Smash Hits
28 March 1985
Singles reviewed by Strawberry Switchblade
MEMPHIS: You Supply The Roses (Swamplands)
Rose: Got to be Single of The Fortnight for me. Great vocals, great guitar, it’s a great pop record with tinges of country & western. It makes me really happy – I just wish the charts were full of songs like this.
Jill: I don’t think this is the best version I’ve heard of this song, but I like it anyway. The cover is great – a highland cow in a purple loch!
ART OF NOISE: Moments In Love (ZTT)
Jill: This is really dreamy and atmospheric, like film music. It makes my eyeballs feel floaty. Definitely my Single of The Fortnight.
Rose: I really like this. It makes me feel like ice skating in the cold night air while listening to it on my Walkman.
MARILYN: Baby You Left Me (Phonogram)
Rose: I don’t like it. It sounds a bit dated and who wants to relive the 70s?
Jill: A bit of a ‘party on down y’all’ song. Sounds quite strong but it’s not my cup of tea, really. My boyfriend Peter thinks Marilyn is gorgeous, though.
THE POGUES: A Pair of Brown Eyes (Stiff)
Jill: I wouldn’t normally listen to this type of traditional Irish folk song – but it’s so well done and such a strong song I think anyone could like it.
Rose: Did they record this in a pub? There must be quite an art to playing an accordion with a pint of lager on top, I suppose. But I love accordions and it’s got a nice production from Elvis Costello.
COCTEAU TWINS: Aikea Guinea (12″ only EP) (4AD)
Rose: This has got to be one of the best this week. Liz (singer Elizabeth Fraser) really uses her voice well. The guitar is good, too.
Jill: I agree. It’s all very atmospheric – in fact, it makes my skin ripple.
Rose: Well, it makes my organs wobble.
Jill: And it makes my eyeballs flip.
Rose: And it made my record player jump.
FOREIGNER: That Was Yesterday (Warners)
Jill: Bland and American.
Rose: I don’t like it. If they get to Number One again, I’ll kill myself.
Jill: Oh… they’re on the same record label as us!
Rose: Oh… I mean, hey! What a fantastic record!
Jill: Yes, rather!
SMILEY CULTURE: Cockney Translation (Fashion)
Rose: I don’t hate it, but I don’t like it either.
Jill: Boring – Yawney Culture as far as I’m concerned.
FRANKIE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD: Welcome To The Pleasure Dome (ZTT)
Jill: Everybody’s heard this song lots of times already.
Rose: And I like the album version better anyway. I do think it’s about time they did something new – you can only stretch a song so far, you know.
Jill: I do like Happy Hi on the B-side – Frankie gog electropop.
GODLEY & CREME: Cry (Polydor)
Jill: A weak ballad in amongst some nice synth sounds. Like most of the singles this week, it’s produced by Trevor Horn. It’s got a horrible ending that made my backbone go all squeegy.
Rose: I like the sleeve – it reminds me of a dress I had when I was eight.
DIVINE: Walk Like A Man (Proto)
Rose: A rare big creature. I don’t know about the song, though. But Jill started to sing I Feel Love over it, so that must mean something.
Jill: Actually, this is completely bizarre – a 60s cover with a disco backbeat and that voice. And my boyfriend thinks he’s gorgeous too!
ANNE PIGALLE: Hé Stranger (ZTT)
Jill: This is dead epic and grand and un-modern. I think its great. If I was to be reincarnated I would want to come back as Anne Pigalle!
Rose: What?
EDDY GRANT: Baby Come Back (MCA)
Jill: This got me and Rose up to groove around the living room. Halfway through Rose started singing along and I started wondering if he’d be dancing in his shorts on the video.
Rose: I think he writes good pop songs (my cat started purring to this one). This is a cover of one of his own songs from way back when he was with The Equals. Hey! It really gets you going, yeah! yeah!
KILLING JOKE: Kings And Queens (EG)
Jill: Heavy Metal hippy crap with weedy vocals.
Rose: The song is moronic – a reflection of the group.
Jill: And the singer’s even more of a Tory fascist bully boy than Gary Numan.
Rose: They’re so safe – what are these boys scared of?
ABC: Be Near To Me (Neutron)
Rose: Lots of nice sounds. The main melody is dead good but I can’t get very excited by the song.
Jill: This is much more like the ABC of old. I thought it was weak at first but I really like it now. There’s a good toy piano on it. i feel a bit cheeky saying this but I wish they didn’t look so daft.
DEAD OR ALIVE: Lover Come Back (Epic)
Rose: I don’t think this will be able to follow You Spin Me Round – it’s not as powerful a song. But you can’t review something on what’s passed – still, I don’t like it very much.
Jill: Definite Donna Summer backing track with a pure 60s chorus. Rose started singing I Feel Love over the start of it. God it’s horrible.
THE COLOUR FIELD: Castles In The Air (Chrysalis)
Rose: This record sounds like it’s been recorded in the fifth dimension.
Jill: Groovy!
Rose: And as for the line ‘castles in the air, a beatnik love affair’ – what a topper!
BILL SHARPE: Famous People (Polydor)
Jill: He did that single with that yukky Tory Gary Numan didn’t he?
Rose: Yeah. Well, this song made my bowels move.
Jill: It didn’t move me in any way.
THE FLYING PICKETS: Only The Lonely (10)
Jill: I don’t like this song, I don’t like how it’s done – electro bop, disco, a capella, whatever. But I do quite like the idea of this lot being pop stars – I don’t think they’d abuse the position or anything. I mean they’re so gormy.
Rose: Yeah, I suppose they’re a harmless enough bunch.