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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