Everything80s.co.uk

Where do you start when something was so outrageously incredible and meant so much to you especially after the initial heart-breaking disappointment of July’s cancellation? I’m finding it impossible to put into words how amazing The Hit Factory Live was, I’m not here to critique individual performances as you are always going to enjoy some more than others and opinions will always differ when so many amazing acts are involved but I think it’s fair to say that from the fist thumping opening act 2 Unlimited you knew you were in for one hell of a 3 ½ hour ride through the recess of your mind, a surreal evening filled with memories, nostalgia and FUN. A night of two halves with a small 10 minute interval breaking up the overwhelming spectacle that was happening on stage. 

The enormous crowd (it was a sell-out) were up on their feet for the entire show, singing, dancing and generally having a ball, making new friends as well as celebrating with old ones. With each act came anticipation; would they do their own songs justice? Will they be as good as they were back in the day? The answer is a resounding YES, they delivered each song with gusto, passion and an excitement that was akin to the audiences. From the wonderful Lonnie Gordon, to the comperes Pat and Mick who quite frankly made my night by singing a medley of their top charity hits (put it this way I Haven’t Stopped Dancing Yet…), you also had great performances from Sonia and Sinitta (they haven’t aged a bit) with Sintta’s backing dancers getting everyone a bit hot under the collar *swoon* as well as the captivating Nathan Moore from Brother Beyond and the amazing Hazell Dean, boy can she belt out a tune or two, incredible! We also saw in the first half the fantastic Pepsi and Shirlie as well as Princess who we can safely say is still a lot of people’s number one! Pete Waterman made an appearance now and then as did Gaby Roslin who hosted the poptastic event along with Pat Sharp and Mick Brown. Towards the end of the first act Pete sincerely introduced his newest act James Graham who led the tribute to the late Donna Summer with a phenomenal rendition of ‘Love’s About To Change My Heart’, he reminded me of a young Rick Astley and to think this kid is only 16 years old blows my mind, what a voice, I’m sure we will be seeing a lot of him in the future! The first act ended with the pop spectacular from the one and only Pete Burns (Dead or Alive) who took us to the dark side with his gothic enactment, a megamix of his hits ending with You Spin Me Round, it was sheer brilliance. 

Lonnie Gordon Performing Happenin' All Over Again

Sinitta Performing Toy Boy

Pete Burns (Dead or Alive)

During the interval it was a chance for my brain to start digesting what we had already seen and to be honest I cannot express the feeling of my overpowering emotions, it felt surreal and dreamlike but I’m sure I wasn’t the only one to be feeling that way. We were treated to tracks from the pop icons Mel & Kim, Divine and Donna Summer a nice touch to know that they might not have been there in person but they certainly weren’t forgotten. 

It was time for the second half and with the crowd reaching a fever pitch this half was about to push the temperature through the roof, with the incredible and funny Rick Astley (who has matured like a fine wine) on first giving us one hell of a treat with his knock out tunes along with the crowd showing him that they were certainly Never Gonna Give Him Up, then you had Bananarama (minus Siobhan) whose five hit medley went down a storm, these girls have definitely still got it and next was the man, the legend himself Mr Jason Donovan, the audience was deafening and let’s face it we all knew what was coming soon: The DUET! But before Kylie joined him on stage STEPS were up next and I think you could see that they were surprised by the reaction they received which was just amazing, there were more than a few STEPS dance moves being thrown and I have to say they were just exceptional; fun, polished and professional. 

The suave Mr Rick Astley

Mr Jason Donovan

STEPS

OK so STEPS had left the stage and the atmosphere in the O2 is one that even thinking about now gives me goosebumps, you could feel the excitement and expectation of the upcoming act, the eagerness of the audience was apparent and maybe there were nerves that it wouldn’t live up to expectations. Well let me tell you, I maybe bias (I was wearing a Kylie and Jason T-shirt after all) but THE duet of all duets was mind blowing, yes I cried, I’m not ashamed to admit it by that point my emotions had hit a crescendo, it was worth waiting all these years for and when they did the SPIN, yes just like in the original video the crowd went literally bonkers! The lyrics to Especially For You must have rung around London during the performance, everyone was lost in the moment, a childhood dream, a surreal event that you never thought you would see, it was really happening and there are no words that can describe what it did to me as a fan and seeing Kylie jump up and down with excitement afterwards shows that the artists that night felt just as much as us watching. It still brings a lump to my throat and combined with the overall evening it was just an absolute honour to have been there. The show ended with STEPS rendition of Merry Christmas Everybody with all acts appearing on stage as fake snow fell, alongside the three giant Christmas trees that had lit up the stage all night, this was unquestionably one hell of a Christmas Cracker. 

           Kylie & Jason performing Especially For You

Overall this is one concert that I will forever hold dear, it was a roadshow for us lifelong fans whose passion and love for the music has never died, yes some people may not get it but I do and for that I am truly grateful. Thanks Mr Pete Waterman for answering many a Christmas Wish and the utmost respect  also to Matt Stock and Mike Aitken who are the ones responsible for giving us the undeniable sound of SAW.

Verdict: The Hit Factory Live literally blew the roof off the O2.

Full Setlist:

2 UNLIMITED
Medley: Get Ready For This / Twilight Zone / Tribal Dance 
No Limit

LONNIE GORDON
Happenin’ All Over Again

PAT & MICK
Megamix: Let's All Chant / Use It Up And Wear It Out / I Haven't Stopped Dancing Yet

HAZELL DEAN
Who’s Leaving Who? 
Whatever I Do (Wherever I Go)

BROTHER BEYOND
The Harder I Try

SONIA
Megamix: Can’t Forget You / Counting Every Minute / Listen To Your Heart 
You’ll Never Stop Me From Loving You

PEPSI & SHIRLIE 
Heartache

SINITTA
Megamix: Cross My Broken Heart / Right Back Where We Started From
Toy Boy

JAMES GRAHAM
Love’s About To Change My Heart 
I’ll Always Be There

PRINCESS
After The Love Has Gone 
Say I’m Your Number One 

DEAD OR ALIVE
Megamix: My Heart Goes Bang / Lover Come Back (To Me) / Brand New Lover / Something In My House
You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)
 

Interval Mix:

Pet Shop Boys - Always On My Mind [Remix]
Mel & Kim - Showing Out (Get Fresh At The Weekend)
Edwin Starr - Whatever Makes Our Love Grow
Mel & Kim - That's The Way It Is
Donna Summer - This Time I Know It's For Real
Donna Summer - I Don't Wanna Get Hurt
Laura Branigan - Shattered Glass
Mel & Kim - F.L.M.
Mel & Kim - Respectable
Divine - I'm So Beautiful
Sandra - Everlasting Love [Remix]

SECOND HALF:

RICK ASTLEY
Together Forever 
She Wants To Dance With Me 
When I Fall In Love
Whenever You Need Somebody 
Never Gonna Give You Up

BANANARAMA  
Nathan Jones 
I Heard A Rumour
I Want You Back 
Venus
Love In The First Degree

JASON DONOVAN
When You Come Back To Me 
Every Day (I Love You More) 
Nothing Can Divide Us 
Too Many Broken Hearts

STEPS
Deeper Shade Of Blue 
Last Thing On My Mind 
One For Sorrow 
Stomp 
Tragedy 

KYLIE & JASON
Especially For You

STEPS & ENSEMBLE
Merry Christmas Everybody

All Images © of Julian Clift.

Carli xoxo

www.everything80s.co.uk

Set to be the ultimate Christmas party this once in a lifetime concert will take place at London’s O2 arena on December 21st.  Tickets are available from www.ticketmaster.co.uk / www.livenation.co.uk

This unmissable show celebrates the legendary Stock Aitken Waterman songwriting and production team, the phenomenal success of Pete Waterman’s PWL label and, above all, the irresistible pop that came to define an era in British music history. Once called ‘The Sound of a Bright Young Britain’, it undoubtedly now stands as the soundtrack to a generation, with sales of over 500 million units worldwide.

Pete Waterman said: “Hit Factory Live - Christmas Cracker will be the biggest and best celebration of SAW and PWL ever. This will be the perfect party to commemorate our 25th anniversary. We were devastated when Hyde Park's Hit Factory Live had to be cancelled but now the party is back on with an epic line-up of our classic artists!".

Stock Aitken Waterman scored an unrivalled run of global hits in the 80s and 90s and are now acknowledged as one of the most successful songwriting and producing partnerships of all time. 2012 also marks the 25^th anniversary of PWL Records, the legendary label originally set up as home for many Hit Factory artists.

Set to perform at this unique event are the classic artists from the PWL Hit Factory who will be performing on the same bill for the very first time. Rick Astley’s international success secures his place in the Hit Factory Live - Christmas Cracker line-up. Rick holds the record as the first British male artist to have his first eight solo singles reach the UK Top 10 – including the global No. 1 ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’, ‘Whenever You Need Somebody’ and ‘Together Forever’. Entertainment megastar Jason Donovan takes his place on the bill following massive success with SAW in the late 80s. His hits include the No. 1s ‘Too Many Broken Hearts’, ‘Sealed with A Kiss’ and the bestselling SAW single ever with UK sales of over a million – ‘Especially For You’, an unforgettable duet with Neighbours co-star Kylie Minogue. (Who is now confirmed to be attending! Squeals...)

With such classic hits such as ‘Venus’, ‘Love In the First Degree’ and ‘I Want You Back’, the UK’s most-charted girl group Bananarama are an essential addition to the Hit Factory Christmas Cracker bill.  Dead Or Alive, fronted by the inimitable Pete Burns, also join the line-up, their timeless single ‘You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)’ was the first No. 1 for SAW in 1985.

Also appearing are Pepsi & Shirlie, Princess, Sinitta, Hazell Dean, Sonia, 2 Unlimited, Lonnie Gordon, Brother Beyond and Steps.  With such signature smash hits between them as ‘Heartache’, ‘Say I’m Your Number One’, ‘Toy Boy’, ‘Whatever I Do (Wherever I Go)’, ‘You’ll Never Stop Me Loving You’, ‘No Limit’, ‘Happenin’ All Over Again’ ‘The Harder I Try’ and 'Tragedy'.  The Hit Factory Live - Christmas Cracker is set to be a truly unmissable spectacular event.

A proportion of proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to Cancer Research UK. As a cause that is close to everyone’s hearts, Live Nation are proud supporters of Cancer Research UK and their life saving work.

Ticketing Information:

Tickets 49.50 (plus booking fee)

Show Starts: 7.30pm

Available at www.ticketmaster.co.uk / www.livenation.co.uk

For VIP packages please visit www.livenationexperience.co.uk , or phone 0207 009 3484

Everything 80s will see you there!! We also caught up with Pete Waterman to chat about the show, you can check out the interview over at Everything80s.co.uk 

With Christmas coming upon us fast I've done a Top 10 list (in no particular order as they are all awesome) of my fave 80's Crimbo movies :) Enjoy and let me know what your favourites are!

10) A Christmas Story (1983)

There have been some classic albums re-released this year by Universal and they show no signs of slowing down with their reissue of The Jam’s utterly brilliant UK number one record The Gift. Originally released in March 1982 and to celebrate the 30^th anniversary of the mod revival bands sixth and final album before their untimely split a super-deluxe box set as well as a two-CD Deluxe Edition version was released on 19^th November 2012.  

The Jam arrived on the music scene in 1977 and quickly became at the forefront of the mod revival movement, known for their melodic pop songs, image as well as their distinctive English roots and until their split in 1982 drew upon a variety of stylistic influences including 1960s beat music, soul, rhythm and blues, psychedelic rock, as well as 1970s punk and new wave. The Gift marked the departure from the classic Jam sound to a more Northern Soul-influenced style as well as politically inspired lyrics that give you a glimpse of its time and what life like was like in Britain during the early 80s, not only do you sense the state of the society in which they lived but where music was going. An album with plenty of funk, peppered with jazz influences and a different style to previous Jam music it was not only an album that deserved its top spot but one that led to the split and the forming of The Style Council by Paul Weller. From the great lyrical masterpieces such as Just Who Is The 5 O’clock Hero?, the timeless chart hit, Town Called Malice, with its motown style bassline, a gritty  tale telling us of the reality of dealing with the hardships of life in a small, downtrodden English town, to the post punk sound of Happy Together as well as Precious with its great Sax solo and Everything 80s favourite Carnation a song that is just genius, this is an album that just doesn’t get old with time. A powerful album that Weller describes as “I was very proud of it – I thought it was another advance on what we’d done before”, maybe he was ensuring that their last album should also be their finest. 

The phenomenal 4 disc box set includes 3 CDs: A re-mastered version of the original album along with Singles & B-Sides, disc two is full of demos and alternate tracks whereas disc 3 is a complete previously unreleased live recording of the band’s final tour at Wembley on Dec 3^rd 1982 containing 23 top tunes, the fourth disc is a DVD compilation featuring live performances along with TV promo footage as well as their Top of The Pops appearance from February 18th 1982 where they performed their top hit Town Called Malice and had the honour of performing its double A-side, Precious at the same time, the only other band to be bestowed with this honour being the Beatles! Not only do you get these incredible discs but also a hardback 72-page, full colour book, gathering memorabilia from the era and the fan’s, magazine cuttings, reviews, photos,  new interviews with Paul Weller and producer Peter Wilson, as well as a set of postcard prints, and a replica 1982 tour programme. Phewf there is definitely plenty to whet the fans appetite!  

Overall whether you are going for the mega box set or just the deluxe 2 disc version you are in for a treat. A great re-issue of a classic album with enough extras and unreleased material to not only please long term fans but also a new generation.

You can get yours over at Amazon:

2 CD Deluxe Version

Super Deluxe Edition

Or Visit the : Universal Music Box Set Store 

The Jam – The Gift: 30 ^th anniversary ( ‘The Gift and beyond…’)

‘Gift-box’ ‘super-deluxe’ Edition Contents:

• Four discs, in individual wallets: Disc 1 – original album re-mastered, Disc 2 – bonus tracks, Disc 3 – Live at Wembley December 1982, Disc 4 – DVD compilation
• Outer box in original striped bag style cover – ‘The Jam – A Gift’!
• Hardback 72-page, full-colour book – including period and fan’s memorabilia, magazine cuttings (NME etc.), reviews, photos, new interviews (with Paul Weller and producer Peter Wilson)  
• Foreword by Paul Weller and new essay by John Harris
• Set of postcard prints
• Replica 1982  tour programme
•  

Also available as:

• 2-disc deluxe digi-pak format
• Deluxe digital version
• Limited Edition 10” Vinyl of Danish TV Concert recorded 23/4/82

Super-deluxe Box Set Tracklisting:

Disc One - Original album / Singles & B-Sides

1. Happy Together

2. Ghosts

3. Precious

4. Just Who Is The 5 O’clock Hero

5. “Trans-Global Express”

6. Running On The Spot

7. Circus

8. The Planner’s Dream Goes Wrong

9. Carnation

10. Town Called Malice

11. The Gift

12. Precious (12”)

13. The Great Depression

14. The Bitterest Pill (I Ever Had To Swallow)

15. Pity Poor Alfie / Fever

16. Pity Poor Alfie (swing version)

17. Beat Surrender

18. Shopping

19. Move On Up

20. Stoned Out Of My Mind

21. War

Disc Two – Demos & Alternate Tracks

1.  Skirt (demo) #

2.  Get Yourself Together (demo) Originally released on ‘Extras’

3.  Ghosts (instrumental demo) #

4.  Just Who Is The 5 O’clock Hero (demo) #

5.  Running On The Spot (demo) #

6.  The Planner’s Dream Goes Wrong (demo) #

7.  Carnation (instrumental demo) #

8.   Precious (demo)  Originally released on ‘Direction, Reaction, Creation’

9.   The Bitterest Pill (demo) #

10.  Alfie (demo ‘2’) #

11.  We’ve Only Started (‘old version’) #

12.  Only Started (instrumental demo) #

13.  Shopping (AKA ‘Paul’s demo’) #

14.  Beat Surrender (demo) #

15.  Solid Bond In Your Heart (demo) #          

# Previously unreleased

Disc Three - Live at Wembley (Dec. 3rd 1982)

1. Start!

2. It’s Too Bad

3. Beat Surrender

4. Away From The Numbers

5. Ghosts

6. In The Crowd

7. Boy About Town

8. So Sad About Us

9. All Mod Cons

10. To Be Someone

11. Smithers-Jones

12. That’s Entertainment

13. The Great Depression

14. Precious

15. Move On Up

16. Circus

17. Down In The Tube Station At Midnight

18. David Watts

19. Mr Clean

20. Town Called Malice

21. But I’m Different Now

22. “Trans-Global Express”

23. In The City

Disc 4 – DVD

Part 1 – Trans-Global Unity Express

Live video from Birmingham March 1982

Part 2 – The promo videos

1. Town Called Malice

2. Precious

3. The Bitterest Pill

Part 3 - Danish TV special

The Jam play songs from the Gift album. Recorded live in Studio 3, TV-Byen, Copenhagen April 19 1982, broadcast April 23 1982.

1.    Running On The Spot

2.    Circus

3.    Happy Together

4    Ghosts

5.    In The Crowd

6.    Town Called Malice

7.    Pity Poor Alfie / Fever

8.    Precious

9.    Just Who Is The 5 O’clock Hero

10.  The Gift

11.  Move On Up

12.  Trans-Global Express

Part 4 – Top Of The Pops

Recorded February 18 1982

1. Precious

2. Town Called Malice

The UK's speed metal demons, the rock band that shaped the heavy metal scene are to be celebrated in style for being in the industry for over 35 years, the celebration comes in the form of an immense box set of the bands early material, which in my opinion is unsurpassed and gave us some of the best fast and furious rhythms’ such as the aggressively brilliant tones of Overkill, the unforgettable chords and snarl of Ace of Spades a true metal classic as well as the loud thrasher that is Killed By Death. The band was formed by the legendary frontman Lemmy Kilmister after he was abruptly fired from Hawkwind in 1975, a blessing in disguise as Motörhead exploded onto the scene, invaded our charts and in turn created the new genre of speed metal, producing great hard rock and metal tracks ever since.

The Complete Early Years box set has it all, this limited collector’s edition, housed in a unique Motörhead case, is a truly remarkable set, containing eight albums (Motörhead; their energetic and powerful debut album, Overkill; metal at its best, Bomber, Ace of Spades; A fierce and up-tempo classic plenty of guitar riffs and lyrics to blow your mind, No Sleep 'till Hammersmith; This live recording transfers their rawness in epic proportions, Iron Fist, Another Perfect Day and No Remorse), seven singles (Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers', Louie Louie, Golden Years EP, St. Valentine's Day Massacre, Killed By Death, Stand By Your Man and Shine) including B-Sides and a 7” vinyl. Also included is a limited edition family tree plus a photo book and collectors guide, making the box set a must for any true Motörhead fan.

So if you can’t get enough of Lemmy’s rasping vocals, the aggressive powerful fast bass and hard-core drumming then this is for you, unfortunately it also comes with a hefty price tag (approx. £260) so maybe it’s for serious collectors only. That said it is a brilliantly put  together collection from one of the greatest rock bands in the world so if you are missing any of the early material and want it all in one place then this is the collection to get and the skull it’s housed in is simply awesome.

Motörhead released their 20th studio album The Wörld Is Yours in 2011, and will be touring the UK throughout November 2012. Check out their official site for more details.

Motörhead, The Complete Early Years boxset will be released on 19 November 2012. You can Pre-Order yours here.

Contents:

• 8 full length Albums: 5” Japanese Miniatures Motörhead (Chiswick) / Overkill / Bomber / Ace of Spades / No Sleep Till Hammersmith / Iron Fist / Another Perfect Day / No Remorse 
• 7 CD Singles: 3” Japanese Miniatures Beer Drinkers And Hell Raisers / Louie Louie / Golden Years Ep / St. Valentine's Day Massacre / Killed By Death (with poster) / Stand By Your Man / Shine
• 1 x 7” Vinyl Single (Leaving Here / White Line Fever) 
•  Limited edition Pete Frame Family Tree
•  The 300 page Motorhead Collector’s Guide
•  84 page Concert Programmes Photo Book with exclusive content.

Full Tracklisting:

Disc 1 – Motorhead (1977)

1.       Motörhead

2.       Vibrator

3.       Lost Johnny

4.       Iron Horse / Born to Lose

5.       White Line Fever

6.       Keep Us On The Road

7.       The Watcher

8.       The Train Kept a-Rollin'

Disc 2 – Beer Drinkers and Hellraisers (1977)

1.       Beer Drinkers And Hellraisers

2.       On Parole

3.       Instro

4.       I'm Your Witchdoctor

Disc 3 – Overkill (1979)

1.       Overkill

2.       Stay Clean

3.       (I Won't) Pay Your Price

4.       I'll Be Your Sister

5.       Capricorn

6.       No Class

7.       Damage Case

8.       Tear Ya Down

9.       Metropolis

10.    Limb From Limb

Disc 4 – Louie Louie (1978)

1.       Louie Louie

2.       Tear Ya Down

Disc 5 – Bomber (1979)

1.       Dead Men Tell No Tales

2.       Lawman

3.       Sweet Revenge

4.       Sharpshooter

5.       Poison

6.       Stone Dead Forever

7.       All The Aces

8.       Step Down

9.       Talking Head

10.    Bomber

Disc 6 – Golden Years EP (1980)

1.       Leaving Here (Live)

2.       Stone Dead Forever (Live)

3.       Dead Men Tell No Tales (Live)

4.       Too Late Too Late (Live)

Disc 7 – Ace of Spades (1980)

1.       Ace Of Spades

2.       Love Me Like A Reptile

3.       Shoot You In The Back

4.       Live To Win

5.       Fast And Loose

6.       (We Are) The Roadcrew

7.       Fire Fire

8.       Dance

9.       Bite The Bullet

10.    The Chase Is Better Than The Catch

11.    The Hammer

Disc 8 – St.Valentines Day Massacre (EP) (1980)  

1.       Please Don't Touch

2.       Emergency

3.       Bomber

Disc 9 – No Sleep Till Hammersmith (1981)

1.       Ace Of Spades

2.       Stay Clean

3.       Metropolis

4.       The Hammer

5.       Iron Horse - Born To Lose

6.       No Class

7.       Overkill

8.       (We Are) The Roadcrew

9.       Capricorn

10.    Bomber

11.    Motörhead

Disc 10 – Iron Fist (1982)

1.       Iron Fist

2.       Heart Of Stone

3.       I'm The Doctor

4.       Go To Hell

5.       Loser

6.       Sex And Outrage

7.       America

8.       Shut It Down

9.       Speedfreak

10.    (Don't Let 'Em) Grind You Down

11.    (Don't Need) No Religion

12.    Bang To Rights

Disc 11 – Stand By Your Man (EP) (1982)

1.       Stand By Your Man

2.       No Class

3.       Masterplan

Disc 12 – Another Perfect Day (1983)

1.       Back at the Funny Farm

2.       Shine

3.       Dancing On Your Grave

4.       Rock it

5.       One Track Mind

6.       Another Perfect Day

7.       Marching off to War

8.       I Got Mine

9.       Tales of Glory

10.    Die You Bastard!

Disc: 13 – Shine (EP) (1983)

1.       Shine

2.       (I'm Your) Hoochie Coochie Man (Live)

3.       (Don't Need) Religion (Live)

Disc 14 – No Remorse Parts 1&2 (1984)

1.       Ace Of Spades

2.       Motörhead

3.       Jailbait

4.       Stay Clean

5.       Too Late, Too Late

6.       Killed By Death

7.       Bomber

8.       Iron Fist

9.       Shine

10.    Dancing On Your Grave

11.    Metropolis

12.    Snaggletooth

13.    Overkill

14.    Please Don't Touch

15.    Stone Dead Forever

16.    Like A Nightmare

17.    Emergency

18.    Steal Your Face

19.    Louie Louie

20.    No Class

21.    Iron Horse

22.    (We Are) The Roadcrew

23.    Leaving Here (Live)

24.    Locomotive

Disc 15 – Killed By Death (EP) (1984)

1.       Killed By Death

2.       Under The Knife

3.       Under The Knife

7” Vinyl Single

1.       Leaving Here

2.       White Line Fever