Smash Hits, February 1979

Bibliography   72 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 UK & Ireland weeklies UK & Ireland magazines UK & Ireland newspapers US newspapers US rock magazines US music magazines US magazines US alternative weeklies European magazines European newspapers Canada  •  Mexico  •  Asia Australia  •  New Zealand South America  •  Africa Blogs  •  Fanzines  •  Books Online publications Smash Hits   1978 December 1979 January 1979 February 1979 February 8 1979 February 22 1979 April 5 1979 May 17 1979 November 29 1979 December 27 1980 January 10 1980 January 24 1980 February 7 1980 March 6 1980 March 20 1980 April 17 1980 May 15  1980 June 12   1980 September 4 1980 October 16 1980 December 11 1981 January 8 1981 January 22 1981 March 5 1981 June 11  1981 October 1 1981 October 29 1982 January 21 1982 April 15   1982 June 10 1982 June 24  1982 July 8 1982 August 5 1982 September 16   1982 December 9   1982 December 23 1983 March 17 1983 May 26 1983 June 9 1983 June 23  1983 July 7 1983 July 21 1983 August 4 1983 September 15 1984 January 5 1984 April 26 1984 June 21 1984 July 5 1984 August 16 1984 October 25 1985 April 24   1985 May 8 1986 February 26 1986 August 13 1986 August 27 1986 September 24 1989 February 22 1989 March 8 1989 May 16  1991 May 29 — Move over Julie Andrews! Smash Hits Elvis Costello & The Attractions Dominion Theatre, London Smash Hits caught up with a couple of the many pre-Christmas rock gigs in London to see two of our favourite acts: Elvis Costello at the Dominion Cinema, where he was doing seven consecutive nights, and Ian Dury during his short London tour. The Dominion is the cinema which seems to have been showing The Sound Of Music for as long as we can remember but Julie Andrews & Co. had been given a rest for the week. Instead a huge billboard of Elvis Costello gazed down Oxford Street from the front of the theatre. We went to the first night when the sound was far from perfect — it totally ruined American support act, Richard Hell and The Voidoids. Nevertheless The Attractions are such an excellent band that some sound-loss on Elvis' vocals didn't detract from their so-stylish performance. The sophisticated stage lighting was also in a class of its own. With two fine albums behind him and a new one imminent, Elvis has an almost unbeatable selection of songs to draw on. Pity though that he no longer does "Alison," our all-time Costello favourite, but interesting that he opens his act with "Peace, Love And Understanding." This is the Nick Lowe song which Elvis sings on the B-side of Lowe's current single. Salford's new wave poet John Cooper Clarke opened the show. Totally unaccompanied on the large stage, he looked like he'd die the death, but instead was a revelation. He was great, though it'll be interesting to see if he continues to win audiences over so easily now that the whole package is out on tour of the U.K. Catch 'em at your local flea-pit. They're touring 'till the end of January. John Cooper Clarke also featured in the Ian Dury shows, courtesy of the Alberto Y Los Trios Paranoias, the support group. C. P. Lee of the Albertos does a very funny send-up of Cooper Clarke, the band also do a savage one of Ian Dury. Ian Dury and The Blockheads, appearing at Ilford, Essex (Dury's home turf), on the last date of their tour, were just magnificent. Down at the foot of the stage the audience was so enthusiastic that they pounded and pogo-ed their way clean through the floor! For the rest of the set, a ring of bouncers held the dancing crowd back from the gaping hole and the basement below. Like Elvis' Attractions, The Blockheads are a superbly polished band, with sax player Davey Payne outstanding. As for Ian Dury, he's a picture of a man on the ascendant, full of confidence in his ability. Success couldn't have happened to a less-likely but more-deserving character. << >> Smash Hits, No. 4, February 1979 Smash Hits reports on the first night of the Dominion Theatre stand, Dec. 18, 1978. "Radio, Radio" and "(I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea" are included in the Top 45s of 1978. Also includes the lyrics to "American Squirm" (page 7) and a contest to win a copy of Armed Forces (page 13). Images Clipping and cover. Page scans.   Top 45s of 1978 Smash Hits In no particular order of preference: Picture This - Blondie Denis - Blondie Ever Fallen In Love - Buzzcocks Stavin' Alive - Bee Gees Night Fever - Bee Gees White Man In Hammersmith Palais - The Clash Down In The Tube Station At Midnight - The Jam Only You - Teddy Prendergrass Shame - Evelyn 'champagne' King Hot Shot - Karen Young I Love The Nightlife - Alicia Bridges Now That We've Found Love - Third World Radio, Radio - Elvis Costello & The Attractions I Don't Want To Go To Chelsea - Elvis Costello & The Attractions Miss You - Rolling Stones You're The One That I Want - John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John Summer Nights - John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John YMCA - Village People In The Bush - Musique One Nation Under A Groove - Funkadelic Love Don't Live Here Anymore - Rose Royce Tonight's The Night - Charles Jackson You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real) - Sylvester Use Ta Be My Girl - O'Jays Three Times A Lady - Commodores Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick - Ian Dury & The Blockheads What A Waste - Ian Dury & The Blockheads Flash Light - Parliament Satisfaction - Devo Bootzilla - Bootsy's Rubber Band Disco To Go - Brides Of Funkenstein The Day The World Turned Day-Glo - X-ray Spex Germ Free Adolescents - X-ray Spex Jilted John - Jilted John Up Town Top Ranking - Althia & Donna Do Ya Think I'm Sexy - Rod Stewart Rat Trap - Boomtown Rats Public Image - Public Image Ltd Page scans.

External links

• Wikipedia: Smash Hits
• Flickr: Brian McCloskey's Smash Hits archive