It's official...

Let's talk about them!

For the last few times I've been out clubbing, I've had the "I believe I believe" part of Love Action firing through my brain at a rapid pace over and over come 1 o clock in the morning. I like it alot, I have to confess I've only heard 3 of these 20 so beyond this my contribution is a bit crap I confess.

Could that be because of George Michael, Ronan? More to the point, what does Dr. C make of "Shoot the Dog"?

Well, i dunno. A couple of these don't ring any bells. If you make a mixtape and send it to me, THEN I'll give you my opinion.

Dave - how could you possibly not have Party Fears 2 as the Associates' track?? Personally, I'd also substitute the Sister Sledge & Human League tracks for Thinking of You & Keep Feeling Fascination...& Smokey Robinson would be Tears of..... sorry, I'll shut up ;-)

I've only heard 3 of these 20 so beyond this my contribution is a bit crap I confess.
I guess Ronan needs a copy of the mixtape as well.

6,11,15: I don't know them.
2,5,10,20: I don't know them, but I don't like the look of them.
1,4,13,17,18: Wouldn't get up to turn them off.
7,9,16: Would walk across the room to put them on.
3,8,12,14,19: Would run across the room to give the stereo a good kicking.

I haven't heard of most of these either, but "Ghost Town" and "Uptown Top Ranking" are both familiar and OTM choices so I ain't gonna argue against the rest.

Ha I knew this was Dr C by pick 3. Where's ABBA?

Well I downloaded the song ages ago based on some other thread, but it has come back into my head cos of permatan George I guess. It's the only part of his bloody song that actually sounds like there's someone singing.

The 'old man' refered to in the 'I believe' bit of Love Action is Lou Reed.

I wuv Dr. C.: I suspect this is closer to my top 20 that anyone else's on ILx would be. Even so, I'm not sure my 20 would have any of those songs in it.

yes tim, i did think as i was scrolling down, is this a hopkins list, i couldn't think of anyone else it could be, dr c didn't pop into my head for some reason, although it is fairly obvious

i like the chiffons track...

The only track on the list I don't know is one I've been very keen to hear for some time: that song by The Factory. Dr. C, if you could do a copy for me for next Tuesday's meet, I'll give you a copy of something tremendous in return (or a copy of several tremendous things, possibly).

Like A Prayer is surprisingly rub. Material Girl, please.

Cor Dr. C, have you heard the new single from ABS who used to be in 5ive? It is blatantly Uptown Top Ranking but with more dirty talk about GURLS. It was on T4 a week or two ago and I've never heard it since, sadly. I think you'd like it!

USE OTHER FACTS PLEASE: "telstar = margaret thatcher's favourite record"

The only song I've heard is "Like a Prayer". I much prefer "Holiday". Any list of 80s singles that doesn't include Concrete Blonde's "Joey" is obv a bit rub.

You haven't heard any of the others, Sundar? You must investigate posthaste, it's a good list it is.

is abc another bad creation? if it is, i have no argument with this list.

**what does Dr. C make of "Shoot the Dog"?** Not much sadly - what is it?

**Ha I knew this was Dr C by pick 3. Where's ABBA?**

What, didn't pick 1 give it away? ;) yes, you're right I forgot them lets add Dancing Queen at number 21.

**Cor Dr. C, have you heard the new single from ABS who used to be in 5ive? It is blatantly Uptown Top Ranking but with more dirty talk about GURLS**

No, but I reckon I should. Dirty Talk about GURLS!!

**The only track on the list I don't know is one I've been very keen to hear for some time: that song by The Factory. Dr. C, if you could do a copy for me for next Tuesday's meet**

Will try, Tim. It's a bloody amazing track. If there's anything else you want that you think I might have just e-mail me. A comp of other 60's psyche/freakbeat rareties (non Nuggets)? The Stockholm Monsters demos/live stuff? Let me know.

Another Bad Creation, Minna! If need be, I will make you to the actual song Dr. C refers to when September rolls around.

I phear the freakbeat, but you knevver know, always happy to hear new things. I even found myself liking the West Coast Pop Art Experimental band the other day so anything can happen.

Do you mean unreleased Stockholm Monsters stuff? I'm now the proud owner of their complete released works hurrah.

Do you know the Susan Cadogan LP from which "HSG" is drawn, Dr. C? Or "I'm A Loser" by Doris Duke?

That's very forward of you, Ned!

The new number 21: After kicking the stereo, it now gets beaten to smithereens (whatever they actually are) with a baseball bat.

*USE OTHER FACTS PLEASE: "telstar = margaret thatcher's favourite record"*
Ha, it figures it probably wasn't 'Ghost Town'.

OK here's a fact: while working as a barman from '79-'81 in one of those old 'Saturday Night Beaver' type nightclubs, I had to hear 'Lost In Music' approx. 300 times. That'll REALLY put you off something.

ABC:- Avant-pop Became Consumerist, just as Alienation Begat Conservatism.
Aaaah, the perfect soundtrack for swapping that old dog-end of '81 for the sobranie cigarette of '82....

Not much sadly - what is it?
It's the new George Michael single, with "controversial" lyrics and video (supposedly, career-destroying ... although no doubt many a wag will say it's not the video that will end his career but the wholesale purloining of 'Love Action' for the music. We're talking Puff Daddy-sized borrowing here) (I like it btw)

Hot Chocolate's "Emma": I don't think this song was a huge hit in America, but it scraped its way briefly onto top 40 radio, where it LEAPT out of the speaker to seize my young imagination. My favorite song circa spring of '74.

It didn't sound like other pop hits of the day, and still doesn't. Dark and somewhat monochromatic, without much of a chorus or bridge, but what a sound and what an enigmatic lyric! A tense, open-ended mood piece, kind of like that great one-shot "Ode To Billy Joe".

And that kick drum and thick guitar tone! Hot Chocolate had a sound - on "Everyone's A Winner" you can just feel that chunky, warm guitar buzz right in the pelvis. Who produced those records?

That's very forward of you, Ned!

Good heavens, you're right! 'make you listen,' the phrase should be. ;-)

Tim - I don't know the Susan Cadogan album, but I'm pretty sure I have the Doris Duke track on some comp or other. Will search for it... I'm pleased you've got the Monsters full opus - it's almost overwhelming to hear all that stuff back to back. I wrote something on them for FT which sort of captures how I feel about their music- maybe Tom will put it up. (hint!)

The George Michael track I have to hear!!

Hot Choc - I *think* it was Mickey Most (Carmody or Carlin to thread!) who produced the earlier stuff. The guitarist was Harvey Hinsley who had a fucking amazing sound - check also 'Everyones's A Winner' of course.

Ray - you don't like my chart very much, do you?

Also - I realised I forgot Spiral Scratch. That can be number 22. Ha!

was "Lost in Music" actually released as a single?

"Uptown Top Ranking" -- another of my touchstones, Dr. C! When my daughter was 12, UTR was one of relatively few unequivocal points of musical agreement, plus fodder for some interesting bits of cultural exchange: "What's Cosmo's Spring?" "What's strictly roots?" "What's a car-key suit?" (Me: "Umm, I think it's 'khaki suit'"). The talk was all "ting an' ting" the summer the kid discovered that song on one of my mix-tapes.

Lost In Music was a top 20 hit in the UK in 1979 - then twice more in later remixes ('84 and '93). This is a great list - I have 14 or 15 of them, and love nearly all of those, and it's rare to love over half of anyone else's top 20 (and all their top 5).

Is this list supposed to be in order? `Cos if so, not only is it rife with error (Sister Sledge? On a "best ever" list?!?!?), but it omits the single greatest.....er....single of all time, "(I'm) Stranded" by the Saints.

For shame, Doctor!

Hey Alex - yes, I'm Stranded is great, tho I prefer This Perfect Day.

B-but what do you mean *rife with error*? How can it be? It could only be rife with error if I'd put some singles in the list that I didn't mean to include, or selected some tracks that weren't singles, or selected some records that didn't exist, or.....

Honour the list, Alex ;)

I like the Chiffons track all right, from its use by the Cure. My fave on the list is probably the Madonna. ABC I might like if I heard it. The rest, don't think I know.

...from it's use by The Cure? Uh?

(on the playout of "The Cure in Orange" video, Dr.C)

23? Goodbye To Love
24? Time Goes By So Slow
25? Golden Years

23-40 coming later, Jeff. Two of those might, just might, scrape in.

Dr C - you will probably be relieved and possibly euphoric to find out that I really dislike EVERY SINGLE SELECTION here. Even the Madonna one, it's my least favorite song of hers ever, it's a misshapen mess with a lot of fake drama shovelled on top IMHO. LEt's DJ together some time!

Couldn't give a shit really, Dave.

23-40 coming later? heh, ph34r my predictions:

(alt.) 25. I Feel Love – Donna Summer
26. White Man In Hammersmith Palais - The Clash
27. Take on Me - A-Ha
28. Looking From A Hilltop - Section 25
29. Gotta Get A Hold Of Myself – The Zombies
30. True Faith - New Order
31. This Town Aint Big Enough For Both of Us – Sparks
32. You To Me Are Everything - The Real Thing
33. Where Where You? - The Mekons
34. Identity – X-Ray Spex
35. Blockbuster – The Sweet
36. The Liquidator - Harry J's All Stars
37. Billie Jean - Michael Jackson
38. Eight Miles High - The Byrds
39. Freak Like Me – Sugababes
40. Coup - 23 Skidoo

I think I'd prefer Holiday aswell.

I Feel Love should be top of every list.

Of the 22, heard of 9, heard 5, like all of those to some extent. (Even the Madonna?) Especially the Madonna, the melodramatics suit the song perfectly because both sex and Jesus are melodramatic. And since you never know who's reading, some of my best friends are Christians.

41. The Fall - Kicker Conspiracy?

Dr C I know and love them all apart from 11 and 15 who I don't know 11 is a ska classic is it not? I need to sort out a hearing then. Never heard of The Factory though, who are they.

One big mistake, you lableled them one to twenty when it should have been 21-40 as you forgot the following:

01. Cryan Shames - Please Stay
02. Supremes - Baby Love
03. Scars - Horrorshow
04. Don Thomas - Come On Train
05. Martha Reeves - Ready for love
06. Moodists - Runaway
07. Black Riot - Black Riot
08. Madonna - Into the Groove
09. Secret Affair - Time for Action
10. Pixies - Velouria
11. Third World - Now that we've found love
12. Suicide - Cheree
13. Human League - Empire State Human
14. Leon Haywood - Don't Push It Don't Force it
15. Coati Mundi - Me No Pop I
16. Specials - Gangsters
17. David Bowie - Drive In Saturday
18. Janet Kay - Silly Games
19. Teardrop Explodes - When I Dream
20. Shockheaded Peters - I Bloodbrother Be

Alexander - yr list is excellent. Silly Games! Me No Pop I! Great Stuff! And good Bowie choice too.

Hurt So Good is a Lee Perry production that was a UK number 4 hit in 1975 and features the Mighty Diamonds on backing vocals.

This is what The Tapestry of Delights Psych Encyclopedia says about The Factory - "Originally known as The Souvenir Badge Factory, this band's two 45s are classic slices of British psychedelia. They scored a deal, when studio engineer Brian Carroll met 17 year old Ian Oates at a party. Path Through A Forest, their first recording, started life as an acoustic folk demo, by an unknown writer and is unusual for its distorted vocals and great guitar"

Funny thing is I thought I remembered a post from you enthusing about this track a while back. Must've been someone else.

Jeff - you are beginning to worry me greatly ;) I could have picked virtually any of those, except Eight Miles High which is cack. As it is you got about 5. Anyway, here goes :

21. Abba - Dancing Queen

22. Buzzcocks - Spiral Scratch

23. The Who - The Kid's Are Alright

24. Toots and The Maytals - 54-46 Was My Number

25. The Real Thing - You To Me Are Everything

26. Hot Butter - Popcorn

27. New Order - Everything's Gone Green

28. Sly and The Family Stone - Thankyou (fallettin me be mice elf again)

29. Len Barry - 1-2-3

30. Martha and The Vandellas - Nowhere to Run

31. The Rubettes - Sugar Baby Love

32. Magazine - Shot By Both Sides

33. Bob and Marcia - Young Gifted and Black

34. The Distractions - Time Goes By So Slow

35. The Bee Gees - Stayin' Alive

36. The Pet Shop Boys - It's A Sin

37. X Ray Spex - Identity

38. Sparks - This Town Ain't Big Enough For The Both Of Us

39. Earl Van Dyke and The Soul Men - All For You

40. 23 Skidoo - Coup

Toots! Yeah! Martha! Yeah! Neil and Chris! Yeah! The Gibb Brothers! Um...

dancing queen is of course great, but i am much more pleased to see the appearance of #29. len barry's 1-2-3, one of the great great singles, and one which, besides me, i have only seen dr c mention on these boards...

23,24 29,30,34,40 - I’ve never met these songs before in my life, officer.
39 – I’ve never met it before officer, but it looks like a bad ‘un to me.
31 – Ooh ya bastard.
28 – Never heard the original, but I’d probably prefer Magazine’s version.
32 – Oh shit, one of the few Magazine songs I really don’t like.
27, 37, 38 – Catchy, catchy...
21, 22, 25, 33, 35, 36 – Where’s that baseball bat gone ?
26 – Ah Dr C, you old *Slyboots* you. ALL is forgiven!

USE OTHER FACTS pt 2 – have on tape somewhere (circa 1980) a cover version of ‘Stayin Alive’ performed entirely on kazoos – think the band were called ‘The Kazoo City Orchestra’. They also did a version of ‘Whole Lotta Love’.

Dr C - Yeah I'm actually sort of surprised that I don't like a lot more of your choices, since we seem to have a taste overlap in certain stuff that I don't meet a lot of other people into - eg Passage, Chameleons - plus, I think you're very nearly as old as I am ;-)

Actually, having trawled around here for a couple of weeks, I'm ashamedly feeling almost pathologically ignorant, bitter and narrow-minded compared to most others on this site - something I've been trying to work out in conjunction with the 'jaded', 'paradigm shift' & 'nothing left to invent' threads before I can do the 'introduce yourself' thing....

Eh, Ray, don't worry about it, just a spasm of angst on our part! :-) Keep posting and keep talking about what you like, and don't like! You'll be part of the continuum soon enough. :-)

The A-Ha is tremendous, and I wouldn't have guessed you'd go for it, Doc.

The Byrds is too obvious, surely, but still tremendous.

It IS tremendous, PF, but I didn't go for it! Scary Jeff said I would, but I didn't.

OK, doc - I guess I don't know the rules of this game yet. Are the #s arbitrary? Does everything come down to what You, Dr C, say, and everyone else has to predict it?

On your next list, the one track I really like is the 60S WHO one. (But you can't have meant to write 'Kid's'. Right?) The rest - again, don't know too many of them.

I just wrote down a list of my favourite singles, PF. That's all. Then a couple of people tried guessing what else I might pick. It's not a list I carry around in my head or on a bit of paper - if I did it next week or next month it would be different, no doubt. It's just a snapshot, although I reckon the top ten would always be in there. The placings are not that important (I didn't agonize about whether 'Love Action' was *better* than 'Israelites', for example, as that's clearly daft) except that I like the top 10 a bit more than 11- 20, and 11-20 a bit more than 21-30 etc. They're all great recds anyway.

The Kids Are Alright - the desperation for change, desire to tear away from the *scene*, away from the girl, ('But I know sometimes I must get out in the light') are brilliantly handled here. The SOUND of the early Who records is so fantastic and seems barely able to be handles by the recording set-up or contained within the the grooves of the record. Kids has the best guitar sound I've ever heard.

handles = handled obv.