Original Record of the Year: PHD - I Won't Let You Down
My choice for 1982 was influenced by an 80s love songs compilation I bought many years ago. It was one of the standout tracks on it but I couldn't remember whether I'd heard it previously or not.
Is there a better Top 40 hit of 1982?
I don't think so. It was the only Top 40 hit for PHD and the only song of theirs that I know. I don't really want to hear another record of theirs though because they got it so right with this.
Original Record of the Year: Tom Tom Club - Wordy Rappinghood
One of my all time favourite DJ mixes is Fabriclive 9 by Jacques Lu Cont and this influenced my pick for 1981. "Wordy Rappinghood" is on the mix and blends in well with the mostly house tunes in it.
Another Top 40 hits which appeared on the mix was "Sweet Dreams" by Eurythmics but that wasn't even a contender for the 1983 record of the year so the mix doesn't entirely sway my decision.
However if we forget the mix existed can I honestly say this was the best record of 1981?
New Record of the Year: Kool & The Gang - Summer Madness
No I can't, but there's a logical reason for that. When I was making my choice I'd never heard "Summer Madness". The way I came across it was when I was listening to double a-sides of the 80s as a way of brushing up on my music knowledge.
This was a double a-side with "Jones v Jones". Kool & The Gang are a funny one, I think of them as being from the 70s but most of their hits came in the 80s and they had a lot more hits than you'd think. They did form in the late 60s though and I've heard people say that they did some interesting funky music in the 70s but when they went mainstream they went a bit too pop.
I don't know their earlier material but their well known hits at least aren't bad but are music for the masses without any wow factor. With "Summer Madness" though it's an interesting funky number and is also an instrumental.
Original Record of the Year: New Musik - This World Of Water
1980 was a pretty strong year for chart music and there was tough competition for the record of the year but I went for an obscure New Musik record. I said they were early pioneers of synth pop but not as well remembered as the likes of Gary Numan, Ultravox and OMD.
Is it good enough to still be the record of the year though?
I'd say so. We're in a time when synth pop was still in its infancy which made the records more varied and interesting. There was no formula to follow yet and this record certainly sounds different to your formulaic synth pop record of say 1984.
Original Record of the Year: Judie Tzuke - Stay With Me Till Dawn
Whether we like it or not there will always be external factors that will influence our music choices other than simply listening to a song.
This was the case with my choice for 1979. It was sampled in "Need You Tonite" by Mylo which appears on his "Destroy Rock & Roll" album which is one of my all time favourites.
The fact is if "Stay With Me Till Dawn" didn't exist then neither would "Need You Tonite" as we know it. The question is had I never heard that Mylo album would "Stay With Me Till Dawn" even be a candidate for the record of the year?
New Record of the Year: Dr Hook - When You're In Love With A Beautiful Woman
The answer is probably not. The more important question is can I honestly say "Stay With Me Till Dawn" is better than "When You're In Love With A Beautiful Woman"? the answer is definitely not.
Another external factor to my decision at the time was that "Stay With Me Till Dawn" was not a big hit and was by a singer that I'd never heard of. Dr Hook on the other hand were big in their day and this was a number one record. In other words didn't want to pick something too obvious.
The fact of the matter is I loved this Dr Hook record when I heard it as a kid and then as a young adult I acquired their greatest hits on the strength of this record alone.
Original Record of the Year: Clash - (White Man) In Hammersmith Palais
Chart music had really turned a corner in 1978. There are several really good records I only know because of the Top of the Pops reruns by music acts I'd never heard of.
Despite this I picked a record by a very well known band though not one of their bigger hits. What I liked about it was the blend of punk and reggae in the tune. It's a very good record and my only reservation was picking a big name.
Do I still think it's the best record or has it been beaten by one of the more obscure acts?
New Record of the Year: Queen - Spread Your Wings
Well neither. I've picked a band I never thought I'd pick for the record of the year. However over the last 10 years at least I've listened to "Spread Your Wings" more than the Clash record through choice.
Queen are a band I've fallen in and out of love with over the years. I could go on all day about reasons why but putting all that to one side I can't deny they've had some good records.
This one is easily the best and also one of the more obscure ones. The lyrics reflect a sad reality of life, you have these ambitions but are told by others to forget them and be content with the monotony you're wanting to get out of.
It was written by John Deacon which makes it a bit more interesting. He was able to quite the day job and have a long successful career in music. After making his millions he opted to retire in his 40s and completely shun the limelight. Some question that decision but ultimately it was his to make. Whilst many of us would love the opportunity to get on stage and play bass for Queen it doesn't mean that he should be doing it if he doesn't want to.
Original Record of the Year: Mr Big - Romeo
When I made my pick for 1977 this blog was around 6 months old and very few people visited it. I don't think I'd actively tried to find ways to promote it on the internet yet. Once I did I saw a degree of improvement in visitors.
I was however surprised to find in the long run that the post which has had the most views is my Record of the Year for 1977.
The Record of the Year should be based on the music rather than the number of blog views but I'd be lying if I was to say it didn't make me reluctant to change it.
I obviously considered it to be good enough to pick in the first place. Looking at the list of other records that year none stand out as being better so Mr Big retain their crown.
Original Record of the Year: Eddie Drennon & BBS Unlimited - Let's Do The Latin Hustle
When they started the Top of the Pops reruns starting in early 1976 there was a documentary that gave an overview of the state of the charts in 1976. The general consensus was this was a low point for music.
Once the reruns started I was inclined to agree, though still some decent records that I didn't previously know would appear. I decided to listen to the charting records of 1976 prior to the start of the reruns and one of those records stood out and ended up being my pick for 1976.
The chances are if you don't know this record then you've never heard of Eddie Drennon. Indeed if I was to see him walking down the street I wouldn't know if it was him. This is also a record I would not know if I hadn't looked it up.
I feel this is my discovery. There's no big names to draw me to or put me off the record. Furthermore it's largely an instrumental plays its part in laying the foundations for dance music in the future.
Has it retained its crown? absolutely.
