Friday, July 24, 2020

July 24 - August 6, 1980

Smash Hits, July 24, 1980

(click on the image to see the full issue)

Cover: Splodgenessabounds
Centrespread: Peter Gabriel
Back cover: The Lambretta
Interviews: The Mo-dettes; Splodgenessabounds; The Korgis
Lyrics: There There My Dear – Dexy’s Midnight Runners; Easy Life – Bodysnatchers; News At Ten – Vapors; More Than I Can Say – Leo Sayer; Babooshka – Kate Bush; Paint It Black – Mo-dettes; Do You Dream In Colour? – Bill Nelson; Upside Down – Diana Ross; Lovers Holiday – Change; Are You Getting Enough? – Hot Chocolate; Marianne – Gibson Brothers; Murder Of Liddle Towers – Angelic Upstarts; Neon Knights – Black Sabbath; Ready An’ Willing – Whitesnake; Sanctuary – New Muzik
Bitz: Malcolm Maclaren, Bow Wow Wow; Jah Wobble; Lambrettas; Mari Wilson; Joy Division; Blondie, Lester Bangs; Malcolm Owen, The Ruts; Steve Eagles’s all time top ten; Gary Numan; The 4x2s; David Bowie; Musicians Union strike; The Professionals; Magazine; Wilko Johnson; Clive Langer and the Boxes
Single reviews (David Hepworth): Private Life – Grace Jones; About Insomnia – Martha and the Muffins; Everything Works If You Let It – Cheap Trick; Big Shot – Momentarily – Jona Lewie; Tom Hark – Piranhas; Cities – Talking Heads; Oh Lonesome Me – Wilko Johnson; Rebels Are We – Chic; Back To Front / Mr. Fire Coal Man – Stiff Little Fingers; Sweetheart Contract - Magazine
Album reviews (Bev Hillier / Red Starr / David Hepworth / Ian Cranna): Love Trippin’ – Detroit Spinners; Do A Runner – Athletic Spizz ’80; Splash – Clive Langer and the Boxes; Searching For The Young Soul Rebels – Dexy’s Midnight Runners; Off The Coast Of Me – Kid Creole and the Coconuts; Musical Shapes – Carlene Carter; Closer – Joy Division; Where Are All The Nice Girls? – Any Trouble; Real People – Chic; Crocodiles – Echo and the Bunnymen
Independent Albums (Red Starr): Die Kleinen Und Die Bosen – Deutsch Amerikan Freundschaft (Mute); Music For Parties – Silicon Teens (Mute)
Independent Singles (Red Starr): Come Back To Me / Misfit – Bok Bok (Bok Bok); How I Wrote Elastic Man – The Fall (Rough Trade); Going Through The Motions / Things In General – The Perfects (Rough Trade); Split / Die Matrosen – Liliput (Rough Trade); Final Solution – Pere Ubu (Rough Trade); Can’t Sleep At Nights – The Cigarettes (Dead Good)
Other: Strange Tales From A Music Paper

Friday, July 10, 2020

July 10 - 23, 1980

Smash Hits, July 10, 1980

(click on the image to see the full issue)

Cover: Cook ‘N’ Jones – The Professionals
Centrespread: Bob Marley & the Wailers
Back cover: Dexy’s Midnight Runners
Interviews: Cook ‘N’ Jones; The Human League; Ultravox
Lyrics: King’s Call – Phil Lynott; British Way Of Life – The Chords; Xanadu – Olivia Newton John; Just Another Dream – The Professionals; Empire State Human – Human League; Cupid – Detroit Spinners; Use It Up And Wear It Out – Odyssey; Jump To The Beat – Stacey Lattishaw; 747 (Strangers In The Night) – Saxon; Whole Lotta Rosie – AC/DC; Stepping Stone – Sex Pistols; Don’t Care – Klark Kent; Burning Car – John Foxx; Let’s Hang On – Darts; Could You Be Loved? – Bob Marley & the Wailers
Bitz: Roxy Music; Jona Lewie’s all time top ten; Fashion, Luke Sky; Mo-dettes; Athletic Spizz ’80; Japan; Demis Roussos, Francis Rossi, Bernie Frost; UK Subs; Kate Bush, Fred and Judy Vermorel; Peter Gabriel; Geno Washington; Ray Teret; Stacy Lattishaw; The Stranglers; Ultravox; Pil, Martin Atkins, Jah Wobble; Paul McCartney; David Patton; Dexy’s Midnight Runners; The Swinging Cats; Can’t Stop The Music, Roadie; Atomic Rooster, John DuCann, Vincent Crane
Single reviews (David Hepworth): King Of The World – Sheila and B. Devotion; Babooshka – Kate Bush; There There My Dear – Dexy’s Midnight Runners; Love Without Greed – Graham Parker; Unite And Win – Sham 69; We Can Don Anything – Cockney Rejects; Don’t Do Me Like That – Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers; Paint It Black – Mo-dettes; Butcher Baby – Plasmatics; Ring Of Fire – Carlene Carter
Album reviews (Bev Hillier / Red Starr / David Hepworth / Ian Cranna / Steve Taylor): Sunrise – Jimmy Ruffin; What’s The Matter Boy? – Vic Godard & Subway Sect; Dumb Waiters – Korgis; Emotional Rescue – Rolling Stones; Mega-Shebang – Andy Fairweather Low; Vienna – Ultravox; Careful – Motels; The Game – Queen; G Beat – Johnny G.; Heroes - Commodores
Independent Albums (Red Starr): Beat The Light – Ken Thomas (Fragment); Final Vinyl – Teardrops (Illuminated); We Are Time – The Pop Group (Y/Rough Trade); Dome – Dome (Dome); The Graveyard and The Ballroom – A Certain Ratio (Factory); The Return Of The Durutti Column – The Durutti Column (Factory)
Independent Singles (Red Starr): Sex Machine – Crawling Chaos (Factory); Komakino – Joy Division (Factory); English Black Boys – X.O. Dus (Factory); New Hormones (Ludus)
Other: Strange Tales From A Music Paper

Friday, June 26, 2020

June 26 - July 9, 1980

Smash Hits, June 12, 1980,/br.
(click on the image to see the full issue)

Cover: The Undertones
Centrespread: The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle
Back cover: Jona Lewie
Interviews: The Undertones; UB40; Peter Gabriel
Lyrics: Who Wants The World - The Stranglers; Wednesday Week - The Undertones; The Bed's Too Big - The Police; Substitute - Liquid Gold; My Way Of Thinking - UB40; In The Night - Barbara Dickson; Me Myself I - Joan Armatrading; Behind The Groove - Teena Marie; Breaking The Law - Judas Priest; Electricity - Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark; Hot Love - David Essex; Waterfalls - Paul McCartney; Sanctuary - Iron Maiden; Simon Templar / Two Pints Of Lager And A Packet Of Crisps Please - Splodgenessabounds
Bitz: The Specials; Pauline Murray, Robert Blamire; Pink Military; Ian Curtis, Joy Division; John Foxx; Stiff Little Fingers; The Barracudas; Sector 27, Tom Robinson; The Attractions; The Stranglers; All time top ten: John Cooper Clarke; The Swinging Cats; Sheena Easton; Pye Records; Killer Watts; Ultravox; The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle, Sting; The Undertones; Elvis Presley; Splodgenessabounds; The Basement Five
Single reviews (David Hepworth): Waterfalls - Paul McCartney; Sleepwalk - Ultravox; Love Man - Mari Wilson; 9 To 5 - Sheena Easton; Empire State Human - The Human League; More Than I Can Say - Leo Sayer; One More Time For Love - Billy Preston and Syreeta; It's All Over Now - Clive Langer and the Boxes; Did You See Her - Pink Military; Wednesday Week - The Undertones
Album reviews (Bev Hillier / Red Starr / David Hepworth): Diana - Diana Ross; Saints Or Sinners? - The Real Thing; Compass - Dalek i; The Blue Meaning - Toyah; Beat Boys In The Jet Age - Lambrettas; The Photos - The Photos; Uprising - Bob Marley and the Wailers; Willie Nile - Willie Nile; Klark Kent - Klark Kent; Crashes - The Records
Independent Singles (Mike Stand): Swans On Glass / Incident - Modern English (4AD); Meet Me At The Base - 50:50 (Public Records); All Right On The Night - M15 (Public Records); Girls Don't Count - Section 25 (Relevant Music); Apache - Ska-dows (Cheapskate); £100 In 15 Minutes - Puritan Guitars (Riverside Records); Radio / All Of A Sudden - BTP Folders (Future Earth Records); Now We're Through / Honey Please Don't Go - Richard And The Taxmen; Choose You - The Dead Beats (Red Rhino Records); Ruby Toot - Vandells (Loose End); The Northern Ripper - The Blanks (Void); I Wish - The State (Zima)
Other: Strange Tales From A Music Paper; Design a Surfboard - win a night out with The Barracudas

Friday, June 12, 2020

June 12 - 25, 1980

Smash Hits, June 12, 1980

(click on the image to see the full issue)

Cover: Bryan Ferry
Centrespread: Orchestral Manouevres In The Dark
Back cover: B.A. Robertson
Interviews: Bryan Ferry, Roxy Music; Squeeze; Jermaine Jackson; Matchbox
Lyrics: New Amsterdam - Elvis Costello; Tin Soldiers - Stiff Little Fingers; Christine - Siouxsie & the Banshees; Crying - Don McLean; Chinatown - Thin Lizzy; Theme From M*A*S*H - The Mash; Little Jeannie - Elton John; If Loving You Is Wrong - Rod Stewart; Everybody's Gotta Learn Sometime - The Korgis; Back Together Again - Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway; The Man Who Dies Everyday - Ultravox; To Be Or Not To Be - B.A. Robertson; Da-a-ance - The Lambrettas; Funky Town - Lipps Inc; Twilight Zone / Twilight Tone - Manhattan Transfer
Bitz: Joe Jackson; Queen, The Game; Glen Matlock, The Spectres; The Specials, Rat Race video banned; Klark Kent, The Jam, The Tourists, Stiff Little Fingers, The Regents, Ian Gillan, Saxon, Krokus, Lindisfarne, The Only Ones, Loch Lomond Festival; Styx; Dexy's Midnight Runners; Gary Numan, Yellow Magic Orchestra; The Police; Siouxsie & the Banshees; John Lydon, American Bandstand; Eddie Tudor's all time top ten; Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway; Darts; Buzzcocks; The Photos; The Mash; Trimmer and Jenkins, The Protest Song, "This Week's Prime Minister, Italy"
Single reviews (Deanne Pearson): Christine - Siouxise and the Banshees; Who Wants The World - The Stranglers; New Amsterdam - Elvis Costello; The Harder They Come - Joe Jackson; Stepping Stone - Sex Pistols; Spellbound - Rachel Sweet; Let's Hang On - Darts; The Boy Can't Dance - The Orchids; It Man - John Cooper Clarke; Could You Be Loved - Bob Marley & the Wailers; Lip Up Fatty - Bad Manners; Clones (We're All) - Alice Cooper; Japanese Tears - Denny Laine; Nothing Left Toulouse - Sad Cafe; Writing On The Wall - Hazel O'Connor; Away From Home - Klark Kent
Album reviews (Bev Hillier / Red Starr / David Hepworth / Ian Cranna): Mystic Merlin - Mystic Merlin; Warm Leatherette - Grace Jones; Still Life - Karel Fialka; New Clear Days - The Vapors; The Game - Sham 69; Evening Standards - The Jags; Peter Gabriel - Peter Gabriel; 21 At 33 - Elton John; Flesh And Blood - Roxy Music; The Up Escalator - Graham Parker
Independent Albums: Do Animals Believe In God? - Pink Military (Erics)
Independent Singles (Red Starr): No Room - Athletico Spizz '80 (Rough Trade); Final Day EP - Young Marble Giants (Rough Trade); Hot Rod Man / Aint It Wrong - Tex Rubinowitz (Silent Records); Love All Over The Place - Bubba Lou & the Highballs (Silent Records)
Other: Strange Tales From A Music Paper

Friday, May 29, 2020

May 29 - June 11, 1980

Smash Hits, May 29, 1980

(click on the image to see the full issue)

Cover: Terry Hall
Centrespread: New Musik
Back cover: The Human League
Interviews: Orchestral Manouevres In The Dark, The Specials, Hot Chocolate
Lyrics: No Self Control - Peter Gabriel; Rescue - Echo and the Bunnymen; We Are Glass - Gary Numan; Messages - Orchestral Manouevres In The Dark; The Bucket Of Water Song - The Four Bucketeers; Rat Race - The Specials; Just Can't Give You Up - Mystic Merlin; Midnite Dynamos - Matchbox; Let's Go Round Again - Average White Band; This Town Ain't Big Enough; Pulling Mussels From A Shell - Squeeze; In The Kitchen At Parties - Jona Lewie; I'm Alive - Electric Light Orchestra
Bitz: The Police; Chaz Jankel; The Specials; Denny Laine; David Essex; The Clash; Ultravox, John Foxx; Bill Nelson; Musicians Union; Jona Lewie; Echo and the Bunnymen; The Great Rock 'N' Roll Swindle, Michael Moorcock; Holly Vincent's all time top ten; South Africa bans Another Brick In The Wall; Yes, The Buggles, Rick Wakeman, Jon Anderson; The Ruts
Single reviews (Deanne Pearson): We Are Glass - Gary Numan; Me, Myself, I - Joan Armatrading; A Teenager In Love - Rocky Sharpe and the Replays; Look At The Outside - Chelsea; Little Jeannie - Elton John; Every Time We Say Goodbye - Ella Fitzgerald; Ballad Of Miss Demeanour - Flowers; Shaking All Over / China - Drinking Electricity; To Be Or Not To Be - B.A. Robertson; Reach Your Peak - Sister Sledge; Think About Me - Fleetwood Mac; D-a-a-ance - Lambrettas; Nobody's Hero - Stiff Little Fingers; I'm Alive - Electric Light Orchestra; Beauty Queen - Little Nell
Album reviews (Bev Hillier / Red Starr / David Hepworth / Ian Cranna): GQ Two - GQ; Two Places At The Same Time - Raydio; Shine - Average White Band; So Far Away - The Chords; Freedom Of Choice - Devo; The Legend Lives On...Jah Wobble in Betrayal - Jah Wobble; Me, Myself, I - Joan Armatrading; McCartney II - Paul McCartney; Nobody's Perfect - The Distractions; I Just Can't Stop It - The Beat
Independent Albums (Red Starr): First Offenders (Canterbury 1980) (Criminal); Hicks From The Sticks (Rockburgh)
Independent News: Pete Wylie, Wah! Heat; Ian Curtis, Joy Division
Other: Strange Tales From A Music Paper; win dinner with John Peel

Friday, May 15, 2020

May 15 - 28, 1980

Smash Hits, May 15, 1980

(click on the image to see the full issue)

Cover: Kate Bush
Centrespread: The Undertones
Back cover: Toyah
Interviews: Kate Bush; Phil Lynott
Lyrics: In The City / All Around The World / Modern World - The Jam; Breathing - Kate Bush, This World Of Water - New Musik; Over You - Roxy Music; The Greatest Cockney Rip-Off - Cockney Rejects; Police And Thieves - Junior Murvin; Hold On To My Love - Jimmy Ruffin; Take Good Care Of My Love - Smokie; No Doubt About It - Hot Chocolate; Call Me - Blondie; Rock 'N' Roll - Human League; She's Out Of My Life - Michael Jackson; Fool For Your Loving - Whitesnake; Leaving Here - Motorhead
Bitz: Gary Numan, Robert Palmer; Rodney Franklin; Devo; The Beat; Buster Bloodvessel; Graham Parker; David Bowie; The Great Rock 'N' Roll Swindle; Rainbow; The B-52s; The Lambrettas; Geno Washington; Kosmo Vinyl, Dread At The Controls; Americathon, Elvis Costello; Phil Lynott's all time top ten; The High Numbers; Elton John; Junior Murvin
Single reviews (Mrs. Esme Sprigg of Hounslow): Boys Cry - The Distractions; That's What John Said - The Motors; Girl You Want - Devo; Hey Mae - Shakin' Stevens; Total War - Comsat Angels; Midnight Dynamos - Matchbox; Messages - Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark; Pulling Mussels (From The Shell) - Squeeze; Stupefaction - Graham Parker; Over You - Roxy Music
Album reviews (Bev Hillier / Red Starr / David Hepworth / Ian Cranna): Let's Get Serious - Jermaine Jackson; Go All The Way - The Isley Brothers; Travelogue - The Human League; Strange Boutique - The Monochrome Set; Le Chat Bleu - Mink DeVille; Snakes And Lovers - Interview; The Correct Use Of Soap - Magazine; Baby's Got A Gun - The Only Ones; Sports Car - Judie Tzuke; Solo In Soho - Phil Lynott
Independent Singles (Red Starr): TV21; The Decorators; The Versatile Newts; John Duart & the Bedrooms Of Europe; Metrophase; Embryo; Lord Rockingham's Revenge; The Shrouds; Bob Saffron & The Postal Bargains; I Am A Computer - Goo-Q (Rising Star); The Accidents; The Thunderboys; The Freeze; Put My Finger On You - The Amber Squad (S+T); Positive Signals; The Strand; Phones B. Sportsman; The Cult Figures; Two Hearts In Pain / Exploitation - Janet Armstrong (Silent Records)
Other: Music programmes on television

Friday, May 1, 2020

May 1 - 14, 1980

Smash Hits, May 1, 1980

(click on the image to see the full issue)

Cover: Siouxsie Sioux
Centrespread: The Specials
Back cover: The Chords
Interviews: Siouxsie and the Banshees; The Bodysnatchers; Pete Townshend
Lyrics: My Oh My - Sad Cafe; Wheels Of Steel - Saxon; Staring At The Rude Boys - The Ruts; Something's Missing - The Chords; Mirror In The Bathroom - The Beat; Coming Up - Paul McCartney; Dear Miss Lonely Hearts - Phil Lynott; Don't Make Waves - The Nolans; I Shoulda Loved Ya - Narada Michael Walden; I'm The Face - The High Numbers; All For Leyna - Billy Joel; Life On Mars - David Bowie; Rock 'N' Roll Radio - The Ramones; Live And Loneliness - The Motors; A Forest - The Cure
Bitz: Gary Numan; The Photos; Suggs; Fern Kinney; AC/DC, Brian Johnson; The Vapors; Sonja Kristina; Marvin Gaye; Rocky Burnette; Bob Marley and the Wailers; The Cockney Rejects; Joe Strummer, the 101ers; The Undertones; The Great Rock 'N' Roll Swindle, Malcolm McLaren, Julian Temple; Toyah's all time top ten; The Kinks; Joy Division; Video Killed The Radio Star; Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark, Paul Humphreys, Andy McCluskey; The Human League; Dave Marsh
Single reviews (a small creature in shorts): The Lonely Spy - Lori and the Chameleons; Scuba Scuba - The Revillos; Holiday '80 - The Human League; The Strange Boutique - The Monochrome Set; Split Up The Money - Vic Godard and Subway Sect; Betrayal - Jah Wobble; Splash (A Tear Comes Rolling Down) - Clive Langer and the Boxes; I Hear You Knocking - Dave Edmunds Rockpile; The Greatest Cockney Rip-Off - Cockney Rejects; Saigon - Martha and the Muffins; Outside The Trains Don't Run On Time - Gang Of Four; Mirror In The Bathroom - The Beat; Rescue - Echo and the Bunnymen
Album reviews (Bev Hillier / Red Starr / David Hepworth / Ian Cranna): You Got What It Takes - Bobby Thurston; You Know How To Love Me - Phyllis Hyman; Snap, Crackle And Bop - John Cooper Clarke; 1980 - The Choice Is Yours - The Members; Bad Manners - Bad Manners; The Russians Are Coming - Bram Tchaikovsky; Middle Man - Boz Scaggs; Empty Glass - Pete Townshend; From A To B - New Musik; Seventeen Seconds - The Cure
Independent Albums (Red Starr): Remorse Code - Desperate Bicycles
Independent Singles (Steve Bush): Wind-Up Girl - Spitfire (Gun Records); Waiting For You / It's True - The Meanies (Vendetta Records); Don't Let Go / Bank Holiday Weekend - Seventeen (Vendetta Records); The Music Goes On And On / Ginny - Jerry The Ferret (Dead Horse Records); Femmes Sous Cellophane - Edith Nylon (Discos Incorporated);Books Books Books / Not A Love Song - The Impossible Dreamers (A Merciful Release)

Friday, April 17, 2020

April 17 - 30, 1980

Smash Hits, April 17, 1980

(click on the image to see the full issue)

Cover: Madness
Centrespread: The Vapors
Back cover: Siouxsie
Interviews: The Monkees; Madness; BA Robertson
Lyrics: What Will I Do Without You? – Lene Lovich; Clean Clean – The Buggles; Daydream Believer – The Monkees; Modern Girl – Sheena Easton; Silver Dream Racer – David Essex; I’ve Never Been In Love – Suzi Quatro; Check Out The Groove – Bobby Thurston; Sexy Eyes – Dr. Hook; Him – Rupert Holmes; White Punks On Dope – The Tubes; High Fidelity – Elvis Costello; Food For Thought – UB40; Geno – Dexy’s Midnight Runners; Don’t Push It Don’t Force it – Leon Haywood; Living After Midnight – Judas Priest
Bitz: Pink Floyd; Bobby Thurston; Tiswas; Gary Glitter; The Great Rock ‘n’ Roll Swindle; Jacob Miller; Eddie Cochran; Sham 69; John Cooper Clarke; Sheena Easton; UB40; Glen Matlock’s all-time top ten; The Monkees; Joe Jackson; Styx; Santana; The Blues Band; The Spectres
Single reviews (David Hepworth): Call Me – Blondie; High Society – Norma Jean; Coming Up – Paul McCartney; Do You Remember Rock ‘n’ Roll Radio – Ramones; Don’t Touch Me There – Tygers Of Pan Tang; Eurovision – Telex; Police And Thieves – Junior Murvin; The Crawl – Fabulous Thunderbirds; A Forest – The Cure; Israelites – Desmond Dekker; Supremes Medley – Diana Ross and the Supremes; The Bucket Of Water Song – The four Bucketeers
Album reviews (Bev Hillier / Red Starr / David Hepworth / Ian Cranna): Totally Connected – T-Connection; Every Generation – Ronnie Laws; We Gotta Get Outta This Place – Angelic Upstarts; The Son Of Rock And Roll – Rocky Burnette; Big Boy – Mark Andrew and the Gents; The Barbara Dickson Album – Barbara Dickson; Duke – Genesis; Snakes And Ladders – Gerry Rafferty; Hypnotised – The Undertones
Independent Albums: Live Quartz - Quartz
Independent Singles (Red Starr): Rickey’s Hand – Fad Gadget; Anticipation – Delta 5; Warm Girls – Girls At Our Best; Boots For Dancing; Falling And Laughing - Orange Juice

Friday, April 3, 2020

April 3 - 16, 1980

Smash Hits, April 3, 1980

(click on the image to see the full issue)

Cover: John Lydon
Centrespread: Stiff Little Fingers
Back cover: The Beat
Interviews: Gary Numan; Stewart Copeland; Public Image Limited
Lyrics: Let’s Do Rocksteady – Bodysnatchers; Missing Words – Selector; Night Boat To Cairo – Madness; No One Driving – John Foxx; Talk Of The Town – Pretenders; My Perfect Cousin – Undertones; Stomp – Brothers Johnson; My World – Secret Affair; King – UB40; Ready Steady Go – Generation X; January February – Barbara Dickson; Dance Yourself Dizzy – Liquid Gold; That’s The Way The Money Goes – M; Spirit Of Radio – Rush; Turn It On Again – Genesis
Bitz: Madness; Fleetwood Mac; 10CC; Generation X; Boomtown Rats; Pete Briquette; Kiss; Barbara Dickson; Mike Oldfield; Brothers Johnson; Rush; Dave Wakeling’s all-time top ten; The Police; Phil Lynott; Darts; Graham Parker; Pete Frame
Single reviews (David Hepworth): Dear Miss Lonelyhearts – Phil Lynott; We Gotta Get Out Of This Place – Angelic Upstarts; I Thank You – ZZ Top; Clean Clean – The Buggles; I Feel Love – Donna Summer; Wait Till Your Boat Goes Down – XTC; Living After Midnight – Judas Priest; Trial Of Hissing Sid – Captain Beaky And His Band; Rough Boys – Pete Townshend; Work, Rest & Play EP – Madness; Talk Of The Town – The Pretenders; My Perfect Cousin – The Undertones
Album reviews (Red Starr / David Hepworth / Bev Hillier / Ian Cranna): The Whispers – The Whispers; Burnin’ Alive – Tony Rallo & the Midnite Band; Beat That! – Purple Hearts; Original Mirrors – Original Mirrors; MAA – Mental As Anything; Big Smash – Wreckless Eric; Initial Success – BA Robertson; Glass Houses – Billy Joel; Tenement Steps – The Motors; American Gigolo Original Soundtrack
Independent Albums: East – Various Artists (Dead Good Records)
Independent Singles (Red Starr): Chance Meeting – Josef K; Where There’s A Will There’s A Way – The Pop Group; In The Beginning There Was Rhythm - Slits

Friday, March 20, 2020

March 20 - April 2, 1980

Smash Hits, March 20, 1980

(click on the image to see the full issue)

Cover: XTC
Centrespread: Gary Numan
Back cover: The Skids
Interviews: Andy Summers, The Vapors, John Foxx
Lyrics: Another Nail In My Heart – Squeeze; Echo Beach – Martha and the Muffins; Going Underground – The Jam; Atomic – Blondie; Rosie – Joan Armatrading; Hello I Am Your Heart – Bette Bright; Kool In The Kaftan – B. A. Robertson; You Know How To Love Me – Phyllis Hyman; Poison Ivy – The Lambrettas; Happy House – Siouxsie and the Banshees; Warhead – UK Subs; The Man With The Child In His Eyes – Kate Bush; Tonight I’m Alright – Narada Michael Walden; Working My Way Back To You – Detroit Spinners; Ten Feet Tall – XTC; The Olympian – The Skids
Bitz: Martha and the Muffins; The Lambrettas; Elvis Presley; Thin Lizzy; John Foxx’s all-time top ten; Siouxsie & the Banshees; Sham 69; Shakin’ Stevens; Bette Bright; Deaf School; The Tourists; Holly and the Italians; Narada Michael Walden; Toyah Willcox; Judas Priest
Single reviews (Kelly Pike): Going Underground – The Jam; My World (I Spy) – Secret Affair; Turn It On Again – Genesis; Do Rock Steady – Bodysnatchers; Shiraleo – Starjets; Understanding – Judie Tzuke; Same Goes For You – Leif Garrett; Thank You (Falettin Me Be Mice Elf Again) – Magazine; Bad News – Sugarhill Gang; Trickle Trickle – Manhattan Transfer; It’s Too Late – The Searchers; Geno – Dexy’s Midnight Runners; What Will I Do Without You? – Lene Lovich; Kickin The Kans – Headboys; My Oh My – Sad Café; Refugee – Tom Petty; A Song For Europe – The Mice; You Really Got Me – The Kinks; Spirit Of Radio - Rush
Album reviews (Red Starr / David Hepworth): Sugarhill Gang – Sugarhill Gang; Crazy Rhythm – The Feelies; Deguello – ZZ Top; Solid Gold – James Brown; Greatest Hits Vol One – Cockney Rejects; Songs The Lord Taught Us – The Cramps; Psychedelic Furs – Psychedelic Furs; Nobody’s Heroes – Stiff Little Fingers
Independent Albums: Colossal Youth – Young Marble Giants
Independent Singles: Wardance – Killing Joke; Kebabtraume – DAF; Treason – Teardrop Explodes; Let’s Build A Car – Swell Maps
Other stuff: Smash Hits Readers Poll Results

Friday, March 6, 2020

March 6 - 19, 1980

Smash Hits, March 6, 1980

(click on the image to see the full issue)

Cover: The Jam
Centrespread: The Tourists
Back cover: Dave Edmunds
Interviews: The Jam; Blondie; The Flying Lizards
Bitz: Dr. Hook; Fleetwood Mac; Another Pretty Face; The Scars; Bon Scott; Fern Kinney; The Police, Gary Numan, Angelic Upstarts; Meatloaf; Thin Lizzy; Scott Gorham; Sammy Hagar; Mike Oldfield; Madness; Eric Stewart; Chris Pope's All Time Top Ten; The Cramps; The Fall; Spizz Energi; Captain & Tenille; Tony Rallo
Lyrics: Animation - The Skids; Space Oddity / Alabama Song - David Bowie; Cuba - Gibson Brothers; All Night Long - Rainbow; I've Done Everything For You - Sammy Hagar; Hot Dog - Shakin' Stevens; Holdin' On - Tony Rallo & the Midnight Band; Do That To Me One More Time - Captain & Tenille; Together We Are Beautiful - Fern Kinney; On The Radio - Donna Summer; At The Edge - Stiff Little Fingers; Where's Captain Kirk? - Spizz Energi; Running Free - Iron Maiden; Hello America - Def Leppard
Single reviews (David Hepworth): Baby Talks Dirty - The Knack; Baby Tonight - Rocky Burnett; 2000 Man - Kiss; Real Fun - Ten Pole Tudor; Bionic Man - Fabulous Poodles; That's The Way The Money Goes - M; Love And Loneliness - The Motors; Gypsy Blood - Doll By Doll; Kool In The Kaftan - B.A. Robertson; Rosie - Joan Armatrading; Hello I Am Your Heart - Bette Bright; 9 o'clock - Snips
Album reviews (Red Starr): Love Somebody Today - Sister Sledge; Get Happy - Elvis Costello; Unbehagen - Nina Hagen; Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark; Protect The Innocent - Rachel Sweet; Metro Beach - Martha & the Muffins; Take Away - Mr. Partridge; Argy Bargy - Squeeze
Other stuff: Walt Jabsco art competition

Friday, February 21, 2020

February 21 - March 5, 1980

Smash Hits, February 21, 1980

(click on the image to see the full issue)

Cover: The Buggles
Centrespread: Madness
Back cover: Suzi Quatro
Interviews: The Buggles; The Revillos; Sting
Bitz: Blondie; BA Robertson; Wreckless Eric; UK Subs; Pauline Murray; Thin Lizzy; The Beat; Flying Lizards; Stuart Adamson; The Skids; Guns For Hire; Pauline Black’s all time top ten; Elton John; Toyah; Stupid Babies; Jefferson Starship
Lyrics: Maybe Tomorrow – The Chords; Singing The Blues – Dave Edmunds; So Good To Be Back Home Again – The Tourists; Carrie – Cliff Richard; Games Without Frontiers – Peter Gabriel; Jane – Jefferson Starship; Are You Ready – Billy Ocean; Music Makes You Feel Like Dancing – Brass Construction; TV – Flying Lizards; Red Frame White Light – Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark; Rock With You – Michael Jackson; Mongoloid – Devo; Turning Japanese – The Vapors; And The Beat Goes On – The Whispers; Hands Off She’s Mine – The Beat
Single reviews (David Hepworth): Cuba – Gibson Brothers; Space Oddity / Alabama Song – David Bowie; My Boy Lollipop – Millie; Poison Ivy – Lambettas; I’m A Believer – Monkees; Games Without Frontiers – Peter Gabriel; Walking In Line – Mike Rutherford; A Song From Under The Floorboards – Magazine; Broken English – Marianne Faithfull; Pop Song – Wreckless Eric; Hands Off She’s Mine – The Beat; Another Nail In My Heart – Squeeze; Echo Beach – Martha and the Muffins
Album reviews (Red Starr): Catching The Sun – Spyro Gyra; Live At The YMCA 27.10.79 – Cabaret Voltaire; The Biggest Prize In Sport – 999; Take One - Shakin’ Stevens; Short Stories, Tall Tales – Horslips; Too Much Pressure – The Selector; Terminal Jive - Sparks

Friday, February 7, 2020

February 7 - 20, 1980

Smash Hits, February 7, 1980
(click on the image to see the full issue)

Cover: The Police
Centrespread: The Who (1965)
Back cover: Matchbox
Interviews: Sting, The Ramones, Joe Jackson
Bitz: Blondie; Sting; Walt Jabsco; Gerry Rafferty; Angelic Upstarts; Johnny Ramone’s all time top ten; Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark; The Vapors; The Selector; Elvis Costello; Thin Lizzy, The Ruts; Wreckless Eric; The Bodysnatchers; Dexy’s Midnight Runners; Nick Lowe; Status Quo; David Bowie;
Lyrics: Motor Bike Beat – Rezillos; The Plastic Age – The Buggles; Living By Numbers – New Musik; I Can’t Stand Up For Falling Down – Elvis Costello; Buzz Buzz A Diddle It – Matchbox; I Hear You Now – Jon & Vangelis; Strange Little Girl – Sad Café; Too Hot – Kool & the Gang; Got To Love Somebody – Sister Sledge; Baby I Love You – The Ramones; Paradise Bird – Amii Stewart; Wonderland – The Commodores; New Rose – The Damned; Underpass – John Foxx; Dance Stance – Dexy’s Midnight Runners
Single reviews (Julie Milton): Everybody’s Got Something To Hide – The Feelies; TV – The Flying Lizards; Sister Europe – Psychedelic Furs
Album reviews (Red Starr): Prince – Prince; Metamatic – John Foxx; The Flying Lizards – The Flying Lizards; Partners In Crime – Rupert Holmes; The Age Of Plastic – The Buggles

Friday, January 24, 2020

January 24 - February 6, 1980

Smash Hits, January 24, 1980
(click on the image to see the full issue)

Cover: Sparks
Centrespread: The Pretenders
Back cover: M (Robin Scott)
Interviews: The Sparks; KC & the Sunshine Band (Harry Casey); The Beat
Bitz: Paul Weller; Hugh Cornwell; Tom Petty; Elvis Costello; Stiff Little Fingers; Madness; Tom Robinson; The Regents; Squeeze, The Headboys; Public Image; Bill Hurley's all time top ten; UFO, Jerry Lee Lewis
Lyrics: Babe - Styx; Young Blood - UFO; It's Different For Girls - Joe Jackson; Angels - Lene Lovich; Someone's Looking At You - Boomtown Rats; Sara - Fleetwood Mac; Escape (The Pina Colada Song) - Rupert Hines; Better Love Next Time - Dr. Hook; I'm In The Mood For Dancing - Nolan Sisters; Spirits (Having Flown) - Bee Gees; We Got The Funk - Positive Force; Sweet Suburbia - Skids; Mama's Boy - Suzi Quatro; 7teen - The Regents
Single reviews (David Hepworth): Tell That Girl To Shut Up - Holly & the Italians; Underpass - John Foxx; Changeling - Simple Minds; Buzz Buzz A Diddle It - Matchbox; Mama's Boy - Suzi Quatro; The Plastic Age - The Buggles; Motor Cycle Beat - Revillos; When I'm With You - Sparks; The Nips Are Getting Bigger - Mental As Anything; Too Much Too Young - The Special A.K.A.; Three Minute Hero - The Selector
Album reviews (Red Starr): Real To Real Cacophony - Simple Minds; 5 - Brass Construction; Masterplan - Rufus & Chaka; The Raincoats - The Raincoats; Flex - Lene Lovich; End Of The Century - The Ramones; Sid Sings - Sid Vicious; The Pretenders - The Pretenders; New York, London, Paris, Munich - M

Friday, January 10, 2020

January 10 - 23, 1980

Smash Hits, January 10, 1979
(click on the image to see the full issue)

Cover: The Pretenders
Centrespread: Pink Floyd
Back cover: The Clash
Interviews: The Pretenders; Mike Oldfield; The Selector
Bitz: Elvis Costello; Squeeze; The Inmates; Star Trek: The Motion Picture; The Cure; Jo Callis's all-time top ten
Lyrics: Day Trip To Bangor - Fiddler's Dram; Tears Of A Clown - The Beat; Too Much Too Young - The Specials; Union City Blue - Blondie; Moonlight And Muzak - M; I Wanna Hold Your Hand - Dollar; I Have A Dream - Abba; With You I'm Born Again - Billy Preston & Syreeta; Please Don't Go - KC & the Sunshine Band; I'm Born Again - Boney M; My Girl - Madness; The Walk - The Inmates; What Do I Get? - Buzzcocks; John, I'm Only Dancing - David Bowie
Single reviews: I Hear You Now - Jon & Vangelis; Spirits Having Flown - Bee Gees; My Girl - Madness
Album reviews: no room....Red Starr

Friday, December 27, 2019

December 27, 1979 - January 9, 1980

Smash Hits, December 27, 1979

(click on the image to see the full issue)

Cover: Blondie
Centrespread: Blondie
Back cover: Billy Idol
Interviews: Sex Pistols; Blondie; Kenny Everett
Lyrics: Wuthering Heights - Kate Bush; Mary Of The Fourth Form - Boomtown Rats; SOS - Abba; So Lonely - Police; Mr Blue Sky - Electric Light Orchestra; My Generation - The Who; God Save The Queen - Sex Pistols; Presence Dear - Blondie; Mars Bars - Undertones; Take Me I'm Yours - Squeeze; Sweet Gene Vincent - Ian Dury & The Blockheads; Saturday Night Fever - Bee Gees; Shame - Evelyn "Champagne" King; Bombers - Tubeway Army; Watching The Detectives - Elvis Costello & The Attractions
Bitz: Simple Minds, "Le Morte En Direct", "Death Watch"; Siouxsie And The Banshees, Budgie; George Jones; Rod Temperton, Johnnie Wilder; Revillo; "Born To Run", Dave Marsh, "Keith Richards", Barbara Charone; Peter Gabriel; all-time top ten: Paul Weller; Phil Lynott, "Solo In Soho", Rainbow; Tourists; Blondie; "The Biggest Disco In The World", Charlie Daniels Band; Storm, Bebe Buell; Public Image Ltd., Martin Atkins; Ramones
Other features (John Hodgson): Teeside: Blitzkrieg Bop, Nicky Beat & The Beatniks; The Cassettes; Carl Green & The Scene; Disguise; No Way; The Vultures; Basczax; The Amazing Space Frogs; The Props; Deja Vu; The Barbarians; The Drop; The Sines; Tic Tic; Shoot The Lights Out; Pork The Pies; Bombay Drug Squad; Discharge

December 27, 1989 - January 9, 1990

Smash Hits, December 27, 1989

(click on the image to see the full issue)

Friday, December 13, 2019

December 13 - 26, 1979

Smash Hits, December 13, 1979
(click on the image to see the full issue)

Cover: The Clash
Centrespread: Secret Affair
Back cover: Dan-I
Interviews: Joe Strummer; The Clash; The Tourists; Paul McCartney; Wings
Bitz: XTC; Specials; The Brians; Gary Numan; Blondie; Sheila B. Devotion; Annie Lennox's all-time top ten; Sugar Hill Gang
Lyrics: Don't Bring Harry - Stranglers; She's Not There - UK Subs; London Calling - The Clash; Spacer - Sheila B. Devotion; My Simple Heart - Three Degrees; Crawling From The Wreckage - Dave Edmunds; Mellow Mellow Right On - Lowrell; Is It Love You're After? - Rose Royce; Living On An Island - Status Quo; Another Brick In The Wall - Pink Floyd; Christmas Day - Squeeze; Glad To Be Gay - Tom Robinson Band; Wonderful Christmastime - Paul McCartney; Off The Wall - Michael Jackson; It's My House - Donna Summer
Single reviews: Tears Of A Clown - The Beat; Survival - Bob Marley & the Wailers; London Calling - The Clash; Green Onions - Booker T and the MGs; Nervous System - Killing Joke; Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life - Monty Python; Dance Stance - Dexy's Midnight Runners; John, I'm Only Dancing - David Bowie; I Believe In Father Christmas - Greg Lake; Robot - Plastics
Album reviews: The Quality Of Mercy Is Not Strnen - Mekons; Platinum - Mike Oldfield; Metal Box - Public Image; Real To Real Cacophony - Simple Minds; The Wall - Pink Floyd

December 13 - 26, 1989

Smash Hits, December 13, 1989

(click on the image to see the full issue)

Friday, November 29, 2019

November 29 - December 12, 1979

Smash Hits, November 29, 1979

(click on the image to see the full issue)

Cover: Madness
Centrespread: Lene Lovich
Back cover: Elvis Costello
Interviews: Marianne Faithfull; Suzi Quatro; Madness
Lyrics: Last Train To London - Electric Light Orchestra; Walking On The Moon - The Police; Fall Out - The Police; Rockabilly Rebel - Matchbox; A Night A Daddy Gee's - Showaddywaddy; The Ballad Of Lucy Jordan - Marianne Faithfull; Let Your Heart Dance - Secret Affair; It's A Disco Night - Isley Brothers; My Feet Keep Dancing - Chic; I Only Wanna Be With You - The Tourists; Working For The Yankee Dollar - The Skids; David Watts - The Jam; Que Sera Mi Vida - The Gibson Brothers; Monkey Chop - Dan-I; Brass In Pocket - The Pretenders
Bitz: Blondie tour; Mike Oldfield, "Platinum", The Clash; Brinsley Schwarz, Bob Andrews, Ian Gomm; The Police, Henry Padovani; Gary Glitter; Matchbox; The Beat; Elvis Presley; Martin Bradley; Marvin Gaye; Boomtown Rats, Lene Lovich, Undertones; Elvis Costello, Nick Lowe, Holland; Herb Alpert; Sex Beatles, Jimmy Santana, Jordi, Hamish; The Police, Eberhard Schoener; Dan-I; all-time top ten: Ian Page; Sex Pistols, John Varnom; Fleetwood Mac, Hollywood Boulevard; The Mekons; Mean Street Dealers; Four Be Two, Jock McDonald, Bill Stewart, Billy Idol, Paul Cook, Tony James, Mike James, Jimmy Lydon, Steve Jones, Paul Young, Gerry O'Donnell, Ricky Jobson, Phil Lynott
Single reviews (David Hepworth): Jumping Someone Else's Train - The Cure; Crawling From The Wreckage - Dave Edmunds; Baby Let's Play House - Rachel Sweet; Walking On The Moon - Police; It's Different For Girls - Joe Jackson; Don't Bring Harry - Stranglers; Christmas Day - Squeeze; I'm Not A Fool - Cockney Rejects; She's Not There - UK Subs; Wonderful Christmastime - Paul McCartney; An Englishman In New York - Godley And Creme; Manny Moe And Jack - Dickies; Such A Night - Racey; Hunted - Passions; Teenage Lightning - Doll By Doll; Don't Give It To Me Now - Merton Parkas; Planet Claire - B-52's; Moonlight And Muzak - M; Nightbus - Playboys; God Bless Whoever Made You - Jona Lewie
Album reviews (Red Starr): Music Man - Revanche; Royal Rappin's - Millie Jackson and Issac Hayes; Dawn Of The Dickies - Dickies; Jellied Eels To Record Deals - Buzzards; Matchbox - Matchbox; Suzi...And Other Four Letter Words - Suzi Quatro; And I Mean It - Genya Ravan; Sometimes You Win - Dr. Hook; Setting Sons - The Jam

November 29 - December 12, 1989

Smash Hits, November 29, 1989

(click on the image to see the full issue)

Friday, November 15, 2019

November 15 - 28, 1979

Smash Hits, November 15 - 28, 1979

(click on the image to see the full issue)

Cover: Gary Numan
Centrespread: Public Image Ltd., John Lydon
Back cover: The Selecter
Interviews: Gary Numan; Undertones; Chic
Lyrics: A Message To You Rudy / Nite Klub - Specials; Diamond Smiles - Boomtown Rats; Complex - Gary Numan; Spooky - Atlanta Rhythm Section; Tryouts For The Human Race - Sparks; Still - Commodore; Ladies' Knight - Kool & The Gang; Knocked It Off - B. A. Robertson; Hot Shot - Cliff Richard; Never 'Ad Nothin' - Angelic Upstarts; Denis - Blondie; Gonna Get Along Without You Now - Viola Wills; Tusk - Fleetwood Mac; When You're In Love With A Beautiful Woman - Dr. Hook
Bitz: Siouxsie; Undertones; Little GTO, New York Blondes; Paul McCartney "the most successful composer of all time"; Fleetwood Mac; Jimmy Pursey; Adverts split up; Gang Of Four; John Cooper-Clarke, Lenny Siberia; Police "Fall Out", Squeeze "Packet Of Three"; UK Subs, Paul Slack; Atlanta Rhythm Section, J.R. Cobb, Dean Daughtry; Lene Lovich, Les Chappell; Thin Lizzy, Dave Flett, Midge Ure; Mike Oldfield, Chairman Hua; The Cross, Phil Daniels, Peter Hugo-Daly, Barry Neill, John McWilliams; Lori And The Chameleons, Lori Lartey, Bill Drummond, David Balfe; Kevin Godley, Lol Creme; Skids, Alastair Moore; Steve Jones, Ten Pole Tudor, Sting, Duggie Campbell; Radio Actors, Sting, Steve Hillage, Nik Turner; Queen; all time top ten: The Undertones
Single reviews (David Hepworth): Diamond Smiles - Boomtown Rats; The Walk - Inmates; Made In Germany - Michael O'Brien; One Of The Lads - Four Be Two; Brass In Pocket - Pretenders; Young 'N' Russian; Time Goes By So Slow - Distractions; You Ready Now - Slaughter And The Dogs; Sonny's Lettah - Linton Kwesi Johnson; Tar - Visage; Cleveland Rocks - Ian Hunter; 6060-842 - B-52's; Betcha Can't Love Me Just Once - Raydio; Lucy Jordan - Marianne Faithfull
Album reviews (Red Starr): I Have A Right - Gloria Gaynor; Rise - Herb Alpert; Secret Life Of Plants - Stevie Wonder; One Step Beyond - Madness; Reality Effect - Tourists; The Headboys - Headboys; Present Tense - The Shoes; Broken English - Marianne Faithfull

November 15 - 28, 1989

Smash Hits, November 15, 1989

(click on the image to see the full issue)

Friday, November 1, 2019

November 1 - 14, 1979

Smash Hits, November 1, 1979
(click on the image to see the full issue)

Cover: Skids
Centrespread: The Police
Back cover: Sparks
Interviews: The Skids; Status Quo; XTC
Bitz: Grace Jones; The Vapors; Donna Summer and Barbra Streisand; Charlie Daniels Band; Visage; Nicky Tesco's Top Ten
Lyrics: My Forbidden Lover - Chic; Memories - Public Image Limited; The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle - Sex Pistols; Nuclear Device - Stranglers; The Eton Rifles - The Jam; Sarah - Thin Lizzy; Gimme Gimme Gimme (A Man After Midnight) - Abba; On My Radio - Selector; Down In The Park - Tubeway Army; The Devil Went Down To Georgia - Charlie Daniels Band; Typical Girls - Slits; So Much Trouble - Bob Marley
Single reviews: One Step Beyond - Madness; The Eton Rifles - The Jam; I'm A Cult Hero - Cult Hero; California Uber Alles - Dead Kennedys; Life During Wartime - Talking Heads
Album reviews (Red Starr): The Fine Art Of Surfacing - Boomtown Rats; Whatever You Want - Status Quo; Tusk - Fleetwood Mac; The Specials - The Specials

November 1 - 14, 1989

Smash Hits, November 1, 1989

(click on the image to see the full issue)

Friday, October 18, 2019

October 18 - 31, 1979

Smash Hits, October 18 - 31, 1979

(click on the image to see the full issue)

Cover: Bob Geldof
Centrespread: Debbie Harry
Back cover: Nick Lowe
Interviews: Boomtown Rats; The Damned; Boney M; Kate Bush
Lyrics: Every Day Hurts - Sad Cafe; Goodbye Stranger - Supertramp; Birdsong - Lene Lovich; You Say You Don't Love Me - Buzzcocks; You've Got My Number - Undertones; Smash It Up - Damned; Charade - Skids; Anarchy In The U.K. - Sex Pistols; Star - Earth Wind & Fire; Sing A Happy Song - O'Jays; El Lute - Boney M; OK Fred - Errol Dunkley; Point Of View - Matumbi; Now It's Gone - Chords; You're A Better Man Than I - Sham 69
Bitz: Public Image, Richard Dudanski, Karl Burns; Hugh Cornwell, Nosferatu; Four Be Two, Jimmy Lydon, Youth, Jock McDonald, Paul Young; Gary Numan; Souxsie and the Banshees; Skids; Andy Summers, Luke Skywalker; Joe Jackson, Boris Wellduff; Boomtown Rats; The Damned; Cliff Richard; The Flirts, Betty Burns, Jackie Burns, Natasha England; The Clash; Don Arden sues the BBC, Marvin Michaelson; Adverts, Paul Martinez; Cliff Richard, Kate Bush; all time top twelve: Ian Dury; Sting; Revillos, The Beat Goes On; Jimmy McCulloch dies
Single reviews (David Hepworth): No Mercy - Nils Lofgren; A Message To You Rudi / Nite Klub - Specials; Music 4 - Vice Versa; Work All Week - Mekons; Plastic Smile - Merton Parkas; You Say You Don't Love Me - Buzzcocks; Language School - Tours; Memories - Public Image Ltd.; You've Got My Number - Undertones; I'm The Man - Joe Jackson; You Don't Own Me - Joan Jett; Goodbye Stranger - Supertramp; It's Only Love - Little Bo Bitch; Nuclear Device (The Wizard Of Aus) - Stranglers; Empire State Human - Human League; 5:15 - The Who; Victim Of Love - Elton John; Electricity - Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark; The Greatest Rock 'n' Roll Swindle - Sex Pistols
Album reviews (Red Starr): It's A Bitch - Olympic Runners; Identify Yourself - O'Jays; I'm The Man - Joe Jackson; 154 - Wire; Entertainment - Gang Of Four; The Raven - Stranglers; A Different Kind Of Tension - Buzzcocks; Reproduction - Human League; Days In Europe - Skids

October 18 - 31, 1989

Smash Hits, October 18, 1989

(click on the image to see the full issue)

Friday, October 4, 2019

October 4 - 17, 1979

Smash Hits, October 4, 1979

(click on the image to see the full issue)

Cover: Squeeze
Centrespread: The Sex Pistols
Back cover: Ian Dury
Interviews: Stiff Little Fingers; John Peel
Articles: James Brown
Bitz: Jane Aire; Stranglers; Specials; Siouxsie & the Banshees; John Du Cann; Making Plans For Nigel; Buggles; Quadrophenia; Selector
Lyrics: Video Killed The Radio Star - Buggles; Nights In White Satin - Dickies; Queen Of Hearts - Dave Edmunds; Them Heavy People - Kate Bush; Dreaming - Blondie; Straw Dogs - Stiff Little Fingers; Making Plans For Nigel - XTC; Shape Of Things To Come - Headboys; All Shook Up - Elvis Presley; Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough - Michael Jackson; Whatever You Want - Status Quo; Since You Been Gone - Rainbow
Single reviews (Chris Difford): I Love To Sing The Songs I Sing - Barry White; High Rise - Trainspotters
Album reviews (David Hepworth): Hersham Boys - Sham 69; Dart Attack - Darts; Coming Up For Air - Penetration; Off The Wall - Michael Jackson; Dream Police - Cheap Trick; Reggetta de Blanc - Police; Eat To The Beat - Blondie
Live reviews: Gary Numan
Other stuff: Quadrophenia

October 4 - 17, 1989

Smash Hits, October 04, 1989

(click on the image to see the full issue)

Friday, September 20, 2019

September 20 - October 3, 1979

Smash Hits, September 20, 1979

(click on the image to see the full issue)

Cover: Secret Affair
Centrespread: The Jam
Back cover: Joe Jackson
Interviews: John Entwistle; Secret Affair; The Commodores
Bitz: Andy Partridge's top ten; Undertones album; Ramones movie; Chris Difford marries; Andy Partridge marries
Lyrics: Cruel To Be Kind - Nick Lowe; Back Of My Hand - The Jags; The Prince - Madness; Message In A Bottle - The Police; Time For Action - Secret Affair; Butterfly Collector - The Jam; Don't Bring Me Down - The Electric Light Orchestra; The Loneliest Man In The World - The Tourists; Love's Gotta Hold On Me - Dollar
Single reviews (Andy Partridge): Rowche Rumble - The Fall; Nights In White Satin - Dickies; Video Killed The Radio Star - The Buggles; Getcha Rocks Off - Def Lep
Album reviews (Red Starr): The Pleasure Principle - Gary Numan; In Through The Out Door - Led Zeppelin; Join Hands - Siouxsie & the Banshees; Cut - The Slits

September 20 - October 3, 1989

Smash Hits, September 20, 1989

(click on the image to see the full issue)

Friday, September 6, 2019

September 6 - 19, 1979

Smash Hits, September 6 - 19, 1979
(click on the image to see the full issue)

Cover: The Specials
Centrespread: Squeeze
Back cover: Gibson Brothers
Interviews: The B-52s; The Jam; The Specials;
Articles: Eddie Cochran
Bitz: Chris Difford's top ten; Madness; Undertones/Clash gig threatened; Mekons; The Jags
Lyrics: Duchess - The Stranglers; Slap & Tickle - Squeeze; Boredom - Buzzcocks; Get It Right Next Time - Gerry Rafferty; If I Said You Had A Beautiful Body Would You Hold It Against Me? - Bellamy Brothers; White Man In Hammersmith Palais - The Clash; Getting Closer - Wings; Baby's Request - Wings
Single reviews (Steve Bush): Cars - Gary Numan; Time For Action - Secret Affair; Cruel To Be Kind - Nick Lowe; Madness - Madness
Album reviews (Red Starr): The Original Disco Man - James Brown; Shooting Stars - Dollar; Zoom - Rootboy Slim & the Sex Change Band; Fear Of Music - Talking Heads; Unknown Pleasures - Joy Division; Risque - Chic

September 6 - 19, 1989

Smash Hits, September 06, 1989

(click on the image to see the full issue)

Friday, August 23, 2019

August 23 - September 5, 1979

Smash Hits, August 23 - September 5, 1979

(click on the image to see the full issue)

Cover: The Police
Centrespread: Gary Numan
Back cover: The Undertones
Interviews: Joe Jackson; The Police
Lyrics: Cars - Gary Numan; You Need Wheels - Merton Parkas; Money - Flying Lizards; When You're Young - The Jam; Angel Eyes - Roxy Music; Girls Girls Girls - Kandidate; Gone Gone Gone - Johnny Mathis; Strut Your Funky Stuff - Frantique; Teenage Warning - Angelic Upstarts; Solitary Confinement - Members; Just When I Needed You Most - Randy Vanwarmer; Going Through The Motions - Hot Chocolate; The Bitch - Olympic Runners; Conscious Man - Jolly Brothers; Lost In Music - Sister Sledge
Bitz: Specials; Chic, Sister Sledge; Undertones, Derry Festival; Lightning Records, Old Gold, Golden Oldies Club Of Great Britain; Buzzcocks, Different Kind Of Tension; Me And You, Norman and Sonia McLean; Eddie & the Hot Rods; Shake comic; Jimmy Pursey, Steve Jones, Paul Cook; Quadrophenia; Toyah Wilcox, Sheep Farming In Barnet; Futurama 79 - The World's First Science Fiction Music Festival; X Ray Spex split, Jak Airport, B. P. Hurding, Classix Nouveau, Poly Styrene; Skids, Tam Kellichan, Rusty Egan, Bill Nelson; Victor Rock 'n' Rollers, Joe Clay, Autry Inman, Jimmy Dell; Zoot Money Big Roll Band, Andy Summers; Gibson Brothers; Darts, Roy Wood; Secret Affair; all time top ten: Joe Jackson; Siouxsie and the Banshees; The Jam
Single reviews (Steve Bush): Spiral Scratch - Buzzcocks; Dim All The Lights - Donna Summer; Sheep Farming In Barnet - Toyah; Duchess - Stranglers; When You're Young - The Jam; Boy Oh Boy - Racey; The Sideboard Song - Chas and Dave; Let's Go Let's Go - Johnny Storm; Seaside Woman - Suzy and the Red Stripes; Use You - X S Energy; Geneve - Morgan-Fisher; Animal World - The Last Words; Memphis Tennessee - Silicon Teens; D.I.Y. - Cut-outs; Disco Dick - Disco Dick; Ma (He's Making Eyes At Me) - Max Bygraves
Album reviews (Red Starr): Midnight Magic - Commodores; Invasion Of The Body Snatchers - Parlet; Starjets - Starjets; The Sound Of Sunbathing - Sinceros; Don't Give A Monkeys - Chas 'n' Dave; Run For Your Life - Tarney-Spencer Band; Exposed - Mike Oldfield; Highway To Hell - AC/DC; Cuba - Gibson Brothers; Drums And Wires - XTC
Other: Sheffield: Human League, Cabaret Voltaire, Graph, Clock DVA, Vice Versa, They Must Be Russians, Def Leppard, The Negatives, The Parts, Artery, Xero, The Deaf Aids, Mindgames, Jump, De Tian, The Stunt Kites, The Defective Turtles, Disease, I'm So Hollow

August 23 - September 5, 1989

Smash Hits, August 23, 1989

(click on the image to see the full issue)

Friday, August 9, 2019

August 9 - 22, 1979

Smash Hits, August 9 - 22, 1979

(click on the image to see the full issue)

Cover: Ian Dury
Centrespread: The Boomtown Rats
Back cover: David Bowie
Interviews: Ian Dury; The Pretenders; Jimmy Pursey
Bitz: Rita Ray's top ten; Flying Lizards; Revillos; Merton Parkas
Lyrics: Gangsters - The Specials; Is She Really Going Out With Him? - Joe Jacskon; The Diary of Horace Wimp - E.L.O.; Reasons To Be Cheerful (Part Three) - Ian Dury & the Blockheads; We Don't Talk Anymore - Cliff Richard; Lady Writer - Dire Straits; Hersham Boys - Sham 69; Alternative Ulster - Stiff Little Fingers; Duke Of Earl - Darts; Sweet Little Rock 'n' Roller - Showaddywaddy
Single reviews (Cliff White): Reasons To Be Cheerful, Pt 3 - Ian Dury and the Blockheads; Faster - George Harrison
Album reviews (Red Starr): The B-52s - The B52s; Rust Never Sleeps - Neil Young; Get The Knack - The Knack; Nina Hagen Band - Nina Hagen Band; Some Product - Sex Pistols
Other stuff: Steve Wright's Disco Pick

August 9 - 22, 1989

Smash Hits, August 09, 1989

(click on the image to see the full issue)

Friday, July 26, 2019

July 26 - August 8, 1979

Smash Hits, July 26, 1979

(click on the image to see the full issue)

Cover: Buzzcocks
Centrespread: Abba
Back cover: Sting
Interviews: Buzzcocks; Public Image Ltd.; Third World
Lyrics: Stay With Me Till Dawn - Judie Tzuke; Here Comes The Summer - Undertones; I Don't Like Mondays - Boomtown Rats; Harmony In My Head - Buzzcocks; D.J. - David Bowie; Silly Games - Janet Kay; Bring The Family Back - Billy Paul; Death Disco - Public Image Ltd.; Don't Kill It Carol - Manfred Mann's Earth Band; Since I Don't Have You - Art Garfunkel; I'm A Sucker For Your Love - Teena Marie; Get Another Love - Chantal Curtis; Sailing - Rod Stewart; Bang Bang - B. A. Robertson; Kid - Pretenders
Bitz: Gary Numan; Shake, Jo Callis, Troy Tate, Simon Templar, Angle Patterson; Tom Robinson Band split; Led Zeppelin at Knebworth; Mick Jagger; Pink Floyd; Gary Glitter; Mama Cass; The Knack, Doug Fieger, Prescott Niles, Bruce Gary; Gary Moore quits Thin Lizzy; Minne Riperton dies; Stranglers, Nils Lofgren, AC/DC, The Who; Blondie, Eat To The Beat; Meat Loaf; "Carry On Sex Pistols....Some Product"; Sparks, Grease; Judie Tzuke; Janet Kay; The Sham Pistols, Steve Jones, Paul Cook, Jimmy Pursey, Dave Treganna; The Korgis, James Warren, Andy Davis, Stackridge
Single reviews (Red Starr): Someone Different - Glass Torpedoes; The Pictures On My Wall - Echo & The Bunnymen; Zip Nolan - Cult Figures; Sweet Laylin - Metal Boys; Eine Symphonie des Grauens - Monochrome Set; Let's Go - The Cars; I Don't Depend On You - The Men; Culture Shock - Shake; Beat The Clock - Sparks; Here Comes The Summer - Undertones; I Don't Like Mondays - Boomtown Rats; Chelsea Girl - Simple Minds; Lady Writer - Dire Straits; Make Believe Lovers - Anita Ward; Girls Girls Girls - Kandidate; Money - Flying Lizards; Black Slacks - Matchbox; Take Me To The River - Talking Heads
Album reviews (Cliff White): The Complete Buddy Holly - Buddy Holly; Ritchie Valens - Ritchie Valens; Greatest, Vol. 2 - Gene Vincent; I Am - Earth Wind & Fire; Winner Takes All - Isley Brothers; Happy Radio - Edwin Starr; Word Salad - Fischer Z

July 26 - August 8, 1989

Smash Hits, July 26, 1989

(click on the image to see the full issue)

Friday, July 12, 2019

July 12 - 25, 1979

Smash Hits, July 12 - 28, 1979
(click on the image to see the full issue)

Cover: Siouxsie Sioux
Centrespread: Ian Dury and the Blockheads
Interviews: Siouxsie & the Banshees; The Chords; The Ruts;
Articles: The Mod revival
Bitz: Richard Jobson's all-time top ten; Status Quo; The Who
Lyrics: Can't Stand Losing You - The Police; Chuck E's In Love - Rickie Lee Jones; Voulez-Vous - Abba; Angeleyes - Abba; Playground Twist - Siouxsie & the Banshees; Breakfast In America - Supertramp; Looking After No 1 - Boomtown Rats; Good Times - Chic; Married Men - Bonnie Tyler
Single reviews (Cliff White): Absolutely Sweet Marie - Flamin' Groovies; Bang Bang - B. A. Robertson; My Sharona - The Knack; It's Too Funky In Here - James Brown; Hersham Boys - Sham 69; Death Disco - Public Image Ltd.; Kid - The Pretenders
Album reviews (Red Starr): Labour Of Lust - Nick Lowe; Repeat When Necessary - Dave Edmunds; A Trip To Marineville - Swell Maps

July 12 - 25, 1989

Smash Hits, July 12, 1989

(click on the image to see the full issue)

Friday, June 28, 2019

June 28 - July 11, 1979

Smash Hits June 28 - July 11, 1979

(click on the image to see the full issue)

Cover: Gary Numan
Centrespread: The Skids
Back cover: Phil Lynott
Interviews: Eddy Grant; Gary Numan; Chas 'n' Dave
News: Gerry Rafferty's all-time top ten; Anita Ward; Squeeze on Top of the Pops; Paul Weller's 21st birthday party
Lyrics: Sunday Girl - Blondie; C'Mon Everybody - The Sex Pistols; At Home He's A Tourist - Gang of Four; Babylon's Burning - The Ruts; Do Anything You Want To - Thin Lizzy; Old Siam, Sir - Wings; Summertime Blues - Eddie Cochran; Lady Lynda - Beach Boys; Head Over Heels In Love - Kevin Keegan; The Lone Ranger - Quantum Jump; Go West - Village People
Single reviews (Cliff White): Bad Girls - Donna Summer; Can't Stand Losing You - The Police; Playground Twist - Siouxsie & the Banshees; Good Times - Chic
Album reviews (Red Starr): Duty Now For The Future - Devo; Back To The Egg - Wings; Three Imaginary Boys - The Cure; It's Alive - The Ramones

June 28 - July 11, 1989

Smash Hits, June 28, 1989 – p.01

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Friday, June 14, 2019

June 14 - 27, 1979

FORTY YEARS LATER: THE FIRST ISSUE OF SMASH HITS I EVER BOUGHT....I'M NOT OLD - YOU'RE OLD!

Smash Hits June 14 - 27, 1979

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Cover Donna Summer
Centrespread: Bryan Ferry
Back cover: Cheap Trick
Interviews: The Tubes; The Boomtown Rats; Donna Summer
News: Gary Numan's all time top ten; Abba tour; Boney M tour; Blondie fan club info
Lyrics: Up The Junction - Squeeze; Are Friends Electric? - Tubeway Army; Girls Talk - Dave Edmunds; We Are Family - Sister Sledge; Ring My Bell - Anita Ward; Who Were You With In The Moonlight? - Dollar; What A Waste - Ian Dury & the Blockheads; Gertcha - Chas & Dave
Single reviews (Cliff White): Up The Junction - Squeeze; At Home He's A Tourist - Gang Of Four; Go West - Village People; They Don't Know - Kirsty MacColl; Head Over Heels In Love - Kevin Keegan; The Day My Baby Gave Me A Surprise - Devo
Album reviews (Red Starr): Waves - Patti Smith Group; Discovery - Electric Light Orchestra; Replicas - Tubeway Army

June 14 - 27, 1989

Smash Hits, June 14, 1989

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Friday, May 31, 2019

May 31 - June 13, 1979

Smash Hits, May 31, 1979

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Cover: Debbie Harry
Centrespread: David Bowie
Back cover: Lene Lovich
Interviews: The Undertones; Earth WInd & Fire
Lyrics: The Number One Song In Heaven - Sparks; Life Begins At The Hop - XTC; Shine A Little Love - Electric Light Orchestra; Capital Radio / I Fought The Law - Clash; Stop Breaking My Heart - Inner Circle; Parisienne Walkways - Gary Moore; Boogie Wonderland - Earth Wind & Fire; Ain't No Stopping Us Now - McFadden & Whitehead; Everybody Get Dancin' - Bombers; Paradise Skies - Max Webster; Evening Star - Judas Priest; Sheena Is A Punk Rocker - Ramones; Mindless Boogie - Hot Chocolate; How Could This Go Wrong - Exile; Dance Away - Roxy Music
Bitz: Blondie, Debbie Harry, Chris Stein; Wind In The Willows; Mod Revival, Jam, Chords, Specials; Gary Numan, Dummy, Lee Cooper; Gary Moore, The Shadows; Johnnie Wilder, Heatwave; Sparks, Ron Mael, Russell Mael; Captain Sensible; Ian Dury and the Blockheads;
Single reviews (Cliff White): Ring My Bell - Anita Ward; Gertcha - Chas & Dave; Girls Talk - Dave Edmunds; Gotta Getaway - Stiff Little Fingers; I'm Hanging Around - Leyton Buzzards; Cracking Up - Nick Lowe; Once In A While - Five Sapphires; One More Time - Joe Jackson; Straight From The Heart - Tavares; Out In The Dark +3 - Lurkers; Masquerade +3 -Skids; Discovering Japan / Local Girls - Graham Parker & the Rumour; Life Begins At The Hop - XTC; Are 'Friends' Electric - Tubeway Army; Wake Up +3 - Essential Logic
Album reviews (Red Starr): Dance Lady Dance - Crown Heights Affair; Amii Stewart - Amii Stewart; Voulez Vous - Abba; Mission Accomplished But The Beat Goes On - Rezillos; The Undertones - The Undertones; Rockin' Mother - Mac Curtis; Grab It For A Second - Golden Earring; Lodger - David Bowie; Do It Yourself - Ian Dury

May 31 - June 13, 1989

Smash Hits, May 31, 1989

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Friday, May 17, 2019

May 17 - 31, 1979

Smash Hits, May 17, 1979

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Cover: David Bowie
Centrespread: Wings
Back cover: The Police
Interviews: Sex Pistols;
Lyrics: Say When - Lene Lovich; Boys Keep Swinging - David Bowie; Roxanne - Police; Jimmy Jimmy - Undertones; Nice Legs Shame About The Face - Monks; Long Live Rock - The Who; Are You Ready For Love - Elton John; As Long As The Price Is Right - Dr. Feelgood; Saturday Night - T. Connection; Hot Stuff - Donna Summer; Prime Time - Tubes; The Runaway - Elkie Brooks; Only You - Child; Love Song - Damned
Bitz: The Police; Mike Oldfield; Angelic Upstarts, Mensi, Mond, Keith Warrington, Steve Forsten; Dickies, Stan Lee, Chuck Wagon, Billy Club, Bonita Butter, Leonard Phillips; Wizzard, Roy Wood; The Prats, Greg Maguire, Paul McLaughlin, Tom Robinson, Dave Maguire, Earcom, Blank Students, Graph, The Flowers; The Monks, Richard Hudson, John Ford, Terry Cassidy, Steve Barnacle; Steve Jones, Paul Cook; Buzzcocks; Stiff Little Fingers; Ian Dury; ELO
Single reviews (Cliff White): Ain't No Stopping Us Now - McFadden & Whitehead; Living On The Frontline - Eddy Grant; Boogie Wonderland - Earth Wind & Fire with The Emotions; Accidents Will Happen - Elvis Costello; The Cost Of Living - Clash; Frederick - Patti Smith Group; Emotional Traffic - The Rumour; Girl's In Action - Invaders; Sunday Girl - Blondie; Don't Let Go - Jerry Lee Lewis; H.A.P.P.Y. Radio - Edwin Starr; Hot Stuff - Donna Summer
Album reviews (Red Starr): Go West - Village People; Brite Lites / Big City - Fatback Band; Beefy Rockabilly - Sleepy LaBeef; Live At The Witch Trials - The Fall; Remember - Doll By Doll; Remote Control - The Tubes; Life In A Day - Simple Minds

May 17 - 30, 1989

Smash Hits, May 17, 1989

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Friday, May 3, 2019

May 3 - 16, 1979

Smash Hits, May 3, 1979

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Cover: Billy Idol
Centrespread: Village People
Back cover: Squeeze
Interviews: Jean Jacques Burnel; Racey
Lyrics: Knock On Wood - Amii Stewart; Hooray Hooray It's A Holi-Holiday - Boney M; Does Your Mother Know - Abba; Pop Muzik - M; Blondes Have More Fun / The Best Days Of My Life - Rod Stewart; I'm An Upstart - Angelic Upstarts; Love Ballad - George Benson; The Adventures Of The Love Crusader - Sarah Brightman; One Way Ticket - Eruption; Swingin' - Light Of The World; Hallelujah - Milk And Honey; Feel The Need - Leif Garret; A Girl Like You - John Travolta; Remember When - Showaddywaddy
Bitz: Billy Idol; Amii Stewart; Roxy Music; Rock Against Racism; Blondie; Clash; Jimmy Pursey and his gran; David Bowie, Lou Reed fight; M, Robin Scott; The Damned, Dave Vanian, Captain Sensible, Alasdair Ward, Rat Scabies
Single reviews (Cliff White): Say When - Lene Lovich; Boys Keep Swinging - David Bowie; Long Live Rock - The Who; Jimmy Jimmy - Undertones; Out There In The Night - Only Ones; The Lost Sheep - Adrian Munsey; Banana Splits - Dickies; How Could This Go Wrong - Exile; Rubber Biscuit - The Chips; I Found Love - Barry White; Dancin' Fool - Frank Zappa; Does Your Mother Know? - Abba
Album reviews (Red Starr): Take Me Home - Cher; We Are Family - Sister Sledge; Second Hand Daylight - Magazine; Back In Your Life - Jonathan Richman; Fool's Party - Blue; Head First - The Babys; Manifesto - Roxy Music; Music For Airports - Brian Eno
Other: Gimmicks