Top Ten Reasons...
…why the years 1981 – 1984 DIDN’T suck.
Last week, my pal Gordon had the bare-faced temerity to suggest that we’d all have been a lot better off, thank you very much, had the years 1981 – 1984 not existed, thus saving us the embarrassment of walking around for 48 months with those Flock of Seagulls hairstyles. Obviously I couldn’t let this outrageous affront go by unchallenged (I LOVED getting that haircut) so being the reasonable and cultured soul that I am, I offered to give him a right good kickin’. Gordon replied that perhaps pistols at dawn would be a more gentlemanly way to settle the matter but quite quickly we realised that neither of us had the resources to go through with this – we don’t ‘do’ dawn. So, since the keyboard is mightier than the Walmart handgun, here’s a few wordy retorts off the top of my head...
1. Raiders of the Lost Ark – July, 1981
The perfect cinematic experience.
2. The Police – Ingliston, Edinburgh – December 31st, 1981
My first time seeing them in concert was absolutely electric. Best Hogmany ever.
3. Rory Gallagher – The Apollo, Glasgow – May 1982
The legendary rockin’ Irish bluesman in the most legendary venue of them all. The after-show party was pretty good too!!!
4. John Cougar Mellencamp – ‘Jack & Diane’ – October 1982
The perfect rock ‘n roll single.
5. Diner – November 1982
The best film I saw whilst bunking off lectures at university and still an all-time favourite.
6. The Tube – Channel 4 – November 1982
Arguably the best live music television show ever.
7. Cheers – Channel 4 – February 1983
Arguably the best sit-com ever.
8. Aztec Camera – ‘High Land, Hard Rain’ – April 1983
Amazing, still, to think that Roddy Frame was just a teenager when he wrote this perfect collection of pop songs.
9. The Signals – The Kinneil Bar, Bo’ness – December 24th, 1983
The debut live show from the ‘classic’ line–up performed in a venue that the locals affectionately called ‘death hole’. Memorably, the DJ retained a sizeable length of lead pipe under his decks “in case they b#stards get o’er excited like”.
10. Bruce Springsteen – ‘Born In The USA’ – June 1984
Despite the bombastic title track and Courtney Cox’s dancing in the dark, this is a perfectly observed collection of songs about small town life. A late night favourite in The Signals van on the way home from gigs. Oh, and 1982’s ‘Nebraska’ is arguably better still.
So all that and I haven’t even mentioned E.T., Starman, Return of the Jedi, The Right Stuff, The Natural, The Verdict, Tender Mercies, Rocky III, Ghostbusters, Footloose, Thriller, The Unforgettable Fire, War, Synchronicity, Dare, The Lexicon of Love, The Crossing, Steeltown, Sparkle in the Rain, Dare, Sexual Healing, Rip It Up, Party Fears Two, Town Called Malice and of course, The Allan Hendry Band, live at the Alma Theatre, Falkirk on June 17th 1983. What a night!
Feel free to add your own special memories at your leisure.
Last week, my pal Gordon had the bare-faced temerity to suggest that we’d all have been a lot better off, thank you very much, had the years 1981 – 1984 not existed, thus saving us the embarrassment of walking around for 48 months with those Flock of Seagulls hairstyles. Obviously I couldn’t let this outrageous affront go by unchallenged (I LOVED getting that haircut) so being the reasonable and cultured soul that I am, I offered to give him a right good kickin’. Gordon replied that perhaps pistols at dawn would be a more gentlemanly way to settle the matter but quite quickly we realised that neither of us had the resources to go through with this – we don’t ‘do’ dawn. So, since the keyboard is mightier than the Walmart handgun, here’s a few wordy retorts off the top of my head...
1. Raiders of the Lost Ark – July, 1981
The perfect cinematic experience.
2. The Police – Ingliston, Edinburgh – December 31st, 1981
My first time seeing them in concert was absolutely electric. Best Hogmany ever.
3. Rory Gallagher – The Apollo, Glasgow – May 1982
The legendary rockin’ Irish bluesman in the most legendary venue of them all. The after-show party was pretty good too!!!
4. John Cougar Mellencamp – ‘Jack & Diane’ – October 1982
The perfect rock ‘n roll single.
5. Diner – November 1982
The best film I saw whilst bunking off lectures at university and still an all-time favourite.
6. The Tube – Channel 4 – November 1982
Arguably the best live music television show ever.
7. Cheers – Channel 4 – February 1983
Arguably the best sit-com ever.
8. Aztec Camera – ‘High Land, Hard Rain’ – April 1983
Amazing, still, to think that Roddy Frame was just a teenager when he wrote this perfect collection of pop songs.
9. The Signals – The Kinneil Bar, Bo’ness – December 24th, 1983
The debut live show from the ‘classic’ line–up performed in a venue that the locals affectionately called ‘death hole’. Memorably, the DJ retained a sizeable length of lead pipe under his decks “in case they b#stards get o’er excited like”.
10. Bruce Springsteen – ‘Born In The USA’ – June 1984
Despite the bombastic title track and Courtney Cox’s dancing in the dark, this is a perfectly observed collection of songs about small town life. A late night favourite in The Signals van on the way home from gigs. Oh, and 1982’s ‘Nebraska’ is arguably better still.
So all that and I haven’t even mentioned E.T., Starman, Return of the Jedi, The Right Stuff, The Natural, The Verdict, Tender Mercies, Rocky III, Ghostbusters, Footloose, Thriller, The Unforgettable Fire, War, Synchronicity, Dare, The Lexicon of Love, The Crossing, Steeltown, Sparkle in the Rain, Dare, Sexual Healing, Rip It Up, Party Fears Two, Town Called Malice and of course, The Allan Hendry Band, live at the Alma Theatre, Falkirk on June 17th 1983. What a night!
Feel free to add your own special memories at your leisure.
posted by Neil @ 12:01 am
6 comments
6 Comments:
I vote for Bill Murray. He did some of his funniest and best stuff in the 80s--Stripes, Tootsie, Ghostbusters.
"I think we're getting into a weird area here" (Tootsie)
My sister was born in 1983 (I'm not trying to make you feel old, it's just a fact) and although we have our differences, I am glad she exists, and would not negate the year 1983 for any money or alcohol, although being a raving alcoholic does tempt me, I still have SOME morals left. When are you going to visit your (hammered) friend Neily?
Ps Word verification is unfair on drunks
Blimey, one flippant statement does not a .. umm.. thingy... make.
Yes, some good things happened in the 80s. SOME.
The rest? Dross.
Now, who is this Rory Gallagher chap you speak of? And "Cheers" is on your list? Good god man!
Neil,
Ah, the early 1980's - a cultural high point as I think you have now proven.
You may wish to check out the 30 Second Bunnies remake of raiders on angryalien it's a classic.
Who is Rory Gallagher?!!!! Talk about cultural awareness!! Is it possible that some people didn't possess at least one Rory Shirt? I'll bet one was lying on Haircut 100's bed.
DC
I don't have the Rory Gallagher t-shirt but I do still have the badge - does that count?
Ah, the early '80s. Thin Lizzy at the Odeon in Edinburgh, The Boomtown Rats and The Who at the Playhouse. And, of course, Elvis Costello & the Attractions in........ West Calder.
I had two of my favourite children in the 1980's.
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