October 25 - November 7, 1984

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Cover: Frankie Goes To Hollywood
Centrespread: Duran Duran - The Wild Boys
Back cover: Jon Moss
Interviews: Green; The Young Ones; Frankie Goes To Hollywood; Torch Song; The Art Of Noise; Julian Lennon; Iron Maiden; The Stranglers
Lyrics: Cover Me - Bruce Springsteen; Modern Girl - Meat Loaf; Overground - Siouxsie and the Banshees; Listen To Your Father - Feargal Sharkey; Golden Days - Bucks Fizz; Caribbean Queen (No More Love On The Run) - Billy Ocean; The Wild Boys - Duran Duran; Helpless - Tracey Ullman; Warning Sign - Nick Heyward; Too Late For Goodbyes - Julian Lennon; Penny Lover - Lionel Richie; Gotta Get You Home Tonight - Eugene Wild; Pulling Punches - David Sylvian; The Wanderer - Status Quo; Back In My Arms - Hazell Dean; I Feel For You - Chaka Khan
Personal File: Kim Wilde  
Bitz: "Street Sounds 11", SOS Band, Rose Royce, Mtume; Farmer's Boys, "Phew Wow"; Serious Drinking, "They May Be Drinkers Robin But They're Also Human Beings"; Karaoke; ZZ Top, Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill, Frank Beard, "There ain't no polar bears in Texas but then a cactus ain't a fish"; "Valley Girl", The Clash, Psychedelic Furs, Culture Club, Men At Work, Bananarama, Plimsouls; "The Rap Attack", David Toop, "Pop Styles", Ted Polheimus, Lynn Procter, "Signed, Sealed And Delivered", Sue Steward, Sheryl Garratt; "Starzone", David Bowi fanzine, Earl Slick, Mick Ronson; Duran Duran, "Dancing On The Valentine"; David Sylvian, "Pulling Punches", "Instant Pictures", "David Sylvian - His Life And Art"; Sheffield Wednesday, "We Are The Owls", Thompson Twins; Lords Of The New Church, "Brian James, Stiv Bators, "The Method Of Our Madness"; David Essex, "This One's For You"; Andy Partridge, Agony Uncle, Janice Long, "All You Pretty Girls", "That's This World Over"; Bruce Springsteen's bum; Nick Heyward, "Warning Sign"; UB40, DEP International, Mikey Dread, Echo Bass, Winston Reedy; Culture Club, "Waking Up With The House On Fire"; Elvis Costello tours, T-Bone Burnette; Visage, "Beat Boy"; "Concert - The Cure Live", "Curiosity - The Cure Anomalies 1977-1984"; Swans Way, "The Fugitive Kind"; John "Jellybean" Benitez, "Wotupski?!"; Imagination, "Gold"; Morrissey, Smiths, "A Hatful Of Hollow"; Modern Romance, "Move On", "Burn It"; John Waite, The Babys, "Missing You"; Culture Club, Ruby Turner, Mo Birch; Duran Duran, "Arena", John Taylor; Blancmange, "Hello, Good Evening…", Mike Mansfield; Bananarama; Gary Numan, "Berserker", Ho Ho Kam, "King", Larry Loeber, "Shivers Up My Spine"
Single reviews (Morrissey): The Wild Boys - Duran Duran; Back In My Arms - Hazell Dean; Warning Sign - Nick Heyward; Keep On Keepin' On - The Redskins; Prisoner Of Love - Miami Sound Machine; Mercy Dash (Ready For This) - Shriekback; Move On - Modern Romance; The Wanderer - Status Quo; Penny Lover - Lionel Richie; This World Over - XTC; Golden Days - Bucks Fizz; Helpless - Tracey Ullman; Heartbeat - Psychedelic Furs; Pulling Punches - David Sylvian; Love's Great Adventure - Ultravox; The Chant Has Just Begun - Level 42; All Through The Night - Cyndi Lauper; Rattlesnakes - Lloyd Cole & The Commotions; When Love Breaks Down - Prefab Sprout; Forgive Me Girl - Force M.D.'s; Hypnotize - Scritti Politti; Forever Young - Alphaville; The Thorn - Siouxsie & The Banshees
Album reviews (Claire Sheaff / Tom Hibbert / Mark Ellen / Dave Rimmer / Lisa Anthony / Ian Cranna): Steps In Time - King; Two Steps From The Move - Hanoi Rocks; Shout - Devo; Valotte - Julian Lennon; We Are Frank Chickens - Frank Chickens; The Age Of Consent - Bronski Beat; Dream Street - Janet Jackson; I've Got The Cure - Stephanie Mills; Backtrackin' - Jolly & Swain; Alf - Alison Moyet; Beat Boy - Visage
Nights Out: The Style Council; Afrika Bambaataa & Soul Sonic Force

October 11 - 24, 1984

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Cover: Paul Young
Centrespread: Bananarama - Hotline To Heaven
Interviews: Paul Young; Grandmaster Melle Mel & The Furious Five; UB40; Spandau Ballet; Ozzy Osbourne; OMD
Lyrics: This Is Mine - Heaven 17; Drive - The Cars; Love's Great Adventure - Ultravox; I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down - Paul Young; Together In Electric Dreams - Philip Oakey; Missing You - John Waite; Mr. Solitaire - Animal Nightlife; Skin Deep - The Stranglers; Hotline To Heaven - Bananarama; Prisoner Of Love - Miami Sound Machine; The Second Time Kim Wilde; Highly Strung - Spandau Ballet; All Cried Out - Alison Moyet; Who Wears These Shoes? - Elton John
Personal File: Jimi Somerville  
Bitz: Billy Bragg; Jermaine Jackson, Pia Zadora, "When The Rain Begins To Fall", "Voyage Of The Rock Alien"; Lloyd Cole & The Commotions, "Rattlesnakes"; Wham!, "Make It Big"; Marc Almond, The Willing Sinners, Lydia Lunch, "Vermin In Ermine"; Spandau Ballet; "The Street Wise Monkey", Mark Miwurdz; Aztec Camera, "Knife", Lynda Gray; The Creative Workforce, David Levine, Peter Ashworth; Gary Numan, "The Plan", "That's Too Bad"; "Ghostbusters"; Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton, "Islands In The Stream", "What About Me", James Ingram, Kim Carnes; Meatloaf, "Modern Girl", Suzuki motorbike; Gina X, "dominatrix of delirium", "Harley Davidson", Brigitte Bardot; Giorgio Moroder; "We Will Rock You", Queen; The Questions, "Belief"; Gary Glitter, "Shout Shout Shout"; Paul Young, "I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down"; Duran Duran, "Dancing With The Valentine" "The Wild Boys", "The Book Of Words"; Orange Juice, "Lean Period"; The Cars, Ric Ocasek; Prince, "Purple Rain"; Ultravox, "Love's Great Adventure"; Grab Grab The Haddock, "I'm Used Now"; The Alarm
Single reviews (Mike Read): Hollow Horse - Icicle Works; Who Wears These Shoes? - Elton John; Until You Come Back To Me - Floy Joy; All Cried Out - Alison Moyet; Love's Great Adventure - Ultravox; Stuttering - Helen Terry; Let's Make This Last - Mari Wilson; Bananarama - Hotline To Heaven; I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down - Paul Young; Too Late For Goodbyes - Julian Lennon; Away From The Heat - Out Bar Squeek; Modern Girl - Meat Loaf; Highly Strung - Spandau Ballet; Shout! Shout! Shout! - Gary Glitter; Pulling Punches - David Sylvian; Sex Shooter - Apollonia 6; Can The Rhythm - Girl Talk; Cover Me - Bruce Springsteen; The Never Ending Story - Limahl
Album reviews (Josephine Hocking / Lisa Anthony / Chris Heath / Dave Rimmer / Phil Sutcliffe / Simon Braithwaite / Ian Cranna / Kimberley Leston / Neil Tenant / Tom Hibbert / Julie Burns / Steve Bush ): Swept Away - Diana Ross; True Colours - Level 42; Spring Hill Fair - The Go-Betweens; Steeltown - Big Country; Music Magic - Rose Royce; Geoffrey Morgan… - UB40; Don't Stop - Jeffrey Osbourne; The Big Express - XTC; It'll End In Tears - This Mortal Coil; The Fugitive Kind - Swans Way; Flesh For Lulu - Flesh For Lulu; Rattlesnakes - Lloyd Cole and the Commotions; I Feel For You - Chaka Khan; Vermin In Ermine - Marc Almond; Eyes Of Innocence - Miami Sound Machine; All The Rage - General Public
Nights Out: The Bluebells;
Other: David Bowie: 50 Daft Things He's Done

September 27 - October 10, 1984

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Cover: Wham!
Centrespread: Prince - Purple Rain
Back cover: Depeche Mode
Interviews: Holly Johnson; Wham!; Bronski Beat; Culture Club; Level 42; Big Country
Lyrics: Freedom - Wham!; Love Kills - Freddie Mercury; Shout To The Top - Paul Weller; East Of Eden - Big Country; No More Lonely Nights - Paul McCartney; The Medicine Song - Stephanie Mills; We Don't Work For Free - Grandmaster Melle Mel & The Furious Five; Blue Jean - David Bowie; Purple Rain - Prince; Flesh For Fantasy - Billy Idol; Rikki Don't Lose That Number - Tom Robinson; If It Happens Again - UB40; The War Song - Culture Club
Personal File: Alison Moyet 
Bitz: Adam Ant wedding photo, August 1974; Marillion; Space Monkey, "Come With Me"; Dali's Car; Tina Turner, "Tough Enough"; Steve Grant, "Run For Cover"; UB40, "Labour Of Love", Robin and Ali Campbell, Brian Travers; Jamming fanzine; Afrika Bambaataa, "Frantic Situation"; Ray Parker Jr; Jin Miallin; Jeremy Healey, "When Malyndy Sings"; Imagination; The Police; Gary Moore, "We Want Moore"; "Beat The Street - The Very Best Of Sharon Redd", "In The Name Of Love", "Can You Handle It?"; Apollonia 6; Sister Sledge; The Noise Of Art, Mainframe, "Into Trouble With The Noise Of Art", Ying Yang Yumm records; The Fall, "The Wonderful And Frightening World Of…", John Leckie; Imagination; Shakatak; Twisted Sister, "Stay Hungry", Alvin Stardust, "I Won't Run Away"; Street Sounds, "Electro 5"; Buddy Holly Week, Paul McCartney, Albert Victor Campin Walter; Barry Manilow; "The Sony Tape Rock Review"; Nick Rhodes baby photo; Marc Bolan, "Marc On Video"; Adam Ant, "Apollo 9" 
Single reviews (Vici MacDonald): The War Song - Culture Club; I'm So Beautiful - Divine; To The Top - Style Council; The Moment Of Truth - Survivor; Two To The Power - Janet Jackson & Cliff Richard; Flesh For Fantasy - Billy Idol; Shine Shine - Barry Gibb; Never Stop (A Message) - M.E.F.F.; The Second Time - Kim Wilde; East Of Eden - Big Country; Listen To Your Father - Feargal Sharkey; Purple Rain - Prince; When Malyndy Sings - Bonaventura; Hammer To Fall - Queen; Last Salute - Getting The Fear; Native Land - Everything But The Girl; Higher Ground - Tik & Tok; Love Kills - Freddie Mercury
Album reviews (Phil Sutcliffe / Tom Hibbert / Dave Rimmer / Simon Braithwaite / Peter Martin / Ian Birch / Mark Ellen): Hope And Glory - Tom Robinson; Cypress - Let's Active; How Men Are - Heaven 17; Trapped And Unwrapped - Friends Again; Some Great Reward - Depeche Mode; Tonight - David Bowie; Brewing Up With Billy Bragg - Billy Bragg
Nights Out: David Bowie - Jazzin' For Blue Jean; Marc Almond & The Willing Sinners
Other: The Alternative Top Forty Show - David Jensen; Way Back When...

September 13 - 26, 1984

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Cover: Adam Ant
Centrespread: David Bowie
Back cover: free poster offer
Interviews: Nik Kershaw; Animal Nightlife; Bucks Fizz; The Armoury Show; Lloyd Cole; Adam Ant
Lyrics: Why? - Bronski Beat; Hammer To Fall - Queen; Weekends - The Mighty Wah!; Cath - Bluebells; Human Racing - Nik Kershaw; Castles In Spain - Armoury Show; Heaven's On Fire - Kiss; Madame Butterfly - Malcolm McLaren; Hot Water - Level 42; Lost In Music - Sister Sledge; All I Need Is Everything - Aztec Camera; Apollo 9 - Adam Ant; A Letter To You - Shakin' Stevens; Better Be Good To Me - Tina Turner
Personal File: Gary Kemp 
Bitz: Lenny Henry; Rock 'N' Pop playing cards; Clint Eastwood and General Saint, Phil Thornalley, "Last Plane (One Way Ticket)"; Comsat Angels, "Day One", "Independence Day"; Hope And Anchor; MTV Music Video Awards, Cyndi Lauper; Tears For Fears, "Mother's Talk"; Barry Gibb in a jacuzzi; Alphaville: Marian Gold, Frank Mertens, Bernhard Lloyd; UB40, "If It Happens Again", "Nkomo A Go-Go"; Howard Jones, Big Country, "East Of Eden"; Barry Manilow; Steve Gregory - sax solo on "Careless Whisper"; Top Of The Pops, British Rail, Howard Jones; Miami Sound Machine, "Eyes Of Innocence"; "Hip Hop: A Street History", Afrika Bambaataa; Duran Duran, John Barry, "A View To A Kill"; "The Sony Tape Rock Review", Bill Wyman, Ala Freeman, Lesley-Ann Jones, Robin Eggar, Phil Swern; Motorhead, "No Remorse"; Martin Kemp, Peggy Greibel, "I'll Fly For You", David Bowie, Gee Ling, "China Girl", Burt Lancaster, Deborah Kerr, "From Here To Eternity"; Now That's What I Call Music Video III; Tangerine Dream, "Warsaw In The Sun"; Rick James, "Reflections"; Everything But The Girl, "Native Land", Johnny Marr; "Soca Train": "Sugar Bum Bum", Kitchener, "Boots", Gabby, "Hot Hot Hot", Arrow; "This Is Soca! 84": "Lorraine", Explainer"; "Ge Me More", Chevi; Spanda Ballet; Shelagh O'Hara
Single reviews (Dave Rimmer): Where Does That Boy Hang Out - David Lasley; Cath - Bluebells; Why - Bronski Beat; Poptown - Tot Taylor; A Letter To You - Shakin' Stevens; There Goes My Baby - Donna Summer / Black Butterfly - Deniece Williams; Better Be Good To Me - Tina Turner; Weekends - The Mighty Wah!; Tenderness - General Public; When The Wind Calls - Swans Way; If It Happens Again I'm Leaving - UB40; This Boy Loves The Sun - David Austin; Don't Blame It On Love - Shakatak; Lost In Music - Sister Sledge; Freedom - Wham!; Blue Jean - David Bowie; Unity - Afrika Bambaataa & James Brown
Album reviews (Vici MacDonald / Ian Cranna / Dave Rimmer / Neil Tennant / Lisa Anthony): Knife - Aztec Camera; Waltz In The Wilderness - Dekka Danse; Bullish - Herb Alpert; Nomadic Activities - Orchestre Jazira; Sound-System - Herbie Hancock; The Jaws Of Life - Hunters And Collectors; Sideway Look - Sideway Look; Into The Hot - Floy Joy
Nights Out: Queen and General Public
Other: Pirate radio; Monsters Of Rock: Gary Moore, Ozzy Osbourne, Van Halen, AC/DC

August 30 - September 12, 1984

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Cover: Annie Lennox
Back cover: Free stickers offer
Interviews: Eurythmics; Roddy Frame; Shakatak; Rod Stewart; Malcolm McLaren
Lyrics: Ghostbusters - Ray Parker Jr.; Tesla Girls O.M.D.; She Bop - Cyndi Lauper; Big In Japan - Alphaville; Sunset Now - Heaven 17; Master And Servant - Depeche Mode; Talking In Your Sleep - Bucks Fizz; You're Never Too Young - The Cool Notes; Mama Weer All Crazee Now - Quiet Riot; I Just Called To Say I Love You - Stevie Wonder; Torture - The Jacksons;
Personal File: Johnny Marr
Bitz: Miami Sound Machine, Gloria Estefan; Morrissey lost his hearing aid; Agadoo, Black Lace; "Metropolis", Giorgio Moroder, Bonnie Tyler, Adam Ant, Jon Anderson, Freddy Mercury; The Smiths; Stranglers, "Skin Deep", "Aural Sculpture"; Thompson Twins; "The Saturday Starship", Modern Romance, "Pop Quiz", Mike Read; "Are You Ready", Break Machine; Jo Callis ceases to be full-time member of Human League; Aztec Camera; Chelsea FC, "Back On The Ball", Bob McAndrew, John Bumstead, Suggs, Colin Pates, Pat Nevin; Iron Maiden in Poland; Ultravox; Swans Way, "When The Wild Calls"; Kiss, "Heaven's On Fire"; A Flock Of Seagulls, Mike Score; Michael T., "Michael (I'm Michael)"; Howard Jones; Afrika Bambaataa, James Brown, "Trust", John Lydon, Test Department, Kraftwerk, "Tour De France"; Nick Rhodes marries Julie Anne Friedman; Radio 1 reshuffle: John Peel, Peter Powell, Tony Blackburn, Bruno Brookes, Janice Long, Tommy Vance
Single reviews (Robert Hodgens): William, It Was Really Nothing - Smiths; All I Need Is Everything - Aztec Camera; Madame Butterfly - Malcolm McLaren; She's Fresh - Rocksteady Crew; Holiday - Chiefs Of Relief; Love Glove - Visage; Torture - The Jacksons; Master And Servant - Depeche Mode; Forest Fire - Lloyd Cole and the Commotions; Summer Dream - Philip Sallon and the Mud Men; Mama Weer All Crazee Now - Quiet Riot; I'll Fly For You - Spandau Ballet; Human Racing - Nik Kershaw; Sunset Now - Heaven 17; Ghostbusters - Ray Parker; Back On The Ball - Chelsea FC
Album reviews (Dave Rimmer / Brian Harrigan / Vici MacDonald / Peter Martin / Tom Hibbert): Jam On Revenge - Newcleus; Powerslave - Iron Maiden; The Pearl - Harold Budd & Brian Eno; The Story Of A Young Heart - A Flock Of Seagulls; Phil Fearon & Galaxy - Phil Fearon & Galaxy; Starlight Express - The Original Cast; Just The Way You Like It - S.O.S. Band; 1000 Bel Air Place - Julio Iglesias
Nights Out: Comfort And Joy; Electric Dreams; This Is Spinal Tap; Purple Rain

August 16 - 29, 1984

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Cover: Howard Jones
Centrespread: The Smiths - William It Was Really Nothing
Back cover: The Bluebells
Interviews: Hazell Dean; Depeche Mode; M+M; Heaven 17; Tears For Fears; Howard Jones;
Lyrics: Mothers Talk - Tears For Fears; I Need You - Pointer Sisters; I'll Fly For You - Spandau Ballet; Dr Beat - Miami Sound Machine; We Rock - Dio; Black Stations / White Stations - M+M; Just The Way You Like It - S.O.S. Band; Smooth Operator - Sade; William It Was Really Nothing - Smiths; Girl You're So Together - Michael Jackson; Are You Ready - Break Machine; Passengers - Elton John; Forest Fire - Lloyd Cole and the Commotions
Personal File: Ozzy Osbourne
Bitz: Street Sounds clothes; Helen Terry, Joe Sample, Crusaders; Style Council, "Far East & Far Out"; King Kurt; Steve Strange, Steve and Gary Barnacle, Andy Barnett, "Love Glove"; Howard Jones; Philip Sallon, Bromley Contingent, The Mud Men, "Summer Dream", Status Quo; Sheila Chandra, "Quiet!"; Divine on Top Of The Pops; Motown compilations: "Motown Girl Groups", "Motown Male Groups", "Motown Dance", "Motown Love Songs", "Motown Solo Stars", "This Is Motown"; Zarjazz, Madness, Feargal Sharkey; Aztec Camera, "All I Need Is Everything"; British Rail, "Top Of The Pops"; "The Complete Synthesizer Handbook"; "Roll Over Beethoven", Nigel Planer, Graf Spee, Liza Goddard; The Kane Gang, Prefab Sprout, Hostages, "Going Up In The World"; Paula Yates, Fifi-Trixiebelle, Jools Holland, "The Tube"; "On The Road", Peter Powell, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Thompson Twins, Tom Bailey, Paul Rutherford, Brian Nash, Mark O'Toole, Holly Johnson, Alannah Currie, Joe Leeway; Kiss; Echo & The Bunnymen, Let's Active (Mitch, Faye, Sara), "Cypress"; Big Country; Southern Death Cult, The Cult, "Sea And Sky", Getting The Fear"; Belle Stars split; Jermaine Jackson; The Senate, Rusty Egan, Kirk Brandon, "The Original Sin"
Single reviews (Lesley White): 25 Years - The Catch; Mr Solitaire - Animal Nightlife; You Are My Melody - Change; The Girl From Ipanema - Astrud Gilberto; Girl You're So Together - Michael Jackson; 17 - Rick James; She-Bop - Cyndi Lauper; The Only Flame In Town - Elvis Costello and the Attractions; Go West - The Cult; Castles In Spain - The Armoury Show; The Original Sin - The Senate; Taxman - Rockwell; Fire Me Up - Roman Holliday; Somebody - Junior / Sing And Shout - Second Image; Mothers Talk - Tears For Fears; Footsteps At My Door - Helen And The Horns
Album reviews (Fred Dellar / Laura Latham / Vici MacDonald / Ian Cranna / Tim de Lisle): Down On The Street - Shakatak; Whose Side Are You On - Matt Bianco; Beating The Retreat - Test Department; Sisters - The Bluebells; Essar - Smokey Robinson
Nights Out: Bronski Beat
Other: Roger Taylor's wedding; "Rebellious Jukebox": Meat Loaf, Jools Holland, Mari Wilson, Godley & Creme, General Public, Dave Wakeling, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, UB40, Feargal Sharkey

August 2 - 15, 1984

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Cover: Simon Le Bon
Centrespread: Spandau Ballet
Back cover: Prince & The Revolution
Interviews: Thompson Twins; Simon Le Bon; Divine; Culture Club; Shannon; Status Quo; George Michael
Lyrics: Two Minutes To Midnight - Iron Maiden; Like To Get To Know You Well - Howard Jones; Agadoo - Black Lace; Nervous Shakedown - AC/DC; On The Wings Of Love - Jeffrey Osborne; Ink In The Well - David Sylvian; Tossing And Turning - Windjammer; 99 1/2; Caroll Lynn Townes; Self Control - Laura Branigan; Closest Thing To Heaven - Kane Gang ; Love Songs Are Back Again - Band Of Gold; Ease On Down The Road - Diana Ross / Michael Jackson; Whatever I Do (Wherever I Go) - Hazell Dean; Hand On My Heart - Shriekback
Start: personal file - Stephen Luscombe 
Bitz: "Fanclubs" book; Tracey Ullman, Ade Edmondson, "Sunglasses"; Windjammer, "Tossing And Turning"; Colt And Colby, "Save Your Love", Renee & Renato; Zeke Manyika, Dr Love; Tears For Fears, "Mother's Talk"; "Summertime"; Everything But The Girl; Dali's Car: Mick Karn, Pete Murphy; Herbie Hancock, "Hardrock", "Sound System", Bill Laswell, Michael Beinhorn, Material; "You Must Remember This…", Mark White; Person To Person, David Palmer, "High Time", The System; Captain Sensible; Hula Hoops: Chico Johnson, Betty Sprake from Merseyside; Duran Duran: "The Book Of Words", "Dancing On The Valentine", "The Wild Boys", Nile Rodgers, "Interference"; Street Sounds, "Crucial Electro Two", Afrika Bambaataa, Jonzun Crew, Shannon; Paul Weller, fanzines; Phil Pickett, Culture Club, "Destiny", ITV Olympics coverage, Jon Moss, Helen Terry, Therese Bazaar, Sailor; King Kurt, "Banana Banana"; Prince; Record Shack, Earlene Bentley, "Caught In The Act", Sylvester, "Menenergy"; The Armoury Show, "Castles In Spain"; Boy George; Queen, "It's A Hard Life"; Change, "You Are My Melody"; Howard Jones, "Like To Get To Know You Well"; Spandau Ballet, "I'll Fly For You"; Hammersmith Riverside Studios, Factory Records, Section 25, Quando Quango, Durutti Column, Jazz Defectors, New Order; Paul Young
Single reviews (Tom Hibbert): Monkeys On Juice - Red Lorry Yellow Lorry; Banana Banana - King Kurt; Now Is Here - Clannad; Destiny - Phil Pickett; Like To Get To Know You Well - Howard Jones; Whose Side Are You On? - Matt Bianco; Breakaway - Spider; Some Guys Have All The Luck - Rod Stewart; Pale Blue Eyes - Paul Quinn and Edywn Collins; In The Country - The Farmers' Boys; It's A Man's Man's Man's World - Residents; It's A Hard Life - Queen; It Can Happen - Yes; There Are More Snakes Than Ladders - Captain Sensible; Anywhere With You - Rubber Rodeo; All The Way Up - Belle and the Devotions; There In Your Eyes - Chas And Dave; Hardrock - Herbie Hancock; The Kiss - Joolz; Boogie Then Cry - Mystery Girls; Your Wife Is Cheatin' On Us - Richard 'Dimples' Fields; Hong Kong Swing - Cruella De Ville; Smooth Operator - Sade; Blue Canary - Frank Chickens;
Album reviews (Ian Birch / Lisa Anthony / Ian Cranna / Josephine Hocking / Julie Burns / Dave Rimmer / Fred Dellar / Vici MacDonald / Linda Duff): Electric Dreams - Various Artists; A Word To The Wise Guy - The Mighty Wah!; Tocsin - Xmal Deutschland; Jam Science - Shriekback; Faith - H20; George And James - Residents; Long Gone Dead - Rank And File; Ice Cream Castle - The Time; Intolerance - Tik & Tok; Condition Critical - Quite Riot; Conflicting Emotions - Split Enz
Other: Look At The State Of This Lot!

July 19 - August 1, 1984

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Cover: Boy George in Japan
Centrespread: Green
Back cover: David Sylvian
Interviews: Pete Wylie; Boothill Foot Tappers; Prince; The Messengers; Gary Davies; John Lydon; Culture Club; Billy Idol
Lyrics: I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair - Weather Girls; Lament - Ultravox; Some Guys Have All The Luck - Rod Stewart; Sweet Somebody - Shannon; You Think You're A Man - Divine; It's A Hard Life - Queen; Down On The Streets - Shakatak; Careless Whisper - George Michael; Everybody's Laughing - Phil Fearon & Galaxy; I'll Wait - Van Halen; Eyes Without A Face - Billy Idol; Sunglasses - Tracey Ullman
Start: big words on even bigger t-shirts, Katherine Hammett; personal file - Anne Nightingale  
Bitz: The Kane Gang: Martin Brammer, Paul Woods, Dave Brewis; Troy Tate, "Thomas"; Howard Jones, "Like To Get To Know You Well", Eurythmics; Jaki Graham, "Heaven Knows", Derek Bramble; Bruce Foxton, "S.O.S (My Imagination)"; Nile Rogers, Madonna, Bryan Ferry, Chic, John Taylor, Andy Taylor; "CCCan't You See", Vicious Pink; Hula Hoops, Chico Johnson, "Do The Hula Hoop"; Proteus Books: Boy George And Culture Club, Barry Manilow, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix; Some Bizarre compilation: The The, Test Department; Captain Sensible, "There Are More Snakes Than Ladders"; "Street Sounds No. 1s": Forrest, Herbie Hancock, Phil Fearon's Galaxy, Freeez; Deep Purple reform, Ian Gillan, Ritchie Blackmore; Lloyd Cole and the Commotions; Bronski Beat, "Tell Me Why"; The Blue Nile, "Tinseltown In The Rain"; The Pretenders, Martin Chambers and Tracy have baby daughter, Francesca Catherine; Andrew Ridgeley's nose job; Neil; Japan, "Bamboo" fanzine, Howard Sawyer; "Electric Dreams", Culture Club, "Love Is Love", "The Dream", Hello Goodbye", "Waking Up With The House On Fire", Phil Pickett, "Chase Runner", Heaven 17, Giorgio Moroder, "Together With Electric Dreams", Philip Oakey, "Now You're Mine", Helen Terry; Matt Bianco, "Whose Side Are You On…."; Paul Quinn leaves Bourgie Bourgie, Edwyn Collins, "Pale Blue Eyes"; Care split; John Lennon and Yoko Ono, "Steppin' Out"; "Reggae Sunsplash '82"; The Smiths, "William (It Was Really Nothing)"; Culture Club fan club; Robert Hodgens: my 5 favorite cafes
Single reviews (Muriel Gray): Shriekback - Hand On My Heart; Careless Whisper - George Michael; Music Time - Styx; I Want To Be A Tree - Tim Pope; S.O.S. My Imagination - Bruce Foxton; I'm Stepping Out - John Lennon; ? (Question Mark) - Nena; Heart Of A Woman - Nona Hendryx; Video - Jeff Lynne; CCCan't You See… - Vicious Pink; A New Day - Killing Joke; Sunglasses - Tracey Ullman; I'll Wait - Van Halen; Nervous Shakedown - AC/DC; What Kind Of Girl? - APB; My Male Curiosity - Kid Creole and the Coconuts; I Love Men - Eartha Kitt; Rhythm Of The Street - Patti Austin; Tinsel Town In The Rain - Blue Nile; Love On Board - Friends Again; Black Beauty - Jools Holland
Album reviews (Ian Birch / Dave Rimmer / Lisa Anthony / Ro Newton / Linda Duff / Ian Cranna / Peter Martin): Victory - Jacksons; Diamond Life - Sade; Break Out - Pointer Sisters; Bees Knees And Chickens Elbows - Blue Rondo; All Fired Up - Fastway; Hallowed Ground - Violent Femmes; Anthem - Black Uhuru; Aura - King Sunny Ade & His African Beats
Nights Out: Gary Glitter; Stevie Wonder

July 5 - 18, 1984

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Cover: Neil [The Young Ones]
Centrespread: Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
Back cover: free poster offer
Interviews: Neil; Sisters Of Mercy; Nick Heyward in a sauna; Everything But The Girl; Michael Jackson; Nik Kershaw;
Lyrics: State Of Shock - The Jacksons; Hole In My Shoe - Neil; Leave A Tender Moment Alone - Billy Joel; So Close - Flying Pickets; Sister Of Mercy - Thompson Twins; Dance Me Up - Gary Glitter; White Lines (Don't Do It) - Grandmaster & Melle Mel; Breakin'…There's No Stopping Us - Ollie & Jerry; The Day Before You Came - Blancmange; Mine - Everything But The Girl; Come Back - Mighty Wah!; All Of You - Julio Iglesis & Diana Ross; When Does Cry - Prince; What's Love Got To Do With It - Tina Turner
Start: OMD, "Talking Loud And Clear", Echo & The Bunnymen, "Seven Seas", Ian McCulloch in drag; Tim Pope, "I Want To Be A Tree"; David Sylvian, exhibition of polaroids, Hamilton Gallery; personal file - Cyndi Lauper 
Bitz: Afrika Bambaataa, James Brown, "Unity"; Box Of Frogs: Chris Dreja, Jim McCarty, Paul Samwell-Smith, John Fiddler, "Back Where I Started"; Human League, "Life On Your Own"; Thompson Twins, "Sister Of Mercy"; Status Quo's "last ever live concert anywhere in the world", Milton Keynes Bowl, Marillion, Gary Glitter, Nazareth, Jason and the Scorchers; Jools Holland, "Black Beauty"; The Corvettes, "Girls, Cars, Girls, Sun, Girls, Surf, Girls, Fun"; Anti-Nowhere League invited to Wiesbaden, twinned with Tunbridge Wells; Gary Numan, Numa Records, Matt Nicholson, Paul Gardiner; Nick Rhodes, Kajagoogoo, Sting, A Bigger Splash, Midge Ure, Messengers; Associates, "First Impressions", Martyn Ware; Jacksons, Mick Jagger, Michael Jackson; Jonzun Crew, "Time Is Running Out"; Re-Flex, "Couldn't Stand A Day"; Tracey Ullman; OMD; Howard Jones: my five worst experiences on stage; Spear Of Destiny, Kirk Brandon, "Revolution", Theatre Of Hate, "Americanas"; Rod Stewart; Torch Song, "Wish Thing"; The Sid Presley Experience; David Jensen quits Radio 1; David Bowie, Derek Bramble; Girlschool: Chris Bonacci replaces Kelly Johnson; Echo and the Bunnymen; Iron Maiden, "Powerslave" 
Single reviews (Linda Duff): You Think You're A Man - Divine; I Love You Suzanne - Lou Reed; State Of Shock - Jacksons; The Day Before You Came - Blancmange; Hole In My Shoe - Neil; Julio Iglesias & Diana Ross; Young Hearts - Silent Running; Under Construction - 1000 Mexicans; Mine - Everything But The Girl; Sweet Somebody - Shannon; Fight Away The Lover - G.I. Orange; One Million Kisses - Rufus and Chaka Khan; Out On Your Own - Lotus Eaters; I Don't Believe A Word - A Bigger Splash; The More You Live The More You Love - A Flock Of Seagulls; Target Practice - Belouis Some; Wait - Wang Chung; Don't I Ever Cross Your Mind Sometime - Barbara Mason; 80's Romance - Belle Stars; The Man From Russia - Blow Monkeys
Album reviews (Ian Birch / Tom Hibbert / David Hepworth / Neil Tennant / Lisa Anthony / Vici MacDonald / Linda Duff / Linda Hocking): Parade - Spandau Ballet; Breaking Hearts - Elton John; Goodbye Cruel World - Elvis Costello; Purple Rain - Prince And The Revolution; Difford & Tillbrook - Difford & Tillbrook; Heart Don't Lie - Latoya Jackson; Change Of Heart - Change; Throw Out The Warped Wheel - Fiction Factory; Born In The USA - Bruce Springsteen; Paint And Paint - Haircut One Hundred; Strange Frontier - Roger Taylor; Shiver - Virna Lindt; Get It Out Of Your Head - The Art Company; Send Me Your Love - Kashif
Nights Out: Lloyd Cole and the Commotions; Flying Pickets
Other: What The Papers Said: Boy George, Simon Le Bon, David Sylvian, Nik Kershaw, Howard Jones

June 21 - July 4, 1984

(click on the image to see the full issue)

Cover: Bronski Beat
Centrespread: Dead Or Alive
Back cover: Frankie Goes To Hollywood
Interviews: Bronski Beat; Lloyd Cole and the Commotions; Human League; Morrissey; Midge Ure; Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark; Alison Moyet
Lyrics: Seven Seas - Echo & The Bunnymen; Baby I'm Scared Of You - Womack & Womack; Smalltown Boy - Bronski Beat; Change Of Heart - Heart; Perfect Skin - Lloyd Cole and the Commotions; Waiting In Vain - Bob Marley & The Wailers; So Tired - Ozzy Osbourne; Jump (For My Love) - Pointer Sisters; Stuck On You - Lionel Richie; Talking Loud And Clear - OMD; Life On Your Own - Human League; I Won't Let The Sun Go Down On Me - Nik Kershaw; I Wanna Be Loved - Elvis Costello; Love Resurrection - Alison Moyet; Susanna - The Art Company
Start: Boy George, Madame Tussaud's; Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Paul Rutherford; I Dance Jazz; Working Week, "Venceremos (We Will Win)"; personal file - Chrissie Hynde 
Bitz: Robert Smith quits the Banshees; John Carruthers joins Banshees; The Jacksons; OMD; Madness, "Keep Moving" - US version; Shakatak, "Down On The Street"; Pointer Sisters; "Escape"; Streetsounds, "U.K. Electro": Rapologists, Zer-O, Broken Glass, Syncbeat, Forevereaction - Greg Wilson, Martin Jackson; "Crew Cuts"; Eurythmics, "Touch Dance" - "The First Cut", "Paint A Rumour", "Cool Blue", "Regrets" - John "Jellybean" Benitez, Francois K; Spitting Image, "Da Do Run Ron"; Steve Norman's five favorite soap operas; Art Company, Nol Havens, "Susanna"; The Chiefs Of Relief, Matthew Ashman; Afrika Bambaataa, Soul Sonic Force; Elvis Costello, "Goodbye Cruel World", "I Wanna Be Loved", Green; Nick Heyward; Belle Stars, "80s Romance"; Tom Robinson, "Back In The Old Country"; The Armoury Show; Zeke Manyika, "Heaven Help Us (Try)"; Prince, "Purple Rain"; Midsummer Night's Tube: Culture Club, Police, Echo & The Bunnymen, Alison Moyet, Howard Jones, Bryan Ferry, Hall & Oates, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Sade, Paul Young; Daryl Hall, Diana Ross, "Swept Away", Arthur Baker
Single reviews (John Taylor): Life On Your Own - Human League; When Doves Cry - Prince; Dissidents - Thomas Dolby; Love Resurrection - Alison Moyet; Dance Me Up - Gary Glitter; Waiting In Vain - Bob Marley & The Wailers; Stuck On You - Lionel Richie; You In The Night - Fashion; Seven Seas - Echo & The Bunnymen; Man On Fire - Roger Taylor; Talking Loud And Clear - Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark; Do It All For You - Saxon; Love's Crashing Waves - Difford & Tilbrook; Baby I'm Scared Of You - Womack & Womack; I Won't Let The Sun Go Down On Me - Nik Kershaw; Those First Impressions - Associates; Just Good Friends - Hazel O'Connor; Jump (For My Love) - Pointer Sisters; Too Up Two Down - Haircut One Hundred; Young At Heart - Bluebells; Closest Thing To Heaven - The Kane Gang; What's Love Got To Do With It - Tina Turner
Album reviews (Ian Birch / Ian Cranna / Fred Dellar / Mark Ellen / Linda Duff / Dave Rimmer / Vici MacDonald): Farewell My Summer Love - Michael Jackson; Going For Broke - Eddy Grant; Camouflage - Rod Stewart; In The Studio - The Special AKA; Stay Hungry - Twisted Sister; Now - Patrice Rushen; This Is What You Want This Is What You Get - PiL; Medicine Show - Dream Syndicate
Nights Out: Prince's Trust Rock Gala: Mike Read, Tracey Ullman, Imagination, Sade, Phil Collins, Paul Young; Billy Joel
Other: "Will the real John Taylor please stand up!"

June 7 - 20, 1984

(click on the image to see the full issue)

Cover: Spandau Ballet
Centrespread: Ultravox
Back cover: Marc Almond
Interviews: Spandau Ballet; The Associates; Limahl; Nik Kershaw; Boomtown Rats
Lyrics: Absolute - Scritti Politti; Farewell My Summer Love - Michael Jackson; What I want - Dead Or Alive; Thinking Of You - Sister Sledge; Only When You Leave - Spandau Ballet; Two Tribes - Frankie Goes To Hollywood; Those First Impressions - Associates; Infatuation - Rod Stewart; High Energy - Evelyn Thomas; Thin Line Between Love And Hate - Pretenders; Sad Songs (Say So Much) - Elton John; Dancing In The Dark - Bruce Springsteen; I Feel Like Buddy Holly - Alvin Stardust
Start: Michelle Palmer, Mike Read, Boy George, Kim Wilde, Timmy Mallett, Princess Margaret; Alvin Stardust, Shane Fenton, "I Feel Like Buddy Holly", Gary Glitter, "Dance Me Up"; personal file - Pete Burns 
Bitz: Bronski Beat: Steve Bronski, Larry Steinbachek, Jimi Somerville; David Jensen, "Great Rock 'N' Roll Trivia Quiz"; David Bowie picture discs: "Hunky Dory", "Diamond Dogs", "Pin Ups", "Aladdin Sane", "Ziggy Stardust"; David Sylvian; Feargal Sharkey, "Listen To Your Father", "The Undertones EP"; Thomas Dolby, "Dissident"; "Break Dance"; Tony Fletcher, Apocalypse, "People", Jamming!, "A New Optimism"; Simon Bates, Stephen Luscombe, Helen Terry; Gary Crowley: the five most impressive people I've met; Style Council; Twisted Sister, "Stay Hungry"; David Bowie, "Into The Night", John Landis; Pete Wylie, Wah!, "A Word To The Wise Guy"; Ultravox; Deniece Williams; Mark Johnson, "Design For Living", Joy Division, New Order, "several passages of utter drivel contributed by some former rock writer called Paul Morley"; Mick Jagger, Michael Jacksons, The Jacksons, "State Of Shock"; Haircut One Hundred not breaking up nor reforming with Nick Heyward; "White Lines (Don't Do It)", Grandmaster Flash & Melle Mel
Single reviews (Neil Tennant): Eyes Without A Face - Billy Idol; Only When You Leave - Spandau Ballet; Building On A Strong Foundation - The Questions; Get Your Feet Out Of My Shoes - Boothill Foot-tappers; Venceremos - Working Week; Farewell My Summer Love - Michael Jackson; Change Of Heart - Change; The Boy Who Came Back - Marc Almond; Two Tribes - Frankie Goes To Hollywood; Walk Through The Fire - Peter Gabriel; The Upstroke - Agents Aren't Aeroplanes; Like A Cannonball - Menudo; Absolute - Scritti Politti
Album reviews (Neil Tennant / Lisa Anthony / Kimberley Leston / Dave Rimmer / Ian Cranna): Hyaena - Siouxsie & The Banshees; Everything But The Girl - Everything But The Girl; Lost Boys - Flying Pickets; Brilliant Trees - David Sylvian; Der Osten Ist Rot - Holger Czukay
Nights Out: New Brighton Rock: Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Weather Girls, Nik Kershaw, Helen Terry, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Eddy Grant, Flying Pickets, Spandau Ballet, Madness, Gloria Gaynor, Nick Lowe
Other: High Energy: Boys Town Gang, Hazell Dean, Eartha Kitt, Divine, Weather Girls, Gloria Gaynor, Village People, Evelyn Thomas, Bobby 'O' Orlando, Donna Summer, Slyvester

May 24 - June 6, 1984

(click on the image to see the full issue)

Cover: Wham!
Centrespread: Depeche Mode
Back cover: Tom Bailey
Interviews: Wham!; Roy Hay; Madonna; New Order; Billy Joel; Siouxsie and the Banshees
Lyrics: I'll Be Around - Terri Wells; Pearl In The Shell - Howard Jones; Borderline - Madonna; Love All Day - Nick Heyward; Let's Hear It For The Boy - Deniece Williams; One Better Day - Madness; Break Dance Party - Break Machine; Stay With Me Tonight - Jeffrey Osborne; Too Much Trouble - Limahl; Each And Everyone - Everything But The Girl; Searchin' - Hazel Dean; Somebody Else's Guy - Jocelyn Brown; Assassing - Marillion; Dazzle - Siouxsie & the Banshees; Heaven Knows (I'm Miserable Now) - Smiths; Major Tom (Coming Home) - Peter Schilling
Start: Morrissey, Ken Livingstone, Mari Wilson, Billy Bragg, Misty In Roots, Flying Pickets, "Jobs For A Change"; Die Totenhosen, Five Fab Freddy; Gary Numan, Royal Navy Air base, Yeovilton, Red Baron; personal file - Morrissey 
Bitz: Smeggy (King Kurt): the five worst haircuts ever; Depeche Mode; Limahl, "Don't Suppose"; Womack & Womack; Thompson Twins; James Cuts, "Sexify You", Kate Haysi, Alan Rankine; Bluebells; Pretenders, "Thin Line Between Love And Hate", Chrissie Hynde, Jim Kerr; Nick Cave, "From Here To Eternity", Einsturzende Neubaten; Howard Jones, "Pearl In The Shell", "Law Of The Jungle"; Zingari, "One More Chance"; Rod Stewart "Infatuation", "Camouflage"; K-Tel, "Hungry For Hits"; Fashion, Mulligan,soldering iron, tour delay, "Twilight Of The Idols"; King Kurt; Labour Party, " A Better Song For Europe", Eric Heffer, Geoff Travis; Peter Schilling, "Major Tom (Coming Home)", Armin Sabol; Billy Bragg; Modern Romance, "Tokyo Live!", GBH, UK Subs; Sade; Bruce Springsteen, "Dancing In The Dark"
Single reviews (Ian Cranna): Hip-Hop-Bommi-Bom - Die Totenhosen (The Incredible T*H* Scratchers Starring Freddy Love); Dazzle - Siouxsie & the Banshees; (Heaven Knows) I'm Miserable Now - Smiths; Illuminations - Swans Way; Pearl In The Shell - Howard Jones; Hey Presto - Black; Borderline - Madonna; Romancing The Stone - Eddy Grant; Yippe Yi Yay! - D. C. Lee; All Or Nothing - Fiction Factory; The Ghost In You - Psychedelic Furs; Love All Day - Nick Heyward; Turn To Gold - David Austin; (I Love You) When You Sleep - Tracie; Ten Thousand Voices, A Message From The People - Zerra I; One Better Day - Madness; Spiritwalker - The Cult; Too Much Trouble - Limahl; Infatuation - Rod Stewart; Dance With Me - Carol Kenyon; Take Him Back (Taxi) - Anne Lesear; Smalltown Boy - Bronski Beat
Album reviews (Fred Dellar / Peter Martin / Tom Hibbert / Ian Birch / Lisa Anthony / Ian Cranna): Mirror Moves - Psychedelic Furs; Ready For Battle - Rock Steady Crew; In 3-D - Weird Al Yankovic; Pajama Party Time - Indeep; Talk Show - Go Go's; No Sense Of Sin - Lotus Eaters; Legend - Clannad; Reckoning - R.E.M.
Nights Out: Crystal Day: Echo & The Bunnymen

May 10 - 23, 1984

(click on the image to see the full issue)

Cover: Sade
Centrespread: Madness
Back cover: Shakin' Stevens
Interviews: Sade; The Bluebells; David Sylvian; Boy George, Marilyn, Pete Burns, Tasty Tim; Blancmange; John Taylor; Matt Bianco; Bob Marley
Lyrics: Rough Justice - Bananarama; The Lebanon - The Human League; Panama - Van Halen; You're The Best Thing - Style Council; When Am I Going To Make A Living - Sade; Going Down Town Tonight - Status Quo; Footloose - Kenny Loggins; Red Guitar - David Sylvian; Love Wars - Womack & Womack; Eat It - Weird Al Yankovic; State Of Love - Imagination; Automatic - Pointer Sisters; Wake Me Up Before You Go Go - Wham!; Mack The Knife - King Kurt; Dancing With Tears In My Eyes - Ultravox; When You're Young And In Love - Flying Pickets
Start: Boy George at Heathrow; Duran Duran; Belouis Some, "Target Practice", "Some People"; Jermaine Jackson, The Jacksons; personal file - Red Stripe  
Bitz: Cocteau Twins: Robin Guthrie, Elizabeth Fraser, Simon Raymonde; "So Many Men So Little Time", Miquel Brown, "Where Is My Man", Eartha Kitt; Bourgie Bourgie, "Careless"; Bamboo: Japan fanzine, David Sylvian, Masami Tschuya, Ippu-Do, Twisted Sister; Bronski Beat, "Small Town Boy", Mike Thorne; Musical Youth, "She's Trouble", Eddy Grant; Matt Bianco; Melody Makers: Cedella, Sharon, Ziggy, Steve Marley, "I Met Her On A Rainy Day", "Children Playing"; Nik Kershaw, Andrew Ridgeley, Bucks Fizz, Stewart Copeland, Andy Summers, Donny Osmond, Jimmy Page; Wham!, "Wake Me Up Before You Go Go", "Ray Of Sunshine"; Ficton Factory, OMD; "Streetsounds 9": Gap Band, Real To Reel, Jones Girls; King Kurt, "Dirty Dick Tour"; Johnny Marr, "2 From Quando", Quando Quango; Siouxsie & the Banshees; Nick Rhodes: my five faovurite artists and designers
Single reviews (Dave Rimmer): Red Guitar - David Sylvian; When Am I Going To Make A Living - Sade; You're The Best Thing - Style Council; State Of Love - Imagination; State Of Love - Imagination; What People Do For Money - Divine Sounds / The Dominatrix Sleeps Tonight - Dominatrix; Ain't That Peculiar - Mari Wilson; She's Trouble - Musical Youth; Dancing With Tears In My Eyes - Ultravox; Bad Life - PiL; Assassing - Marillion; Going Down Town Tonight - Status Quo; I Just Wanna Make You Feel Good - The System; What Presence?! - Orange Juice; Sweetest Sweetest - Jermaine Jackson; Wake Me Up Before You Go Go - Wham!; Professor Night - Was (Not Was)
Album reviews (Peter Martin / Lisa Anthony / Ian Cranna / Ian Birch): Hysteria - Human League; Mange Tout - Blancmange; A Walk Across The Rooftops - Blue Nile; Touch Sensitive - Bruce Foxton; The Art Of Defence - Nona Hendryx; Dynamite - Jermaine Jackson
Nights Out: The Alternative Country & Western Festival: Blubberry Hellbellies, Pogue Mahone, Gleesome Threesome, Men They Couldn't Hang, Last Bid For The Recess, Cut Loose, Skiff Skats, Boothill Foot Tappers

Pop Idle - another winner from Team Philpott!

Over the last few years the genial genius of Derek Philpott has been bemusing pop stars and amusing pop fans with a series of books in which confusion is feigned and explanations are requested for clarification of some of the most memorable hits - and forgotten classics - of the seventies, eighties and beyond.

Now the maverick mastermind behind the endlessly entertaining epistles, Dave Dawson, has slipped off his Derek disguise and stepped out from behind the wizard's curtain with a memoir detailing some of his exploits during a thirty-year career as a professional musician. For over three decades, Dave has crissed and crossed the country, performing in a variety of venues and encountering a cast of thousands, on a schedule that makes Bob Dylan's Never Ending Tour seem like a walk in the park.

Pop Idle is every bit as delightful as the Derek Philpott books - a wry and affectionate look at life on the road, seen through the eyes of one of the many performers who play for thousands of people every year, without ever making the front cover of Smash Hits. It's probably the best account of an aspiring pop star's life - and the best handbook for anybody barmy enough to follow a similar career path - since Giles Smith's classic, Lost In Music.

Get your copy of Pop Idle here or here [US edition]!

And, in case you missed them, the Philpott books are still available: Dear Mr. Kershaw [US edition here], Dear Mr Pop Star [US edition here], Grammar Free In The UK [US edition here] and Dear Catherine Wheel [US edition here].

April 26 - May 9, 1984

(click on the image to see the full issue)

Cover: Frankie Goes To Hollywood
Centrespread: Duran Duran
Back cover: Nik Kershaw
Interviews: Frankie Goes To Hollywood; Pete Burns; Psychedelic Furs; Alexei Sayle; Helen Terry; Nick Heyward
Lyrics: Thieves Like Us - New Order; Just A Dream - Nena; Against All Odds - Phil Collins; Hand In Glove - Sandie Shaw; Just Be Good To Me - S.O.S. Band; That's The Way I Like It - Dead Or Alive; I'm Falling - Bluebells; Locomotion - OMD; Heaven - Psychedelic Furs; Peace In Our Time - The Imposter; Love Lies Lost - Helen Terry; Give Me Tonight - Shannon; One Love / People Get Ready - Bob Marley & The Wailers; Silver - Echo & The Bunnymen; Turn Your Back On Me - Kajagoogoo
Start: Dave Gahan; Mike Read, "Tell Me I'm Wrong"; Tiny Tim, "Sugar Sugar"; Everything But The Girl", Tracey Thorn, Ben Watt, "Each And Every One"; personal file - Green 
Bitz: Duran Duran; Captain Sensible, "The Russians Are Coming"; Sandie Shaw; "UB40 - A Musical Profile"; "Michael Jackson - Body And Soul", Geoff Brown; Andy McCluskey: My Five Obsessions; Stuart Croxford Neale marries Katherine Anne Scott, Hockcliffe Baptist Church, Leighton Buzzard; Chaka Khan; Echo & The Bunnymen, "Crystal Day", May 12; "Hi-Energy 2", Street Sounds; David J, The Jazz Butcher, "V For Vendetta"; Elvis Costello, "Ten Bloody Marys & Ten How's Your Fathers", The Imposter, "Peace In Our Time", Scully; "Up Rock", Rock Steady Crew, "Beat Street"; "Let The Children Play": Madness, Peter Gabriel, Flying Pickets, Mari Wilson, Tom Robinson, Alexei Sayle, Rik Mayall; Human League, "The Lebanon"; The Questions; David Bowie, "The Serious Moonlight Tour", "Love You Till Tuesday", Ready Steady Go!, Beatles, Rolling Stones, Marvin Gaye
Single reviews (Dave Gahan): Pearly-Dewdrops' Drops - Cocteau Twins; Silver - Echo & The Bunnymen; Thieves Like Us - New Order; The Lebanon - Human League; One Man's Meat - Fad Gadget; Beat Of Two - Palais Schaumburg; Hand In Glove - Sandie Shaw; Love & Pride - King; Turn Your Back On Me - Kajagoogoo; Stay - Blue Nile; Influenza (Relapse) - Gene Loves Jezebel; One Love - Bob Marley & The Wailers; The Photo Song - Holger Czukay; It's All Over - Matt Fretton; Just A Dream - Nena; Standing In The Shadow - Whitesnake; You Don't Love Me - Marilyn; Sneaking Out The Back Door - Matt Bianco; Mack The Knife - King Kurt; Just My Imagination - Modern Romance; Don't Let Go - Wang Chung; It Makes Me Wonder - Bruce Foxton; When You're Young And In Love - Flying Pickets; Love Lies Lost - Helen Terry; Dreaming - Fashion; Love Me Tender - Roland Rat; I Feel Like Buddy Holly - Alvin Stardust
Album reviews (Johnny Black / Kimberley Leston / Dave Rimmer / Lola Borg / Mark Ellen / Ian Cranna): Junk Culture - Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark; Toni Basil - Toni Basil; Ocean Rain - Echo & The Bunnymen; Sophisticated Boom Boom - Dead Or Alive; One Eyed Jacks - Spear Of Destiny; The Top - The Cure; Fraggle Rock - The Fraggles; Pop - Tones On Tail
Nights Out: Bad Karma In The UK; Grandmaster & The Furious Five
Other: Eurovision Song Contest; groups' names; "Footloose" review

April 12 - 25, 1984

(click on the image to see the full issue)

Cover: Thompson Twins
Centrespread: Siouxsie Sioux
Back cover: Sade
Interviews: Duran Duran; Special AKA, Rhoda Dakar; Rockwell; Ali Campbell; Bananarama; Thompson Twins
Lyrics: Jessie's Girl - Rick Springfield; (When You Say You Love Somebody) In The Heart - Kool & The Gang; The Longest Time - Billy Joel; Nelson Mandela - Special AKA; (Obscene) Phone Caller - Rockwell; The Reflex - Duran Duran; Don't Tell Me - Blancmange; Dancing Girls - Nik Kershaw; I Want To Break Free - Queen; Ain't Nobody - Rufus & Chaka Khan; Glad It's All Over - Captain Sensible
Start: Razzmatazz, Captain Sensible, Nick Heyward, Tina Turner, Marilyn; Rick Parfitt, Michael Young; Nick Beggs, Mulligan, Ravel's "Bolero"; Queen, I Want To Break Free, Roger Taylor (Suzie Burchill), Brian May (Hilda Ogden), John Deacon (Ena Sharples), Freddie Mercury (Bet Lynch);
personal file - Peter Powell
Bitz: Captain Sensible, "Glad It's All Over", Dolly Mixture, "Remember This", Weetabix; Wham!; "Wake Me Up Before You Go Go", Innervision Records, Barbados; "Electro 3": Divine Sounds, Dave DMX; "Now That's What I Call Music 2"; Ultravox; Malcolm X, "No Sell Out", Grandmaster Melle Mel, "Jesse"; Martin Gore: My Five Favourite Video Games; Iain McKell; Adele Bertei, "Build Me A Bridge", Thomas Dolby, Culture Club; Dead Or Alive; Culture Club, "A Kiss Across The Ocean"; Big Country; Rick Springfield; Van Halen; Elvis Costello; The Lotus Eaters; Rock Goddess: "I Didn't Know I Loved You (Till I Saw You Rock And Roll): Jody Turner, Julie Turner, Dee O'Malley; Human League; Status Quo 
Single reviews (Tom Hibbert): The Caterpillar - The Cure; Honey At The Core - Friends Again; Don't Tell Me - Blancmange; Liberator - Spear Of Destiny; Only He Has The Power To Move Me - Stephanie Lawrence; City For Lovers - Way Of The West; Runaway - Modists; The Reflex - Duran Duran; Remember This - Dolly Mixture; Locomotion - Orchestral Manouevres In The Dark; Shock Treatment - Pallas; Such A Shame - Talk Talk; The Longest Time - Billy Joel; I Want To Break Free - Queen; No Sell Out - Malcolm X; Eighties - Killing Joke; Romeo And Juliet Love Theme - Juan Martin; Set Me Apart - Lotus Eaters; Some Heads Are Gonna Roll - Judas Priest; Who's Fooling Who - Jakko; Take Me Home - Zac Zola & Electric Banana
Album reviews (Lisa Anthony / Ian Cranna / Josephine Hocking / Kimberley Leston / Claire Sheaff / Peter Martin / Dave Rimmer): Far From The Hurting Kind - Tracie; Islands - Kajagoogoo; Hold On - Sense; Body And Soul - Joe Jackson; The Flame - Annabel Lamb; Night Full Of Tension - Robert Gorl; Parting Should Be Painless - Roger Daltrey; Bananarama - Bananarama
Nights Out: Starlight Express; Howard Jones; Nik Kershaw

March 29 - April 11, 1984

(click on the image to see the full issue)

Cover: Nik Kershaw
Centrespread: Wham!
Back cover: free poster offer
Interviews: Madness: Suggs, Carl Smyth; Propaganda; Scritti Politti; Howard Jones; Phil Fearon; Nik Kershaw
Lyrics: Up On The Catwalk - Simple Minds; Lucky Star - Madonna; Renegades Of Funk - Afrika Bambaataa & Soulsonic Force; You Take Me Up - Thompson Twins; Dr Mabuse - Propaganda; Time After Time - Cyndi Lauper; I Scare Myself - Thomas Dolby; Wood Beez (Pray Like Aretha Franklin) - Scritti Politti; What Do I Do? - Phil Fearon & Galaxy; The Caterpillar - The Cure; Breaking Point - Bourgie Bourgie; Baby You're Dynamite
Start: Tim Pope, "I Want To Be A Tree", Paul Young, Style Council, Siouxsie, Budgie, Talk Talk, The Cure, Marc Almond; Ali Campbell, UB40, "Cherry Oh Baby"; personal file: David Lee Roth  
Bitz: Pauline Black and Sunday Best: Lynval Golding, Neville Staples, Jes Edwards, Phil Graham, Wayne Lothian, "Pirates On The Airwaves"; Simple Minds; Whitesnake; Shalamar, Howard Hewett, "Deadline USA", "Street Fleet", "Dancing In The Sheets", "Footloose", Peabo Bryson, "DC Cab"; Alexei Sayle; Shannon, "Let The Music Play"; Sade: Five Records I Always Look For On Jukeboxes; Marillion, Shakin' Stevens, The Quick; Ear Say: Nicky Horne, Gary Crowley, Leslie-Ann Jones; Mick Karn, Pete Murphy, Sheila Rock, Paul Rider; Bruce Foxton, "It Makes Me Wonder", "Touch Sensitive"; The Cure; Michael Jackson; And Also The Trees; Helen Terry, "Love Lies Lust"; Castle Donnington, Monsters Of Rock, AC/DC, WOMAD; Madonna, "Lucky Star"; The Weather Girls, Izora Armstead, Martha Walsh  
Single reviews (Ian Birch): I Scare Myself - Thomas Dolby; Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now) - Phil Collins; Time After Time - Cyndi Lauper; Do You Wanna Dance - Toni Basil; Dubbin' It All - Steve Levine; Baby You're Dynamite - Cliff Richard; (Don't Let Your Love) Start A War - Pale Fountains; Dancing Girls - Nik Kershaw; You Take Me Up - Thompson Twins; Jessie's Girl - Rick Springfield; 2000 Light Years From Home - The Danse Society; Keys To Your Heart - Urban Cowboys; Strive - Gloria Gaynor; Heaven - Psychedelic Furs; Leave It (Remix) - Yes
Album reviews (Lisa Anthony / Neil Tennant / Ian Cranna): Lament - Ultravox; Let The Music Play - Shannon; The Icicle Works - The Icicle Works
Nights Out: Style Council; The Clash; Batcave, Day-Glo Ball (Heaven)

March 15 - 28, 1984

(click on the image to see the full issue)

Cover: Paul Young
Centrespread: Thompson Twins
Back cover: Carmel
Interviews: Paul Young; Sade; Van Halen; Fiat Lux; Holly Johnson; Kajagoogoo; Bourgie Bourgie; Bananarama; Depeche Mode
Lyrics: Robert De Niro's Waiting - Bananarama; A Love Worth Waiting For - Shakin' Stevens; Birds Fly (Whisper To A Scream) - Icicle Works; P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing) - Michael Jackson; To Be Or Not To Be (Hitler Rap) Part I - Mel Brooks; Swimming Horses - Siouxsie & The Banshees; Your Love Is King - Sade; Yah Mo B There - James Ingram; More More More - Carmel; People Are People - Depeche Mode; It's Raining Men - Weather Girls; Breakin' Down (Sugar Samba) - Julia And Company; Fraggle Rock - The Fraggles; 'Ullo John Got A New Motor - Alexei Sayle; Hello - Lionel Richie; Ghost Of Love - Fiction Factory
Start: personal file - Nena; Peter Powell, Simon Bates and Tony Blackburn dress up as Boy George, Gary Glitter and Tracey Ullman; Pyramid Lids, Tommy Boy Records;  
Bitz: Nelson Mandela, The Special AKA; Gary Byrd, Sweet Inspirations, "The Crown"; Gloria Gaynor, "Strive"; Jeffrey Daniel, Starlight Express, "Give My Regards To Broad Street", Paul McCartney; Madness, Lee Thompson marries Deborah Fordham; Gang Of Four split up; The World's Famous Supreme Team, Justice, Divine, Malcolm McLaren; Billy Bragg, Style Council, Questions; Nena, "Just A Dream"; Grammy Awards: Boy George, Culture Club, Michael Jackson, The Police, Duran Duran, Brooke Shields, Annie Lennox; Con McConville, It's Immaterial, "White Man's Hat"; The Fall, "Perverted By Language Bis"; Howard Jones; Frankie Goes To Hollywood, "Relax", 930,000 copies sold; The Cure, Phil Thornally; "Michael Jackson's Thriller"; Steve Levine, "Believin' It All", Boy George, David Grant, Rita Marley; Noddy Holder: Slade's Five Most Disastrous Gigs
Single reviews (Peter Martin): Dr Mabuse - Propaganda; People Are People - Depeche Mode; PYT (Pretty Young Thing) - Michael Jackson; Up On The Catwalk - Simple Minds; Hello - Lionel Richie; Lucky Star - Madonna; The Whodini Electro EP - Whodini; AC/DC - Jeffrey Daniel; A Love Worth Waiting For - Shakin' Stevens; The Greatness And Perfection Of Love - Julian Cope; Birds Fly (Whisper To A Scream) / In The Cauldron Of Love - Icicle Works; Souls On Fire - Tracie; What You've Been Through Is Love (Scream Like A Swift) - Che; Confusion - Zee; Why Don't We Spend The Night - Joe Fagan; Nelson Mandela - The Special AKA; That's The Way (I Like It) - Dead Or Alive; The Deceiver - The Alarm; Swimming Horses - Siouxsie And The Banshees
Album reviews (Peter Martin / Neil Tennant / Ian Birch / Kimberley Leston / Johnny Black / Lisa Anthony / Linda Duff / Ian Cranna / Lola Borg): Cafe Bleu - Style Council; This Last Night In Sodom - Soft Cell; Somebody's Watching Me - Rockwell; Nena - Nena; Swoon - Prefab Sprout; I Am Gloria Gaynor; The Drum Is Everything - Carmel; Points Of The Curve - Wang Chung; Fugazi - Marillion; Politics Of Dancing - Re-Flex; I Don't Speak The Language - Matthew Wilder
Nights Out: Thomas Dolby; Genesis; Dead Or Alive

March 1 - 14, 1984

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Cover: Jon Moss
Centrespread: Nena
Back cover: Free Sticker Album offer
Interviews: Michael Jackson; Matt Bianco; General Public; Wang Chung; Nena; Jon Moss; Style Council
Lyrics: It's A Miracle - Culture Club; Cherry Oh Baby - UB40; Jump -Van Halen; Get Out Of Your Lazy Bed - Matt Bianco; An Innocent Man - Billy Joel; Down In The Subway - Soft Cell; Joanna - Kool & The Gang; She Was Hot - Rolling Stones; Dance Hall Days - Wang Chung; Street Dance - Break Machine; Hanna Hanna - China Crisis; Somebody's Watching Me - Rockwell; My Guy - Tracey Ullman
Start: personal file - Roger Taylor; George Michael, David Cassidy; Jean Jacques Burnel, David Greenfield, The Stranglers, "Rain, Dole & Tea"; British Rock And Pop Awards: Boy George, David Jensen, Cheryl Baker, Sarah Kennedy, Helen Terry, Alf, Malcolm Lee, George Michael, Andrew Ridgeley, Marjorie Proops
Bitz: Michael Jackson; Nick Heyward; Fraggles; Thomas Dolby: My Five Favourite Video Props; Crass, "You're Already Dead"; Zee: Dee Harris, Rick Wright; X, "More Fun In The World"; Jack Hammer, "Down In The Subway", Earl S. Burroughs, "Great Balls Of Fire"; Stephen Singleton quits ABC; Status Quo not breaking up; O.M.D., "Junk Culture"; Cyndi Lauper, Blue Angel, "I'm Gonna Be Strong"; Jermain Stewart, "The Word Is Out"; Bourgie Bourgie; Culture Club, "A Kiss Across The Ocean"; Howard Jones; Kajagoogoo; Icicle Works, "Birds Fly" / "Cauldron Of Love"; Duran Duran, John Taylor, "New Moon On Monday", Nile Rodgers;
Single reviews (Dave Rimmer): Wood Beez - Scritti Politti; Tuesday Sunshine - The Questions; Six Sed Red - Shake It Right; Lucky Lucky Lucky - Pookah Makes 3; Cherry Oh Baby - UB40; I Want It To Be Real - John Rocca; Robert De Niro's Waiting - Bananarama; Rebel Yell - Billy Idol; My Guy - Tracey Ullman; Breakin' Down - Julia And Company; Ghost Of Love - Fiction Factory; Whatever Possessed You - Care; Hanna Hanna - China Crisis; The Smiling Hour - Kalima; The Record Keeps Spinning - Indeep; General Public - General Public; More, More, More - Carmel; High Rise - Mike Read; It's A Miracle - Culture Club; We Are Ninja - Frank Chickens
Album reviews (Mark Ellen / Neil Tennants / Johnny Black / Dave Rimmer / Ian Birch / Ian Cranna / Josephine Hocking ): The Smiths - The Smiths; Human's Lib - Howard Jones; Pacific Street - Pale Fountains; The Works - Queen; Keep Moving - Madness; Human Racing - Nik Kershaw; It's My Life - Talk Talk; Uh-Huh - John Cougar Mellencamp
Nights Out: What's Happening To Concerts? Madness, Wang Chung, Zu Zu Sharks, Yip Yip Coyote, The Questions, Blue Rondo, Nik Kershaw, Fiction Factory, Howard Jones, Style Council, Kool & the Gang, Swans Way, Gary Crowley

February 16 - 29, 1984

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Cover: Madonna
Centrespread: Kajagoogoo - The Lion's Mouth
Back cover: Midge Ure
Interviews: Re-Flex; Madonna; Rick Springfield; Swans Way; Tracey Ullman; Jansen / Barbieri; Queen; The Smiths
Lyrics: Hide And Seek - Howard Jones; The Politics Of Dancing - Re-Flex; Spice Of Life - Manhattan Transfer; My Ever Changing Moods - Style Council; Let The Music Play - Shannon; Cry And Be Free - Marilyn; One Small Day - Ultravox; Soul Train - Swans Way; Wouldn't It Be Good - Nik Kershaw; Help! - Tina Turner; Punch And Judy - Marillion; The Lion's Mouth - Kajagoogoo; The Joker - Steve Miller Band; Human Touch - Rick Springfield; A Night In New York - Elbow Bones and the Racketeers; 99 Red Balloons - Nena
Start: personal file - Nik Kershaw; Boy George, Miko, Terry Wogan, Selina Scott, Robert Mitchum; Thor, "Comic Fantasy"; Matt Bianco, "Get Out Of Your Lazy Bed"; Ian Page, Bop, "Too Young To Know"; The Questions, Paul Barry, Maureen Barry, "Tuesday Sunshine"
Bitz: Tom Bailey: The Five Worst Things About Teaching; Mike Read, Nick Beggs, David Grant, Paul Gambaccini; Jimmy Nail, Tracey Ullman, Allan McKeown; Break Machine, Jacques Morali, "Street Dance"; Elbow Bones; Mike Smith leaves Radio 1, John Peel stays, Gary Davies, Adrian John; Cyndi Lauper; Jack Hammer, "Down In The Subway", Soft Cell, "This Last Night In Sodom"; Matthew Wilder, "I Don't Speak The Language"; Cocteau Twins; David Gilmour, "About Face"; Susann Sulley passed her driving test; Style Council, The Questions, Billy Bragg; Thompson Twins; Six Sed Red, "Shake It Right", Cindy Ecstasy, Rick Holliday; B-Movie, "A Letter From Afar"; Roger Daltrey, "Walking In My Sleep", "Somebody Told Me"; K-Tel, "The Tube" Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Style Council, Eurythmics, Wham!, Paul Young, Aztec Camera, Jeff Beck; "Toyah! Toyah! Toyah"; "Two Of A Kind", John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John, "Take A Chance"
Single reviews (Limahl): The Lion's Mouth - Kajagoogoo; Tonight - Boomtown Rats; Hide And Seek - Howard Jones; No Matter What Happens - Barbra Streisand; Bridge - Orange Juice; Organize - David Grant; An Innocent Man - Billy Joel; Middle Of The Road - Limahl; Eye Talk - Fashion; Cross My Heart And Hope To Die - Martin Shaw; Darling Don't Leave Me Out - David Gorl; She Was Hot - Rolling Stones; Punch And Judy - Marillion; Fraggle Rock - Fraggle Rock; Burning The Heat - Girlschool; Hey DJ - The World's Famous Supreme Team; Selina Wow Wow - Dee C. Lee; Rush Rush - Debbie Harry; Illegal Alien - Genesis; Your Love Is King - Sade
Album reviews (Dave Rimmer / Lindsay Shapero / Claire Sheaff / Josephine Hocking / Lola Borg / Mark Ellen / Neil Tennant): Into The Gap - Thompson Twins; Declaration - The Alarm; The Flat Earth - Thomas Dolby; White Flames - Snowy White / Victims Of The Future - Gary Moore; Slide It In - Whitesnake; She's So Unusual - Cyndi Lauper; In The Beginning - Bob Marley & The Wailers; Bodies And Souls - Manhattan Transfer
Nights Out: China Crisis; The Alarm

February 2 - 15 ,1984

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Cover: Marilyn and Miranda Jardine
Centrespread: Stuart Adamson
Back cover: China Crisis
Interviews: Cyndi Lauper; Shakin' Stevens, Bonnie Tyler; Thomas Dolby; The Icicle Works; Fiction Factory;
Lyrics: (Feels Like) Heaven - Fiction Factory; Michael Caine - Madness; Hyper-Active! - Thomas Dolby; Girls Just Want To Have Fun - Cyndi Lauper; Nobody Told Me - John Lennon; Subterranean Homesick Blues - Bob Dylan; What Difference Does It Make? - The Smiths; No Stone Unturned - The Truth; Run Runaway - Slade; Radio Ga Ga - Queen; Break My Stride - Matthew Wilder; I Am What I Am - Gloria Gaynor; Holiday - Madonna
Start: personal file - David Coverdale; almost famous faces; The Bank Robbers, "Jenny", Scotland Yard, Mark Walmsley; Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Eric Stewart, Linda McCartney, "So Bad" 
Bitz: Simple Minds; The Raincoats split up, "Moving"; Carole Kenyon, "Warrior Woman", Dee C. Lee, "Felina Wow Wow"; It's Immaterial, "A Gigantic Raft (In The Philippines)"; The Trainspotters, Mike Read, "High Rise"; Kajagoogoo, "Lion's Mouth"; George Kranz, Dismal Witting, "Din Daa Daa (Trommeltanz)"; Style Council, "Cafe Bleu", "My Ever Changing Moods"; J.B.'s All-Stars, John Bradbury, "Backfield In Motion"; Billy Joel; The Clash: Paul Simenon, Pete Howard, Joe Strummer, Vince White, Nick Sheppard; BowWowWow, The Chiefs Of Relief; The Bluebells split up; Altered Images split up again; Orange Juice, "Bridge"; Gene October, Glen Matlock, "Don't Quit"; Daryl Hall and John Oates; Rolling Stones, "She Was Hot", Julien Temple; Spear Of Destiny, "Prisoner Of Love"; Debbie Harry, "Rush Rush", Giorgio Moroder, "Scarface"; Human League, Adrian Wright; Gloria Gaynor; Pale Fountains, "Unless"; Stewart Copeland, "Rumble Fish"; Frankie Goes To Hollywood, "Relax", Michael Hurll: "BBC TV believes that the lyrics of this song are sexually explicit and not suitable for viewing in family viewing time"; Dave Stewart: my five video ideas that never got used
Single reviews (Neil Tennant): Another Man - Barbara Mason; Breaking Point - Bourgie Bourgie; What Difference Does It Make? - The Smiths; Talking In Your Sleep - Romantics; Cry And Be Free - Marilyn; Strangers In The Night - Baumann; Wouldn't It Be Good - Nik Kershaw; Don't Touch Me - Hazel O'Connor; Love Sensation - Loleatta Holloway; Unless - Pale Fountains; Soul Train - Swan's Way; 99 Red Balloons - Nena; Touch - Earth Wind & Fire; No Stone Unturned - The Truth; Dream Of The West - Yip Yip Coyote; Michael Caine - Madness; Coup - 23 Skidoo; One Small Day - Ultravox
Album reviews (Johnny Black / Peter Martin / Lola Borg / Dave Rimmer / Lisa Anthony ): Sparkle In The Rain - Simple Minds; World Shut Your Mouth - Julian Cope; Moving - The Raincoats; Midnight Shift - Dislocation Dance; 1984 - Van Halen; Heaven Is Waiting - Danse Society; 4000 Weeks Holiday - Ian Dury and the Music Students; Milk And Honey - John Lennon & Yoko Ono
Other: A Fine Romance: Valentine's Day; Jim'll Fix It: Marilyn, Miranda Jardine

January 19 - February 1, 1984

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Cover: Ian McCulloch
Centrespread: Simple Minds - Speed Your Love To Me
Back cover: Frankie Goes To Hollywood
Interviews: Mike Read; John Taylor; Echo & The Bunnymen;
Lyrics: New Moon On Monday - Duran Duran; Doctor Doctor - Thompson Twins; The Killing Moon - Echo & The Bunnymen; That's Living Alright - Joe Fagin; Give Me More Time - Whitesnake; Wishful Thinking - China Crisis; Love Is A Wonderful Colour - Icicle Works; Speed Your Love To Me - Simple Minds; Sixteen - Musical Youth; Illegal Alien - Genesis; A Really Good Time - Roxy Music
Start: personal file - Holly Johnson; Barry Manilow baby photo; Sade; leather: Paul Rutherford, Holly Johnson, Freddie Mercury, Glenn Hughes (Village People), Soft Cell, Bucks Fizz, Rob Halford, Gary Numan, Steve Strange, Steve Norman 
Bitz: Ligotage, Beki Bondage, "Crime And Passion"; The Colour Field: Terry Hall, Toby Lyons, Karl Shale; Sheila Chandra, "Out On My Own"; Fashion, Mulligan, "Eye Talk", "Twilight Of The Dolls"; The Smiths, "What Difference Does It Make?"; Dead Or Alive, "I'd Do Anything"; Kate Bush; Paul Weller, Tracie, A Craze, Soul Squad; Simple Minds; ABC, "Beauty Stab"; Nik Kershaw, "Wouldn't It Be Good", "Human Racing"; Star Hits, Neil Tennant, Kimberley Leston; Reflex, "The Politics Of Dancing"; Mike Barson quits Madness; Andrew Ridgeley's five favorite cars 
Single reviews (Martyn Ware): Don't Sing - Prefab Sprout; Speed Your Love To Me - Simple Minds; Straight From The Heart - Fat Larry's Band; The Colour Field - The Colour Field; Collapsing New People - Fad Gadget; A Letter From Afar - B-Movie; Give Me More Time - Whitesnake; Stop, Look & Listen - Donna Summer; The Killing Moon - Echo & The Bunnymen; Hold On To Love - Gary Moore; Gone Daddy Gone - Violent Femmes; Future Shock - Herbie Hancock; I'd Do Anything - Dead Or Alive; Doctor Doctor - Thompson Twins; I Got The Message - Men Without Hats; Girls Just Want To Have Fun - Cyndi Lauper; Prisoner Of Love - Spear Of Destiny; Love Is Like A Battlefield - Pat Benatar; Hyper-Active! - Thomas Dolby; Hey You - Black Lace; Razor's Edge - Meat Loaf; Boys Light Up - Australian Crawl
Album reviews (Dave Rimmer / Peter Martin / Kimberley Leston): Busy Body - Luther Vandross; You Shouldn't - Nuf Bit Fish - George Clinton; Learning To Crawl - Pretenders; Rebel Yell - Billy Idol
Nights Out: Tracy Nolan meets Duran Duran
Other: puppets; fan clubs

January 5 - 18, 1984

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Cover: Eurythmics
Centrespread: The Alarm - Where Were You Hiding When The Storm Broke?
Back cover: Paul Weller reading 1984
Interviews: Soft Cell; Eurythmics; Billy Bragg; Spandau Ballet,
Lyrics: S.O.S. - ABC; Here Comes The Rain Again - Eurythmics; King Of Pain - Police; Bird Of Paradise - Snowy White; April Showers - Al Jolson; Where Were You Hiding When The Storm Broke? - The Alarm; Wonderland - Big Country; A Rockin' Good Way - Shakin' Stevens & Bonnie Tyler;
Start: personal file - James Taylor; Peter Powell, Lisa Anthony, Linda Duff, Samantha Archer, Oxford Road Show / ORS, Simple Minds, China Crisis, Pookah Makes Three; Thomas Dolby, "Hyperactive!"; The Big One: Apollo Theatre, Bill Bachley, Susannah York, Hazel O'Connor, Mari Wilson, Ian Dury, Elvis Costello, Paul Weller, Style Council, The Alarm, Mike Peters; "Sanp, Razzle & Pop": Open Eye Gallery, Liverpool, Merseybeat, Jill Furmanovsky, Steve Rapport 
Bitz: Herbie Hancock; Culture Club; Thompson Twins; Cocteau Twins; Pretenders: Chrissie Hynde, Martin Chambers, Malcolm Foster, Robbie McIntosh, "2000 Miles", "Learning To Crawl"; The Icicle Works: Chris Layhe, Chris Sharrock, Iain McNabb; Australian Crawl; David Bowie; General Public: Dave Wakeling, Ranking Roger, Stoker, Mickey Billingham, Horace Panter, Mick Jones; Simple Minds, "Sparkle In The Rain", Queen, "Radio Ga Ga"; Howard Jones; Hype [board game]; Jon Moss's five new year's resolutions
Single reviews (Ian Birch): Here Comes The Rain Again - Eurythmics; Tell Me When It's Over - Dream Syndicate; Wishful Thinking - China Crisis; Black Sheep - Vice Squad; (Feels Like) Heaven - Fiction Factory; Where Were You Hiding When The Storm Broke? - The Alarm; Wonderland - Big Country; Action - Evelyn Champagne King; Kruggerands - Andy Scott; S.O.S. - ABC; King Of Pain - The Police; Don't Box Me In - Stewart Copeland and Stanard Ridgway; Human Torch - Rick Springfield; A Rockin' Good Way - Shakin' Stevens & Bonnie Tyler; Love Is A Battlefield - Chris Norman; Independence Day - Comsat Angels; Sea Of Heartbreak - Leo Sayer; Dance Hall Days - Wang Chung
Album reviews (Claire Sheaff / Dave Rimmer / Lola Borg / Linda Duff / Lisa Anthony): Japanese Whispers - The Cure; Love How You Feel - Sharon Redd; The Power And The Glory - Jimmy Cliff; The Amazing Kamikaze Syndrome - Slade; What A Feeling - Irene Cara; Perverted By Language - The Fall; Believer - Chic
Nights Out: Robert Plant; Simple Minds; The Police
Other: Superfans: Duran Duran, Status Quo, Madness, David Bowie, Marillion, Elvis Presley, Culture Club

Smash Hits Yearbook 1984

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A big THANK YOU to everybody who visited the archive and / or liked the Facebook page during 1983 / 2023. Even bigger thanks to all of you who posted comments and wrote emails: I am *very* sorry if I have not replied to your message yet; I promise I'm working on it! And thanks for the Facebook friend requests; even if we never meet in person, I am lucky to be cyber-friends with some great people - if we aren't friends yet....what are you waiting for?!!?

Happy Christmas to all of you - and have a great 2024!!

December 22, 1983 - January 4, 1984

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Cover: Howard Jones
Centrespread: Steve Strange, Cheryl Baker, Leslie Ash, Kate Garner, Stephen Luscombe, Edwyn Collins, Feargal Sharkey, Peter Coyle, Jeffrey Daniel, Jools Holland, Smeggy, Handsome John, Rory, Paul, Maggot
Back cover: Boy George and his mum
Interviews: Howard Jones
Lyrics: Pipes Of Peace – Paul McCartney; Duck For The Oyster – Malcolm McLaren; Sweet Surrender – Rod Stewart; Read ‘Em And Weep – Barry Manilow; Metal Health – Quiet Riot; Straight Ahead – Kool & The Gang; I Can Help – Elvis Presley; Where Is My Man – Eartha Kitt
Start: personal file – Marilyn; Samantha and Julian Archer; Radio 1 Christmas party: Mike Read, Simon Bates, Dave Lee Travis, Richard Skinner, Adrian John, Mike Smith, Adrian Juste, John Peel, Gary Davies, Jimmy Savile, Andy Peebles, Tony Blackburn, Peter Powell, Janice Long, Mike Read, Anne Nightingale, Mark Page, Steve Wright; Elton John, Meat Loaf; Morrissey, Sandie Shaw, "I Don't Owe You Anything"
Bitz: Dennis Waterman, George Cole, "What Are We Going To Get 'Er Indoors?"; Grime Of The Century (100 Punk Classics)", Anagram Records; "My Oh My", Slade, "The Amazing Kamikaze Syndrome"; Vice Squad, Lia, "Black Sheep"; The Cure, "Japanese Whispers: The Cure Singles Nov '82 - Nov '83"; the five things I miss most about Lancashire - Neil Arthur; David Bowie, Aboriginal Islander Skills Development Scheme; Herbie Hancock, "Future Shock"; "Escape" story strip, Rian Hughes; Musical Youth, "16", Jody Watley; Neil Arthur, Blancmange; Eartha Kitt, "a kind of '50s David Bowie"; Flying Pickets: Rick Lloyd, David Brett, Brian Hibbard, Ken Gregson, Red Stripe, Gareth Williams; K-Tel "Doublesiders", "It's Only Rock 'N' Roll", Spectrum 48K
Nights Out: Duran Duran; Slade; Toyah; Culture Club
Other: 1983 Readers' Poll results

December 8 - 21, 1983

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Cover: Duran Duran
Centrespread: Duran Duran / Eurythmics
Back cover: Marilyn
Interviews: Nik Kershaw; Paul Young; Tina Turner; Duran Duran; Status Quo; Robert Smith
Lyrics: The Way You Are – Tears For Fears; Tell Her About It – Billy Joel; Marguerita Time – Status Quo; I Won’t Let The Sun Go Down – Nik Kershaw; Running With The Night – Lionel Richie; Many Rivers To Cross – UB40; My Oh My – Slade; Rock The Midnight – David Grant; Bark At The Moon – Ozzy Osbourne; Terry – Kirsty MacColl; My Head Is My Only House Unless It Rains – Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band; Strip – Adam Ant; You’re In My Heart – David Essex; Islands In The Stream – Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton; Rat Rapping – Roland Rat Superstar; Cold As Christmas (In The Middle Of The Year) – Elton John; Only You – Flying Pickets;
Start: personal file – Mick Talbot; Adam Ant, “Strip”, Mary Stavin; Thumb Gallery exhibition: Richard Walker, Grace Jones, “Walkin’ In The Rain”, Fraser Taylor, David Bowie, “Modern Love”; F-1 Electric, Oscar Van Gelden, Alan Greenwood, Dominic 
Bitz: "Thanks For Christmas" - Three Wise Men / XTC; "Singalong-A-Santa-Again" - Santa Claus & The Christmas Trees; "Christmas Crackers" - Mike Morton Orchestra; "Christmas Time" - Free-Flying Bagoudis; "Jingle Bell Rock" - Mike Love; "Christmas Spectre" - Jingle Belles; "It's Christmas" - Paul French; "Little Jesus" - Seven Mills School Choir; "First Snow" - Robert Sleigh; "Christmas Wrapping" - Bill Stickers; "Christmas Wrapping" - Waitresses; "What Are We Going To Get 'Er Indoors" - Dennis Waterman & George Cole; "Cold As Christmas" - Elton John; "Merry Xmas Everybody" - Slade; Culture Club, "The Electric Dream"; Thompson Twins; "Birdie Song", Tweets; "All Wrapped Up", Undertones: Feargal Sharkey, Assembly, Damian O'Neill, Michael Bradley, David Drumgold, John O'Neill, Billy Doherty; Wham!, "Club Fantastic Megamix"; Mainframe, "Tenants Of The Lattice-Work"; "Street Sounds 7", "The Dance Decade"; my six favourite expressions - Steve Wright; Paul McCartney, "Pipes Of Peace"; Charlie Gillet, "Sound Of The City"; Jamming magazine: Madness, UB40, Paul Young, Wah!; Spandau Ballet, "Live Over Britain"; Blancmange, "That's Love, That It Is", dance mix; "Nightshoot", Tricycle Theatre, Kilburn, Hazel O'Connor, Martin Rushent; Michael White, Colour Me Pop, "The Girl Who Shares My Shirt"; "BMX Boys", Danny & The Mongoose Boys"; Marilyn; The Alarm; Slade: Noddy Holder, Don Powell, Dave Hill, Jimmy Lea
Single reviews (Dave Rimmer): Strip – Adam Ant; Marguerita Time – Status Quo; Straight Ahead – Kool & The Gang; Many Rivers To Cross – UB40/Tyler – UB40; Smile – Will Powers; I’ll Let You Slide – Luther Vandross; Sweet Surrender – Rod Stewart; Sharp Dressed Man – ZZ Top; Oh My Papa – John DuPrez; In The Mood – Robert Plant; Nubian Nut – George Clinton; Standing On The Corner – The Four Corners; Why Me? – Irene Cara; Move Over Darling – Gina Lamour; The Way You Are – Tears For Fears; Animal Rhapsody – The Raincoats; Rules Of The Game – Bucks Fizz; Frankenstein 1984 – Edgar Winter; Show Me – Dislocation Dance; Too Late For Love – Def Leppard; Single Handed – Haywoode; Tell Her About It – Billy Joel
Album reviews (Mark Steels / Josephine Hocking / Ian Birch / Lola Borg / Peter Martin / Linda Duff): You Broke My Heart In 17 Places – Tracey Ullman; Ooh Wallah Wallah – King Kurt; Back To Back – Status Quo; Fire & Water – D. Greenfield & J. J. Burnel; Drawings Of O.T. – EinsturzendeNeubaten; Who’s Been Sleeping In My Brain – Alien Sex Fiend; The Power Of Love – Captain Sensible
Nights Out: Ozzy Osbourne; Cabaret Voltaire; Shakin’ Stevens; The Smiths
Other: Pop Stars and their Children

Woolworth Christmas Special 1983

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November 24 - December 7, 1983

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Cover: Jim Kerr
Centrespread: Howard Jones (What Is Love?)
Back cover: Adam Ant
Interviews: Care; Simple Minds; Thompson Twins; Frankie Goes To Hollywood; Tears For Fears; KC & The Sunshine Band; Tom Robinson; Paul McCartney
Lyrics: Victims - Culture Club; This Charming Man - The Smiths; Move Over Darling - Tracey Ullman; Flaming Sword - Care; Owner Of A Lonely Heart - Yes; Never Never - The Assembly; Let's Stay Together - Tina Turner; Love Will Tear Us Apart - Joy Division; The Same Old Song - KC & The Sunshine Band; What Is Love? - Howard Jones; On A Sunday - Nick Heyward; Thank You For The Music - Abba; Undercover Of The Night - Rolling Stones; The Rules Of The Game - Bucks Fizz; The Vow - Toyah; 2000 Miles - Pretenders; Church Of The Poison Mind - Culture Club
Start: personal file - Tracey Ullman; "vertical hold" hair: Colin (GBH), Kim Wilde, Smegs (King Kurt), Gavin Friday (Virgin Prunes), Jay Aston (Bucks Fizz), Mac (Echo & The Bunnymen), Mike Peters (Alarm), Rory (King Kurt), Limahl, Robert Smith, Tok (Tik & Tok), Nick Cave (The Immaculate Consumptive); Tina Turner, Glenn Gregory, Martyn Ware; Renee & Renato, "Jesus Loves Us All" 
Bitz: Soft Cell: David Ball, "In Strict Tempo", Virgin Prunes, Marc Almond, Immaculate Consumptive, Lydia Lunch, Clint Ruin (Foetus On Your Breath), Nick Cave; Animal Liberation Front compilation LP: Limahl & Hazel O'Connor, Paul Weller, Beki Bondage; Duran Duran; Maddy Pryor, "Photo Assignment", Steeleye Span, "Deep In The Darkest Night", Dave Stewart, Annie Lennox; King Kurt assaulted in Liverpool: John Reddington, Paul Lavender, 'Liverpool people hate the Scots, you see'; Spear Of Destiny; Yes, Jon Anderson; Abbacadabra: BA Robertson, Elaine Page; "Ziggy Stardust Live", David Bowie; Marilyn; Kirsty MacColl; Siouxsie & The Banshees, Nocturne, Albert Hall; Whitesnake tour postponed, Micky Moody; Test Department, "Compulsion/Pulsations"; Culture Club: "Victims", "Colour By Numbers", "Romance Revisted"; five strangest presents from fans - Limahl 
Single reviews (Jools Holland): Love Of The Common People - Paul Young; Thank You For The Music - Abba; What Is Love? - Howard Jones; Love's Gonna Get You - Freeez; Terry - Kirsty MacColl; Four Little Diamonds - ELO; Hold Me Now - Thompson Twins; Only You - Flying Pickets; Deep On The Darkest Night - Maddy Prior; I Just Want To Dance - Robert Marlow; Lips Can't go - Alien Sex Fiend; I Want To Be With You - Jane And Barton; Push The Boat - The Higsons; Love Is A Wonderful Colour - Icicle Works; Rat Rapping - Roland Rat Superstar; Silver Lining - Gang Of 4; Good Friday - Silver Lining; Good Friday - Modern Romance; Rock The Midnight - David Grant; Michael Barrymore - Kenny The Kangaroo; That's Love That It Is - Blancmange; Let's Stay Together - Tina Turner; I Get A Feeling - Lisa Stansfield; My Oh My - Slade; Crazy Over You - Jools Holland
Album reviews (Lisa Anthony / Peter Martin / Dave Rimmer / Linda Duff / Fred Dellar / Josephine Hocking): Touch - Eurythmics; Seven And The Ragged Tiger - Duran Duran; 90125 - Yes; The Bop Won't Stop - Shakin' Stevens; Undercover - Rolling Stones; Beauty Stab - ABC; Scandalous - Imagination; Catch As Catch Can - Kim Wilde
Nights Out: Eurythmics; Cliff Richard; Public Image Limited

Dear Catherine Wheel - another winner from Team Philpott!

One of the most endearing and enduring pop journeys of the last few years has been the epistolary odyssey undertaken by the redoubtable members of Team Philpott, who have been firing off missives to some of the most famous and infamous musicians of the last forty years, feigning confusion and asking for clarification on the lyrical content of their most memorable hits.

The enquiries are amusing in and of themselves and they are complemented perfectly by the replies from the actual popstars. This latest volume is a collection of correspondence between the Philpotts and the luminaries of the C86 generation, so readers are treated to the likes of Bis, Fuzzbox, Helen Love, The Men They Couldn't Hang, Utah Saints and many more explaining their songs to a slightly bemused older gentleman who appears to be slightly out of step with the youth of today....and yesterday.

One of the great things about Smash Hits was that the magazine took music very seriously and usually didn't take musicians seriously at all. Something similar happens in these books: the Philpotts take a comically earnest approach to the songs, whilst the musicians are great sports about deflating their own egos.

It's delightful, of course, and will remind some readers of some great bands they might have forgotten, as well as introducing other readers to some great music they haven't heard before - no finer legacy for any book. There's some talk that this will be the last in the series: a shame, if true, but a finale every bit as entertaining as all the previous volumes.

It's nearly Christmas: don't just tell your friends and family that you love them - demonstrate how much you love them by popping a copy of Dear Catherine Wheel in their stockings. As before, a donation from the sale of each book will be made to charities helping people experiencing homelessness - a cause which is even more laudable now than ever before - so Dear Catherine Wheel will ease your conscience whilst tickling your funny bone.

Get your copy of Dear Catherine Wheel here or here!

November 10 - 23, 1983

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Cover: ABC
Centrespread: Belle Stars (The Entertainer)
Back cover: Nick Heyward
Interviews: Blancmange; ABC; Julian Cope; Police fact file; The Smiths; Genesis; Eddy Grant; John Lydon
Lyrics: Hold Me Now – Thompson Twins; A Solid Bond In Your Heart – Style Council; Calling Your Name – Marilyn; Waterfront – Simple Minds; That’s Love That It Is – Blancmange; Listen To The Radio: Atmospherics – Tom Robinson; Sunshine Playroom – Julian Cope; Dancing In The Dark – Kim Wilde; Good Friday – Modern Romance; The Entertainer – Belle Stars; Love Of The Common People – Paul Young; Destination Zulu Land – King Kurt; That’s All – Genesis; Please Don’t Fall In Love – Cliff Richard; The Eternal – Joy Division; Till I Can’t Take No More – Cliff Richard; Kissing With Confidence – Will Powers
Start: personal file – Paul Young; Jeremy from Haysi Fantayzee; SPK; Steve Norman, Spandau Ballet
Bitz: Billy Joel; Gallup; The Pretenders, "2000 Miles"; Thompson Twins, Alex Sadkin; David Essex, Royal Albert Hall; Samantha Archer, Carol Singleton; Wham!; "Absolute Beginners", Colin MacInnes; "You Don't Have To Say You Love Me", Simon Napier-Bell; "Love's Gonna Get You", Freeez Arthur Baker; Style Council; Simple Minds; Michael Hemingway, RSVP, 700 replies; Toyah, "The Vow"; Eurythmics, "Touch"; David Bowie, Hammersmith Odeon; Dolby's Cube, Thomas Dolby, "Get Out Of My Mix" - "Europa And The Pirate Twins", "She Blinded Me With Science"; videosingles: David Bowie, New Edition, Style Council; Prince, 1999; compilations: Abba, Bucks Fizz, Hall & Oates, Diana Ross, Modern Romance, Cliff Richard, Sylvester, Motown, Visage; Frank Stallone, "Staying Alive", "Far From Over"; "The Bauhaus - The Singles"; Stray Cats; Geoffrey Deane, "What About Romance", Steve Levine; UB40, "Labour Of Love", "Cherry Oh Baby", Eric Donaldson, "Please Don't Make Me Cry", Winston Groovy, "Red Red Wine", Tony Tribe, "Many Rivers To Cross", Jimmy Cliff; My Heroes & Heroines - Leee John 
Single reviews (Mark Steels): Waterfront – Simple Minds; The Vow – Toyah; A Solid Bond In My Heart – Style Council; Hold Me Now – Thompson Twins; Sunshine Playroom – Julian Cope; Listen To The Radio: Atmospherics – Tom Robinson; Willow Weep For Me – Carmel; This Charming Man – The Smiths; That’s All – Genesis; Rebels Rule – Stray Cats; The Beauty Of Poison – Specimen; Union Sundown – Bob Dylan; Screaming Skull – Fleshtones; Never Never – The Assembly; What About Romance – Geoffrey Deane; Really Glad You Came – Ian Dury; Owner Of A Lonely Heart – Yes; Relax – Frankie Goes To Hollywood; Undercover Of The Night – Rolling Stones; White Lines (Don’t Do It) – Grandmaster & Melle Mel; The Lifeboat Party – Kid Creole & the Coconuts
Album reviews (Ian Birch / Fred Dellar / Peter Martin / Mark Ellen / Josephine Hocking / Peter Stockton / Claire Sheaff): Strip – Adam Ant; Dancing For Mental Health – Will Powers; Rhythm Of Youth – Men Without Hats; Dreams Less Sweet – Psychic TV; Can’t Slow Down – Lionel Richie; Pipes Of Peace – Paul McCartney; Play Dirty – Girlschool; Head Over Heels – Cocteau Twins; Soul Mining – The The
Nights Out: Musical Youth; King Kurt

October 27 - November 9, 1983

(click on the image to see the full issue)

Cover: Roddy Frame
Centrespread: Limahl (Only For Love)
Back cover: Tracey Ullman
Interviews: Siouxsie Sioux; Aztec Camera; Marilyn; King Kurt; UB40; Madness
Lyrics: Right By My Side – Eurythmics; Superstar – Lydia Murdock; The Safety Dance – Men Without Hats; Mess Of The Blues – Status Quo; Uptown Girl – Billy Joel; Oblivious – Aztec Camera; Sister Surprise – Gary Numan; Cry Just A Little Bit – Shakin’ Stevens; Puss ‘N’ Boots – Adam Ant; I Made It Through The Rain – Barry Manilow; Only For Love – Limahl; Synchronicity II – The Police; Sun And The Rain – Madness; That Was Then But This Is Now – ABC; Working With Fire And Steel – China Crisis; New Dimension – Imagination
Start: personal file - Howard Jones; Simon Le Bon, "Union Of The Snake", Simon Milne; Madonna, "Lucky Star", John "Jellybean" Benitez, Freddie De Mann; Saturday Superstore, Boy George, Claire Brownjohn 
Bitz: Men Without Hats: Ivan, Colin, Stephen Doroschuk, "The Safety Dance", Tim Pope, Al McDowell; Royal Variety Show: Rock Steady Crew, Twiggy, Gene Kelly; Steve Levine to produce Beach Boys; David Bowie to play Abraham Lincoln?; ABC, "Beauty Stab"; Screen 3; Siouxsie live LP and video, Albert Hall; Wham! £12.50 pocket money; Wham tour sponsored by Fila; Musical Youth tour sponsored by Nike; David Sylvian, Mark King; Bananarama in Japan; Paul McCartney gives Stevie Wonder a £50,000 bed; Simon LeBon receives 65-foot letter from two Sheffield girls; Pete Townshend on the cover of Time: "I'd much rather be on the cover of Smash Hits"; Virgin "Rock Yearbook Volume IV", Omnibus "Rock's Family Trees", Pete Frame; The Big Store: Jimmy, Tich, Tina, "The Price Of A Secret"; Style Council, "A Solid Bond In Your Heart"; Duran Duran; "Pop Goes Guy Fawkes": Spandau Ballet, Culture Club, Carmel, Roman Holliday, Gary Byrd; Lydia Murdock, "Superstar"; ABC; Revillos, "Bitten By A Love Bug"; Billy Idol, "Dancing With Myself", Tobe Hooper; Ultravox, "Monument"; Eddy Grant, "Going For Broke"; The Undertones compilation; Tom Robinson, "Listen To The Radio: Atmospherics", Peter Gabriel; five most embarrassing moments - Nick Heyward; Will Powers, Lynn Goldsmith, "Kissing With Confidence", Carly Simon; New Order, "Blue Monday" the biggest selling 12" of all time; The Group: Mrs Julie Fletcher, "Technology", Thomas Dolby, Mike Hedges; Paul Young
Single reviews (Peter Martin): That Was Then But This Is Now - ABC; Right By Your Side - Eurythmics; Calling Your Name - Marilyn; Only For Love - Limahl; Oblivious - Aztec Camera; New Dimension - Imagination; Mess Of The Blues - Status Quo; Sister Surprise - Gary Numan; Cry Just A Little Bit - Shakin' Stevens; Flaming Sword - Care; Love Will Tear Us Apart - Michael John / Love Will Tear Us Apart - Joy Division; Puss 'n' Boots - Adam Ant; The Entertainer - The Belle Stars; Till I Can't Take Love No More - Eddy Grant; 007 - Musical Youth; Upfront - Diana Ross; She's Got Sex / Jealous Love - JoBoxers; White Man's Hut - It's Immaterial; Synchronicity II - The Police; Metal Dance - SPK; Micro Kid - Level 42; Sun And The Rain - Madness
Album reviews (Ian Birch / Lisa Anthony / Mark Steels / Peter Martin / Josephine Hocking / Linda Duff / Dave Rimmer): North Of A Miracle - Nick Heyward; Love Is The Law - Toyah; Different Style! - Musical Youth; Rhythm Of Live - Paul Haig; Gonna Get You - Freeez; Out Of This World - Shakatak; David Grant - David Grant; Wild Style - Various Artists; Working With Fire And Steel - China Crisis
Nights Out: Depeche Mode; Wham!
Other: Five Years Of Smash Hits

October 13 - 26, 1983

(click on the image to see the full issue)

Cover: Jimmy The Hoover
Centrespread: The Cure (The Lovecats)
Back cover: Paul Young
Interviews: Lotus Eaters; Jimmy The Hoover; Adam Ant; The Alarm; Paul Haig; Gary Numan; Cliff Richard
Lyrics: The Union Of The Snake – Duran Duran; Say Say Say – Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson; (Hey You) The Rock Steady Crew – The Rock Steady Crew; You Don’t Need Someone New – Lotus Eaters; Please Don’t Make Me Cry – UB40; Superman – Black Lace; The Boxer – Simon And Garfunkel; Midnight At The Lost And Found – Meat Loaf; Sixty Eight Guns – The Alarm; Kiss The Bride – Elton John; Kill Me Kwik – Jimmy The Hoover; In Your Eyes – George Benson; The Lovecats – The Cure; All Night Long (All Night) – Lionel Richie; Over And Over – Shalamar
Start: personal file – David Grant; Bucks Fizz, "London Town" video shoot; Culture Club, Jon Moss hurts his finger; The Assembly: Vince Clark, E.C. Radcliffe, Feargal Sharkey; Bowie World Convention '83: "It's utter rubbish" 
Bitz: Elton John: "Kiss The Bride", "Song For Guy", "Ego"'; Time Zone: "Wildstyle", Rusty Egan, Afrika Bambaata, Grand Mixer D.S.T., Paul "Groucho" Smykle, Francois Kevorkian; Madness, "Sun And The Rain"; Duran Duran, "Seven And The Ragged Tiger"; Julian Cope, "Stop The World I Want To Get Back On"; David Bowie asks Suggs for autograph; King Kurt at Brixton Fridge - audience males must wear skirts; Gary Numan, Joe Hubbard, "slapping bass", Nick Beggs; Jeremiah Fantayzee; Lotus Eaters, "First Picture Of You" - most played record on Radio 1 ever; Julian Lennon signs to Charisma; General Public: Dave Wakeling, Rankin Roger - and Mick Jones?; The Cure, "The Lovecats" - 'It's the final instalment of a trio of fantasy singles born out of one of my cat jazz parties on Brighton Pier"; Tracey Ullman, "Three Of A Kind", "Say Goodbye To Broad Street", "The Grass Widow", Snoo Wilson, Royal Court Theatre; Imagination, "New Dimension", "Scandalous"; Marilyn; Carmel, "Willow Weep For Me"; ABC, "That Was Then But This Is Now"; Hot Chocolate; Space Monkey, "Can't Stop Running", Paul Goodchild; Kirsty MacColl, "They Don't Know", "Terry"; The Specimen, "The Beauty Of Poison"; "Monster Halloween Ball", Lyceum Ballroom: Lords Of The New Church, Beast, Flesh For Lulu, Crown Of Thorns; Gary Numan, "Sister Surprise"; Street Sounds, "Electro", Newcleus, "Jam On Revenge", G-Force, "Feel The Force"; Dee Harris, Rick Wright; Sex Gang Children, "Mauritia Maye"; The Alarm; The Truth; all time top ten - Peter Hook
Single reviews (Ian Birch): The Lovecats – The Cure; Please Don’t Make Me Cry – UB40; Gypsy Girl – Cruella De Ville; Kiss The Bride – Elton John; Till You Come Back To Me – Leo Sayer; Can’t Shake Loose – Agnetha Faltskog; So Tired – Haircut One Hundred; Party Games – Hey! Elastica; Me Or You? – Killing Joke; Over And Over – Shalamar; Out Of This World – Shakatak; You Don’t Need Someone New – Lotus Eaters; Be-Pop – Antena; Joe Orton’s Wedding – David J; Say Say Say – Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson; Working With Fire And Steel – China Crisis; Voices – Passion Puppets; The Union Of The Snake – Duran Duran; I Need You Tonite / Don’t You Worry Bout A Thing – A Certain Ratio; Love The One You’re With – Steve Grant With Tight Fit
Album reviews (Peter Martin / Lisa Anthony / Ian Birch / Linda Duff / Claire Sheaff / Jo-Anne Smith): Colour By Numbers – Culture Club; Cookin’ On The Roof – Roman Holliday; Genesis – Genesis; Live In Tokyo – Public Image Limited; Forrest – Forrest; The Best Kept Secret – Sheena Easton; The Golden Section – John Foxx
Nights Out: Siouxsie & The Banshees; Paul Young; The Rock Steady Crew
Other: The Things People Said: Thirty Years Of Trendy Talk

The first issue of Just Seventeen, given away with this issue of Smash Hits:



(click on the image to see the full issue)