Paul Simon – Rene and Georgette Magritte With Their Dog After the War
Paul Simon - probably the first artist who made me sit up and think "this music lark is definitely for me".
Chaka Khan – Love of a Lifetime
Chaka plays pop.
Daryl Hall & John Oates – Out of Touch
Sort of a discussion about how versions are very important to die-hard pop fans, but mainly about how brilliant "Out of Touch" is.
Pet Shop Boys – Integral
You've had your chance, now we've got the mandate. If you've changed your mind, I'm afraid it's too late.
Linda Ronstadt featuring Aaron Neville – All My Life
Why do some pop stars only ever seem to have hits here with duets or movie themes? It's all so unfair.
Donna Summer – The Hostage
It's 1974 and Donna Summer, prior to becoming the first lady of everything, speaks out on terrorism and police incompetence. Wait, come back!
Dubstar – Cathedral Park
From the file marked "Bands we never quite got round to buying even though they were dead good" - it's the amazing Dubstar.
Susanna Hoffs – Wishing on Telstar
Ah, the long-distance love song. Where would pop be without telephone operators who can't do their job properly?
Jane Wiedlin – Inside a Dream
1988 is a long time ago now, but I'm still driving in the rush hour.
Niki & The Dove – So Much it Hurts
Pop: expressing how we feel so we don't have to. Thank goodness for that.
Colors – Never Mind
This time last week I'd never heard of Colors. Now "Never Mind" is one of my favourite records and I'm busy inserting it into all my memories of 1985.
Bucks Fizz – Heart of Stone
The final (proper) single from Bucks Fizz, and if you ask me they saved the best for last.
Leigh Jaeger – Johnny & Mary
A straight to the bargain bin bomb from the end of an era. Shouldn't be fabulous but is.
Cyndi Lauper – Shine
The gist: in 2001 Cyndi Lauper made the album of her career but unless you lived in Japan or were willing to spend an insane amount of money on the import, you didn't get to hear it. This was a COLOSSAL SHAME.
London Boys – My Love
They sold more albums than Kate Bush or Tears for Fears in 1989, but will anybody these days admit to buying a London Boys record? I will, obviously.
Mono – Life in Mono
I had great expectations for this song, but not even Great Expectations could make it a hit. More Music for Spies, this time from the really very good Mono.
Thomas Leer – No 1
Two years prior to "Snobbery & Decay", Thomas Leer was out-blowing the Blow Monkeys with the string and saxophone drenched "No 1".
Tears for Fears – Famous Last Words
Everybody loves a happy ending, but for the longest time it looked like Tears for Fears weren't going to get one.
Tyka Nelson – Marc Anthony’s Tune
It's hard being the sibling of a superstar. And it's even harder when that superstar is Prince. But that didn't stop Tyka Nelson having a go in 1988.
Swing Out Sister – Notgonnachange
Welcome to the club, Swing Out Sister.
The Human League – Love is All That Matters
When we last bumped into the Human League, they were on the verge of great things. We now rejoin them on the brink of disaster. Hooray!
Into the Popvoid 