Despite its long afterlife this only reached no 46 in the UK on first release in 1984. It was a no 13 on re-release in 1990, though.

Talk Talk: It’s My Life

It’s a jaunty tune but it wouldn’t have been such a success I don’t think if it were not for Maggie Reilly’s vocal.

This is a Top of the Pops performance from 1983 (subtitled in both English and Spanish!)

Mike Oldfield (and Maggie Reilly): Moonlight Shadow

Another from the talented and much missed Clifford T Ward.

Clifford T Ward: The Best is Yet to Come

Sad to hear that Chris Cross, bass guitarist with 1980s synthesiser band Ultravox, has died.

In 1982 this was Ultravox’s third biggest hit up to that point.

Ultravox: Reap the Wild Wind

Christopher Thomas Allen (Chris Cross,) 14/7 1952 – 25 /3/2024. So it goes.

Just creeping into the 1980s this was the short-lived band’s first substantial hit.

Pity about the connotations of the band name they eventually chose.

Joy Division: Love Will Tear Us Apart

This week Welsh musician, Karl Wallinger, also left us.

He wrote Don’t Bang the Drum for The Waterboys’ third LP This is the Sea before leaving to form the group World Party

I’ve featured their songs here and here.

His 1997 song, She’s the One, was later made a hit by Robbie Williams.

The Waterboys: Don’t Bang the Drum

World Party: Ship of Fools

Karl Edmond De Vere Wallinger: 19/10/1957 – 10/3/2024. So it goes.

One of Fife’s finest, Stuart Adamson, was the founding force behind the band Big Country.

He attended one of the schools I taught in Beath High School (but I think before my time there) and at least one his children was a pupil at the other, Queen Anne High School in Dunfermline.

Big Country’s skirling guitar sound was intended to invoke its members’ Scottish heritage as heard in this song. The clip seems to be a live version as performed on The Tube.

Big Country: In a Big Country

Prefab Sprout were never a great commercial success (even if they had nine top forty albums their biggest single hit only reached n0 7.) but were more appreciated critically.

Their previous single to that was this song, a UK no 44 in 1988.

Prefab Sprout: Cars and Girls

And now Shane McGowan has gone. I doubt he needs any introduction.

There is really only one song that I can use to illustrate his legacy. It is most people’s favourite “Christmas” song. It does not deal with traditional Christmas themes.

I note this is not the version with the “cleaned-up” lyric. (Though the person typing out the lyrics  did misspell a four letter word.)

The Pogues featuring Kirsty MacColl: Fairy Tale of New York

Shane Patrick Lysaght MacGowan: 25/12/1957 – 30/11/2023. So it goes.

Marillion’s last “hit” of the 1980s this was a track from the first Fishless LP Season’s End.

“Hit” is in inverted commas since it only reached no 53.

It has an interesting referential lyric.

Marillion: The Uninvited Guest