This month there are effectively two front cover stories: an exclusive 11-page interview with Chrissie Hynde about Pretenders all the way from their formation to their superb new album, “Relentless”; and a 22-page celebration of the pop annus mirabilis that was 1978. Arguably les feted than 1966 or 1977, it was, nevertheless, an amazing year: the year of new wave, power pop, disco, Britfunk, prog-lite, and AOR, the year that Pretenders formed, Gary Numan discovered a whole new type of recording technology and Nile Rodgers pioneered a new type of glacial, sleek dance music, the year of epochal singles and albums from Chic, Public Image Ltd, Gang Of Four, A Taste Of Honey, Bruce Springsteen, Elvis Costello, The Jam, Kraftwerk, The Human League, Funkadelic and more. Speaking to the stars of ’78 from Messrs Numan and Rodgers to Todd Rundgren, Chris Difford, Leo Sayer, Toyah,The Undertones and many others.
It’s a regular ’78-fest this month. We unearth the frontmen of two of the year’s biggest hitmakers – Darts and Racey – who seem to have disappeared without trace. Jeff Wayne talks about his progress from producer of David Essex singles to creator of that year’s double-LP meisterwerk, “War Of The Worlds”. Stewart Copeland of The Police talks us through their formative period, before they became the World’s Biggest Band, via a series of photos and period images. We look at the scenes and pop movements from proto-electronica to post-punk, reggae to Rock Against Racism and columnist Bob Stanley bemoans the demise of 1978 genres. There’s even a discography of 1978’s 50 Most Collectable Records, 10 Of The Best is all about 1978’s finest rock albums, and we shine a light on little-known musician Cindy Bullens, who almost but not quite launched their career that year.
Back in the present, we review new albums and reissues from The Breeders, Neil Young, R.E.M., Erasure, Slowdive, The Coral, and Steven Wilson, books and movies by and about Pulp, Sonic Youth, Nick Drake and Duran Duran, singles from outfits as diverse as Joy Division and Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band and concerts by The Who, Metallica and Porcupine Tree.
The Shop Of The Month is Rock On Records in Stamford. And in Not Forgotten we bid a sad farewell to Sinead O’Connor and Robbie Robertson.
The Fat Angel Sings 