T Rex - Metal Guru

On Sunday the 30th of September will be the birthday of Marc Bolan and I thought it would be nice to put this on as a little Happy Birthday nod to him. He was killed in September 1977 a few days before his 30th birthday and the music world lost a true genius.

Metal Guru was released in May 1972 and got to number 1 for 4 weeks. This was the last chart topper T Rex would have although several singles would crack the top 10. It never charted in America and I think really, Marc was only a British superstar but they were the first band to send all the fans into a frenzy, or as it was known T Rextasy since the Beatles!

Here is the single, on his own label given to him by EMI, the sign of a true superstar. Put a liitle Marc in your heart R.I.P

Soft Cell - Torch

A single that is number 2 on my all time favourite list, originally came out in the spring of 1982 and also reached number 2 in the charts. To me, the best version of the track is the 12'' version, the full 10 minutes of amazing lyrics, great tune and even female vocals from their then drug dealer, Cindy Extasty! I read that all Soft Cell's singles, were actually recorded as full 12'' extended versions and the 7'' version would be edited from the finished track which I think is a really good idea of how to record a track. Usually remixes in those days would just have an instrumental bit added in somewhere for effect. Another one of those impulse buys, I never heard the song before but had bought the last single, played this and loved it ever since. It's a shame really that this doesn't get the plays or gets picked for compilation albums, it's always seems to be Tainted Love!

Dusty Springfield - I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself

This heart tugger of a killer track written by Burt Bacharach & Hal David for an American artist called Tommy Hunt in 1963. Dusty had been to New York, heard the track and bought a copy back home to the UK to record. This was her 3rd solo single release and became the classic Dusty sound, complete with the trademark, thick eyeliner and beehive hair-do was enough to get the single to number 3 in the UK charts in the summer of 1964. The single got an American release but didn't get into the Billboard charts although Dionne Warwick's version managed to chart.

The Human League - Rock N Roll

This was the bands 4th single and a cover of Gary Glitter's Rock N Roll (Part 1). It was released in May 1980 and climbed to number 56 in the UK chart after an appearance on Top Of The Pops. Originally it was released as a double single called Holiday 80 E.P, with the song being a joined up effort with Iggy Pop's Nightclubbing and at that time the band had started to tour to promote the single and the release of the album Travelogue. The single originally was left off the vinyl release of the album, only to be included on the CD version of the album. The 7'' single was just Rock N Roll as the A Side track.

This single brings great memories back as I was really getting into electronic music at that time, 1980 seemed to be the year for synth tracks. Me and my sister saw the guys on TOTP and she bought us tickets to see them at Hull City Hall the same week they were on the show. I played and played this single and it is pretty worn now, they were one of the first bands I saw live and when I saw them live it was awesome, Phil at the front with the guys on keyboards with Adrian's slide show to fit each track. Who would have thought barely a year later and the band would be so successful!

Blondie - Picture This

After having two top 20 hits in the UK, the band released this single in the summer of 1978 and got to number 12 in the UK charts. Released on limited edition yellow vinyl and was also the first single off the forth coming Parallel Lines album giving us an idea what to expect off the new album (and nobody was dissapointed) also the cover of the single was used as the picture disc version of the album. A classic piece of pop which I always remember it being played on the radio, but I am really surprised to find out the single never got an American release! Here's the single plus the scan of the yellow vinyl 7''.

10CC - I'm Not In Love

This classic single was released in 1975 and became an instant masterpiece. The drummer of the band Kevin Godley came up with the idea of replacing the backing track and to use the bands voices instead. Each member of the band recorded one note which was dubbed and mixed onto a master tape which created a multi layered choir effect. Complete with vocals from Eric Stewart and the secetary of the guys recording studio provided the girl's voice in the intrumental break repeating "Big boys don't cry" which they decided on after she walked in to pass a message to the band.

The band were after a new record contract and signed to Mercury Records after the label heard the track and offered them a 5 album deal. The single was released at the beginning of June and hit number 1 for two weeks and got to number 2 in America. It has become a heavily covered single and has featured on quite a few film and TV soundtracks over the years, an always popular track to feature on love song compilations it remains an ever popular single!

John Miles - Music

John Miles 6 minute epic might only contain 2 verses (one repeated) but what a single. One of the first I remember to pair off a rock band with an orchestra (I don't want to include ELO here). To me the lyrics say it all how I feel about music and I guess the record buying public of 1976 agreed to as this went to number 3 and to me is a classic single that always seems to get over looked when they compile these classic singles TV shows.

John only really had 4 hit singles in the UK but he is more known for working with other musicians and worked with Tina Turner quite a lot. If you get a chance, listen to this track, it still is an awesome song!