Well here i am again, writing an Opinion, but this time, not on Beer, not on Food, not on PC Games, but on a group, one of the best groups of the 80's. Let me explain to you.
in 1979 it was working class people from Islington in London, they were just 5 school friends who decided to create a band, they were joining the likes of Duran Duran, and others from that era, and in years to come, they would be known around the world as Spandau Ballet.
Two years earlier, there were 4 people from school, Gary Kemp, Tony Hadley, John Keeble, Steve Norman, and there friend Richard Miller, they made a band called The Makers. This band was well known for playing in the pubs of the East End of London, but in time, the group changed, with Martin Kemp, joining his brother in the band, by replacing Richard Miller. The bands name, which i found out from a website, was derived, from a Prison in Spandau, Berlin.
in 1979, on the 17th November, a studio was rented, and Spandau Ballet Sang in fron of 50 people, this was a massive hit, and in time to come, millions of other people would witness what this group had to offer. They started to sing more and more in Fashionable and Trendy Spots in London.
There is one concert that took place that was one of there most noteworthy, it was on the British Ship, the HMS Belfast.
The ship was in london. the manager, Steve Digger, was inundated with Contracts, there was one, which said basically Spandau Ballet do not wish to sign away the total control of the band, they want to do and sell what they like, and keep all control. and this is what they did.
October 1980. Chrysalis signed them up......
we are now in 2003, and still we have all, well most of us, have heard of this group, with such hits as Gold, Through The Barricades, and True but to name a few, this group has made headlines all around the world. if you add up how many weeks there singles spent in the charts, you would be coming close to 8 years, that is how much they were, and still are respected, even though, alas, they are not together :(.
I think we probably all remember the Hit song Gold, I mean it is the one that was played the most i think, and also the one that was so catchy.
I mean, the lyrics was so good, we all remember them, basically telling us we are what we are wanting to be, and nothing anyone else does will make us lower or different. This song was so good, and still is. you still hear it in all the 80's disocs, and sometimes the latest night clubs in remixed edition, because people still hear it and love it.
At the end of the day, this group was awesome at there peak, and now with Tony Hadley, winnning the Rebourn in the USA, he will be coming back to prominense, if you want to go and hear one of the truly great voices, then i would say go and book to see him in one of his uk tour concerts, he is going to be near grimsby near me, and i am going to go and see him.
As for a comeback, Tony has said there will never be one, and i have to believe him, but if a good cause came up, you never know. one day we could hear gold like from the band again......... we can hope.
This cd is the Quality it is meant to be, it is Spandau Ballet, it has the best tracks they have produced, and it is amazingly simple to listen to, and love, you can sit down and enjoy Through the Barricades, you can really relax to that song.
Or get up and boogy to Gold.
it is your choice, you do whatever you like, but i do recommend, as much as i can do with just words, to go and buy this, borrow it off a friend, download a sample of there site, whatever you like, but you will never ever regret it, they are great, fantastic, and will still be around for 15 years at least, probably 100, but they will be around.
Spandau Ballet, they are great, and this cd, truly world class.
I have been asked to say some more about the album, which i suppose i should really, as that is what this is about, i am sorry about that, but i just got lost in the history of the band.
Well the album is the best of Spandau Ballet, tracking all these greatest songs from the eary 80's until there last as a group, i have listed below all of the songs as they appear on the album, i can say that though this is not something you can really write down, you really do need to buy it, or borrow it from a library and listen to it, because it is class, no other word can explain it.
This album has sold over 1 million copies in 2 years, and for a band that was meant to be forgotten, it has not done to badly, the tracks are amazing, going from the very first one on the album Gold, which is the best just about, to the very last, Through The Barricades.
The songs are as follows 1. Gold 2. True 3. Only When You Leave 4. Lifeline 5. Communication 6. Instinction 7. Chant No. 1 (I Don't Need This Pressure On) 8. To Cut A Long Story Short 9. Freeze, The 10. Musclebound 11. Paint Me Down 12. She Loved Like Diamond 13. Round And Round 14. Highly Strung 15. Fight For Ourselves 16. I'll Fly For You 17. Through The Barricades
you can buy this cd at all outlets in your local town, or on the internet, i have seen it in HMV for around £9.99, but i am sure it is cheaper elsewhere, but whatever the price, just to have a copy of what has to be one of the greatest 80's artists ever, it would be worth it no matter what the price.
All i can say is that, i know i wrote a lot about the history of the band, but to be honest, i did not know where else to write it, as i wanted to share with you what this band was about, and how they came about, and i could not find a section to write this, but i hope the little bit of difference did help, i know it is not to much, but honestly, just listen and you will see what i mean.
Mickey xx
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In the days when boy bands played their own instruments, Spandau Ballet--a bunch of pretty ... more
boys from north London with kilts, shoulder pads, bad 1980s hair, eyeliner and unmistakable good looks--caused quite a stir and soon had both major record labels...
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Gold True Only When You Leave Lifeline Communication Instinction (Edit) Chant No 1 (I ... more
Don't Need This Pressure On) To Cut A Long Story Short The Freeze Musclebound Paint Me Down She Loved Like Diamond Round And Round Highly Strung Fight For Ourselves I...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
In the days when boy bands played their own instruments, Spandau Ballet--a bunch of pretty ... more
boys from north London with kilts, shoulder pads, bad 1980s hair, eyeliner and unmistakable good looks--caused quite a stir and soon had both major record labels...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
In the days when boy bands played their own instruments, Spandau Ballet--a bunch of pretty ... more
boys from north London with kilts, shoulder pads, bad 1980s hair, eyeliner and unmistakable good looks--caused quite a stir and soon had both major record labels...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
May 6th, 2003
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