Category: 1980-1984

Conjunto Michoacán – “La Hija de la Viuda” (1981) * Written by Hermenegildo Garcia Flores * 45: “Piquetes de Hormiga” / “La Hija de la Viuda” * LP: La Hija de la Viuda/Piquetes de Hormiga * Produced by Magdaleno Oliva M. * Label: Odeon

The conjunto music of Michoacán in western Mexico features the violin instead of the accordion, and the early eighties lineup of the aptly named Conjunto Michoacán is a good place to get familiar with that sound. Hermenegildo Garcia was the violinist, vocalist, and most active song contributor, which is why some of their albums are billed to “Conjunto Michoacán de Hermenegildo Garcia.” This was the incarnation that appeared in a peculiar 1981 film called La Jorobada (“the hunchback”), in which they performed “Piquetes de Horniga,” a song still familiar to many conjuntos today. This album’s lineup is perhaps the classic one (Garcia had left the still active group by 1990), although some would probably argue in favor of the pre-Garcia incarnation with Camerino Martinez. The link takes you to Garcia’s “La Hija de la Viuda” (“the daughter of the widow”) from 1981.

A candidate for the quintessential Motörhead song, “Ace of Spades” reached #15 in the UK in 1980 (a limited edition 12-inch single presented a cover image of the band dressed in Santa suits), then climbed to #9 after singer/bassist Lemmy’s death in December 2015. In 1984, the group mimed the bruising classic on “Bambi,” the funniest episode of the British Young Ones show (linked below). Lemmy, in mirrored pilot shades, sang upward as always. During the instrumental break, a frustrating cameraman zeroed in on whichever guitarist was not soloing.

“All of My Heart” (1983) – ABC * Written by ABC * 45: “All of My Heart” / “Overture” * LP: The Lexicon of Love * Produced by Trevor Horn * Label: Neutron/Mercury

On the lavish Lexicon of Love album’s climactic track, quipmaster Martin Fry confronts genuine heartache. Orchestra strings swell, bells and piano keys sparkle, and memories of pink silk, colliding stars, hearts and flowers spill forth with a sigh. This was—and still is—British New Pop music of the highest order. Trevor Horn produced, with the true “poison arrow” being Anne Dudley’s orchestration.

“African and White” (1981) – China Crisis * Written by Gary Daly, Eddie Lundon, and Dave Reilly * 45: “African and White” / “Be Suspicious” * LP: Difficult Shapes and Passive Rhythms * Produced by Jeremy Lewis * Label: Inevitable/Virgin

“African and White” was the minimalist debut single from Liverpool’s China Crisis, a group led by Gary Daly and Eddie Lundon, whose flair for electropop enchantment had few rivals during the early ’80s. Although their lyrics tended not to communicate clearly, “African and White” actually had the building blocks for a social protest message about Israel’s support of South Africa’s Apartheid. Most of the low-quality lyric repository sites have this one wrong, missing the “Israel” in the chorus. Reached #45 on the UK singles chart.

 

“Što te nema” (1981) – Jadranka Stojaković * Traditional song adapted by Jadranka Stojaković and Aleksa Šantić * LP: Svitanje * Produced by Dado Streiblewierer (Rajko Dujmić) * Label: Diskoton

This signature recording by the late singer Jadranka Stojaković demostrates the durability of traditional song in her native Bosnia. Although its melody, known as “Haganin Sevdah,” is likely centuries old, a popular recording of it by singer Himzo Polovina appeared in 1964 with lyrics by Aleksa Šantić. Although both recordings by Polovina and Šantić preserve the emotional, protracted nature of the sevdalinka form, Stojaković’s musical adaptation is the one with pop accessibility. Her recording’s title, remaining true to Santić’s lyrics, translates to “why are you not here?” Stojaković was a beloved figure throughout all of the Yugoslav Republics and performed with that guileless voice of hers (reminiscent of Sandy Denny) during the ceremonies for the Sarajevo Olympics in 1984. In 1988 she would emigrate to Japan. [RIP 5/3/2016]

“Backwards and Forwards” (1984) – Aztec Camera
Written by Roddy Frame * LP: Knife *Produced by Mark Knopfler * Label: Sire

The dullest song on Aztec Camera’s Knife album will nonetheless jump out to fans of Love’s Forever Changes because, at 2:04, the guitar solo quotes the twisty verse melody of “Old Man.” Scotsman Roddy Frame, the creative force behind Aztec Camera, was never secretive about his admiration for the Los Angeles cult group’s late sixties albums, so it comes off as a loving wink.

“Golden Shower of Hits (Jerks on 45)” (1983) – Circle Jerks * Written by Tandy Almer, Burt Bacharach, Hal David, Bill Danoff, Paul Anka, Neil Sedaka, Howard Greenfield, Bobby Braddock, Curly Putnam * 45: “Golden Shower of Hits (Jerks on 45)” / “Rats of Reality” * LP: Golden Shower of Hits * Producer: Jerry Goldstein * Label: LAX Records

The “punk version” shtick seems to only work when levels of sincerity and subtlety manifest themselves, as they do here, courtesy of a Los Angeles band who never knew the meaning of either of those concepts. Behind all the toilet and pee is a series of 5 late-sixties and early-seventies radio hits from the roster’s formative years all strung together into a concise love-found-then-lost narrative. When you’re laughing all the way through, you’re laughing to fight off nascent anxiety. (The five songs: The Association’s “Along Comes Mary,” The Carpenters’ “Close to You,” the Starland Vocal Band’s “Afternoon Delight,” Paul Anka’s “Having My Baby,” and Tammy Wynette’s “D-I-V-O-R-C-E.”)