The Teardrop Explodes - Wilder. Dec 81. UK Peak: 29. The one with ‘Passionate Friend’. There’s plenty to commend in the 1st half: ‘Seven Views Of Jerusalem’ & ‘Pure Joy’ being particularly perky. Second half isn’t quite as fine but still listenable. 7/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

Haircut 100 at C&A on the cover of Smash Hits (26 Nov - 9 Dec 81). Heard ‘Non Stop Erotic Cabaret’ but none of the non live or greatest hits albums. Ethel sounds….interesting #smashhitsalbumreviews

Stray Cats - Gonna Ball. Nov 81. UK Peak: 48. As the review states, a fine rockabilly LP that has that authentic feeling & drive rather than the pallid imitating that surrounded them at the time. 6.5/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

The Sound - From The Lion’s Mouth. Nov 81. No UK Chart Placing. Mix Echo & The Bunnymen, U2, The Editors & Joy Division & you’ll end up with this indie vibe. 1st track ‘Winning’ is broodingly ace, the rest is fine. Should’ve changed the dull band name tho 7/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

Come on England. 🏉 🌹

No beach in Middlesex you say? A 12.2 mile humid stomp to Ruislip Lido. A pint of Roasted Nuts (Marlow Brewery) as a pit stop at JJ Moon’s. Summer’s almost gone but still somehow holding up well. #ruisliplido

‘You follow like sheep inna wolf’s clothes’

Fad Gadget - Incontinent. Nov 81. No UK Chart Placing. Intruiging stuff. Intelligent, experimental yet accessible synth that doesn’t exactly go pop but meanders around the edges. Enjoyed the first three tracks. 7/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

SHIREHORSES KLAXON! Indecipherable, indecipherable!!! #totp

A third rate ‘Where’s The Love’ let alone’Mmmm Bop’ #totp

Was that an eye roll from Tina Arena at Theakston’s joke? #totp

This is such a long way from ‘This Time (We’ll Get It Right) #totp

I’m not even much of a fan of cricket but I thoroughly enjoyed this one. Picked it up free and because I heard his voice on a podcast. I still think things were better when it used to be on all day on bbc1 in the summer holidays

Earth, Wind & Fire - Raise. Nov 81. UK Peak: 14. The one with ‘Let’s Groove’. They should probably subscribe this album on the NHS as it gave me a spring in my step. One song seamlessly blends into another & the review tells the story. 7/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

TV21 - A Thin Red Line. Nov 81. No UK Chart Placing. A bright straightforward indie guitar pop album stuffed with consistently above average tunes that might have sat better in the early to mid 90s for success. Worth hearing again. 7/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

Diana Ross - Why Do Fools Fall In Love. Nov 81. UK Peak: 17. A strong start with the title track followed by the slinky ‘Sweet Surrender’. A Lionel-less ‘Endless Love’ is here & a decent cover of ‘Sweet Nothings’ with ‘Work That Body’ to close. Fine 6.5/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

Prince - Controversy. Nov 81. No UK Chart Placing. Developmental Prince is still worth a spin with an extended pop funk classic ‘Controversy’ & ‘Do Me, Baby’ providing highlights. I wonder what Beverly thought a few years later in his pomp. 6.5/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

Bee Gees - Living Eyes. Oct 81. UK Peak: 73. The title track & ‘Soldiers’ aren’t bad at all although the latter could have been vastly improved without the finger puppet falsettos but having made a good start it quickly turns a bit slow & slushy. 5.5/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

It’s a very unimpressed looking Kim Wilde on the cover of Smash Hits (Nov 12-25 1981) I’ve got ‘Prince Charming’, ‘Tin Drum’ & ‘Speak & Spell’ & perhaps I might enjoy Earth, Wind & Fire & possibly Prince but must first breach the defences of the Bee Gees… #smashhitsalbumreviews

Bad Manners - Gosh It’s… Oct 81. UK Peak: 18. If you needed an album that would keep the party going in the early 80s, this would be a suitable disc. Along with ‘Walking In The Sunshine’ & ‘Can Can’ the two mentioned in the review also resonate. 7/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

@scarredforlife.bsky.social ‘Remember turnips?’ Just this phrase was fitting enough for this utterly bleak 2 series dystopian drama about the UK in the grip of totalitarianism. Edward Woodward was totally believable & brilliant as the renegade journalist.

The Meteors - In Heaven. Nov 81. No UK Chart Placing. Not quite as entertaining as the last Meteors record I heard admittedly but still entertaining. The review covers the overall feel well. The 15 songs over 37 minutes are short but stroppy. #smashhitsalbumreviews

A quick walk towards Leith & on the Water of Leith path before breakfast then home. #edinburgh

Imagination - Body Talk. Oct 81. UK Peak: 20. I’m in alignment with Beverly & it’s my first buy in ages. ‘Burnin’ Up’ is a proto house piano choon & their sensitive side with ‘I’ll Always Love You’ is also a lovely touch. Should be more well known. 8/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

A culinary first. Battered haggis and chips with chippy sauce.

Good morning. At the Scott Monument on Princes Street. Who’s read any of his books though? Ivanhoe & Rob Roy are the biggies but worth a go?

Rachel Sweet - And Then He Kissed Me. Nov 81. No UK Chart Placing. Another helping of ‘Everlasting Love’ + ‘And Then He Kissed Me/Be My Baby’ to follow. Her lower register voice is more pleasing than her higher. Mostly ok rock in the Cher style. 5.5/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

Rex Smith - Everlasting Love. Nov 81. No UK Chart Placing. Can’t disagree here. Very safe, routine pop for Broadway’s Danny Zukko. Happy 70th birthday for two days time though. Over to Rachel….#smashhitsalbumreviews

Enjoyed this on my train up and read in one sitting. Fantasy is far from my favourite genre but Joanne Harris can seemingly turn her hand to anything. A pleasant easy read.

Good morning everyone.

And it’s a big tourist tick for me. A pint of Wee Heavy on the streets of Auld Reekie. #rebus

On the way to Edinburgh. Who is the mysterious Danby Whiske & Lazenby? Have I entered a fantasy netherworld?

Bauhaus - Mask. Oct 81. UK Peak: 30. A little melodramatic, Fred but yes it’s a gloomy set with ‘A Kick In The Eye’ providing the highlight. Tries at least to be something a bit different but not providing the jump hammer horror scare. 5.5/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

Vice Squad - No Cause For Concern. Oct 81. UK Peak: 32. It’s not quite as bad as Red Starr makes out but the speed punk relentlessness & general lack of variety over the whole set is not a style that I want to invest in further. It’s still 1977. 5/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

Top of the Pops: A Zombie Whodunnit zine is out in the world! Have I mentioned each cover is unique? If your copy has landed, what stickers did you get? Copies still on Ko-Fi here ko-fi.com/s/5d976aecba. All include a badge. #totp #topofthepops #zine #zines #fanzine

Sorry, Forsyte Saga but your conclusion will have to wait whilst I finish this so far excellent zine. Thanks @bubblegumzines.bsky.social #totp

Martha & The Muffins - This Is The Ice Age. Oct 81. No UK Chart Placing. Now -1 Martha out of the 2 Martha’s this is an interesting mix of lush soundscapes & new wave melodies. Nothing as obvious as ‘Echo Beach’ but a good set of songs overall 6.5/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

@ineeddirection.bsky.social @newpathstohelicon.bsky.social @stuartdade.bsky.social @sipperana.bsky.social @chartmusictotp.bsky.social Let’s face it. It’s better & more keenly anticipated than Christmas Day in my book. Until next year. Bummerdog!!!

When eBay gets the Watchlist search a bit wrong…. Btw I am genuinely looking for a cheap copy of The Goodies best of.

Elvis Costello & The Attractions - Almost Blue. Oct 81. UK Peak: 7 Whilst country music is by no means my favourite genre, this is a very pleasant & well put together collection which includes ‘A Good Year For The Roses’ plus ‘Sweet Dreams’. 6.5/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

‘Viva Forever’ is quite the subtle but lovely pop song. This is song is one of many about why they lasted & reformed so many times. Doesn’t get played to death on the radio either #totp

The sound of ‘Mousse T’ & ‘Horny’ captures late 90s Watford high street nightlife in a nutshell. Dance anthem it must be said #totp

‘Thunder only happens when it’s raining’ LIES!!! #totp

Gillan - Double Trouble. Oct 81. UK Peak: 12. Plenty of rawk energy here but ask me to recall any of these an hour later then I’ll just point the song titles like ‘I’ll Rip Your Spine Out’ & ‘Born To Kill’. Standard hard rock fayre. Waaaaaaarggghh!/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

On our street there’s a particularly obnoxious opinionated probable Tory voting perma complainer on our WhatsApp neighbourhood group. He’s expressed an interest in going to live in the shrine to vulgarity. Not forwarding this & will help him pack tbh! www.mirror.co.uk/travel/i-mov...

oh my god someone slashed our tire

Linx - Go Ahead. Oct 81. UK Peak: 35. The pretty butterfly pop of ‘So This Is Romance’ kicks this off positively but the rest is fair to middling pop. The dire state of Britain living in 1981 see ‘Urban Refugee’, makes for more interesting material. 6/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

OMD - Architecture & Morality. Nov 81. UK Peak: 3. The 3 singles alone are spine tingling & remind me how my formative music years felt so magical. ‘Souvenir’, ‘Maid Of Orleans’ & ‘Joan of Arc’. The rest is a bit uneven but I absolve it for the singles. Amen. 6.5/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

It’s a box fresh Fun Boy Three about set the charts alight with ‘The Lunatics Have Taken Over The Asylum’ on the cover of Smash Hits dated 29 Oct - 11 Nov 81. All the albums are new to me. Included is my favourite RSVP from this issue! #smashhitsalbumreviews

youtu.be/gBuaeJ1OL4o?... Occasionally, the BBC archive throws up something wonderful from its daily feed. The star of this doomed band is really the rent-a-quote spiv manager who ultimately disappears from the scene. Do watch.