Thanks to Charlie Horse 47 and Killdumpster for their sponsorship of this post, via the magic of Patreon.
***
Everybody loves a good old cockney knees-up.
Therefore, the world must have been delighted in February 1985 when the BBC finally launched a chuckle-packed answer to ITV's Coronation Street, with the debut of its South Eastern counterpart Eastenders.
Meanwhile, further north, around 4,000 striking coal miners returned to work, meaning that only just over half the nation's colliers were now still on strike.
Further afield, it was a month which saw the border between Gibraltar and Spain reopen for the first time since General Franco closed it in 1969.
And what of the charts? Just what were we singing while all that was going on?
We were singing I Know Him So Well by Elaine Paige and Barbara Dickson because that record spent the whole of February atop the UK singles chart. As we all know so well, that was written by the two blokes from ABBA along with Tim Rice from Andrew Lloyd Webber and was from that trio's musical Chess.
This issue also serves up an interview in which Superman producer Ilya Salkind talks about his latest project Santa Claus.
Plus, there are insights into the making of The Last Starfighter and Arnie's current offering The Terminator.
There's also a look back at the Tom Baker era serial Revenge of the Cybermen and an interview with Michael Bryant who directed it and several other stories in the 1970s.
There's an investigation into whether the show's unsuitable for children, and the final part of the magazine's latest comic strip; the one the world knows only as Polly the Glot.
Plus, for those who still miss her, there's a pin-up of dagger-wielding jungle queen Leela.
Meanwhile, the Daleks' worst enemy Abslom Daak encounters a Massacre on Mazam.
And Night-Raven's up against the menace of Blind Justice.
Then, John Tomlinson and Jeff Anderson bring us Part 2 of The Paragon of Painthorpe Street before Steve Parkhouse and Jerry Paris complete the proceedings, with the Freefall Warriors in A Cat Out of Hell.
Marvel's adaptation of Conan the Destroyer continues unabated and I predict it'll feature much action from Grace Jones' character.
Apparently, there's also material in this issue that we'd associate with the tragically defunct Mighty World of Marvel but I don't have the slightest clue just what that material might be.
I do, however, wear a suspicion we'll also be treated to a profile of Conan creature Robert E Howard. Though, let's be honest, profiles of Robert E Howard are always a bit depressing.
Posts
10 comments:
Sorry for detour! I was first concerned I had only a minimal idea of who Oasis was in The context of this huge comeback tour. I watched a little bit on Facebook. Now I am deluged with videos for a band called “blur. “. Was there really a huge rivalry in the UK between Blur and Oasis as this rock-umentary portrays? Never can be quite sure about such pop culture stuff…
That was CH47 on Blur v Oasis
Steve, profiles of REH (and introductions to collections of his work) wouldn’t be nearly so depressing if the writers of said pieces didn’t always feel obligated to remind us that he blew his brains out at the age of 30. Like, EVERY. DAMN. TIME.
On the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 for this week in ‘85 there’s a lot of rubbish, a bunch of decent songs that I’ve just heard too many times , and not quite a handful of tunes that I still enjoy listening to on occasion:
#57: Rebel Yell — Billy Idol
#52 : Fields of Fire — Big Country
#24 : Middle of the Road — Pretenders
#3 : 99 Luftballons — Nena
b.t.
Sheana E’s Sugar Walls aint doin it for ya BT???
BT - You may be looking at the wrong Bill Board chart. 99 Luftballoons was like 1983-84 not 85? I dont see it on the Feb 22,1985, chart.
Dang, you’re right! Oops
b.t.
The February 1985 Hot 100 is even less appealing, I’m afraid. Oof. Struggling to find ANY that I wouldn’t switch channels over. “Relax” by Frankie Goes To Hollywood, maybe.
b.t.
The 80s… when INDIANA JONES first cracked his whip and PATRICK SWAYZE taught us how to DIRTY DANCE…
Anyhow Charlie woild NOT channel flip if these tunes came on:
BRONSKI BEAT - SMALL TOWN BOY
JULIAN LENNON- TOO LATE FOR GOODBYES
BRYAN ADAMS- SOMEBODY
Been a looong time since I’ve heard ‘em!
This was a puzzling month for fans of The Smiths. How Soon is Now? Was issued as a single in Jan 85, despite being the b-side to the 12” single of William it was really nothing, and included on the Hatful of Hollow album (both released the prior year). I had both, as presumably did many other Smiths fans (I reckon there was only a 100,000 of us at the time). Meat is Murder was a brilliant album, but not supported with a single. Instead, they released Shakespear’s Sister in March. They then released That Joke isn’t Funny Anymore (from the album) in July. As a rule, The Smiths 12” singles included great extra tracks that often didn’t make it onto the albums, and so were worth generally buying, however the bizarre release schedule often worked against any chance of chart success.
I only had Captain Britain monthly #2, of this bunch, but remember it fondly.
DW
Charlie, Yes there was a rivalry between Blur and Oasis in the 1990s which culminated in a ( press led) chart battle when they both released singles on the same date - Blur "won" with their single "Country House" beating Oasis' "Roll with it" to the number 1 spot. There was also the class element where Manchester Oasis were seen as working class and Blur were the posh lads from London/"down south".
I had none of these conics/mags I'm afraid .
Post a Comment