Thanks to Charlie Horse 47 and Killdumpster for their sponsorship of this post, via the magic of Patreon.
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Just what wonders did the cinemas of the world contain as the year of 1985 approached its icy death?
Among other treats, they contained Young Sherlock Holmes, The Jewel of the Nile, Clue, Legend, Brazil, The Color Purple, Out of Africa, A Chorus Line, Enemy Mine and Revolution.
Some of those films, I've seen.
And some of those films, I've not.
Of the ones I've experienced, I would say Jewel in the Nile was the one I enjoyed most, although I must confess The Color Purple may be slightly more culturally significant.
On the UK singles chart, December launched with Wham's I'm Your Man gripping the top spot. However, that was soon forced to recede by Whitney Houston's Saving All My Love for You which then had to make way for the festive feast of fun-filled frivolity that was Shakin' Stevens' Merry Christmas, Everyone. Truly, there was no stopping the Shakester in the 1980s.
When it came to LPs, December began with Now That's What I Call Music! 6 ruling the UK roost before that made way for the only record that was ever going to beat it. And that record was Now - the Christmas Album, although, strangely, as Christmas hit us, Now That's What I Call Music! 6 reclaimed the top spot to depart the year, once more, supreme.
On the UK singles chart, December launched with Wham's I'm Your Man gripping the top spot. However, that was soon forced to recede by Whitney Houston's Saving All My Love for You which then had to make way for the festive feast of fun-filled frivolity that was Shakin' Stevens' Merry Christmas, Everyone. Truly, there was no stopping the Shakester in the 1980s.
When it came to LPs, December began with Now That's What I Call Music! 6 ruling the UK roost before that made way for the only record that was ever going to beat it. And that record was Now - the Christmas Album, although, strangely, as Christmas hit us, Now That's What I Call Music! 6 reclaimed the top spot to depart the year, once more, supreme.
And is there news of the galaxy's greatest comic?
There is indeed.
It was still feeding us a diet of Strontium Dog, Sláine, Judge Dredd, Rogue Trooper and The Mean Team.
But there was some innovation. After all, that month, the comic gave us the power of You Are Sláine - Tomb of Terror which seems to have been a Fighting Fantasy type game involving dice and life-or-death decision-making. Did Sláine tend to do a lot of decision-making? My main recollection of him is that, whenever there was trouble, he'd just Hulk-out and hack the trouble to pieces.
It was still feeding us a diet of Strontium Dog, Sláine, Judge Dredd, Rogue Trooper and The Mean Team.
But there was some innovation. After all, that month, the comic gave us the power of You Are Sláine - Tomb of Terror which seems to have been a Fighting Fantasy type game involving dice and life-or-death decision-making. Did Sláine tend to do a lot of decision-making? My main recollection of him is that, whenever there was trouble, he'd just Hulk-out and hack the trouble to pieces.
Strangely, despite DR and Quinch dominating the cover of December's final issue, all indications are that they don't actually appear inside it.
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17 comments:
These issues are pretty good, on balance. The first two (with Fabry covers) contain some nice Fabry Slaine art, and the spot art on the Slaine game is by Garry Leach. Admittedly the best of which is the splash-intro in prog 447. Those two also feature reprints of classic Bolland Dredd covers (He is the Law and Judge Fish) which were also used on the Eagle monthlies around this time. Hopefully Bolland was re-imbursed for their multiple use (however, I think we all know the answer...).
Prog 450 has a lovely wrap around Dr & Quinch cover, but you're correct Steve, they dont appear inside. However we are treated to a 14 page (count them!) Steve Dillon Christmas themed Dredd story. And even more exiting, an add for Halo Jones returning next week.
No Christmas single by The Smiths, this year, but I remember Pet Shop Boys' West End Girls getting a lot of airplay around this time. I really liked this single which seemed both new, and yet old, at the same time.
DW
I bought NOW - THE CHRISTMAS ALBUM and helped it get to No.1 but mine was the cassette version so it was called NOW - THE CHRISTMAS TAPE. Apparently Shakin' Stevens was the best-selling singles artist of the '80s in the UK - I don't know if that's true or not!
DW, the Pet Shop Boys' WEST END GIRLS reached No.1 on January 7th 1986.
DW - I must say that Pet Shop Boys’ West End Girls is a particular fav of Charlie’s as well along with Domino Dancing. Love that bass line!
PS-what’s with the meager 5-game soccer weekends now? We have to wait 2 weeks to see the 6th best team in the EPL play i.e., West Ham?!
Charlie
The FA cup is prioritised during January. After this mornings tepid display, West Ham wont have to worry about this for another year. Hopefully we get the half-dozen absent players back soon or its going to be a miserable few months.
Colin
I remember it peaking at no.1 but it seemed to be 'that' song that was always being played on the juke box/p.a etc. over the Christmas holidays. I bought their debut album 'Please' on the strength of West End Girls.
DW
BTW.
How did I manage to misspell exciting and ad in the same sentence...?
DW
Does anyone know what story that smashing glass cover on 449 represents? I can’t tell.
That’s my favourite.
I did go and see Jewel Of The Nile but much later, around April 1986 - quirks of UK regional distribution. But I hadn’t seen Romancing The Stone so the story and characters were meaningless and it seemed crap as well.
I bought a female friend of mine the I’m Your Man 12” picture disc for Christmas. I can’t say I actually have a favourite Wham! record but that one edges closest to the title.
Brazil was in cinemas much earlier in the UK and the rest of Europe, Steve, around the start of 1985. It was the American release date that was in December, after a protracted dispute over a recut between director Terry Gilliam, and the US distributors who put together a different version with a happy ending.
I'm going to assume you haven't seen the film, as its hard to think of any other reason for preferring Jewel Of The Nile. Thats not to say that Brazil doesn't have flaws, but like Bladerunner its one of the more striking films of the era anyway in spite of them.
Michael Palin - who I understand comes from Sheffield - is particularly good in it.
-sean
No 2000ad or Dredd annuals, Steve? Oh well, suppose you haven't done them in this feature for a couple of years now, and the 1986 ones we're fairly reprint heavy anyway. Although on the plus side that did mean we got a lot of Shako.
The full wraparound cover of prog 450 can be seen at -
https://www.greatnewsforallreaders.com/blog/2017/12/24/on-this-day-28-december-1985-2000ad-prog-450
Also possibly of interest here, I noticed on the same site that it was during the 85/86 season that Melchester Rovers signed up a couple of the lads from Spandau Ballet -
https://www.greatnewsforallreaders.com/blog/2016/10/17/on-this-day-19-october-1986-roy-of-the-rovers
Goal! Always believe in your so-oul...
-sean
PS Despite what the link says, that is actually the Oct '85 issue of Roy of the Rovers.
I remember seeing on some dopey TV thing about the new romantics that Spandau Ballet we're from Highbury. So I suppose we should be grateful that at least they didn't play for Arsenal.
Although currently that might an improvement. I mean, at the moment its what following West Ham must be like. Almost.
-sean
*Ffs why does my notepad keep changing were to we're? Its really @#*%ing annoying.
People might start to think I'm some sort of illiterate moron.
-sean
Sean - As regards "we're" - alternatively, you yourself could be a member of Spandau Ballet! Worse than being mistaken for an illiterate moron, perhaps? Melchester sounds like a fictional cathedral city, a la Ken Follett, et al !
Phillip
On the subject of NOW THE CHRISTMAS ALBUM/TAPE - I think 1985 was the year that cassettes outsold vinyl LPs for the first time. I remember hearing that earth-shattering fact on the BBC's Whistle Test (the new groovy name for The Old Grey Whistle Test).
Matthew
The cover to prog449 represents the Slaine Tomb of Terror game that appears throughout these prog (but different to the ongoing Slaine series by Mills/Fabry/Pugh). It's a text adventure thing with spot illustrations by Gary Leach. Den Of Geeks suggests the cover artist is Robin Smith but it doesn't appear signed and I reckon its also a Leach. I suspect its a blown up spot illustration, hence unsigned.
I agree its a nice cover, though. I've never played those dice adventure games and so no idea if this one is any good.
DW
Sean, I must confess I totally forgot about the annuals.
Colin, If I remember right, Shaky spent more weeks on the UK singles chart in the 1980s than any other male solo artist.
Sean -
Ah, thank you. All that role-playing stuff 2000AD did in the mid-80s is a complete blind spot for me. I was re-reading bits of a Titan Nemesis book which reprints some of it the other day and my eyes just can't fix on the page. It's so boring.
I'd say that cover probably is a Robin Smith, though. Even a blown-up spot illustration by Gary Leach would be more precise than that.
That was DW, Matthew.
I guess you won't be too fussed if by some chance Steve forgets to include Diceman in this feature...
-sean
Sorry DW - thanked the wrong person. Cheers!
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