It is with Great pleasure that we are able to publish a Top Ten from the pen of,  highly respected author of everything 80s, Tom Bromley.

Toms latest book is “Wired for Sound” where through his own eyes as a 7 year old in 1980 takes you on a persoanl journey through to 1989. If , like me, you too grew up in this era you can relate to what he is writing about. I found myself constantly smiling, nodding in agreement and even laughing out loud at every chapter. If you didn’t grow up in the 80s, the book is still an excellent read and will take you back there in an instant, making you wish that you had spent your childhood there. This is not another reference book of music but a brilliant trip down memory lane to probably the most important decade in Pop Music.

The Top Ten 80s Hidden Gems by Tom Bromley

One of the delights of writing a book about 80s music is the ‘research’

involved: the trawling through the archives of Smash Hits, the digging out of

the singles collection from the attic, the dusting down of all those Now and

Hits compilations albums. Many of the songs remain as fresh and familiar

as the day you first heard them – ‘Don’t You Want Me’, ‘Relax’, ‘Kiss’ and so

forth. But particularly exciting was to discover (or rather, rediscover) a whole

host of other tunes – hidden gems, forgotten classics and one hit wonders

that had somehow slipped through the musical net as the years have gone by.

Here are just ten of my favourite 80s hidden gems – what are yours?

1. Since Yesterday by Strawberry Switchblade. Polka Dots, fanfares and

lyrics about ‘thoughts of yesterday’. What more could anyone want from a pop

song?

2. Obsession by Animotion. Animotion, one of those almost 80s words, like

Spandau Ballet’s ‘Instinction’. A stone cold, seedy synth classic.

3. Duel by Propaganda. Typical Trevor Horn wizardry by Frankie Goes To

Hollywood’s ZTT stablemates. Also comes in alternate ‘Jewel’ version.

4. Brilliant Mind by Furniture. Perennial 80s underachievers, but what a

glorious, brooding way to score your only hit.

5. Driving Away From Home (Jim’s Tune) by It’s Immaterial. By far the

best (and only?) song ever written about the M62.

6. Drag My Bad Name Down by The 4 Of Us. Big in Ireland, less so in the

UK. But debut album ‘Songs for the Tempted’ remains a pop rock corker.

7. I Won’t Let You Down by PhD. Top five 1982 hit by Jim Diamond led trio.

Group name came from the initials of the band member surnames.

8. I’m An Adult Now by The Pursuit of Happiness. Canadian friends of

Duran Duran, their MTV friendly hits like this never quite made it across the

pond.

9. The Captain of Her Heart by Double. An often covered, smooth, soulful

chunk of Toblerone balladry from the Swiss one hit wonders.

10. Kathleen by Roachford. Fourth single from Roachford’s debut album

stalled at number 43, but a cool, crisp alternative for those who only

know ‘Cuddly Toy’.

Enjoy these and many more hidden gems on Spotify at ‘Wired For Sound 80s

Neglected Gems’: Wired For Sound 80s Hidden Gems

‘Wired For Sound: Now That’s What I Call An 80s Music Childhood’ by Tom

Bromley is out now. For more details please visit  www.tombromley.co.uk.

This track is truly The ‘Marmite’ track of the early 80s. Reaching number 2 in The UK in 1981, it was however voted by The Rock Lists Album publication as the ‘readers least favourite single of that year.’ The track was initially  issued in limited numbers by One Ten Records, Radio Clyde prompted a rush of orders after it playlisted the track. Warner Brothers then stepped in with a 7 album deal.

Laurie Anderson ( Born Laurie Phillips Anderson) is an American, experimental performer who was initially trained as a sculptor but is a influential writer and composer. She was not widely known until the release of O Superman. She developed a Violin which uses magnetic tape instead of horse hair on the bow and a microphone, know as the talking stick, which allows many different sounds to be replicated, as for O Superman.

The song is a cover of a song taken from a 1885 (Le Cid) Opera and has influences from another written in 1902 (Le Jonleur de Notre Dame) The track contains the tweeting of birds and subtle saxaphone. It is of course, at 8 minutes and Twenty One Seconds, one of the longest 7 inch singles of the 1980S.

Two weeks after the 9/11 attacks a live recording of O Superman was made in New York City. The words Here Come the Planes, They’re Americal Planes, Mase in America took on enormous significance

Love it or Hate it, this single deserves 80slegend status.

SADE is performing at The O2 Arena on 31st May 2011. Take the opportunity to see this superstar of the 80s at probably the best indoor venue in The U.K.

Jack Ryder who played Jamie Mitchell in Eastenders is the son of Jeremy Ryder of Wang Chung fame.