Vic Godard & Subway Sect - What's The Matter Boy. Jul 80. No UK Chart Placing. The review is a fair reflection in terms of its feel. A mix of styles & in places reminiscent of Magazine. 'Watching The Devil' stood out. Worth further consideration 6/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

Back in the new year groove with my new show featuring Madonna, Lennon, Bowie, SAHB, Isley Brothers, Imagination & Devo. Enjoy! www.mixcloud.com/james-cooke9...

Birmingham City 1978. Sir Alf in sticker form! Tony Want with a distinctive sensible on top, party at the sides combo & two more famous player managers. #paninihighlights

Jimmy Ruffin - Sunrise. Jul 80. No UK Chart Placing. There's a sweetness to the songwriting & production that is very Gibb hence the involvement. 'Hold On (To My Love)' is a good single & apart from some slush it leaves pleasant vibes. 6.5/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

It's The Professionals with 2 ex-Pistols on the cover of Smash Hits dated July 10-23rd 1980. I've heard 'Vienna' on cassette but intrigued enough to hear it again 40 years later. Have also got 'The Game'. The Stones disco record could be a good spin? #smashhitsalbumreviews

Love this era of Blur. Remember seeing a great set at Wolverhampton Civic Hall around this time. Screw the reunions though. #totp

The most surprisingly brilliant set at Glastonbury in 2000 was Barenaked Ladies. Prepared to be annoyed, by the end of the set I was won over. #totp

The Records - Crashes. Jun 80. No UK Chart Placing. This band feels like a record company deciding what they want to occupy a safe middle ground in the hope of some chart action. They're a melodic band with the musical chops to prove it but like the band name, it's dull 5/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

Villa 78. A team spawning 2 managers & probably more that I haven't heard of. Brian Little looks like a refugee from a mid 70s prog band whilst Andy & Gordon could have done with a 'Take Two'#paninihighlights

Arsenal 1978. Malcolm signs for a precise figure. I'm hoping the full transfer fee included 33 pence. Our square jawed ex Toon hero is only 27 here. #paninihighlights

The beast has arrived! I'll be sharing some memorable player portraits with you... #footiestickers

Klark Kent - Klark Kent. Jun 80. No UK Chart Placing. Essentially, Stewart Copeland's Police but more fun. 'Don't Care' is the hit & most immediate track & 'Kinetic Ritual' a fine instrumental. Weighing in at 24 minutes it's a pleasant diversion 6.5/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

Devour it! Cram it into your gaping maws! 5 1/2 hours of pure 70s joy. Do it.

Willie Nile - Willie Nile. Jun 80. No UK Chart Placing. Sounds like a virtuoso Jazz saxophonist but is actually a songwriter who's been consistently releasing albums since 1978. Steady American rock. Think Tom Petty. Best Track: 'Sing Me A Song' 5.5/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

The Photos - The Photos. Jun 80. UK Peak: 4(!) A fair assessment by the review. 'Irene' is one of those singles that should've turned up on Now The Vault 1980. A functional 2nd string Blondie. Doesn't sparkle but it's not bad. 6/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

The Lambrettas - Beat Boys In The Jet Age. Jun 80. UK Peak: 28. An energetic mod run though featuring the passion wagon du jour, the Cortina & a song about Page 3 that doesn't commit itself either way. Oh & the obligatory covers. Lively 5.5/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

Lost my Guinness Zero virginity today. I must say that it's even better than normal Guinness

Trust me, I did do some walking between Harrow & Hendon yesterday #capitalring

Toyah - The Blue Meaning. Jun 80. UK Peak: 40. 'Ieya' is the most musically coherent track. Highly performative & oddness abounds in spades with lyrics derived from a 1980 Word Cloud via BBC computer. At least you can't accuse this of being dull. 6/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

Back to Now is back! Join Josh Widdicombe as we revisit 1992 & NOW23. We also discuss his new podcast ! Tasmin Archer, Dr. Spin, Bjorn Again, old songs, remixed songs, Satellite football channel related songs! Available NOW to subscribe & listen at all podcast places or at linktr.ee/poprambler

Let’s do this UK Bluesky #ukpolitics

Dalek I - Compass/Kum'pas Jun 80 UK Peak: 54. Gentle, inventive & sensitive lo-fi synth tunes that vocally recall the understated vocals of Gruff Rhys. Great start but begins to outstay its potential at the end. Top Track: 'Destiny' (Dalek I Love You) 7/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

The Real Thing - Saints Or Sinners? Jun 80. No UK Chart Placing. Opening track 'Boogie Down (Get Funky Now)' is the strongest of these predominantly discofied numbers. Not bad. 6/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

Diana Ross - Diana. Jun 80 UK Peak: 4. 1/2 the album is hits! 'Upside Down', 'Tenderness', 'I'm Coming Out' & 'My Old Piano'. The rest is fine, 'Now That You're Gone' the best of the rest, although not exactly essential material 7/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

The Undertones grace the cover of Smash Hits dated 26 June - 9 July 1980. I've heard 'Uprising' & suspect the Diana Ross album might be the highlight from this page. #smashhitsalbumreviews

Graham Parker - The Up Escalator. Jun 80. UK Peak: 11. David really likes these kind of artists of this ilk hence the mark i.e. Dave Edmunds, Elvis Costello etc. Unfortunately, whilst I thought this was listenable no song made a lasting impression. 5.5/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

Elton John - 21 at 33. May 80. UK Peak: 12. In the doldrums chartwise if not creatively, this begins brightly with 'Chasing The Crown'. Overall, it hardly covers new ground but it's classy, uplifting & the fans would have been kept reasonably happy. 6.5/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

The Jags - Evening Standards. Jun 80. No UK Chart Placing. This album is like a blueprint for indie bands of the mid to late 00s. A hard driving guitar sound but little to distinguish each song. Didn't get the Costello vibes though. 6/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

'Bring me the head of Lord Lucan!' The strange things you see on strolls around suburbia! #enfieldoddities

Sham 69 - The Game. Jun 80. No UK Chart Placing. Relying on the past glories of the terrace anthems, 'Tell The Children' the most memorable, it's when the tempo is dropped for ditties like 'Simon' & 'Poor Cow' when things become more impressive. 5.5/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

The Vapors - New Clear Days. Jun 80. UK Peak: 44. A tight set strongly recalling The Jam without the snarl. Aside from 'Turning Japanese' there are a number of strong guitar pop contenders that don't quite have the invention but '60 Second Interval' is a fine foil. #smashhitsalbumreviews

Billy Ocean wins the 'flares off' #totp

This is peak massive video budget! Putting out there, I really like 'Land of Confusion' #totp

Paul Simon channelling his Peter Gabriel with this video #totp

Anyone missing 1999 TOTP? No me neither. Loving this 1987 episode so far #totp

Oooh! It's one of the best songs off Now 9. Love the fact they still dress like it's 1979 #totp

Nice cameo by George Best there #totp

A Zoo Wanker attack attack attack #chartmusic #totp

I don't mind 'Pretty Fly..' but they followed it up with more or less an identical 'Ob La Di Ob La Da' #totp

The lingering sense of injustice of this documentary will make your blood boil around the hacking scandal. The people at the top nearly always survive as per. This is one to check out on ITVX #therealhack www.itv.com/watch/the-re...

Karel Fialka - Still Life. May 80. No UK Chart Placing. 'The Eyes Have It' is the nicest poppiest thing by far while the rest is a muddle of speak singing, awkward clattering & cheap sounding synths. 'People Are Strange' is rendered grimly with the joy sucked out of it. 5/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

Grace Jones - Warm Leatherette. May 80. UK Peak: 45. Harsh review as 'Love Is The Drug' & 'Private Life' are A1 produced covers. 'Hunter Gets Captured...' is also worthy. A pity that the album peters out with 2 ordinary songs. 7/10 from an old trendy! #smashhitsalbumreviews

Mystic Merlin - Mystic Merlin. May 80. No UK Chart Placing. Agree with the score. Quite the contribution to 1980 disco sound providing a party like atmosphere. Just needed an Earth Wind & Fire style stomper to set it alight. #smashhitsalbumreviews

It's Bryan Ferry rocking a rolled up white shirt on the cover of Smash Hits from 12-25 June 1980. I've heard 'Peter Gabriel' & 'Flesh & Blood' & probably most looking forward to Grace Jones. #smashhitsalbumreviews

The Distractions - Nobody's Perfect. May 80. UK Peak: 88? A batch of mostly jaunty melodic songs that probably needed a killer tune to propel them further. 'Louise' & 'Paracetamol Paralysis' provide the best of the bunch. 6.5/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

I knew this wasn't going to cheer up my first Monday of 2026 but it was an essential watch on Channel 4. No matter how many tributes there always room for one more. 'Blackstar' needs to have a replay on the 10th anniversary but it's a tough listen. #bowiethefinalact

Joan Armatrading - Me Myself I. May 80. UK Peak: 5. That's a fair review & score. It's certainly has some breadth & good production to lift it out of ordinary. A further listen might open it up to additional moments of interest. #smashhitsalbumreviews

Morning & Happy New Year @charityclassics.bsky.social I've found the perfect hobbying accompaniment to these sounds: crystal creations. This will end up being part of the Taj Mahal vista.

Jah Wobble - The Legend Lives On...Jah Wobble In Betrayal. May 80. No UK Chart Placing. Abruptly ending dub rock is the flavour here. There's an unusual cover of 'Blueberry Hill' & it gets increasingly experimental at the end. Intruiging. 6/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

The Chords - So Far Away. May 80. UK Peak: 30. A strong start with 'Maybe Tomorrow', but aside from perking me up with 2 covers, namely; 'Hold On I'm Coming' & 'She Said, She Said', a fair rather than essential mod/new wave album 6/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews