Blog Archives
FlinterFile: The Alan Parsons Project- Old And Wise
The Alan Parsons Project made their album Eye In The Sky in 1982. Read the rest of this entry
FlinterFile: Henk en Henk- Sinterklaas, Wie Kent Hem Niet?
Around the end of November, the hearts of the Dutch children start beating harder: Sinterklaas is coming to celebrate his birthday on the 5th of December! Read the rest of this entry
FlinterFile: Donald Fagen- Ruby Baby
The famous songwriting duo Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller wrote a song, Ruby Baby, in 1956. Read the rest of this entry
FlinterFile: The Clash- Rock The Casbah
The Clash had their biggest hit in the US in 1982. Read the rest of this entry
FlinterFile: Kids From “Fame”- Starmaker
Starmaker was the second single released by the Kids from “Fame”. Read the rest of this entry
FlinterFile: Diana Ross- Muscles
Diana Ross released her new album Silk Electric in 1982. Read the rest of this entry
FlinterFile: Duran Duran- Rio
Duran Duran had the desire to have success in the USA. Read the rest of this entry
FlinterFile: Icehouse- Hey Little Girl
Iva Davies, the singer from Icehouse, started recording the Primitive Man album as a solo album. Read the rest of this entry
FlinterFile: Herb Alpert- Route 101
Herb Alpert released on of his most succesful albums in 1982. Read the rest of this entry
FlinterFile: Normaal- Deurdonderen
Normaal is a Dutch band who sing in the dialect of the Achterhoek. Read the rest of this entry
FlinterFile: Phil Collins- It Don’t Matter To Me
Phil Collins released his second solo album, Hello, I Must Be Going! in 1982. Read the rest of this entry
FlinterFile: Margriet Eshuijs Band- Black Pearl
Margriet Eshuijs is a Dutch singer who started in the band Lucifer. Read the rest of this entry
FlinterFile: Olivia Newton-John- Heart Attack
With the single Physical, Olivia Newton-John had scored enough hits for a new compilation album. Read the rest of this entry
FlinterFile: Chris De Burgh- Don’t Pay The Ferryman
In 1982, Chris De Burgh had his first hit in eight years. Read the rest of this entry
FlinterFile: Dexy’s Midnight Runners- Jackie Wilson Said
In 1982, Dexy’s Midnight Runners released an ode to Jackie Wilson. The song was written and first recorded by Van Morrison in 1972. Read the rest of this entry
FlinterFile: Gwen McCrae- Keep The Fire Burning
In 1982, Gwen McCrae had one of her disco hits in Europe. She was the wife of George McCrae, who had a big hit with Rock Your Baby. Read the rest of this entry
FlinterFile: Shalamar- I Can Make You Feel Good
In 1982, Shalamar had one of the biggest disco hits in their career. The group started as some studio musicians, working together. The core of the group was formed by two background dancers in the show Soultrain. The group was mostly popular in the UK, as they had only one big hit in the US (The Second Time Around). They were trend setters and were the first to show the moonwalk (Michael Jackson was a big fan of Shalamar and later made the moonwalk famous). With this song, they had a number 7 hit in the UK. Enjoy
Shalamar- I Can Make You Feel Good
FlinterFile: Donald Fagen- I.G.Y. (What A Beautiful World)
In 1982, Donald Fagen released the first single from his first solo album, on which it is the first song. Donald Fagen was one of the leaders of Steely Dan, where he (co-)wrote Rikki Don’t Lose That Number and Reeling In The Years, among others. The title of his first solo single, I.G.Y., refers to the International Geophysical Year, which was from July 1957 to December 1958. Donald Fagen thought of the people in that year, and wrote about their positive view on the future. It peaked on number 26 in the US, and was even nominated for the Grammy for the song of the year (though not winning it, the winner was Always On My Mind, performed by Willie Nelson). Enjoy
Donald Fagen- I.G.Y. (What A Beautiful World)
FlinterFile: Time Bandits- I’m Specialized In You
In 1982, the Time Bandits, a Dutch electro-funk discogroup had their biggest hit. The group, with frontman Alides Hidding (later more on him), started with the song Live It Up. This was a minor success. When Hidding had a solo hit, there was interest in his group, with whom he released I’m Specialized In You. It made a number 2 hit in the Dutch charts. The single did not reach as far as other singles did, such as Endless Road, which also was a hit in Australia! Enjoy
Time Bandits- I’m Specialized In You
Song of the day: Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five- The Message
In 1982, Sugar Hill Records released a hip hop single with clear social criticism. Melle Mel actually did not want to record the song, since the group was used to making party rap songs, and not to critical songs. Luckily, they decided to record the song. It has been used in many songs as a sample, and even Genesis was influenced by it: the laugh in Mama was inspired by The Message. The song ended on number 8 in the UK chart and number 62 in the US (number 12 in the Hot Dance Club Play). Enjoy
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five- The Message
Song of the day: ABC- The Look Of Love
In 1982, ABC had their biggest hit in the UK. The song is split in four parts, with part one the best known (the album version), the second the instrumental version, the third part a remix and the fourth part an acoustic version. It was very popular in the discos, making it a number 1 hit in the US disco charts. In Canada it also was number 1, and in the UK it was a number 4 hit. Enjoy
ABC- The Look Of Love
Song of the day: Toto- Rosanna
In 1982, Toto released Toto IV, and the opening track was also released as single. The text was based on the many girls David Paich had known. For a time, the members of Toto said the song was about Rosanna Arquette, the love of Steve Porcaro at the time. The song did very well, making it to number 2 in the US (Eye Of The Tiger and Don’t You Want Me managed to keep it from the first place) and number 12 in the US. Enjoy
Toto- Rosanna
Song of the day: Simple Minds- Promised You A Miracle
In 1982, the Simple Minds released their new album New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84). The first single from the album got the band to the higher regions of the charts in the UK, with a number 13 position. The song is said to be the bridge between the new wave of the first albums and the pop-rock of the later albums. With the beats, it almost seems a dance track… Enjoy
Simple Minds- Promised You A Miracle
Song of the day: Prince & the Revolution- 1999
In 1982, Prince delivered his first international hit single. It came from the album with the same name, 1999. The song was recorded with three members of the Revolution, originally as a harmony, but later it was decided to pull these apart and start each verse with another member. The song itself is made using the riff from Monday Monday (Mamas and the Papas) and the verse melody of Manic Monday (Bangles). The song reached number 2 in the UK and number 12 in the normal US chart, though it was number 1 in the club tracks chart. Enjoy
Prince- 1999
Song of the day: Sharon Brown- I Specialize In Love
In 1982, Lotti Golden and Richard Scher wrote the song I Specialize In Love. They got Sharon Brown to record the song, who is a niece of Phil Medley, the writer of Twist & Shout (famous in versions from the Isley Brothers and the Beatles). She took the song to number 2 in the Club Tracks chart in the US. Exposé, a girl group from the nineties, covered the song and got DNA to produce their record (who made Tom’s Diner from Suzanne Vega famous). This version also became a hit in the US. Enjoy the original
Sharon Brown- I Specialize In Love
Song of the day: The Jam- Town Called Malice
In 1982, the Jam released their album The Gift. From this album, Town Called Malice would reach the number 1 position in the UK chart. It would be a double A-side, since Precious also became a hit! Quite some people suggest the title is a pun, referring to the book A Town Like Alice, written by Nevil Shute. Paul Weller said he had not read the book when he wrote the song, but he wrote it about his hometown Woking in his teenage years. I especially like the electric organ in the song! Enjoy
The Jam- A Town Called Malice
Song of the day: Willie Nelson- Always On My Mind
Two years ago, I got something started. The first Song of the Day was published then. And look where we are now: 175 followers, lots of readers, and lots of songs which got the spot on them. Today it’s the turn of Always On My Mind. A song that did not start with Willie Nelson. The song was written in 1972, and first recorded by George McCrae (from Rock Your Baby), together with Brenda Lee. In the same year, Elvis Presley recorded his version. He did that a little after his seperation with Priscilla. 10 years later, in 1982, Willie Nelson recorded his version of the song. This version would do number 5 on the US chart and number 49 in the UK. He did better than Elvis in the US, but a lot worse in the UK (where Elvis did number 9). The Pet Shop Boys would do the song in 1987, 10 years after the death of Elvis Presley. It was a sort of tribute, which probably was the biggest hit version of the song (number one in the UK and number 4 in the US. Personally, I think the Pet Shop Boys and Willie Nelson did the best versions, though the version of Elvis also is very good! Enjoy
Willie Nelson- Always On My Mind
Song of the day: Kid Creole & the Coconuts- Annie, I’m Not Your Daddy
In the eighties, there was a group who called themselves Kid Creole & The Coconuts. No, this is not a joke, this is reality. The brain behind the group was August Darnell, or actually I should say: is. The group still exists, mixing disco and latin music with big band and more styles. August is Kid Creole, and the three lovely ladies in the picture are his backing vocals, the Coconuts. Before Darnell became Kid Creole (yes, stolen from Elvis Presley) he worked as English teacher and he was working with his brother in the band Dr. Buzzard’s Original Savannah Band. (Crazy about long names, he is). In 1982 he released a new album with his new group, Tropical Gangsters (or in the US: Wise Guy). A lot of songs became hits, and the song of the day was one of them. Enjoy
Kid Creole & The Coconuts- Annie, I’m Not Your Daddy
Song of the day: Yazoo- Don’t Go
What’s better for the weekend than a nice disco song from the eighties? That’s what I mean: nothing. Therefore, I looked for a song from the beginning of the eighties with a nice synthesizer in it. And I found one from 1982! It was the second single from their debute album, the first one (Situation) already was number one, and this one went to number one in the American dance chart too. Enjoy
Yazoo- Don’t Go
Song of the day: Musical Youth- Pass The Dutchie
An song from the early eighties today, 1982 to be precise. It was a number one hit back then and I think it’s good as a preparation for the summer, because it’s a reggae song! Actually it’s a cover version, putting two songs together. The text has been changed a great deal, since the references to cannabis and drugs have been changed… what they created is a nice song which can be played on the radio without a warning. Enjoy
Musical Youth- Pass The Dutchie
Song of the day: Al Jarreau- Roof Garden
Actually, there is a little argument going on between my father and me. He says that this probably was one of the first rap-records, which became a hit. I definitely disagree with him, because it’s not rapping, but singing in a special way. Of course it’s very difficult to do this, but to me, it’s not really rapping. I stay with the belief that there were other records which were hits, but were rap-records. I almost know for sure that Rapper’s Delight was the first record. It definitely was earlier, because that was 1979 and Roof Garden is 1982! Anyone knows a rap-record (and it has to be a hit!) before Rapper’s Delight??? Leave a comment! And for the moment, enjoy
Al Jarreau- Roof Garden
Song of the day: Dexys Midnight Runners- Come On Eileen
I actually had this song in mind for quite some time. Sometimes the intro popped into my head, then it went, it came back again, I heard it on the radio, but it never appeared here. Strange that an article about one of the best albums of all times, which appeared to be one of the Dexy’s Midnight Runners, made me to write a post about this song. So what’s so great about the song? The intro? Maybe. The text? No, not quite that. The music? Not very special to me. What’s left? Also not. But the total is good, and that’s why I want to say “Enjoy
Dexys Midnight Runners- Come On Eileen
Song of the day: Joe Jackson- Steppin’ Out
How to define this song? I think it’s a little jazzy, but it’s not at the same time. It’s touching, and it’s not. What I do know for sure, is that Joe Jackson has a great voice, and it completely fits this simple arrangement. Just enjoy
Joe Jackson- Steppin’ Out
Song of the day: Ph. D- I Won’t Let You Down
Yes, 1982! And this is a song which made a big impression on me. Why, I wouldn’t know, but it is special to me. The whole musical arrangment and the voice singing, it seems to fit and to give a special touch to the song. And also the thing they’re saying is special. No, I won’t let you down, so they don’t disappoint. Special in every way and a big hit in 1982. Enjoy
Ph. D- I Won’t Let You Down
Song of the day: Billy Idol- Hot In The City
The song of the day has two different music videos, from which the second had a bit of resistence, since it showed his girlfriend nailed to a cross.
However, the song is very good, and that is what matters! To me, at least.
For the people to who the video does matter: the link goes to a video with only music.
Yes, it’s Hot in the City! And that’s not my city: I call 15 C not hot…
Song of the day: Culture Club- Do You Really Want To Hurt Me?
Whilst listening to the radio, a song came by and I thought: this is the song of saturday!
It’s a song from the early eighties, 1982. Since eighties music = good music, this is a very good song.
The group had more hits that this one, and one of the best known is of course Karma Chameleon.
However, that’s not my choice.
Do you remember the song Do You Really Want To Hurt Me?
Tomorrow another song!
The FlinterFiles 