Time Machine: Music We Listened To (July 2013)

Everybody HurtsHere’s a new series of articles! Time Machine will look at the music we listened to in this month 10, 20, 30, 40 and even 50 years ago. There will be good, bad and indifferent songs brought forth from the UK, USA and Australian charts, but I’m pretty sure at least one of them will bring back memories. I will list the number one songs for the month, but let’s just say they aren’t always the most inspiring. Instead, I’ll pick one or two songs that were in the charts that month and that I reckon are worth listening to again.

July 2003
Number #1s:
UK: Anyone Of Us by Gareth Gates
USA: Crazy In Love by Beyonce & Jay-Z
Australia: Ignition by R.Kelly
Favourites: A couple of very personal reasons for picking a couple of songs here. First up is I Just Need Myself by Ocean Colour Scene which was in the UK charts at this time. Quite honestly it’s not one of their best songs, but the bass player – Damon Minchella is one of my all time favourites – so that’s enough to get a slot for them! The second one is 7 Nation Army by White Stripes. When my son was 11 he and his mates formed a band and played this live at a wedding. He plays bass and with the number of times we played the bass line when he was learning it it’s no wonder that it’s a song firmly stuck in my brain.

July 1993
Number #1s:
UK: Pray by Take That
USA: Weak by SWV, Can’t Help Falling In Love by UB40
Australia: Can’t Help Falling In Love by UB40
Favourites: First up is Everybody Hurts by REM for the simple fact that it’s such a great song that, and that one that I remember having a lot of impact on people at the time. A memorable video too. Second, I’ve chosen Two Princes by Spin Docters. Their career arc was short but they created a couple of truly classic pop songs that tick just about every box in my mind.

July 1983
Number #1s:

UK: Baby Jane by Rod Stewart, Wherever I Lay My Heart by Paul Young
USA: Every Breath You Take by Police
Australia: Flashdance by Irene Cara
Favourites: Celtic Soul Brothers by Dexy’s Midnight Runners is the main song I’ve chosen but it could be anything from Dexy’s Midnight Runners. What they were able to do with bringing Celtic music into a pop world was pretty damn special. Also a tip of the hat to I Was Only 19 by Redgum – a song that does as good a job as any in the war protest space.

July 1973
Number #1s:
UK: Welcome Home by Peters & Lee, I’m The Leader Of The Gang (I Am) by Gary Glitter
USA: Will It Go Round In Circles by Billy Preston
Australia: Daisy A Day by Jud Strunk, The Morning After by Maureen McGovern, Heaven Is My Woman’s Love by Col Joye
Favourites: First off, it’s a personal regret that I’ve never seen Live And Let Die by Wings performed live – I reckon it would be epic. I also love the way this is like an epic eight-minute rock opera kind of song but somehow they fit it into three minutes. Brilliant!

July 1963
Number #1s:
UK: Confessin’ by Frank Ifield
USA: Easier Said Than Done by The Essex, Surf City by Jan & Dean
Australia: It’s My Party by Lesley Gore, Sukiyaki by Kyu Sakamoto, Move Baby Move by Johnny O’Keefe
Favourites: Surf music ruled the world this month with Atlantis by The Shadows, Surf City by Jan & Dean, Pipeline by Chantays and Surfin’ USA by Beach Boys all in the global charts. Oh, and another one of non-surfing note was Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport!

 

 

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