It Must Be Love – Madness [1981]

Stiff Records BUY 134

Madness are a Band that were formed in North London, England in 1976 and their style can be described as Ska/Pop, very popular at the time mainly by artists signed to the Two-Tone Record label which was the type of music my sister really enjoyed, so the house was filled with this sound. Over the years I bought many Madness singles and I have friends who have seen them live in concert many times. As a multi-instrumental group, the sorts of sound on their records include Harmonica, Piano, Saxophone, Trumpet/Brass, Bass, Guitars Drums, and percussion of all sorts. Lead vocals are by Graham “Suggs” McPherson, and full line up at the time were Chris Foreman, Lee Thompson, Chas Smash, Mark Bedford, Mike Barson and Daniel Woodgate.

A Side Label showing picture sleeve image and no record company logo, just catalogue number

Unusually for the band this single is actually a cover version of a 1971 hit written and recorded by Labi Siffre. It was a change in style from earlier releases but this is still given the full Madness treatment which opens with the piano by Mike Barson. There is inclusion of the iconic saxophone solo played by Lee Thompson.

There are even strings on this track. It has a gentle rhythm but still keeps a small element of Ska in places.

The music video features the composer of the song Labi Siffre with a cameo performance where he plays violin.

B side label giving details of the tracks on both sides.

Originally “It Must Be Love” was released as a stand alone single. It has featured on many compilations of the bands hits over the years.

Production was by Clive Langer & Alan Winstanley

It had an impact on some charts where it peaked at #4 in the UK, #5 in Ireland and #6 in Australia.

It was also a hit in New Zealand #21 and even made the US Billboard chart having a top 40 hit peaking at #33.

the B side “Shadow On The House” starts again with the piano which drives the melody. Its a breakup song almost in the old country music way of telling a story, but you can tell its a Madness song because it has a brilliant Sax solo on the fade out.

Four From Toyah (An Alternative Play Record) – Toyah (1981)

Safari Records TOY 1

Toyah Willcox could never be described as boring. Born in 1958, and a native of my home city Birmingham she is a TV presenter, Film and TV Actress, Author, but mainly known as a producer, writer and performer of music. Her acting career was carved out locally in the mid 1970’s as the punk revolution was taking place. Her dyed hair as a young teenager made her a focus of attention. In 1984 she started with the late Sir Lawrence Olivier in a TV Film “The Ebony Tower”

Toyah wanted to add another string to her bow with her acting career in full flow. Having moved to London towards the later 1970’s she began asking around if anyone needed a singer and eventually was introduced to Joel Bogan, other musicians were auditioned and the band were collectively named Toyah.

In 1979 they began recording what they described as an alternative play otherwise known as a 6 track EP called Sheep Farming In Barnet. After releasing studio albums, live recordings, and EP’s this Alternative Play with 4 tracks started to climb the UK chart, and appearances on Top of the Pops catapulted Toyah into the top ten for the first time reaching #4 in a 14 week run. Unusually this single plays at 33 ⅓ rather than 45 rpm.

Front Cover – Four From Toyah photo’s credited to Geoff Howes and acknowleged on the B -side of the record label

The main track played on radio was “It’s A Mystery”. The delivery in parts highlighted a slight lisp, however this doesn’t detract from this excellent recording of punk/new wave/gothic rock.

This was so different from earlier single releases and written by a friend Keith Hale and Toyah didn’t feel the song was right for her or her growing army of fans but the record company asked to record it.

Back Cover showing the titles of all the tracks

Its success may have come down to being more commercial as the other tracks featured on this AP are more non mainstream avant-garde “Revelations”, “War Boys” and “Angels and Demons”.

It’s A Mystery is included on Toyah’s most successful album “Anthem” which made #2 in the UK.

The line up at the time was Toyah Willcox – vocals, Joel Bogen – guitar, Phil Spalding – bass, Nigel Glockler – drums, and Adrian Lee – keyboards. Another two top ten hits came in quick succession. This was followed by “Four More From Toyah” the title track being “Good Morning Universe” reaching #14

Toyah Willcox is still active today recording albums and colaborating with other artists. She has been married for 30 years to Robert Fripp who is a musician, writer and guitarist. His Rock background has had him collaborate with dozens of well-known artists and was a member of the band King Crimson.

 

Stand And Deliver – Adam And The Ants (1981)

CBS Records CBS A1065

The early 1980’s was seeing a change in British music. The punk days were over and suddenly image, performance and video were the order of the day. No-one took this on board more than Adam and the Ants, who in a series of singles from 1980 to 1982 began an assault of the UK charts with catchy songs and carefully crafted videos. Image for the group was all important to their success.

Having started out in 1977 as a punk group and with continuous line up changes, in 1980 the group had a change in direction.

Back cover showing the latest line up (ever-changing) and introducing Gary Tibbs

The video had an appearance of actress Amanda Donohoe, Adam Ant’s girlfriend of the time. The follow-up single’s video “Prince Charming” featured popular British Actress Diana Dors who in her younger days was described as a British version of Marilyn Munroe.

Front cover of picture sleeve for “Stand and Deliver”

The cover front and back sum up the image and the songs content. “I’m a dandy highwayman who you’re too scared to mention. I spend my cash on looking flash and grabbing your attention …” say the lyrics. Written by Adam Ant with Marco Pirroni, who had a huge part in this success. It was the bands first of two #1 singles in a total of 7 top ten UK charted records. It stood at the top of the UK charts for 5 weeks and went on to sell 1.03 million copies in UK alone and resulted in a long chart run in Germany when peaking at #8. It even made the US Dance chart reaching #38. When the Ants disbanded in 1982, Pirroni continued to write with Adam for his solo career including the #1 UK and Australian hit “Goody Two Shoes”.

Slow Hand – Pointer Sisters (1981)

Planet Records K 12530

Many acts of the sixties and seventies were family affairs. This group of siblings “The Pointer Sisters” expanded from a duo to quartet between 1969 and 1973 comprised of June, Bonnie, Anita and Ruth Pointer. Bonnie left to pursue a solo career in 1978. After having hits in the US it was as a trio during the early 1980’s that the group found worldwide success with their mostly uptempo soul/rhythm and blues. This classic Richard Perry produced single was my first introduction to the Sisters. The song was written by John Bettis and Michael James Bruce Clark. The lyrics have a sexual undertone of a woman indicating what is wanted from her man and that their time together will be all night. The lead vocal is sung by Anita.

Picture sleeve for Slow Hand by the Pointer Sisters

“Slow Hand” was the first of three top ten singles for the sisters in the UK. It made #10 in its 6th week on an 11 week run on the top 75. It succeeded in getting to #2 in Ireland.

In Belgium and the Netherlands this was a top 40 hit. It had a lengthy run on the New Zealand charts peaking at #6 and got to #5 in Australia. In the US this was a huge hit reaching #2 on the Billboard top 100.

The single was nominated for a Grammy for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal in 1982. Over the years they have had 9 nominations and won 3 times.

B-Side Holdin’ Out For Love

The B side is the funky “Holdin’ Out For Love.”

They were signed to Producer Richard Perry’s label Planet Records distributed by Warner Brothers, later sold to RCA Records which was the label for their 1985 hit “Dare Me”. When leaving RCA they released material on the Motown label during the 1990’s.

The line up today is ever changing featuring a combination of daughters and grand daughters. June officially left the group in 2004 but sadly passed away in 2006 from cancer.

Star – Kiki Dee (1981)

Ariola Records ARO 251

This single with music and lyrics by Doreen Chanter was written at a time of the early days of MTV and perhaps a less robust celebrity culture by today’s standards but the subject matter is probably just as relevant today as it was in the early 1980’s. The single describes the ups and downs of stardom from being this weeks big thing to next weeks unknown, also the pressures of the media but points out there are other artists out there wanting to be a star.

Picture Sleeve – Star

Kiki Dee was born Pauline Matthews in Bradford, England in 1947 and started her career singing with local dance bands and after being spotted was signed up by Fontana Records in 1963. Over the next 10 years Kiki released several singles and albums with a Phil Spector / Northern Soul feel and even signed to Tamla Motown Records during 1970. Kiki performed backing vocals for other artists such as Dusty Springfield and appeared on British TV but in 1973 having signed to Rocket records her chart career kicked off with the top twenty classic “Amoureuse”

Kiki Dee collaborated with good friend Elton John in 1976, subsequently this led to a world-wide #1 song “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart”.

B Side – Give It Up

Later in 1993 they collaborated again back at Rocket Records with the  #2 hit  “True Love”.  In between, Kiki had moved to Ariola Records and it was during this period “Star” produced by Pip Williams became her 8th charted top 40 hit in the UK when released in 1981 reaching #13 in a 10 week run on the chart.

The B-Side “Give It Up” is a song she co-wrote with American Eric Kaz who has written several hit records for a wide variety of artists. After over 50 years Kiki is still active writing and performing.