April 30 - May 13, 1981

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Cover: Julian Cope
Centrespread: Gary Numan
Back cover: Echo And The Bunnymen
Interviews: The Teardrop Explodes; The Fall; Paul Weller; Girlschool
Lyrics: Grey Day - Madness; Crocodiles - Echo And The Bunnymen; Keep On Loving You - REO Speedwagon; It's Going To Happen - Undertones; The Magnificent Five - Adam And The Ants; Ai No Corrida - Quincy Jones; Can't Get Enough Of You - Eddy Grant; Don't Break My Heart Again - Whitesnake; And The Bands Played On - Saxon; Ride A White Swan - T. Rex; Hit & Run - Girlschool; Baby Love - Honey Bane; Kick In The Eye - Bauhaus; Keep On Running (Til You Burn) - U.K. Subs
Bitz: Shakin' Pyramids; all time top ten: Sal Solo; Sheena Easton, "For Your Eyes Only"; XTC tour; Undertones tour; Madness, Dave Robinson, "Take It Or Leave It"; Rolling Stones, "Sucking In The Seventies"; Bruce Springsteen, "Born To Run", Dave Marsh; Depeche Mode; Sting, "Message In A Bottle", Rossetta Woolf, Sharon Burn; Kampuchea concerts; "Popeye: The First Fifty Years" ,"Wonders"; The Specials; Sparks; Rob Dean, Japan; Duran Duran tour, Dulan Dulan; personal file: Feargal Sharkey
Single reviews (Mark Ellen): We've Got A Lot To Learn - Spirit; Obsessed - 999; Felicity - Orange Juice; It's Going To Happen! - Undertones; Winning - Santana; The Art Of Parties / Life Without Buildings - Japan; Ba Ba Badap - The Toys; Dumb Waiters - Psychedelic Furs; I Wanna Go Home - Holly And The Italians; Louise (We Get It Right) - Jona Lewie; Stray Cat Strut - Stray Cats; Careless Memories - Duran Duran; Hands Up (Give Me Your Hear) - Ottawan; The Sound Of The Crowd - Human League; Bricks - Diagram Brothers
Album reviews (Geoffrey Deane / David Hepworth / Mark Ellen / Deanne Pearson / Fred Dellar / Bev Hillier): Future Shock - Gillan; Hit And Run - Girlschool; The Swords Of A Thousand Men - Tenpole Tudor; Hi Infidelity - REO Speedwagon; The Keys Album - The Keys; The Dude - Quincy Jones; Sharon Redd - Sharon Redd; La Rocca - Snips; Grand Slam - Isley Brothers; Author! Author! - The Scars
Independent Bitz special (Deanne Pearson): The Fall, Mark E. Smith, Paul Hanley, Marc Riley, Steve Hanley, Craig Scanlan
Other: Strange Tails From A Music Paper

April 16 - 29, 1981

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Cover: Hazel O'Connor
Centrespread: Duran Duran
Back cover: Polecats
Interviews: Hazel O'Connor; Paul Weller; PiL [Public Image Ltd.]
Lyrics: Drowning - The Beat; Slow Motion - Ultravox; Primary - The Cure; Is Vic There? - Department S; Skateaway - Dire Straits; Good Thing Going - Sugar Minott; Make That Move - Shalamar; Flowers Of Romance - PiL; Just Fade Away - Stiff Little Fingers; Only Crying - Keith Marshall; Making Your Mind Up - Bucks Fizz; Changeling - Simple Minds; Stray Cat Strut - Stray Cats; Watching The Wheels - John Lennon & Yoko Ono; The Magnificent Seven - The Clash
Bitz: Beat tour; Jake Burns, "Iris In The Traffic, Ruby In The Rain"; Echo And The Bunnymen live cassette; "This Ole House", Shakin' Stevens; Undertones; personal file: Graham Bonnet; Buzzcocks split; Sting, Sharon Burn, Rossetta Woolf; AC/DC, Monsters of Rock; "December Child" fanzine; Chords, Kip; Dramatis, Russell Bell, Denis Haines, Cedric Sharpley, Chris Payne; Ian Cranna resigns; "David Bowie Black Book"; The Clash, Bernie Rhodes
Single reviews (Fred Dellar): The Magnificent Seven - Clash; Flying High - Freez; Keep On Running (Till You Burn) - U.K. Subs; Your Imagination - Shoes; Shine So Hard - Echo And The Bunnymen; Imposter - Moondogs; Don't Talk To Me - Mickey Jupp; Shall We Dance? - Bram Tchaikovsky; Green Glass Windows - Roy Wood's Elevators; Hands 2 Take - Flying Lizards; Cowboys And Indians - Pearl Harbour; Don't Break My Heart Again - Whitesnake; The Whole Town's Laughing At Me - Teddy Pendergrass; Hot Rockin' - Judas Priest; Future Management - Roger Taylor; Dangers Of Living - Spizzies; Wrap Up The Rockets - Chris Sievey
Album reviews (David Hepworth / Bev Hillier / Steve Taylor / Red Starr / Geoffrey Deane / Robin Katz): Twangin… - Dave Edmunds; Jazz Funk - Incognito; Flowers Of Romance - Public Image Ltd.; Go For It - Stiff Little Fingers; Faith - The Cure; Come An' Get It - Whitesnake; No Tie Like A Present - Jags; Greatest Hits Vol. 3 - Cockney Rejects; Roger Taylor's Fun In Space - Roger Taylor; Bully For You - B.A. Robertson
Independent Singles (Red Starr): Candyskin / Meat Whiplash - Fire Engines (Pop: Aural); Love To Meet You / Monkey Monkey Monkey - Restircted Code (Pop: Aural); Faction / You're Wrong Again - Faction (Inevitable); All Systems Go: Dirty Work / Promenade Immortelle - Poison Girls (Crass); Rebel Without A Brain / My Own Invention - Theatre Of Hate (Burning Rome)
Independent Albums (Red Starr): At Home! - Mr. Frank Hannaway / Michael Barclay (Pop: Aural); 390 Degrees Of Simulated Stereo - Pere Ubu (Rough Trade)
Independent Video (Red Starr): Razzvizz 2 - Freshies
Other: Strange Tails From A Music Paper

April 2 - 15, 1981

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Cover: Sal Solo
Centrespread: Spandau Ballet
Back cover: Teardrop Explodes
Interviews: Landscape; Bruce Foxton; Classix Nouveaux
Lyrics: Just A Feeling - Bad Manners; Einstein A Go-Go - Landscape; (We Don't Need This) Fascist Groove Thing - Heaven 17; Up The Hill Backwards - David Bowie; John I'm Only Dancing - Polecats; Attention To Me - The Nolans; Sheffield Grinder - Tony Capstick; Pour Old Soul - Orange Juice; It's A Love Thing - The Whispers; Ceremony - New Order; What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted - Dave Stewart / Colin Blunstone; Tar - Visage; Guilty - Classix Nouveaux; Twilight Zone - Iron Maiden; Night Games - Graham Bonnet; Muscle Bound - Spandau Ballet
Bitz: Bowwowwow; Bruce Springsteen; Japan; "Young Jobless", Martin Jewell; all-time top ten: Nick Rhodes; Clem Burke, Nigel Harrison, Michael Des Barres; "December Child", Paul Weller; Dexys Midnight Runners, "Projected Passion Revue"; New Order, Gillian Gilbert; Sharon Redd; Dave Stewart, Colin Blunstone; Gary Tibs; "The Flowers Of Romance", PiL; fanzines: "Tear It Up", "Rising Free"; "Faith", Cure tour; personal file: Nash The Slash; "Rock Show", Paul McCartney, Wings
Single reviews (David Hepworth): Love Games - Level 42; Marliese - Fischer-Z; Primary - The Cure; The Swords Of A Thousand Men - Tenpole Tudor; Eye Of The Lens - Comsat Angels; Watching The Wheels - John Lennon and Yoko Ono; Flowers Of Romance - PiL; Skateaway - Dire Straits; Burundi Black - Burundi Black; Making Your Mind Up - Bucks Fizz; Just A Feeling - Bad Manners; Tell Me Easter's On Friday - The Associates; Saint Saens - B.A. Robertson; Make Room - Fad Gadget; Too Much Time On My Hands - Styx
Album reviews (David Hepworth / Fred Dellar / Red Starr / Steve Taylor / Bev Hillier ): Skin 'Em Up - Shakin' Pyramids; That Man Is Forward - Rico; Miracles - Change; From The Tea Rooms Of Mars To The Hell Holes Of Uranus - Landscape; Mustn't Grumble - Chas 'n' Dave; We'll Bring The House Down - Slade; Face Dances - The Who; Music For Stowaways - British Electric Foundation; To Love Again - Diana Ross; Never Too Late - Status Quo
Independent Singles (Red Starr): Bela Lugosi's Birthday / Outer Limits / Shalle We Dance - Dreamboys (St. Vitus Records); Achieving Unity - The Poems (Polka Records); Ghosts / Give Me Passion / End Of A Dream - Positive Noise (Statik); Poor Old Soul - Orange Juice (Postcard); Just Like Gold / We Could Send Letters - Aztec Camera (Postcard); Sorry For Laughing / Revelation - Joseph K (Les Disques du Crepuscule); Sluggin' For Jesus / Agent Man - Cabaret Voltaire (Les Disques du Crepuscule); Rooms With Brittle Views / Dada Guitare - Bill Nelson (Les Disques du Crepuscule)
Independent Albums (Red Starr): Schleimer K (Omega Records); Television Personalities (Rough Trade); Modern Dance - Pere Ubu (Rough Trade)
Other: Strange Tails From A Music Paper

March 19 - April 1, 1981

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Cover: Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
Centrespread: Toyah
Back cover: Talking Heads
Interviews: Rainbow; Rick Buckler; British Funk - Freez; Linx; Light Of The World; Beggar & Co.
Lyrics: Mind Of A Toy - Visage; Respectable Street - XTC; D-Days - Hazel O'Connor; Lately - Stevie Wonder; Swing Shift - Nash The Slash; Pretending To See The Future - OMD; Car Trouble - Adam and the Ants; Can You Handle It - Sharon Redd; You Better You Bet - The Who; Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen; New Orleans - Gillan; Oh God, I Wish I Was Home - Rod Stewart; Intuition - Linx; I Missed Again - Phil Collins; All American Girls - Sister Sledge
Bitz: Kim Wilde; Lenny Henry; Andy Partridge; Udo Pope, Vivienne Westwood, Bowwowwow; personal file: Rusty Egan; Stiff Little Fingers tour; Undertones accidents; Sting; Coast To Coast; Toyah Willcox; Clem Burke; Bill Haley; Pink Floyd; Adam And The Ants; all time top ten: Phil Oakey; Diana Ross; The Great Rock & Roll Swindle, Michael Moorcock; Magazine, Ben Mandelson; Gary Numan live albums; Graham Bonnet
Single reviews (David Hepworth): Plan 9 - Dexy's Midnight Runners; Only For Sheep - The Bureau; New Orleans - Gillan; Dancing With The Rebels - Original Mirrors; What We All Want - Gang Of Four; Diamond Head - Plastics; Almost Saturday Night - Dave Edmunds; One To One - Joe Jackson; Shut Out The Light - Steve Diggle; Celia (Growing Up In Hollywood) - Jane Kennaway; Respectable Street - XTC; Take A Trip - Shakin' Pyramids; D-Days - Hazel O'Connor; On The Run (Who's Gonna Get Me First?) - TV21; Nineteenth Nervous Breakdown - Nash The Slash; Heartbeat - Dalek I Love You; Oh God, I Wish I Was Home Tonight - Rod Stewart; 9 O'Clock - Snips; Tonight - Modern Romance; Euthenics - Modern Eon; Slow Motion / Quiet Men / Hiroshima Mon Amour / Dislocation - Ultravox
Album reviews (Red Starr / Beverly Hillier / Robin Katz / Mike Stand / David Hepworth): Anywhere - New Musik; Into The Fire - Russ Ballard; Rapp Payback - James Brown; Labour Of Love - Detroit Spinners; Spikey Dream Flowers - Spizzies; Giving All My Love - Tata Vega; Tied To The Tracks - Shona Laing; Magnets - The Vapors; Ice On The Motorway - Wilko Johnson; Intuition - Linx
Independent Singles (Red Starr): Ceremony - New Order (Factory); The Act Became Real - Bollock Brothers (Fresh Records); Back To The Start - Nikki Sudden (Rather / Rough Trade); Angels And Devils (Night And Day) / Watching You Dance - The Passage (Virgin)
Independent Albums (Red Starr): Egg-clectic (Fried Egg Records); Dome 2 - Dome (Rough Trade)
Other: Strange Tails From A Music Paper

March 5 - 18, 1981

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Cover: Duran Duran
Centrespread: Stray Cats
Back cover: Honey Bane
Interviews: Talking Heads; Chris Sievey; Duran Duran
Lyrics: Something ‘Bout You Baby I Like – Status Quo; From A Whisper To A Scream – Elvis Costello; Walking On Thin Ice – Yoko Ono; Boys And Girls – Human League; Please Don’t Touch – Motorhead / Girlschool; Don’t Go – Judas Priest; It’s A Mystery – Toyah; I’m In Love With The Girl – Freshies; (Somebody) Help Me Out – Beggar And Co; Planet Earth – Duran Duran; E.R.N.I.E. – Madness; Star – Kiki Dee; Kids In America – Kim Wilde; Jones vs. Jones – Kool and the Gang; Can You Feel It? – The Jacksons
Bitz: Gen X breakup; Bunny Wailer; Mike Barson wedding; Debbie Harry, George Burns, Diana Ross; David Byrne, Brian Eno, My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts; Paul McCartney, Wisconsin; Status Quo tour, Adam and the Ants, Kevin Mooney; New Sounds, New Styles; The dB’s, Stands For Decibels; personal file: Ian McCulloch; Moondogs; Phil Collins, The Cure; Dexy’s Midnight Runners; The Wanderers (Dave Parsons, Dave Treganna, Ricky Rocket, Stiv Bators); Rockpile split, Tourists split, Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart from Eurythmics; all time top ten: Noel Davis; Only Ones final gig; Echo and the Bunnymen tour; Human League; Modern Romance, Geoffrey Deane, David Jaymes
Single reviews (David Hepworth): From A Whisper To A Scream – Elvis Costello; Sherry Darling – Bruce Springsteen; Celebrate – Simple Minds; All American Girls – Sister Sledge; New Toy – Lene Lovich; Risk – Spizzies; You Better You Bet – The Who; Being With You – Smokey Robinson; Thin Ice – Yoko Ono; I Missed Again – Phil Collins; (We Don’t Need This) Fascist Groove Thang – Heaven 17
Album reviews (Robin Katz / David Hepworth / Fred Dellar / Red Starr / Beverly Hillier ): All American Girls – Sister Sledge; Stray Cats – Stray Cats; Difficult To Cure – Rainbow; Solid Gold – Gang Of Four; Another Ticket – Eric Clapton; In Our Lifetime – Marvin Gaye; Healing – Todd Rundgren; Brian Damage – Brian Briggs; Defunkt – Defunkt; Journeys To Glory – Spandau Ballet
Independent Albums (Red Starr): The Live Rise Of Richard Strange – Richard Strange (PVC/Ze)
Independent Singles (Red Starr): Dreaming Of Me / Ice Machine – Depeche Mode (Mute)
Other: Strange Tails From A Music Paper; Smash Hits Readers’ Poll Results

February 19 - March 4, 1981

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Cover: Midge Ure
Centrespread: The Pretenders
Interviews: Ultravox; The Passions; Gen X
Lyrics: Once In A Lifetime – Talking Heads; Give Peace A Chance – Plastic Ono Band; Reward – Teardrop Explodes; Hot Love – Kelly Marie; I’m In Love With A German Film Star – Passions; Jealous Guy – Roxy Music; Southern Freeez – Freeez; That’s Entertainment – The Jam; Shaddup You Face - Joe Dolce; Oldest Swinger In Town – Fred Wedlock; Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me) – Cockney Rebel; We’ll Bring The House Down – Slade; Mutually Assured Destruction – Gillan; It’s My Turn – Diana Ross; Don’t Stop The Music – Yarborough and Peoples
Bitz: Human League; The Bureau; Charlie Gillet; Bowwowwow; all time top ten: Mark Bedford; Dave Wakeling; Dance Craze; John Lennon, Andy Peebles; Sheila Hylton; The Spizzies; Status Quo, The Photos; Teardrop Explodes; personal file: Julian Cope; The Selecter; Stray Cats; The Congos, Go-Feet; Steve Winwood; Minuskala, Maurice Bertolino; Gary Numan; Sting; The Look
Single reviews (David Hepworth): Four From Toyah – Toyah; Demolition Man – Grace Jones; Glad All Over – Suzy Quatro; Talking In The Canteen – Moondogs; So Hard – Aerial FX; Boys And Girls – Human League; Youth Coup – Holly and the Italians; Mutually Assured Destruction – Gillan; Don’t Go – Judas Priest; The Shuttered Palace – Ellen Foley; What Kind Of Fool – Barbra Streisand; Planet Earth – Duran Duran; Jealous Guy – Roxy Music
Album reviews (Robin Katz / David Hepworth / Steve Taylor / Fred Dellar / Bev Hillier): Diminished Responsibility – UK Subs; Drop Out With The Barracudas – Barracudas; Street Fever – Moon Martin; Jets – Jets; Children Of The Night – Nash The Slash; Surveillance – Walkie Talkies; Voices In The Rain – Joe Sample; Boys Only – The Boys; Celebrate The Bullet – Selecter; Don’t Point Your Finger – Nine Below Zero
Independent Albums (Red Starr): Lubricate Your Living Room – Fire Engines (Pop: Aural); A Factory Quartet – Durutti Column, Kevin Hewick, Blurt, The Royal Family & The Poor (Factory)
Independent Singles (Red Starr): Blown Away / Flight / And Then Again – A Certain Ratio; Nagasaki Nightmare / Big A Little A – Crass (Crass); I’m Falling / Flowers – Dead Or Alive (Inevitable); Euthenics / Waiting For The Cavalry – Modern Eon (Inevitable); Who’s Asking You? / Stand Alone – Roy White & Steve Torch (Open Eye / Rough Trade)
Other: Tales From A Music Paper

February 5 - 18, 1981

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Cover: Suggs
Centrespread: Adam Ant
Back cover: Debbie Harry
Interviews: Madness; Phil Collins; The Stranglers
Lyrics: Vienna – Ultravox; Romeo And Juliet – Dire Straits; Rock This Town – Stray Cats; Take My Time – Sheena Easton; In The Air Tonight – Phil Collins; Zerox – Adam and the Ants; The Best Of Times – Styx; Gangsters Of The Groove – Heatwave; Message Of Love – Pretenders; Turn Me On Turn Me Off – Honey Bane; Born To Run – Bruce Springsteen; Twilight Café – Susan Fassbender; I.O.U. – Jane Kennaway; Lonely Heart – U.F.O.; I Surrender - Rainbow
Bitz: Specials, Clash, Madness; Status Quo; all time top ten: Phil Collins; Stray Cats, Polecats, Blue Cats; John Lennon, Pretenders; Siouxsie and the Banshees; Graham Parker; Bob Marley; Jane Kennaway; Simple Minds, Undertones, UB40; Sting, Demolition Man, Grace Jones; Bruce Springsteen; personal file: Ranking Roger
Single reviews (Mike Stand): Some Boys – Going Red?; I’m In Love With The Girl On The Virgin Manchester Megastore Checkout Desk – Freshies; Return Of The Los Palmas 7 – Madness; Kids On The Street – Angelic Upstarts; World’s Greatest Lover – Cheap Trick; Luxury – New Musik; Tango In Mono – Expressos; Shaddup Your Face – Joe Dolce’s Music Theatre; Perfect Game – Thompson Twins; Just A Little – Regents; Golden Touch – Rose Royce; You Take My Breath Away – Dollar; What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted? – Dave Stewart / Colin Blunstone; The Farmer’s Daughter – Fleetwood Mac; I Can’t Pretend - Barracudas
Album reviews (Beverly Hillier / Steve Taylor / David Hepworth / Ronnie Gurr / Geoffrey Deane): Take My Time – Sheena Easton; Don’t Follow Me, I’m Lost Too – Pearl Harbour; Face Value – Phil Collins; Candles – Heatwave; The Meninblack – Stranglers; Waves – Mike Batt; Splodgenessabounds – Splodgenessabounds; Paradise Theatre – Styx; Stands For Decibels – The dB’s
Independent Singles (Steve Taylor): She’s In Love With Mystery – Thompson Twins
Other: Disc Jockeys – A Psychiatrist Reports; Strange Tails From A Music Paper

January 22 - February 4, 1981

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Cover: Steve Strange
Centrespread: XTC
Back cover: Hazel O’Connor
Interviews: Visage; Bauhaus; The Look
Lyrics: Hitsville UK – The Clash; Woman, Starting Over, Imagine – John Lennon; A Little In Love – Cliff Richard; Rapture – Blondie; Scary Monsters – David Bowie; Burn Rubber On Me – Gap Band; I Ain’t Gonna Stand For It – Stevie Wonder; Thrown Away – Stranglers; The Freeze – Spandau Ballet; Dream Sequence – Pauline Murray; Sergeant Rock – XTC; Young Parisians – Adam and the Ants; The Elephants Graveyard – Boomtown Rats
Bitz: Squeeze; Lou Reed, Rock And Roll Diary 1967-80; I.D.; Dave Wakeling, Dave Steele, Photo Love, The Stranglers; Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, Dave Wiggins, Linda Duff; Joe Jackson, Dave Houghton, The Keys, Graham Maby, Graham Parker, The Rumour, Garland Jeffries; Chipmunk Punk; Bruce Springsteen; personal file: Richard Jobson: John Lennon, In His Own Write, A Spaniard In The Works, Lennon Remembers; Elvis Costello and the Attractions; Ian Gillan; The Mo-Dettes; Phil Collins; all time top ten: Colin Moulding
Single reviews (Ronnie Gurr): Woman – John Lennon; I Wanna Be Sedated – Ramones; Oh Marion – Paul Simon; I’m Only Human – Michael Des Barres; Many Rivers To Cross – Desmond Dekker; Turn Me On Turn Me Off – Honey Bane; The Freeze – Spandau Ballet; Dancing With Myself – Gen X; Sgt. Rock (Is Going To Help Me) – XTC; Is Vic There? – Department S; This Time – John Cougar; Hitsville U.K. – The Clash; Vienna – Ultravox; Donegal – Tango Brigade; Rapture – Blondie; Dead Man’s Curve – Nash The Slash
Album reviews (Geoffrey Deane / David Hepworth / Mark Ellen / Steve Taylor / Bev Hillier): Mondo Bongo – Boomtown Rats; Trust – Elvis Costello; Flaming Schoolgirls – The Runaways; Arc Of A Diver – Steve Winwood; The Wild, The Willing And The Innocent – UFO; 1965-1980 – Basement 5; Kiss Me Deadly – Gen X; In Search Of The Rainbow Seekers – Mtume; Golden Touch – Rose Royce
Independent Singles (Deanne Pearson): On-U-Sound Sampler: Fade Away New Age Steppers [Ari Up, Bruce Smith], Learn A Language – London Underground; Twenty Tens, Revenge, The Children Are Crying, Greylight – Virgin Prunes (Baby, Rough Trade); The Flood / Disney Boys – Blue Orchids [Una Baines, Martin Bramah] (Rough Trade); Sell Out Before The Fall Out – Michael Byrd and the Commercials (Another Record Label), Nowhere Girl – B-Movie (Dead Good Records); The Mekons (Red Rhino Record)
Other: Strange Tails From A Music Paper; I Was A Teenage Pinkie-Sniffer

January 8 - 21, 1981

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Cover: Terry Hall
Centrespread: David Bowie
Back cover: Gen X
Interviews: The Police; Eddy Grant; The Specials
Lyrics: Clubland – Elvis Costello & The Attractions; Lies – Status Quo; Blue Moon – Showaddywaddy; Somewhere Over The Rainbow – Matchbox; Fade To Grey – Visage; Rabbit – Chas & Dave; I Am The Beat – The Look; Runaround Sue – Racey; Heartbreak Hotel – The Jacksons; Who’s Gonna Rock You – The Nolans; Love Me To Sleep – Hot Chocolate; Do Nothing – The Specials; She’s So Modern – Boomtown Rats; My Girl – Rod Stewart; Love On The Rocks – Neil Diamond
Bitz: Bob Geldof; Stranglers tour; all-time top ten: Doug Trendle (Bad Manners); ELO, Bev Bevan; Gary Numan farewell tour; personal file: Andy Partridge; Captain Kremmen, Kenny Everett; Robin Simons, Ultravox, Magazine; Elvis Costello album, Tryst; Madness, Nutty Boys comic; Squeeze, Paul Carrack
Single reviews (Mark Ellen): Young Parisians – Adam and the Ants; Running Free – Buzzcocks; I Ain’t Gonna Stand For It – Stevie Wonder; Spaceship – Lincoln Thompson and the Rasses; Burn Rubber On Me – The Gap Band; Soul Waves – Telex; In The Air – Phil Collins; The Last Lone Ranger – Carpettes; Taxi Ride – Keith Emerson; Spider – Rick Wakeman; Submarine – Godley & Crème; Disco Apocalypse – Jackson Browne; Metal Mickey Magic – Metal Mickey; I Love A Shark – Marina Del Rey; Bicycle Seat – Max Splodge; Lonely Heart – UFO; Beat Crazy – Joe Jackson; Heart On My Sleeve – David Essex; Cold Love – Donna Summer
Album reviews (Mark Ellen / Red Starr / Beverly Hillier / David Hepworth): Rock-It To Mars – Rocky Sharpe & The Replays; The Paris Collection – Dollar; Jermaine – Jermaine Jackson; Bright Lights – Showaddywaddy; Amigo – Black Slate; Flash Gordon – Queen; Sandinsta! – The Clash; LKJ In Dub – Linton Kwesi Johnson
Independent Singles (Red Starr): Der Rauber Und Der Prinz / Tanz Mit Mir – DAF (Mute); Double Heart – Robert Rental (Mute); I Need Two Heads / Stop Before You Say It – Go-Betweens (Postcard); Walk On Water / Take A Look – Cuban Heels (Cuba Libre); Get Up And Use Me / Everything’s Roses – Fire Engines (Codex Communications); Heaven Gets Closer Every Day / Only Heroes Live Forever – Another Pretty Face (Chicken Jazz); I’m In Love With The Girl On The Manchester Virgin Megastore Checkout Desk – The Freshies (Razz Records)

December 25, 1980 - January 7, 1981

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Cover: Joe Strummer
Centrespread: Boomtown Rats
Back cover: Siouxsie
Interviews: Clash; Beatles; Robert Palmer
Lyrics: Land Of Hope And Glory – Madness; That’s Too Bad – Tubeway Army; Landlord – Police; News Of The World – The Jam; Johnny Was – Stiff Little Fingers; Twist And Crawl – The Beat; Bang Bang – Squeeze; Hammer Horror – Kate Bush; Wild West Hero – Electric Light Orchestra; With A Little Help From My Friends – Beatles; Love Is The Drug – Roxy Music; New Face In Hell – The Fall; Diamond Dogs – David Bowie; Whizz Kids – Undertones; I’m Just Looking – Dexy’s Midnight Runners; Contact In Red Square – Blondie
Bitz: The Wit And Wisdom Of Ronald Reagan (Stiff); Status Quo tour; Phil Collins; The Beat, Anti-Nuclear Campaign; Led Zeppelin; Boomtown Rats tour; personal file: Jona Lewie; John Lennon; Madness, Chris Foreman, Lee Thompson, Moinul Islan; all time top ten: Hugh Cornwell; Bruce Springsteen; Echo & the Bunnymen; Debbie Harry, Union City
Independent Singles (Red Starr): Colour – Delta 5 (Rough Trade); Eugene / Tame The Neighbour – Essential Logic (Rough Trade); At Last I’m Free / Strange Fruit (Robert Wyatt); This Is Love / Yanks – The Gist (Rough Trade)
Other: Strange Tales From A Music Paper

December 11 - 24, 1980

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Cover: Spandau Ballet
Centrespread: Bow Wow Wow
Back cover: Adam & the Ants
Interviews: Spandau Ballet; Dead Kennedys; Stray Cats
Lyrics: De Do Do Do De Da Da Da – Police; This Wreckage – Gary Numan; Runaway Boys – Stray Cats; Hungry Heart – Bruce Springsteen; December Will Be Wonderful Again – Kate Bush; Israel – Siouxsie & the Banshees; Lorraine – Bad Manners; Stop The Cavalry - Jona Lewie; Celebrate – Kool & the Gang; Sexy Eiffel Towers, Sun Sea & Piracy, Uomo Sex El Apache, Louis Quatorze, Gold He Said - Bow Wow Wow; Too Nice To Talk To – The Beat; Woman In Winter – Skids; Ant Music – Adam & the Ants; Boys Don’t Cry – The Cure; Rock ‘n’ Roll Ain’t Rock Pollution – AC/DC; Whip It - Devo
Bitz: Elvis Costello. 10 Bloody Marys & 10 How’s Your Fathers; Gary Numan; Undertones; Toyah Willcox documentary; Bad Manners, Lorraine; Max Splodge; Police; Chords, Billy Hassett; Rock Yearbook 1981; Pretenders; Stephanie Mills; La Toya Jackson; Bow Wow Wow tour; Jools Holland & The Millionaires, Martin T. Deegan, Mike Paice, Pino Palladino; Generation X; The Monster Club; Dexy’s Midnight Runners; all time top ten: Hazel O’Connor
Single reviews (Ronnie Gurr): Antmusic – Adam and the Ants; De Do Do Do De Da Da Da – Police; The Call-Up – Clash; Do Nothing – Specials; Heartbreak Hotel – Jackson; Keep It Down (Inferiority Part One) – Dexy’s Midnight Runners; Take This Town – XTC; Dear God – Elton John; Guilty – Barbra Streisand and Barry Gibb; Lies – Status Quo; Flash – Queen; Hawks And Doves – Neil Young; Hey Nineteen – Steely Dan; December Will Be Magic Again – Kate Bush; Christmas Day – Squeeze; I Believe In Father Christmas – Greg Lake; Mary’s Boy Child – Boney M; Will He Kiss Me Tonight? - Lena Zavaroni; What Your Mama Don’t See – Gary Glitter; My Flamingo - Subterraneans
Album reviews (Beverly Hillier / David Hepworth / Deanne Pearson / Mark Ellen / Red Starr): Feels Like I’m In Love – Kelly Marie; Sons And Lovers – Hazel O’Connor; Aim For The Feet – The Hitmen; The Black Album – The Damned; Visage – Viasge; Live In Belfast – Rowan Atkinson; Gaucho – Steely Dan; Toyah! Toyah! Toyah! – Toyah; Loonee Tunes! – Bad Manners; Laughter – Ian Dury And The Blockheads
Independent Singles (Red Starr): Bullshit Detector (Crass Records); Rival Tribal Rebel Revel – Crass (Toxic Graffit fanzine); Simply Thrilled Honey / Breakfast Time – Orange Juice (Postcard); It’s Kinda Funny / Final Request – Josef K (Postcard); Tou Les Soirs – Delmontes (Rational); You Know What You Told Me / Production Prevention – Frantic Elevators; Hobo Joe / Stars Of The Bars – Holly (Erics)
Other: Strange Tales From A Music Paper; Auntie Iris Agony Advice

November 27 - December 10, 1980

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Cover: Toyah
Centrespread: UB40
Back cover: Madness
Interviews: Toyah; Not The 9 O’Clock News; Motorhead
Lyrics: To Cut A Long Story Short – Spandau Ballet; Elstree – Buggles; Embarrassment – Madness; Super Trouper – Abba; I’m Coming Out – Diana Ross; Bourgie Bourgie – Gladys Knight & The Pips; Women In Uniform – Iron Maiden; I Could Be So Good For You – Dennis Waterman; Spending The Night Together – Dr. Hook; Lonely Together – Barry Manilow; Treason – Teardrop Explodes; Do You Feel My Love – Eddy Grant; The Call Up – The Clash; Looking For Clues – Robert Palmer
Bitz: Undertones tour; Dexy’s Midnight Runners, Swinging Cats, Bodysnatchers, Teardrop Explodes; Joe Jackson, V.I.P.s, Boomtown Rats; XTC tour; Queen, Flash Gordon; Revillos; Madness, Chas Smash’s tonsils; Malcolm McLaren, Chicken magazine, Fred Vermorel, Bow Wow Wow; Hugh Cornwell, Inside Out; Kool & the Gang, Robert Bell; Skids tour, Jill Mumford; Human League, Phil Oakey, Adrian Wright, Ian Burden, Joanne and Suzanne; SexPistols; Siouxsie & the Banshees fan club; Abba For The Record, John Tobler; The Elephant Man; Rock Stars In Their Underpants, Paula Yates; Slade, Darts; all time top ten: Kate Bush
Single reviews (Mark Ellen): England – Angelic Upstarts; Banana Republic – Boomtown Rats; Tell Laura I Love Her – Billy Connolly; Ballad Of The Good Luck Charm – Larry Hagman; Tomorrow Was The Hereafter – Stranglers; Romeo And Juliet – Dire Straits; The Tide Is High – Paragons; Nasty Little Green Men – Classix Nouveaux; Original Sin / Legion – Theatre Of Hate; Stop The Cavalry – Jona Lewie
Album reviews (Beverly Hillier / Geoffrey Deane / Mike Stand / David Hepworth / Steve Taylor): Round Trip – Light Of The World; AutoAmerican – Blondie; Translucence – Polystyrene; Super Trouper – Abba; Double Fantasy – John Lennon & Yoko Ono; Sector 27 – Sector 27; Sound Affects – The Jam; The Official Secrets Act – M; Foolish Behaviour – Rod Stewart; Paris Au Printemps – Public Image Limited
Independent Singles (Red Starr): Cruising Missiles – Drinking Electricity (Pop: Aural); Rain Song / Hesitate – Boots For Dancing (Pop: Aural); First Night On / From The Top – Restricted Code ((Pop: Aural); Lubricate Your Living Room – The Fire Engines (Pop: Aural); Vampire / Mumbo Jumbo – Woodhead Monroe (Oval); Danced / Ghosts / Neon Womb – Toyah (Safari); Seconds Too Late / Control Addict – Cabaret Voltaire (Rough Trade)
Independent Albums: From Brussels With Love – A Certain Ratio, Durutti Column, Bruce Gilbert & Graham Lewis, Martin Hannett, Gavin Bryars, Michael Nyman, Harold Budd, John Foxx, Richard Jobson, Brian Eno, Jeanne Moreau (Les Disques du Crepuscule / Rough Trade)
Other: Strange Tales From A Music Paper; High Horse – David Hepworth

November 13 - 26, 1980

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Cover: Debbie Harry
Centrespread: Rod Stewart
Back cover: Ultravox
Interviews: Blondie; The Jacksons; Sheena Easton
Lyrics: Same Old Scene – Roxy Music; Ace Of Spades – Motorhead; Kill The Poor – Dead Kennedys; Party In Paris – UK Subs; Sueperman’s Big Sister – Ian Dury & the Blockheads; Lovely One – Jacksons; Loving Just For Fun – Kelly Marie; Earth Dies Screaming – UB40; Never Knew Love Like This Before – Stephanie Mills; The Night The Wine & The Roses – Liquid Gold; Concrete Jungle – Specials; Don’t Walk Away – Electric Light Orchestra; Passion – Rod Stewart; Flight 19 – B.A. Robertson; Banana Republic – Boomtown Rats
Bitz: Ian Dury & the Blockheads tour; B-52’s; Basement 5; Dindisc; Simple Minds; Bob Marley; PiL, Image Publique S.A., Martin Atkins; Brian Brain; Talking Heads; Secret Affair, Seb Shelton; Human League split, British Electric Foundation; Babylon soundtrack; Dennis Bovell; The Twelve Days of Madness; Miniatures, Pipe Records, Roger McGough, Martin Chambers, Andy Partridge; all time top ten: Pete Wylie; Steve Peregrine Took, Paul Kantner, Tom Robinson, Mo-Dettes
Single reviews (Mike Stand): Green Green Grass Of Home – John Otway; Bright Eyes – Matthew Butler; Strobe Light – B-52s; Invitation What Have We Got To Lose – Sector 27; Whip It – Devo; Women In Uniform – Iron Maiden; Classic Remains – Colin Newman; Dark Companion – Tuxedo Moon; Stompin’ With The Cat – Fabulous Poodles; Runaway Boys – Stray Cats; Tender Falls The Rain – Randy Crawford; Hungry Heart – Bruce Springsteen; Whispering Waltzes – Shona Lang; It Shows In Your Face – The Gas; Victim Of Time – Reckless; Nobody Takes Me Seriously – Split Enz; Peaches ‘N’ Cream / Foxy – Supercharge; One Trick Pony – Paul Simon
Album reviews (David Hepworth / Beverly Hillier / Mark Ellen / Steve Taylor): The Wanderer – Donna Summer; Luminous Basement – Tourists; All Shook Up – Cheap Trick; QE2 – Mike Oldfield; Hotter Than July – Stevie Wonder; The Story So Far – The Mo-Dettes; Chas Jankel – Chas Jankel; Jeopardy – The Sound; Gentleman Take Polaroids – Japan; Kings Of The Wild Frontier – Adam & the Ants
Independent Singles (Red Starr): Explain / Let Me Feel It – The R.B.’s (Phoenix); Politics – Girls At Our Best (Record Records); Seven Minutes – Wah! Heat (Inevitable)
Independent Albums (Mike Stand): In The Flat Field – Bauhaus (4AD)
Other: Strange Tales From A Music Paper

October 30 - November 12, 1980

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Cover: Japan (David Sylvian)
Centrespread: Status Quo
Back cover: Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
Interviews: Japan; Hazel O’Connor; Adam & the Ants
Lyrics: The Tide Is High – Blondie; Towers Of London – XTC; Dancing With Myself – Generation X; Gentlemen Take Polaroids – Japan; One Man Woman – Sheena Easton; Give Me An Inch – Hazel O’Connor; La-Di-Da- Sad Café; In My Street – The Chords; Let Me Talk – Earth Wind & Fire; I Need Your Lovin’ – Teena Marie; All Out Of Love – Air Supply; Passing Strangers – Ultravox; Heroes – The Stranglers; Whose Problem – Motels; Fashion – David Bowie
Bitz: books: Elvis – The Final Years (Jerry Hopkins), Mixed Up, Shook Up (Riot Stories), The Jam: The Modern World By Numbers (Eel Pie), The Boomtown Rats: Having Their Picture Taken (Peter Stone), The Clash: Before And After (Pennie Smith); Charly Records compilation LPs, Motown Early Years LPs; Brum Beat Live At The Barrel Organ; nuptial news: Jane Mo-dette and Woody Madness, Graham Parker and Jolie, Therese and David Dollar; LKJ in Dub; Nash The Slash; Spandau Ballet; the Selecter; Air Supply; The Stranglers, Hugh Cornwell, Inside Information; all time top ten: Tom Robinson
Single reviews (Mark Ellen): Terry Keeps His Clips On – Vivian Stanshall; Ai No Corrida – Chas Jankel; Expertise – The Books; Too Many Cooks In The Kitchen – The Colonel; Party In Paris – U.K. Subs; Mr. Jones – Psychedelic Furs; Meltdown With The Ramones – The Ramones; Strange Thing – Buzzcocks; Mr X – Pauline Murray and the Invisible Girls; Into The Lens – Yes / Some Are Born – John Anderson; She’s In Love With Mystery – Thompson Twins; Dark Park Creeping – Mo-dettes; I Don’t Want My Body – Piranhas; Teacher Teacher - Rockpile
Album reviews (David Hepworth / Steve Taylor / Bev Hillier / Mark Ellen): Remain In Light – Talking Heads; Love Zombies – Monochrome Set; Chinatown – Thin Lizzy; Faces – Earth Wind and Fire; Marie Marie – Shakin Stevens; Just Supposin’ – Status Quo; Making Movies – Dire Straits; Organisation – Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark; A-Z – Colin Newman
Independent Singles (Mike Stand): I Confess – Dorothy (Industrial); In The Stars – Witchfynde (Rondelet); I Wanna Be A Detective – Brooklyn (Rondelet); Following You – The Fans (Fried Egg); Thinking Of You – Hot Snax (Zuppe Parese); Master Mind – Mikey Dread (Dread At The Controls); Precinct – The Cravats; Hungry Or Angry – Medium Medium
Independent Albums (Mike Stand): Killing Joke – Killing Joke (EG); Fireside Favourites – Fad Gadget (Mute); Even When I’m Not – Harry Kakoulli (Oval); Misty In Roots (People Unite); Wanna Buy A Bridge (Rough Trade); That’s What I Like About Me – Eric Random (New Hormones)
Other: Strange Tales From A Music Paper

October 16 - 29, 1980

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Cover: The Police
Centrespread: Madness & the Mo-dettes
Back cover: Kate Bush
Interviews: The Police; The Tourists; The Teardrop Explodes
Lyrics: 1-2-3 – The Professionals; Trouble – Gillan; What You’re Proposing – Status Quo; Gotta Pull Myself Together – The Nolans; A Woman In Love – Barbra Streisand; Casanova – Coffee; History Of The World Part 1 – The Damned; Dog Eat Dog – Adam & the Ants; When You Ask About Love – Matchbox; Why Do Lovers Break Each Other’s Hearts? – Showaddywaddy; I Don’t Want To Go To Chelsea – Elvis Costello & the Attractions; You’re Lying – Linx; When I Dream – Teardrop Explodes; Goodbye Civilian – Skids; Miles Away – John Foxx
Bitz: Undertones; Rod Stewart; PiL; Malcolm Owen; Queen; Hazel O’Connor & Megahype; Joe Strummer, Lee Dorsey; Cheap Trick, Tom Petersen; Dance Craze; John Lennon & Yoko Ono, Double Fantasy; Linx, David Grant, Sketch; Moondogs, Andrew Loog Oldham; Stray Cats; Trojan Records; Coffee, Leonora Dee Bryant, Glenda Hester, Elaine Sims; Tiger Lily, Dennis Leigh, John Foxx; Pauline Murray; Splodgenessabounds; The Elephant Man, David Bowie; all time top ten: Julian Cope
Single reviews (Steve Taylor): The Puppet – Echo and the Bunnymen; Gentlemen Take Polaroids – Japan; The Swimmer – The Passions; Nice Age – Yellow Magic Orchestra; Talk In Toytown – Polystyrene; Army Dreamers – Kate Bush; I Like Chinese – Monty Python; Monkey Jive – Tiger Lily; Touch And Go – The Cars; Who’s Gonna Tell Mary? – Moondogs; Dancing With Myself – Gen X; Move On Up – Flying Lizards; Apocalypso – Monochrome Set; Towers Of London - XTC
Album reviews (Bev Hillier / Red Starr / David Hepworth): Triumph – The Jacksons; Midnite Dynamos – Matchbox; Seconds Of Pleasure – Rockpile; Behind Closed Doors – Secret Affair; Fancy Footwork – The Dance Band; Imagination Camouflage – Jimmy Pursey; Beat Crazy – Joe Jackson; Kilimanjaro – Teardrop Explodes; The River – Bruce Springsteen
Independent News: The Slits; Factory Records, Joy Division, A Certain Ratio, Crispy Ambulance, Durutti Column, Kevin Hewick, Blurt, The Royal Family & The Poor; New Order; Another Pretty Face; Red Beat (Malicious Damage); The Four Be Twos, The Bollocks Brothers; Faulty Record, Alternative Hits, Chelsea, Snappy Turns, Mark Perry
Other: The Smash Hits Rock And Roll O Level; Strange Tales From A Music Paper

October 2 - 15, 1980

(click on the image to see the full issue)
Cover: Gary Numan
Centrespread: Paul Weller
Back cover: Robert Palmer
Interviews: Gary Numan, Rockpile, Bad Manners
Lyrics: Enola Gay – Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark; I Got You – Split Enz; The Quarter Moon – The VIPs; I Told You So – The Tourists; My Old Piano – Diana Ross; If You’re Looking For A Way Out – Odyssey; D.I.S.C.O. – Ottawan; Three Little Birds – Bob Marley & The Wailers; Amigo – Black Slate; You Shook Me All Night Long – AC/DC; Another One Bites The Dust – Queen; White Riot – The Clash; Special Brew – Bad Manners; Temporary Secretary – Paul McCartney; Killer On The Loose – Thin Lizzy
Single reviews (David Hepworth): Rock Hard – Suzi Quatro; Monkey Suit – Plasmatics; Stoking Up The Fires Of Hell – Quartz; The History Of The World Part 1 – Damned; When You Ask About Love – Matchbox; The Wanderer – Donna Summer; All Along The Watchtower – Jimi Hendrix; Baby It’s You – Dolly Mixtures; Modern Romance – Modern Romance; Trouble – Gillan; Waiting For The Weekend – Vapors; Keep On Working – Pete Townshend
Album reviews (David Hepworth / Bev Hillier / Red Starr / Mark Ellen / Ian Cranna): Zenyatta Mondatta – Police; The Piranhas – The Piranhas; Trance And Dance – Martha & The Muffins; The Absolute Game – Skids; Waiting For A Miracle – Comsat Angels; Shot In The Dark – The Inmates; More Specials – The Specials; Empires And Dance – Simple Minds; Scary Monsters – David Bowie
Independent Singles: Can’t Look Straight / Flash Cards – Smega / five “songs” by Non (Mute); Fireside Favourites / Insecticide – Fad Gadget (Mute); Requiem / Change – Killing Joke (Malicious Damage)
Independent feature: Josef K, Malcolm Ross, Paul Haig, David Weddell, Ronnie Torrance
Other: Strange Tales From A Music Paper

September 18 - October 1, 1980

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Cover: The Skids
Centrespread: The Barracudas
Back cover: The Piranhas
Interviews: The Skids; XTC
Lyrics: Stereotype – Specials; Baggy Trousers – Madness; Don’t Stand So Close To Me – Police; Are Everything – Buzzcocks; Two Little Boys – Splodgenessabounds; One Day I’ll Fly Away – Randy Crawford; Masterblaster (Jammin’) – Stevie Wonder; I Owe You One – Shalamar; If It’s Alright With You Baby – Korgis; It’s Only Love – Elvis Presley; Rave On – Buddy Holly; Johnny And Mary – Robert Palmer; Misunderstanding – Genesis; Searching - Change
Bitz: Elton John; The Selector; Bruce Springsteen; Zoot Money; Kiss; Talking Heads; Andy Partridge, Sting, Urgh!; Lene Lovich; Robert Palmer; Jimi Hendrix; Rolling Stones; Elvis Costello and the Attractions; all time top ten: Barracudas; Modern Romance; Yellow Magic Orchestra; Toots and the Maytals; Shalamar; Rock Against Racism; Blondie, Mike Chapman; Rockpile; Oval Records, Local Heroes, Harry Kakoulli; Pink Floyd
Single reviews (Mark Ellen): Lucky Man – Jimmy Pursey; Maladie D’Amour – Kid Creole & The Coconuts; Damaged Goods – Gang Of Four; Hard Hat Boogie – Andy Fairweather Low; The Affectionate Punch – Associates; Drug Train – Cramps; Masterblaster (Jammin’) – Stevie Wonder; Baby Ride Easy – Carlene Carter; La-Di-Da – Sad Café; Heyday – The Sound; Another One Bites The Dust – Queen; Maybe One Time – Jim Skafish; Being Boiled – Human League; When I Dream – Teardrop Explodes; So Much In Love – Inmates; Arrival – Mike Oldfield; Suburban Dream – Martha and the Muffins; I’ll Get Even With You - Foreigner
Album reviews (Bev Hillier / Red Starr / David Hepworth / Ian Cranna / Linda Duff): Signing Off – UB40; Telekon – Gary Numan; I’m No Hero – Cliff Richard; Rev Up! – Revillos; Clues – Robert Palmer; Hanx! – Stiff Little Fingers; Panorama – The Cars; A Case Of The Shakes – Doctor Feelgood; Never For Ever – Kate Bush; Black Sea - XTC
Independent Singles (Red Starr): Totally Wired – Fall (Rough Trade); I’m On A Rocket – Harry Kakoulli (Oval); Johnny Runs For Paragoric / Take Me To The Cinema– Exploding Seagulls (Fried Egg); Countdown EP – Stingrays (Fried Egg); Original Mixed Up Kid / Unofficial Secrets – Various Artists (Fried Egg); This Age / Suicide – Observers (S+T)
Independent Albums (Red Starr): Fresh Fruit For Rotting Vegetables – Dead Kennedys (Cherry Red)
Other: Strange Tales From A Music Paper; Motown

September 4 - 17, 1980

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Cover: Ian Dury
Centrespread: Dexy’s Midnight Runners
Back cover: B52s
Interviews: Ian Dury, Grace Jones
Lyrics: West One – The Ruts; Eighth Day – Hazel O’Connor; Circus Games – Skids; I Want To Be Straight – Ian Dury; Paranoid – Black Sabbath; United – Judas Priest; Biko – Peter Gabriel; Can’t Stop The Music – Village People; Marie Marie – Shakin’ Stevens; It’s Still Rock And Roll To Me – Billy Joel; Good Sculptures – Rezillos; Sartorial Eloquence – Elton John; Dreamin’ – Cliff Richard; Summer Fun – Barracudas; Sound Of Confusion – Secret Affair
Bitz: David Bowie, The Elephant Man; Madness, Baggy Trousers; Police, Zenyatta Mondatta; Jam tour, Sound Affects; Brothers Johnson; Mick Jones, Ellen Foley; John Lennon; Revillos; all-time top ten: Orchestral Maneouvres in the Dark; Pauline Murray, John Cooper Clarke, Invisible Girls; Pretenders tour; Clive Gregsen, Any Trouble; Gary Numan, Robert Palmer; The Rumour, The Attractions; Squeeze, Jools Holland’s last gig, Elvis Costello; Secret Affair; Rachel Sweet; Locksmith
Single reviews (Deanne Pearson): Hungry For Love – Revillos; Two Little Boys – Splodgenessabounds; Are Everything / Why She’s A Girl From The Chainstore – Buzzcocks; Generals And Majors – XTC; Whose Problem? – Motels; Controversial Subject / Black & White – The The; Wayward Child – Rory Gallagher; Robots Dance – Classic Nouveaux; Peaches - Darts
Album reviews (Linda Duff / Bev Hillier / David Hepworth): Drama – Yes; On The Riviera – Gibson Brothers; Crimes Of Passion – Pat Benatar; Wild Planet – B-52’s; World War III – Mikey Dread; One Trick Pony – Paul Simon; The Affectionate Punch – The Associates; A – Jethro Tull; Live At The Marquee – Nine Below Zero
Independent Singles (Red Starr): Lovesick / Blue Boy – Orange Juice (Postcard); Radio Drill Time – Josef K (Postcard); Die Todten Reyten Schnell / Jesus Had A P.A. – The Prats (Dada); Radio Iceland / Do The Executive – Those Intrinsic Intellectuals (Fault Line); Are You Glad To Be In America? – James Blood Ulmer (Rough Trade); Limited Entertainment – Glaxo Babies (Y Records); Let Bygones Be Bygone – The Janet And Johns (Vindaloo)
Independent Albums (Mike Stand): Jane From Occupied Europe – Swell Maps (Rather / Rough Trade)
Other: Strange Tales From A Music Paper; the charts

August 21 - September 3, 1980

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Cover: The Beat
Centrespread: Roxy Music
Back cover: Bow Wow Wow
Interviews: The Beat; The Piranhas; Joan Armatrading
Lyrics: Start! – The Jam; Best Friend / Stand Down Margaret – The Beat; Tom Hark – Piranhas; Funkin’ For Jamaica – Tom Browne; A Walk In The Park – Nick Straker Band; The Whisper – Selector; Away – Swinging Cats; Feels Like I’m In Love – Kelly Marie; You’ve Got To Be A Hustler – Sue Wilkinson; Give Me Back My Man – B52’s; Sister Europe – Psychedelic Furs; Another Day Another Girl – Lambrettas; Free Me – Roget Daltrey; Kings Of The Wild Frontier – Adam & the Ants; I Die You Die – Gary Numan
Bitz: Gary Numan; Joe Strummer; Sue Wilkinson; The Skids; Jools Holland, Squeeze; Ray Lowry; XTC; Splodgenessabounds; Debbie Harry; Roger Daltrey, McVicar; Kelly Marie; Jah Wobble, PiL; Gary Glitter; Joe Jackson; The Police; Nick Straker; The Ruts; Ranking Roger’s all time top ten; The Passions; Doctor Feelgood; Cheap Trick
Single reviews (David Hepworth): All The Way From America – Joan Armatrading; Start! – The Jam; Boulevard – Jackson Browne; Put Me In The Picture – Merton Parkas; Circus Games – The Skids; Bankrobber – The Clash; Best Friend – The Beat; Train To Skaville – Selector; I Want To Be Straight – Ian Dury and the Blockheads; Sartorial Eloquence – Elton John; I Die You Die – Gary Numan
Album reviews (Bev Hillier / Red Starr / David Hepworth): Q Tips – Q Tips; S.O.S. Band – S.O.S. Band; Breaking Glass – Hazel O’Connor; X-Traordinaire – Gina X Performance; XOO Multiples- Yellow Magic Orchestra; McVicar – Roger Daltrey; Back In Black – AC/DC; Distinguishing Marks – Fingerprintz; Living In A Fantasy – Leo Sayer; Deepest Purple – Deep Purple
Independent Albums (Red Starr): Sky Yen – Pete Shelley (Groovy); Soundtrack of the Film Hangahar – Sally Smmit & her Musicians (Groovy)
Independent Singles (Red Starr): King And Country / Smashing Time – Television Personalities (Rough Trade); Red Crayola; Rockin Daddy / Life Without Your Love – Ducktail (Ducktail); Oh Girl / No Money – Freshies (Razz); New Colours – Glass (Glass); Teen Romance / Our Man In Marrakesh – The Alsatians (Alsatian)
Other: Strange Tales From A Music Paper

August 7 - 20, 1980

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Cover: Bob Marley
Centrespread: Bad Manners
Back cover: John Foxx
Interviews: Bob Marley & the Wailers; New Muzik
Lyrics: Oh Yeah – Roxy Music; Private Life – Grace Jones; Ashes To Ashes – David Bowie; All Over The World – Electric Light Orchestra; Burnin’ Hot – Jermaine Jackson; My Guy / My Girl – Amii Stewart & Johnny Bristol; C30 C60 C90 Go – Bow Wow Wow; Does She Have A Friend For Me? – Gene Chandler; Sleepwalk – Ultravox; Sweetheart Contract – Magazine; Oh Bondage Up Yours! – X-Ray Spex; Bankrobber – The Clash; Back To Front – Stiff Little Fingers; The Winner Takes It All – Abba; Nine To Five – Sheena Easton
Bitz: Ramones; Tony Mansfield, Mike Oldfield; Dave Edmunds; Desmond Dekker; The Jam; John Mayer; Ultravox; The Selector, 2-Tone; The Gap Band; Breaking Glass, Hazel O’Connor; Tom Browne; The Beat; Ian McCulloch’s all time top ten; Dexy’s Midnight Runners; The Swinging Cats; The Police; Mo-dettes; UK Subs
Single reviews (Deanne Pearson): Kings Of The Wild Frontier – Adam and the Ants; Late Night City – Comateens; Marie Marie – Shakin’ Stevens; Sound Of Confusion – Secret Affair; Ashes To Ashes – David Bowie; Stick It Up Mister – Toots and the Maytals; Last Night Another Soldier – Angelic Upstarts; Seaside Woman – Linda McCartney; Hot Deserts – Athletic Spizz ’80; Give Me Back My Man- B52s; Scream With A View – Tuxedo Moon
Album reviews (Ian Cranna / Red Starr / David Hepworth / Alastair Macaulay): The Right Combination – Linda Clifford and Curtis Mayfield; Pebbles And Sand – Stanley Clarke; Xanadu – ELO / Olivia Newton John; One For The Road – Kinks; A&B; Sides – Dave Edmunds and Love Sculpture; Black And Dekker – Desmond Dekker; True Colours – Split Enz; Way & Bar – John Otway and Wild Willy Barrett; Growing Up In Public – Lou Reed; Kaleidoscope – Siouxsie and the Banshees
Independent Albums (Red Starr): The Voice of America – Cabaret Voltaire (Rough Trade)
Independent Singles (Red Starr): Not Ready / Can’t Keep Away – Sector 27 (Panic Records); Heavy Metal Mania – Holocaust (Phoenix); Balinese Dance / Sexual Cult Thing – PAK (Metropak); Army Life – The Exploited (Exploited); Pop 1990 – The Prats; Snow / Another One - Mekons
Other: Strange Tales From A Music Paper; Liverpool

July 24 - August 6, 1980

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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

July 10 - 23, 1980

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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

June 26 - July 9, 1980

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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

June 12 - 25, 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

May 29 - June 11, 1980

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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

May 15 - 28, 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

May 1 - 14, 1980

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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)

April 17 - 30, 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

April 3 - 16, 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

March 20 - April 2, 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

March 6 - 19, 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

February 21 - March 5, 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

February 7 - 20, 1980

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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

January 24 - February 6, 1980

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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

January 10 - 23, 1980

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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

December 27, 1979 - January 9, 1980

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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

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December 13 - 26, 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

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November 29 - December 12, 1979

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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

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November 15 - 28, 1979

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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