Marvelling at this Panini sticker from 1980 and how it got through quality control

U2 - Boy. Oct 80. UK Peak: 52. 'I Will Follow' is the strongest track but there's a confidence & a willingness to experiment with different styles which hinted at greater moments to come. E.g. 'An Cat Dubh' with its dark & slightly creepy nature. 6.5/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

Joe Jackson - Beat Crazy. Oct 80. UK Peak: 42. Begins strongly with the title track and 'One To One'. Plenty of good songwriting & production although it loses its a bit of its sparkle towards the end. #smashhitsalbumreviews

Jimmy Pursey - Imagination Camouflage. Oct 80. No UK Chart Placing. Begins like a glam rock concept album & the first half is a genuinely fine reinvention. It falls down later when the shouty punk voice is given free rein. An intriguing mish mash 6/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

Secret Affair - Behind Closed Doors. Sep 80. UK Peak: 48. The immediate 'I'm A Bullet' & 'Life's A Movie Too' are my highlights on here. A well crafted & arranged album which seemed ahead of their meat & potatoes mod competition of the time. 6.5/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

Rockpile - Seconds Of Pleasure. Oct 80. UK Peak: 34. Well put together rock n roll & as the review says, there's no real standout songs, in fact they feel like much of a muchness throughout. Pleasant though. 6/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

1974 was an underrated year in music of the 70s but it produced some belters. Here's a very eclectic look at some of the best of the year.

Matchbox - Midnite Dynamos. Oct 80. UK Peak: 23. True. This is very tuneful & the title track plus 'When You Ask About Love' is on here. There are no rough edges though, so has limited appeal artistically. 6/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

Well. This is why I look forward to the Six Nations so much. Insane number of tries.

The Jacksons - Triumph. Oct 80. UK Peak: 13. A lavishly produced pop LP in which Michael seems to do the vocal leg work for most of it. 'Can You Feel It' is anthemic, the underrated 'Walk Right Now' is great & is ably supported by 'Lovely One' 7.5/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

The Police, who look like they've just had a massive argument & been forced to reconcile, adorn the cover of Smash Hits dated 16-29 October 1980. I've heard none of these albums apart from 'Kilimanjaro'. Any highlights? #smashhitsalbumreviews

Simple Minds - Empires & Dance. Oct 80. UK Peak: 41. Opens with electro disco corker 'I Travel' but doesn't set the scene as the Minds go on an art rock journey. 'Twist/Run/Repulsion' sounds like a paranoid scamper through a Parisian subway. Unusual. 7/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

@chartmusictotp.bsky.social A future No.1 in the Chart Music Top 10 at some point in time

Madness - Absolutely. Oct 80. UK Peak: 2 The one with 'Baggy Trousers', 'Embarrassment', 'Return Of The Los Palmas 7' plus notably, 'Take It Or Leave It', 'Disappear' & 'In The Rain'. The rest isn't too shabby, just a bit inferior by comparison. 7/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

The Inmates - Shot In The Dark. Oct 80. No UK Chart Placing. A fair review in terms of the sound & production but in terms of it being a memorable album, it didn't do much for me. 6/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

The Comsat Angels - Waiting For A Miracle. Oct 80. No UK Chart Placing. As per the review, a measured, balanced sound is a fair assessment. Plenty of lyrical & musical depth in this underground sound although there is some filler. 6/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

Skids - The Absolute Game. Oct 80. UK Peak: 9. There's always quite a militaristic & bombastic feel to their sound with soaring guitars. Sometimes it works & 'Goodbye Civilian' is the best of the bunch on here. 6/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

More news like this please

Martha & The Muffins - Trance & Dance. Oct 80. No UK Chart Placing. 1980 seemed to be THE year of sax in indie/new wave. 60s organ also features & a fine cover of Chris Spedding's 'Motorbikin''. A more satisfying LP than the 3 others I've heard 6.5/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

The Piranhas - The Piranhas. Sep 80. UK Peak: 69. The one with 'Tom Hark'. Entertaining new wave/ska with a clarity of production & added saxophone, makes this a fine listen. Stories tend to be of the down on your luck male looking for some action. 7/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

XTC - Black Sea. Sep 80. UK Peak: 16. True, a very good album with 3 cracking singles (Sgt Rock, Towers Of London & Generals & Majors) & many fine creative & clever album tracks. However, I did not enjoy the dirgy slog of '..Nihilon'. 8/10 however & it's a buy! #smashhitsalbumreviews

Dr Feelgood - A Case Of The Shakes. Sep 80. No UK Chart Placing. Plenty of R&B small club energy on this 30 minute record but what it has in energy it lacks in inventiveness. OK 6/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

Some of this month's reading material

The Cars - Panorama. Sep 80. No UK Chart Placing. Half American New Wave half electronica. The songs didn't really land with me but as the review says, it's a polished & precise sound. 6/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

Robert Palmer - Clues. Sep 80. UK Peak: 31. The one with 'Johnny & Mary' & Beatles cover, 'Not A Second Time'. Not too much I disagree with review-wise. Sparse electronica that belies the direction that he took from the mid 80s. 7/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

The Revillos - Rev Up. Sep 80. No UK Chart Placing. Taking the early 60s pastiche & stretching it across an entire album is a bit of a slog except the songs are mostly short. It is fun but I expect this would sound much better live. 6/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

Just started watching Dexter. Yes, I know, 20 yrs late to the party. 7 series to go and it comes off Netflix on 30th March. FFS. #bingewatch

Cliff Richard - I'm No Hero. Sep 80. UK Peak: 4. Cliff's Sunday Service and it's an Alan Tarney produced straight & true drive down the fairway as you're likely to see. 'Dreamin' hit the top 10 but it's no 'We Don't Talk Anymore' 6/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

#GIVEAWAY To be in with a chance of winning an exclusive Sausage On A Fork mug, follow Sausage On A Fork, like & repost this post before 12pm UK time on Saturday 7th March. The winner will be chosen at random. Good luck everyone! Enter on Facebook, X, Threads and Instagram for more chances to win!

Gary Numan - Telekon. Sep 80. UK Peak: 1. The one with 'We Are Glass'. More dystopian electronica which I find synonymous with watching Dr Who when they had a space specific adventure. Well constructed & I suspect an album I could grow to enjoy. 6.5/10. #smashhitsalbumreviews

The Skids in an image identity crisis (yacht rock/man at C&A/Rockabilly) are on the cover of Smash Hits dated Sept 18-Oct 1 1980. I've got 'Signing Off' & heard 'Never For Ever' but the rest is just waiting to be experienced. Any further highlights? #smashhitsalbumreviews

'Self Esteem' was The Offspring's best hit in my book. This 'Ob-La-Di Ob La-Da' cover is utter dreck. #totp

I'm sure this has been already said but Martine McCutcheon's 'Perfect Moment' is a bit like Tiffany is waving from heaven to Albert Square. Has that 'Different Corner' feel. #totp

Phats & Small's 'Turn Around' vocalist Ben Ofoedu should have been a star in his own right. He has the looks, the moves & the shirts! #totp

So that's what the sample lyric from 'Right Here, Right Now' was. Goes on a bit eh? #totp #totpplayback

youtu.be/H9Pm4vMJSjU?... RIP Neil Sedaka. Here's my favourite

'Bay-baaay....'

It's 27th February. So naturally, it's time for the ice cream van to make an appearance with its very loud chimes 🤷‍♂️

1987. A transitional pop year & a pop lovers feast. I recall the Smash Hits advert for Now 10 at school. Straight to Woolies on Saturday for the cassettes! My favourites are 'Build', 'Rent' which I bought, 'Labour Of Love', 'The Circus', 'Rain In The Summertime' & 'When Smokey Sings' Listen!

Jethro Tull - A. Sep 80. UK Peak: 25. Highlight here is undoubtedly 'Fylingdale Flyer'. I get where David is coming from & I would describe much of the album as a bit windy. Flute virtuosity & complex arrangements but the songs are unmemorable. 6/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

Oh Rob Grant. Sad to hear. What a world, sorry Universes, you created. RIP mate #riprobgrant #reddwarf

The Associates - The Affectionate Punch. Sep 80. No UK Chart Placing. Agree with the mark & Bowie influence (but don't agree with the era motioned possibly more Heroes/Lodger). Whilst not a fan of this band, it's imaginative & angular indie pop. #smashhitsalbumreviews

😮

Mikey Dread - World War III. Sep 80. No UK Chart Placing. Fair review & fine to listen to on a very hot summer day when you all need to do is chill & do nothing. I suppose it's difficult for me to appraise in February! Not bad, just not for me. #smashhitsalbumreviews

Pat Benatar - Crimes Of Passion. Sep 80. No UK Chart Placing. The one with 'Hit Me With Your Best Shot' & a reasonably restrained cover of 'Wuthering Heights'. The guitar licks are good. Overall not bad but not original 6/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

Gibson Brothers - On The Riviera. Aug 80. UK Peak: 50 No surprises here really. This 7 track 31 minute album has no 'Cuba' style hits but it's still uplifting disco accompanied by sandpapery vocals. #smashhitsalbumreviews

Dirty Looks - Dirty Looks. Sep 80. No UK Chart Placing. It's driving new wave with plenty of energy & is fine for a listen if you're a fan of that type of thing but once again it leaves me with little memory of it after an hour of finishing it. 6/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

www.mixcloud.com/james-cooke9... My 8th show is now online. It's mostly highlights of Now The Vault '82 with some assistance from Morten Harket, Stones, Beatles & Warren G. You have to listen to my beige voice is the downside but hey, enjoy!

Yes - Drama. Aug 80. UK Peak: 2. 'I Am. I Am. A Cam-er-a!' Expect this & more on this sexless but technically accomplished LP. Punk did not kill Prog judging by the chart position. Rock music for public schoolboys with a fondness for classical music. 6/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews