Conference marvin::uk_music

    
    Yeah, I saw that on TV this morning.
    
    <insert hysterical laughter here>
    
    -Tony 

    
    
    This is definately the worst piece of news I've heard since George
    Harrison dropped his plecktrum during the intro of "ticket to ride"
    at the Ch� Stadium gig in '66.
    
    
    I'm devastated.
    
    Michael
    

    Just heard from my local VOGON news rep. that all is not lost! 
    In days gone by, the loss of the master tapes would certainly have
    been disastrous, but he informs me that the record company had seen
    fit to have a CD master made additionally!  Phew - a close shave,
    eh?  What's more, apparently it could yet be released as a double.
    The guy is so prolific!
    
    Dougie_who_fully_expects_'She_Wants_To_Dance_With_Me'_to_crash_in_at
    _No.1_in_next_week's_chart

    
    maybe we should, er...... get a few 'friends' to er..... finish
    the job like..... ?????? ;-)

    I wouldn't worry to much
    
    They will be the same as the last load of rubbish he had a go at.
    he doesn't know any other tune.  and i should imagine that someone
    wrote the words down for brainless yuppie
    
    THANK YOU GOD
    
    Skippy

    It should have destroyed Rick Astley
    
    Trouble

    would have been no great loss!!!!  He could just release 15 different
    versions of a song off his last album, no one would know the
    difference.
    
    steve.

                           *********************
                           *** W A R N I N G ***
                           *********************
    
    Beware! There are people on this conference who are of the belief
    that one Richard Astley, minor 'pop star' of the middle Thatcher
    era can actually sing. These people are insidious. No one knows
    quite who they are, or where they are. There could be one such person
    in your office, even sitting right next to you. Be cautious. Be
    vigilant. They will try and impress on you the rightness of their
    own belief, which is merely the product of a deranged mind.
    They are not to be trusted. They are sick people whose only wish
    is to see their sickness spread to the four corners of the world
    
                            *******************
                            *** B E W A R E ***
                            *******************                                           
    

    Yes and the disease is called...
    
    
    				...GhastRickenteritis !!!    

    
    
    Yep, and what's even worse - millions of people are actually forking
    out their hard-earned cash to buy the guy's records!!!!!!!!!!

    
    
    I dispair for modern civilisation.
    
    
    Michael
    

    I dont care about the abuse. I dont care about the hate mail. Ricks
    voice is good. So there.
    
    Yours Prepared for Quite Some Considerable Stick Indeed,
    
    Ian.

    It's hard to tell what Rick's voice is *really* like under
    all that SAW twaddle.   Maybe he is talented, maybe he can sing
    (although personally I find that hard to believe), but for now
    we won't know.   Is this next effort SAW featuring Rick Astley
    again ??

    Remember those BPI awards and Rick sang live? Sounded pretty competent
    to me.

    .10
    Brilliant, Dave, brilliant!
    
    Bob

    Just read .12
    See what I mean, theyre everywhere

    re.9
    >> They will try and impress on you the rightness of their
    own belief, which is merely the product of a deranged mind.
    
    I, personally, do not try to impose my beliefs on anyone. Nor
    do I criticize or poke fun at an opinion different from my own.  
                                  
    It is my opinion that the man can sing and I enjoy listening to
    him.  That was the statement I made that I believe started this
    whole ridiculous discussion.                                   
    
    ...Oh, and I don't consider myself to be deranged but the jury's
    still out on that one....
    
    Sue Chilton
    IND-3/C4, dtn 262-8511
    SENIOR::, ARGUS::CHILTON
      ***** That's for those of you who don't know who I am or where
            I reside!!!  ****
                             

    re .16
    
    Oooh, you *bitch*.
    
    Yours Sincerely,
    
    The Reverand Milton Randall.

>>        I, personally, do not try to impose my beliefs on anyone. Nor
>>    do I criticize or poke fun at an opinion different from my own.  
                                  
>>    It is my opinion that the man can sing and I enjoy listening to
    
    Imposition or what? I don't know what I'm going to see when I hit
    'next reply'. What you should have said was:
    
    "Now follows my personal opinion on Rib Ghastly. Only read it if
    you want to, otherwise skip this reply"
    
    Now look I don't want to impose this on you please hit 'next reply'
    unless you're ABSOLUTELY SURE you want to know my opinion
    
    Only if you're really, really sure...
    
    OK You asked for it....
    
    8^) 8^) 8^) 8^) 8^)
    
    
    Tony (I impress my opinions on EVERYONE but they usually ignore
    me 8^))

           

    re -1
    
    Thanks for the tips Tony.  I guess I'm not as good a Noter as I
    thought!
    
    Sue

    	Please respect other contributors right to their own opinions.
    Sensible discussion is welcomed, but criticising other's for their
    tastes is not allowed, and will be stopped.
    
    	Thank you,
    	Keith

    re .22 - I most certainly do respect other contributors right to
    my opinions :-) :-) :-)
    Seriously though, I dont *really* dispute that Mr Astley has a
    good voice, its just that being a good
    singer/guitarist/drummer/whatever doesnt necessarily mean youre
    going to turn out good songs, does it - I mean, in Ricks case, he
    just happened to be the guy who sang over another SAW production
    line backing track; if he hadnt been around, theyd have just got
    someone else to do it.
    This is a similar situation to how Tamla used to operate ("...got
    this song here Mr Gordy..." "...OK, well its the Supremes turn this
    week...") but I doubt if SAW hits will last as long as Motown classics;
    there seemed to be a certain individuality about Tamla songs that
    is missing in SAW output.
    Anyway, apparently Rick wrote the new stuff himself, and is no longer
    part of the SAW empire - what would have been his next hit for them
    will probably be done by Bananarama now.
    
    Offered in the spirit of "sensible discussion" 
    OK, Keith?
    
    Bob 

    p.s. I still like GhastRick enteritis tho!

    
    A good voice is no guarantee of good material... of the two I prefer
    the latter and thus liked Bob Dylan early on.

    
     Putting aside Ricks singing and songwriting abilities,I think that
    his dancing ability qualifies that he should be treated as a serious
    pop peformer.
     
     Come on now,give the guy a break !!
    
     Cheers,mcbill
    

    Ricks dancing is teffible he does the same dance all the time just
    changies the speed occasionally.
    
    As for his latest effort he just took the last load of rubbish and
    changed the words, it now sounds even worse than before.
    
    
    Trouble
    
    PS.  I realy hate that guy words just can't say how much I hate
    him.

    Re .-1
    
    
    
    	Do you know Rick the person or do you just not like his material
     and image ?
    
    
    	Grub....

    
     Like .26 I think you are being far too hard on him,I too like his
    dancing,he moves very smoothly and is in good time to the music,not
    like some of the other people who jump around as if they were some
    sort of lunatic.
     I think he is a very nice young man and a good ambassador for the
    image of british youth abroad,especially after those yobbies in
    germany at the football thing.
     My best wishes to you all,even .27,
    
     Ciao...wam
    

    mcbill, is that a tongue in your cheek or are you just pleased to
    be here 8^)

    
    
   I don't understand all you RA haters - you'll be telling us next
    you don't like Bros?
    
    
    
    MD
    

    >> Clue: mcbill is a RA lookalike!
    so hes moved out of the UK to avoid being mobbed by hordes of screaming
    fans and admirers (or to practise his dancing to attract those hordes
    when he returns)
    
    re: Bros - in the spirit of sensible discussion and tolerant attitudes,
    I would like to say that there is a place for groups like this,
    its just that that place isnt my place - how can I identify with
    the needs, feelings of 10-13 year old girls?
    
    The best thing I can find to say about them is that 6 months from
    now, no one will give a t*ss about Br*s.
    
    Its funny, isnt it, that every new thing like Bros or RA that comes
    along, you think "This is it, this is the pits, there can never
    be anything worse than this......" (my opinion only)............
    but there always *IS*!!!!
    
    Bob

    
    
    
>        Its funny, isnt it, that every new thing like Bros or RA that comes
>   along, you think "This is it, this is the pits, there can never
>   be anything worse than this......" (my opinion only)............
>   but there always *IS*!!!!

    
    
    
    You're right, but I wonder if the stuff's really getting worse...
    
    
    ..or are we getting too old?
    
    
    Michael
    

    RE:33
    
    We're not getting old, but the stuff is getting worse.
    
    Trouble

    Michael - I'm 32 going on 19, I'm not getting old! 8^)
    Ive had the "it cant get worse than this" feeling for about 24 years
    now - I think it started when either Ken Dodd or Des O'Connor first
    got into the charts!
      
    Bob

    My God Bob, are you only 32?  I thought from some of things you
    have been saying, you were at least 40!

    fine delete my reply........
    
    But as much as I disrespect Rick and his music, I wouldn't mind
    rolling around in the $$$$ C A S H $$$$ he's got!
    
    Hey, I could be as popluar as RA, I don't have any talent either!
    Maybe I'm in the wrong line of work............

    >> I thought from some of the things you have been saying, you were
    at least 40!
    
    Cheeky git!!!!  8^)  8^)
    
    What things, huh????
    
    Bob (its not a mid life crisis, I just panic all the time)

    
    On a more general note, related to SAW replies, I think this shows
    the way that pop has moved.  In times gone by, it was a thing to
    have worked with famous artists in the studio, or to have a famous
    producer doing your album.                 
                                               
    Things are going much too production orientated - SAW, Jolly/Swain
    - they stamp *their* sound on and that's the end of it.  The Kylie
    Minogue 45 "Locomotion" is a prime example.
    
    IN fact an even better example is the Bill Medley version of "He Ain't
    Heavy ....." - much to over produced.  The original sounds much better,
    mainly because there isn't so much of a full sound. By the way, out Elt
    played piano on the Hollies version.  Now there's a band  ....
    
    Sorry for the slight change of topic, but I felt it prompted the
    above comments.
    
    Now, back to Rick ....
    
    David.
    

    
    
    Do we have to

    
    What's age got to do with it (your choice of music) anyway?  It's
    your outlook/open-mindedness that really matter.
    
    Sue (who's_30...not_that_it_matters)

    
    
    You're right there Sue - age shouldn't have anything to do with it,
    but I keep asking myself every time a Bros/RA/Kylie/etc act comes
    on the scene - Is this stuff getting worse, or am I getting old
    and square?   The kids seem to like it?  They're the ones spending
    the money  - why shouldn't they get what they want?
    
    There have been numerous examples recently of what I would consider
    great single releases which flopped (Deacon Blue, Hue & Cry, Prefab
    Sprout etc)
    
    Who's to say what's good and what's rubbish?  The record companies
    know which records sell best.
    

    Michael(who's_32_but_still_feels_25)

    

    Micheal,
    
    You've hit the nail on the head.  The kids have the money to spend,
    so 'the powers that be' are going to milk 'em dry. It starts a vicious
    circle, because the more the kids hear this stuff they figure "Oh,
    this must be popular now, so I'd better buy it".  The more they
    buy, the more they're presented with.
    
    It is we 'independent thinkers' (;-)) who confound the 'powers that
    be'.
    
    Sue
    

    Age has nothing to do with taste in music, but over time an indervidual
    taste's in music do change... hummm.
    
    				Gru�
    					Mark (who's 42 and likes INXS)

    
    So, the way to stop all this rubbish being made/played/sold is to 
    not give your kiddies too much pocket money.  The responsibility 
    is on your shoulders - all you parents out there!
    
    Sue

    >> Who's 42 and likes INXS
    
    I don't know !!
    
    But i'll guess ...
    
    			Tim Lacey 
    
    

Hey, you guys and gals shouldn't feel bad....over in the Heavy_Metal file
I was branded as 'old' for being 26!

(Right, Tony?)

Alan S.

    
    
   >>>>>>>>>> -< Wee Joanne included! >-


    
    For a five month old, Joanne has impecable taste in music already, Sue 
    - by pure coincidence it's exactly the same as mine!
    
    (although her fav is "favourite things" from "the sound of music!)
    
   
    Michael

    re; this age thing (Sue, 30    Michael, 32    et al)
    
    Do you listen to anything that comes out now, or do you just listen
    to music from x years ago. I know that theres a lot happening now
    that I love, I dont feel like Ive got stuck in this nostalgia groove
    like so many others (particularly all these oldsters who keep recording
    covers of what mustve been their favourite childhood songs); its
    just that since I was about 12 I wanted something more from music
    than what the charts have to offer, so I dont feel like I'm getting
    "old and square" now any more than I ever did, because Ive always
    been receptive to new sounds - I just happen not to like Rick Astley,
    Bros, etc because they consistently turn out songs that I dont like
    (or as Morrissey says, say nothing to me about my life)
    
    Bob                         
    

    
    Yes, I listen to lots of stuff, old and new.  In fact, I've always
    got music on.  I listen to stuff that has depth and meaning, that 
    moves us *all*, but I also listen to stuff that I can do the hoovering
    to, stuff that I don't have to think about.  So what if I like to
    watch RA shuffle around on MTV, I don't have to answer or explain
    my musical tastes to anyone. (Aren't I doing that now?  Thought
    so.)  I'm not stuck in a "nostalgia groove" as you put it, and I
    don't think one should look for an artist (whatever your definition)
    to 'say something to me about *my* life'.
    
    Sue 

    Phew - what alot of replies to wade through.   Anyway I was getting
    really sick of all the chart/Radio 1 stuff in Britain recently and
    have found France refreshingly different (don't laugh).   Disregarding
    the current no. 1 (which has been there for *10* weeks now) and
    a few others, most of the stuff is what we don't now hear in Britain
    - good pop.   Songs with melodies (remember them ?) ... songs that
    you actually get to recognise after a couple of plays on the radio
    (how many of you can sing a SAW song and not get mixed up ?).
    I have found four different radio stations that play *pop* and
    not necessarily stuff that's in the charts.   My faith in modern
    music has been temporarily restored even if the playlists can be
    a bit short.   Can anyone else back me up on this ... ?

>    Hey, you guys and gals shouldn't feel bad....over in the Heavy_Metal file
>I was branded as 'old' for being 26!

    If you've been listening to Heavy metal for 26 years you should
    certainly FEEL old.
    
    	Steve

>    If you've been listening to Heavy metal for 26 years you should
>    certainly FEEL old.
    
Nawww, I don't feel old - just my ears do!  8^)

BTW, did I miss something here? Can someone please elaborate as to what
a SAW production is? Is it a someone or a group of people or what?

Thanx,
Alan S.

    Stock, Aitken, & Waterman (- isn't it?)  They're producers of 
    pop records in the UK.  They've found a formula that's making 
    them big bucks so they're sticking to it.
    
    Sue                                  

    re .50
    Youve got it it one, Sue - I dont necessarily mean you have to
    listen to so called meaningful music all the time - I put stuff
    on to hoover to as well (but then you have to turn it RIGHT UP!!!)
    Its all down to taste really
    >>So what if I like to watch RA shuffle around on MTV, I dont have
    to answer or explain my musical tastes to anyone.
    Exactamundo! Anyway, to me, these notes should be about *sharing*
    tastes, putting and listening to points of view, not about playing
    "i'm hipper than you" games or slagging each other off.
    It's funny isnt it, that looking through these notes, the entries
    on RA, Debbie Gibson, all time hates etc, attract more replies than,
    say, lumps or gut wrenching classics - perhaps people come more
    prepared to 'bury Caesar not praise him'
    .....and yes, Phil Collins new one is bad..........(in my opinion!)
    
    Bob

    
    I don't care what anyone says I like Phil Colins new one.
    
    Can any one tell me what is different about RA and Jacen Donavon,
    as far as I am concerend they both sound the same and the dance
    isn't much diffrent.
    
    
    Trouble           

            
         
            
    moi ????

    
    
    
>>        .....and yes, Phil Collins new one is bad..........(in my opinion!)

    
    
    Yep, Phil Collins is good, but this one is a cop-out - let's pick
    an old classic, slow it down for effect, throw in some piano my
    daughter could play, and with Phil's reputation we can't fail.
    
    To paraphrase an old PC hit, Easy money, Phil.

    
    Michael
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    

    I haven't heard Phil's new song yet.  Has it only been released
    in the UK or am I listining to the wrong radio station in the US?
    
    SO

    The latter - I keep hearing it in the US (try KISS on 107.9 in the
    Boston area if you really want to hear it). However, there do appear
    to be US stations not playing it, which is OK with  me!
    
    Keith

    Keith, why on earth are you listening to KISS108??  

    Can we move over to Radio,Radio Notes to continue this please -
    I want to know what's so wrong with KISS ...

    Hmm, we seemed to have strayed off the topic of this note somewhat,
    but for what it's worth, I'd just like to report on the availability
    of an excellent Japanese mini-album which is now being heavily imported
    into this country.  I don't (yet) have the exact track listing,
    but I believe it contains re-mixes and dub mixes of classics like
    'Never Gonna Give You Up' and 'Together Forever' produced by the
    likes of Jellybean Benitez, Bob Clearmountain and Arthur Baker -
    sounds like a MUST for serious RA collectors, and as it's from the
    Land Of The Rising Sun, the quality of the vinyl product should
    be first class.
    
    Incidentally, I was disappointed to hear that 'She Wants To Dance
    With Me' didn't crash straight it at No.1 - forgot about the
    competition from the Pet Shop Boys etc.
    
    Lastly, a fellow RA fan has heard a rumour that a b**tl*g album
    of studio outtakes is now in circulation - can anyone confirm or
    deny this?
    
    Dougie_who's_desperately_needing_tickets_to_see_Deacon_Blue_in_
    Edinburgh_next_month - can_anyone_help?

    
    Please, please, please............don't say that our taste in music
    correlates with age!
    
    I couldn't handle listening to Abba, Duran Duran, Boney M and
    Alphaville for the rest of my life...........
    
    Mind you, better them than Slickkk Rickkkk
    
    	:^Q
    
    

    re.63
    >>     -< ...so, let's get back to Rick! >-
    >>Hmm, we seemed to have strayed off the topic of this note somewhat,
              
    The above was how he began his reply.  Below is how he ended it.
           
    >>Dougie_who's_desperately_needing_tickets_to_see_Deacon_Blue_in_
    >>Edinburgh_next_month - can_anyone_help?
    
    Sue ;-)

    
   .63
    
    You jest, surely sir ??

    Heh, heh, heh!
    
    Dougie_says_Hi_Sue!

    Any comments on RA's new one as performed on TOTP last night?
    I'd say the guys an OK singer, the songs OK as an example of late
    80's pop, but I didnt wake up singing it this morning, so it hasnt
    stuck in my memory.
    He's certainly proved hes as good as a lot of songwriters in this
    genre.
    Why do all groups on TOTP ( inc RA's ) *have* to have two female
    backup singers and a cool sax player in the line up? Stylistically,
    a lot of the bands are very similar, even if their songs are very
    different.
    Still not particularly liking the RA song, but at least his voice
    is instantly recognisable.
    Is there any truth in the rumour that if you slow down Kylie Minogue's
    monster smash hit "I should be so lucky", it sounds just like Rick?
    Is it Rick?? I think we should be told
    
    Bob

    He sounded exactly the same as all the others.  He didnt improve
    his dancing either. 
    
    Trouble

    
    	As an aside, -.2 mentioned slowing down a KM record to sound
    like RA, but try and play Bruce Springsteens 'I'm on fire' at 45rpm.
    It sounds just like Dolly Parton! 
    
    Maurice.
    (P.s. Thats the Lp version)

    Yep!  His first major TV feature, unfortunately only lasting 35
    mins. (ITV Thurs. 1.25 *a.m.* - 2.0 *a.m.*).
    
    Get them videos rolling!!  ;-)

    Thanks for that tidbit, Dougie - is that this Thurs, like tomorrow,
    or next?
    
    Can't wait...
    
    "Simply having a wonderful Christmas time"
    
    Bob, legs-still-hurting-from-bopping-all-night-Monday!

    Bob, I knew someone in this note would be thankful for the info.
    It's Thursday, as in the early hours of tomorrow morning, and since
    I finish up tonight for the hols., I'll not only be taping it -
    I'll be able to sit up and watch it as it happens!!!
    
    Dougie_who_thanks_GREENB_eversomuch_for_the_REM_and_Tom Waits_tapes

    
    
    Hey Doug, will this feature an *interview* with the man himself
    do you reckon?
    
    
    
    
    Michael
    

    Yeah, I believe it's an interview-plus-video-clips job, but my fingers
    are crossed that they'll feature some live footage too.  I hope
    too that they talk to him about his dance routines - choreography
    of the highest order!

    
    	re .last few
    
    	Classic stuff lads !!
    
    	Spurtle

    Heard on the radio on the way in this morning that our man Rick
    is signed up to sing the main theme for the new James Bond (Timothy
    Dalton) movie, the title of which has slipped my mind for the moment.
    
    Surely now, having joined the ranks of Paul McCartney, Shirley Bassey,
    Tom Jones et al, Rick deserves wider praise for his many talents.
    
    Dougie_interfacing_with_Jane_in_Montana ;-)

    OK folks, it's turn to stir up a bit of interest in our Rick, and
    I'd just like to say that his new single, the title track to his
    recently-released second album HOLD ME IN YOUR ARMS, is positively
    *brilliant*.  I believe that he (again) wrote it himself, and as
    such it is a significant improvement on some of his earlier efforts
    in this category.  Whilst it's not exactly what you'd call a 'classic'
    ballad, it has a warm overall feel to it, and is well-sung throughout.
    
    Watched him sing it on 'Wogan' last week, and I'll have my fingers
    crossed that he's on 'T.O.T.P.' this week (new entry at #28 in this
    week's chart) - so long as he doesn't blow Hue And Cry offstage!!!
    
    Dougie_who's_caressing_the_keys_like_a_lover  ;^)

    He's doing quite well here with "She Wants to Dance with Me",
    going so far as to perform it *live* on a music awards program
    here last week.
    
    He has a nice voice as well as being easy on the eyes :-)

    'Hold Me In Your Arms' is a nice catchy tune and the video
    that goes with it is very good as well.  I saw Rick on a 
    television prog just before Christmas and he seemed a really
    nice intelligent guy.
    
    Mazzer
    

    FYI, the March issue of the faaab RECORD COLLECTOR magazine, has
    an excellent three-page feature on Rick, including an immense 'Complete
    U.K. Discography'.  This is particularly useful in that it gives
    you full details of all the different formats that his numerous
    (classic) single releases have been issued in - a goldmine for the
    completist!  As an example of what you can learn from this, I note
    that on the 12" of the U.K., there is a 'Jazzy Guitar Mix' of IT
    WOULD TAKE A STRONG STRONG MAN - I believe that this was only issued
    in the U.S., can anyone over there tell me how successful it was? 

    
    I was surprised with a couple of tickets to see him in July,
    so needless to say (no wisecracks from the peanut gallery, guys!)
    it will be one of the highpoints of my summer!!