MAGAZINE ARCHIVE : SMASH HITS – 4.11.1987

As 1987 comes to an end, U2 are now the biggest band in the world. So big, they get to be on the cover of Smash Hits.

In news, Curiousity Killed The Cat are definitely not splitting up.

Back in the charts with Got My Mind Set On You, George Harrison’s career so far gets featured, just in case you didn’t know who he was.

There is also speculation this week about the futures of Level 42 and The Smiths.

In competitions, you could win a signed Erasure single.

From splits to reunions, there are rumours that Culture Club might be getting back together.

Smash Hits goes on tour with Colin Vearncombe, better known as Black, as he tours Europe.

Carol Decker of T’Pau gets a double page interview where she disagrees that she looks like the Duchess Of York and prefers Barbie over Sindy.

There were lyric posters for Jesus and Mary Chain, The Smiths, T’Pau and Marillion.

U2 get a four page feature which is accompanied by a review of a biography of them written by Eamon Dunphy, as well as a competition to win U2’s entire back catalogue.

Talking of U2, Jimmy Somerville reveals he has a poster of Larry Mullan in his kitchen despite not being a fan of U2.

Pet Shop Boys answer questions from readers where Neil Tennant confirms that he actually has to wear glasses and it’s not part of an image.

In ads, you could buy a pink cassette player from Rumbelows for £34.99.

Featured earlier in the magazine, The Communards are Single Of The Fortnight.

Wet Wet Wet get a concert review, with fans being interviewed outside the venue, with 15 year old Sharon saying that Marti Pellow has a nice bottom.

Talking of concerts, you could win a VHS of Spandau Ballet in concert

THE FRIDAY FIVE – 6.1.2017

1. Amy MacDonald – Dream On
2. The Killers ft Paul McCartney – Helter Skelter
3. Rag n Bone Man – Reach Out I’ll Be There
4. Bastille – Blame
5. Rose Elinor Dougall – Stellular

Listen up Pop Pickers, I bring you the news you’ve all been craving, that the Top Of The Pops repeats on BBC Four will continue into 1983.

Tonight on BBC Four is Top Of The Pops : The Story Of 1983 at 9pm, followed by a clip show, and then the first 1983 episode will be on next week.

To celebrate this, here’s some tunes from 1983 for you.

FIVE SONGS FROM 1983

1. Siouxsie and the Banshees – Dear Prudence
2. Culture Club – Karma Chameleon
3. Simple Minds – Waterfont
4. David Bowie – Let’s Dance
5. Men At Work – Down Under

As a bonus, Saturday night on BBC Two (9pm) is the documentary David Bowie : The Last Five Years. The subject is self explanatory.

Meanwhile, over the Christmas period, BBC Four broadcast Pop Quiz – The Comeback. A show which is self explanatory, it’s a music quiz. I’ve only seen the first one (I have the second one recorded to watch this weekend) but I feel both proud and ashamed of the fact that I got 99% of the questions right.

I’m hoping to get 100% right when I get round to watching the second episode.

THE FRIDAY FIVE – 22.4.2016

1. Blossoms – Getaway
2. Aurora – Conquerer
3. The Lumineers – Ophelia
4. Tegan and Sara – U-Turn
5. Space – Avenging Angels

As I type (Thursday night), news has just emerged that Prince has died. It doesn’t feel real.

I remember being in London in February 2014 when he was announcing random gigs at small venues, and hoping that he would announce one the weekend I was there and that I would get a ticket. It was not to be.

Soon after, he announced a series of UK gigs. I kept hoping he would announce a Belfast one. It was not to be.

Here’s fove Prince songs for you

FIVE SONGS BY PRINCE

1. Gold
2. Cream
3. Batdance
4. Raspberry Beret
5. Kiss

Tomorrow, is St George’s Day, so here’s a couple of charts for our English readers

FIVE SONGS BY ACTS FROM ENGLAND

1. Then Jerico – Big Area
2. Lightning Seeds – All I Want
3. Charli XCX – Boom Clap
4. The Cure – Friday I’m In Love
5. Stephanie Kirkham – Inappropriate

FIVE SONGS BY MUSICIANS CALLED GEORGE

1. Wham – Freedom
2. One Night Only – Say You Don’t Want It
3. George Harrison – Got My Mind Set On You
4. Culture Club – Karma Chameleon
5. George Ezra – Budapest

THE FRIDAY FIVE – 24.4.2015

1. Natalie Imbruglia – Instant Crush
2. FFS – Johnny Delusonal
3. Grant Nicholas – Everyday Society
4. The Charlatans – Let The Good Times Be Never Ending
5. Slaves – Cheer Up London

Yesterday, was St George’s Day. So, in honour of it, here’s a chart of songs by English acts. Sadly, there won’t be a chart of songs with cities in the title, because there aren’t many of them, unless they’re London, or boroughs in London. Well, apart from Long Haired Lover From Liverpool, obviously.

FIVE SONGS BY ENGLISH ACTS

1. James – She’s A Star
2. Lightning Seeds – Pure
3. The Kooks – She Moves In Her Own Way
4. The Beautiful South – Old Red Eyes Is Back
5. Roxy Music – More Than This

And finally, a chart featuring singers called George, or bands with someone called George in it.

FIVE SONGS BY SINGERS CALLED GEORGE

1. Wham – Freedom
2. One Night Only – Say You Don’t Want It
3. Culture Club – Karma Chameleon
4. George Ezra – Blame It On Me
5. George Harrison – Got My Mind Set On You

50 YEARS OF TOP OF THE POPS : JUN 13 – JUN 19

Last week’s 50YOTOTP featured Cerys Matthews, who ended up getting an MBE. I didn’t even know The Queen read this blog.

This week’s trawl through TOTP history begins with Buddy Holly. Oh wait, it’s a guy who looks like him.

And from Buddy Holly …….. to the Rovers Return.

…… and a TOTP performance from the first band to appear on CD:UK

Boy George turns 52 this week. This song, is brilliant.

Another week, another Sugababe birthday. This week, Siobhan Donaghy, who narrowly lost out to Siobhan Fahey as pop’s most famous Siobhan.

Noddy Holder turns 68 this week. You know what song I want to play, but well, IIIIITTTTTTT’S NOOOOOTTTT CHHHRRRRISSSSTMMMAAASSSS!!!!

Here’s Oasis covering Slade from 1996

The first of two Norn Iron pop birthdays this week, Gary Lightbody (being covered by Leona Lewis)

And on his 9th birthday ……. Nadine Coyle came into the world

Meanwhile, the second greatest living Beatle celebrated a birthday this week.

And from Macca, to Moyet.

Whicj nicely links into the fact it’s two years since the Moyet covering Brian Hibbard died.

50 YEARS OF TOP OF THE POPS : FEB 14 – FEB 20

We begin our look back at TOTP with Valentine’s Day. If it was your birthday as well, you share it with Ali Campbell from UB40.

This week saw the 4th anniversary of the death of Doug Fieger, lead singer of The Knack. Sadly, we’ve no The Knack, but we have Girls Aloud ripping off My Sharona.

Born on this week in history was Mikey Craig of Culture Club. Here he is performing “Do You Really Want To Hurt Me?”, ironically, he missed the video shoot (hungover, according to Pop Up Video)

And yes, I know “Karma Chameleon” is their best song, but you’ll have to wait until Boy George’s birthday.

Another birthday boy this week is Ronnie Vanucci. Hard to believe that “Mr Brightside” was almost 10 years ago.

Finally, we have a Duran Duran birthday. Andy Taylor, no relation to John Taylor or Roger Taylor, or even Roger Taylor from Queen. Or Taylor Swift.

It’s not easy trying to pick a favourite Duran Duran song. In fact, it’s about as easy as a nuclear war.

Billy Joe Armstrong of Green Day is 42 this week. Here he is performing “Minority” in 2000.

We’ve already had one Taylor birthday this week, but there’s another one ……. Taylor Hawkins of Foo Fighters.

In 1972, a crack commando unit was sent to prison for a crime they didn’t commit. In 2011, Ed Sheeran performed The A-Team on Top Of The Pops. Ed Sheeran as yet, hasn’t relocated to the Los Angeles underground.

I love the song, but this version ….. it really killed the mood in the studio.

The 2nd most famous Andy Williams in pop, Andy Williams from Doves is 44 this week, as was his twin brother Jez.

Sadly, I couldn’t find any Sub Sub, but i’ll make up for it with a double dose of Doves.

Talking of Andy Williams, The Beat had a big hit with an Andy Williams cover, but Dave Wakeling’s birthday shall be commemorated with “Mirror In The Bathroom” instead.

Bit of pointless The Beat trivia, Sting wore a The Beat t-shirt in the video for “Don’t Stand So Close To Me”

Ian Brown is 51 this week, and like fellow Mancunians New Order, i’ll treat Stone Roses birthdays to side projects, in Ian Brown’s case, his debut solo single, the best of his whole career, “My Star”

Meanwhile, Kurt Cobain would have been 47 today if he was still alive. Hard to imagine him getting old considering his early death.

He was born in Aberdeen you know. But not that Aberdeen. Aberdeen in Seattle.

And finally, remember the whole Tatu “controversy” of 2003?

THE FRIDAY FIVE – 20.4.2012

1. Fun ft Janelle Monae – We Are Young
2, Keane – Silenced By The Night
3. Embrace – You’re Not Alone
4. Saint Etienne – You’re In A Bad Way
5. Hector Nicol – Hearts Song

It’s Robert Smith’s birthday tomorrow. The only reason I remember this is because it is on the same day as a mate. Happy Birthday Greg if you are reading this.

So, to commemorate this, here’s a Top Five The Cure chart.

FIVE SONGS BY THE CURE

1. Close To Me
2. Friday I’m In Love
3. Lullaby
4. Lovecats
5. Push

On Monday, it is St George’s Day. Having done St David, Andrew and Patrick, it’s only fair to do George. So, for all my English readers, here’s a St George’s Day chart.

FIVE SONGS BY ENGLISH ACTS

1. Pulp – A Little Soul
2. Cast – Finetime
3. The Charlatans – Blackened Blue Eyes
4. Duran Duran – Wildboys
5. The Beautiful South – Old Red Eyes Is Back

FIVE SONGS BY ACTS FEATURING SOMEONE CALLED GEORGE

1. George Baker Selection – Little Green Bag
2. Wham – Freedom
3. One Night Only – Say You Don’t Want It
4. Culture Club – Karma Chameleon
5. The Beatles – Here Comes the Sun

MAGAZINE ARCHIVE : Q – JANUARY 1990

The first Q of a new decade, looking back at the last decade, as the cover has a montage of 1980s icons Madonna, U2, Bob Geldof, Mark Knopfler, George Michael with the headline “THE 80s : HOW WAS IT FOR YOU?”

For me, not bad. I missed the first three years, but I spent the rest of the decade crapping my nappy then watching Ghostbusters cartoons. Good times.

Gary Glitter is the subject of Q’s “Who the hell does ……..” feature. The answer we now know, is a big fat fuck paedophile.

In news, Terence Trent D’Arby suffered a humiliating episode at the hands of an autograph hunter, who asked him which one of Mili Vanilla he was.

In Adwatch, you could get a free chart album with 50 Budweiser ringpulls or a chart album for £2 with 18.

Considering the charts were dominated by Sonia, Jive Bunny, Jason Donovan and Reynolds Girls, you’d need to drink about 50 tins of Budweiser to want to listen to any of them.

The 1980s gets reviewed with a Q and A with a headline act from each year such as Suggs (1980) Human League (1981) Culture Club (1982) and so forth.

An advert in the magazine promotes that Queen were selling their Budapest concert available on CD Video, an early version of the DVD.

The 50 Best Albums Of 1989 looks back at the best albums of the year, featuring Stone Roses debut album, still lauded by music writers 22 years on.