Entertainment For Lively Minds
Call off the search: the answer is 1987
Posted by Stephen Merrick on 18 January 2012 - 2:20am.
That's right, my epiphany today has been that 1987 was the high tide of pop music. Here is just one forgotten classic from that year...
(Robbie Nevil - C'est La Vie)
And there's plenty more where that came from...
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Hmmm
not sure 87 stands up to the glory years of 81, 82 and 83 but I think you've probably picked the best Pop song of 1987.
This is probably the second best:
Is that from their box set?
OK OK I'm going...
It did make me titter good 'n proper, that one did.
Although I must agree with the good Doctor. It's 1981-1983 for me too.
The Golden "Pop" Period runs 1977 - 1982
In the same time as it took The Stone Roses to knock out "The Second Coming" (still a great record btw) - these five short years produced an unparalleled run of brilliant pop records that spanned all sorts of genres and lyrical content (yes, better than 63-68). Disco, Punk, Ska, Reggae, Rock, New Romantic, Pop, Soul and ending with Dexy's B*Witched look.
In my theory this run of astounding creativity was killed by the Dame himself with the awful "Let's Dance" in '83. The first "yuppie" inspired record.
Strangely enough...
...I find myself agreeing with Six on that. That late 70s/early 80s period was incredibly rich in variety in terems of chart music.
Obviously, 1973 is the key year for album music.
Hmmm...
No, not better than (say) 1965-72 IMHO. But still pretty good.
This will turn into another one of those 'my era' threads
Good.
So long as people post some music I wouldn't have heard for a bit. 77-82/3 was a great run of years for singles before Simon le Bon and his haircut single-handedly ruined everything. Plenty of good songs after 82/3 of course but it was the end of the quick turn-round deluge of material (which also echoes the 60s of course and was exactly the point the late 70s bands would have agreed with - the Nick Lowe philosophy).
I'm going to post two which are slightly obscure but simple belting tunes from my teens - worth a couple of mins of anyones life. And have several Ws in their names
http://youtu.be/CXR4UO7fxXg
Way of the West
http://youtu.be/S54jUVS5jvI
Woodhead Monroe
Probably the worst year!
IMHO
1984 is the finest by far.
1981 & 1982
Can't split them.
Bucks Fizz, Dollar, Bardo, the arse end of Abba n Blondie, Shaky, Kiki Dee...all bestrode the charts like a fighting colossus trying fend away the incoming tide of Soft Cell, the League, ABC, the Ants, the Duran Ballet and the Bunnymen.
Remember them this way...
With you all the way
My absolute favourite couple of years in pop music. Throw in The Jam and Madness and The Specials and The Beat and Squeeze as well, all of whom were having big chart success, and I don't understand why some people don't see it.
Another vote for 81/82
I think it was Bob Stanley who claimed that no bad records were released in 1982 and I know what he meant.
The magnificence of these two years (and also 1980) is not merely because the good stuff is outstanding, but loads of the 'bad' stuff was great too. As mentioned, Dollar and Bucks Fizz made some remarkable records, to name but two unlikely acts. The net effect is that the overall quality average is raised, unlike 87/88.
Dollar
Hand Held In Black And White, the first Trevor Horn production I think that was successful, and the reason he ended up producing ABC. Marvellous single, huge sound. And Bucks Fizz, My Camera Never Lies, a fantastic single. The charts those years were just filled with gorgeous things, sparkly and poppy and sometimes just plain weird. Laurie Anderson O Superman anybody? Or Japan's Ghosts.
Videotheque
Videotheque is my pick of the epic Dollar/TH quadrilogy. I spent about 15 years hunting down the 12" version - a task that proved to be not only very difficult but also impossible, because there isn't one.
Nooooooooo
I'd agree with Five Centres if it weren't for the fact that I think 1988 is even worse.
I think the mid-late 80s was a terrible time for music: Stock Aitken & Waterman, Hair Metal, Bros, Tiffany, tinny indie bands, charts full of songs from Levi 501 adverts, Simple Minds etc.
Sure, there was some good stuff around (I'm still fond of the old school hip hop), but by God the charts were full of cack back then.
Tiffany.
*Narrows eyes* - You're talking about the woman I love....
Still - "I Think We're Alone Now" is a fantastic pop song and Tiffany certainly didn't ruin it.
Less said about the follow up "I Saw 'Him' Standing There', the better.
and Debbie Gibson
Mega Python vs Gatoroid, anyone?
1987 was like most years - some great stuff to be found amongst the dross. SAW were really getting into their stride - not a good thing by any stretch of the imagination.
Why...
is Mega Python fighting an energy drink?
I'll get me coat.....
The follow up was called
Coulda Been. But yes, she's *ahem* rather attractive.
The best-selling singles of 1987
1. Never Gonna Give You Up — Rick Astley
2. Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now — Starship
3. I Wanna Dance With Somebody — Whitney Houston
4. You Win Again — Bee Gees
5. China In Your Hand — T'Pau
6. Respectable — Mel & Kim
7. Stand By Me — Ben E King
8. It's A Sin — Pet Shop Boys
9. Pump Up The Volume — MARRS
10. Star Trekkin' — The Firm
Ooof
it's not often I thank those old psychobilly bands that I listened to back in the day but seeing this list has me on my knees thanking the Lord for those Klub Foot albums!
Mind you if you were to look at the biggest selling singles of every year the majority would be seen as awful by most music snobs such as myself. There is always some good stuff hidden away that's what keeps the faith
It's 1987 all I want to do is get stoned
Not me of course, I was 10, perfectly happy with 'I Want To Dance With Somebody', Johnny Hates Jazz and drawing pictures of what I imagined the Jabberwocky to look like
Bob Neville
They play C'est La Vie on Absolute 80s every day.
I also heard the follow-up 'What's It To Ya?' on the radio in South Africa while I was there at Xmas.
1987
I was 18 in 1987, met the love of my life who I kissed goodbye as I left for work this morning. The world lay before me like a great shoe with its lights on (TM Candyman), things were good. But the music was terrible. At least that's what my instant response would be. I looked up the NME's top singles and there are some gems in there. Knowing how we all like a list here it is.
1. Sign 'O' The Times - Prince
2. Paid In Full - Eric B & Rakim
3. Big Decision - That Petrol Emotion
4. Rebel Without A Pause - Public Enemy
5. Pump Up The Volume - M/A/R/R/S
6. I Know You Got Soul - Eric B & Rakim
7. Hit The North - The Fall
8. Birthday - The Sugercubes
9. True Faith - New Order
10. Females - Cookie Crew
11. Girlfriend In A Coma - The Smiths
12. Hey Love - King Sun D Moet
13. Rent - Pet Shop Boys
14. Fight For Your Right - Beastie Boys
15. If I Was Your Girlfriend - Prince
16. Get Down - Derek B
17. Fairy Tale Of New York - The Pogues
18. Boops(Here To Go) - Sly And Robbie
19. Birth School Work Death - The Godfathers
20. He's A Whore/The Model - Big Black
21. The Albums Of Jack - The Bachelor Pad
22. First We Take Manhattan - Jennifer Warnes
23. This Brutal House - Nitro Deluxe
24. April Skies - The Jesus And Mary Chain
25. You're Gonna Get Yours - Public Enemy
26. Someday - Ce Ce Rogers
27. My Favourite Dress - The Wedding Present
28. Saturday Night - Schoolly D
29. Never Gonna Give You Up - Rick Astley
30. It's A Sin - Pet Shop Boys
31. Alex Chilton - The Replacements
32. The Godfather - Spoonie Gee
33. New Mind - Swans
34. Downtown - Justified Ancients Of Mu Mu
35. I Am The Law - Anthrax
36. Beaver Patrol - Pop Will Eat Itself
37. Letter From America - The Proclaimers
38. All You Need Is Love - Justified Ancients Of Mu Mu
39. There’s A Ghost In My House - The Fall
40. It’s Not Heaven - Blind Mice
41. Beats And Pieces - Cold Cut
42. Rock Da House - Cookie Crew
43. What Have I Done To Deserve This - Pet Shop Boys
44. There Ain’t Nothin’ Like Shaggin’ - The Tams
45. Chasin A Dream - Tashan
46. Indians - Anthrax
47. Lolita - Ar Kane
48. What’s My Scene? - The Hoodoo Gurus
49. La Isla Bonita - Madonna
50. The Kray Twins - Renegade Sound Wave
51. Brilliant Disguise - Bruce Springsteen
52. Sho’ You Right - Barry White
53. Jump Start - Natalie Cole
54. Mary’s Prayer - Danny Wilson
55. Shoplifters Of The World Unite - The Smiths
56. Who’s Afraid Of The Big Bad Noise - Age Of Chance
57. Walk Away - Surf Drums
58. Build - The Housemartins
59. Touch Of Grey - The Grateful Dead
60. If You Let Me Stay - Terence Trent D’arby
Not bad
I like, and still listen to over a third of that list. Not bad at all. Some of them are very high in my all time list too.
And that's the list
for the "cool kids".
What a pile of stinking dingo's kidneys, with maybe half a dozen exceptions (if that many).
Wow
When I saw the thread title in the 'recently updated' I assumed it was that the search had been called off for the worst year. 85/86/87/88/89 were really quite poor until The Stone Roses broke through and pulled a whole load of excitement with them.
I had struggled to buy albums and ended up seeing/buying Simply Red and Kylie and Fine Young Cannibals and Texas. And longing for the new REM record (and was never, ever disappointed by those).
The answer is 1978. Always has been, always will be.
It's 79
man.
I turned 14 in 1987
which probably explains my skewed perspective.
And I've just realised both "Beds Are Burning" by Midnight Oil and "Need You Tonight" by INXS were actually hits in 1988 not 1987, which doesn't help my argument.
But the Pet Shop Boys were at the top of their game in 1987 ("What Have I Done To Deserve This" is one of my favourite songs in the world of pop) and "Letter From America" by The Proclaimers is an arrow straight through my Caledonian heart.
When was "Somewhere In My Heart" by Aztec Camera? Was that 1987 as well? I'm missing Wikipedia already...
Correct: Aztec Camera's Love album
came out in late '87. I don't think "Somewhere..." came out as a single until early '88 though.
The first Proc's album still sounds brilliant - especially "First Attack". Jings, crivvens and help ma boab.
Big Leggy it is.
Wonder why he stands so high (and other references to a huge penis). Mad dancing, great hats and a bemused John Peel. It's 1982 and it wins on this alone :
Always at the back of my mind
when I'm thinking about 1982. I can't see the vid, but I'm presuming Hayzee Fantazyee. Great pop music, with that weird edge that so much had at the time.
I was 13 in 1982 which probably explains a lot.
(also John Wayne Is Big Leggy had a b-side called The Sabres Of Paradise. Which might only make sense as an interesting fact to fans of Andy Weatherall.)
Honk! Honk!
I spent my childhood in thrall to the wondrous, alien noises created by Japan, Kraftwerk and countless others in 1980-83 - mainstream records that would routinely frequent the Top 10.
Fast forward to 1987/88 and, with notable exceptions, the default synth setting seemed to be 'parp'. I can't listen to songs like Running In The Family anymore simply due to those nasty, unimaginative fat brass stabs.
Richard Barbieri must have wondered why he bothered.
Ugh...........Level 42
There's another band to add to the list of "once were excellent but once they got their noses in the trough there was no going back". See also Simple Minds and UB40.
A serious thread
on the pros and cons of the 80's, praise be. Oh, and the answer is 1980 to 1985.
No, it's 1983
to early 87...ie from when The Smiths appeared until they split up. With The Style Council going concurrently.
No, because
the you miss the end of The Jam and Adam and the Ants and you can keep "Strangeways", don't need it
Good point.
That was my trajectory too almost exactly. If I could go back in time I would also listen a lot more to Tom Petty. God, those were the days. Started collecting singles with Absolute Beginners I think. *sighs*
Oh singles, *double sigh with extra sigh"
"Going Underground", "Start", "Stand and Deliver", "The Cutter", "This Charming Man", "Poison Arrow", "Love Plus One", "Love Is a Wonderful Colour" "Rip It Up" etc, etc, etc......
Got, got, got, not got, got,
got, got, got, got etc etc...:)
1987 was a fantastic year because of
Age of Chance
Public Enemy (that wonderful first album)
The Housemartins (my claimed band)
The Smiths - (ok they split but not before we got Shoplifters, Sheila, Strangeways AND the utterly wonderful Is It Really So Strange)
Elsewhere: The Bhundu Boys moved to Bridlington (this is an actual historical event, not an obscure Enid Blyton title), REM did Document,
Tom Jones came back from the dead, Sign O' The Times... lovely.
There was a lot of shee-yite on the radio but one was heartened by the huge success of "Licensed to Ill" and "Pump Up The Volume".
... and Filthy Rich & Catflap was on the telly.
And, glory of glories, there was this:
The original version: accept no substitute. Just pump up the you-know-what.
Ladies and gentlemen of the jury. Consider the evidence below.
http://www.chartstats.com/chart.php?week=19780708
Smack in the middle of 1978.
How many nailed-on classics? How many genres represented? Punk. New Wave. Funk. Disco. Metal. Rock 'n' Roll. Reggae. Pop. Rock. All absolute shining examples.
Yes, there is some terrible, terrible old wank as well. But it is there because people bought it, because people wanted it, because people were interested in music.
Find another chart from another year which displays such quality and such diversity. It isn't there. 1978 was a groundbreaking year.