Tony Rallo & The Midnite Band - Burnin' Alive. Apr 80. No UK Chart Placing. An authentic & technically proficient disco sound complete with Brothers Gibb vocals in places. Fine but a repeat play isn't on the cards for me. 6/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

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The Whispers - The Whispers. Apr 80. No UK Chart Placing. The one with 'And The Beat Goes On'. A disco funk version of 'My Girl' & the ability not to fall into the trap of formulaic soul for the most part gives this album a lift above the norm. 6.5/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

A fixed glare from John Lydon stares out the readers of Smash Hits dated 3-16 April 1980. I've heard 'Initial Success' but the rest is to be discovered. 3 artists are unknown to me on here. #smashhitsalbumreviews

Stiff Little Fingers - Nobody's Heroes. Mar 80. UK Peak: 8. Strong LP with plenty of fire in its belly on Side 1 but equally they know how to slow it down on 'Bloody Dub' & 'Doesn't Make It Alright'. 7/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

The Psychedelic Furs - The Psychedelic Furs. Mar 80. UK Peak: 18. I've got admiration for any rock band that can create its own distinctive sound & there's plenty here such as 'The Wedding Song' & 'Sister Europe' to get the goths in a froth. 6.5/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

Cockney Rejects - Greatest Hits Vol. 1. Mar 80. UK Peak: 22. Like being shouted at by 'Gripper' Stebson & his acolytes for 33 minutes from a vocal perspective, this takes the baton from The Sex Pistols musically speaking. It's catchy but is also a racket 6/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

youtu.be/HAisO5RBpX8?... I missed the time when The Thompson Twins sounded like the early Cure. Quite enjoyed this.

Blackbeard - I Wah Dub. Mar 80. No UK Chart Placing. A perfectly fine example of the dub genre. Something that just kind of floats around like a miasma. Ok. 6/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

Bob Seger - Against The Wind. Mar 80. UK Peak: 26. Bob Springsteen anyone? This is a warm bowl of American wholesome rock, & a bit more playful than Bruce tbf. The production actually sounds quite rich rather than tinny. Quite listenable overall. 6.5/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

I'm a pop fan broadly speaking & heartily recommend this 3 part documentary in the wake of the previous 'Boybands Forever'. I have to admit that the girls seem to do this type of pop much better than the boys. Sugababes were my favourites. Girls Aloud were a big omission though #girlbandsforever

ZZ Top - Deguello. Mar 80. No UK Chart Placing. The soundtrack to cruising down a single lane highway in the blazing heat. 'Cheap Sunglasses', 'I'm Bad I'm Nationwide' & 'Manic Mechanic' capture the vibe. Southern fried boogie with extra chilli sauce. 8/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

The Feelies - Crazy Rhythms. Mar 80. No UK Chart Placing. Seems like a live set polished into a full album with some songs a bit undercooked but saying that, there's plenty of taut & tight energy that keeps it rolling along. Feeling ok. 6.5/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

Brothers Johnson - Light Up The Night. Feb 80. UK Peak: 22 I didn't really notice MJ's appearance but this is a competent funk & soul collection with the standout 'Stomp!' 6/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

Sugarhill Gang - Sugarhill Gang. Mar 80. No UK Chart Placing. The undoubted highlight is 'Rapper's Delight' & accompanied by some laid back funk & soul with 'Bad News' also noteworthy. Whatever happened to the highly overrated 'talkover' style then? 6.5/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

It's The Vapors on the cover of Smash Hits from March 20 - April 2 1980. I've heard 'The Songs The Lord Taught Us' but nothing else. A mixture of musical styles on this page. #smashhitsalbumreviews

Squeeze - Argy Bargy. Feb 80. UK Peak: 32. The one with 'Pulling Muscles..' & 'Another Nail..' as the review says, it's probably worth another listen & is both melodic & varied. Going on first impressions it's 7/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

www.mixcloud.com/james-cooke9... In case anyone wants a listen to another eclectic show featuring the likes of Soundgarden, The Kinks, Sananda Maitreya, The Goodies, Winifred Atwell and more. It be here! Enjoy

Mr Partridge - Take Away. Mar 80. No UK Chart Placing. There's a lot to be said for creative freedom but equally it must be said for restraint. A random album of clattering & experimentation that would probably only appeal to a hardened XTC nut. 5/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

The desolate autumnal landscape of Whitewebbs Park. Hope Spurs don't ruin this stunning peaceful place

Martha & The Muffins - Metro Music. Mar 80. UK Peak: 34. Fair review. All of the songs are complimentary to 'Echo Beach' so bright, confident with a lot of sax backing. 7/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

Rachel Sweet - Protect The Innocent. Mar 80. No UK Chart Placing. If you want to hear a bowdlerised 'New Rose' with the edges smoothed off, this is the right place & aside from the final track jazzy offering, it's fairly safe rock overall 6/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

OMD - OMD Mar 80 UK Peak: 27. There’s a pre dynamic slower version of the hypnotic 'Messages' which I love plus 'Electricity' & 'Red Frame, White Light'. Aside from those singles, the album has the features of a maturing synth band not quite settled 6.5/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

Nina Hagen Band - Unbehagen. Mar 80. No UK Chart Placing. The review is spot on. Whereas Lene Lovich may be viewed as kooky, Nina is completely hatstand! The music, mostly rock & a slice of reggae is great but takes a backseat to the performative vocals. 6.5/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

Sister Sledge - Love Somebody Today. Mar 80. No UK Chart Placing. No surprises here if you know their late 70s groove. A solid & consistent disco soul album overall. The title track seems to be the strongest to my ears. 6.5/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

It's The Jam approaching their pomp on the cover of Smash Hits from 6-19 March 1980. I've heard 'Get Happy' & it's yet another Martha & The Muffins album. Who knew they were so prolific? #smashhitsalbumreviews

Horslips - Short Stories, Tall Tales. Mar 80. No UK Chart Placing. Agree with the review. Melodic pop rock with elements of Squeeze & McCartney. Highly listenable but not especially challenging. 7/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

Hell's teeth.

Robert Gordon - Bad Boy. Mar 80. No UK Chart Placing. Just 27 minutes of music with a BBE date of 1958. Best when he goes outside this boundary on 'Born To Lose' plus his covers of 'Bad Boy' & 'Picture Of You' are decent. A touch better than Shaky 6.5/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

I love this album cover & shall be my car listening for next weekend. Terrific piano playing that I can only marvel at. The first track is the theme tune to early 80s snooker programme 'Pot Black' & is called 'Black & White Rag'

Shakin' Stevens - Take One. Mar 80. UK Peak: 62. Rock n Roll Records with a country inflection would have been sure to please Dad's of 1980. 'Hot Dog' is the hit & best track & is upbeat throughout. 6/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

999 - The Biggest Prize In Sport. Feb 80. No UK Chart Placing. I knew this band had some songwriting quality after 'Emergency' & 'Homicide' & so it's proved here. A driving new wave pop sound throughout. Good energy. 7/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

Players Association - We Got The Groove. Feb 80. No UK Chart Placing. Just the four tracks on this 30 minute album. Don't disagree with the review. It's good serviceable disco but not much more. 6/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

open.spotify.com/track/0A6eI8... Chart crimes. The first single from his second album, the one after 'Sign Your Name', only got to No.83 in 1989. A psychedelic rock/soul slice of awesomeness

Here early doors at this lovely venue in Shepherd's Bush to see Sananda Maitreya aka Terence Trent D'Arby. It's only taken me 38 years to finally see him live.

Spyro Gyra - Catching The Sun. Feb 80. UK Peak: 31. The kind of record that exudes music you hear when you've just arrived for that 1st cocktail in the bar of a hot country. It relaxes you & but by day 3, you'll think it's soporific Muzak. 5/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

It's Buggles who adorn the cover of Smash Hits from 21 Feb to 5 Mar 1980. I've got 'Too Much Pressure' & 'Terminal Jive' & the rest to discover. Yes, another Shaky album incoming. #smashhitsalbumreviews

Buggles - Age Of Plastic. Feb 80. UK Peak: 27. Agreed. A strong album with half of the 8 tracks being single releases. 'Video..' towers over them but 'Plastic Age' is a very worthy follow up. Listenable. 7/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

Rupert Holmes - Partners In Crime. Feb 80. No UK Chart Placing. 'Him', a pop gem concerning jealousy is the best song other than 'Escape' on here that calls to mind a more playful Billy Joel & life as it's lived in New York City. Not bad. 6.5/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

John Foxx - Metamatic. Feb 80. UK Peak: 18. Deeply contrasting to yesterday, this is muscular & mechanical with a greater sense of purpose, 'Plaza', 'He's A Liquid', 'Touch Go' & the classic 'Underpass' (Underpants!!!) being highlights. Nearly great 7/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

Changeable weather this afternoon on my walk to Woodcock Park & back. Looks like a spider's escaped and heading towards the drains. What could possibly go wrong?

Jon & Vangelis - Short Stories. Jan 80. UK Peak: 4. If there is a genre called Anorak synth then these guys are at the vanguard. Pretty & wispy tapestries are weaved proggily. 'I Hear You Now' is the highlight, sounding like a Take Hart montage. 5.5/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

Ooh the first time I remember hearing a thunder rumble on Halloween night

Is this what the abbreviation 'IDGAF' is for?

Flying Lizards - Flying Lizards. Feb 80. UK Peak: 60. A frenetic German dose of Dadaism kicks us off, proper bash your head with a tin tray stuff. 'Summertime Blues' is a prototype of 'Money', (best cover ever?) but quite amateur by comparison. Curiouser & curiouser. 5/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews

Each time I listen to 'Thriller', this lyric sounds like 'Mike Read just called' #mondegreen

Yikes. Listening to 'Strange Kind Of Woman' by Deep Purple and see that the original song title was called 'Prostitute'. Probably a wise choice to change that in 1971.

Ideal Friday as it's testing all day so on goes my Halloween soundtrack 'Red stains on eyes of a blue dog, my pain fades as interiors fog' Pardon? youtu.be/0t9MVplqCNM?...

A suitable Halloween type book for my next read

Casino Music - Jungle Love. Jan 80. No UK Chart Placing. French sophistipop that reminds me of the cool style exhibited by the likes of Air in the late 90s. Strongest track is 'Do The Proton' with its pleasing 'oohs & aahs' 6.5/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews