Classic Pop - April-May 2017

Classic Pop - April/May 2017

English | 140 Pages | True PDF | 37.7 mb


F E A T U R E S

MTV: WHEN POP VIDEOS RULED THE WORLD 24

Launched in 1981, the music TV channel swiftly did the once-unimaginable – it made pop’s moving image almost as important as the sound through the speakers. Paul Lester tells the story…

THE LOWDOWN: ECHO & THE BUNNYMEN 32

“Untouchable, celestial, beautiful and real…” A guide to the output of Liverpool’s purveyors of glorious gloom

SHEENA EASTON 36

The Scottish chanteuse tells Classic Pop all about the trail from Bellshill to Paisley Park and Vegas and on to 42nd Street

CLASSIC ALBUM: ERASURE – THE CIRCUS 42

Framing politics, despair and self-affi rmation in a gloriously uplifting manner, the duo’s second album had to succeed… and it did

SUZANNE VEGA 48

The Luka and Tom’s Diner songwriter grants Classic Pop a personal tour through her discography

STOCK AITKEN WATERMAN 52

Mark Elliott, writer of SAW guide The Ministry Of Pop, debunks 9 myths about the all-conquering production trio

MIKE + THE MECHANICS 58

Mike Rutherford explains how fresh voices and collaborations injected life into the least “side” of all side projects

THE HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT 64

It’s 30 years since Jack Your Body opened the fl oodgates for house music, a musical force for the next decade

WENDY JAMES 68

As fi ercely unapologetic as ever, Wendy James – songwriter, singer, producer and much more – is back with a bang and an album of NYC-stained rock’n’roll

POP ART: PIERRE ET GILLES 74

The controversial French couple’s fantastical iconography has graced many a style-conscious popster’s output

RUBY TURNER 80

The journey from Culture Club to solo success and an MBE: “Watford Gap was my second home!” she assures us


N E W S

POP-UP 08

All the latest rumours from The KLF, Johnny Marr, Grace Jones, Vince Clarke, Paul Young, Julian Cope, Lloyd Cole…

BURIED TREASURES 12

Another four rarities to seek out

LOST & FOUND 14

When Neil Young went electronic

CLIVE LANGER 17

The producer on Madness, Morrissey, Kevin Rowland, Elvis Costello and current outlet The Clang Group

MARK WHITE 19

Insights on the transition from Vice Versa to ABC, from the induction of Martin Fry to a parting of the ways


R E G U L A R S

A TO Z OF POP 21

Ian Peel’s alphabetical allusions

TRANSMISSION 22

Our readers get in touch with their views about all things on Planet Pop

LONG LIVE VINYL 84

Veritable giants enshrined in the grooves: Carole King, Bon Jovi, Status Quo, Blondie, Paul Weller, Madness and more

COMPETITIONS 47 & 86

Win more than £4,000 worth of tickets!


R E V I E W S

The best releases and live concerts

SINGLES 88

Matthew Rudd of Forgotten 80s

NEW RELEASES 89

Depeche Mode, Goldfrapp, Jamiroquai, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Right Said Fred, Little Cub, Nelly Furtado, Ryan Adams, Marti Pellow, Future Islands…

REISSUES 96

George Michael, Fleetwood Mac, Ian Dury, Marc Almond, A Flock Of Seagulls

COMPILATIONS 101

100 Hits and Twelve Inch Eighties

BOOKS AND DVDS 104

The music of Prince, Blondie’s inside story, and some classic Polaroids of ambitious star-to-be Madonna…

LIVE 107

Pet Shop Boys, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Alexander O’Neal, De La Soul, Ladyhawke, Alpines…