LAUREL has revealed the video for the song "Scream Drive Faster". The Music video was directed by Elliott Arndt.
7_Songs: Holly Johnson / Frankie Goes to Hollywood
This year in February, Holly Johnson turned 60, and we thought it would be a nice occasion to pay tribute to him and his former band Frankie Goes to Hollywood with this 7_Songs feature. Johnson’s career start goes back to the late 70s Liverpool punk scene out of which the nucleus for Frankie Goes to Hollywood took shape. Inspired to take a name after the title from the news article in the New York Times, it seemed that Frankie Goes to Hollywood would be there for big things, and indeed, with the first single and the album release they found pop stardom.
Photo courtesy of The GuardianIn 1984, FGTH released “Relax” which was not only a tune but also a motto and a symbol of the mid-80s and at the same time the band’s biggest hit. One could say that it had an impact on the general pop culture also hitting the street fashion and there was also a themed video game. “Relax” was also an introduction to the band's brilliant album Welcome to the Pleasuredome which gave birth to a string of hits, out of which three reached no.1 in the UK charts. The album was produced by Trevor Horn and released on his ZTT label. It was rich, provocative and decadent with excellent production and a festival of influences which could easily be referred to as progressive disco as an end product. With the release of the second album, Liverpool, fame faded and the tensions between the band members were growing. The band managed to release three more singles from it, to tour again, after which Johnson decided to leave the band. He also had to go into a legal battle with the record company, winning the dispute in the end.
Photo courtesy of theartsdesk.com
In the late 80s Johnson started his solo career when he was signed to MCA, released his solo album Blast and managed to have a series of hits including “Americanos” and “Love Train”. In the early 90s, Johnson was diagnosed with HIV and thinking this was his end, he wrote his autobiography A Bone in My Flute. Eventually he turned more to art, but never really left the music business. He recorded songs and performed occasionally.
The band never reunited even though in 2003, the VH-1 program Bands Reunited brought Johnson, Rutherford, Gill, Nash, and Mark O'Toole together, in the hope of their agreeing to perform impromptu on the show. However, a reunion performance did not transpire.
Holly Johnson never performed again with Frankie Goes to Hollywood.
There is not a single thing in the world that sums up the 1980s as perfectly, FGTH and Welcome to the Pleasuredome does for the 80s. In particular, 1984 seems to be the year of the band, when they almost made 4 consecutive No.1 in the UK. Frankie was the mega sensation, the artistic concept and even a brand. They were hitting the Euro dance floors and beyond, and they were shocking the conservative adults to gain prominence. They had that perfect formula, if you are going to do pop, attack it.
Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Relax
"Relax" was the debut album by FGTH which also gave them the international breakthrough. It is one of the most controversial and most commercially successful records of the decade. It was banned by BBC because of its lyrics that we interpreted to be explicit. Despite all the scandals, the song sold 12 mill records around the world and won the Brit Award for the best song in 1985. It also went beyond music, hitting the street fashion with the T-shirts with the slogan Frankie Says Relax.
Frankie Goes To Hollywood - The Power of Love
This was the third single from their debut album and also the third consecutive No.1 which rounded up a successful year for FGTH. This song is often referenced as a Christmas single due to the music video that features Nativity, and also because it was released ahead of Xmas in 1984. In tone, it was also different from the previous, which were louder made for clubland. The song went platinum in Canada, Germany, New Zealand and triple Platinum in their native UK.
Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Welcome To The Pleasuredome
This was the title track to the debut album and the only single release that did not reach the UK No. 1 despite having this potential. The spoken-word introductions to both 12-inch mixes are adapted from Walter Kaufmann's 1967 translation of Friedrich Nietzsche's The Birth of Tragedy. The video, by Bernard Rose, features the group stealing a car, going to a carnival and encountering all manner of deceptively "pleasurable" activities.
Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Rage Hard
In 1986, Frankie Goes to Hollywood released their second album, Liverpool. This album saw more use of the band than the debut album and expressed a rockier sound than their debut, but it was still pretty much powerful in rhythm and form. It was FGTH's first single to be released on CD and even Cassette. It reached number one in the German official charts and No. 4 in the UK.
Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Warriors of the Wasteland
Another single followed from Liverpool, which many think is one of the best tracks on the album. Some interesting inspirations were drawn from T. S. Eliot, but Johnson also cited the 1981 Mel Gibson film, Mad Max 2, and the 1979 film, The Warriors as inspirations. This song barely made it in the Top 20 in the UK and commercial success was starting to decline. FGTH would release one more single before disbanding.
Holly Johnson - Love Train
After the split of FGTH, Holly Johnson released his debut album Blast 1989 and "Love Train" was the first single to be taken from it. Even though it was clearly a dance track, it featured the guitar solo from Brain May from Queen. The song reached No.4 in the UK and also had success in Europe. The song was issued as both 7” and 12” including several versions of the song.
Holly Johnson - Americanos
"Americanos" was another single from Blast that managed to make a big impact on the charts, reaching No. 4 in the UK and was a commercial success across Europe. Chris Heath of Smash Hits described the song as a "80s update of David Bowie's Young Americans in both its content and its spirit, where he acknowledges the superficiality of the American dream but isn't narrow-minded enough to simply condemn it.”
Singles cover photos courtesy of discogs.com
For the complete Frankie Goes To Hollywood / Holly Johnson discography, as documented in music videos, please check the following the link below.
Retrovision: The Times - Manchester
The Times kicked off the 90's decade with the release of "Manchester"|. It was pretty much summing up so many things related to the Manchester music scene and England, and at a perfect timing on the crossroads between two decades.
New Order Reveal New Single 'Be a Rebel'
New Order are back with their first new single in almost five years. The new single is called "Be a Rebel" and is out on Mute. It is available on all streaming services and YouTube link below.
Next Wave: Porridge Radio
Porridge Radio were formed in Brighton in 2015 when they released their debut album Misery Radio. The band’s nucleus is the very charismatic singer, songwriter and lead guitarist Dana Margolin while the other members are keyboardist Georgie Stott, bass guitarist Maddie Ryall and drummer Sam Yardley. This year they have released their second album Every Bad and the first on the new record label Secretly Canadian. The album is certainly going to make it to our year end list as it has a perfect balance between good song writing, sound production and vocals. It tenders to get loud and burst out yet it remains emotional and melancholic. It has been promoted by the series of singles including “Don’t Ask Me Twice” and their latest “Circling”, released in March.
Image courtesy of www.loudandquiet.com
August Singles Round Up
The "Summer Wine" 2020 cover leading the way into this August Singles Round up which also includes some exciting comebacks by Cabaret Voltaire, The Smashing Pumpkins and Julia Holter.
Alex Kapranos & Clara Luciani - Summer Wine
Chelou - Real
The Neighbourhood - Devil's Advocate
Muzz - Summer Love
Cabaret Voltaire - Vasto
Julia Holter - Gold Dust Woman
Girl in Red - Rue
Nation of Language - On Division St
The Smashing Pumpkins - CYR
WAW: The Killers - My Own Soul's Warning
The Killers premiered the second video for the song "My Own Soul's Warning" which premiered on August 20th on YouTube. Their brand new studio album Imploding the Mirage was officially released a day after. This new video for My Own Soul's Warning was directed by Michael Hill.
Instant Hit: Katy Gray - Hold Me Tight
"Hold Me Tight" was released by Katy Gray in 1985 and there is quite a veil of mystery to the singer's identity and rumours that claim that she was tragically killed by a disco ball in 1987. The lady on the cover artwork is believed to be Monica Stucci. Katy Gray never released another single and this certainly remains as an italo-disco tune of the highest calibre.
Tears for Fears to Release The Seeds of Love Boxset
Tears for Fears’ third album, 1989’s The Seeds of Love is going to be released as five disc box set. This album featured some of bands's biggest hits including, "Advice for the Young at Heart" and "Woman in Chains". The box set will feature the original album, remastered, singles and B-sides, alternate mixes, demos and outtakes. The “super deluxe” collection, as well as a pared-down two-disc edition, will come out on October 9th. More info here.
Cabaret Voltaire Announce 15th Studio Album Shadow of Fear
Cabaret Voltaire have announced the release of their 15th studio album this year. Entitled Shadow of Fear and it will be their first studio album in 26 years which will be promoted with the first single "Vasto", released this month. This will also be the first album with Richard H. Kirk as a sole member. The album is going to be officially released on November 20 through Mute records.
Retrovision: Scritti Politti - Absolute
"Absolute" was one of the lead tracks taken from Scritti Polittis's second album Cupid & Psyche '85, released in June 1985. This song and the video however were released a year before and the video for the song was directed by John Scarlett-Davies.
Summer Wine 2020
Alex Kapranos from Franz Ferdinand fame and Clara Luciani of La Femme and Nouvelle Vague have recorded a duet for the legendary "Summer Wine". The song was performed as the English/French cover version last year at Olympia in Paris. The video was premiered yesterday and it was directed by Ryder the Eagle.
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