On the 30th anniversary of its release, we discover how the Pet Shop Boys’ second album was informed by Thatcherism, a 60s singer living in a motel, Catholicism and ZZ…
The Godfathers of Pop – Paul Heaton interview
Although born on Merseyside, Paul Heaton will forever be associated with Hull, where he formed The Housemartins and enjoyed hits with the jangle pop of Happy Hour and their a…
Lost & Found: Elton John – Leather Jackets
Elton John’s life troughed in the mid-80s, with a delinquent drug habit and a stodgy body of work. His 20th album, supposedly a milestone recording for him, remains the least…
One Hit Wonders: Cock Robin – The Promise You Made
There’s something endearingly sedate and conformist about Cock Robin’s only UK hit, which made the Top 30 in 1986. The vocals from Peter Kingsbery and Anna LaCazio are very precise…
The Godfathers of Pop – Leee John interview
Born in London but partly raised in New York, Leee John rose to fame as the lead singer of smooth 80s soulsters Imagination, via such hits as Body Talk, Changes…
The Godmothers of Pop – Chaka Khan interview
Chicago-born Yvette Marie Stevens joined funk group Rufus in the early-70s, changed her name and inspired Stevie Wonder to write a song for her. Five decades later Chaka Khan’s imperious…
One Hit Wonders: Sly Fox – Let’s Go All The Way
The title of American vocal twosome Sly Fox’s only hit has an obvious sexual connotation, but there was much more to this bombastic, macho single of 1986 than that. Gary…
Lost & Found: Nick Heyward – Postcards From Home
A doubt has always nagged about the British record-buying public that they took for granted one of the best writers of charming 80s pop, as Nick Heyward’s solo career only…
Classic Album: She’s So Unusual – Cyndi Lauper
She emerged as the fun-loving queen of quirky pop, famed for her wacky outfits and crazy-coloured hair, but Cyndi Lauper’s debut album She’s So Unusual revealed her to be so…
Classic Album: Debut – Björk
Following the break-up of Icelandic indie outfit The Sugarcubes, Björk released THE 1993 masterpiece, Debut, the record that was to establish her as a true pop maverick Having emerged as…