Grange Hill - The Album - Various Artists

...I introduce the concept of Grange Hill to anybody who may not have heard of the likes of Zammo, Tucker, Gripper, Mr Bronson and co.


Now for anybody growing up as a teenager in the later 1970's and the vast majority of the 1980s Grange Hill was the programme which we as kids all loved and our parents hated with equal aplomb. This is because it was set in a comprehensive school and all the day to day activities which went on ...
...somewhat surprised me to see Grange Hill the album being released, so I was intrigued as much as anything else. Needless to say my memory wasn't playing tricks on me and the album is actually made up of tracks which were released during the period that Grange Hill aired and that is the only tangible connection between the two (with the exception of the title track). Whilst the album in my opinion has lost a little of its appeal by jumping on the ... more

When I saw this advertised round about Christmas time, and expressed an obvious desire for some of the tracks detailed, my wife decided it might make a nice stocking filler from the children. So having received it did I find it to be a cracker, or did I go all cold turkey over it. Once I have reviewed each of the individual tracks I am sure you will get a better idea.

However, before I review the individual tracks I think it only right that I introduce the concept of Grange Hill to anybody who may not have heard of the likes of Zammo, Tucker, Gripper, Mr Bronson and co.

Now for anybody growing up as a teenager in the later 1970's and the vast majority of the 1980s Grange Hill was the programme which we as kids all loved and our parents hated with equal aplomb. This is because it was set in a comprehensive school and all the day to day activities which went on up and down in classrooms all over the country in small doses were magnified into a half hour slot. Parents not being in the real world believed all these activities went on at the same time, whilst at the same time widening our imaginations as to what we could get up to !!. The programme from time to time approached a number of difficult subjects such as bullying and drug taking with Zammo (Lee Maguire) playing the lead to good effect. Although I have clearly aged with the passing of years I couldn't remember there being a huge backdrop of music when the programme was originally aired so it somewhat surprised me to see Grange Hill the album being released, so I was intrigued as much as anything else. Needless to say my memory wasn't playing tricks on me and the album is actually made up of tracks which were released during the period that Grange Hill aired and that is the only tangible connection between the two (with the exception of the title track). Whilst the album in my opinion has lost a little of its appeal by jumping on the Grange Hill name, the proof of the pudding for any compilation album is in the quality of the individual tracks, and I was interested to see whether the tracks were in keeping with the rebellious nature of the original programme.

Disc: 1

Let's get started

1. Grange Hill Theme

Certainly a good way to start the album, and certainly one which requires no introduction for anybody growing up in the era of Grange Hill. My only criticism of the title track is that it only provides a taster for the theme tune, and given that this is the only true connection with Grange Hill, is over before you have been able to fully reminisce.

2. Queen - Don't Stop Me Now

Somehow this track always seems to appear on 80's compilations but for me this is one of Queen's weaker tracks.

3. Madness - Baggy Trousers

The nutty boys certainly played an integral part of my early teens, and Baggy Trousers is just a typical Madness track, with their usual rambling rambling lyrics.

4. Adam & The Ants - Stand And Deliver

What can I say about Stuart Goddard aka Adam Ant and the boys that hasn't been said before. Adam made it cool for males to wear make up, and the sales of tippex virtually doubled overnight as people painted his trademark white face paint over their bags. The video for this probably catapulted the boys to superstardom as they based the song and video around being a dandy highwayman !!

5. Haircut 100 - Favourite Shirts (Boy Meets Girl)

My sister had a bit of a soft spot for Nick Heyward but the band never really did it for me at the time. Twenty five years on I'm afraid that is still the case.

6. The Human League - Don't You Want Me

This track certainly signified the rise of electro pop in the 80s and those of a younger age will recognise it from the recent car adverts (I was working as a waitress in a cocktail bar when I met you). I loved the track when it first came out and I still do now.

7. The Specials - Too Much Too Young

Terry Hall and the boys brought ska music to the masses with this one but it isn't a patch on the iconic Ghost Town. However, still a pretty decent track.

8. The Undertones - Teenage Kicks

By far The Undertones biggest hit before Feargal Sharkey went solo although I did prefer My Perfect Cousin. I was never a big Undertones fan but this wasn't too bad.

9. The Jam - Town Called Malice

Sadly this was to be The Jams last major hit but they certainly didn't go out with a whimper as in my opinion this is one of the bands best offerings.

10. Tenpole Tudor - Swords Of A Thousand Men

For some reason Tenpole Tudor never really made it although this hit is a classic.

11. The Vapors - Turning Japanese

One hit wonders but what a hit. Not a song that gets an awful lot of airtme these days but still brings back many happy memories.

12. Kim Wilde - Kids In America

If you've read any of my former reviews you will know that I had a bit of a schoolboy crush on Kim Wilde - what with those sultry lips and flowing blonde hair which schoolboy wouldn't. This was the track which probably did it more for me than any other with its punchy lyrics.

13. Survivor - Eye Of The Tiger

This track is completely synonomous with the Rocky films, and whenever you hear the intro to this song you can't help but feel good. Hard to believe that Survivor never allowed themselves to achieve bigger success on the back of the film.

14. Duran Duran - Girls On Film

I was never a huge Duran Duran fan, but this was one of their better offerings. Whether my opinion is influenced by the accompanying video with girls dressed in less clothes than you would normally experience is a matter for debate !!

15. Buggles - Video Killed The Radio Star

This Trevor Horn inspired classic was very much a cult single and has the claim to fame of being the first record ever played on Multi Coloured Swap Shop (for those of you old enough to remember !!). It is one of those songs that I can't help singing along to in private but wouldn't admit to in public.

16. Department S - Is Vic There?

A bit of a surprising choice for the album given it didn't achieve a great deal of commercial success, but in many ways is what the album SHOULD be about given its change from the norm.

17. Ian Dury & The Blockheads - Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick

Ian burst on the scene with this and is without doubt one of the classic songs of the era.

18. M - Pop Muzik

Similar in style to The Buggles, this track got a second wind when used as the backing track to advertise Pot Noodle.

19. XTC - Making Plans For Nigel

Another track which the album should be all about displaying its rebellious streak with this track. A classic.

20. Bad Manners - Special Brew

One of the most amazing sights in the 80s was of Buster Bloodvessel doing the can-can on the video for this track. I can't get that memory out of my head now.

21. Selecter - On My Radio

Another of the ska / two tone classics from the late 70's / early eighties. Selecter never really followed up the success of this but another top tune.

22. Althea & Donna - Uptown Top Ranking

I never liked this first time, and my opinion hasn't changed with age.

23. The Flying Lizards - Money

A decent track which is in keeping with the so called rebellious nature of the album. Not the best but certainly not the worst (see previous track !!)

24. Stray Cats - Stray Cat Strut

Stray Cats were known as much for their Double Bass and outlandish haircuts as they were for their music which is a shame as they had a totally unique sound. This is by far their best offering.

Disc: 2

And the second disc.

1. Boney M - Brown Girl In The Ring

Boney M are one of those strange bands who nobody admits to liking but they didn't half sell a load of records. Boney M were very much from the disco mould and as I have said previously, for me the album should be a lot more about the rebellious side of the era. Whilst I appreciate that disco was a big part of the era when Grange Hill was aired, the two don't really go hand in hand.

2. Village People - Y.M.C.A.

This song certainly needs no introduction, and if it does you need to get a life. That said, apart from the era it isn't really in keeping with the so called nature of the album.

3. Blondie - Heart Of Glass

Now this is more like it. For me Debbie Harry was the American equivalent of Kim Wilde (or should that be Kim Wilde was the English version of Debbie Harry?). Those sultry lips, long blonde hair just did it for me. This is undoubtedly Blondies best track, and I can still see that Disco Ball spinning, and Chris Stein nearly strangling himself with the electric cord.

4. Dexys Midnight Runners - Come On Eileen

Another absolute classic. Whilst Kevin and the gang clearly didn't dress to impress, their music certainly made up for this and who can't resist stamping their feet when this one comes on. In my opinion one of the ten best tracks from the whole of the 1980's.

5. Shakin' Stevens - This Ole House

Whether Shaky would have achieved the same level of success as plain old Michael Barratt is debatable, but Wales' answer to Elvis didn't do too bad. Whilst he wasn't the most eleoquent of individuals, he certainly developed a unique style for the time, although trying to emulate the big man was always going to be a tough ask.

6. Toni Basil - Mickey

This track is very much like Marmite in that you either love it or hate it. For me it is too cheesy and Americanesque, and therefore I am very much in the hate it category.

7. The Knack - My Sharona

A punk classic, very much in keeping with the so-called genre of the album.

8. Men At Work - Down Under

A big hit at the time, but not one of my favourites.

9. Soft Cell - Tainted Love

Whisper it quietly but I actually quite like this track, even allowing for the somewhat annoying Mark Almond.

10. Fun Boy Three & Bananarama - It Ain't What You Do It's The Way That You Do It

This collaboration between two of the biggest bands of the time proved to be a masterstroke, and when you think of either Bananarama or Fun Boy Three in isolation this is the track which instantly springs to mind.

11. The Stranglers - Golden Brown

The Stranglers after their 70's peak enjoyed a renaissance with this quasi punk offering, but it was nowhere near as rebellious as their pomp. As a consequence, a somewhat strange choice for the album.

12. Ultravox - Vienna

By far Ultravox's biggest and best hit and to this day I still do not know how Joe Dolce kept it off the top of the charts. A classic.

13. Martha & The Muffins - Echo Beach

Whilst Martha and her muffins were ultimately one hit wonders this punk offering is certainly in keeping with what this album should be about. Whilst not a classic, a decent enough offering nonetheless.

14. B.A. Robertson - Bang Bang

The first single which I ever bought was by B.A Robertson (Kool in the Kaftan) but this isn't one of my favourites on the album.

15. Lene Lovich - Lucky Number

Another one hit wonder but I absolutely loved this when it was first released, and even with the passing of time my opinion hasn't changed. A very rebellious punk track totally in keeping with what this album should be about.

16. David Bowie - Boys Keep Swinging

If you had to choose a Bowie song to put on the album I dare best gamble that you wouldn't choose this one. There are so many he released during the era of Grange Hill which could have been included and for me this is very much a nothing track. Given its recent renaissance why not Ashes to Ashes for example?

17. Yazoo - Don't Go

Whilst not a patch on Only You this isn't a bad track from the electro pop genre, although both Alison Moyet and Vince Clarke went on to achieve even bigger success after leaving the band.

18. Average White Band - Let's Go Round Again

The clue to this is very much in the title and in my opinion this track is decidedly average. Let's go round to the next track !!

19. John Paul Young - Love Is In The Air

Or perhaps not !! This song gets an awful lot of air time but for me it is seriously lacking. You can tell I'm a romantic at heart !!

20. Tavares - More Than A Woman

The best version of this song in the Bee Gees version and even that isn't brilliant. Enough said.

21. Imagination - Just An Illusion

After the usual two or three dodgy tracks at the end of the disc, the quality improves but only slightly. An OK track but nothing to write home about.

22. Hot Chocolate - It Started With A Kiss

Hot Chocolate enjoyed a bit of a re-birth after the success of The Full Monty film, and for me this is them at their very best.

Disc: 3

And the last one.

1. Wham! - Freedom

Wham were undoubtedly one of THE bands of the 80's, although in my opinion this is one of their weaker tracks.

2. David Bowie - Let's Dance

Strange in many ways that Bowie gets two offerings on this album, and in my opinion they have picked two of his weaker tracks.

3. Men Without Hats - The Safety Dance

An absolute classic, and an equally bizarre video to accompany it. One hit wonders which is a shame as this is quite a decent offering.

4. Doctor & The Medics - Spirit In The Sky

This song for some reason has been covered so many times it is untrue. Whilst nowhere near as good as the Norman Greenbaum original, it is miles better than the Gareth Gates attempt.

5. Kenny Loggins - Footloose

The title track to the film, so can't really criticise it too much, but it certainly isn't one of my favourites from the album.

6. Billy Idol - Rebel Yell

After a slow start to the final disc, now we're talking with the punk maestro himself Billy Idol. Whilst not as good as White Wedding, not far behind.

7. Culture Club - Church Of The Poison Mind

There's no getting away from the fact that George and the boys were very good at what they did and I can't remember them having a particularly weak track. This isn't one of their better offerings, but because they didn't do poor songs it is still pretty decent.

8. Cyndi Lauper - Girls Just Want To Have Fun

I still remember the first airing of this on Top of the Pops as if it was yesterday, and Cyndi certainly announced herself to the british public by including a welcoming message to Lizzie II !!!. Typical brash Americanism but Cyndi certainly grew on you.

9. Philip Oakey & Giorgio Moroder - Together In Electric Dreams

This strange corroboration turned out to be a monster smash, although neither enjoyed solo success nor followed it up. One of those songs you never tire of listening to.

10. Stephen `Tin Tin' Duffy - Kiss Me

This album has certainly cornered the market with one-hit wonders and here is another which falls into that category. In my opinion, however, this is a slightly annoying track which I tend to skip.

11. Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Relax

This album wouldn't live up to its billing if FGTH weren't included as they were probably the most rebellious group of the generation. Who else could get away with having a debut single all about gay sex and as a consequence get their record banned by the BBC. I suspect this decision by the BBC helped catapult FGTH as all of a sudden they were headline news. They even managed to court controversy with their next single by depicting Reagan and Gorbachov having a punch up to determine their power battle.

12. Malcolm McLaren - Double Dutch

The so called godfather of punk, this song sadly doesn't do it for me.

13. Rock Steady Crew - (Hey You) The Rock Steady Crew

An OK track, the group were never going to have a follow up after being so vain in singing about themselves !! Another one to skip over.

14. Heaven 17 - Temptation

Sheffields main rival to The Human League, and in many ways their music was very similar. Heaven 17 were never quite able to emulate Human Leagues success, but this was by far their best offering.

15. Thompson Twins - Doctor! Doctor!

If I had a pound for every time my dad asked me how can you have three twins I would be a rich man by now, and wouldn't have to resort to writing reviews on sites such as this !! In my opinion they were too similar in style to groups such as Fun Boy Three, Haircut 100 etc, and didn't really stir my interest. Having listened to this track I don't think my opinion will be swayed.

16. Kajagoogoo - Too Shy

Sadly, Kajagoogoo were best known for Limahl's dodgy haircut, but this was actually a half decent debut single. Whilst they never really followed up the success of this, it is still a decent one to listen to.

17. Tracey Ullman - They Don't Know

After finding fame on Three of a Kind, Tracey embarked on a relatively successful singing career before making it in the States. This Kirsy McColl cover proved a huge hit, with Kirsty providing the backing vocals. In many ways she was Englands answer to Cyndi Lauper but not quite as annoying. That said, I actually quite like this track.

18. UB40 - Red Red Wine

Birminghams finest had by far their biggest hit with this single, and was one of the biggest selling records of the decade. Not a bad track but it is a little on the depressing side.

19. Paul McCartney & The Frog Chorus - We All Stand Together

Why, why, why do they have to end the album with this pile of rubbish which makes Crazy Frog quite enjoyable. Paul -you certainly didn't do yourself any favours by resorting to this sort of stuff.

So there you have it. My analysis of the sixty five tracks included on the album which range from the sublime to the ridiculous. By and large the quality of the tracks is half decent, but I just don't get the Grange Hill connection. 

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