Popdose: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 43
Kordian aka Falsestuff
· 9 months ago
Isley Jasper-Isley hit "Caravan of Love" was soon covered by British leftist-inclined rock band The Housemartins. It was very significant cover for three reasons:
1) the song hit number 1 in UK just in time for Christmas'87 2) was entirely sang a cappella by the boys 3) was paired with very funny, but a little iconoclastic video.
Now most of the Housemartins prefer to be called Beautiful South and Norman Cook, the bassist, found fame as a DJ nick-named Fatboy Slim.
What's more can I say? "Original Sin" was aired extensively by some oldies stations in Poland two or three years ago due to the popularity of a lazy house remake in the same time. I don't think the guys were popular in Poland when this single charted but they are still remembered in my country and two songs from 'Switch" found place in the Top 10 on the influential Radio 3 chart. Surprisingly enough, not "Pretty Vegas", but "Afterglow" (it hit number 1 on this survey) and, erm, "God's Top Ten".
Little adendum to last week's entry: am I mistaken or nobody mentioned Icehouse's "Hey Little Girl?" I always thought that it was their biggest hit. personally I don't like this song - it reminds me too much of solo Bryan Ferry and I always preferred this singer in Roxy Music. But I adore "Great Southern Land", "No Promises" and "Crazy". To me this band embraced everything that was best in 80's pop: bit of A-Ha, bit of U2, bit of new romantic (and, yes, bit of Bryan Ferry).
All the best from Poland! I read all the Bottom Feeders and your my favorite Popdose reader on par with John C. Hughes.
Kordian
steed
· 9 months ago
Awesome! Poland in the house. Thanks for mentioned the Housemartins version - it's actually quite good.
Switch was popular here in the US but only for a short period of time. Nothing like how well they did in other places - like Poland. I actually enjoy the record....but I heard some of the songs the were working on for a follow up and they were terrible. Probably good to just part ways now.
Kordian aka Falsestuff
· 9 months ago
"Thanks for mentioned the Housemartins version - it's actually quite good" - is this a pun on the title of the Housemartins' final Greatest Hits Collection that was actually a pun on the title of the popular series of complilations?;)
I didn't care much about these INXS songs as long as my friend told me that the lyrics are about Michael. Now I find them more moving than before. Before I treated "Afterglow"purely an attempt to sound like U2 and I thought "God's Top Ten" mostly as sharing its beginning with the song "Anything" by Polish singer Edyta Gorniak. Check for yourself;)
I will try to comment as often as possible. Maybe I will even comment on some older posts if I find better connection than this.
Jeff
· 9 months ago
In what sane world is it possible that these INXS songs charted so low?!? These songs ARE my early- to mid-teens. One of the best concerts I ever attended was seeing INXS perform about a week before Kick came out. Still brings back awesome memories, for many reasons. . .
Once again I am reminded why I didn't listen to too much 'Top 40' radio in the 80's.
Oh, well, Thanks for making my Wednesday morning!
Rob
· 9 months ago
I loved the two songs off of "Shabooh Shoobah," but "The Swing" was a much better album – In fact, it is my favorite INXS album. Everybody at Atco was expecting a big hit from it, but the first single "Original Sin" became a victim of the same black/white controversy that dogged so many songs during the days of segregated radio. So they lost all the momentum that "The One Thing" and "Don't Change" gave the group. That's OK. All of us in college radio were more than happy to play the album,
I agree with Jeff. During these years, INXS was a kicka** live band – one of the best I've ever seen. Hutchence was positively Jaggeresque, the band was incredibly tight and it didn't hurt that they were playing smaller nightclubs, compared to auditoriums and arenas later on.
JonCummings
· 9 months ago
I must have seen them a couple weeks after you did, at a small-college basketball arena in Radford, Virginia. It was a Thursday night, and Hutchence announced that in the issue of Billboard due to come out the next morning, "Need You Tonight" was listed as the new #1 song in the U.S.--their first. The band, needless to say, was in a good mood that night.
As I think about it now, I imagine the Jimmy Fallon character from "Almost Famous" invading their dressing room after the show and saying, "Clearly, respectfully," it was time to stop playing Radford, Virginia and get on a plane to play Madison Square Garden the next night.
I'm with Rob on INXS' live chops--they were tremendous, and I'll always be glad I got to see them at the top of their game while standing 10 feet from the stage. By the next time I saw them, on the "X" tour in '91, I was in the nosebleed seats at the Spectrum in Philly and they were already seeming kinda tired.
tvh
· 9 months ago
Donnie Iris is one of those lost FM radio gems. Looking forward to checking out these less known songs
Weird - I knew he was in the Jaggerz, but I just read Donnie was a member of Wild Cherry (after "Play the Funky Music").
David_E
· 9 months ago
Donnie Iris is such a great yeller. He tore up the 'C' entry of your Ass End series, back in the collaboration with Cellarful of Noise. Just awesome.
DavidMedsker
· 9 months ago
"Good Times" is a flat-out jam. I'm surprised to see that "Kiss the Dirt" never charted. I thought that would have at least gotten into the 90s.
thefxc
· 9 months ago
I'm surprised INXS didn't recruit Barnes as their post-Hutchence singer, it seems like a natural fit. Who knew a reality show would fail to turn up a satisfactory replacement?
I'm too lazy to check: Did "The One Thing" go Top 40 or not chart at all? I thought "Kiss the Dirt" charted; that was my favorite song from Listen Like Thieves.
"Do You Compute?" is the best Faux Wave song of the decade (second place: Device's "Hanging On a Heart Attack.") That Kraftwerk breakdown is full of win.
Next week I guess we find out whether or not Rebbie Jackson's "Centipede" charted. You should write about it (or, at least, find an excuse to link to the video) whether it did or not.
breadalbane
· 9 months ago
"Centipede" charted all right -- even above Bottom Feeders territory.
Kordian, The Beautiful South are no more. They broke up about a year ago, citing "musical similarities".
Kordian aka Falsestuff
· 9 months ago
I didn't notice 'cause I wasn't a fan (or rather I didn't get to their legacy already, I'm only 23 after all), but thanks for the info anyway! Now I see what was the reason to issue their Greatest Hits not so long ago.
steed
· 9 months ago
"The One Thing" missed me by a bit - went to #30. "Kiss the Dirt" is a great track - never cracked the Hot 100 though. Did get into the 20's on the Mod Rock charts though.
breadalbane is correct - Centipede is above my range - but I might have something in the works...I mean how can Rebbie be the only one not included?
DwDunphy
· 9 months ago
Oh my good God... LaToya didn't actually chart, did she?
steed
· 9 months ago
Oh, she did.
DwDunphy
· 9 months ago
What exactly was the drug of choice during the Jackson reign, because whatever it was was flowin'.
D-Pete
· 9 months ago
Is it too early to request that "Puss 'n' Boots/These Boots Are Made For Walkin'" by Kon Kan be part of the "K" edition of Bottom Feeders?
steed
· 9 months ago
Long way to Kon Kan - but it will be there!
Chris X
· 9 months ago
I beg your pardon?
Chris X
· 9 months ago
yikes, what a weak week. INXS being the only thing here that captures my interest. "Dont Change" is the best song they ever wrote, and it's a shame they hadn't yet hit it big when it came out; I firmly believe that had it been on Kick, it would have been a massive hit a la "Need You Tonight" and "Devil Inside"
"Good Times" is a favorite of mine, possibly because it just reminds me of The Lost Boys.
Next Week: Hojo and a bunch of kids named Jackson?
DwDunphy
· 9 months ago
And you can't get what you want t'il you know what you want, Chris.
Chris X
· 9 months ago
ah, and another Jackson (no relation!) He's the man!
Old_Davy
· 9 months ago
Donnie Iris issued a whole slew of great albums in the 80's and "King Cool" (which features Sweet Marilee) is just plain terrific.
For my money, "Listen Like Thieves" is the best INXS album. It's consistently good and the album has great sequencing. It also helps that I think "What You Need" is one of the greatest album openers ever.
matt
· 9 months ago
Singing "Love is like a Rock" in the shower, eh?
steed
· 9 months ago
Haha!
Keith
· 9 months ago
As I mentioned at the end of last week's comments, Donnie Iris is my favorite recording artist. I'm pretty sure that his record label has to take the majority of the blame for him not being more successful on the charts. Of course, he doesn't look like the prototypical pop star either, and his early music videos are kinda cheesy (but weren't almost all of them back then?). Even his album cuts are filled with killer hooks, and of course there is that trademark scream, which he still pulls off live today even into his sixties. He still performs a handful of shows every year, in the Pittsburgh-Cleveland area, and never disappoints. I'm actually kinda happy he wasn't a bigger deal, it makes me feel like I have some kind of ownership. It's always cool to belong to something that you know the masses are missing out on. Having said that, if anybody is so inclined, I advise checking out his unofficial fan run website, at this address: parallel-time.com. Next week I'll go back to evaluating the bottom feeders in an unbiased manner...
tdolbyfan
· 9 months ago
Hey Steed, great post 2 weeks, anyways I'm ready for the letter J. I was wondering 2 things 1. do you plan on posting all of the 41-100 songs except for that 1 song. (How the hell did that 1 chart anyways?) and 2. Can you please post heartache all over the world by elton john and I'm Not Perfect (But I'm Perfect for You) by Grace Jones? thanks. btw: do you have an email or aim? and what is it?
rwcass
· 8 months ago
I'd never heard "Hurry Up and Wait" before. I wouldn't say it's uninspired -- if anything, its smooth soft-rock sound is a welcome change compared to other Isley Brothers songs from the early '80s, like "Inside You." And speaking of smooth soft rock, which Isley is imitating Michael McDonald on "Kiss and Tell"? That's a memorable song as well. Thanks for those two, Dave!
All Comments
1) the song hit number 1 in UK just in time for Christmas'87
2) was entirely sang a cappella by the boys
3) was paired with very funny, but a little iconoclastic video.
Now most of the Housemartins prefer to be called Beautiful South and Norman Cook, the bassist, found fame as a DJ nick-named Fatboy Slim.
What's more can I say? "Original Sin" was aired extensively by some oldies stations in Poland two or three years ago due to the popularity of a lazy house remake in the same time. I don't think the guys were popular in Poland when this single charted but they are still remembered in my country and two songs from 'Switch" found place in the Top 10 on the influential Radio 3 chart. Surprisingly enough, not "Pretty Vegas", but "Afterglow" (it hit number 1 on this survey) and, erm, "God's Top Ten".
Little adendum to last week's entry: am I mistaken or nobody mentioned Icehouse's "Hey Little Girl?" I always thought that it was their biggest hit. personally I don't like this song - it reminds me too much of solo Bryan Ferry and I always preferred this singer in Roxy Music. But I adore "Great Southern Land", "No Promises" and "Crazy". To me this band embraced everything that was best in 80's pop: bit of A-Ha, bit of U2, bit of new romantic (and, yes, bit of Bryan Ferry).
All the best from Poland! I read all the Bottom Feeders and your my favorite Popdose reader on par with John C. Hughes.
Kordian
Switch was popular here in the US but only for a short period of time. Nothing like how well they did in other places - like Poland. I actually enjoy the record....but I heard some of the songs the were working on for a follow up and they were terrible. Probably good to just part ways now.
I didn't care much about these INXS songs as long as my friend told me that the lyrics are about Michael. Now I find them more moving than before. Before I treated "Afterglow"purely an attempt to sound like U2 and I thought "God's Top Ten" mostly as sharing its beginning with the song "Anything" by Polish singer Edyta Gorniak. Check for yourself;)
I will try to comment as often as possible. Maybe I will even comment on some older posts if I find better connection than this.
Once again I am reminded why I didn't listen to too much 'Top 40' radio in the 80's.
Oh, well, Thanks for making my Wednesday morning!
Everybody at Atco was expecting a big hit from it, but the first single "Original Sin" became a victim of the same black/white controversy that dogged so many songs during the days of segregated radio. So they lost all the momentum that "The One Thing" and "Don't Change" gave the group. That's OK. All of us in college radio were more than happy to play the album,
I agree with Jeff. During these years, INXS was a kicka** live band – one of the best I've ever seen. Hutchence was positively Jaggeresque, the band was incredibly tight and it didn't hurt that they were playing smaller nightclubs, compared to auditoriums and arenas later on.
As I think about it now, I imagine the Jimmy Fallon character from "Almost Famous" invading their dressing room after the show and saying, "Clearly, respectfully," it was time to stop playing Radford, Virginia and get on a plane to play Madison Square Garden the next night.
I'm with Rob on INXS' live chops--they were tremendous, and I'll always be glad I got to see them at the top of their game while standing 10 feet from the stage. By the next time I saw them, on the "X" tour in '91, I was in the nosebleed seats at the Spectrum in Philly and they were already seeming kinda tired.
Weird - I knew he was in the Jaggerz, but I just read Donnie was a member of Wild Cherry (after "Play the Funky Music").
I'm too lazy to check: Did "The One Thing" go Top 40 or not chart at all? I thought "Kiss the Dirt" charted; that was my favorite song from Listen Like Thieves.
"Do You Compute?" is the best Faux Wave song of the decade (second place: Device's "Hanging On a Heart Attack.") That Kraftwerk breakdown is full of win.
Next week I guess we find out whether or not Rebbie Jackson's "Centipede" charted. You should write about it (or, at least, find an excuse to link to the video) whether it did or not.
Kordian, The Beautiful South are no more. They broke up about a year ago, citing "musical similarities".
breadalbane is correct - Centipede is above my range - but I might have something in the works...I mean how can Rebbie be the only one not included?
"Good Times" is a favorite of mine, possibly because it just reminds me of The Lost Boys.
Next Week: Hojo and a bunch of kids named Jackson?
For my money, "Listen Like Thieves" is the best INXS album. It's consistently good and the album has great sequencing. It also helps that I think "What You Need" is one of the greatest album openers ever.
Even his album cuts are filled with killer hooks, and of course there is that trademark scream, which he still pulls off live today even into his sixties. He still performs a handful of shows every year, in the Pittsburgh-Cleveland area, and never disappoints.
I'm actually kinda happy he wasn't a bigger deal, it makes me feel like I have some kind of ownership. It's always cool to belong to something that you know the masses are missing out on. Having said that, if anybody is so inclined, I advise checking out his unofficial fan run website, at this address: parallel-time.com.
Next week I'll go back to evaluating the bottom feeders in an unbiased manner...