I was out last night, but my girlfriend did mention the awful fashion sense of The Dooleys!

 

The Frank and Walters used to do some brilliant cover versions - there was also 'I'm a Believer' by The Monkees (which they originally recorded for the NME's Ruby Trax compilation) and, er,'Funky Cold Medina' by Tone Loc. Those two plus 'Love is in the Air' are all on CD2 of 'After All' - wonder if that's why it was their biggest hit?

Many thanks for the film soundtrack suggestions, and to suedehead again for his input, and for his Frank and Walters link.

 

Not really a vintage totp's, they have been comparatively poor in the last few weeks. Bring back Kate Bush is what I say!

 

Not even too sure about a good trivia question this week.

 

Squeeze have been featured a lot recently, so how about some of their songs, and the names of their two prominent songwriters?

 

Also the name of their main keyboard player at the time, and the title of at least two tv programmes which he has presented in his time.

 

And also the (very) tenuous connection he has with Sir Bob Geldof in relation to one of those tv programmes he presented.

 

Very easy, I know.

 

All the best,

 

BC B-)

 

 

 

 

Jools Holland has already been mentioned. He presented The Tube (with one-time Mrs Geldof, Paula Yates) and Later... Squeeze'a main writers were Glen Tilbrook and Chris Difford and, apart from Take M e I'm Yours their hits included the splendid Up The Junction as well as the equally wonderful Cool For Cats. Pulling Mussels (From The Shell) and Labelled With Love were good but not up to their best standard.

 

I saw The Frank And Walters do Funky Cold Medina a couple times but Love Is In The Air always seemed to be the fans' favourite among their cover versions. At one of their gigs I attended they were supported by a relatively little-known band from Oxford called Radiohead.

I'll add Hourglass, Tempted, Another Nail For My Heart, that telephone number song I can never remember the numbers for along with some great early 90's singles...

Didn't Squeeze have a single where the chorus was an answerphone message?

 

Think it went something like:

 

"8595937 - Angela can't make it to the phone. If you'd like to leave your name and number, she'll give you a ring when she is home."

 

Very strange.

 

*EDIT*

 

Found it

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/853-5937

 

I think I remember them singing it on the Little and Large show on Saturday night on BBC1 - maybe that's why it didn't chart?

Edited May 3, 201312 yr by richie

Were coming up to the 35th anniversary of the Top 75 chart in a couple of weeks, and two songs from this weeks TOTP which would not have charted if it had stayed as a top 50, Tonight's flop follow up to Drummer Man and another one which ive forgotten.

 

Can't think of any other Squeeze hits, Up The Junction is a great song , one of my faves by them.

I was out last night, but my girlfriend did mention the awful fashion sense of The Dooleys!

 

Only one of their that I liked was A Rose Has To Die.

Were coming up to the 35th anniversary of the Top 75 chart in a couple of weeks, and two songs from this weeks TOTP which would not have charted if it had stayed as a top 50, Tonight's flop follow up to Drummer Man and another one which ive forgotten.

 

Can't think of any other Squeeze hits, Up The Junction is a great song , one of my faves by them.

 

It's good but my fave is Labelled With Love

Tonight's notes...

 

 

Chart rundown accompanied by Rose Royce, dreadful even by their standards.

 

Smokie - their last top ten hit apart from the remake of Alice. Co-written by Nicky Chinn who is 67 today.

 

Darts - yet again but still good fun.

 

John Paul Young again accompanied by Legs & Co, I still prefer the Frank & Walters version. I may have mentioned that before.

 

Plastic Bertrand - just about qualifies as a famous Belgian even though Peter Powell seems to have thought he was French. Hercule Poirot knows how it feels.

 

Ruby Winters and Hi-Tension both cut - good call.

 

Guy Marks with a delightfully dotty number. Would it have been released without Manhattan Transfer’s recent number one?

 

Brotherhood Of Man with another remix of their usual song. Note the Abba-esque dance routine.

 

The Stranglers cut as well. The full version is on later tonight.

 

Elkie Brooks with a cover of Neil Young’s Only Love Can Break Your Heart. St Etienne’s version was a lot better.

 

X-Ray Spex with the late Poly Styrene. It seems to be gloriously daft night tonight.

 

Boney M introduced by David Soul. Good grief. This will be number one for a while but, presumably, some of the programmes will be on the banned list. The b-side will prolong its chart life.

 

Rafaella Cara doing it again over the credits brings the show to a close. Some good songs tonight as well as some rubbish.

Plastic Bertrand and X-Ray Spex? Must watch the repeat...must watch the repeat!

Tonight's notes...

Chart rundown accompanied by Rose Royce, dreadful even by their standards.

 

Smokie - their last top ten hit apart from the remake of Alice. Co-written by Nicky Chinn who is 67 today.

 

Darts - yet again but still good fun.

 

John Paul Young again accompanied by Legs & Co, I still prefer the Frank & Walters version. I may have mentioned that before.

 

Plastic Bertrand - just about qualifies as a famous Belgian even though Peter Powell seems to have thought he was French. Hercule Poirot knows how it feels.

 

Ruby Winters and Hi-Tension both cut - good call.

 

Guy Marks with a delightfully dotty number. Would it have been released without Manhattan Transfer’s recent number one?

 

Brotherhood Of Man with another remix of their usual song. Note the Abba-esque dance routine.

 

The Stranglers cut as well. The full version is on later tonight.

 

Elkie Brooks with a cover of Neil Young’s Only Love Can Break Your Heart. St Etienne’s version was a lot better.

 

X-Ray Spex with the late Poly Styrene. It seems to be gloriously daft night tonight.

 

Boney M introduced by David Soul. Good grief. This will be number one for a while but, presumably, some of the programmes will be on the banned list. The b-side will prolong its chart life.

 

Rafaella Cara doing it again over the credits brings the show to a close. Some good songs tonight as well as some rubbish.

 

XRay Spex & Plastic Bertrand were gloriously fab-daft in 78 & still are:) Stranglers also fab, Elkie OK but yes St Etienne better. Guy Marks was also fun, ditto Darts. "Fun" pop seems to be out of fashion at the moment, a shame....

Basically I agree with suede's analysis, some good music, some poor stuff on this week's show equally.

 

Plastic Bertrand had a sizable hit with a record that was not in English - any other ditties that one can think of over the years that have not been in English, but have been a big hit in England?

 

Can't think of that many myself, maybe you lot can do better.

 

All the best,

 

BC B-)

Je T'aime, Moi Non Plus is the obvious example :lol:

 

It's always seemed rather odd to me that 99 Luftbalons had to be translated to 99 Red Balloons to be a hit here yet the German original was a hit in the US, a country which is probably even more resistant to foreign language culture than we are.

 

There must have been a few foreing language Eurovision winners which have been a hit here.

Errr Gangnam Style B-) (Korean) Rock Me Amadeus (German) (OK not technically 100% foreign language....!)

 

The absolutely fabulous SukiYaki (Japanese Kyu Sakamoto) - I adored this as a child and do now.

 

Aserje (The Ketchup Song) - Spanish?

 

Eurovision: a few french language ones like Une Arbre Un Banc Un Rue. Mostly tend to be the english language versions though for the big hits. Non Ho Leta per amarti an Italian language exception (and fab)

 

Gaudete (Latin)

 

How about Enigma's various hits? Think the languages used varied, but stand to be corrected:)

 

..and finally, not a big chart hit, but remains well-loved, the wonderful Ye Ke Ye Ke from Nigerian (I think) Mory Kante...

 

 

Voyage Voyage by Desireless is pretty timeless.

"Dragostea Din Tei"

Didnt Queen release a foreign language song? Cant remember what it was called though.

Plastic Bertrand and X-Ray Spex? Must watch the repeat...must watch the repeat!

 

X Ray Spex were awful. Just a loud of shouting. That's not music.

Didnt Queen release a foreign language song? Cant remember what it was called though.

 

Without looking it up either, Las Palabros De Amor. Think it was a minor hit.

X Ray Spex have to be heard LOUD in a club, it really rocks it up. Duckies, Royal vauxhall Tavern London - about the only place you can still hear old cool music loud, sweaty and as it used to be in the olden days. typical selection: Smiths, Bowie, Stones, Killers, Ike & Tina, Kate Bush, Goldfrapp, Human League, Pet Shop Boys, Suede, Sweet punk, soul, disco, rock, glam, and stuff thrown into the mix like Sandie Shaw, Rafaella Carra, anything that works.

 

Wish there were more places outside London though...