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New Kids On The Blog...

Bryan Burnett | 18:11 UK time, Wednesday, 15 October 2008

Ìý hits1.jpgThere is a popular misconception (especially on the blog) that Smash Hits only ever featured the naff side of pop. Sure artists like New Kids On the Block and Kajagoogoo were staples but looking through some back issues it's amazing to think that the Skids, the associates, Bauhaus and X-ray Specs were all cover stars. Very little work has been done in the office this afternoon thanks to John in Sheildhall and Jan from Glasgow. They popped into the studios at lunchtime with a collection of magazines and associated memorabilia from the late 70s and early 80s. I've spent the afternoon 'researching' and reminding myself about bands like The Polecats, the Mod-ettes and Blue Rondo A La Turk. There was some respectable music journalism in those early issues and that irreverent approach that was a trademark of Smash Hits has been replicated elsewhere. The credits list includes David Hepworth and Mark Ellen who went on to form Q, Empire and Word magazines. Jan has also had her work featured in Smash Hits which you can see below. Bet that had Jimi Sommerville quaking in his DM boots... hits2.jpg

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Comments

  • Comment number 1.

    It's not exactly War and Peace is it?

    And if Bananarama were not the nadir of popular music, their collaboration with the appalling Fun Boy Three was.

  • Comment number 2.

    Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgh!............Lene Lovich.....

  • Comment number 3.

    remember the questions from the biscuit tin? They could be really bizarre!

  • Comment number 4.

    Brian

    Really enjoying the programme tonight. I too was starting high school in 1978 and loved all things Smash Hits. Would love to hear Bronski Beat and Small Town Boy despite Jan's objections!

    Hearing the Pet Shop Boys In Suburbia always makes me laugh as when I lived in Spain in 1986 the locals thought this was a tribute to a Spanish town - "En Segovia".

    Ann from Troon

  • Comment number 5.

    I also remember that smash hits had a real love affair with the band 'shampoo' they got really big in japan but I can only remember the song 'trouble which was well nippy!
    Just thought of 'we've got a fuzz box and we're gonna use it'! fab band and def not girly!

  • Comment number 6.

    glenmiller - I'm very hurt, all these years I've thought that a tongue in cheek letter written to a music magazine by two 16 year old girls would come pretty close to the literary prowess of Tolstoy.
    I did manage to find it in my heart to forgive Jimmy Somerville, and even went to see The Communards the following year.
    Great show Bryan and Barbara, and thanks for taking the time to show us around today.

  • Comment number 7.

    I was not, of course, referring to your incisive and eloquent lettter but to the magazine itself. This was equally unjustified because I have never read it.

    My mother threw out my New Musical Express collection - so put these petty comments down to envy.

    I will never forgive Bananarama, however, until Jimmy Somerville becomes a baritone.

    My apologies and I hope you had a great day.

  • Comment number 8.

    glenmiller - no need to apologise. I've actually never read War and Peace so consider us quits (as we used to say when I were a lass).

  • Comment number 9.

    Meant to say, I really enjoyed last night's show. I'm another one who never even so much as picked up a copy of Smash Hits - the NME was my periodical of choice - but yesterdays playlist could just as easily have been for the NME readership. How about an "Old Grey Whistle Test" night sometime. There were so many great performances on that show (Alex Harvey comes immediately to mind, and it was the show where I first saw Steve Forbert) and I'm sure Hawkwind and Frank Zappa must have been on it which would cheer some listeners up. Would be nice to hear a clip of Whispering Bob Harris too.

  • Comment number 10.

    Cheers, Julie - I don't think Hawkwind actually ever made it onto TOGWT, probably too much bass rumble for Whispering Bob to cope with, he was much more West Coast than Ladborke Grove. They did make ToTP with THAT song however. I was only glad to have the hoary old Hawkmeisters mentioned on Newsdrive!

    I also managed to sneak Hawkwind and Half Man Half Biscuit t-shirts onto recent episodes of Postcode Challenge as well though!

  • Comment number 11.

    is we workin` again?

  • Comment number 12.

    Do you remeber the crazy black and white old old cartoons they used to run with some of the more off the wall tracks? barnes and Barnes Fish Heads and Caoptain beefheart Ice Cream on Crow were I seem to remeber two expamles.

    I have the DVD set of OGWT performances and it is really good. I will check tonight just in case Hawkwind are on it!

  • Comment number 13.

    Seems so.

    break out the rioja, settle into the comfy chair & prepare to wallow( in such a good way) in a "Double Deckers" sized pool of nostalgia. Ahhhhhhhh..... the warm glow oozes out every pore! (or is that just LAST nights red wine!?!)

    1. U2 - Hold me thrill me kiss me kill me ( almost as good as the tv series original. altogether now na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na.... BATMAN!

    2. PSB -Absolutely Fabulous

    3. Manics -Suicide is painless

    4. The Who - Baba O`Reilly

    5. Maggie Bell - No Mean City

    Have we had a technology theme yet?

    Kraftwerk - Computer Love

    Costello - Just a Memory

    Kate Bush - Sat in My lap(top)

    Hot Chip -Ready for the floor

  • Comment number 14.

    Norrie - you're typing faster than you're thinking again :-)

    I do remember the cartoons - they were great. Although RoxyJohn would probably have a fair choice of tracks to nominate, loads of bands and singers appeared - from Prog Rock to Punk. Used to look forward to the Hogmanay shows too. Think Later with Jools Holland is the only show that's been a worthy successor.

  • Comment number 15.

    Julie - neither are particularly fast!

  • Comment number 16.

    There was a great Hogmanay show in about '93, which seemed too last most of Hogmanay and Ne'ersday when we gathered elsewhere to watch the handily done video.

    Otway and Barrett - classic hubris!

  • Comment number 17.

    Harry: I have a very small autograpoh collection and John Otway's signature comprises half of it!

  • Comment number 18.

    I meant autograph. Must cut my fingernails.

  • Comment number 19.

    Julie - I've got his, Wild Willy's and Eddie Stanton's (support act) on the back of an old 10 Regal fag packet from the DK50/80 tour.

    Similarly small collection - the other half of mine's Michael Moorcock's :-)

  • Comment number 20.

    Actually Harry, after some more thought I realise my autograph collection is quadruple the size I said it was, the others being both of The Proclaimers and Bella Emberg (Blunderwoman from The Russ Abbott Show)!!! Could make a fortune on e-bay with those couldn't I.

  • Comment number 21.

    so...I can't count now either...and I forgot ex-Hibs players Ulrik laursen and Franck Sauzee.

  • Comment number 22.

    I also overlooked John Greig (requested through gritted 11-year old Hibee teeth), and Fred Riddle top scorer with St Cuthberts Wanderers in the early 70s (we are very short of celebs down here in Galloway!).

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