SotD82 - Welcome to 1982

Inspired by our series of articles looking back at music released 30 years ago, Jimmy Hunter takes a step further back in time to give us some more Songs of the Day from 40 years back, SotD82...

We kick off 1982 [Eh? What? It’s February – Ed] with some records you may know and some you may not. As always, the aim is to entertain and to educate, for those willing of course and this year is no different. Anyone remember 1982? I do, and I’m looking forward to bringing you some of the sounds that anchor the year into our memories.

First up is the original German version of Der Komisar by that unique artist, Falco. Now Falco had reputation that went before him and it really wasn’t a very good one. Known to be an awkward bugger, a heavy user of alcohol and charlie (as opposed to Tweed by Lentheric… oh, never mind) [Someone in the office still wears this perfume – Ed] he perished in a car crash in 1998 aged only 40. More famous for a record to be released in 3 years’ time, the soundtrack to a film, this record really reminds me of the approach to the end of the cold war.

We move on to some sweet sugary pop – I was in love with Altered Images back then… well, a couple of them anyway, but I also loved their music. The album releases contained much darker, alternative style compositions yet the poppy singles sold well. The simplistic, almost child-like lyrics really make me smile and given the quality of the song writing on the albums, I’m sure that’s what was aimed for here.

And because you’re special and they are so damned cute, here’s the official music vid too

I think that one of the defining moments of a career happened right at this time. Yes, she’d been famous for a long time and her singing/song writing and performing had long been established, but when she went solo, she also went stratospheric. The Edge of Seventeen sees Stevie Nicks prove that in her own right, she was a force to be reckoned with and her first 3 albums prove that.

 

Finally, for this week, we have a bit of fun. Canadian followers (of a certain age?) may know this duo. Bob and Doug McKenzie are fictional Canadian brothers who hosted "Great White North", on Canadian TV in the late 1970s. Bob is played by Rick Moranis (yes, THAT one) and Doug is played by Dave Thomas. Originally created as a routine to take the mickey out of Canadian TV content, the duo became somewhat of a phenomenon in both Canada and the US. They produced two albums, and this is the first single from the first album. In my view, as a comedy piss-take yet call to be proud of being Canadian (Canada being known as The Great White North), it is a superb effort. The guest vocalist is none other than Geddy Lee from Rush.



Hope you enjoy the selection this week. Back next week for more.