Friday 27 June 2014

Secret Affair

The one band, that for me, epitomises the 80´s Mod Revival...Ian Page, Dave Cairns, Seb Shelton and Dennis Smith..the original line up of Secret Affair.
From their first live Outing as Secret affair (previously Page and Cairns had been the New hearts) they supported  for The Jam at Reading University in February 1979.
Their song, Time For Action"  reached number 13 in the UK Charts which put them as "Top Dogs" in the Revival movement, they even created thier own record labe, I-Spy.

Thier first Album, from 1979, Glory Boys.
Track list:
Glory Boys            
Shake And Shout                
Going To A Go-Go                    
Time For Action                    
New Dance                     
Days Of Change                    
Don't Look Down                    
One Way World                    
Let Your Heart Dance                    
I'm Not Free (But I'm Cheap)
Thier second Album, from 1980, Behind closed doors.
At this Point some of the drive was going out of the Revival movement and few of us stayed true. The "downturn" is reflected, IMHO, in this Album. Still got something but It lacked the drive of the previous Album.

Track list:
What Did You Expect?                    
I'm A Bullet                    
Only Madmen Laugh                    
When The Show's Over                    
My World                    
Sound Of Confusion                    
Life's A Movie Too                    
Through My Eyes                    
Live For Today                    
Streetlife Parade
Thier third Album from 1982., Business as usual.
The titel of the Album suggests a continuation of previous Output, but not at all. This one gets the drive back and really kicks, two Songs in particular, "Dance master" and the brilliant "She´s on fire", one of my favourite Songs.
Why it didn´t do so well suprised me..especially the two mentioned Songs. Still, shortly after this, The band broke up.

Track list:
Lost In The Night                     
Follow The Leader                    
Do You Know?                    
Hide And Seek                     
I Could Be You                    
Somewhere In The City                    
She's On Fire                  
Three Wise Monkeys                     
One Voice In The Darkness                    
Dancemaster                     
The Big Beat                    
One Day (In Your Life)
The "Anthem" of the Time........and In July 2011, Secret Affair re-recorded "Time For Action" for Save The Children. The latter spearheaded their campaign for health workers in poor countries, and over 42,000 people signed the petition in the UK which was taken to David Cameron in September 2011, resulting in funds for the cause endorsed and approved by the United Nations.
Secret affair reformed in 2002 and Play at the time of writing this. In December  2014 they will re-release , 'Glory Boys' to celebrate thier 35 years of Keeping the Faith.
They have a site ...www.secretaffair.info

Wednesday 11 June 2014

Blast from the Past

Exactly when and where these pics were taken I don´t know. What I do know is that the Driver of the Lambretta is Donald Campbell..and the Passenger is my Grandfather.

Lambretta in the pic?  - An 1954 to '56 - 125LD or 150LD Mk.II The scooter shown  is the electric start version. The hump behind the rear seat is a cover for the batteries. Non-electric start models do not have this hump.
 

Monday 9 June 2014

Motown - 20 Mod Classics

Another of my collection, bought mainly on the strength of the Album cover although it does contain some decent Songs.
Tracks A Side
Marvin Gaye - Can I Get A Witness
Martha Reeves & The Vandellas - Heatwave
Smokey Robinson & The Miracles - I Gotta Dance To Keep From Crying
Diana Ross & The Supremes - When The Lovelight Starts Shining Thru' His Eyes
Martha Reeves & The Vandellas - Quicksand
Marvelettes, The - As Long As I Know He's Mine
Marvin Gaye - You're A Wonderful One
Mary Wells - My Guy
Temptations, The - The Girl's Alright With Me
Stevie Wonder - Hey Harmonica Man
Tracks B Side
Martha Reeves & The Vandellas - Dancing In The Street
Marvelettes, The - You're My Remedy
Temptations, The - Girl (Why You Wanna Make Me Blue)
Smokey Robinson & The Miracles - That's What Love Is Made Of
Marvin Gaye - How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)
Velvelettes, The - Needle In A Haystack
Marvelettes, The - Too Many Fish In The Sea
Diana Ross & The Supremes - Come See About Me
Temptations, The - My Girl

All the Songs on the Album are from 1963 - 1964 like These;

Saturday 7 June 2014

The Velvelettes

First started in 1961, the velvelettes are still performing to this day. They have thier own Website, naturally called, THE VELVELETTES

 
Here they are with the song Needle in A Haystack, one of my favourite Tunes.

Wednesday 4 June 2014

The Spitfires

Excellent Band very much in the Style of the Jam.
Thier Website HERE