Whenever I have to create a playlist for the NME Indie Charts, a fair chunk of songs which were cultishly popular in the mid-80s aren't available (around 10-20% usually).

I think we're probably both talking about the same person. He doesn't post that often so hopefully he's easy for the mods to ignore (I really hope he's not sending them DMs every day, at least...)

I always found the gatekeeping odd - I own quite a few psych boots, but seriously, how rich (and lucky) would you have to be to own a genuine Fredereek Hernando?
Also didn't realise until a few years back that my copy of The Nazz's "Open My Eyes" was a boot. Oh well. Nobody noticed!

He always ignores anyone who tries to engage with him.
I think the thing about Old Gold was always the design. It looks like something you'd find on a supermarket own brand mustard label. I've got quite a few though - the cheapest way of owning "My White Bicycle" that I know of!

Sifting through the posts now:
"The 'n' word was not regarded as offensive that long ago. It's just the 'woke' generation and political lunacy. Nobody could have been offended by 'The Sun Has Got His Hat On'".

"Horrible. Avoid.
I HATE STEREO where stereo does not belong."

They're very petulant demands. "Once again I log on here to find an Old Gold record, which has no relevance, and contains no delightful memories..."
Obviously I don't really think it's Morrissey, but it's going to cheer me up to pretend that it is.

Somebody needs to glue a fake Old Gold label to a Morrissey record, and give it to him and see how he reacts. I guarantee he'll be outraged (whereas if you gave him one with a mocked-up Oriole or green Columbia label, he would certainly appreciate the gesture).

There's a odd and persistent poster on the 45cat website (like Discogs, except for 7" singles) who keeps on asking to have all the Old Gold reissues removed for "destroying my wonderful memories".

I originally thought it was a very old man having issues, but what if it's actually Morrissey?

Fantastic! Well done!

I must be one of the few people on Earth who actually preferred the sequel, even if it was ridiculously tough.

As others have mentioned, it might just be because the '84 version sounds fresh to me. There's a place for huff and bluster.

A picture of a majestic humpback whale leaping from the seas with the caption “humpback whales are forming super-groups”, rather than simply admire the wonder of nature I am making a poor quality music gag

This is why whale punk had to happen

Could be that. I think I need to live with both versions a bit longer to decide.

My first thought is that the 1984 version has dated less than the 1985 one - something about this slightly cloudy, hazy mix feels more compatible with 21st Century pop. Slightly surprised nobody's picked it up and begun playing it instead of the 85 one.

A-HA Take On Me 1984 Version YouTube video by MagneticNorth71

Can't believe I've only just (this week) got around to properly listening to the original '84 release of Take On Me. It's so smooth yet fizzy that it's like drinking a Snowball cocktail at Christmas. Less desperate for your attention and dispenses with the huff and clatter.
youtu.be/liq-seNVvrM?...

There were so many shit things about lockdown, but none of them are the things the right actually got agitated about. It's a direct parallel to the way there are many good things about the UK, but none of them are the things they claim to be proud of. Just warped priorities.

Scott Lavene - Debbie (Official Video) YouTube video by Scott Lavene

This lad is playing a venue near me in August.
You know you're not allowed to say "sounds like [band/artist] on acid" because it's such a horrible cliche?
Well I know, but this is like watching an episode of Sunnyside Farm on a black & white portable TV while on acid.
youtu.be/ewGltobP4Rs?...

Ted Maul, investigative reporter from Brasseye, with his rich grey bouffant and Russian General's thick soup-strainer moustache.

My way to the hairdressers was blocked by three teenage goths walking astride while making cat miaowing noises.

IT'S NOT COOL TO BE WEIRD.

“People phoned in, saying, ‘If you play that song again, I’m going to firebomb your station!’” How XTC battled the “rottweiler” Todd Rundgren and their record label to make their breakthrough Andy Partridge reflects on Skylarking, a change of direction for XTC that was the most difficult of births under producer Todd Rundgren's direction and the label’s interference

Have to admit that I'd love to read an in-depth interview with Andy Partridge about an XTC album which isn't "Skylarking", but always a pleasure to see something new anyway!
www.guitarworld.com/artists/guit...

"30% of people, mainly middle class, are about to become unemployed" is the sentence usually uttered in the first episode of a six party BBC documentary about a revolution

Today's prompter of dog over-excitement: The fact the council had cut all the grass locally.

I sometimes get envious of dogs and small children and the way I'll never - no matter how hard I try - ever be so enthusiastic about the small things.

University students are, by their nature, the most open minded people going. They WANT to learn, they WANT to be exposed to new ideas.

The "issue" is (in this context) is that they will also CHALLENGE those new ideas that they learn about.
And certain sections of society don't like that.

And probably half of those will be taken by ex-Tory MPs, causing a lot of questions about the actual point of it all.

From burning bins to building bridges: how restorative justice helped one woman after Southport riots Stacey Vint was a long-time addict when she was arrested in Middlesbrough, now she speaks publicly about her experience

Good on this woman, great to hear she has turned her life around and it can't be easy coming out and talking about the flaming bin incident.

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

a fluffy white dog sitting on a couch in front of a television ALT: a fluffy white dog sitting on a couch in front of a television

While out in town I bumped into an Old English Sheepdog I hadn't seen in at least a year. God, the scenes.

Also examined lower down the charts:

Flatmates: Happy All The Time
A House: Kick Me Again
James Taylor: Blow Up
All About Eve: Our Summer
WDE: Hotsy Girl
Brilliant Corners: Brian Rix
Close Lobsters: Never Seen Before
Depeche Mode: Strangelove
Lorries: Crawling Mantra
Mighty Mighty: Built Like A Car

Totally fine that large parts of the British government are jumping into bed with a company whose public statements are "we are, at a fundamental level, absolutely batshit crazy neofascists".

Also examined lower down the charts:

Flatmates: Happy All The Time
A House: Kick Me Again
James Taylor: Blow Up
All About Eve: Our Summer
WDE: Hotsy Girl
Brilliant Corners: Brian Rix
Close Lobsters: Never Seen Before
Depeche Mode: Strangelove
Lorries: Crawling Mantra
Mighty Mighty: Built Like A Car

The Reverend Lionel Fanthorpe started doing YouTube videos not long ago but very suddenly stopped. I wished he'd kept it all going.