Heston and Marky's Friday Top 5

[Flex]

I wanted to claim this one myself, but I don't like to step on people's toes when it comes to particular artists in this thread.

You're a good egg, noonan.

[WestwayKid]

Don't Dream It's Over - Crowded House

Or Sixpence None the Richer!

Shattered Dreams - Johnny Hates Jazz

Pee-yew!

Haha! I was curious if someone would comment!!

There's a moderately(?) interesting story behind them having a hit. This is from Frederic Dannen's Hit Men, about payola in the 70s and 80s. I'm working from memory here, so some of the details may be a bit off. The way payola works was that record companies purchased the services of record pluggers, guys who have connections to program directors at radio stations. You give the pluggers money, they hype a specific record to p.d.'s—and offer additional inducements *wink wink*—to get it played. It's no guarantee that you'll have a hit, but if you don't use them, you're pretty much assured that your big single will never get any airplay. By the mid-80s, the major labels in the US had banded together to boycott the services of the key pluggers (who went by the name The Network) because the costs were getting prohibitive. That, however, opened the door for some labels that didn't join the boycott, and so a whole bunch of unknown bands suddenly had hits—e.g., Johnny Hates Jazz, T'Pau, Cutting Crew—because their labels were still paying the pluggers to get their records airplay, and they weren't competing against the other big acts, whose labels weren't playing ball. The boycott didn't last that long—maybe a summer?—but it resulted in that odd stretch of a bunch of one-hit wonders.

That is a fascinating story!

Other weird side note about Johnny Hates Jazz is that Phil Thornalley was a member of the group. Thornalley had previously produced the LP Pornography for The Cure, later serving as an official member of the group (on bass) for a short period after Robert Smith revived the group. He plays on Love Cats and a few other things.

[Dr. Medulla]

Don't Dream It's Over - Crowded House

Or Sixpence None the Richer!

Shattered Dreams - Johnny Hates Jazz

Pee-yew!

Haha! I was curious if someone would comment!!

There's a moderately(?) interesting story behind them having a hit. This is from Frederic Dannen's Hit Men, about payola in the 70s and 80s. I'm working from memory here, so some of the details may be a bit off. The way payola works was that record companies purchased the services of record pluggers, guys who have connections to program directors at radio stations. You give the pluggers money, they hype a specific record to p.d.'s—and offer additional inducements *wink wink*—to get it played. It's no guarantee that you'll have a hit, but if you don't use them, you're pretty much assured that your big single will never get any airplay. By the mid-80s, the major labels in the US had banded together to boycott the services of the key pluggers (who went by the name The Network) because the costs were getting prohibitive. That, however, opened the door for some labels that didn't join the boycott, and so a whole bunch of unknown bands suddenly had hits—e.g., Johnny Hates Jazz, T'Pau, Cutting Crew—because their labels were still paying the pluggers to get their records airplay, and they weren't competing against the other big acts, whose labels weren't playing ball. The boycott didn't last that long—maybe a summer?—but it resulted in that odd stretch of a bunch of one-hit wonders.

That is a fascinating story!

Other weird side note about Johnny Hates Jazz is that Phil Thornalley was a member of the group. Thornalley had previously produced the LP Pornography for The Cure, later serving as an official member of the group (on bass) for a short period after Robert Smith revived the group. He plays on Love Cats and a few other things.

Huh. And "The Love Cats" has a rather jazzy vibe to it.

[Kory]

Don't Dream It's Over - Crowded House

Or Sixpence None the Richer!

Shattered Dreams - Johnny Hates Jazz

Pee-yew!

Haha! I was curious if someone would comment!!

There's a moderately(?) interesting story behind them having a hit. This is from Frederic Dannen's Hit Men, about payola in the 70s and 80s. I'm working from memory here, so some of the details may be a bit off. The way payola works was that record companies purchased the services of record pluggers, guys who have connections to program directors at radio stations. You give the pluggers money, they hype a specific record to p.d.'s—and offer additional inducements *wink wink*—to get it played. It's no guarantee that you'll have a hit, but if you don't use them, you're pretty much assured that your big single will never get any airplay. By the mid-80s, the major labels in the US had banded together to boycott the services of the key pluggers (who went by the name The Network) because the costs were getting prohibitive. That, however, opened the door for some labels that didn't join the boycott, and so a whole bunch of unknown bands suddenly had hits—e.g., Johnny Hates Jazz, T'Pau, Cutting Crew—because their labels were still paying the pluggers to get their records airplay, and they weren't competing against the other big acts, whose labels weren't playing ball. The boycott didn't last that long—maybe a summer?—but it resulted in that odd stretch of a bunch of one-hit wonders.

That is a fascinating story!

Other weird side note about Johnny Hates Jazz is that Phil Thornalley was a member of the group. Thornalley had previously produced the LP Pornography for The Cure, later serving as an official member of the group (on bass) for a short period after Robert Smith revived the group. He plays on Love Cats and a few other things.

He was the bassist for the entirety of The Top wasn't he?

[JennyB]

Don't Dream It's Over - Crowded House

Or Sixpence None the Richer!

Shattered Dreams - Johnny Hates Jazz

Pee-yew!

Jenny hates Johnny Hates Jazz.

Hello,

Does this mean Jenny likes Jazz - transfer property?

Unless it's of the smooth variety, yes!

[WestwayKid]

Or Sixpence None the Richer!



Pee-yew!

Haha! I was curious if someone would comment!!

There's a moderately(?) interesting story behind them having a hit. This is from Frederic Dannen's Hit Men, about payola in the 70s and 80s. I'm working from memory here, so some of the details may be a bit off. The way payola works was that record companies purchased the services of record pluggers, guys who have connections to program directors at radio stations. You give the pluggers money, they hype a specific record to p.d.'s—and offer additional inducements *wink wink*—to get it played. It's no guarantee that you'll have a hit, but if you don't use them, you're pretty much assured that your big single will never get any airplay. By the mid-80s, the major labels in the US had banded together to boycott the services of the key pluggers (who went by the name The Network) because the costs were getting prohibitive. That, however, opened the door for some labels that didn't join the boycott, and so a whole bunch of unknown bands suddenly had hits—e.g., Johnny Hates Jazz, T'Pau, Cutting Crew—because their labels were still paying the pluggers to get their records airplay, and they weren't competing against the other big acts, whose labels weren't playing ball. The boycott didn't last that long—maybe a summer?—but it resulted in that odd stretch of a bunch of one-hit wonders.

That is a fascinating story!

Other weird side note about Johnny Hates Jazz is that Phil Thornalley was a member of the group. Thornalley had previously produced the LP Pornography for The Cure, later serving as an official member of the group (on bass) for a short period after Robert Smith revived the group. He plays on Love Cats and a few other things.

He was the bassist for the entirety of The Top wasn't he?

Robert Smith played all the bass on The Top. I believe he played everything other than the drums. Lol Tolhurst gets a keyboard credit, but I believe his contribution was minimal.

[Kory]

Haha! I was curious if someone would comment!!

There's a moderately(?) interesting story behind them having a hit. This is from Frederic Dannen's Hit Men, about payola in the 70s and 80s. I'm working from memory here, so some of the details may be a bit off. The way payola works was that record companies purchased the services of record pluggers, guys who have connections to program directors at radio stations. You give the pluggers money, they hype a specific record to p.d.'s—and offer additional inducements *wink wink*—to get it played. It's no guarantee that you'll have a hit, but if you don't use them, you're pretty much assured that your big single will never get any airplay. By the mid-80s, the major labels in the US had banded together to boycott the services of the key pluggers (who went by the name The Network) because the costs were getting prohibitive. That, however, opened the door for some labels that didn't join the boycott, and so a whole bunch of unknown bands suddenly had hits—e.g., Johnny Hates Jazz, T'Pau, Cutting Crew—because their labels were still paying the pluggers to get their records airplay, and they weren't competing against the other big acts, whose labels weren't playing ball. The boycott didn't last that long—maybe a summer?—but it resulted in that odd stretch of a bunch of one-hit wonders.

That is a fascinating story!

Other weird side note about Johnny Hates Jazz is that Phil Thornalley was a member of the group. Thornalley had previously produced the LP Pornography for The Cure, later serving as an official member of the group (on bass) for a short period after Robert Smith revived the group. He plays on Love Cats and a few other things.

He was the bassist for the entirety of The Top wasn't he?

Robert Smith played all the bass on The Top. I believe he played everything other than the drums. Lol Tolhurst gets a keyboard credit, but I believe his contribution was minimal.

Ah right, Thornally was in the touring band.

[Marky Dread]

Top 5 songs with "Light" in the title.

1. The Light Pours Out of Me - Magazine
2. White Light/White Heat - The Velvet Underground
3. Soft City Lights - Ruts DC
4. Red Frame/White Light - OMD
5. I Saw the Light - Terry Hall

[Dr. Medulla]

Lush, “Sweetness and Light”
Wire, “You Hung Your Lights in the Trees”
The The, “Sodium Light Baby”
Bloc Party, “Blue Light”
Kitten, “Kill the Light”

Bonus negative content!

[gkbill]

Hello,

Arizona Light - The Fireman
Light a Candle Ring a Bell - Swamp Dogg
You're Standin' in my Light - Ian Hunter
The Light Pours Out of Me - Magazine
The Big Light - Elvis Costello

(I'm leaving out Bright Light(s) by The Special AKA, Dazy, and the Lee Harveys - there's a lot to choose from with Light)

[Kory]

Into the Light—Banshees

[Toppers Boppers]

Lights Out - Dr. Feelgood
Lightning Frightening - David Bowie
Shining Light - Ash
Electric Light - PJ Harvey
Rapper's Delight - Sugar Hill Gang

[oliver]

There is a Light That Never Goes Out - The Smiths

[Flex]

I Saw The Light - Hank Williams
Lights Out - Angry Samoans
Strobe Light - The B-52's
Long As I Can See The Light - Creedence Clearwater Revival
Harbor Lights - Elvis Presley

[JennyB]

See a Little Light - Bob Mould
Strobe Light - B-52s
Beginning to see the Light - Velvet Underground
Ray of Light - Madonna
There Is A Light That Never Goes Out - The Smiths