Leo Sayer - Thunder In My Heart

Yesterday, while I was going home I listened on my car radio the song by Leo Sayer "Thunder In My Heart". At first moment this song seemed to be very familiar to me but I needed about a minute to recognize who performs it. It won't be a big slip if I say that I didn't listened to this song more than thirty five years. I'm not a great fan of music created by such artists like Leo Sayer but accidentely I encountered on him when I bought a compilation vinyl album titled "Heart Of Glass and Other Hits" (Pronit - SX 1841, Tonpress - SX 1841) released in Poland around a year 1979. The reason I have bought this record was its setlist comprising mainly tracks of new wave and rock stars like Blondie, Rory Gallagher, Ten Years After, UFO or Jethro Tull but the addition to them were songs by pop or disco artists : Nick Gilder, Frankie Miller, The Babys and Leo Sayer. Thereby I played this album as a whole on my gramophone so many times I also became fond of Leo Sayer's hit "Thunder In My Heart" compiled on B-side of that record. By the way, it peaked at number 22 on the UK Singles Chart and number 38 on US Billboard Hot 100.

A-ha - Summer Moved On

This year's summer is almost over but it's still warm and sunny. It's got to be a hot and lazy Sunday, the last one in August. So, searching for a song being in the adequate mood for today I found one of the most sophisticated ballads recorded in year 2000 by a Norvegian pop giants A-ha titled "Summer Moved On" (WEA - 3984 29692-2). By the way, the brand new studio album from A-ha, their tenth one, titled "Cast In Steel" is scheduled to be released on 4th September 2015.

Level 42 - My Independence Day

Level 42 is an unusual group that didn't experienced almost any distinctive changes to its music over last 35 years. Once they started as the jazz-funk influenced dance orientable band way back in 1979 they maintained this style and image throughout  whole of their career. What more, they achieved quite a big success, especially int the 80's when they released several albums which were highly acclaimed by music press and well received by audience, so thanks to them they gained worldwide fame. Their last to this date production is a six track EP entitled "Sirens", self-released by band on 31 October 2013. My personal choice from this record is the charming song titled "My Independence Day".

Altered Images - Dead Popstars

A new wave Scottish band Altered Images is a fine example what creativity, unique sound and support from one of the most known radio disc jockeys (BBC Radio 1 presenter John Peel) can produce and change a provincial tiny group of youngsters into a medium sized pop stars. This band was formed in Glasgow1979 by ex-school friends Clare Grogan (vocals), Johny McElhone (guitar), Gerard McNulty (guitar), Tony McDaid (bass) and Michael Anderson (drums) and in a one year it's got attention enough to play as a support for Siouxsie and the Banshees and to record their first songs with Steve Severin as their producer. Frequent live performances helped them to develop their unique sound which drew attention of aforementioned John Peel, who invited them to record a session for his BBC 1 show in October 1980. The songs from this session sounded very natural, fresh, sharp and good enough to prompt John Peel to help them to sign the contract with major record label Epic.The next three years brought the three successful albums and several singles that reached Top 40 status on the UK Singles Chart, but Altered Images were losing gradually their new wave sound and image, becoming just before their split up in 1984 a mere disco band.

Roman Holiday - Motormania

Exactly thirty years ago on 22nd October 1983 a song titled "Motormania" released by London based group Roman Holiday debuted on the UK Single Chart at number 40. It's a pity but it didn't go any further next week, so it was the highest chart position for this song.  

Tones On Tail - Pop, Twist & Happiness

Tones On Tail was formed by Daniel Ash, a guitarist in the gothic rock legend group Bauhaus as his musical side project in 1982. He took as a partner in this project his school friend and flatmate Glenn Campling (bass, keyboards). As the duo they released in two years time (1982 - 1983) three consecutive EPs and maxi-singles : "Tones On Tail" (4AD BAD 203, 1982, tracklist : "A Bigger Splash", "Copper", "Means Of Escape", "Instrumental") , "There's Only One" (Beggar's Banquet BEG 85T, 1982, tracklist : "There's Only One", "Now We Lustre"), "Burning Skies" ( Situation Two SIT 21T, 1983, tracklist : "Burning Skies", "OK, This Is The Pops", "When You're Smiling", "You, The Night And The Music"). The sound they created was almost opposite to dark, gloomy music of Bauhaus. It was much lighter, more rhythmic, dance orientated, an innovative pop. Soon after Bauhaus split up in 1983 they were joined by another member of this band, a drummer Kevin Haskins. In a few months' time they recorded their only full-length studio album entitled "Pop" (Beggar's Banquet BEGA 51) which was released in April 1984. This album could be described as a true gem, musically varied, perfectly played and arranged. Complete album's tracklist : "Lions", "War", "Happiness", "The Never Never (Is Forever)", "Performance", "Slender Fungus", "Movement Of Fear", "Real Life", "Rain". Alongside this album they released next three singles : "Performance"/"Shake" (Beggar's Banquet BEG 106T, March 1984), "Lions"/"Go (Club Mix)" (Beggar's Banquet BEG 109T, May 1984) and "Christian Says"/"Twist" (Beggar's Banquet BEG 121T, November 1984). Although both album and singles have got good reception among fans and occupied high positions on UK indie charts for long weeks Daniel Ash decided to disband Tone On Tail in late 1984 after a successful US tour.   

Terry, Blair And Anouchka - Ultra Modern Nursery Rhymes

Terry, Blair and Anouchka was a short-lived project of a singer Terry Hall (former member of such groups as The Specials, Fun Boy Three, The Colourfield), an American actress/songwriter/producer Blair Booth and then jeweler Anouchka Groce (member of the acid folk band Urmin Spindle). The trio formed this group in 1989, however they split up the very next year. They were great admirers of the 60s dance pop, especially bands like The Coasters or Captain & Tennille. Their first single "Missing" (Chrysalis, CHS 3381) was released in November 1989 and peaked at number 75 on UK Singles Chart. The next and final single "Ultra Modern Nursery Rhymes" (Chrysalis, CHS 3478) which was released in February 1990 charted a couple places lower at number 77. Alongside this second single the trio released their debut full-length album entitled the same as the single "Ultra Modern Nursery Rhymes" (Chrysalis, CCD 1701). Unfortunately this album passed almost unmarked and didn't chart in UK. Album's tracklist : "Ultra Modern Nursery Rhymes", "Missing", "Fishbones And Scaredy Cats", "Lucky In Luv", "Day Like Today",  "Sweet September Sacrifice", "Beautiful People", "Three Cool Catz", "Happy Families", "Just Go". The album was re-released in 2004 by Cherry Red Records (CDMRED 168) with additional two bonus songs "Hush Hush Baloo", "Love Will Keep Us Together". Personally I think that it's a shame that the trio were hardly unnoticed because their music was so fresh, stylish, sophisticated, full of joy, perfectly arranged and produced.