How are you doing?
It is March 24th which is of course the last Thursday in March and today's ttt is bubbly! I also see that my ttt was the only post I published on Hive last week, let's see what I can do this week. It just shows the power of music!
We are going back to my Silver Chronicles post of a few weeks ago My Soundtrack for the 80s my favourite decade
Quite a self-explanatory title and it is my inspiration for the next few posts on ttt!
The year is now 1981 and these three tunes are from a Scottish band that were fronted by a wee bubbly nutter lol!
It is Tuesday and that of course means that it's #ttt or #threetunetuesday and so it's time to share some tunes with you!
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He has just released some winners posts, so go support those posts, he gets no support from any whales or even curation trails for these posts that he does. 251 weeks is an incredible amount of time, and I for one love that he runs this, and I appreciate the time and dedication that he puts in, when he could be doing something else.
Altered Images were one of the most vibrant bands of the Scottish post-punk scene. While they may not have the massive global footprint of Simple Minds or the political edge of Big Country, their unique "bubblegum post-punk" sound as defined by the distinctive wee girlish vocals of Clare Grogan and sharp jangly melodies remains incredibly influential.
If Altered Images had a breakout moment, then it was 1981. This was a pivotal year, not just for the band but for the new wave sound that was taking over the charts. After a brief association with Siouxsie and the Banshees, they were signed to Epic Records and released their first singles. Crucially, they were championed by the absolute king of alternative radio, John Peel, whose endorsement instantly solidified their credentials. That year, they released their debut album, Happy Birthday, which peaked at number 26 on the UK albums chart, setting the stage for their major chart success the following year.
All three of these tunes were released in 1981.
I thought I would kick off with a live performance from one of their first shows. Not the best recording, but that is what live music is all about. Not this shiny perfect package from a studio lol!
I must have seen them six or seven times over the years and they still tour today.
This was their debut single on a major label (Epic Records). It’s a wonderfully strange, slightly darker and more manic track than their later hits.
You can hear the raw, punkier energy that John Peel loved. The fast, scratchy guitars and Clare’s breathy, almost frantic vocals create a feeling of anxious fun. It didn't crack the main UK charts (reaching #67), but it made a massive impact on the independent charts and established their sonic footprint.
This is it...
Their absolute anthem.
While released in September 1981, this single became the massive mainstream breakout they needed and it hit #2 on the UK singles chart and stayed there for three weeks.
Produced by Martin Rushent (who also produced The Human League's Dare and that is another band I need to feature too ... note to self!), it has that slick, synth-pop production that defined the 80s, but it's grounded by the band's jangly guitar work and Clare's completely unforgettable "I could be happy!" hook. This song is still a staple of 80s compilation albums and TV shows.
To this day, if I am at a birthday party I want this played!
Hehe I have had this playing since 5am this morning when I got up!
Yes, I’m "cheating" slightly as this was released in January 1982, but I don't fluffing care 🤣.
This was the direct follow-up to "Happy Birthday" and was recorded during the same sessions in late 1981. It perfectly follows the success of the previous track, with a slightly more mature, almost melancholic tone beneath the poppy chorus. It reached #7 in the UK, cementing their status as a genuine chart act and proving that "Happy Birthday" was no fluke. This is perhaps their finest moment, perfectly blending their artistic, post-punk roots with accessible, radio-friendly pop.
Which was your favourite tune? Or have you never heard of them?
Note: The 3 YouTube videos that I have shared are not owned by me, I am simply spreading great music on Hive.
I wish that you all have a brilliant happy fun and terrific Tuesday until we meet again enjoy your tunes 🎶🎵🎶
The images and ramblings are from me, with some assistance from gemini on the verbage, the mad Scotsman TengoLoTodo unless otherwise stated.
