Birmingham 81
@birmingham81.bsky.social
Music, architecture, photography, design etc. Sharing my concert photos taken in Birmingham in 81/82 (hence the name). Plus other stuff I've hoarded
Today's listening: this playlist of tunes played at NYC's Roxy club, selected by Kool Lady Blue and Afrika Bambaataa. Features Yazoo, Hashim, Freeez, Mohawks, ESG, Strafe, Grace Jones, Chic, Kraftwerk, Madonna, Talking Heads, Fela Kuti, James Brown etc
▶️ open.spotify.com/playlist/5WK...
▶️ open.spotify.com/playlist/5WK...
December 9, 2025 at 8:29 AM
Today's listening: this playlist of tunes played at NYC's Roxy club, selected by Kool Lady Blue and Afrika Bambaataa. Features Yazoo, Hashim, Freeez, Mohawks, ESG, Strafe, Grace Jones, Chic, Kraftwerk, Madonna, Talking Heads, Fela Kuti, James Brown etc
▶️ open.spotify.com/playlist/5WK...
▶️ open.spotify.com/playlist/5WK...
Aztec Camera performing Walk Out to Winter live on Switch in 1983
December 9, 2025 at 8:20 AM
Aztec Camera performing Walk Out to Winter live on Switch in 1983
A cute Fiat Topolino spotted in Bologna last month. They were supposed to be going on sale in the UK in the summer, but we're still waiting
December 8, 2025 at 9:10 PM
A cute Fiat Topolino spotted in Bologna last month. They were supposed to be going on sale in the UK in the summer, but we're still waiting
On this day in 1982, we were watching The Jam at Birmingham's Bingley Hall. Great concert, but tinged with sadness as they only had two more shows to play after this one before splitting up. Here's my ticket
December 8, 2025 at 7:55 PM
On this day in 1982, we were watching The Jam at Birmingham's Bingley Hall. Great concert, but tinged with sadness as they only had two more shows to play after this one before splitting up. Here's my ticket
Remembering Toots Hibbert on his birthday. Here are Toots and the Maytals performing 54-46 That's My Number live at Winterland, San Francisco in 1975. Watch the full concert at www.youtube.com/watch?v=EStJ...
December 8, 2025 at 8:31 AM
Remembering Toots Hibbert on his birthday. Here are Toots and the Maytals performing 54-46 That's My Number live at Winterland, San Francisco in 1975. Watch the full concert at www.youtube.com/watch?v=EStJ...
RIP Martin Parr. Such sad news. This affectionate profile of the brilliant photographer is still on iPlayer if you haven’t seen it yet
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
I Am Martin Parr
Discover the maverick behind some of the most iconic images of the past century on an intimate and exclusive road trip with a photographer whose work has revolutionised contemporary photography.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 7, 2025 at 4:10 PM
RIP Martin Parr. Such sad news. This affectionate profile of the brilliant photographer is still on iPlayer if you haven’t seen it yet
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
Had a lovely time and a delicious lunch at the Christmas Fair at the Finnish Church in Rotherhithe yesterday. It's the closest you'll get to visiting Helsinki without leaving London. Open again today from 12-6
December 7, 2025 at 8:50 AM
Had a lovely time and a delicious lunch at the Christmas Fair at the Finnish Church in Rotherhithe yesterday. It's the closest you'll get to visiting Helsinki without leaving London. Open again today from 12-6
#WeekendSingles Morning Wonder by The Earlies and Straight to the One by Balloon were my most played tunes on Spotify this year. They’re both on my Turn of the Millennium playlist of great songs from 1995-2005
🎧▶️ open.spotify.com/playlist/0MW...
🎧▶️ open.spotify.com/playlist/0MW...
December 6, 2025 at 11:19 AM
#WeekendSingles Morning Wonder by The Earlies and Straight to the One by Balloon were my most played tunes on Spotify this year. They’re both on my Turn of the Millennium playlist of great songs from 1995-2005
🎧▶️ open.spotify.com/playlist/0MW...
🎧▶️ open.spotify.com/playlist/0MW...
Dean Wareham at St Pancras Old Church on this day in 2013. Thanks to @fullofwishes.co.uk for the reminder. He's written about the show here aheadfullofwishes.substack.com/p/dean-wareh...
December 5, 2025 at 10:07 PM
Dean Wareham at St Pancras Old Church on this day in 2013. Thanks to @fullofwishes.co.uk for the reminder. He's written about the show here aheadfullofwishes.substack.com/p/dean-wareh...
Remembering Wayne Smith on what would have been his 60th birthday. Under Me Sleng Teng was such a seismic tune. Here's a playlist that captures the aftershocks
open.spotify.com/playlist/05R...
open.spotify.com/playlist/05R...
Sleng Teng Top 30
open.spotify.com
December 5, 2025 at 9:50 PM
Remembering Wayne Smith on what would have been his 60th birthday. Under Me Sleng Teng was such a seismic tune. Here's a playlist that captures the aftershocks
open.spotify.com/playlist/05R...
open.spotify.com/playlist/05R...
Reposted by Birmingham 81
Remembering Wayne Smith who was born on this day in 1965.
Wayne was still a teenager when he recorded one of the biggest dancehall tunes of all time. It topped the reggae charts for weeks in the first half of 1985...
youtu.be/EnPfKWwAnlg?...
#reggae #reggaesky #vinylsky #vinyl #musicsky
Wayne was still a teenager when he recorded one of the biggest dancehall tunes of all time. It topped the reggae charts for weeks in the first half of 1985...
youtu.be/EnPfKWwAnlg?...
#reggae #reggaesky #vinylsky #vinyl #musicsky
December 5, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Remembering Wayne Smith who was born on this day in 1965.
Wayne was still a teenager when he recorded one of the biggest dancehall tunes of all time. It topped the reggae charts for weeks in the first half of 1985...
youtu.be/EnPfKWwAnlg?...
#reggae #reggaesky #vinylsky #vinyl #musicsky
Wayne was still a teenager when he recorded one of the biggest dancehall tunes of all time. It topped the reggae charts for weeks in the first half of 1985...
youtu.be/EnPfKWwAnlg?...
#reggae #reggaesky #vinylsky #vinyl #musicsky
#FallFriday Back at the other place, Sean Lennon has revealed that The Fall were his top artists of 2025 according to his Spotify Unwrapped. Buzzcocks at number 5 too 👏👏👏
December 5, 2025 at 7:56 PM
#FallFriday Back at the other place, Sean Lennon has revealed that The Fall were his top artists of 2025 according to his Spotify Unwrapped. Buzzcocks at number 5 too 👏👏👏
Remembering Frank Wilson on his birthday. This test pressing of his Do I Love You (Indeed I Do) is on show at Third Man Records in Detroit. The price Jack White paid for it is secret, but it's been claimed to be the most expensive 7" single ever. Another copy went for £26K in an 2009 auction. THREAD
December 5, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Remembering Frank Wilson on his birthday. This test pressing of his Do I Love You (Indeed I Do) is on show at Third Man Records in Detroit. The price Jack White paid for it is secret, but it's been claimed to be the most expensive 7" single ever. Another copy went for £26K in an 2009 auction. THREAD
Happy 45th birthday to Do Nothing by The Specials as well - like The Beat's Too Nice to Talk To, it was released on this day in 1980. Both bands appeared on the same edition of #TOTP and swapped bassists for a laugh. Top knitwear choices
youtu.be/0S1BC0XVB6s
youtu.be/0S1BC0XVB6s
December 5, 2025 at 8:28 AM
Happy 45th birthday to Do Nothing by The Specials as well - like The Beat's Too Nice to Talk To, it was released on this day in 1980. Both bands appeared on the same edition of #TOTP and swapped bassists for a laugh. Top knitwear choices
youtu.be/0S1BC0XVB6s
youtu.be/0S1BC0XVB6s
Happy 45th birthday to The Beat's Too Nice to Talk To, released on this day in 1980. Does anyone know the locations used in this video - the studio, pressing plant or shop?
youtu.be/gqFVggBJGlc
youtu.be/gqFVggBJGlc
December 5, 2025 at 8:19 AM
Happy 45th birthday to The Beat's Too Nice to Talk To, released on this day in 1980. Does anyone know the locations used in this video - the studio, pressing plant or shop?
youtu.be/gqFVggBJGlc
youtu.be/gqFVggBJGlc
The very cool Gavina showroom in Bologna, designed by Carlo Scarpa and built in 1961-63 (THREAD)
December 4, 2025 at 8:15 PM
The very cool Gavina showroom in Bologna, designed by Carlo Scarpa and built in 1961-63 (THREAD)
Picked up these 80s gems in Bologna, mostly from the highly recommended Disco D’Oro shop
- VA: Sound D'Afrique (Island 81)
- Paul Haig: Chain (Circa 89)
- Lizzy Mercier Descloux: Suspense (Polydor 88)
- Arlene Phillips’ Hot Gossip: Geisha Boys And Temple Girls (Dindisc 81)
- VA: Sound D'Afrique (Island 81)
- Paul Haig: Chain (Circa 89)
- Lizzy Mercier Descloux: Suspense (Polydor 88)
- Arlene Phillips’ Hot Gossip: Geisha Boys And Temple Girls (Dindisc 81)
December 4, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Picked up these 80s gems in Bologna, mostly from the highly recommended Disco D’Oro shop
- VA: Sound D'Afrique (Island 81)
- Paul Haig: Chain (Circa 89)
- Lizzy Mercier Descloux: Suspense (Polydor 88)
- Arlene Phillips’ Hot Gossip: Geisha Boys And Temple Girls (Dindisc 81)
- VA: Sound D'Afrique (Island 81)
- Paul Haig: Chain (Circa 89)
- Lizzy Mercier Descloux: Suspense (Polydor 88)
- Arlene Phillips’ Hot Gossip: Geisha Boys And Temple Girls (Dindisc 81)
RIP Steve Cropper
December 4, 2025 at 8:25 AM
RIP Steve Cropper
RIP Steve Cropper - such sad news. Here's a playlist of some classic Stax tunes that he co-wrote and performed on, featuring Booker T. & the M.G.'s, Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Eddie Floyd, Wendy Rene, Don Covay...
▶️🎸 open.spotify.com/playlist/7qH...
▶️🎸 open.spotify.com/playlist/7qH...
RIP Steve Cropper
open.spotify.com
December 3, 2025 at 11:35 PM
RIP Steve Cropper - such sad news. Here's a playlist of some classic Stax tunes that he co-wrote and performed on, featuring Booker T. & the M.G.'s, Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Eddie Floyd, Wendy Rene, Don Covay...
▶️🎸 open.spotify.com/playlist/7qH...
▶️🎸 open.spotify.com/playlist/7qH...
RIP Steve Cropper - we'll be rightly remembering all those Stax classics that he wrote and performed on, but let's not forget he also produced and mixed some amazing tunes for Ned Doheny, including this absolutely beauty
youtu.be/tAs1YjSDgvY
youtu.be/tAs1YjSDgvY
Ned Doheny - To Prove My Love
YouTube video by mrandybella11
youtu.be
December 3, 2025 at 11:19 PM
RIP Steve Cropper - we'll be rightly remembering all those Stax classics that he wrote and performed on, but let's not forget he also produced and mixed some amazing tunes for Ned Doheny, including this absolutely beauty
youtu.be/tAs1YjSDgvY
youtu.be/tAs1YjSDgvY
RIP Steve Cropper - one of the greatest guitarists ever
December 3, 2025 at 10:20 PM
RIP Steve Cropper - one of the greatest guitarists ever
Now playing: A Certain Ratio’s It All Comes Down to Tim Peaks, recorded live at Kendal Calling 2024. Bought it at the @acertainratio.bsky.social night at @rnrbook-club.bsky.social on Monday
December 3, 2025 at 7:53 PM
Now playing: A Certain Ratio’s It All Comes Down to Tim Peaks, recorded live at Kendal Calling 2024. Bought it at the @acertainratio.bsky.social night at @rnrbook-club.bsky.social on Monday
Reposted by Birmingham 81
Became a bit obsessed with this theory so fell down a well and compiled a playlist of songs where Roger sounds like a weird cult leader, sociopath, serial killer or deranged itinerant preacher with blood upon his hands. Apologies for Spotify. Tidal is f-ing up.
open.spotify.com/playlist/7lz...
open.spotify.com/playlist/7lz...
December 3, 2025 at 10:07 AM
Became a bit obsessed with this theory so fell down a well and compiled a playlist of songs where Roger sounds like a weird cult leader, sociopath, serial killer or deranged itinerant preacher with blood upon his hands. Apologies for Spotify. Tidal is f-ing up.
open.spotify.com/playlist/7lz...
open.spotify.com/playlist/7lz...
Souvenir from our recent Italian holiday: Beppe Loda’s Afro Sound of Typhoon, featuring tunes played at the legendary club in Manerbio, Brescia in the 1980s. I’ve recreated it here
🇮🇹🌍▶️ open.spotify.com/playlist/2Sc...
🇮🇹🌍▶️ open.spotify.com/playlist/2Sc...
December 3, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Souvenir from our recent Italian holiday: Beppe Loda’s Afro Sound of Typhoon, featuring tunes played at the legendary club in Manerbio, Brescia in the 1980s. I’ve recreated it here
🇮🇹🌍▶️ open.spotify.com/playlist/2Sc...
🇮🇹🌍▶️ open.spotify.com/playlist/2Sc...
The beautiful Fondazione Collegio Artistico Venturoli in Bologna, Italy. Photos taken last month (THREAD)
December 3, 2025 at 8:18 AM
The beautiful Fondazione Collegio Artistico Venturoli in Bologna, Italy. Photos taken last month (THREAD)