Bands Who Have Excellent Songs On Late '70s/Early '80s European K-Tel-Style Compilations

[koganbot]

I Have Never Heard Entire Albums By These Bands Who Have Excellent Songs On Late '70s/Early '80s European K-Tel-Style Compilations

Do any of them have albums worth hearing? The world wants to know, or at least I do.

The "I" who's saying this is chuckeddy. He has a feeling some folks on poptimists might be interested in this and might have input for it too, either there or here. The thread starts with these two compilations, but there are many more lists, contributed by Xhuxk and others, and quite a few YouTube imbeds:

Double Dancing (Record 2) (K-Tel Finland 1983)

GARY LOW "I Want You"
FREEZ "Pop Goes My Love" (have only otherwise heard his/their electro-hop classic "I.O.U." before)
STYLE "Dark Eyes"
BLACK LACE "Superman" (talked dance steps, sounds like an English version of Claudio Chechetto's Italian early '80s "Gioca-Jouer," or maybe the other way around)
CAROLA HĂGGVIST "Hunger"
DAVID GRANT "Love Will Find A Way" (Linx-style early '80s Brit soul I guess?)

― xhuxk, Sunday, 11 January 2009 16:59 (2 days ago) Permalink

Disco Fever (K-Tel U.K. 1977)

BROTHERHOOD OF MAN "Angelo" (Second-tier ABBAs, right?)
MERI WILSON "Telephone Man" (top 20 hit in U.S.!)
SMOKIE "It's Your Life" (superstars in this world, I guess. Lots of hits on lots of these compilations; "Living Next Door To Alice" was their only U.S. top 40)

Comments

[koganbot]

And Xhuxk's also revived Mostly German Old Used 45s That Metal Mike Saunders Mailed To Me, with additional 45s.

[carsmilesteve.livejournal.com]

i guess everyone has said:

DO NOT GO NEAR BLACK LACE WITH A 40FT POLE

?

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

To be fair if xhuxk finds excellence in Superman then he's not going to go far wrong with a copy of Black Lace's Greatest Hits. I guess they made actual albums too!

[chuckeddy.livejournal.com]

Yeah, a couple people. I'm not really picking up on *why* I should avoid them, though; everything people seems to hate about them makes them sound GOOD, so obviously the point isn't coming across very well. Here's Mike T-Diva, and my reply:

>>BLACK LACE...came back to plague us in 1984 with the #2 hit "Agadoo," subsequently parodied by Spitting Image for their 1986 number one "The Chicken Song," then another top ten hit with "Do The Conga" and various lesser hits including "I Speaka Da Lingo" (clap clap), "El Vino Collapso" (clap clap) and the aforementioned "Gang Bang."<<

You know, I realize the Brits on this thread despise these guys, quite possibly deservedly. But I just want to say that all of those titles crack me up, and make me wannna check out Black Lace's oeuvre.

[dubdobdee.livejournal.com]

b.of man are a fifth-tier abba at best

[chuckeddy.livejournal.com]

Or not an ABBA-tier at all, usually, it occurred to me. What I wrote later on that thread:

>Actually, Brotherhood of Man's big U.S. hit (among a few smaller ones) was "United We Stand." Which is indeed reprehensible, and doesn't sound Abba-like at all, obviously. (Though "Angelo," which sounds great to me, definitely does.)

In which yr correspondent tries to shake 'I Am The Music Man' out of her head

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

Oh dear, I have listened to Black Lace's Greatest Hits more times than is strictly necessary. This is entirely the fault of my schoolchum Kirst whose favourite bands when we were in 6th form were: Steps, Black Lace, ABBA - and the Manic Street Preachers (especially Gold Against The Soul). Pia-pia-piano, piano, piano. ARGH.

Re: In which yr correspondent tries to shake 'I Am The Music Man' out of her head

[lockedintheatti.livejournal.com]

The gay club I used to go to in Folkestone when I was 17 (oh lucky me) used to close every week with "Gang Bang". I'm not sure whether the DJ liked it or was just using it to clear the dancefloor.

Kenny

[jeff-worrell.livejournal.com]

Did anyone post on the ILM thread about Kenny (I started reading it but didn't finish)?

They were one of the RAK 'glam pop' (as opposed to glitter rock, before dubdobdee gets too uppity) acts that Martin and Coulter wrote for. In addition to "Fancy Pants", they had a huge hit with the excellent "The Bump" (later, much sampled) and a few other lesser hits.

They made one LP, The Sound Of Super K, which I can't vouch for quality wise. Most of it probably turns up again on the CD, The Singles Collection Plus... (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Singles-Collection-Plus-Kenny/dp/B00004Y2HF/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1231865637&sr=1-1) - this is still in print and I've half a mind to buy this myself.

Re: Kenny

[koganbot]

'glam pop' (as opposed to glitter rock...

And also opposed to glam rock, I take it.

Would glam pop be Kenny while glam rock would be Slade and T. Rex and glitter rock would be the Dolls and KISS?

And Bowie would be ?????

least glitter ever

[dubdobdee.livejournal.com]

= berlin!

Dream on

[koganbot]

I'd say in the U.S. "glitter" meant "more extreme in comparison to glam," which is how Berlin gets to be glitter. Except in the Glenn Branca Forced Exposure interview I quoted in "Let MTV Ring" Branca says "The Dolls were my ultimate Gods after Aerosmith... The Dolls were pure drag, Aerosmith was glitter." Skeptical interviewer Howard Wuelfing: Well, [the Dolls] wore pants." Branca: "Yes, but they'd wear yellow pants like my aunt used to wear in the '50s, yellow clam diggers with little slits."

So, in the U.S. Aerosmith were glitter. That probably tells you quite a lot about U.S. culture.

[dubdobdee.livejournal.com]

the long-reviled now somewhat rehabilitated pre-punk tastemaker DJ bob harris dubbed the dolls "mock rock"

[koganbot]

Here's where he does it. What a dipshit!

[brak55.livejournal.com]

I remember liking Smokie when I was in England in the mid-70's, although I always thought that they sounded like Dr. Hook.

[chuckeddy.livejournal.com]

I made the same comparison on that ILM thread!:

>>I gotta say, though I like most of the isolated Smokie tracks on these comps, I don't think I really hear much Sweet/Mud/Hello-type glam-rock in their sound -- not a lot of stomping or shouting or hard rock riffs. They seem more countrified soft-rock with a reggae lilt or whatever; almost remind me more of Dr. Hook or somebody than Sweet: In fact, I've probably confused "Living Next Door To Alice" (which seems more Shel Silverstein than Chinnichap to me) with "Sylvia's Mother" over the years. Probably I just need to listen to them more, though.<<

[chuckeddy.livejournal.com]

The next several bands I asked about on that ILM thread, for people too busy to click or scroll down:

SEAN TYLA "Breakfast In Marin" (from pub rock band Tyla Gang, who I've also never heard an LP by)
EAST SIDE BAND "Rendesvous"
ARABESQUE "Marigot Bay"
CHRISSY "Mark My Words"
COAST TO COAST "Do The Hucklebuck"
HANK MIZELL "Jungle Rock" (crazy rockabilly about jungle animals -- sound like it's from the '50s)
HELLO "Love Stealer" (also did "New York Groove" that Ace Frehley covered, obviously. Both songs seem to steal the beat of Bohannon's "Disco Stomp"! And somebody sent me a CD-R of their The Glam Rock Singles Collection which I haven't listened to yet, so I guess I can knock them off the list soon.)
5000 VOLTS "Doctor Kiss-Kiss"
JOHNY WAKELIN "In Zaire" (Hit in U.S. only with "Black Superman - Muhammad Ali; this was apparently the followup, about Ali's Bungle in the Jungle vs. George Foreman. "African Man," not about boxing, shows up on a different compilation.)
HEAVY METAL KIDS "She's No Angel" (Lots of songs on these samplers. My favorite so far is "Chelsea Kids.")
CHAMPAGNE "Rock N Roll Star"
SAILOR "Stiletto Heels" (Less artsy version of Roxy Music? Can't believe I've never checked these guys out. Another comp has their "A Glass of Champagne")
HARPO "Rock 'N Roll Clown"

[dubdobdee.livejournal.com]

the singer from heavy metal kids DID become an actor, he was wayne in auf weidersehen pet

[carsmilesteve.livejournal.com]

damnit, hank mizell gets a mention in a song by someone else that is on the tip of my tongue but i have to run to a meeting now...

[chuckeddy.livejournal.com]

Then:

DSCHINGIS KHAN "Dschingis Khan" (More superstars, I'm concluding. Boney M wannabees, maybe? Or maybe not. Have heard a few other tracks, usually awesome.)
TONY MARSHALL "Ich Klau Dir Eine Strassenbahn" (Actually an "esset" character, untypable on my keyboard, instead of those two s's in Strassenbahn)
FRANK ZANDER "Captain Starlight"
BERNHARD BRINK "Frei Und Abgebrannt (How Could This Go Wrong)"
SUNNY SINGERS "Moskau" (Dschinghis Khan cover!)
CAR MEN "El Lute" (Instrumental Boney M cover!)
BOYS TOWN GANG "When Will I See You Again" (Three Degrees cover by gay-bar stars who get flamier in the "Cruisin' The Street" 12-inch I've got by them)
ROBEY "One Night In Bangkok" (Murray Head cover!)
NATASCHA KING "On Ice"
MAN PARRISH & FREEZE FORCE "Boogie Down" (Man Parrish has other great singles too, obviously)
PAUL HARDCASTLE "Papa's Got a Brand New Pigbag" (Pigbag cover!! By the "19" and "Rain Forest" guy)
ROCKERS REVENGE "Walking On Sunshine" (isn't the more famous version of this by some band called Central Line? Or was that a different song?)
MAJOR HARRIS "All My Life"
STEVE HARVEY "Tonight (Francois Mix)"
STREET ANGELS "Dressing Up"
HOT STREAK "Body Work"
MONYAKA "Go Deh Yaka"
BOOKER NEWBERRY "Love Town"
RUMPLE-STILT-SKIN "I Think I Want To Dance With You"

[ijgrieve.livejournal.com]

The big hit with 'Walking On Sunshine' was by Katrina & The Waves.

[chuckeddy.livejournal.com]

Then:

PATTO "Black And White"]
MY MINE "Hypnotic Tango"
THE TWINS "Love System"
PHIL FEARON AND GALAXY "What Do I Do?"
KENNY JAMES "Gimme A Little Sign" (Brenton Wood cover, I think)
MANUEL DE LEO "Let's Go (Tango)"
SLIP "Mamy Blue"
QUENZO "Break-Out (Don't Leave My Baby)"
THE FLIRTATIONS "Earthquake"
THE ARROWS "Touch Too Much" (also did "I Love Rock 'n' Roll before Joan Jett)
BARRY BLUE "(Dancing On) A Saturday Night"
KENNY "Fancy Pants"
CHRIS SPEDDING "Motor Bikin'" (later did punkier stuff with Vibrators etc., right?)
THE TEEZERS "The Best Part of Breaking Up"
JEFF ALLEN "Good Times"
JOHN ROSALL "I Was Only Dreaming"
SANDY KERR "Thug Rock" (great title!)
STU STEVENS "Cowboy In Paris"
CLUBHOUSE "Medley: Do It Again with Billie Jean" (as in Steely Dan/Michael Jackson!)
RHETTA HUGHES "Angel Man"
CHASE "Back To Funky Town"
THE BROADS "Sing, Sing, Sing" (Gene Krupa cover)
LAFLUER "Boogie Nights" (Heatwave cover)
FRESH FACE "Huevo Dancing"
ESAVU "Breakin' Up"
OTTAWAN "You're OK" (somebody on another thread said the dad or uncle somebody in Daft Punk is in this band!)
DOLLY DOTS "Hela Di Ladi Lo"
CHILLY "Come Let's Go"
BZN "Rockin' The Trolls" (????)
THE PINUPS "New Wave Lover"

[ijgrieve.livejournal.com]

Ottawan had hits with 'D.I.S.C.O' and 'Hands Up (Give Me Your Heart)'. Not sure if it was before Black Lace (probably).

Kenny has a hit with "The Bump" as well as Fancy Pants.

Not familiar with the others. There was a 'Clubhouse' that did a rave cover of "Light My Fire", but I doubt its the same band.

[chuckeddy.livejournal.com]

Then:

LUV "You're The Greatest Lover"
OLIVER ONIONS "Miss Robot" (okay, probably not really so great, but I like his name and the title)
BINO "Mama Leone"
RUBETTES "Little 69" (powerpop, via the early Beach Boys I think. I also have a 45 from 1976 called "Rock Is Dead," but know nothing about them)
EXIT "Leave It"
GUY DE SIMPELE "Feest"
CURRICULUM VITAE "The Moon Shot A Heart"
THE REPORTERS "Arabic-Funk"
LENIN SHIPYARD "The Day I Lost My Memory"
BACCARA "Yes Sir, I Can Boogie"
MIDDLE OF THE ROAD" Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep" (A hit in the U.S. for Mac and Katie Kissoon)
SIW MALMKVIST "Garten Eden"
KAREL GOTT "Lied An Die Freude"
MANUELA "Herzkloppen"
FACIO "El Condor Pasa"
Q-TIPS "S.Y.L.J.F.M. (The Letter Song)"

[ijgrieve.livejournal.com]

Rubettes were quite a successful band (The Auteurs did a song about them, entitled, yes, 'The Rubettes'). Their best known song is "Sugar Baby Love".

Middle Of The Road - you have their biggest song. If you like it, check out "Soley Soley".

[chuckeddy.livejournal.com]

Then:

KINCADE "Jenny, Jenny" (some of his 45s are ickier than other ones.)
DIE FLIPPERS "Hello My Love" (not to be confused with Flipper)
SHUKY & AVIVA "Signorina Concertina"
WOLFGANG "Tingeltangel Boulevard"
SECRET SERVICE "L.A. Goodbye"
PRECIOUS WILSON "We Are On The Race Track"
DORIS D. AND THE PINS "Dance On"
HELEN SCHNEIDER "Shadows Of The Night" (Benatar had a hit with this in 1982, so maybe this is the original? And I guess Helen -- with or without her band The Kick, not credited here -- was basically the Kraut Benatar at the time, if not Branigan?)
RACEY "Shame"
RAH BAND -- "The Crunch" (instrumental, definitely earns its title)
THE DOOLEYS -- "I Think I'm Gonna Fall In Love With You"
DAVID SOUL -- "Silver Lady" (obviously not European. Never gave his music two seconds' thought before, but though this pegs him as just an adequate singer at best, as '70s suburban cokehead-country goes, I kind of like it. Now I'm wondering about his other stuff. He had only one Top 40 in the States -- "Don't Give Up On Us," #1 in 1977. Also, what is the deal with all of the schmaltzy/drowsy '70s pop ballads about airplanes? Were fares just really low then, so people were flying high for the first time, or what? Hit Power has a pretty forgettable one called "Silver Bird" by somebody named TINA RAINFORD. Reminds me that the character on Swingtown with a David Soul mustache, biggest sleazeball swinger on the show, is an airline pilot.)
JOY SARNEY -- "Naughty Naughty Naughty" (post-McCartney music-hall-megaphone weirdness, what?)
T-CONNECTION -- "Do What You Wanna Do" (passable disco-funk tune with an amazing drum break -- some rapper must have sampled that, right?* Whitburn says they never went Top 40 in the States, but had two smaller almost-hits. Group from the Bahamas.)
THE INNER CITY EXPRESS -- "Dance And Shake Your Tambourine"
TINA CHARLES "I Love To Love" (preferable to the version I wrote about on toward the end of that-45s from-Metal Mike thread, since unlike my 45, this one doesn't have a crack all the way through it)
JESSE GREEN "Nice And Slow"
VOYAGE "I Don't Want To Fall In Love Again" (sort of an adult-contemporary dance-AOR pop ballad, but tastier than that description sounds. Presumably this isn't the same Voyage who put out a self-titled geography-disco LP on Marlin in 1977, with titles like "Orient Express," "Scotch Machine," "Bayou Village," and "Latin Odyssey," but I could be wrong.)

[ijgrieve.livejournal.com]

Racey: Definitely check out "Some Girls", and also "Lay Your Love On Me".