James Cooke
@dodgydiscs.bsky.social
Pop crazed youngster, books, TV & film, cooking, hiking guy et al. OK piano player. Bitesized reviews of unheard Smash Hits reviewed albums - Su Pollard to Motörhead. On here more than that ‘Twitter’ with the dodgy landlord.
OMD - OMD Mar 80 UK Peak: 27. There’s a pre dynamic slower version of the hypnotic 'Messages' which I love plus 'Electricity' & 'Red Frame, White Light'. Aside from those singles, the album has the features of a maturing synth band not quite settled 6.5/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews
November 13, 2025 at 8:08 AM
OMD - OMD Mar 80 UK Peak: 27. There’s a pre dynamic slower version of the hypnotic 'Messages' which I love plus 'Electricity' & 'Red Frame, White Light'. Aside from those singles, the album has the features of a maturing synth band not quite settled 6.5/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews
Nina Hagen Band - Unbehagen. Mar 80. No UK Chart Placing. The review is spot on. Whereas Lene Lovich may be viewed as kooky, Nina is completely hatstand! The music, mostly rock & a slice of reggae is great but takes a backseat to the performative vocals. 6.5/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews
November 12, 2025 at 7:58 AM
Nina Hagen Band - Unbehagen. Mar 80. No UK Chart Placing. The review is spot on. Whereas Lene Lovich may be viewed as kooky, Nina is completely hatstand! The music, mostly rock & a slice of reggae is great but takes a backseat to the performative vocals. 6.5/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews
Sister Sledge - Love Somebody Today. Mar 80. No UK Chart Placing. No surprises here if you know their late 70s groove. A solid & consistent disco soul album overall. The title track seems to be the strongest to my ears. 6.5/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews
November 11, 2025 at 8:26 AM
Sister Sledge - Love Somebody Today. Mar 80. No UK Chart Placing. No surprises here if you know their late 70s groove. A solid & consistent disco soul album overall. The title track seems to be the strongest to my ears. 6.5/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews
It's The Jam approaching their pomp on the cover of Smash Hits from 6-19 March 1980. I've heard 'Get Happy' & it's yet another Martha & The Muffins album. Who knew they were so prolific? #smashhitsalbumreviews
November 11, 2025 at 7:49 AM
It's The Jam approaching their pomp on the cover of Smash Hits from 6-19 March 1980. I've heard 'Get Happy' & it's yet another Martha & The Muffins album. Who knew they were so prolific? #smashhitsalbumreviews
Horslips - Short Stories, Tall Tales. Mar 80. No UK Chart Placing. Agree with the review. Melodic pop rock with elements of Squeeze & McCartney. Highly listenable but not especially challenging. 7/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews
November 10, 2025 at 7:59 AM
Horslips - Short Stories, Tall Tales. Mar 80. No UK Chart Placing. Agree with the review. Melodic pop rock with elements of Squeeze & McCartney. Highly listenable but not especially challenging. 7/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews
Robert Gordon - Bad Boy. Mar 80. No UK Chart Placing. Just 27 minutes of music with a BBE date of 1958. Best when he goes outside this boundary on 'Born To Lose' plus his covers of 'Bad Boy' & 'Picture Of You' are decent. A touch better than Shaky 6.5/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews
November 9, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Robert Gordon - Bad Boy. Mar 80. No UK Chart Placing. Just 27 minutes of music with a BBE date of 1958. Best when he goes outside this boundary on 'Born To Lose' plus his covers of 'Bad Boy' & 'Picture Of You' are decent. A touch better than Shaky 6.5/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews
I love this album cover & shall be my car listening for next weekend. Terrific piano playing that I can only marvel at. The first track is the theme tune to early 80s snooker programme 'Pot Black' & is called 'Black & White Rag'
November 9, 2025 at 11:20 AM
I love this album cover & shall be my car listening for next weekend. Terrific piano playing that I can only marvel at. The first track is the theme tune to early 80s snooker programme 'Pot Black' & is called 'Black & White Rag'
Shakin' Stevens - Take One. Mar 80. UK Peak: 62. Rock n Roll Records with a country inflection would have been sure to please Dad's of 1980. 'Hot Dog' is the hit & best track & is upbeat throughout. 6/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews
November 8, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Shakin' Stevens - Take One. Mar 80. UK Peak: 62. Rock n Roll Records with a country inflection would have been sure to please Dad's of 1980. 'Hot Dog' is the hit & best track & is upbeat throughout. 6/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews
999 - The Biggest Prize In Sport. Feb 80. No UK Chart Placing. I knew this band had some songwriting quality after 'Emergency' & 'Homicide' & so it's proved here. A driving new wave pop sound throughout. Good energy. 7/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews
November 7, 2025 at 8:02 AM
999 - The Biggest Prize In Sport. Feb 80. No UK Chart Placing. I knew this band had some songwriting quality after 'Emergency' & 'Homicide' & so it's proved here. A driving new wave pop sound throughout. Good energy. 7/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews
Players Association - We Got The Groove. Feb 80. No UK Chart Placing. Just the four tracks on this 30 minute album. Don't disagree with the review. It's good serviceable disco but not much more. 6/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews
November 6, 2025 at 7:46 AM
Players Association - We Got The Groove. Feb 80. No UK Chart Placing. Just the four tracks on this 30 minute album. Don't disagree with the review. It's good serviceable disco but not much more. 6/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews
open.spotify.com/track/0A6eI8...
Chart crimes. The first single from his second album, the one after 'Sign Your Name', only got to No.83 in 1989. A psychedelic rock/soul slice of awesomeness
Chart crimes. The first single from his second album, the one after 'Sign Your Name', only got to No.83 in 1989. A psychedelic rock/soul slice of awesomeness
This Side Of Love
open.spotify.com
November 6, 2025 at 6:52 AM
open.spotify.com/track/0A6eI8...
Chart crimes. The first single from his second album, the one after 'Sign Your Name', only got to No.83 in 1989. A psychedelic rock/soul slice of awesomeness
Chart crimes. The first single from his second album, the one after 'Sign Your Name', only got to No.83 in 1989. A psychedelic rock/soul slice of awesomeness
Here early doors at this lovely venue in Shepherd's Bush to see Sananda Maitreya aka Terence Trent D'Arby. It's only taken me 38 years to finally see him live.
November 5, 2025 at 7:18 PM
Here early doors at this lovely venue in Shepherd's Bush to see Sananda Maitreya aka Terence Trent D'Arby. It's only taken me 38 years to finally see him live.
Spyro Gyra - Catching The Sun. Feb 80. UK Peak: 31. The kind of record that exudes music you hear when you've just arrived for that 1st cocktail in the bar of a hot country. It relaxes you & but by day 3, you'll think it's soporific Muzak. 5/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews
November 5, 2025 at 8:11 AM
Spyro Gyra - Catching The Sun. Feb 80. UK Peak: 31. The kind of record that exudes music you hear when you've just arrived for that 1st cocktail in the bar of a hot country. It relaxes you & but by day 3, you'll think it's soporific Muzak. 5/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews
It's Buggles who adorn the cover of Smash Hits from 21 Feb to 5 Mar 1980. I've got 'Too Much Pressure' & 'Terminal Jive' & the rest to discover. Yes, another Shaky album incoming. #smashhitsalbumreviews
November 5, 2025 at 7:14 AM
It's Buggles who adorn the cover of Smash Hits from 21 Feb to 5 Mar 1980. I've got 'Too Much Pressure' & 'Terminal Jive' & the rest to discover. Yes, another Shaky album incoming. #smashhitsalbumreviews
Buggles - Age Of Plastic. Feb 80. UK Peak: 27. Agreed. A strong album with half of the 8 tracks being single releases. 'Video..' towers over them but 'Plastic Age' is a very worthy follow up. Listenable. 7/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews
November 4, 2025 at 12:40 PM
Buggles - Age Of Plastic. Feb 80. UK Peak: 27. Agreed. A strong album with half of the 8 tracks being single releases. 'Video..' towers over them but 'Plastic Age' is a very worthy follow up. Listenable. 7/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews
Rupert Holmes - Partners In Crime. Feb 80. No UK Chart Placing. 'Him', a pop gem concerning jealousy is the best song other than 'Escape' on here that calls to mind a more playful Billy Joel & life as it's lived in New York City. Not bad. 6.5/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews
November 3, 2025 at 8:08 AM
Rupert Holmes - Partners In Crime. Feb 80. No UK Chart Placing. 'Him', a pop gem concerning jealousy is the best song other than 'Escape' on here that calls to mind a more playful Billy Joel & life as it's lived in New York City. Not bad. 6.5/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews
John Foxx - Metamatic. Feb 80. UK Peak: 18. Deeply contrasting to yesterday, this is muscular & mechanical with a greater sense of purpose, 'Plaza', 'He's A Liquid', 'Touch Go' & the classic 'Underpass' (Underpants!!!) being highlights. Nearly great 7/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews
November 2, 2025 at 1:35 PM
John Foxx - Metamatic. Feb 80. UK Peak: 18. Deeply contrasting to yesterday, this is muscular & mechanical with a greater sense of purpose, 'Plaza', 'He's A Liquid', 'Touch Go' & the classic 'Underpass' (Underpants!!!) being highlights. Nearly great 7/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews
Changeable weather this afternoon on my walk to Woodcock Park & back. Looks like a spider's escaped and heading towards the drains. What could possibly go wrong?
November 1, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Changeable weather this afternoon on my walk to Woodcock Park & back. Looks like a spider's escaped and heading towards the drains. What could possibly go wrong?
Jon & Vangelis - Short Stories. Jan 80. UK Peak: 4. If there is a genre called Anorak synth then these guys are at the vanguard. Pretty & wispy tapestries are weaved proggily. 'I Hear You Now' is the highlight, sounding like a Take Hart montage. 5.5/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews
November 1, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Jon & Vangelis - Short Stories. Jan 80. UK Peak: 4. If there is a genre called Anorak synth then these guys are at the vanguard. Pretty & wispy tapestries are weaved proggily. 'I Hear You Now' is the highlight, sounding like a Take Hart montage. 5.5/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews
Ooh the first time I remember hearing a thunder rumble on Halloween night
October 31, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Ooh the first time I remember hearing a thunder rumble on Halloween night
Is this what the abbreviation 'IDGAF' is for?
October 31, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Is this what the abbreviation 'IDGAF' is for?
Flying Lizards - Flying Lizards. Feb 80. UK Peak: 60. A frenetic German dose of Dadaism kicks us off, proper bash your head with a tin tray stuff. 'Summertime Blues' is a prototype of 'Money', (best cover ever?) but quite amateur by comparison. Curiouser & curiouser. 5/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews
October 31, 2025 at 12:46 PM
Flying Lizards - Flying Lizards. Feb 80. UK Peak: 60. A frenetic German dose of Dadaism kicks us off, proper bash your head with a tin tray stuff. 'Summertime Blues' is a prototype of 'Money', (best cover ever?) but quite amateur by comparison. Curiouser & curiouser. 5/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews
Each time I listen to 'Thriller', this lyric sounds like 'Mike Read just called' #mondegreen
October 31, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Each time I listen to 'Thriller', this lyric sounds like 'Mike Read just called' #mondegreen
Yikes. Listening to 'Strange Kind Of Woman' by Deep Purple and see that the original song title was called 'Prostitute'. Probably a wise choice to change that in 1971.
October 31, 2025 at 10:37 AM
Yikes. Listening to 'Strange Kind Of Woman' by Deep Purple and see that the original song title was called 'Prostitute'. Probably a wise choice to change that in 1971.