Now That's What I Call Stuart's Favourite Music 36 - James Horner (Battle in the Mutara Nebula)

James Horner wrote and composed a number of movie scores that rank highly as some of the best written (in my opinion), including of course Titanic, Apollo 13, Cocoon and Aliens, but to me, he will always be remembered for writing the music to the best Star Trek film ever...  Star Trek II : The Wrath Of Khan.

Listening to this score always brings back memories of my childhood when me and my friend Steve would pretend to be in command of the Starship Enterprise in his parent's living room, battling Khan in the hijacked USS Reliant whilst pretending his coffee table was the helm of the Enterprise, and Star Trek II playing on the TV...  Hey, we were only 9 years old!  We must have worn out that old VHS video!

I actually think it was his score to this great movie that got me interested in movie soundtracks.

Sadly, James Horner died in a plane crash in 2015.  It's a tragic loss, but he will always be remembered through his wonderful music.

Here's the scene from the movie.  

As an added bonus, James Horner even had a cameo in the film, playing a Starfleet Cadet.

Now That's What I Call Stuart's Favourite Music 35 - Men at Work (Down Under)

It's funny how this song always reminds me of a particular memory so long ago.  Men at Work's "Down Under" brings back vivid memories of getting ready to go on a family day trip to London to visit the Cutty Sark.  It was on in the kitchen, and I can still remember my Dad's old radio that it was playing on.

Weird!

Such happy times, and good memories from a period of less stress and worry.

Anyway, it's a great song that was released way back in 1981 when it stayed in the UK charts for 12 weeks, 3 of which were at Number 1...  Back when I was just 4 years old.

And for even further nostalgia, here's a picture of me on that very trip to the Cutty Sark.

Now That's What I Call Stuart's Favourite Music 34 - Visage (Fade to Grey)

As a massive fan of 1980s music, I find that this song pretty much sums up the beginning of this great decade, during a time when pop culture movement New Romanticism was beginning to take over the nightclubs (ok, I was a bit too young for that) and the charts.  It was a time when it was perfectly acceptable for a guy to wear more makeup than your average woman!  It was also during this great period when synth music was set to become much more widespread in the music world leading to some of the best pop songs ever written in subsequent years by different groups.  This itself is one of the main reasons why I love this song.

It was released in 1980 and reached number 8 in the UK Charts. 

Such a great song, and great memories from a time long gone. 

Game Covers - The Great Escape (Commodore 64)

The year is 1942, the place Germany.  War has broken out and you have been captured and placed in a high-security P.O.W. camp.  Victory may be far away so it is your duty to escape, but this will not be easy.  It will take careful planning and much patience, culminating in a skillful and resourceful implementation in the cam you are closely guarded but while you follow the daily routine you will need to slip away unnoticed to reconnoitre the situation and collect tools and materials necessary for your chosen escape route.  There are many avenues of escape, some difficult, all certainly dangerous, and each one requiring different skills or equipment.

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Now That's What I Call Stuart's Favourite Music 33 - Howard Jones (Like To Get To Know You Well)

Well, it's about time I had another classic from 80's legend Howard Jones in my list of favourite songs, simply because a) it's a bloody fantastic song, and b) it will always remind me of playing on my Commodore 64 in my bedroom, while my sister would be listening to Howard Jones (amongst many others) in the room next door.

Released back in 1984, I still wonder to this day why this song never reached any higher than number 4 in the UK charts (even Agadoo by Black Lace got higher around the same time!)  Oh well, no accounting for taste.

Enjoy this gem from good ol' HoJo.  Even the video is sooooooo 1980's.  Love it!

Now That's What I Call Stuart's Favourite Music 32 - Pet Shop Boys (Always On My Mind)

Yes, I will start by saying THIS is the best version of this song.  Forget Brenda Lee...  Forget Gwen McCrae...  Forget Elvis Presley.

Following on from my last blog post, I'm keeping with the Pet Shop Boys because Always on my Mind stands out as not only being one of the best cover songs ever made but possibly one of the greatest pop songs of the 1980s (perhaps all time?)  It's also a massive favourite of mine since I was a wee lad.

The song was released in November 1987 and spent an impressive 14 weeks in the UK singles charts.  Even more impressive is that it reached number 1 and stayed there for 4 weeks, making it Christmas number one of that year, and beating Fairytale of New York by The Pogues.  

Why can't modern groups produce belters like this anymore, instead of the usual Crap Factor wannabe turds?

Also, you've got to love the video, featuring clips from their rather bizarre movie "It Couldn't Happen Here", starring De Nomolos himself (from Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey) Joss Ackland, and even Biggles (Neil Dickson).

"Where are you going?"

 "I'm going there....  But I like it here wherever it is".