8th December 1984, price 45p
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Record Mirror 8th December 1984, price 45p |
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| Page 1 · Page 3 · Page 4 · Page 6 · Page 7 · Page 8 · Pages 14 & 15 · Page 19 · Pages 22 & 23 · Pages 24 & 25 · Pages 40 & 41 · Pages 42 & 43 |
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Front Cover Features PAUL YOUNG (main photo) - VOX POP PAL. Other features: BAND AID ~ ALISON MOYET ~ LLOYD COLE SLADE ~ BIG COUNTRY ~ IAN McCULLOCH OFFICIAL TOP OF THE POPS CHART Cover pic by Simon Fowler |
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Page 3 Contents 4 NEWS 6 NEWS 8 LEAGUE OF GENTLEMEN 14 ROSE SOWING BIG COUNTRY 16 SINGLES 24 ETHIOPIA - VINYL AID 41 UK CHARTS |
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Pages 4 & 5
NEWS Weller waits PAUL WELLER is delaying the release of a miners' benefit record he's made with friends. Weller, Mick and Steve from the Style Council formed a band called the Council Collective to release 'Soul Deep' on December 12, with proceeds going to Women Against Pit Closures. The band also featured Junior, Jimmy Ruffin, Dee C Lee, Len Chignoli from Animal Nightlife and Vaughan Toulouse and Dizzy Heights. The official reason for the delay is that Weller is not creatively happy with the record. Other sources say that another reason could be that Weller is upset over the death of a taxi driver during the miners dispute. No new release date has yet been set. The Stranglers release a four track EP packaged in a gatefold sleeve this week. Featured songs are 'No Mercy', 'In One Door', 'Hot Club (Riot Mix)' and 'Head On The Line'. The Strangs will be appearing on 'The Tube' on December 7 and they're lining up a full scale tour for the New Year. Watch this space for details. |
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Page 6
NEWS SPEAR OF Destiny will headline two shows at the London Lyceum on December 22 and December 23. Spear Of Destiny have just returned from Berlin where they recorded their single 'Come Back', due for release in January. Page 7 FULL PAGE ADVERT FOR "Where The Rose Is Sown" THE NEW SINGLE WHERE THE ROSE IS SOWN NOW AVAILABLE AS A DOUBLE PACK! GATEFOLD SLEEVE CONTAINS 7" SINGLE PLUS FREE LIVE SINGLE MERD 185 |
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Pages 8 & 9
The League of gentlemen. translated by JAMES A REID THE LEAGUE Of Gentlemen were publishing a book of 'Art Photographie'. Following in the footsteps of illustrious snappers David Sylvian, Nick Rhodes and Andy Summers, the League had gone out one evening, got absolutely drunk, rolled onto their backs, and well, just shot roll upon roll of film. This, they knew, was art and so in an attempt to awaken the masses to their aesthetic ambitions the League began to cultivate the appropriate lifestyle. They began to visit Japanese restaurants, they began to wear make-up, they formed a rock group and wrote suitably obscure lyrics. Most importantly they never read a book written by William Burroughs, Jean Genet or Jean-Paul Sartre, although every song they ever wrote contained masked references to said men of letters. This was the life thought Sir Public House as he contemplated the art work for his new LP — 'Seven And The Pint Of Tiger'. "I, me, you disconnect from the world," he said in the manner of pop sages as he carelessly shot a video of his outside toilet. Lord Hip Hop decided it was time to act. Smiting Sir Public about the ears with a rolled up copy of George Michael's bank account he set about painting the world of pop the way it really was... "In no other business," reasoned the good Lord, "are the semi-literate encouraged to foist their tuppenny ha'penny views on the world, without a by or leave to common sense, good manners or the grammatic structure of the English language. Appalling. "They call it hot news in the world of pop, but really the fact that Spandau Ballet and Duran Duran are to appear on the same edition of 'Pop Quiz', does absolutely nothing for me. Now if Mike Read would drop his pants I might raise my eyes from the latest copy of 'Drink And Be Merry'. "Sade Adu certainly has plenty of reasons to be merry, so she's nipped off with saxist Stu Matthewman and gone to pen some new material in Sri Lanka — do not expect a re-work of 'When Am I Going To Make A Living'... "Simon Le Bon may ponder the song title 'How Did I Make A Living' as he spends a considerable part of 1985 toiling in the Whitbread round the world yacht race — beats studio work with Nick Rhodes I'd warrant... "Though few things beat a sharp game of cards and a flutter at the race track, that is until I found out that Bucks Fizz man Bobby Gee has dropped a fortune at the game. Proves my point about popstars though, they're grossly overpaid. "Big Country are, as always, most deeply concerned with the pay, conditions etc of us mortal folks, so when they were in Berlin they couldn't resist dashing across Checkpoint Charlie and having a look at the east. While there they gave a border guard a T-shirt for their 'East Of Eden' single — a song that deals with the differences between east and west. Deep. "And even deeper was the shot unsuspecting 'Tube' watchers got of Steve from Lords Of The New Church the other week. Sneaking a backstage look the cameras managed to catch Steve without clothes. Outraged viewers kept the Tyne Tees switchboard busy for two hours... "While reggae star Jimmy Cliff was hospitalised for two days after being hit in the eye by a stray ping pong ball. His a seven-year-old opponent — boy... "Ian from the Cult nearly did himself greater damage at a gig at Brum's Powerhouse last week. So insistent was he on jumping up and down on the spot that he fell through the stage. "Need I go on," asked Lord Hip Hop raising his eyebrows, nodding his head and waving his arms in the manner of Mr Magnus Pyke? Clearly this pop talk had unhinged him somewhat. Courteous as ever the League agreed to quit their arty life and tend to the mental health of the worthy Lord Hip Hop. Compassion was very important to the League Of Gentlemen. Picture of Lemmy from Motorhead on a motorbike with Tracey Ullman on the back entitled "The pop world was filled with sensitive artists" PAGE 9 ADVERT for WHSMITH Memorex down at W.H. Smith this Christmas |
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Pages 14 & 15
BUTLER'S BRIEF Big Country bassman Tony Butler on the pride, joy and disappointment of being an ordinary bloke in a jolly successful rock band. All ears: Paul Sexton 'WHERE THE Rose Is Sown'. Favourite single. Of all time. By anyone. Says who? Well, we... one of the people who wrote it, actually, Big Country's Tony Butler. "If people were to ask me my 10 all time favourite singles, that would be number one," says Tony. "I'd feel very big-headed about saying it was one of ours, but I really feel that strongly about it. I think it's an amazing, amazing song." The BC bassman doesn't flinch in his explanation of the new Country 45, either. "Unfortunately, it being a single, you don't get the answer to it, 'Come Back To Me', which follows it on the album. That's the other side of the coin. With 'Rose', you're sent to war. Asked to join up for king and country or whatever, and you feel proud about it. People feel proud for their country in different ways, but when you're asked to go and get yourself killed for it, people don't have an opportunity to sit down and seriously think about it. "'Come Back To Me' is the point of view of the pregnant mother who's just had that horrible letter saying 'Your husband has just died heroically for your country', when the poor bugger didn't even know what he was out there for." ("I have your child inside me, but you will never know, I never will forget you, while I watch that child grow." ) "'Where The Rose Is Sown' is very strange, almost fascist. But when you have 'Come Back To Me' after it, it kind of evens itself out. How it will do as a single? I've got no idea. It's not one of those songs I can see us doing on 'Top Of The Pops'." TONY WASN'T particularly surprised by the here-today-gone-today performance of 'East Of Eden' in the charts, and once again he's disarmingly honest about it. "The single came out, it was the first new material that had come out of this group for. a while, so people were obviously interested to hear what we'd been doing, and a lot of people I think were basically disappointed. Because it wasn't 'In A Big Country' part two, which they were expecting, or it wasn't the mellow 'Chance' ballad. "We all knew it was a gamble. Any song that's going to be released from this album as a single is going to have a hard time, because it's not as direct and not as commercially minded as the first album. "'East Of Eden' was maybe the most commercial song on the album but then again it was the hardest song on the album, the bass sound on it was practically annoying, the drums are just huge and loud, and it doesn't sound particularly good on the radio. But that's what we wanted for that song, that's the feeling, the earache that we wanted to transmit. 'East Of Eden' is supposed to be about going to find paradise and you weren't going to find it on the record!" The words, you have to admit, of a man making music rather than product. "Another little project which we've been offered and we're going to try and do, is a film called 'Restless Natives'. We've been asked to do the soundtrack for it. It's basically incidental music and a few songs, which will give us an official excuse to do something different musically. But in no way will it detract from the third Big Country album. "I've got a script for it at home that I haven't actually read yet, but it's an American production being shot in Scotland. Completely unknown people, I'd never heard of the director or the two leading characters, but they seem very confident about it." THE COUNTRY rockers are slated to do the soundtrack in January but Butler explains they've found a way of fitting it into their eight-days-a-week tour schedule. "We've found recently that when we're traveling around, especially out of Britain, we're travelling such long distances that it gets incredibly boring. We've tried all kinds of things to occupy our time, so this time we're going to try writing on the road. "We're going to have a coach fitted with four-track facilities, so if anybody has any ideas at a particular time they can just jump on the bus and whack them down." And Part The Last: Tony Butler's Guide For New Bands. Well, you remember how Stanley Matthews, Bobby Moore and other footballing paragons used to say it: 'Practise, practise, practise, and always be prepared to listen' — it's much the same in the rock game. "The first thing is try not to take drugs, because that's the first thing they try to do to you. They try to destroy you before you've started. Don't let it get to your head, if somebody wants your autograph don't say no — just things like that. "I know my place, I think that's the best thing. I'm just an ordinary person doing something I really like, and I just happen to be recognised and paid a lot of money for it, but I don't see why that should change my outlook on life. I don't see why I should fall into that role of people saying 'Right, you should now act like a star'. And I've found three other people who feel the same way as me, which couldn't be better." |
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Pages 16 & 17 Singles Reviewed by ANDY STRIKE BAND AID 'Do They Know It's Christmas?' (Mercury) No need to tell you what this is all about or who is involved. Let's take the record first, it's pretty awful actually, cringingly embarrassing lyrics about snow in the desert that kind of thing, and a 'tune' that is forgettable to say the least. The last 20 seconds is quite catchy but that's not much value for your donation. Secondly, the aim of this record. Laudible of course, but it all seems a bit suspect to me. Does this mean the 'cream' of British pop can rest on its laurels for another 25 years and turn a blind eye to hardship? Also, let's not forget that there are people going hungry in Britain at the moment who'd be glad of a few bob seeing as how their own money is being sequestrated by the jolly judges. I don't know how much money this record will make, but wouldn't it have been nice if all the acts involved had donated the mega bucks they'll make from their own Xmas records this year to the cause? Still, that's probably just cynical old me and incidentally, anyone who doesn't dip into their pockets at all, deserves to choke on their turkey. The old colonial spirit lives on Rule Britannia. |
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Pages 22 & 23 Full page advert for 'Do They Know It's Christmas?' BUY THIS RECORD The single by BAND AID: DO THEY KNOW IT'S CHRISTMAS. All proceeds go to the famine victims of Ethiopia. Features BANARAMA · BIG COUNTRY · BOOMTOWN RATS · DAVID BOWIE · PHIL COLLINS · CULTURE CLUB · HEAVEN 17 · KOOL AND THE GANG · MARILYN PAUL MCCARTNEY · SPANDAU BALLET · STATUS QUO · STING · THE STYLE COUNCIL · ULTRAVOX · U2 · JODY WATELY · WHAM · PAUL YOUNG OFFICIAL BAND - FEED THE WORLD T-SHIRTS DONATED CONCERT PUBLISHING: AVAILABLE BY POST SEND £6 C/O BAND AID CONCERT PUBLISHING 166/198 LIVERPOOL ROAD LONDON W1 1LA ALL PROCEEDS TO THE FAMINE FUND THIS SPACE HAS BEEN KINDLY DONATED BY RECORD MIRROR |
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Page 24 IN THE STUDIO A GALAXY OF BRITAIN'S TOP POP STARS — OTHERWISE KNOWN AS BAND AID — GATHERED IN LONDON LAST WEEK TO RECORD A SONG THEY HOPE WILL MAKE NUMBER ONE FOR CHRISTMAS ... AND A MILLION POUNDS FOR THE STARVING REFUGEES IN ETHIOPIA. CHRIS MANN OF INDEPENDENT RADIO NEWS WAS THE ONLY JOURNALIST ALLOWED IN THE STUDIOS FOR THE ENTIRE RECORDING SESSION. THIS IS HIS STORY... Photo of Bob Geldof BOB GELDORF, mastermind of the whole 'Band Aid' shebang, flashes his message to the masses before making sure Beogre, Bono and Sting sing in tune. IF THEY hadn't given their time and talents for free it would-have been the world's most expensive — and richest — choir! In just 10 days, Boomtown Rat Bob Geldof, had assembled a star spangled cast: Culture Club, Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet, Ultravox, U2, Status Quo, Wham!, Heaven 17, Paul Young, Paul Weller, Phil Collins, Bananarama, and many others donated their services for free. More than 40 of the finest gathered under the direction of Geldof and the production of Midge Ure. Boy George jetted in by Concorde from New York to be there. Paul McCartney and David Bowie couldn't make it, but sent messages of support which'll be included on the B-side of the single. The song itself, 'Do They Know It's Christmas?' is written by Geldof and Ure. Now, he says, it's up to the public: "I think they have a moral imperative to play this record and to buy it. It doesn't matter if you like the record or not, it's really the music industry's way of doing its bit. Anyone who buys records is part of that industry. It's a nice way at Christmas of giving a pound." GELDOF HIMSELF speaks with passion of the project. He's arranged it so that the maximum amount possible actually goes to Ethiopia: "The public can be assured that for every £1.35 they spend on this record, one pound of it is going directly into the mouth of a child in Ethiopia." So what do the stars think about the project? STING: "It's a great tribute to the normally lackadaisical rock industry, to actually be here. And to Bob Geldof of course for his amazing energy and talent in getting the thing off the ground." PHIL COLLINS: "I don't see any problems with egos here today 'cos everyone in the business is mates. It's a good cause and it's good fun to all get together and make it. I'm determined, along with the others, that as much of the money as possible gets to those starving people in Ethiopia." SIMON LE BON: delighted to be here. When Bob rang to ask us to turn up we just dropped everything. It's a great idea and it shows, I hope, that we care. Just buy. it, for everyone in Ethiopia." FRANCIS ROSSI: "What a great occasion. It's just fantastic to see all the guys and gals here. If this beats the Quo single to number one at Christmas I'll be a happy man." WITH SO many stars wandering the corridors the buzz in the air was intense. But the excitement shifted into a higher gear when word came through that HE was on his way. And so Boy George came, by Concorde from New York and fast car through the West End of London to the studios. In the back of the brown Rover He sat amidst a heap of cuddly toys, presents from the new admiring legions in America. He confessed to being "totally and absolutely knackered, dear, up all night y'know!" The make-up was perhaps a little too heavy. But the eyes, as ever, sparkled mysteriously. The tall black-clad figure waiting on the other side of the door like a club greeter was none other than Simon Le Bon. Superstar embraced superstar. George took Simon's arm and stage-whispered: "Come on, dear, let's start some rumours." CLUTCHING A cup of coffee to soothe a throat battered by a month long American tour, George sought out a quiet corner and explained to me the swift process that had propelled him across the Atlantic to this seedy back-street of North London. "It's really funny because the last person you'd expect to ring you on tour is another pop star. But I was lying in bed the other morning really tired when the phone rang and the voice at the other end said it was Bob Geldof. I said: 'Pull the other one'. But he said, 'It is'. I recognised the Irish accent. "He asked me if I could make it today, and of course I'd heard whispers about it. I'm easily persuaded so I jumped on Concorde and here I am. "Also it'll stop Frankie Goes To Hollywood getting to number one at Christmas," George threw back his head and laughed long and loud, before adding: "And that's a *** great cause!" The gathered minor stars and assorted aides roared appreciatively on cue. George went on: "Hopefully if the fans of the people who are here today and have played on the record go out and buy it then it'll be number one, and for once we'll have a record there that's for a good cause. I think at the moment that hype has taken over pop music and the sooner the fans find something worthwhile to buy, the better for the industry." But will the money all get to the right people? "I hope so. I mean, you either do it and hope that it all gets there or you just don't bother. It's better to make the effort." GEORGE AND Simon swept into the control room. Geldof, unshaven as ever and looking like he'd just emerged from 'The Wall', gave another of his gaping wide grins in welcome. Midge Ure, busy at the console, quickly glanced up and then returned to the business at hand. George made straight for the thin nervous-looking feminine figure perched on the couch and placed a smacker on the freshly rouged cheeks of Marilyn. The two dissolved into a huddle, gossip to catch up on, y'know! On the other side of the glass panel three figures gathered round a microphone, struggling to harmonise a chorus... Not just any backing singers these from left to right: Sting, Bono and Paul Young. Francis Rossi lounged in a corner, Paul Weller and Phil Collins stood nearby tapping their feet to the beat. The boys from Wham! explained they were too tired for interviews, the poor dears! Spandau Ballet got upset when someone failed to recognise them. Bananarama stood in the background, they hadn't enough hits to be too pushy, I guess. Humour mixed with hard work; the song took shape as on into the night they toiled. Midge Ure at the helm, cajoling gently. They all gathered in a farewell party as George, clearly the belle of the ball, prepared to make his dramatic exit, through the wailing kids and shouting pressmen, into the Rover and away. The good deed done, it was back to the games pop people play." Photo of the group Contents: "THE CLASS of '84 (minus tardy George): play spot your fave pin-up. No giggling in the back row, please, and say 'cheese'. |
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Page 40 Marketplace FRONT-ROW CONCERT PHOTOS! Each pack consists of a range of our BEST COLOUR SHOTS of the artiste in concert! (These are high-quality REAL PHOTOGRAPHS! Not printed reproductions!). And photos come in a presentation vinyl photo-wallet to keep them in! Makes a unique Xmas present! GO FOR IT! LATEST 1984 TOUR PHOTOS NOW AVAILABLE OF: BARRY MANILOW! (NEW WEMBLEY '84) ECHO & BUNNEYMEN! * U2! * MARK ALMOND! * SIOUXSIE! * UB40! * CLIFF & SHADOWS! * ALARM! * ULTRAVOX! * B. DYLAN! * B.JOEL! Also latest concerts of... WHAM!, HOWARD JONES, DURAN DURAN, OMD, CULTURE CLUB, SMITHS, T.TWINS, BOWIE (Serious Moonlight tour), PAUL YOUNG, STEVIE WONDER, GEORGE BENSON, BARRY MANILOW, S. MINDS, STYLE COUNCIL, T. DOLBY, CLASH, N. HEYWARD, G. NUMAN, PRETENDERS, DIO. ALSO... Bucks Fizz, Eurythmics, Spandau, Big Country, Shakey, Toyah, Jam, Japan, Kids from Fame, Queen, Kiss, Tears for Fears, & more! 10-pack - only £3.60! 30-pack (or any 3 10-packs) - only £9.90! Bumper 60-pack (or any 6 10-packs) - only £18.60! POSTAGE: add 40p p&p to total. Overseas add double postage. DELIVERY: usually 7 days, but allow up to 28 days. Above artistes also available as superb 11"X8" COLOUR BLOW-UPS for just £1.90 (+40p p&p) each! Send to PETE STILL PHOTOGRAPHY (RM05) Box 497, London SE19 2AT NEW ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUE now ready! To receive a copy sample photo send s.a.e. With 3 x 17p stamps! Fan Clubs GENESIS OFFICIAL Club — Send SAE to Genesis Information, PO Box 107, London N6 5RU. U2 OFFICIAL Info Service — Send SAE to IJ2 Info, PO Box 48, London N6 5RU. ARMOURY SHOW Service — Send SAE to T.A.S.S. PO Box 107A. London 5RU. SIMPLE MINDS Club — Send SAE to Simple Minds Club, PO Box 48, London N6" Adrians - The Record Specialist Ref RM, 36 High Street, Wickford, Essex. Wickford (037 44) 3318 HAVE YOU PAID US A VISIT YET? WICKFORD IS ONLY 40 MINS DIRECT FROM LIVERPOOL ST STATION. OPEN. MON-SAT 9-6, SUNDAY 10AM-1PM. NEW FASIONS NEW FASHIONS 12" B.Country Where The Rose Is Sown/Bass Dance/Small Man + I(P) - £2.49 12" Frida Shine (6.27)/That's Tough (White vinyl) (I)(P) - £4.99 12" Frida Heart Of The Country (Big Country track)/I Know There's Somthing Going On (5.25)/Slowly (P) - £2.99 LP Ultravox Collection (Dbl LP) (inc. whole LP of 6 12" mixes) (very Ltd) (P+P as for 2x12") - £9.95 7" Big Country East Of Eden (Limited Poster Bag + Pic) - £1.99 7" Ultravox Loves Great Adventure (Gate pic + Bookley, clear vinyl) - £1.99 7" U2 Pride (V.Ltd.Edit) - £2.99 BOWIE BOWIE BOWIE BOWIE If you like Bowie, then you'll like our catalogues. We are known throughout the world as the Bowie specialists. 12" Bowie The Hunger (Picture Disc) (I) - £4.99 7" Bowie Tonight (Limited Poster Pic) - £1.50 7" Bowie Blue Jean (blue vinyl) (I)(P) - £2.75 7" Bowie Claridge Press Conference (Interview) (I)(P) - £5.99 ALL RECORDS ARE BRITISH UNLESS MARKED IMPORT (I) P=Picture Sleeve. E=Extended version. (J)=Superior Jap Import Plus Lyric Pic Insert. Page 41 UK ALBUMS Week ending December 8, 1984 2, --, 1 NOW THAT'S WHAT I CALL MUSIC 4, Various, EMI/Virgin NOW4 * 4, 3, 5 COLLECTION, Ultravox, Chrysalis * 33, 30, 6 WAKING UP WITH THE HOUSE ON FIRE, Culture Club, Virgin * 44, 42, 7 STEELTOWN, Big Country, Mercury [] 48, 31, 4 REEL TO REEL, Marillion, EMI ο 50, 36, 40 THE WORKS, Queen, EMI * 61, 55, 74 QUEEN GREATEST HITS, Queen, EMI * 66, 76, 10 TONIGHT, David Bowie, EMI America [] 67, 62, 54 UNDER A BLOOD RED SKY, U2, Island * 77, 57, 4 AURAL SCULPTURE, Stranglers, Epic 86, 92, 36 NOW THAT'S WHAT I CALL MUSIC 2, Various, EMI/Virgin * 94, --, 1 JAMES LAST IN SCOTLAND, James Last, Polydor POLD5166 (This week / last week / weeks in chart) Compiled by Gallup * Platinum (300,000 sales), [] Gold (100,000 sales), ο Silver (60,000 sales) MUSIC VIDEO 1, 2 VIDEO REWIND, The Rolling Stones, Vestron 3, 8 THE WORKS, Queen, PMI 5, 9 JAZZIN' FOR BLUE JEAN, David Bowie, PMI 9, 4 WE WILL ROCK YOU, Queen, Peppermint/Guild 10, 12 UNDER A BLOOD RED SKY, U2, Island 11, 3 LIVE, David Bowie, Videoform Compiled by Gallup |
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Pages 42 & 43 UK Singles OFFICIAL TOP OF THE POPS Week ending December 8, 1984 29, 35, 2 WHERE THE ROSE IS SOWN, Big Country, Mercury 32, 37, 2 THE MEDAL SONG, CULTURE CLUB, VIRGIN 36, --, 1 THANK GOD IT'S CHRISTMAS, Queen, EMI Queen 5 40, 47, 2 NO MERCY, Stranglers, Epic 46, 30, 8 LOVE'S GREAT ADVENTURE, Ultravox, Chrysalis 58, --, 1 TONIGHT, David Bowie, EMI America EA187 82, --, -- PRIDE (IN THE NAME OF LOVE), U2, Island IS202 (This week / last week / weeks in chart) Compiled by Gallup * Platinum (1,000,000 sales), [] Gold (500,000 sales), ο Silver (250,000 sales) Picture of THOMPSON TWINS: another pearl of a hit; FREDDIE MERCURY: Queen's Christmas emssge?; PRINCE: feeling a little light on his feet? Page 42 Chartfile by Alan Jones THE ALBUM chart gained its eighth different leader in 10 weeks when CBS and WEA's joint venture 'The Hits Album' debuted at number one last week. The period leading up to Christmas almost invariably results in a large turnover of albums at the top of the chart, but at no time in the 26-year history of the album charts have so many taken turns in pole position in such a short time. In 1984 as a whole, some 18 albums have now reached number one. That's one of the highest totals ever, but is four less than last year, and five down on the record of 23 established in 1980. However, the last NINE number ones have topped the chart at their first attempt sequence without equal. 'The Hits Album' is a double comprising 32 tracks, all of which have made an impression on the singles chart. Tracks are drawn almost equally from the CBS and WEA families of labels, with a sprinkling of tracks leased from Jive and Arista. As you'd expect, Wham!, Paul Young, Michael Jackson, Chaka Khan, Prince and Shakin' Stevens are among the featured artists, as is Howard Jones who has now established an astonishing new precedent, with tracks on FIVE different number one albums this year. Howie's hits 'New Song', 'What Is Love' and 'Pearl In The Shell' appeared, respectively, on 'Now That's What I Call Music' volumes one, two and three — chart toppers in January, April and August. His own debut album, 'Human's Lib', spent a fortnight at number one in March, and 'Like To Get To Know You Well' is on 'The Hits Album'. Cumulative sales for these albums exceed four million. That total will undoubtedly be boosted significantly by the newly-released 'The 12" Album', which brings together Howard's previously released extended versions of 'What Is Love', 'Like To Get To Know You Well' and 'Total Conditioning', a freshly stretched 'Pearl In The Shell', a vastly superior remake of 'New Song' and the hitherto unreleased goodie 'Always Asking Questions'. Along with Nik Kershaw, Jones is one of the major new talents to emerge this year, and at around £3.99 for nearly 40 minutes, 'The 12" Album' is an inexpensive way to sample his fine, melodic songs. Unfortunately, its chances of reaching number one are slim, pitted as it is against a formidable array of new product and nearly 70 albums destined to receive an artificial sales boost from TV advertising before Christmas. 'LIKE TO Get To Know You Well' also turns up on a new compilation on the Swing The Cat label entitled 'Sometimes A Great Notion'. Proceeds from the album, which features 11 well-known acts performing alternate takes of hits and previously unreleased material, go to the British Deaf Association. The version of 'Like To Get To Know You Well' is a demo, recorded in the home studio of Howard Jones' manager. Other donors include Elvis Costello (a rather fine version of the Merseybeats' 'Really Mystified'), and Pete Townshend's prototype version of the Who's 'Relay'. There's also a new Tom Robinson track, 'Loner Boy', which didn't deserve to be discarded from his new album, and Nick Heyward's demo for 'On A Sunday', which is far superior to the hit version. The LP line-up is completed by Big Country, Dire Straits, Peter Gabriel, Eddy Grant, Robert Fripp and Rupert Hine, whilst the cassette features bonus tracks by Bruce Foxton and Paul Young, the latter with a stylish revamp of Frederick Knight's soul hit 'I've Been Lonely For So Long'. A varied and absorbing album, and an ideal way of unloading that record token Auntie Pru always sends at this time of the year... WITH THEIR latest album finally making a foray into the charts here, it's interesting to compare Chicago's formidable American track record with their rather patchy progress in the UK. Each of their 17 American albums has sold over 500,000 copies and 12 have reached the top 10. In Britain, where they've released 18 albums — the discrepancy is accounted for by a 'Love Songs' compilation on the short-lived TV Records label — eight have charted, but only the first two reached the top 10. Cumulative sales of Chicago albums in America stand at around 13 million, here they total less than 600,000. A comparison of Chicago's singles success in the two countries reveals an even greater disparity. 'Hard Habit To Break' was their 35th singles chart entry in the States, their sixth here — and only 'I'm A Man' fared better on this side of the pond... Picture of HOWARD JONES: five star efforts. |