Memorabilia Podcast

It's the second Madness LP released in 1980 that gets the full low-down from Rick and Kate for this 6th episode of the Memorabillia Podcast. Absolutely spawned two terrific singles in 'Baggy Trousers' and 'Embarrassment' but did the rest of the tracks live up to this standard? Our hosts fondly remember the Baggy Trousers video and in particular Lee Thompson's flying sax performance. Rick selects what would have been his single choices from the record rather than the record company's pick for the third single (Return of the Los Palmas 7).

There's a quick review of the 12 'Wedding Present' B-Sides (all covers) released in the 12 months of 1992.

Rick then counts down from 35 - 21 in the chart of the Top 50 American bands of all time as recently published by 'Ultimate Classic Rock'. 60's band Parliament/Funkadelic (name change at some point) ranking above the likes of Pearl Jam receives some consternation.

As the LP Absolutely was resleased in September 1980, this is the month that our hosts hone in on for a look at the top ten UK albums and singles, highest charting movies (with very much a musical theme - but which film was number one at the time of Absolutely's reslease? 'All that Jazz' or 'Fame'?) and what was popular on the telly? In the news, John Bonham sadly leaves us as another legendary Rocker releases his debut solo album - 'Blizzard of Oz'. In London, Chicago mobster Joseph Scarlise pulls off the Marlborough diamond robbery and you can discover why it wasn't the greatest planned heist in the history of crime capers! 

To finish, Rick requests contact from anyone that has listened to one of the podcast episodes who has never met or doesn't know either himself or Kate, and with the help of the random single of the week, asks 'Is Vic There'?  

A review of the debut album by The Wedding Present, George Best, from 1987. Kate questions when and where Rick purchased the LP knowing that his musical journey of discovery wasn't developed to such obscure indie tastes at the age of 15 when the LP was released. On her Wedding Present research journey, Kate discovers their latest release - Locked Down and Stripped Back - and the record quicky gets added to her Spotify playlist. She's particularly taken by their cover of the Sleeper song 'We should be together' featuring vocals from Louise Wener. 

We have the first podcast reviews in (even though they were from Rick's best mate and his cousin - cheers Dave and Dave!) and Kate discovers that 1987 wasn't the non-event she had envisaged - in fact, it was very much a year of strife and disaster around the globe. We visit the list of the 'Top 50 American Bands of all time' published by Ultimate Classic Rock, counting down from 50-36 and aren't impressed! 

We talk about producer Steve Albini, The Pixies, their LP Surfer Rosa, and fab American band 'OK-GO' (who would comfortably sit in our list of the top 20 groups from the USA!). In particular we give a huge thumbs up to their top, top single 'Here it Goes Again'. If you've never seen the video, stop reading now and go watch it on YouTube!!

Finally, we discuss what we've been watching on TV, and what books we've been reading. Strong reading recommendations for 'Invisible Women' by Caroline Criado Perez from Kate, and 'I am The Messenger' by Markus Zusak (author of The Book Thief) from Rick. 

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A true classic album for our 3rd LP deep dive - do we think that Blondie's most revered record stands the test of time? We talk about the history of the iconic band, how they came together, and what were the ingredients that made this, their 3rd LP, so special. All six members of the band - Debbie Harry, Chris Stein, Clem Burke, Jimmy Destri, Nigel Harrison and Frank Infante - had songwriting credits on the record, and so we look at their contributions on the twelve tracks, along with the three covers included on the album. It was a surprise to discover that one of these songs was actually not a Blondie original, and so we created a top 10 list of cover songs you probably didn't know were cover songs. Let us know if you have any suggestions to add that should have made our list!

Blondie's New York....& The Making Of Parallel Lines

BBC TV's "Swap Shop" 22 12 79 with Debbie Harry and Chris Stein

It’s December 1984 and Status Quo release the latest version of their greatest hits compilation, 12 Gold Bars volume 1 + 1. Kate questions why Rick owns the LP which leads us to Mods & Rockers, The Britannia Music Club, People from Suffolk, Live Aid, cassette tapes, naff films, Evil Kenevil, and Dolly Parton amongst other inane chat!

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Cheers,

Rick & Kate

A delve into Soft Cell’s debut LP from 1981 where we discuss Kate’s discovery of the band and subsequent love of all things Marc Almond. There's a review of the album tracks including mega hit and bone fide 80's classic Tainted Love, and a look back at what was going on in the world in 1981.

We cover the news, television events (including the second highest TV audience of all time in the UK and the first airing of one of the nation's favourite sit-coms), and the highest grossing films of 1981, featuring James Bond, a comic-book hero and the most famous archaeologist that's ever lived (on screen!)

We also cover what was troubling the UK album and singles charts around the time of release for Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret, featuring The Police, OMD, Haircut 100, Meatloaf, Soft Cell, Adam and the Ants, Queen, Shakin' Stevens and The Human League. 

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Cheers,

Rick & Kate