Madonna In Smash Hits...

A February 1984 copy of Smash Hits, containing Madonna's first interview with that magazine, which took place in Manchester. Madonna first charted here in January, with Holiday.

Auf Wiedersehen Pet

Auf Wiedersehen Pet first hit our screens in 1983. The show's theme tune, That's Livin' Alright, by Joe Fagin, charted in January 1984.

Much more on the Auf Wiedersehen phenomenon coming soon.

Edgar, Ghostbusters and Gremlins...

Electric Dreams... remember Edgar?
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Just what we needed!

From Smash Hits, December 1984: Film treats include Gizmo and those oh-so-cute Gremlins, Ghostbusters and Give My Regards To Broad Street.

A Ghostbusters record. Who you gonna call?

Sade first graced the charts in March 1984. Her wonderfully cool, sophisticated brand of soul was perfect for a sunny afternoon in the garden, or out on the river. Still is. The 1980s saw the release of a lot of perfectly polished pop, honed to perfection. Artists like Sade simply do not date.

The Price Is Right: "COME ON DOWN!"

March 1984.

Leslie and co a year or two later.

Yes, it was the new game show The Price Is Right, with former Crackerjack host Leslie Crowther.

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The Price Is Right was first shown on 24 March 1984.

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The show was American-style noisy, the audience and contestants seemed hysterical, and many people switched off. However, many other people were switching on.

This year we said goodbye to the very untrendy and very unhysterical Sale of the Century.

The times they were a changin'...

Snazzy Curtains, A Stylish Radio and a Trendy Bedspread...

These 1980s curtains are... er... very colourful, aren't they?!

Meanwhile, these particular 1980s curtains can still be seen hanging in my house. Viewings by prior appointment only.

This stylish pink and green mid-80s radio cassette was, or so it says on the box, "SELECTED FASHION FOR YOU". It still works, too.

A lovely mid-1980s bedspread.

My Favourite Telly Ad of 1984...

As Willie Rushton wondered through "The 80s Room" on the Hamlet cigars video, I was pleased to meet this favourite from 1984. Man and woman go to restaurant on a date...

... woman runs her fingers through the man's hair...

... which promptly slides off...

... oh dear...

The band strikes up Air on a G String...

... the waiter strikes a match on the man's head...

... and lights his cigar...

The woman...

attempts to smile off her embarrassment...

... and happiness is a cigar called Hamlet...
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MAGGIE! MAGGIE! MAGGIE! OUT! OUT! OUT!

An oft heard cry.

Pineapple Knits & The Smiths...

Were you a pineapple knit person in the early-to-mid 80s? I was. I had the jumper and cardie pictured above. And loads more besides.


Pretty good stuff!

Here's Russ Abbot of Madhouse and Atmosphere fame, rounding off 1984 as the TVTimes Christmas fairy.

Commercial Break...

Sing along!

"Nobody makes soup in a cup like Batchelors Cup-a-Soup!"

"That's Better!"

Voice over: "Yes, and there are such great varieties to try, like chicken and vegetable special..."

"Great taste!"

Voice over: "... with lots of crispy croutons and delicious chopped vegetables...

... and barbecue bacon and tomato special too with tasty smoky bacon and crunchy croutons."

"Brill!"

"Croutons!"

"Tomato!"

Sing: "Nobody makes soup in a cup like Batchelorrrrs Cup-a-Soup!"

"That's special!"

All for freedom and for pleasure, nothing ever lasts forever...

Fashion '85...

An advertisement from a February 1985 women's magazine. You could knit a "dramatic bat-wing sweater" as it advises.

But I don't recommend it.

The woman in the illustration also seems to have a shiny doughnut suspended from her ear.

Strange.

A very lovely 1980s bat-winged dress.

A nice leather flying suit and blue high heels...

I had a suit just like this one. The jacket sleeves look much better pushed up. Take my word for it, mate.

Home To Roost

TV Times, 13-19 April 1985.

I usually enjoyed Eric Chappell's comedy series, and Home To Roost, which began in April 1985, was no exception. The series gave John Thaw the chance to play comedy, which he did very well, as grumpy and set-in-his-ways Henry Willows.

Henry's quiet, settled life is rudely interrupted by the arrival of his 18-year-old son, Matthew, excellently played by Reece Dinsdale, who has taken a dislike to Mum's latest boyfriend, and decided to give life with Dad a try.

Matthew decides a lot of wheedling and a little deceit will be needed to make things work to his advantage...

1985 was a great year for TV comedy - as Adrian Mole and Victoria Wood As Seen On TV also made their debuts.

"You Spin Me Right Round, Baby, Right Round, Like A Record, Baby, Right Round, Round Round..."

Pete Burns - dressed to impress. This was guaranteed to drive me manic on the dance floor.

Oh look- it's Tarzan Boy by Baltimora. "Tacky"? Yep. "Pop pap"? Yep. I love it.

The First Cut Won't Hurt At All, The Second Only Makes You Wonder...

After the shuddersome brilliance of Dr Mabuse in 1984 ("Sell him your soul! Sell him your soul!")...

... the wonderful German group Propaganda was back with Duel in 1985.

The illustration above, and the first illustration below, are taken from the sleeve for the 12 inch vinyl version released by ZTT in England in 1985.

In the main group photograph above are (left to right): Michael Mertens, Susanne Freytag, Ralf Dorper and Claudia Brücken.

From the sleeve notes:

Michael Mertens: writing, programming, identifying, demonstrating. Ralf Dorper: writing, pursuing, defining, translating. Claudia Brücken: singing, writing, corrupting, raging. Susanne Freytag: embracing, accumulating, singing, demanding. This is Propaganda: their ambition is to make some repairs. What motivates them? Error, and terror.

Both Mabuse and Duel are epic 1980s electro pieces...

It's too late
The decision is made by fate
Time to prove what forever should last...

Chilling, yet so, so wonderful...

The Milkman Of Human Kindness...

English urban poet/modern-day-folkster Billy Bragg, his music, and his left wing views, held great appeal to me back in the 1980s. Oh, for the days before New Labour... the old version was far from perfect, but still six million times better (approximately).