The History of Jop Part 3 aka If you start me up I'll never stop

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

Part 3 of the series takes us to 1981, and really an awful lot of great singles from which you must pick ONLY NINE.

Procedural notes: Laurie A. and the Stones were joint winners this year. Also, "Ghost Town" topped the separate EPs poll but I threw it in here anyway. I may do this with some future EPs too.


[Poll #813728]


And now the Joptimists Top Ten of 1980:

1. Blondie - Call Me (45 votes)
2. Joy Division - Love Will Tear Us Apart (37 votes)
3. Lipps Inc - Funky Town (35 votes)
4=. The Clash - Train In Vain/London Calling (32 votes)
4=. Diana Ross - Upside Down (32 votes)
4=. The Dead Kennedies - Holiday In Cambodia (32 votes)
7. The Vapors - Turning Japanese (31 votes)
8=. Martha And The Muffins - Echo Beach (29 votes)
8=. Joy Divison - Atmosphere/She's Lost Control (29 votes)
10. Devo - Whip It (25 votes)

Comments

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

This was a hard one.

Never knowingly heard: this Deniece Williams, Roseanne Cash, Frankie Smith.

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

I struggled to tick 9.

[spittake.livejournal.com]

poor double dutch bus :(

[kill-yr-idols.livejournal.com]

Frankie Smith = URGENT & KEY!

"Double Dutch Bus was a 1981 funk song by Frankie Smith, made famous for its extensive use of the "izz" infix form of pig latin slang. The song title represents a portmanteau of two institutions in Smith's Philadelphia neighborhood: the double dutch game of jump rope played by neighborhood kids, and the SEPTA bus system that was a backbone of the local transportation network (and for which Smith had unsuccessfully applied for a bus driving position). Smith persuaded contacts at WMOT Records to finance the song, and it was recorded in summer 1981, engineered by Gene Leone. The song rocketed to popularity in a matter of weeks, landing on the Billboard Top 40 charts on July 11, 1981.

The song was sampled in Missy Elliott's 2003 single Gossip Folks."

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

OMG forgot Adam Ant on the last qn.

For further info purposes, Albums:

1. The Clash: Sandinista!
2. X: Wild Gift
3. Elvis Costello and the Attractions: Trust
4. The Rolling Stones: Tattoo You
5. Rickie Lee Jones: Pirates

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

I really like X!

[lockedintheatti.livejournal.com]

I remember Aneka being my favourite other '81 song at the time, but I don't think I've heard it for years. I'm scared to download it in case it's shit and only appealed to me as a 6 year old and I'm not sure I want to ruin the memory.

Incense, wine, and candles

[juror8.livejournal.com]

How can anyone not tick Rick James?

Re: Incense, wine, and candles

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

Who is Rick James?

I am surprised

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

that Grace Jones isn't getting more love. Isn't she, like, ideal Poptimist icon type? PULL UP TO THE BUMPAH BAYBEH

Re: I am surprised

[blue-russian.livejournal.com]

I have a hard time dissociating Grace from Conan and Bond movies now.

Unseal Yr Lips!

[blue-russian.livejournal.com]

This is one of the greatest songs evah! Chug chug chuging guitars, twinkly synth lines, that rubbery bass (esp. during the bridge), and those sunny harmonies!

Re: Unseal Yr Lips!

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

Another casualty of a strong field, for me. Surprised it's not doing better though what with the new wave love last time.

poor ol pete shelley

[jauntyalan.livejournal.com]

:-(

NME Singles

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

Crossovers in bold

Ghost town - The specials
Adventures on the wheel of steel - Grandmaster flash
Me no pop I - Coati Mundi
Fascist groove thang - Heaven 17
Love action - Human league
Mama used to say - Junior Giscombe
Tears are not enough - ABC
Pull up to the bumper - Grace Jones
O Superman - Laurie Anderson
Walking on thin ice - Yoko Ono
Burn rubber on me - The gap band
Tainted love - Soft cell
Papa's got a brand new pigbag - Pigbag
Rapp Payback - James Brown
Wordy Rappinghood - Tom tom club
Let's groove - Earth wind and fire
The razor's edge - Defunkt
Being with you - Smokey Robinson
Four Movements - Thomas Leer
Just can't get enough - Depeche mode
Going back to my roots - Odyssey
Intuition - Linx
Rapture - Blondie
Plan B - Dexys Midnight runners
Happy birthday - Stevie Wonder
Chariots of fire - Vangelis
Der Mussolini - DAF
Good year for the roses - Elvis Costello
Shoot the pump - J. Walter Negro & the loose joints
Doors of your heart - The beat
Kitchen Person - The Associates
Can you feel it - The Jacksons
Favourite shirts - Haircut 100
Pocket calculator - Kraftwerk
Another one bites the dust - General saint and Clint Eastwood
Launderette - Vivien Goldman
Genius of love - Tom Tom Club
Chant No.1 (We don’t need this pressure on) - Spandau Ballet
Out come the freaks - Was(not was)
W.O.R.K. - Bow wow wow
Flowers of romance - P.I.L.
Ceremony - New Order
Beggarman- Pablo Gad
The longest day - Sound of the valleys
The ‘Sweetest Girl’ - Scritti politti
Pretty in pink - Psychedelic furs
The art of parties - Japan
Computer love - Kraftwerk
To drunk to fuck - The dead Kennedys
Show me - Dexys midnight runners

year of c81!!

[dubdobdee.livejournal.com]

yay coati mundi!!
boo chariots of fire!! (!)

this year's l.bangs award = "laundrette" by viv goldman -- assume nothing! (it's not very good)

MORE ABOUT ADAM ANT AND SHAKEY

[carsmilesteve.livejournal.com]

so adam and shakey were totally the first pop stars i ♥ed. this may have been about the time i started to get look-in as well and thus had POSTERS ON WALL for first time (me = 7 at the time), although my older (female) cousins would nick the duran and spandau posters. tainted love was the soundtrack to the entire summer. i distictly remember asking my dad what his favourite record was when he was my age, but he said they didn't really have records then (=end of war) which confused me rather...

Re: MORE ABOUT ADAM ANT AND SHAKEY

[jauntyalan.livejournal.com]

skool discos that i can recall from primary/secondary school changeover time is was just madness and adam and his ants all the time.

i really liked bucks fizz too! srsly.

[dubdobdee.livejournal.com]

:( roseanne cash tho i never heard this single and can't find the LP i used to own of hers (from 1986 i wd guess)

oi vote more for taana g.

[dubdobdee.livejournal.com]

i posted "heartbeat" as a DL abt a week ago!! it is awesome!!

Re: oi vote more for taana g.

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

I can think of one other person who will vote for it, taking the total to 4. Be interesting to see if I'm right. He's also the person who introduced me to it.

Was it actually a hit?

Pedantry

[koganbot]

Betty = Bette
Roseanne = Rosanne

So, is it that you guys never heard "That's The Joint"?

[koganbot]

So is it that you guys never heard "Heartbeat," "That's the Joint," "Square Biz"? First only hit in NY, the second probably never got on radio, the third went national. But one and two have been anthologized all over the place, and "That's the Joint" was barely edged out by "Smells Like Teen Spirit" in the Radio On singles rankings in the '90s (w/ a readership of about 100 people, but still...).

Re: So, is it that you guys never heard "That's The Joint"?

[jeff-worrell.livejournal.com]

Nope, never heard ANY Teena Marie (and before you say anything, this is something I do intend to rectify at some point). (Apropos of nothing, I was interested to note she guests on a recent rap album. I forget which one.)

Only heard "Heartbeat" for first time about 6 months ago. I like it, but it doesn't have the same resonance as the songs on the list that I actually knew in '81.

The year of Juice and Sheena Jessie's Girl and Stars on 45!

[koganbot]

Billboard Chart

* Song went #1

*1... BETTE DAVIS EYES, Kim Carnes (#1, May)
*2... ENDLESS LOVE, Diana Ross and Lionel Richie (#1, Aug)
*3... LADY, Kenny Rogers (#1, Nov 1980)
*4... (Just Like) STARTING OVER, John Lennon (#1, Dec 1980)
*5... JESSIE'S GIRL, Rick Springfield (#1, Aug)
*6... CELEBRATION, Kool and the Gang (#1, Feb)
*7... KISS ON MY LIST, Daryl Hall and John Oates (#1, April)
*8... I LOVE A RAINY NIGHT, Eddie Rabbitt (#1, Feb)
*9... 9 TO 5, Dolly Parton (#1, Feb)
*10.. KEEP ON LOVING YOU, REO Speedwagon (#1, March)
11.. THE THEME FROM "GREATEST AMERICAN HERO" (Believe It Or Not), Joey Scarbury (#2, Aug)
*12.. MORNING TRAIN (Nine To Five), Sheena Easton (#1, May)
13.. BEING WITH YOU, Smokey Robinson (#2, May)
14 ..QUEEN OF HEARTS, Juice Newton (#2, pt)
*15.. RAPTURE, Blondie (#1, March)
16.. A WOMAN NEEDS LOVE (Just Like You Do), Ray Parker Jr. and Raydio (#4, June)
*17.. THE TIDE IS HIGH, Blondie (#1, Jan)
18.. JUST THE TWO OF US, Grover Wasington Jr. (with Bill Withers) (#2, May)
19.. SLOW HAND, The Pointer Sisters (#2, Aug)
20.. I LOVE YOU, The Climax Blues Band (#12, June)
21.. WOMAN, John Lennon (#2, March)
22.. SUKIYAKI, A Taste of Honey (#3, June)
23.. THE WINNER TAKES IT ALL, Abba (#8, March)
*24.. MEDLEY (Intro Venus/Sugar, Sugar/No Reply/I'll Be Back/Drive My Car/Do You Want To Know a Secret/We Can Work It Out/I Should Have Known Better/Nowhere Man/You're Going To Lose That Girl/Stars On 45), The Stars on 45 (#1, June)
25.. ANGEL OF THE MORNING, Juice Newton (#4, May)
26.. LOVE ON THE ROCKS, Neil Diamond (#2, Jan)

Re: The year of Juice and Sheena Jessie's Girl and Stars on 45!

[blue-russian.livejournal.com]

Did Hall & Oates ever get any love from P&J?

This year looks much more familiar to me than that list we're voting on. I want poptimists to vote on whether "Keep On Lovin' You" is between than "I Love a Rainy Night"

[whalefish.livejournal.com]

I think I have been a fool and have completely missed the ONLY NINE bit here. Meh, I'll tidy it up later.

[jel-bugle.livejournal.com]

I've heard only two of these songs!

Alex the Seal

[koganbot]

I only found out last month that the Go Go's song is NOT called 'I love Cecile'

For several years I thought Sting was singing "I Can't Stand Lucy." I would learn the right title, but then forget and go back to "Lucy."

Romeo Void

[jeff-worrell.livejournal.com]

No.2 on the Pazz-Jop EP list for '81 and did alright on the albums list too. Another act with zero recognition in UK.

I have their third LP, Instincts from 1984, which I'm a bit ho hum about, although I like the voice of the girl singer (who ISTR Frank or Chuck mention also on the ILM Teenpop thread as a reference point). Anyway, my question is: is the 1981 stuff a better place to start with them?

Re: Romeo Void

[spittake.livejournal.com]

Romeo Void seemed to have at least one song on every 80s compilation series.

Poor old Bob

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

This is actually quite a good Bob Dylan song. It is Bob doing Quo! sort of.

[anthonyeaston.livejournal.com]

I can email or YSI 7 year ache (though the last time i heard it was an applebees in niagra falls)

[kill-yr-idols.livejournal.com]

stunned Tom Tom Club aren't cleaning up! STUNNED!
maybe a link to the "Genius Of Love" video on YouTube &c&c&c (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evWsOmdeY78)

also wtf @ "Controversy" & "Heartbeat"'s poor showing.