40 Year Itch: "Iggy Pop Will Be a Star"

A review of the Stooges last show of a four night stand at Max's Kansas City in the Summer of 1973 from unimpressed Billboard writer Phil Gelormine:

The midnight performance was already 45 minutes late when the Stooges finally took the stage. Max's was unbearably packed and anticipation on this, Iggy's final night, was high. He looked older than expected, straight bleached blond hair limp and bare chest glistening in the lights revealing the several stitches attained a few nights back when rolling across the stage he cut himself on the several broken glasses hurled by audience members.

After witnessing his performance, it's a wonder more wasn't levied toward him. The wall of blazing music as dished out by the Stooges only served to deaden the senses while Mr. Pop, garbed in flap-studded bikini briefs with a nylon hose right leg, minced, writhed, contorted and pulled out every trick in his limited supply to get the confined crowd off its hands. "You're a tough audience to crack," he snarled before giving us his ultimatum. "Get up and leave or stay and hear more." Max's Sardine City unfortunately left us with no choice but to endure.

So away on his ego trip we continued. What vocals could be heard from him, comprised material from his Columbia album "Raw Power". He also poured beer over his head, tossed the mike stand wrecklessly into the audience, put it between his legs and clutched  the heads of ringsiders for support. Iggy Pop will be a star.

40 Year Itch: I Feel Like Giving Up

On August 17, 1973 Temptations baritone Paul Williams, wearing nothing but a swim suit,  was found dead inside a car parked in a Detroit alley. The coroner ruled the death a suicide even though Williams is right handed but was shot in the left temple. Williams, suffering from sickle cell anemia,  had left the Temps in 1971. He had suffered from depression and drug abuse and had shared suicidal thoughts with group members Otis Williams and Melvin Franklin.

Jet Magazine reported several members of the band as well as the musical director were robbed after leaving the funeral. Although he was focusing much of his attention on a beauty culture complex called Celebrity House West, Williams had also returned to the studio where he recorded a moving single Motown didn't release for years after his death. 

"Feel Like Giving Up" sounds like an epitaph --a point made in an interview by Eddie Kendricks.

Glenn Tilbrook of Squeeze : My Top 10

As told to Smash Hits Magazine for their July 11-24, 1981 issue ( via Like Punk Never Happened ) At the time Glenn was promoting East Side Story released by Squeeze two months earlier.




1.Kasenetz-Katz Singing Orchestra Circus" Quick Joey Small ( Run Joey Run)  - First ever punk record.
2. Michael Jackson: Don't Stop Til You Get Enough - The definitive dance record. Wish he'd record one of ours.
3. Jimi Hendrix: The Wind Cries Mary - Understated guitar. Underrated song.
4. Robert Wyatt: Strange Fruit -Bessie Smith song in the 30's which made 7 people commit suicide when first played on the radio
5. Madness: All the Madness singles - An incredible singles group
6. Cliff Richard: Devil Woman -Classic British pop production by the old devil himself.
7. The Monkees: Last Train to Clarksville -Classic US production-line pop
8. The Beatles: Strawberry Fields Forever - Damn good backwards bit at the end
9. Elvis Costello: Alison - Simply one of the best songs ever , written by one of the best song-writers.
10. The Undertones : It's Going to Happen - THE Summer record of '81. And probably '82/3/4/ etc.

Elvis Costello : My Top 10

As Told to Smash Hits Magazine October 29-November 11,1981
 via Like Punk Never Happened
(If you haven't checked out Brian's site yet, do so now. He's posting a new issue of Smash Hits on its 30th anniversary.)




This list was made at the same time Elvis released his country covers album Almost Blue.

1. The 101-ers: Let'sGetABitOfRockin ( see video below)
2. The Expressos: Tango In Mono (also below)
3. Little Richard: Commandments of Love
4. George Jones: Say It's Not You
5. The Subterraneans: My Flamingo
6. Mel and Tim: Backfield In Motion
7. Billie Holiday: Don't Explain
8. Dexy's Midnight Runners: Dance Stance
9. James Brown: Talking Loud And Saying Nothing
10. Dusty Springfield: Just One Smile
11. Was ( Not Was): Wheel Me Out
12. Chet Baker: The Thrill Is Gone

Kate Bush : My Top 10

As Told to Smash Hits Magazine for the November 27 - December 10, 1980 issue
via Like Punk Never Happened

Kate made this list a few months after her third album Never For Ever was released. Wait, you're still looking at the photo aren't you?


1.Frank Zappa: Overnite Sensation -"Montana"was the first Zappa track I ever heard and it's stuck as a firm favourite.
2. A.L. Lloyd and Eran MacColl : Blow Boys Blow - I was brought up with this album.
3. The Eagles: One of These Nights - I played it to death when studying with Lindsay Kemp and it reminds me of him.
4. David Bowie Young Americans - It reminds me of 1976, the drought summer and open windows.
5. The Beatles Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band - Because it's an album of excellent songs.
6. Eberhard Weber Fluid Rustle - It's like having your brain massaged.
7. Captain Beefheart Blue Jeans and Moonbeams - This is the Beefheart album where he writes love songs like nobody else.
8. Stevie Wonder The Secret Life of Plants - Because it's a modern symphony with a  high emotional content.
9. Pink Floyd The Wall - Because it reminds me of last Christmas and open fires and I wish I'd written it.
10. The TV National Iranian Chamber Orchestra Treasures of the Baroque Era - Because it allows my mind to sit down and go "aah". I listen to it when doing paperwork. In fact while writing this list!

Paul Weller : My Top 10

As told to Smash Hits Magazine for their Sept 20-Oct 3, 1979 issue ( via Like Punk Never Happened ). At the time he was promoting The Jam's fourth album, Setting Sons.




1. The Nips: Gabrielle
2. The Slits: Instant Hit
3. Purple Hearts: Millions Like Us
4. Gang of Four: Elevator
5. Vapors: Spring Collection
6. Wire: Outdoor Miner
7. Skids: Into the Valley
8. Whirlwind: Rockin High School Baby
9. Joy Division: Transmission
10.The Undertones: Family Entertainment

These are in no particular order. You could put in any single by Wire, The Nips or The Skids because I like them all. ~ Paul

Peter Murphy of Bauhaus: My Top 10

From SMASH HITS JUNE 24, 1982 courtesy of Brian at Like Punk Never Happened

Peter Murphy provided this list for Smash Hits around the same time the single "Spirit" had charted. The forthcoming album The Sky's Gone Out featured covers of Brian Eno ( "Third Uncle") and, as a bonus track, David Bowie ("Ziggy Stardust") which may explain why those artists show up twice on this list.




   1. DAVID BOWIE The Bewlay Brothers - The lyrics are abstract but they convey something special to me
2. SCOTT WALKER If You Go Away- A very haunting love song beautifully sung

3. JACQUES BREL My Death- The lyrics are really strange.  They're also very moving because it celebrates death (which is how I think it should be approached because it's a rebirth.
4. JOHN LENNON Working Class Hero- I just totally agree with the lyrics.
5. THE BEATLES Within You Without You- It's a great psychedelic dance and it's way ahead of its time
6. BRIAN ENO Sparrow Fall Part Three- This conveys more in its simplicity than many songs manage in all their complexity
7. PATTI SMITH Horses- It's a strong poem set perfectly to music. Patti Smith sings like she's possessed and sometimes she goes into hysterical, indecipherable sections which amaze me



8. MARC BOLAN Life's A Gas- It's really sad when you think of him not being here anymore. And this is nice to remember him by
9. DAVID BOWIE All The Madmen- "And I'd rather play here with all the madmen for I am quite content they are all as sane as me."
10. DAVID BYRNE AND BRIAN ENO The Jezebel Spirit- This is set to a recording of an exorcism. It's very interesting.