December 25, 1980 - January 7, 1981

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Cover: Joe Strummer
Centrespread: Boomtown Rats
Back cover: Siouxsie
Interviews: Clash; Beatles; Robert Palmer
Lyrics: Land Of Hope And Glory – Madness; That’s Too Bad – Tubeway Army; Landlord – Police; News Of The World – The Jam; Johnny Was – Stiff Little Fingers; Twist And Crawl – The Beat; Bang Bang – Squeeze; Hammer Horror – Kate Bush; Wild West Hero – Electric Light Orchestra; With A Little Help From My Friends – Beatles; Love Is The Drug – Roxy Music; New Face In Hell – The Fall; Diamond Dogs – David Bowie; Whizz Kids – Undertones; I’m Just Looking – Dexy’s Midnight Runners; Contact In Red Square – Blondie
Bitz: The Wit And Wisdom Of Ronald Reagan (Stiff); Status Quo tour; Phil Collins; The Beat, Anti-Nuclear Campaign; Led Zeppelin; Boomtown Rats tour; personal file: Jona Lewie; John Lennon; Madness, Chris Foreman, Lee Thompson, Moinul Islan; all time top ten: Hugh Cornwell; Bruce Springsteen; Echo & the Bunnymen; Debbie Harry, Union City
Independent Singles (Red Starr): Colour – Delta 5 (Rough Trade); Eugene / Tame The Neighbour – Essential Logic (Rough Trade); At Last I’m Free / Strange Fruit (Robert Wyatt); This Is Love / Yanks – The Gist (Rough Trade)
Other: Strange Tales From A Music Paper

December 11 - 24, 1980

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Cover: Spandau Ballet
Centrespread: Bow Wow Wow
Back cover: Adam & the Ants
Interviews: Spandau Ballet; Dead Kennedys; Stray Cats
Lyrics: De Do Do Do De Da Da Da – Police; This Wreckage – Gary Numan; Runaway Boys – Stray Cats; Hungry Heart – Bruce Springsteen; December Will Be Wonderful Again – Kate Bush; Israel – Siouxsie & the Banshees; Lorraine – Bad Manners; Stop The Cavalry - Jona Lewie; Celebrate – Kool & the Gang; Sexy Eiffel Towers, Sun Sea & Piracy, Uomo Sex El Apache, Louis Quatorze, Gold He Said - Bow Wow Wow; Too Nice To Talk To – The Beat; Woman In Winter – Skids; Ant Music – Adam & the Ants; Boys Don’t Cry – The Cure; Rock ‘n’ Roll Ain’t Rock Pollution – AC/DC; Whip It - Devo
Bitz: Elvis Costello. 10 Bloody Marys & 10 How’s Your Fathers; Gary Numan; Undertones; Toyah Willcox documentary; Bad Manners, Lorraine; Max Splodge; Police; Chords, Billy Hassett; Rock Yearbook 1981; Pretenders; Stephanie Mills; La Toya Jackson; Bow Wow Wow tour; Jools Holland & The Millionaires, Martin T. Deegan, Mike Paice, Pino Palladino; Generation X; The Monster Club; Dexy’s Midnight Runners; all time top ten: Hazel O’Connor
Single reviews (Ronnie Gurr): Antmusic – Adam and the Ants; De Do Do Do De Da Da Da – Police; The Call-Up – Clash; Do Nothing – Specials; Heartbreak Hotel – Jackson; Keep It Down (Inferiority Part One) – Dexy’s Midnight Runners; Take This Town – XTC; Dear God – Elton John; Guilty – Barbra Streisand and Barry Gibb; Lies – Status Quo; Flash – Queen; Hawks And Doves – Neil Young; Hey Nineteen – Steely Dan; December Will Be Magic Again – Kate Bush; Christmas Day – Squeeze; I Believe In Father Christmas – Greg Lake; Mary’s Boy Child – Boney M; Will He Kiss Me Tonight? - Lena Zavaroni; What Your Mama Don’t See – Gary Glitter; My Flamingo - Subterraneans
Album reviews (Beverly Hillier / David Hepworth / Deanne Pearson / Mark Ellen / Red Starr): Feels Like I’m In Love – Kelly Marie; Sons And Lovers – Hazel O’Connor; Aim For The Feet – The Hitmen; The Black Album – The Damned; Visage – Viasge; Live In Belfast – Rowan Atkinson; Gaucho – Steely Dan; Toyah! Toyah! Toyah! – Toyah; Loonee Tunes! – Bad Manners; Laughter – Ian Dury And The Blockheads
Independent Singles (Red Starr): Bullshit Detector (Crass Records); Rival Tribal Rebel Revel – Crass (Toxic Graffit fanzine); Simply Thrilled Honey / Breakfast Time – Orange Juice (Postcard); It’s Kinda Funny / Final Request – Josef K (Postcard); Tou Les Soirs – Delmontes (Rational); You Know What You Told Me / Production Prevention – Frantic Elevators; Hobo Joe / Stars Of The Bars – Holly (Erics)
Other: Strange Tales From A Music Paper; Auntie Iris Agony Advice

November 27 - December 10, 1980

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Cover: Toyah
Centrespread: UB40
Back cover: Madness
Interviews: Toyah; Not The 9 O’Clock News; Motorhead
Lyrics: To Cut A Long Story Short – Spandau Ballet; Elstree – Buggles; Embarrassment – Madness; Super Trouper – Abba; I’m Coming Out – Diana Ross; Bourgie Bourgie – Gladys Knight & The Pips; Women In Uniform – Iron Maiden; I Could Be So Good For You – Dennis Waterman; Spending The Night Together – Dr. Hook; Lonely Together – Barry Manilow; Treason – Teardrop Explodes; Do You Feel My Love – Eddy Grant; The Call Up – The Clash; Looking For Clues – Robert Palmer
Bitz: Undertones tour; Dexy’s Midnight Runners, Swinging Cats, Bodysnatchers, Teardrop Explodes; Joe Jackson, V.I.P.s, Boomtown Rats; XTC tour; Queen, Flash Gordon; Revillos; Madness, Chas Smash’s tonsils; Malcolm McLaren, Chicken magazine, Fred Vermorel, Bow Wow Wow; Hugh Cornwell, Inside Out; Kool & the Gang, Robert Bell; Skids tour, Jill Mumford; Human League, Phil Oakey, Adrian Wright, Ian Burden, Joanne and Suzanne; SexPistols; Siouxsie & the Banshees fan club; Abba For The Record, John Tobler; The Elephant Man; Rock Stars In Their Underpants, Paula Yates; Slade, Darts; all time top ten: Kate Bush
Single reviews (Mark Ellen): England – Angelic Upstarts; Banana Republic – Boomtown Rats; Tell Laura I Love Her – Billy Connolly; Ballad Of The Good Luck Charm – Larry Hagman; Tomorrow Was The Hereafter – Stranglers; Romeo And Juliet – Dire Straits; The Tide Is High – Paragons; Nasty Little Green Men – Classix Nouveaux; Original Sin / Legion – Theatre Of Hate; Stop The Cavalry – Jona Lewie;
Album reviews (Beverly Hillier / Geoffrey Deane / Mike Stand / David Hepworth / Steve Taylor): Round Trip – Light Of The World; AutoAmerican – Blondie; Translucence – Polystyrene; Super Trouper – Abba; Double Fantasy – John Lennon & Yoko Ono; Sector 27 – Sector 27; Sound Affects – The Jam; The Official Secrets Act – M; Foolish Behaviour – Rod Stewart; Paris Au Printemps – Public Image Limited
Independent Singles (Red Starr): Cruising Missiles – Drinking Electricity (Pop: Aural); Rain Song / Hesitate – Boots For Dancing (Pop: Aural); First Night On / From The Top – Restricted Code ((Pop: Aural); Lubricate Your Living Room – The Fire Engines (Pop: Aural); Vampire / Mumbo Jumbo – Woodhead Monroe (Oval); Danced / Ghosts / Neon Womb – Toyah (Safari); Seconds Too Late / Control Addict – Cabaret Voltaire (Rough Trade)
Independent Albums: From Brussels With Love – A Certain Ratio, Durutti Column, Bruce Gilbert & Graham Lewis, Martin Hannett, Gavin Bryars, Michael Nyman, Harold Budd, John Foxx, Richard Jobson, Brian Eno, Jeanne Moreau (Les Disques du Crepuscule / Rough Trade)
Other: Strange Tales From A Music Paper; High Horse – David Hepworth

November 13 - 26, 1980

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Cover: Debbie Harry
Centrespread: Rod Stewart
Back cover: Ultravox
Interviews: Blondie; The Jacksons; Sheena Easton
Lyrics: Same Old Scene – Roxy Music; Ace Of Spades – Motorhead; Kill The Poor – Dead Kennedys; Party In Paris – UK Subs; Sueperman’s Big Sister – Ian Dury & the Blockheads; Lovely One – Jacksons; Loving Just For Fun – Kelly Marie; Earth Dies Screaming – UB40; Never Knew Love Like This Before – Stephanie Mills; The Night The Wine & The Roses – Liquid Gold; Concrete Jungle – Specials; Don’t Walk Away – Electric Light Orchestra; Passion – Rod Stewart; Flight 19 – B.A. Robertson; Banana Republic – Boomtown Rats
Bitz: Ian Dury & the Blockheads tour; B-52’s; Basement 5; Dindisc; Simple Minds; Bob Marley; PiL, Image Publique S.A., Martin Atkins; Brian Brain; Talking Heads; Secret Affair, Seb Shelton; Human League split, British Electric Foundation; Babylon soundtrack; Dennis Bovell; The Twelve Days of Madness; Miniatures, Pipe Records, Roger McGough, Martin Chambers, Andy Partridge; all time top ten: Pete Wylie; Steve Peregrine Took, Paul Kantner, Tom Robinson, Mo-Dettes
Single reviews (Mike Stand): Green Green Grass Of Home – John Otway; Bright Eyes – Matthew Butler; Strobe Light – B-52s; Invitation What Have We Got To Lose – Sector 27; Whip It – Devo; Women In Uniform – Iron Maiden; Classic Remains – Colin Newman; Dark Companion – Tuxedo Moon; Stompin’ With The Cat – Fabulous Poodles; Runaway Boys – Stray Cats; Tender Falls The Rain – Randy Crawford; Hungry Heart – Bruce Springsteen; Whispering Waltzes – Shona Lang; It Shows In Your Face – The Gas; Victim Of Time – Reckless; Nobody Takes Me Seriously – Split Enz; Peaches ‘N’ Cream / Foxy – Supercharge; One Trick Pony – Paul Simon
Album reviews (David Hepworth / Beverly Hillier / Mark Ellen / Steve Taylor): The Wanderer – Donna Summer; Luminous Basement – Tourists; All Shook Up – Cheap Trick; QE2 – Mike Oldfield; Hotter Than July – Stevie Wonder; The Story So Far – The Mo-Dettes; Chas Jankel – Chas Jankel; Jeopardy – The Sound; Gentleman Take Polaroids – Japan; Kings Of The Wild Frontier – Adam & the Ants
Independent Singles (Red Starr): Explain / Let Me Feel It – The R.B.’s (Phoenix); Politics – Girls At Our Best (Record Records); Seven Minutes – Wah! Heat (Inevitable)
Independent Albums (Mike Stand): In The Flat Field – Bauhaus (4AD)
Other: Strange Tales From A Music Paper

October 30 - November 12, 1980

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Cover: Japan (David Sylvian)
Centrespread: Status Quo
Back cover: Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
Interviews: Japan; Hazel O’Connor; Adam & the Ants
Lyrics: The Tide Is High – Blondie; Towers Of London – XTC; Dancing With Myself – Generation X; Gentlemen Take Polaroids – Japan; One Man Woman – Sheena Easton; Give Me An Inch – Hazel O’Connor; La-Di-Da- Sad Café; In My Street – The Chords; Let Me Talk – Earth Wind & Fire; I Need Your Lovin’ – Teena Marie; All Out Of Love – Air Supply; Passing Strangers – Ultravox; Heroes – The Stranglers; Whose Problem – Motels; Fashion – David Bowie
Bitz: books: Elvis – The Final Years (Jerry Hopkins), Mixed Up, Shook Up (Riot Stories), The Jam: The Modern World By Numbers (Eel Pie), The Boomtown Rats: Having Their Picture Taken (Peter Stone), The Clash: Before And After (Pennie Smith); Charly Records compilation LPs, Motown Early Years LPs; Brum Beat Live At The Barrel Organ; nuptial news: Jane Mo-dette and Woody Madness, Graham Parker and Jolie, Therese and David Dollar; LKJ in Dub; Nash The Slash; Spandau Ballet; the Selecter; Air Supply; The Stranglers, Hugh Cornwell, Inside Information; all time top ten: Tom Robinson
Single reviews (Mark Ellen): Terry Keeps His Clips On – Vivian Stanshall; Ai No Corrida – Chas Jankel; Expertise – The Books; Too Many Cooks In The Kitchen – The Colonel; Party In Paris – U.K. Subs; Mr. Jones – Psychedelic Furs; Meltdown With The Ramones – The Ramones; Strange Thing – Buzzcocks; Mr X – Pauline Murray and the Invisible Girls; Into The Lens – Yes / Some Are Born – John Anderson; She’s In Love With Mystery – Thompson Twins; Dark Park Creeping – Mo-dettes; I Don’t Want My Body – Piranhas; Teacher Teacher - Rockpile
Album reviews (David Hepworth / Steve Taylor / Bev Hillier / Mark Ellen): Remain In Light – Talking Heads; Love Zombies – Monochrome Set; Chinatown – Thin Lizzy; Faces – Earth Wind and Fire; Marie Marie – Shakin Stevens; Just Supposin’ – Status Quo; Making Movies – Dire Straits; Organisation – Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark; A-Z – Colin Newman
Independent Singles (Mike Stand): I Confess – Dorothy (Industrial); In The Stars – Witchfynde (Rondelet); I Wanna Be A Detective – Brooklyn (Rondelet); Following You – The Fans (Fried Egg); Thinking Of You – Hot Snax (Zuppe Parese); Master Mind – Mikey Dread (Dread At The Controls); Precinct – The Cravats; Hungry Or Angry – Medium Medium
Independent Albums (Mike Stand): Killing Joke – Killing Joke (EG); Fireside Favourites – Fad Gadget (Mute); Even When I’m Not – Harry Kakoulli (Oval); Misty In Roots (People Unite); Wanna Buy A Bridge (Rough Trade); That’s What I Like About Me – Eric Random (New Hormones)
Other: Strange Tales From A Music Paper

October 16 - 29, 1980

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Cover: The Police
Centrespread: Madness & the Mo-dettes
Back cover: Kate Bush
Interviews: The Police; The Tourists; The Teardrop Explodes
Lyrics: 1-2-3 – The Professionals; Trouble – Gillan; What You’re Proposing – Status Quo; Gotta Pull Myself Together – The Nolans; A Woman In Love – Barbra Streisand; Casanova – Coffee; History Of The World Part 1 – The Damned; Dog Eat Dog – Adam & the Ants; When You Ask About Love – Matchbox; Why Do Lovers Break Each Other’s Hearts? – Showaddywaddy; I Don’t Want To Go To Chelsea – Elvis Costello & the Attractions; You’re Lying – Linx; When I Dream – Teardrop Explodes; Goodbye Civilian – Skids; Miles Away – John Foxx
Bitz: Undertones; Rod Stewart; PiL; Malcolm Owen; Queen; Hazel O’Connor & Megahype; Joe Strummer, Lee Dorsey; Cheap Trick, Tom Petersen; Dance Craze; John Lennon & Yoko Ono, Double Fantasy; Linx, David Grant, Sketch; Moondogs, Andrew Loog Oldham; Stray Cats; Trojan Records; Coffee, Leonora Dee Bryant, Glenda Hester, Elaine Sims; Tiger Lily, Dennis Leigh, John Foxx; Pauline Murray; Splodgenessabounds; The Elephant Man, David Bowie; all time top ten: Julian Cope
Single reviews (Steve Taylor): The Puppet – Echo and the Bunnymen; Gentlemen Take Polaroids – Japan; The Swimmer – The Passions; Nice Age – Yellow Magic Orchestra; Talk In Toytown – Polystyrene; Army Dreamers – Kate Bush; I Like Chinese – Monty Python; Monkey Jive – Tiger Lily; Touch And Go – The Cars; Who’s Gonna Tell Mary? – Moondogs; Dancing With Myself – Gen X; Move On Up – Flying Lizards; Apocalypso – Monochrome Set; Towers Of London - XTC
Album reviews (Bev Hillier / Red Starr / David Hepworth): Triumph – The Jacksons; Midnite Dynamos – Matchbox; Seconds Of Pleasure – Rockpile; Behind Closed Doors – Secret Affair; Fancy Footwork – The Dance Band; Imagination Camouflage – Jimmy Pursey; Beat Crazy – Joe Jackson; Kilimanjaro – Teardrop Explodes; The River – Bruce Springsteen
Independent News: The Slits; Factory Records, Joy Division, A Certain Ratio, Crispy Ambulance, Durutti Column, Kevin Hewick, Blurt, The Royal Family & The Poor; New Order; Another Pretty Face; Red Beat (Malicious Damage); The Four Be Twos, The Bollocks Brothers; Faulty Record, Alternative Hits, Chelsea, Snappy Turns, Mark Perry
Other: The Smash Hits Rock And Roll O Level; Strange Tales From A Music Paper

October 2 - 15, 1980

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Cover: Gary Numan
Centrespread: Paul Weller
Back cover: Robert Palmer
Interviews: Gary Numan, Rockpile, Bad Manners
Lyrics: Enola Gay – Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark; I Got You – Split Enz; The Quarter Moon – The VIPs; I Told You So – The Tourists; My Old Piano – Diana Ross; If You’re Looking For A Way Out – Odyssey; D.I.S.C.O. – Ottawan; Three Little Birds – Bob Marley & The Wailers; Amigo – Black Slate; You Shook Me All Night Long – AC/DC; Another One Bites The Dust – Queen; White Riot – The Clash; Special Brew – Bad Manners; Temporary Secretary – Paul McCartney; Killer On The Loose – Thin Lizzy
Single reviews (David Hepworth): Rock Hard – Suzi Quatro; Monkey Suit – Plasmatics; Stoking Up The Fires Of Hell – Quartz; The History Of The World Part 1 – Damned; When You Ask About Love – Matchbox; The Wanderer – Donna Summer; All Along The Watchtower – Jimi Hendrix; Baby It’s You – Dolly Mixtures; Modern Romance – Modern Romance; Trouble – Gillan; Waiting For The Weekend – Vapors; Keep On Working – Pete Townshend
Album reviews (David Hepworth / Bev Hillier / Red Starr / Mark Ellen / Ian Cranna): Zenyatta Mondatta – Police; The Piranhas – The Piranhas; Trance And Dance – Martha & The Muffins; The Absolute Game – Skids; Waiting For A Miracle – Comsat Angels; Shot In The Dark – The Inmates; More Specials – The Specials; Empires And Dance – Simple Minds; Scary Monsters – David Bowie
Independent Singles: Can’t Look Straight / Flash Cards – Smega / five “songs” by Non (Mute); Fireside Favourites / Insecticide – Fad Gadget (Mute); Requiem / Change – Killing Joke (Malicious Damage)
Independent feature: Josef K, Malcolm Ross, Paul Haig, David Weddell, Ronnie Torrance
Other: Strange Tales From A Music Paper

September 18 - October 1, 1980

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Cover: The Skids
Centrespread: The Barracudas
Back cover: The Piranhas
Interviews: The Skids; XTC
Lyrics: Stereotype – Specials; Baggy Trousers – Madness; Don’t Stand So Close To Me – Police; Are Everything – Buzzcocks; Two Little Boys – Splodgenessabounds; One Day I’ll Fly Away – Randy Crawford; Masterblaster (Jammin’) – Stevie Wonder; I Owe You One – Shalamar; If It’s Alright With You Baby – Korgis; It’s Only Love – Elvis Presley; Rave On – Buddy Holly; Johnny And Mary – Robert Palmer; Misunderstanding – Genesis; Searching - Change
Bitz: Elton John; The Selector; Bruce Springsteen; Zoot Money; Kiss; Talking Heads; Andy Partridge, Sting, Urgh!; Lene Lovich; Robert Palmer; Jimi Hendrix; Rolling Stones; Elvis Costello and the Attractions; all time top ten: Barracudas; Modern Romance; Yellow Magic Orchestra; Toots and the Maytals; Shalamar; Rock Against Racism; Blondie, Mike Chapman; Rockpile; Oval Records, Local Heroes, Harry Kakoulli; Pink Floyd
Single reviews (Mark Ellen): Lucky Man – Jimmy Pursey; Maladie D’Amour – Kid Creole & The Coconuts; Damaged Goods – Gang Of Four; Hard Hat Boogie – Andy Fairweather Low; The Affectionate Punch – Associates; Drug Train – Cramps; Masterblaster (Jammin’) – Stevie Wonder; Baby Ride Easy – Carlene Carter; La-Di-Da – Sad Café; Heyday – The Sound; Another One Bites The Dust – Queen; Maybe One Time – Jim Skafish; Being Boiled – Human League; When I Dream – Teardrop Explodes; So Much In Love – Inmates; Arrival – Mike Oldfield; Suburban Dream – Martha and the Muffins; I’ll Get Even With You - Foreigner
Album reviews (Bev Hillier / Red Starr / David Hepworth / Ian Cranna / Linda Duff): Signing Off – UB40; Telekon – Gary Numan; I’m No Hero – Cliff Richard; Rev Up! – Revillos; Clues – Robert Palmer; Hanx! – Stiff Little Fingers; Panorama – The Cars; A Case Of The Shakes – Doctor Feelgood; Never For Ever – Kate Bush; Black Sea - XTC
Independent Singles (Red Starr): Totally Wired – Fall (Rough Trade); I’m On A Rocket – Harry Kakoulli (Oval); Johnny Runs For Paragoric / Take Me To The Cinema– Exploding Seagulls (Fried Egg); Countdown EP – Stingrays (Fried Egg); Original Mixed Up Kid / Unofficial Secrets – Various Artists (Fried Egg); This Age / Suicide – Observers (S+T)
Independent Albums (Red Starr): Fresh Fruit For Rotting Vegetables – Dead Kennedys (Cherry Red)
Other: Strange Tales From A Music Paper; Motown

September 4 - 17, 1980

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Cover: Ian Dury
Centrespread: Dexy’s Midnight Runners
Back cover: B52s
Interviews: Ian Dury, Grace Jones
Lyrics: West One – The Ruts; Eighth Day – Hazel O’Connor; Circus Games – Skids; I Want To Be Straight – Ian Dury; Paranoid – Black Sabbath; United – Judas Priest; Biko – Peter Gabriel; Can’t Stop The Music – Village People; Marie Marie – Shakin’ Stevens; It’s Still Rock And Roll To Me – Billy Joel; Good Sculptures – Rezillos; Sartorial Eloquence – Elton John; Dreamin’ – Cliff Richard; Summer Fun – Barracudas; Sound Of Confusion – Secret Affair
Bitz: David Bowie, The Elephant Man; Madness, Baggy Trousers; Police, Zenyatta Mondatta; Jam tour, Sound Affects; Brothers Johnson; Mick Jones, Ellen Foley; John Lennon; Revillos; all-time top ten: Orchestral Maneouvres in the Dark; Pauline Murray, John Cooper Clarke, Invisible Girls; Pretenders tour; Clive Gregsen, Any Trouble; Gary Numan, Robert Palmer; The Rumour, The Attractions; Squeeze, Jools Holland’s last gig, Elvis Costello; Secret Affair; Rachel Sweet; Locksmith
Single reviews (Deanne Pearson): Hungry For Love – Revillos; Two Little Boys – Splodgenessabounds; Are Everything / Why She’s A Girl From The Chainstore – Buzzcocks; Generals And Majors – XTC; Whose Problem? – Motels; Controversial Subject / Black & White – The The; Wayward Child – Rory Gallagher; Robots Dance – Classic Nouveaux; Peaches - Darts
Album reviews (Linda Duff / Bev Hillier / David Hepworth): Drama – Yes; On The Riviera – Gibson Brothers; Crimes Of Passion – Pat Benatar; Wild Planet – B-52’s; World War III – Mikey Dread; One Trick Pony – Paul Simon; The Affectionate Punch – The Associates; A – Jethro Tull; Live At The Marquee – Nine Below Zero
Independent Singles (Red Starr): Lovesick / Blue Boy – Orange Juice (Postcard); Radio Drill Time – Josef K (Postcard); Die Todten Reyten Schnell / Jesus Had A P.A. – The Prats (Dada); Radio Iceland / Do The Executive – Those Intrinsic Intellectuals (Fault Line); Are You Glad To Be In America? – James Blood Ulmer (Rough Trade); Limited Entertainment – Glaxo Babies (Y Records); Let Bygones Be Bygone – The Janet And Johns (Vindaloo)
Independent Albums (Mike Stand): Jane From Occupied Europe – Swell Maps (Rather / Rough Trade)
Other: Strange Tales From A Music Paper; the charts

August 21 - September 3, 1980

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Cover: The Beat
Centrespread: Roxy Music
Back cover: Bow Wow Wow
Interviews: The Beat; The Piranhas; Joan Armatrading
Lyrics: Start! – The Jam; Best Friend / Stand Down Margaret – The Beat; Tom Hark – Piranhas; Funkin’ For Jamaica – Tom Browne; A Walk In The Park – Nick Straker Band; The Whisper – Selector; Away – Swinging Cats; Feels Like I’m In Love – Kelly Marie; You’ve Got To Be A Hustler – Sue Wilkinson; Give Me Back My Man – B52’s; Sister Europe – Psychedelic Furs; Another Day Another Girl – Lambrettas; Free Me – Roget Daltrey; Kings Of The Wild Frontier – Adam & the Ants; I Die You Die – Gary Numan
Bitz: Gary Numan; Joe Strummer; Sue Wilkinson; The Skids; Jools Holland, Squeeze; Ray Lowry; XTC; Splodgenessabounds; Debbie Harry; Roger Daltrey, McVicar; Kelly Marie; Jah Wobble, PiL; Gary Glitter; Joe Jackson; The Police; Nick Straker; The Ruts; Ranking Roger’s all time top ten; The Passions; Doctor Feelgood; Cheap Trick
Single reviews (David Hepworth): All The Way From America – Joan Armatrading; Start! – The Jam; Boulevard – Jackson Browne; Put Me In The Picture – Merton Parkas; Circus Games – The Skids; Bankrobber – The Clash; Best Friend – The Beat; Train To Skaville – Selector; I Want To Be Straight – Ian Dury and the Blockheads; Sartorial Eloquence – Elton John; I Die You Die – Gary Numan
Album reviews (Bev Hillier / Red Starr / David Hepworth): Q Tips – Q Tips; S.O.S. Band – S.O.S. Band; Breaking Glass – Hazel O’Connor; X-Traordinaire – Gina X Performance; XOO Multiples- Yellow Magic Orchestra; McVicar – Roger Daltrey; Back In Black – AC/DC; Distinguishing Marks – Fingerprintz; Living In A Fantasy – Leo Sayer; Deepest Purple – Deep Purple
Independent Albums (Red Starr): Sky Yen – Pete Shelley (Groovy); Soundtrack of the Film Hangahar – Sally Smmit & her Musicians (Groovy)
Independent Singles (Red Starr): King And Country / Smashing Time – Television Personalities (Rough Trade); Red Crayola; Rockin Daddy / Life Without Your Love – Ducktail (Ducktail); Oh Girl / No Money – Freshies (Razz); New Colours – Glass (Glass); Teen Romance / Our Man In Marrakesh – The Alsatians (Alsatian)
Other: Strange Tales From A Music Paper

August 7 - 20, 1980

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Cover: Bob Marley
Centrespread: Bad Manners
Back cover: John Foxx
Interviews: Bob Marley & the Wailers; New Muzik
Lyrics: Oh Yeah – Roxy Music; Private Life – Grace Jones; Ashes To Ashes – David Bowie; All Over The World – Electric Light Orchestra; Burnin’ Hot – Jermaine Jackson; My Guy / My Girl – Amii Stewart & Johnny Bristol; C30 C60 C90 Go – Bow Wow Wow; Does She Have A Friend For Me? – Gene Chandler; Sleepwalk – Ultravox; Sweetheart Contract – Magazine; Oh Bondage Up Yours! – X-Ray Spex; Bankrobber – The Clash; Back To Front – Stiff Little Fingers; The Winner Takes It All – Abba; Nine To Five – Sheena Easton
Bitz: Ramones; Tony Mansfield, Mike Oldfield; Dave Edmunds; Desmond Dekker; The Jam; John Mayer; Ultravox; The Selector, 2-Tone; The Gap Band; Breaking Glass, Hazel O’Connor; Tom Browne; The Beat; Ian McCulloch’s all time top ten; Dexy’s Midnight Runners; The Swinging Cats; The Police; Mo-dettes; UK Subs
Single reviews (Deanne Pearson): Kings Of The Wild Frontier – Adam and the Ants; Late Night City – Comateens; Marie Marie – Shakin’ Stevens; Sound Of Confusion – Secret Affair; Ashes To Ashes – David Bowie; Stick It Up Mister – Toots and the Maytals; Last Night Another Soldier – Angelic Upstarts; Seaside Woman – Linda McCartney; Hot Deserts – Athletic Spizz ’80; Give Me Back My Man- B52s; Scream With A View – Tuxedo Moon
Album reviews (Ian Cranna / Red Starr / David Hepworth / Alastair Macaulay): The Right Combination – Linda Clifford and Curtis Mayfield; Pebbles And Sand – Stanley Clarke; Xanadu – ELO / Olivia Newton John; One For The Road – Kinks; A&B Sides – Dave Edmunds and Love Sculpture; Black And Dekker – Desmond Dekker; True Colours – Split Enz; Way & Bar – John Otway and Wild Willy Barrett; Growing Up In Public – Lou Reed; Kaleidoscope – Siouxsie and the Banshees
Independent Albums (Red Starr): The Voice of America – Cabaret Voltaire (Rough Trade)
Independent Singles (Red Starr): Not Ready / Can’t Keep Away – Sector 27 (Panic Records); Heavy Metal Mania – Holocaust (Phoenix); Balinese Dance / Sexual Cult Thing – PAK (Metropak); Army Life – The Exploited (Exploited); Pop 1990 – The Prats; Snow / Another One - Mekons
Other: Strange Tales From A Music Paper; Liverpool

July 24 - August 6, 1980

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Cover: Splodgenessabounds
Centrespread: Peter Gabriel
Back cover: The Lambretta
Interviews: The Mo-dettes; Splodgenessabounds; The Korgis
Lyrics: There There My Dear – Dexy’s Midnight Runners; Easy Life – Bodysnatchers; News At Ten – Vapors; More Than I Can Say – Leo Sayer; Babooshka – Kate Bush; Paint It Black – Mo-dettes; Do You Dream In Colour? – Bill Nelson; Upside Down – Diana Ross; Lovers Holiday – Change; Are You Getting Enough? – Hot Chocolate; Marianne – Gibson Brothers; Murder Of Liddle Towers – Angelic Upstarts; Neon Knights – Black Sabbath; Ready An’ Willing – Whitesnake; Sanctuary – New Muzik
Bitz: Malcolm Maclaren, Bow Wow Wow; Jah Wobble; Lambrettas; Mari Wilson; Joy Division; Blondie, Lester Bangs; Malcolm Owen, The Ruts; Steve Eagles’s all time top ten; Gary Numan; The 4x2s; David Bowie; Musicians Union strike; The Professionals; Magazine; Wilko Johnson; Clive Langer and the Boxes
Single reviews (David Hepworth): Private Life – Grace Jones; About Insomnia – Martha and the Muffins; Everything Works If You Let It – Cheap Trick; Big Shot – Momentarily – Jona Lewie; Tom Hark – Piranhas; Cities – Talking Heads; Oh Lonesome Me – Wilko Johnson; Rebels Are We – Chic; Back To Front / Mr. Fire Coal Man – Stiff Little Fingers; Sweetheart Contract - Magazine
Album reviews (Bev Hillier / Red Starr / David Hepworth / Ian Cranna): Love Trippin’ – Detroit Spinners; Do A Runner – Athletic Spizz ’80; Splash – Clive Langer and the Boxes; Searching For The Young Soul Rebels – Dexy’s Midnight Runners; Off The Coast Of Me – Kid Creole and the Coconuts; Musical Shapes – Carlene Carter; Closer – Joy Division; Where Are All The Nice Girls? – Any Trouble; Real People – Chic; Crocodiles – Echo and the Bunnymen
Independent Albums (Red Starr): Die Kleinen Und Die Bosen – Deutsch Amerikan Freundschaft (Mute); Music For Parties – Silicon Teens (Mute)
Independent Singles (Red Starr): Come Back To Me / Misfit – Bok Bok (Bok Bok); How I Wrote Elastic Man – The Fall (Rough Trade); Going Through The Motions / Things In General – The Perfects (Rough Trade); Split / Die Matrosen – Liliput (Rough Trade); Final Solution – Pere Ubu (Rough Trade); Can’t Sleep At Nights – The Cigarettes (Dead Good)
Other: Strange Tales From A Music Paper

July 10 - 23, 1980

(click on the image to see the full issue)

Cover: Cook ‘N’ Jones – The Professionals
Centrespread: Bob Marley & the Wailers
Back cover: Dexy’s Midnight Runners
Interviews: Cook ‘N’ Jones; The Human League; Ultravox
Lyrics: King’s Call – Phil Lynott; British Way Of Life – The Chords; Xanadu – Olivia Newton John; Just Another Dream – The Professionals; Empire State Human – Human League; Cupid – Detroit Spinners; Use It Up And Wear It Out – Odyssey; Jump To The Beat – Stacey Lattishaw; 747 (Strangers In The Night) – Saxon; Whole Lotta Rosie – AC/DC; Stepping Stone – Sex Pistols; Don’t Care – Klark Kent; Burning Car – John Foxx; Let’s Hang On – Darts; Could You Be Loved? – Bob Marley & the Wailers
Bitz: Roxy Music; Jona Lewie’s all time top ten; Fashion, Luke Sky; Mo-dettes; Athletic Spizz ’80; Japan; Demis Roussos, Francis Rossi, Bernie Frost; UK Subs; Kate Bush, Fred and Judy Vermorel; Peter Gabriel; Geno Washington; Ray Teret; Stacy Lattishaw; The Stranglers; Ultravox; Pil, Martin Atkins, Jah Wobble; Paul McCartney; David Patton; Dexy’s Midnight Runners; The Swinging Cats; Can’t Stop The Music, Roadie; Atomic Rooster, John DuCann, Vincent Crane
Single reviews (David Hepworth): King Of The World – Sheila and B. Devotion; Babooshka – Kate Bush; There There My Dear – Dexy’s Midnight Runners; Love Without Greed – Graham Parker; Unite And Win – Sham 69; We Can Don Anything – Cockney Rejects; Don’t Do Me Like That – Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers; Paint It Black – Mo-dettes; Butcher Baby – Plasmatics; Ring Of Fire – Carlene Carter
Album reviews (Bev Hillier / Red Starr / David Hepworth / Ian Cranna / Steve Taylor): Sunrise – Jimmy Ruffin; What’s The Matter Boy? – Vic Godard & Subway Sect; Dumb Waiters – Korgis; Emotional Rescue – Rolling Stones; Mega-Shebang – Andy Fairweather Low; Vienna – Ultravox; Careful – Motels; The Game – Queen; G Beat – Johnny G.; Heroes - Commodores
Independent Albums (Red Starr): Beat The Light – Ken Thomas (Fragment); Final Vinyl – Teardrops (Illuminated); We Are Time – The Pop Group (Y/Rough Trade); Dome – Dome (Dome); The Graveyard and The Ballroom – A Certain Ratio (Factory); The Return Of The Durutti Column – The Durutti Column (Factory)
Independent Singles (Red Starr): Sex Machine – Crawling Chaos (Factory); Komakino – Joy Division (Factory); English Black Boys – X.O. Dus (Factory); New Hormones (Ludus)
Other: Strange Tales From A Music Paper

June 26 - July 9, 1980

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(click on the image to see the full issue)

Cover: The Undertones
Centrespread: The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle
Back cover: Jona Lewie
Interviews: The Undertones; UB40; Peter Gabriel
Lyrics: Who Wants The World - The Stranglers; Wednesday Week - The Undertones; The Bed's Too Big - The Police; Substitute - Liquid Gold; My Way Of Thinking - UB40; In The Night - Barbara Dickson; Me Myself I - Joan Armatrading; Behind The Groove - Teena Marie; Breaking The Law - Judas Priest; Electricity - Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark; Hot Love - David Essex; Waterfalls - Paul McCartney; Sanctuary - Iron Maiden; Simon Templar / Two Pints Of Lager And A Packet Of Crisps Please - Splodgenessabounds
Bitz: The Specials; Pauline Murray, Robert Blamire; Pink Military; Ian Curtis, Joy Division; John Foxx; Stiff Little Fingers; The Barracudas; Sector 27, Tom Robinson; The Attractions; The Stranglers; All time top ten: John Cooper Clarke; The Swinging Cats; Sheena Easton; Pye Records; Killer Watts; Ultravox; The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle, Sting; The Undertones; Elvis Presley; Splodgenessabounds; The Basement Five
Single reviews (David Hepworth): Waterfalls - Paul McCartney; Sleepwalk - Ultravox; Love Man - Mari Wilson; 9 To 5 - Sheena Easton; Empire State Human - The Human League; More Than I Can Say - Leo Sayer; One More Time For Love - Billy Preston and Syreeta; It's All Over Now - Clive Langer and the Boxes; Did You See Her - Pink Military; Wednesday Week - The Undertones
Album reviews (Bev Hillier / Red Starr / David Hepworth): Diana - Diana Ross; Saints Or Sinners? - The Real Thing; Compass - Dalek i; The Blue Meaning - Toyah; Beat Boys In The Jet Age - Lambrettas; The Photos - The Photos; Uprising - Bob Marley and the Wailers; Willie Nile - Willie Nile; Klark Kent - Klark Kent; Crashes - The Records
Independent Singles (Mike Stand): Swans On Glass / Incident - Modern English (4AD); Meet Me At The Base - 50:50 (Public Records); All Right On The Night - M15 (Public Records); Girls Don't Count - Section 25 (Relevant Music); Apache - Ska-dows (Cheapskate); £100 In 15 Minutes - Puritan Guitars (Riverside Records); Radio / All Of A Sudden - BTP Folders (Future Earth Records); Now We're Through / Honey Please Don't Go - Richard And The Taxmen; Choose You - The Dead Beats (Red Rhino Records); Ruby Toot - Vandells (Loose End); The Northern Ripper - The Blanks (Void); I Wish - The State (Zima)
Other: Strange Tales From A Music Paper; Design a Surfboard - win a night out with The Barracudas

June 12 - 25, 1980

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Cover: Bryan Ferry
Centrespread: Orchestral Manouevres In The Dark
Back cover: B.A. Robertson
Interviews: Bryan Ferry, Roxy Music; Squeeze; Jermaine Jackson; Matchbox
Lyrics: New Amsterdam - Elvis Costello; Tin Soldiers - Stiff Little Fingers; Christine - Siouxsie & the Banshees; Crying - Don McLean; Chinatown - Thin Lizzy; Theme From M*A*S*H - The Mash; Little Jeannie - Elton John; If Loving You Is Wrong - Rod Stewart; Everybody's Gotta Learn Sometime - The Korgis; Back Together Again - Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway; The Man Who Dies Everyday - Ultravox; To Be Or Not To Be - B.A. Robertson; Da-a-ance - The Lambrettas; Funky Town - Lipps Inc; Twilight Zone / Twilight Tone - Manhattan Transfer
Bitz: Joe Jackson; Queen, The Game; Glen Matlock, The Spectres; The Specials, Rat Race video banned; Klark Kent, The Jam, The Tourists, Stiff Little Fingers, The Regents, Ian Gillan, Saxon, Krokus, Lindisfarne, The Only Ones, Loch Lomond Festival; Styx; Dexy's Midnight Runners; Gary Numan, Yellow Magic Orchestra; The Police; Siouxsie & the Banshees; John Lydon, American Bandstand; Eddie Tudor's all time top ten; Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway; Darts; Buzzcocks; The Photos; The Mash; Trimmer and Jenkins, The Protest Song, "This Week's Prime Minister, Italy"
Single reviews (Deanne Pearson): Christine - Siouxise and the Banshees; Who Wants The World - The Stranglers; New Amsterdam - Elvis Costello; The Harder They Come - Joe Jackson; Stepping Stone - Sex Pistols; Spellbound - Rachel Sweet; Let's Hang On - Darts; The Boy Can't Dance - The Orchids; It Man - John Cooper Clarke; Could You Be Loved - Bob Marley & the Wailers; Lip Up Fatty - Bad Manners; Clones (We're All) - Alice Cooper; Japanese Tears - Denny Laine; Nothing Left Toulouse - Sad Cafe; Writing On The Wall - Hazel O'Connor; Away From Home - Klark Kent
Album reviews (Bev Hillier / Red Starr / David Hepworth / Ian Cranna): Mystic Merlin - Mystic Merlin; Warm Leatherette - Grace Jones; Still Life - Karel Fialka; New Clear Days - The Vapors; The Game - Sham 69; Evening Standards - The Jags; Peter Gabriel - Peter Gabriel; 21 At 33 - Elton John; Flesh And Blood - Roxy Music; The Up Escalator - Graham Parker
Independent Albums: Do Animals Believe In God? - Pink Military (Erics)
Independent Singles (Red Starr): No Room - Athletico Spizz '80 (Rough Trade); Final Day EP - Young Marble Giants (Rough Trade); Hot Rod Man / Aint It Wrong - Tex Rubinowitz (Silent Records); Love All Over The Place - Bubba Lou & the Highballs (Silent Records)
Other: Strange Tales From A Music Paper

May 29 - June 11, 1980

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Cover: Terry Hall
Centrespread: New Musik
Back cover: The Human League
Interviews: Orchestral Manouevres In The Dark, The Specials, Hot Chocolate
Lyrics: No Self Control - Peter Gabriel; Rescue - Echo and the Bunnymen; We Are Glass - Gary Numan; Messages - Orchestral Manouevres In The Dark; The Bucket Of Water Song - The Four Bucketeers; Rat Race - The Specials; Just Can't Give You Up - Mystic Merlin; Midnite Dynamos - Matchbox; Let's Go Round Again - Average White Band; This Town Ain't Big Enough; Pulling Mussels From A Shell - Squeeze; In The Kitchen At Parties - Jona Lewie; I'm Alive - Electric Light Orchestra
Bitz: The Police; Chaz Jankel; The Specials; Denny Laine; David Essex; The Clash; Ultravox, John Foxx; Bill Nelson; Musicians Union; Jona Lewie; Echo and the Bunnymen; The Great Rock 'N' Roll Swindle, Michael Moorcock; Holly Vincent's all time top ten; South Africa bans Another Brick In The Wall; Yes, The Buggles, Rick Wakeman, Jon Anderson; The Ruts
Single reviews (Deanne Pearson): We Are Glass - Gary Numan; Me, Myself, I - Joan Armatrading; A Teenager In Love - Rocky Sharpe and the Replays; Look At The Outside - Chelsea; Little Jeannie - Elton John; Every Time We Say Goodbye - Ella Fitzgerald; Ballad Of Miss Demeanour - Flowers; Shaking All Over / China - Drinking Electricity; To Be Or Not To Be - B.A. Robertson; Reach Your Peak - Sister Sledge; Think About Me - Fleetwood Mac; D-a-a-ance - Lambrettas; Nobody's Hero - Stiff Little Fingers; I'm Alive - Electric Light Orchestra; Beauty Queen - Little Nell
Album reviews (Bev Hillier / Red Starr / David Hepworth / Ian Cranna): GQ Two - GQ; Two Places At The Same Time - Raydio; Shine - Average White Band; So Far Away - The Chords; Freedom Of Choice - Devo; The Legend Lives On...Jah Wobble in Betrayal - Jah Wobble; Me, Myself, I - Joan Armatrading; McCartney II - Paul McCartney; Nobody's Perfect - The Distractions; I Just Can't Stop It - The Beat
Independent Albums (Red Starr): First Offenders (Canterbury 1980) (Criminal); Hicks From The Sticks (Rockburgh)
Independent News: Pete Wylie, Wah! Heat; Ian Curtis, Joy Division
Other: Strange Tales From A Music Paper; win dinner with John Peel

May 15 - 28, 1980

(click on the image to see the full issue)

Cover: Kate Bush
Centrespread: The Undertones
Back cover: Toyah
Interviews: Kate Bush; Phil Lynott
Lyrics: In The City / All Around The World / Modern World - The Jam; Breathing - Kate Bush, This World Of Water - New Musik; Over You - Roxy Music; The Greatest Cockney Rip-Off - Cockney Rejects; Police And Thieves - Junior Murvin; Hold On To My Love - Jimmy Ruffin; Take Good Care Of My Love - Smokie; No Doubt About It - Hot Chocolate; Call Me - Blondie; Rock 'N' Roll - Human League; She's Out Of My Life - Michael Jackson; Fool For Your Loving - Whitesnake; Leaving Here - Motorhead
Bitz: Gary Numan, Robert Palmer; Rodney Franklin; Devo; The Beat; Buster Bloodvessel; Graham Parker; David Bowie; The Great Rock 'N' Roll Swindle; Rainbow; The B-52s; The Lambrettas; Geno Washington; Kosmo Vinyl, Dread At The Controls; Americathon, Elvis Costello; Phil Lynott's all time top ten; The High Numbers; Elton John; Junior Murvin
Single reviews (Mrs. Esme Sprigg of Hounslow): Boys Cry - The Distractions; That's What John Said - The Motors; Girl You Want - Devo; Hey Mae - Shakin' Stevens; Total War - Comsat Angels; Midnight Dynamos - Matchbox; Messages - Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark; Pulling Mussels (From The Shell) - Squeeze; Stupefaction - Graham Parker; Over You - Roxy Music
Album reviews (Bev Hillier / Red Starr / David Hepworth / Ian Cranna): Let's Get Serious - Jermaine Jackson; Go All The Way - The Isley Brothers; Travelogue - The Human League; Strange Boutique - The Monochrome Set; Le Chat Bleu - Mink DeVille; Snakes And Lovers - Interview; The Correct Use Of Soap - Magazine; Baby's Got A Gun - The Only Ones; Sports Car - Judie Tzuke; Solo In Soho - Phil Lynott
Independent Singles (Red Starr): TV21; The Decorators; The Versatile Newts; John Duart & the Bedrooms Of Europe; Metrophase; Embryo; Lord Rockingham's Revenge; The Shrouds; Bob Saffron & The Postal Bargains; I Am A Computer - Goo-Q (Rising Star); The Accidents; The Thunderboys; The Freeze; Put My Finger On You - The Amber Squad (S+T); Positive Signals; The Strand; Phones B. Sportsman; The Cult Figures; Two Hearts In Pain / Exploitation - Janet Armstrong (Silent Records)
Other: Music programmes on television

May 1 - 14, 1980

(click on the image to see the full issue)

Cover: Siouxsie Sioux
Centrespread: The Specials
Back cover: The Chords
Interviews: Siouxsie and the Banshees; The Bodysnatchers; Pete Townshend
Lyrics: My Oh My - Sad Cafe; Wheels Of Steel - Saxon; Staring At The Rude Boys - The Ruts; Something's Missing - The Chords; Mirror In The Bathroom - The Beat; Coming Up - Paul McCartney; Dear Miss Lonely Hearts - Phil Lynott; Don't Make Waves - The Nolans; I Shoulda Loved Ya - Narada Michael Walden; I'm The Face - The High Numbers; All For Leyna - Billy Joel; Life On Mars - David Bowie; Rock 'N' Roll Radio - The Ramones; Live And Loneliness - The Motors; A Forest - The Cure
Bitz: Gary Numan; The Photos; Suggs; Fern Kinney; AC/DC, Brian Johnson; The Vapors; Sonja Kristina; Marvin Gaye; Rocky Burnette; Bob Marley and the Wailers; The Cockney Rejects; Joe Strummer, the 101ers; The Undertones; The Great Rock 'N' Roll Swindle, Malcolm McLaren, Julian Temple; Toyah's all time top ten; The Kinks; Joy Division; Video Killed The Radio Star; Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark, Paul Humphreys, Andy McCluskey; The Human League; Dave Marsh
Single reviews (a small creature in shorts): The Lonely Spy - Lori and the Chameleons; Scuba Scuba - The Revillos; Holiday '80 - The Human League; The Strange Boutique - The Monochrome Set; Split Up The Money - Vic Godard and Subway Sect; Betrayal - Jah Wobble; Splash (A Tear Comes Rolling Down) - Clive Langer and the Boxes; I Hear You Knocking - Dave Edmunds Rockpile; The Greatest Cockney Rip-Off - Cockney Rejects; Saigon - Martha and the Muffins; Outside The Trains Don't Run On Time - Gang Of Four; Mirror In The Bathroom - The Beat; Rescue - Echo and the Bunnymen
Album reviews (Bev Hillier / Red Starr / David Hepworth / Ian Cranna): You Got What It Takes - Bobby Thurston; You Know How To Love Me - Phyllis Hyman; Snap, Crackle And Bop - John Cooper Clarke; 1980 - The Choice Is Yours - The Members; Bad Manners - Bad Manners; The Russians Are Coming - Bram Tchaikovsky; Middle Man - Boz Scaggs; Empty Glass - Pete Townshend; From A To B - New Musik; Seventeen Seconds - The Cure
Independent Albums (Red Starr): Remorse Code - Desperate Bicycles
Independent Singles (Steve Bush): Wind-Up Girl - Spitfire (Gun Records); Waiting For You / It's True - The Meanies (Vendetta Records); Don't Let Go / Bank Holiday Weekend - Seventeen (Vendetta Records); The Music Goes On And On / Ginny - Jerry The Ferret (Dead Horse Records); Femmes Sous Cellophane - Edith Nylon (Discos Incorporated);Books Books Books / Not A Love Song - The Impossible Dreamers (A Merciful Release)

April 17 - 30, 1980

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Cover: Madness
Centrespread: The Vapors
Back cover: Siouxsie
Interviews: The Monkees; Madness; BA Robertson
Lyrics: What Will I Do Without You? – Lene Lovich; Clean Clean – The Buggles; Daydream Believer – The Monkees; Modern Girl – Sheena Easton; Silver Dream Racer – David Essex; I’ve Never Been In Love – Suzi Quatro; Check Out The Groove – Bobby Thurston; Sexy Eyes – Dr. Hook; Him – Rupert Holmes; White Punks On Dope – The Tubes; High Fidelity – Elvis Costello; Food For Thought – UB40; Geno – Dexy’s Midnight Runners; Don’t Push It Don’t Force it – Leon Haywood; Living After Midnight – Judas Priest
Bitz: Pink Floyd; Bobby Thurston; Tiswas; Gary Glitter; The Great Rock ‘n’ Roll Swindle; Jacob Miller; Eddie Cochran; Sham 69; John Cooper Clarke; Sheena Easton; UB40; Glen Matlock’s all-time top ten; The Monkees; Joe Jackson; Styx; Santana; The Blues Band; The Spectres
Single reviews (David Hepworth): Call Me – Blondie; High Society – Norma Jean; Coming Up – Paul McCartney; Do You Remember Rock ‘n’ Roll Radio – Ramones; Don’t Touch Me There – Tygers Of Pan Tang; Eurovision – Telex; Police And Thieves – Junior Murvin; The Crawl – Fabulous Thunderbirds; A Forest – The Cure; Israelites – Desmond Dekker; Supremes Medley – Diana Ross and the Supremes; The Bucket Of Water Song – The four Bucketeers
Album reviews (Bev Hillier / Red Starr / David Hepworth / Ian Cranna): Totally Connected – T-Connection; Every Generation – Ronnie Laws; We Gotta Get Outta This Place – Angelic Upstarts; The Son Of Rock And Roll – Rocky Burnette; Big Boy – Mark Andrew and the Gents; The Barbara Dickson Album – Barbara Dickson; Duke – Genesis; Snakes And Ladders – Gerry Rafferty; Hypnotised – The Undertones
Independent Albums: Live Quartz - Quartz
Independent Singles (Red Starr): Rickey’s Hand – Fad Gadget; Anticipation – Delta 5; Warm Girls – Girls At Our Best; Boots For Dancing; Falling And Laughing - Orange Juice

April 3 - 16, 1980

(click on the image to see the full issue)

Cover: John Lydon
Centrespread: Stiff Little Fingers
Back cover: The Beat
Interviews: Gary Numan; Stewart Copeland; Public Image Limited
Lyrics: Let’s Do Rocksteady – Bodysnatchers; Missing Words – Selector; Night Boat To Cairo – Madness; No One Driving – John Foxx; Talk Of The Town – Pretenders; My Perfect Cousin – Undertones; Stomp – Brothers Johnson; My World – Secret Affair; King – UB40; Ready Steady Go – Generation X; January February – Barbara Dickson; Dance Yourself Dizzy – Liquid Gold; That’s The Way The Money Goes – M; Spirit Of Radio – Rush; Turn It On Again – Genesis
Bitz: Madness; Fleetwood Mac; 10CC; Generation X; Boomtown Rats; Pete Briquette; Kiss; Barbara Dickson; Mike Oldfield; Brothers Johnson; Rush; Dave Wakeling’s all-time top ten; The Police; Phil Lynott; Darts; Graham Parker; Pete Frame
Single reviews (David Hepworth): Dear Miss Lonelyhearts – Phil Lynott; We Gotta Get Out Of This Place – Angelic Upstarts; I Thank You – ZZ Top; Clean Clean – The Buggles; I Feel Love – Donna Summer; Wait Till Your Boat Goes Down – XTC; Living After Midnight – Judas Priest; Trial Of Hissing Sid – Captain Beaky And His Band; Rough Boys – Pete Townshend; Work, Rest & Play EP – Madness; Talk Of The Town – The Pretenders; My Perfect Cousin – The Undertones
Album reviews (Red Starr / David Hepworth / Bev Hillier / Ian Cranna): The Whispers – The Whispers; Burnin’ Alive – Tony Rallo & the Midnite Band; Beat That! – Purple Hearts; Original Mirrors – Original Mirrors; MAA – Mental As Anything; Big Smash – Wreckless Eric; Initial Success – BA Robertson; Glass Houses – Billy Joel; Tenement Steps – The Motors; American Gigolo Original Soundtrack
Independent Albums: East – Various Artists (Dead Good Records)
Independent Singles (Red Starr): Chance Meeting – Josef K; Where There’s A Will There’s A Way – The Pop Group; In The Beginning There Was Rhythm - Slits

March 20 - April 2, 1980

(click on the image to see the full issue)

Cover: XTC
Centrespread: Gary Numan
Back cover: The Skids
Interviews: Andy Summers, The Vapors, John Foxx
Lyrics: Another Nail In My Heart – Squeeze; Echo Beach – Martha and the Muffins; Going Underground – The Jam; Atomic – Blondie; Rosie – Joan Armatrading; Hello I Am Your Heart – Bette Bright; Kool In The Kaftan – B. A. Robertson; You Know How To Love Me – Phyllis Hyman; Poison Ivy – The Lambrettas; Happy House – Siouxsie and the Banshees; Warhead – UK Subs; The Man With The Child In His Eyes – Kate Bush; Tonight I’m Alright – Narada Michael Walden; Working My Way Back To You – Detroit Spinners; Ten Feet Tall – XTC; The Olympian – The Skids
Bitz: Martha and the Muffins; The Lambrettas; Elvis Presley; Thin Lizzy; John Foxx’s all-time top ten; Siouxsie & the Banshees; Sham 69; Shakin’ Stevens; Bette Bright; Deaf School; The Tourists; Holly and the Italians; Narada Michael Walden; Toyah Willcox; Judas Priest
Single reviews (Kelly Pike): Going Underground – The Jam; My World (I Spy) – Secret Affair; Turn It On Again – Genesis; Do Rock Steady – Bodysnatchers; Shiraleo – Starjets; Understanding – Judie Tzuke; Same Goes For You – Leif Garrett; Thank You (Falettin Me Be Mice Elf Again) – Magazine; Bad News – Sugarhill Gang; Trickle Trickle – Manhattan Transfer; It’s Too Late – The Searchers; Geno – Dexy’s Midnight Runners; What Will I Do Without You? – Lene Lovich; Kickin The Kans – Headboys; My Oh My – Sad Café; Refugee – Tom Petty; A Song For Europe – The Mice; You Really Got Me – The Kinks; Spirit Of Radio - Rush
Album reviews (Red Starr / David Hepworth): Sugarhill Gang – Sugarhill Gang; Crazy Rhythm – The Feelies; Deguello – ZZ Top; Solid Gold – James Brown; Greatest Hits Vol One – Cockney Rejects; Songs The Lord Taught Us – The Cramps; Psychedelic Furs – Psychedelic Furs; Nobody’s Heroes – Stiff Little Fingers
Independent Albums: Colossal Youth – Young Marble Giants
Independent Singles: Wardance – Killing Joke; Kebabtraume – DAF; Treason – Teardrop Explodes; Let’s Build A Car – Swell Maps
Other stuff: Smash Hits Readers Poll Results

March 6 - 19, 1980

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Cover: The Jam
Centrespread: The Tourists
Back cover: Dave Edmunds
Interviews: The Jam; Blondie; The Flying Lizards
Lyrics: Animation - The Skids; Space Oddity / Alabama Song - David Bowie; Cuba - Gibson Brothers; All Night Long - Rainbow; I've Done Everything For You - Sammy Hagar; Hot Dog - Shakin' Stevens; Holdin' On - Tony Rallo & the Midnight Band; Do That To Me One More Time - Captain & Tenille; Together We Are Beautiful - Fern Kinney; On The Radio - Donna Summer; At The Edge - Stiff Little Fingers; Where's Captain Kirk? - Spizz Energi; Running Free - Iron Maiden; Hello America - Def Leppard
Bitz: Dr. Hook; Fleetwood Mac; Another Pretty Face; The Scars; Bon Scott; Fern Kinney; The Police, Gary Numan, Angelic Upstarts; Meatloaf; Thin Lizzy; Scott Gorham; Sammy Hagar; Mike Oldfield; Madness; Eric Stewart; Chris Pope's All Time Top Ten; The Cramps; The Fall; Spizz Energi; Captain & Tenille; Tony Rallo
Single reviews (David Hepworth): Baby Talks Dirty - The Knack; Baby Tonight - Rocky Burnett; 2000 Man - Kiss; Real Fun - Ten Pole Tudor; Bionic Man - Fabulous Poodles; That's The Way The Money Goes - M; Love And Loneliness - The Motors; Gypsy Blood - Doll By Doll; Kool In The Kaftan - B.A. Robertson; Rosie - Joan Armatrading; Hello I Am Your Heart - Bette Bright; 9 o'clock - Snips
Album reviews (Red Starr): Love Somebody Today - Sister Sledge; Get Happy - Elvis Costello; Unbehagen - Nina Hagen; Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark; Protect The Innocent - Rachel Sweet; Metro Beach - Martha & the Muffins; Take Away - Mr. Partridge; Argy Bargy - Squeeze
Other stuff: Walt Jabsco art competition

Feburary 21 - March 5, 1980

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Cover: The Buggles
Centrespread: Madness
Back cover: Suzi Quatro
Interviews: The Buggles; The Revillos; Sting
Lyrics: Maybe Tomorrow – The Chords; Singing The Blues – Dave Edmunds; So Good To Be Back Home Again – The Tourists; Carrie – Cliff Richard; Games Without Frontiers – Peter Gabriel; Jane – Jefferson Starship; Are You Ready – Billy Ocean; Music Makes You Feel Like Dancing – Brass Construction; TV – Flying Lizards; Red Frame White Light – Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark; Rock With You – Michael Jackson; Mongoloid – Devo; Turning Japanese – The Vapors; And The Beat Goes On – The Whispers; Hands Off She’s Mine – The Beat
Bitz: Blondie; BA Robertson; Wreckless Eric; UK Subs; Pauline Murray; Thin Lizzy; The Beat; Flying Lizards; Stuart Adamson; The Skids; Guns For Hire; Pauline Black’s all time top ten; Elton John; Toyah; Stupid Babies; Jefferson Starship
Single reviews (David Hepworth): Cuba – Gibson Brothers; Space Oddity / Alabama Song – David Bowie; My Boy Lollipop – Millie; Poison Ivy – Lambettas; I’m A Believer – Monkees; Games Without Frontiers – Peter Gabriel; Walking In Line – Mike Rutherford; A Song From Under The Floorboards – Magazine; Broken English – Marianne Faithfull; Pop Song – Wreckless Eric; Hands Off She’s Mine – The Beat; Another Nail In My Heart – Squeeze; Echo Beach – Martha and the Muffins
Album reviews (Red Starr): Catching The Sun – Spyro Gyra; Live At The YMCA 27.10.79 – Cabaret Voltaire; The Biggest Prize In Sport – 999; Take One - Shakin’ Stevens; Short Stories, Tall Tales – Horslips; Too Much Pressure – The Selector; Terminal Jive - Sparks

February 7 - 20, 1980

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Cover: The Police
Centrespread: The Who (1965)
Back cover: Matchbox
Interviews: Sting, The Ramones, Joe Jackson
Lyrics: Motor Bike Beat – Rezillos; The Plastic Age – The Buggles; Living By Numbers – New Musik; I Can’t Stand Up For Falling Down – Elvis Costello; Buzz Buzz A Diddle It – Matchbox; I Hear You Now – Jon & Vangelis; Strange Little Girl – Sad Café; Too Hot – Kool & the Gang; Got To Love Somebody – Sister Sledge; Baby I Love You – The Ramones; Paradise Bird – Amii Stewart; Wonderland – The Commodores; New Rose – The Damned; Underpass – John Foxx; Dance Stance – Dexy’s Midnight Runners
Bitz: Blondie; Sting; Walt Jabsco; Gerry Rafferty; Angelic Upstarts; Johnny Ramone’s all time top ten; Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark; The Vapors; The Selector; Elvis Costello; Thin Lizzy, The Ruts; Wreckless Eric; The Bodysnatchers; Dexy’s Midnight Runners; Nick Lowe; Status Quo; David Bowie;
Single reviews (Julie Milton): Everybody’s Got Something To Hide – The Feelies; TV – The Flying Lizards; Sister Europe – Psychedelic Furs
Album reviews (Red Starr): Prince – Prince; Metamatic – John Foxx; The Flying Lizards – The Flying Lizards; Partners In Crime – Rupert Holmes; The Age Of Plastic – The Buggles

January 24 - February 6, 1980

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Cover: Sparks
Centrespread: The Pretenders
Back cover: M (Robin Scott)
Interviews: The Sparks; KC & the Sunshine Band (Harry Casey); The Beat
Lyrics: Babe - Styx; Young Blood - UFO; It's Different For Girls - Joe Jackson; Angels - Lene Lovich; Someone's Looking At You - Boomtown Rats; Sara - Fleetwood Mac; Escape (The Pina Colada Song) - Rupert Hines; Better Love Next Time - Dr. Hook; I'm In The Mood For Dancing - Nolan Sisters; Spirits (Having Flown) - Bee Gees; We Got The Funk - Positive Force; Sweet Suburbia - Skids; Mama's Boy - Suzi Quatro; 7teen - The Regents
Bitz: Paul Weller; Hugh Cornwell; Tom Petty; Elvis Costello; Stiff Little Fingers; Madness; Tom Robinson; The Regents; Squeeze, The Headboys; Public Image; Bill Hurley's all time top ten; UFO, Jerry Lee Lewis
Single reviews (David Hepworth): Tell That Girl To Shut Up - Holly & the Italians; Underpass - John Foxx; Changeling - Simple Minds; Buzz Buzz A Diddle It - Matchbox; Mama's Boy - Suzi Quatro; The Plastic Age - The Buggles; Motor Cycle Beat - Revillos; When I'm With You - Sparks; The Nips Are Getting Bigger - Mental As Anything; Too Much Too Young - The Special A.K.A.; Three Minute Hero - The Selector
Album reviews (Red Starr): Real To Real Cacophony - Simple Minds; 5 - Brass Construction; Masterplan - Rufus & Chaka; The Raincoats - The Raincoats; Flex - Lene Lovich; End Of The Century - The Ramones; Sid Sings - Sid Vicious; The Pretenders - The Pretenders; New York, London, Paris, Munich - M

January 10 - 23, 1980

(click on the image to see the full issue)

Cover: The Pretenders
Centrespread: Pink Floyd
Back cover: The Clash
Interviews: The Pretenders; Mike Oldfield; The Selector
Lyrics: Day Trip To Bangor - Fiddler's Dram; Tears Of A Clown - The Beat; Too Much Too Young - The Specials; Union City Blue - Blondie; Moonlight And Muzak - M; I Wanna Hold Your Hand - Dollar; I Have A Dream - Abba; With You I'm Born Again - Billy Preston & Syreeta; Please Don't Go - KC & the Sunshine Band; I'm Born Again - Boney M; My Girl - Madness; The Walk - The Inmates; What Do I Get? - Buzzcocks; John, I'm Only Dancing - David Bowie
Bitz: Elvis Costello; Squeeze; The Inmates; Star Trek: The Motion Picture; The Cure; Jo Callis's all-time top ten
Single reviews: I Hear You Now - Jon & Vangelis; Spirits Having Flown - Bee Gees; My Girl - Madness
Album reviews: no room....Red Starr