THE DOOLEYS: Love Patrol 1980

LABEL: GTO Records

FORMAT: 7-inch single, 45rpm

CREDITS: Findon/Myers/Puzey

B-SIDE: Once upon a happy ending

THEME: Boy chases girl kind of thing, if I recall correctly.

COVER:
Plain cover. Nice 80s GTO logo - pink on a grey background. Another of those spindly plastic centrepieces (see entry for REO Speedwagon).

AGE WHEN RELEASED:
12.

PHIL'S COMMENT:
Catchy chorus. For those who don't recall them, The Dooleys would be in the same category as bands like the Nolans and Bucks Fizz.

MY RATING TODAY:
The patrol hasn't ended. 7/10

WHAT THE WORLD WOULD SAY:
The patrol is coming under attack. 3/10

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REO SPEEDWAGON : Take it on the run 1980

LABEL: Epic

FORMAT: 7-inch single, 45rpm

CREDITS: G Richrath

B-SIDE: Someone tonight

THEME: He heard it from a friend, who heard it from a friend, who... heard it from another you'd been messing around.

COVER: Plain cover on this one, I'm afraid. Plus one of those interesting centrepieces to the single, with the big hole and the swirly bits of plastic creating the smaller hole that fits on the turntable. If you know what I'm talking about and can express it more elegantly, please e-mail.

AGE WHEN RELEASED: 12.

PHIL'S COMMENT: Now you're talking. This was a real foot-tapping anthem.

MY RATING TODAY:
That's the way I want it, baby. 8/10

WHAT THE WORLD WOULD SAY:
I've been taken for a ride. 5/10

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LIONEL RICHIE : Stuck on you 1983

LABEL: Motown

FORMAT: 7-inch single, 45rpm

CREDITS: Lionel Richie

B-SIDE: Round and round

THEME: He's leaving on that midnight train tomorrow and he knows just where he's going.

COVER: Lionel in full 80s garb. Oversized white jacket with rolled-up sleeves a la Don Johnson in Miami Vice. Striped trousers.

AGE WHEN RELEASED:
15.

PHIL'S COMMENT:
Maybe not quite in the 'Hello' league, but certainly a winner.

MY RATING TODAY:
I'm stuck on Lionel. 8/10

WHAT THE WORLD WOULD SAY:
I've stuck my head in the sand. 4/10

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JOE JACKSON: Steppin' out 1982

LABEL: A&M Records

FORMAT: 7-inch single, 45rpm

CREDITS: Joe Jackson

B-SIDE: Another world

THEME: Something about being young, but getting old before their time. Probably love and dating related, but I can't remember for sure.

COVER: Black-and-white photgraphy of Joe, who's wearing a fancy whistle and open-necked shirt.

AGE WHEN RELEASED:
14.

PHIL'S COMMENT:
The tune really stays with you and I think it's a track that very much epitomises the time. Not as good as earlier hits such as 'Different for girls' and 'Is she really going out with him?', but strangely I don't seem to have those tunes in my garage. I have a feeling Joe Jackson is a spokesman for some lobby group today. Whether he still records anything, I don't know.

MY RATING TODAY:
A step up from most stuff on the radio now. 7/10

WHAT THE WORLD WOULD SAY:
In step with me. 7/10

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LIONEL RICHIE : Say you, say me 1985

LABEL: Motown

FORMAT: 7-inch single, 45rpm

CREDITS: Lionel Richie

B-SIDE: Can't slow down

THEME: Love

COVER: Nice black-and-white shot of Lionel, wearing a leather jacket and a lot of hair gel.

AGE WHEN RELEASED:
17.

PHIL'S COMMENT:
The title song from White Nights. White Nights? What exactly was White Nights? This is perhaps not Lionel's greatest moment, but I remember the song very distinctly and could give you a fair bit of the lyric, so it was obviously memorable.

SAY ME TODAY:
7/10

SAY YOU TODAY:
5/10

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CHICAGO : Hard to say I'm sorry 1982

LABEL: Full Moon/WEA

FORMAT: 7-inch single, 45rpm

CREDITS: Cetera/Foster

B-SIDE: Sonny think twice

THEME: You're going to be the lonely one.

COVER: Mother of a Chicago logo on the front. Picture of the Chicago 16 album on the reverse.

AGE WHEN RELEASED:
14.

PHIL'S COMMENT:
A blockbuster ballad from the early 80s, courtesy of Peter Cetera. If there's anyone over 35 who doesn't know the tune, I'm a Dutchman.

MY RATING TODAY:
Nothing to say sorry about. 8/10

WHAT THE WORLD WOULD SAY:
Sorry. 6/10

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JOE DOLCE Music Theatre featuring Giuseppe : If you want to be happy 1981

LABEL: Epic

FORMAT: 7-inch single, 45rpm

CREDITS: Guitla/Guida/Royster

B-SIDE: Ain't been missing you

THEME: Pretty women aren't worth it.

COVER: It's in one of those cardboard single covers that you could buy when your original one got a bit dog-eared.

AGE WHEN RELEASED:
13.

PHIL'S COMMENT:
The follow-up to Shaddap you face was, I thought, pretty damn good. Not sure anyone else agreed. I think it reached something like 39 in the charts.

MY RATING TODAY:
One-a-more time for mama 7/10

WHAT THE WORLD WOULD SAY:
Joe was never forgiven for keeping Ultravox's Vienna off the Number One slot 3/10

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RONNIE & GORBI : Hello Ronnie, Hello Gorbi 1988

LABEL: MCA

FORMAT: 7-inch single, 45rpm

CREDITS: Ponchielli/Mike Read

B-SIDE: Singalongaronnieandgorbi (Instrumental Version)

THEME: A celebration of the end of the Cold War?

COVER: Plain white, giving nothing away.

AGE WHEN RELEASED:
20.

PHIL'S COMMENT:
My memory of this record is less than zero. The only clues I can find are the fact that the lyric is credited to Mike Read and that all the proceeds went to Comic Relief. If anyone knows anything about it, please e-mail me at dc.info@virgin.net I can only presume that it was a incisive social commentary on the battle between American neo-conservatism and the Gorbachevian constructs of glasnost and perestroika.

MY RATING TODAY:
Must have historic value. 6/10

WHAT THE WORLD WOULD SAY:
Should be consigned to history 2/10

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STEVE WALSH: I found lovin' 1987

LABEL: A.1. Records

FORMAT: 7-inch single, 45rpm

CREDITS: Flippin/Walker

B-SIDE: Double A-side with Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye (DeCarlo, Frasver, Leka)

THEME: Dance anthem

COVER: Mr Walsh is the centre of attention at a gig.

AGE WHEN RELEASED:
19.

PHIL'S COMMENT:
There are four price tickets on the sleeve. £1.75 was crossed out in favour of 99p. Steve Walsh's dancefloor classic was then reduced to 49p. Somehow or other, though, I managed to pick it up for just 25p. Not bad for a "completely new recording" that was "never released before". For more information on Steve, I needed to write to a PO Box Number in Wickford.

MY RATING TODAY:
I found a classic 8/10

WHAT THE WORLD WOULD SAY:
I need to find a sense of perspective 6/10

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KELLY MARIE: Loving just for fun 1980

LABEL: Calibre Plus

FORMAT: 7-inch single, 45rpm

CREDITS: Written by Yellowstone/Voice

B-SIDE: Fill me with your love

THEME: A lighthearted look at amorous intentions.

COVER: Mine's in an Island Records sleeve, which I think may have come originally from another record.

AGE WHEN RELEASED:
12.

PHIL'S COMMENT:
Kelly's head was often in a spin and her feet didn't touch the ground. I think this was why she was able to reach some impossibly high notes.

MY RATING TODAY:
I'd listen just for fun. 8/10

WHAT THE WORLD WOULD SAY:
Is she the one who did "Feels like I'm in love"? 4/10

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THE BUGGLES: The Plastic Age 1980

LABEL: Island Music Ltd

FORMAT: 7-inch single, 45rpm

CREDITS: Written by Horn/Downes

B-SIDE: Island

THEME: Social commentary on the nature of modern society.

COVER: I have some plain cover here. Perhaps the original Island sleeve went to Kelly Marie's "Loving just for fun"?

AGE WHEN RELEASED:
12.

PHIL'S COMMENT:
I think this was the single that followed "Video killed the radio star" and the guys were on a bit of a roll.

MY RATING TODAY:
Fantastic age. 8/10

WHAT THE WORLD WOULD SAY:
Drastic age. 5/10

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LIQUID GOLD: Dance yourself dizzy 1980

LABEL: Polo

FORMAT: 7-inch single, 45rpm

CREDITS: Written by Baker/Seago

B-SIDE: Dance yourself dizzy (instrumental)

THEME: Encouragement to party to excess.

COVER: Plain white single sleeve, I'm afraid.

AGE WHEN RELEASED:
12.

PHIL'S COMMENT:
They were certainly something on Top of the Pops. Didn't they play the xylophone on some bloke's chest? A cult classic from a one-hit wonder.

MY RATING TODAY:
Dizzy heights. 7/10

WHAT THE WORLD WOULD SAY:
Just a little unbalanced. 3/10

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STATUS QUO: What you're proposing 1980

LABEL: Vertigo

FORMAT: 7-inch single, 45rpm

CREDITS: Written by Rossi/Frost

B-SIDE: A B Blues

THEME: Is it to do with love or something? The lyric to this one is a little vague in my mind now.

COVER: It seems to be in some kind of Phonogram sleeve. They're based in Park Street, London. Or they were 24 years ago, anyway.

AGE WHEN RELEASED:
12.

PHIL'S COMMENT:
It was a catchy little number, wasn't it? But not perhaps in the class of something like Rockin' all over the world.

MY RATING TODAY:
A gentle introduction to head-banging. 6/10

WHAT THE WORLD WOULD SAY:
Like banging your head against a brick wall. 4/10

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THE RAH BAND: Clouds across the moon 1985

LABEL: RCA

FORMAT: 7-inch single, 45rpm

CREDITS: Written by Richard Hewson, Ha Ha Music

B-SIDE: Clouds across the moon (Solar Horizon Mix)

THEME: Space-stylee romance involving Mars Flight 247

COVER: Eighties-looking lady clutches eighties-looking phone, hoping for contact with astronaut lover

AGE WHEN RELEASED:
16

PHIL'S COMMENT:

"I'm not ashamed to say I badly need a friend... or it's the end..."

This is a good one. I can remember the tune to both the verse and the chorus, which is a very good sign. And a lot of the words as well.

MY RATING TODAY:
Mars Flight 247 is still flying high. 7/10.

WHAT THE WORLD WOULD SAY:
Houston, we have a problem. 5/10

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FIDDLER'S DRAM: Daytrip to Bangor (Didn't we have a lovely time) 1979

LABEL: Dingle's

FORMAT: 7-inch single, 45rpm

CREDITS: Written by Debbie Cook, Coley Music, from the album To See The Play

B-SIDE: The Flash Lad

THEME: Folksy number about a day trip to...er... Bangor

COVER: Plain sleeve for this one, I'm afraid

AGE WHEN RELEASED:
10

PHIL'S COMMENT:

"A beautiful day, we had lunch on the way... and all for under a pound you know."

You wouldn't get that lunch for under a quid these days, would you? Catchy little number, but definitely of its time. Not sure it would top the hit parade in the twenty-first century.

MY RATING TODAY:
Bangor on. 6/10

WHAT THE WORLD WOULD SAY:
Bangor out of order. 4/10

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ERIB B. & RAKIM: Follow the leader 1988

LABEL: MCA Records

FORMAT: 7-inch single, 45rpm

CREDITS: Written by E. Barrier, W. Griffin

B-SIDE: Follow the leader (dub)

THEME: Christ, I can't even remember this one. The only track of theirs that sticks in my mind is "Paid in Full", which was very good.

COVER: Lots of bling.

AGE WHEN RELEASED:
Pushing 20.

PHIL'S COMMENT:
This is a late 80s track, but I can't recall anything about it and don't have a record player any more, so can't listen to it again.

MY RATING TODAY:
Rating unavailable due to total amnesia.

WHAT THE WORLD WOULD SAY:
Rating unavailable due to total amnesia.

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BROWN SAUCE: I wanna be a winner/Hello Hello (Swap Shop Theme) 1981

LABEL: BBC Records & Tapes

FORMAT: 7-inch single, 45rpm

CREDITS: Written by Noel Edmonds and B A Robertson, produced by B A Robertson

B-SIDE: Double A-side

THEME: Drawing on the rich heritage of the Saturday morning TV show, Multi-coloured Swap Shop

COVER: Maggie Philbin, Keith Chegwin and Noel Edmonds live in concert

AGE WHEN RELEASED:
12

PHIL'S COMMENT:
What person of my age can honestly say they never dialled 01-811-8055? Swap Shop was an institution and this record really captured the spirit of the show. The first track was about winning awards and excelling in what you do. Major figures of the era, such as Kevin Keegan, President Reagan and Frank Bough all get a name check. As a bonus, the double A features the actual theme tune of the programme.

MY RATING TODAY:
Great sentimental value. 7/10

WHAT THE WORLD WOULD SAY:
Mental and of no value. 2/10

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