For a time in the late 1980s The Housemartins were one of my favourite bands. This is reasonably unusual in their œuvre in having a tune that isn’t jaunty.

From their debut album London 0 Hull 4, it was their first ever single. It didn’t dent the charts.

The Housemartins: Flag Day

Another from Aussie band INXS. A UK no 14 from 1989.

INXS: Mystify

Late era crooner Jack Jones died recently. He was an easy listening fixture on British TV in the late 60s and early 70s but he never had a UK hit as far as I recall.

His style of singing wasn’t to my taste in those far off years but I do remember reading (or was it on a chat show?) that when he started out his agent – or his manager – asked him if he’d ever been in love and he said “No.” “Too bad,” was the reply, since it would make him a more expressive singer of love songs.

Some time later Jones informed his agent he had finally fallen in love. To which the agent replied, “Now, if only she’d leave you.”

This is a reasonably typical example of Jones’s œuvre at that time.

Jack Jones: Wives and Lovers

The following, however, might be more familiar to those relatively younger than me.

Jack Jones: Love Boat Theme

John Allan (Jack) Jones: 14/1/1938 –23/10/2024. So it goes.

Another of the most successful songwriters of the 60s, Ken Howard, has died. Together with his songwriting partner Alan Blaikley (whose death I noted here) he wrote hits for The Honeycombs, The Herd and, most notably, Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich. Their songwriting list is impressive.

This was a no 4 for the latter band in 1965.

Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich: Hold Tight!

Later in their career Howard and Blaikley went into writing TV Themes and musicals.

This is perhaps the most familiar of those tunes.

Vejle Symfoniorkester: Miss Marple TV Theme

Kenneth Charles (Ken) Howard: 26/12/1939 – 24/12/2024. So it goes.

Even though he wasn’t born when this group had their big hits, for a time The Human League were my son’s favourite band.

Recent events brought this song to my mind. Still waiting for the soldiers to be gone.

The Human League: The Lebanon

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