Hello were strictly second-division Glam. They had the second – and last – of their hits when they got back together with Russ Ballard of Argent, who had first discovered them when they were a covers band. (more…)

This was the 14th single by The Sweet – or ‘Sweet’ as they had just become – and the first to be written by the band themselves. (more…)

I’d forgotten about Kenny. I kinda wish I hadn’t remembered, though the story behind them is worth telling – especially the fact that Cheggers was nearly their singer. And that Kellogg’s took offence (and legal action) at their signature style of wearing tops with a big ‘K’ for Kenny on the front. (more…)

Ahh, the days when you could go on Top of the Pops wearing a sweater knitted by your nan with the name of your band on your tummy… (more…)

So very sad to hear of the death of Jamaican toaster U-Roy, aka Ewart Beckford, aka The Originator, aka Daddy U-Roy. One of the reggae greats.

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This was far from being the biggest hit by The Sweet. But it’s their best. It’s also the best song Chinn & Chapman ever wrote. (more…)

No sooner had the full falsetto horrror of The Rubettes begun to fade than along came another rock’n’roll revival outfit – the equally abysmal Showaddywaddy. (more…)

Fingers in your ears for the shrillest falsetto ever heard. And a song that those of us who had the misfortune to hear at the time will never be able to forget. But don’t blame the “singer” – it’s not him singing. (more…)

When it came to Slade, the last thing you looked for was something slow, sensitive and sentimental. Especially after they spent Christmas 1973 at the top of the charts with the raucous Merry Christmas Everybody. But a few months later along came this elegiac piano ballad.

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The Bowieverse seems divided on the merits of Rebel Rebel, with some finding it a bit of a throwaway single, but I’ve always loved it. (more…)