4-3-13 Smash Hits (Vol. 2, No. 7) April 3 – 16, 1980
4/4/58 The Champs “Tequila” 45 charts at No. 6 in England. 4/5/69 the Desmond Dekker 45 “Israelites” charts at No. 1 in England. Also on 4/5/69 The Who 45 “Pinball Wizard” charts at No. 4 in England. 4/7/73 the Mud 45 “Crazy” charts at No. 12 in England. Happy birthday, Richard Manuel (of The Band), born 1943.
For 30p, you get PIL’s Johnny Rotten on the cover! Lyrics to “No One Driving” by John Foxx! Generation X split! A neat photo of fanatical historian Pete Frame (“Rock Family Trees”)! “January February” by Barbara Dickson gets it’s lyrics printed! (Funny, there used to be a badge on the cover of this magazine, no doubt long ago assimilated into the larger button collection of the day).
45’s:
Josef K – “Chance Meeting” (Absolute 45’s Records)
The Slits – “In The Beginning There Was Rhythm” (Y Records)
The Buggles – “Clean Clean” (Island Records)
XTC – “Wait Till Your Boat Goes Down” (Virgin Records)
Pete Townshend – “Rough Boys” (Atco Records)
Madness – “Work Rest and Play” (EP) (Stiff Records)
LP’s:
The Motors – “Tenement Steps” (Virgin Records)
O.S.T. – “American Gigolo” (Polydor Records)
Gigs:
Friday April 4, 1980 – Genesis – Birmingham Odeon; Wednesday April 9, 1980 – Athletico Spizz 80 – London Marquee; Sunday April 13, 1980 – B.A. Robertson – Newcastle City Hall
I didn’t know what to make of Josef K at the time, but in 2013 I think they’re pretty ‘ace’. I liked the Island Records titles by The Slits better than all that came after ‘em. Sign me up for all the 45’s from The Buggles album! I remember reading that this XTC 45 was the one that Andy Partridge was proudest of – yet, it never ended up on a proper LP at the time. I had (and have) time for Pete Townshend; this wasn’t a bad 45, but I liked the album “Empty Glass” LP even better. And this was a great Madness EP, I remember really liking it, and delighting in finding a 12” of it from…Italy? (The UK EP was only ever a 7”, that I am aware of).
The 3rd Motors’ album was not charmed; they finished up shortly thereafter. I doubt the “American Gigolo” soundtrack LP is memorable; people were infinitely more concerned with “Call Me” by Blondie, which was in the film, but not on said LP. Ah, the concerns of the 1980 British music business!
I did get to see Athletico Spizz 80 play live at The Whisky A-Go-Go in Hollywood; they were great, and nice guys. For some reason, I didn’t get any autographs…or did I?
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