One of my favourite days because it means a post on Hive will be written by me, and I get to hear other music that Hivers and Hiveians enjoy. Well for the select band that participate in ttt anyway!
Picture by me ... Sunset .. pure gold ... What do you think?
We are going back to my Silver Chronicles post of a few months 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 1983 and we are listening to a band that remind me a bit of the Kray twins ...
The lead image takes inspiration from the first song today.
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!
Do go support
For this week鈥檚 ttt, we are back with some of London's gangstas alebit in a New Romantic way!
The band originally started out in North London around 1976 under the name Roots. Now Roots was formed by Gary Kemp (guitar) and Steve Norman (guitar/saxophone), alongside schoolmates John Keeble (drums) and later Tony Hadley (lead vocals). Gary's younger brother Martin Kemp joined on bass in 1979 to complete the classic line-up. They became central figures in the London club scene, particularly Steve Strange's famous Blitz Club in Soho, which launched the New Romantic fashion and music movement. The Kemo brothers will always remind me of old school East End gangsters and read on and you will foinf out why!
Some of you that have been to Berlin or know your history will know about Spandau Prison...
The boys their name from Roots to Spandau Ballet after radio DJ and friend Robert Elms spotted the phrase written as graffiti on a bathroom wall during a trip to Berlin. The phrase was a piece of dark military slang referencing Spandau Prison in Berlin.
However they felt it sounded sleek and edgy, and aptly fluffing European for the synth-pop aesthetic they were building at the time.
Gary and Martin Kemp played East End gangster brothers Ronnie and Reggie Kray in the 1990 film The Krays. Their real-life sibling dynamic gave the film a terrifyingly authentic vibe, and to this day, it's hard to look at the pair on stage without thinking of the Kray firm, innit!
Here are three amazing tunes from Spandau Ballet's third studio album, True, which was released in March 1983.
We have to start with the title single from the album!
And an appearance on Top of The Pops! One of our staple shows! Mind you Siousie and the Banchees were class too...
Written by Gary Kemp at his parents' house in Islington, London, this smooth soul-pop track reached No. 1 in the UK Singles Chart in April 1983.
Kemp wrote it about his unrequited crush on Altered Images singer Clare Grogan. The famous line "Listening to Marvin all night long" is a direct nod to Marvin Gaye.
I had a crush on wee Clare Grogan too! And they sang Happy Birthday which I have back in my head again as it is my birthday on Monday!
Now this was from the Old Grey Whistle Test, another staple for watching music!
Released as the follow-up single in August 1983, Gold reached No. 2 in the UK chart. It was produced by Steve Jolley and Tony Swain, who pushed the band towards a James Bond theme-song brassiness. The music video was filmed in Carmona, Spain.
WOW! Just look at all the devices we had. Kids today don't know how easy they have it with communication!!!
Released in February 1983 as the lead-in single for the True album, Communication landed at No. 12 on the UK charts.
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 馃幎馃幍馃幎
The images and ramblings are from me, with some assistance from gemini on the verbage and the lead image, the mad Scotsman TengoLoTodo unless otherwise stated.
