Silver discs(September 1980)
A monthly look back at the top singles of 25 years ago
The three best records from the Top 10 (9th September 1980) TheJam - Start: The second chart-topper for the Woking threesome, smashing in at number three in an era when records just didn't do that. The mid-sixties Mod influence had never been quite so obvious, and the jolting bassline owed more than a passing nod to the Beatles' Taxman, but it didn't matter because this was a mighty fine pop snapshot.
"It doesn't matter if we never meet again. What we have said will always remain. If we get through for two minutes only, it will be a start. For knowing that someone in this life loves with a passion called hate, and what you give is what you get." David Bowie - Ashes To Ashes: I bet you can't think about this single without immediately picturing the accompanying video in which a pierrot-hatted Bowie walked on a purple lake followed by a group of weirdly dressed acolytes and a bulldozer. You could indeed argue that this three minute epic marked the dawn of video as a promotional art form, and certainly this perfect combination of sound and vision reignited Bowie's flagging career. Just for a bit, anyway.
"Ashes to ashes, funk to funky, we know Major Tom's a junkie, strung out on heaven's high hitting an all time low. My mama said to get things done, you better not mess with Major Tom" Hazel O'Connor - Eighth Day: Debut single from the Breaking Glass LP, the soundtrack to the film that sprung feisty Ms O'Connor onto an unsuspecting world. This was loud, this was angry and this was exciting (even if the sax break in the middle of Will You was even better). It's great to see Hazel's still recording (new album here) and touring (she played Stroud last night) although with Celtic soul now replacing 80s punk she's mellowed a little too.
"On the eighth day machines just got upset, a problem man had not foreseen as yet. No time for flight, a blinding light, then nothing but a void, forever night. He said: Behold what man has done, there's not a world for anyone"
10 other hits from 25 years ago: Feels Like I'm In Love (Kelly Marie), I Got You (Split Enz), One Day I'll Fly Away (Randy Crawford), I Owe You One (Shalamar), United (Judas Priest), Searching (Change), Three Little Birds (Bob Marley & The Wailers), You Shook Me All Night Long (AC/DC), Magic (Olivia Newton John), I Want To Be Straight (Ian Dury & The Blockheads)...which one would you pick?
Silver discs (September 1980)
The Jam - Start: The second chart-topper for the Woking threesome, smashing in at number three in an era when records just didn't do that. The mid-sixties Mod influence had never been quite so obvious, and the jolting bassline owed more than a passing nod to the Beatles' Taxman, but it didn't matter because this was a mighty fine pop snapshot.
