have another ’80s gig to look forward to!
Track 12: Tina Turner – We Don’t Need Another Hero
As usual with Tina Turner, there’s something I’m not keen on here. I think I just don’t like the tune.
Track 13: UB40 – Don’t Break My Heart
Not quite as bouncy as you’d usually expect from UB40, but I really quite like the atmosphere of this one.
Track 14: Phil Collins and Marilyn Martin – Separate Lives
‘Not on Spotify’ Type 1: lazy tribute version substitute.
Bit too much of a dull, slow ballad for my tastes. I quite like the instrumentals though.
Track 15: Cliff Richard – She’s So Beautiful
Never been a Cliff fan, as I find his typical level of cheese to be pretty cringeworthy. This one is no exception. Blurgh.
Track 16: Arcadia – Election Day
Following the Power Station yesterday, here’s the other Duran Duran spinoff band of 1985. Plenty to love here, with a nice epic chorus and daft video.
Track 17: UB40 and Chrissie Hynde – I Got You Babe
I actually prefer this jaunty reggae version of the song to the Sonny and Cher original. Great track.
Track 18: Fine Young Cannibals – Blue
Okay tune, but not enough of a hook for me.
Track 19: Midge Ure – If I Was
In our ’90s family CD collection, we had this one on a Top Gear compilation, I think. I’ve always liked the tune, especially the way the verses build.
Track 20: Siouxsie & The Banshees – Cities In Dust
Nice mad song that I still hear a lot in clubs. Highly danceable if you’re a goth.
Track 21: Madness – Uncle Sam
Typical jolly Madness track, though it’s a bit more sedate than some of their stuff. Really like this tune.
Track 22: Lloyd Cole & The Commotions – Lost Weekend
Great song! I’m going to make this one today’s top wedding disco track.
Track 23: The Communards – You Are My World
My parents had (and still have) the Communards’ self-titled album on vinyl, so it’s one of those records I grew up with. Great dance tune.
Track 24: Paul Hardcastle – Just For Money
Jaunty mishmash of sampling based around the theme of the Great Train Robbery. Quite like this track.
Track 25: Jan Hammer – Miami Vice Theme
I find this one a bit dull. It does, however, remind me that I’ve never seen an episode of Miami Vice, which I should probably rectify at some point.
Track 26: Maria Vidal – Body Rock
This one’s a bit pop-by-numbers, nothing special.
Track 27: Baltimora – Tarzan Boy
That’s more like it! Great hooks, classic pop track.
Track 28: Mai Tai – Body And Soul
‘Not on Spotify’ Type 2: YouTube Pause (TM).
Much better than History from yesterday. Vocals aren’t really to my taste, but the instrumentals are great.
Track 29: Cameo – Single Life
Not enough here to keep my interest. Bland tune, repetitive vocals.
Track 30: Jaki Graham and David Grant – Mated
Fairly typical ballad, a bit dull and slow for me.
I’ve been meaning to do this post for a while, but in the post-move chaos the house has been a bit too messy for pictures!
I mentioned previously that our new house was built in 1987/1988, which I was obviously thrilled about when I found out. While things like the kitchen and bathroom have been remodelled more recently, there are still a lot of lovely original ’80s features in the house, which are a huge bonus in my view.
Let’s take a look at a few of them.
The deco-style hearth in the living room.
I love this art deco style hearth – it’s a real feature in the room. It needs a bit of cleaning, and the fire doesn’t actually work at the moment (we need to have a look into that, but now that the winter’s over it’s not an urgent thing), but I think the design of it is gorgeous.
The brass light switches…
…and the matching plug sockets.
Geth doesn’t like these brass fittings at all, but I love them – I’ve lived with standard white ones my whole life, and these are a lot more interesting!
More art deco stylings – stained glass windows in the doorway from the hall into the living room.
These stained glass windows are probably my favourite feature in the house – they provide such a brightness to the living room.
One of the brass light fittings in the hallway.
Finally, there’s these brass light fittings – another thing that I love and Geth dislikes! There are two of them, one in the downstairs hallway and one in the upstairs landing. Most of the light fittings in the house do seem to be original, but these are my favourites.
It’s really nice that so many features have survived since the house was first built. As a shameless ’80s throwback, it makes me feel much more at home.
Day 5’s Now! compilation was released on 5th August 1985.
In August 1985, furnishings were still brown, newspapers were printed in a font that looks very dated now, and I looked like pretty much every other baby does. I would have preferred to avoid baby photos for this feature, but that month I was literally the only thing my parents took pictures of.
Um, let’s listen to some tracks that I may have heard but probably couldn’t have cared less about at seven months old.
Track 1: Duran Duran – A View To A Kill
I love Duran Duran! Did I say that already?
I also love the James Bond films, so this 007 theme tune should be a match made in heaven. Unfortunately, for me it’s not quite up to the usual standard for either Duran Duran or James Bond soundtracks. Still a good tune though.
Track 2: Scritti Politti – The Word Girl
Lyrics are a bit saccharine for me, but it’s got a nice beat.
Track 3: Harold Faltermeyer – Axel F
Really great, interesting track, slightly ruined by the memories of the horrific Crazy Frog cover that everyone had as their ringtone circa 2005.
I’ve never seen Beverly Hills Cop, incidentally, though I’m sure with a soundtrack like this it can’t be bad. One to add to the watch list.
Track 4: Fine Young Cannibals – Johnny Come Home
Great head-nodder, though the lyrics annoy me a little. Except for ‘what is wrong with my life/that I must get drunk every night‘. That bit’s awesome.
Track 5: Dead Or Alive – In Too Deep
Pretty boring and generic song considering it’s Dead Or Alive! The synth solo in the middle is all right though.
Track 6: Stephen ‘Tin Tin’ Duffy – Icing On The Cake
Stephen Duffy was a founding member of Duran Duran, fact fans, though I’m not really feeling the love-by-association here. Nice upbeat pop, but nothing special.
Track 7: Kool & The Gang – Cherish
Nice intro, but then it turns into a ballad that’s far too cheesy for my tastes. Not a fan of this one.
Track 8: Paul Young – Every Time You Go Away
Paul Young did some great stuff, but I find this one pretty dreary.
Track 9: Marillion – Kayleigh
A longtime favourite since childhood <tries to avoid making ‘misplaced childhood’ reference, fails miserably>. Absolutely beautiful track. That guitar solo, the stunning lyrics – I adore everything about it.
Track 10: Bryan Ferry – Slave To Love
I quite like this one, though the backing vocals on the chorus irritate me a bit.
Track 11: David Bowie and the Pat Metheny Group – This Is Not America
Nice atmospheric song, and Bowie’s vocals are great here.
Track 12: Simple Minds – Don’t You (Forget About Me)
Simple Minds don’t have that weird Scottish-’80s-band-sound-I-can’t-put-my-finger-on (come to think of it, neither do Marillion). Maybe it was the Scottish bands who were able to lose it who were the ones that really made it big. Or maybe it’s all in my head and there is no ‘Scottish ’80s band sound’. It’s driving me nuts though.
Bands who I DO think have that sound: Deacon Blue, Big Country, Aztec Camera, Hipsway, Del Amitri, Hue & Cry.
Anyway, Don’t You (Forget About Me). Because it was such a big hit due to The Breakfast Club, it’s your standard ‘the band don’t actually like this one’, but I do. Great pop tune.
Track 13: The Power Station – Get It On (Bang A Gong)
Awesome things about this song:
It’s a T-Rex cover, and T-Rex are my favourite early ’70s glam rock band and one of my favourite bands of all time. I adore the original version, and this one is pretty great too – it’s quite different, no ‘pointless ’80s cover’ here.
More love-by-association due to the fact that half the band were also in Duran Duran.
Robert Palmer’s vocals.
Track 14: China Crisis – Black Man Ray
Typically nice tune from China Crisis, though I find the synth line a bit twee.
Track 15: Phil Collins – One More Night
The Now! compilers do love a Phil Collins ballad. Thankfully, I quite like this one.
Track 16: Sister Sledge – Frankie
One of those ‘dance to it at a wedding’ tracks – pleasant bouncy song, but I don’t like it enough for it to make my playlist.
Track 17: Mai Tai – History
Good pop tune, nice singalong chorus, but a bit forgettable.
Track 18: Simply Red – Money’s Too Tight (To Mention)
The ’80s are probably my favourite era for Simply Red (and for most things, let’s face it). I love the instrumentals on this one.
Track 19: Steve Arrington – Feel So Real
A bit repetitive for me, not really my thing.
Track 20: Jaki Graham – Round And Around
Nice synths, but the vocals are a bit cheesy for my liking.
Track 21: The Conway Brothers – Turn It Up
More repetitive beats, though the track does improve as it goes. I can’t say I’m loving disc two so far.
Track 22: Loose Ends – Magic Touch
Dull tune, bizarre irritating xylophone-sounding hook, vocals not at all to my taste. Actively dislike this one. It’s the kind of song that would have exacerbated my travel sickness on long car journeys as a kid. There’s a generic sax solo about two-thirds in that provides a bit of welcome relief from the vocals, but it can’t save the song.
Track 23: The Commentators – N-N-Nineteen Not Out
Not on Spotify, so I had to do the YouTube Pause (TM).
While I do love Paul Hardcastle’s Nineteen, this parody always amuses me, despite the fact that being a Scot I don’t even understand cricket.
Track 24: U2: The Unforgettable Fire
It’s the kind of song I’d normally find pretty dreary, but there’s something about the atmosphere of it that I quite like, especially when it builds towards the end.
Track 25: The Style Council – Walls Come Tumbling Down
Another Style Council song that I actually quite like! They’re on a roll. It’s Dee C Lee’s backing vocals that really make this one for me.
Track 26: Katrina & The Waves – Walking On Sunshine
I’ve always found this one pretty irritating, I’m afraid. If you play it at a wedding I will be at the bar ordering another cider.
Track 27: Gary Moore and Phil Lynott – Out In The Fields
Gotta love that guitar riff. I can’t tell you how refreshing a good singalong rock song is after what has been a fairly mediocre second disc for this compilation.
Track 28: The Damned – The Shadow Of Love
Nice bit of goth rock to follow, too! Things are looking up.
Track 29: Howard Jones – Life In One Day
The song’s fine, but it’s the video that’s the awesome thing here. When I was searching for it the other day, it took me ages to realise that it actually was the proper video, due to the bit at the start with the announcer (and given that the auto-complete when searching on YouTube throws up ‘howard jones life in one day official video‘, I’m clearly not the only one). I doubt they were actually being prescient enough to troll people searching for the video on a then-unimaginable technology more than thirty years later, but if they were, it worked.
Track 30: Jimmy Nail – Love Don’t Live Here Anymore
Bit of an over-the-top ballad, but there’s something about the atmosphere of it that I quite like.
