SotD82 - Part 5 - The DreamCage

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...

Find Jimmy's other SotD82 articles here

I try to cover as diverse a spectrum as possible with these articles and that means that I don’t always include stuff I like. Now with a heavy heap of nostalgia thrown in, many people will rave about this record, but I never liked it. That said, its creator has a list of credentials a mile long and at the time, none of us in the UK new she was actually pushing 40. Toni Basil is a legend of dance and is credited with being pivotal in bringing street dance into mainstream consciousness. But, though Mickey was a huge hit, and one never equalled by Toni, I just don’t like it. There – a balanced view.

Wasn’t ever a fan of (screechy shouty) heavy metal (Rob Halford was NOT screechy shouty!! [Erm, hellloooo!?!? – Ed]), but this record is a gem. A group labelled as satanic by the religious right-wing in the US (in quite a hysterical way) can’t be all that bad… can they? Iron Maiden is possibly the most successful certainly of the UK heavy metal bands and was certainly a trailblazer. Run To The Hills is a great record, both musically and lyrically:

The song documents the colonization of the Americas, first by Europeans and then by Americans, from the perspective of a Cree Indian and American cavalryman. The opening verse is from the perspective of the Cree, describing his troubles as the European Americans "came across the sea", bringing the Cree "pain and misery". The song is written from both perspectives The second verse is from the perspective of a U.S. cavalry soldier, describing his involvement in the American Indian Wars, "chasing the redskins back to their holes". The third verse is not from the perspective of any single individual, and harshly condemns the effects of American expansionism on Native Americans, resulting in the "[Americans] raping the women and wasting the men", and "enslaving the young and destroying the old".

Seven Tears by the Goombay Dance Band was the only single from their third studio album, Holiday in Paradise, and was the only hit the band ever had in Britain. Was it too soon for a Poundshop “Boney M” knock-off? Possibly, but the band did not have Frank Farian’s writing or producing skills. A major hit across Europe, the band had more success in its native Germany and alas, would never see the UK charts again, let alone the number 1 spot. Key change klaxon!!! [Sorry, not sorry - Ed]

This next band caused much controversy, and you must think that now, it would never be allowed to happen. Originally partnered with one George O’Dowd (before his more famous persona was established), Anabelle Lwin was 14 years old when she was pictured naked with the rest of Bow Wow Wow and pasted on the cover of their first single. Manager Malcolm McLaren thought it was a piece of provoking art. It certainly provoked, and he and the band were the subject of a police investigation because of it. In my view, this has McLaren stamped all over the whole package, but its effects weren’t as long lasting (for the band) as his previous stunts. It’s an ok record with a great chorus.

I really do love this next record. Listening to some of Altered Images’ back catalogue now makes me incredibly happy – not least because of the fond memories of the heart-stopping crush I had on at least 3 of the band. Their first batch of records were superb and a great follow up to Happy Birthday is See Those Eyes. Newly found success, however, wasn’t to last and the band’s highlights were to be the first two albums – Happy Birthday, produced by Banshees producer Steve Severin with the title track produced by Martin Rushent, who would produce the band’s next album, Pinky Blue, a really good album from which this single is taken.