Leo

Well-known member
kind of wrote them off as just another quirky new wave band with the first album, then they had a few decent pop songs on the second. seemed to more fully embrace that pop direction from then on once Jools left.
 

IdleRich

IdleRich
If you go shopping for second hand records you ALWAYS see that album of theirs with a pic of a weird muscle freak, that picture was so disgusting it completely put me off the band.
 

IdleRich

IdleRich
Also, surely it didn't sell THAT many to be so ubiquitous, it feels as though everyone who bought it hated it and immediately flogged it. Also Phaedra by Tangerine Dream, every single shop, always three quid.
 

Leo

Well-known member
"tempted" has long been a staple on easy-listening radio here, probably played is a dentist's office somewhere every day.
 

IdleRich

IdleRich
It's not that easy to find sales figures (unless someone knows a good place) but seems Phaedra sold a fairly solid half a million... but why is it so much more prevalent in shops than, say, things like Led Zeppelin 2 which sold more than 20 times that? I never understand that kind of stuff, how come that classic 'crust' rock is seemingly rare and expensive despite there being so many knocking about.
 

sus

Well-known member
Also @suspended are you familiar with Cool For Cats? It shares the same slice of mundane daily life kitchen sink colloquialisms as Up The Junction and came to my attention as a child when it was used on an advert for... what was it? I think it was milk or milkshakes or something that cats probably drink.
A classic.
 

blissblogger

Well-known member
My wife's theory with "Up the Junction" is that the rhymes are deliberately clunky to convey the idea that it's the character in the song - who's not especially literate or well educated - actually attempting to write verse. It's meant to be artless.
 

IdleRich

IdleRich
My wife's theory with "Up the Junction" is that the rhymes are deliberately clunky to convey the idea that it's the character in the song - who's not especially literate or well educated - actually attempting to write verse. It's meant to be artless.
I think that's probably fairly on the money. It's the only explanation for a song made entirely of lines as awkward as the infamous

"I hope I don't see a ghost, that's the sight I fear the most, I'd rather have a piece of toast"

I can stretch to that happening once naturally in a song out of desperation and stupidity or laziness, but for the whole song to be based around it again and again and again it has to be deliberate surely?

Mind you there are some Dylan ones that aren't a lot better....
 

WashYourHands

Cat Malogen
Why's everyone talking about a television host in this thread eh​

Uncle Jools got a BBC gig doing a show with acts that might be called music. About 10pm-ish, when most of Britain is drunk

The problem lies in the setting - each act/band/performer is given a wee sound stage of their own, then at the end of the show they all *jam together

*5 drummers, a drum machine, 8 bass players, 200 guitarists, 1000 synths, 10,000 singers. Appallingly shambolic. I sort of like the bloke tbh (he's very English), but he insists on plinky plonky, plus his annual NYE fuckin Hootenanny calendar fixture

Symbolic of coming home from the pub, flicking the tv on (remember those) and oh no not this cunt again
 

IdleRich

IdleRich
My friend went to see a gig from some old blues legend at Wembley, or was it a soul guy? Whatever, it was some guy, one hundred and fifty years old at least, come out of retirement for one last tour, you know the kind of thing.

So yeah my friend goes and after a couple of songs this bluesoul legend says - I'm so glad to be here in London, and also I am pleased to announce we have an incredible special guest joining us later. And next song he says I am so excited about this guest. After every song almost, he's getting more and more aroused "I am seriously wet-tipped about this superstar joining us".

And it is infectious, my friend is thinking to himself "Who can it be? Who is there in the world to justify this build up? Is it Bob Dylan... no, he's a big star for sure but not as big as the one being trailed, Stevie Wonder perhaps? Has John Lennon come back to life for tonight only? Is it our lord and saviour Jesus Christ himself? Possibly even Armin Van Buuren" - he's gripped by rising hysteria, all he can think for the whole gig is "Who is it? Who can it be?".

You lot might be able to hazard a guess at which living legend finally emerged to add a few plinky plonk piano sounds in the background but I have to say that my friend was a little underwhelmed.
 
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