Now That's What I Call Stuart's Favourite Music 62 - Yazoo (Only You)

Only You was the debut single from Yazoo, formed of ex Depeche Mode member Vince Clarke (who would later form Erasure), and fellow Basildonian Alison Moyet (who coincidently went to the same school as me).  It was the first single from their Upstairs at Eric's album and it reached an impressive number 2 in the UK charts on 16th May 1982.  

I love this song, and happily admit to singing it when it comes on. It's also such an easy song to play on the keyboard too, with Alison Moyet once stating  "You don't need to be a great instrumentalist to play it. It's a universal, everyman song".

Enjoy.

Now That's What I Call Stuart's Favourite Music 61 - Go West (Don't Look Down)

This song takes me back to Christmas 1985.  I'm guessing it's because it was in the charts at the time, having been released on the 11th November of that year where it remained in the UK charts for 10 weeks, peaking at number 13.

I remember having this on a compilation tape I had made from recording the radio.  I played this quite a lot back in the day.  A great song, from a great decade.

Now That's What I Call Stuart's Favourite Music 60 - Depeche Mode (Just Can't Get Enough)

Following the tragic death of Andy Fletcher, keyboardist and founding member of Depeche Mode yesterday, I would like to feature their hit song "Just Can't Get Enough" as today's favourite song.

It was released in September 1981 and featured on their debut album Speak & Spell.  It was also the final single to be written by Vince Clarke, who left the group a couple of months later and would later go on to form Yazoo, The Assembly, and of course Erasure.

"Just Can't Get Enough" reached number 8 in the UK Charts.

An absolute classic, and without a doubt one of my all time favourite tracks.  RIP 'Fletch'

Now That's What I Call Stuart's Favourite Music 59 - Richard Allen Harvey (Triumph)

Now here's an obscure one I really like listening to.  In the late 1980s, every Saturday and Sunday morning I would wake up early to watch The Fun Factory on Sky Channel.  It was a kids' show which featured cartoons for a few hours, hosted by presenter Andy Sheldon,  Snoot the seal and Crocker the crocodile.  The show would be the first program of the day, and Sky would play a short introduction to the channel beforehand detailing how to contact them, and some other technical details (Sky Channel comes to you from Satellite Television in London, transmitting on the ECS-F1 satellite transponder 6X at a frequency of 11.650ghz).  The introduction featured this song which I loved listening to, and for nearly 25 years I tried to find it but with no luck. 

That was until a few years ago.  It took me a while to finally track down the song, but thanks to the wonders of the internet, here it is, and I'm adding it to my list of favourite songs because a) it reminds me of my childhood, and b) it's such a great tune!  

This is Sky - Europes Number 1

Now That's What I Call Stuart's Favourite Music 58 - Howard Jones (Things Can Only Get Better)

The title for today's song is very apt...  Things can only get better, because they certainly can't get any worse.

Released in February 1985 as the first single from HoJo's Dream Into Action album, it peaked at number 6 on the UK Charts.

As with most Howard Jones songs, this one reminds me of a happier, less stressful time in my life, playing on the Commodore 64 in my bedroom while Howard Jones (and Nik Kershaw, and Level 42) would be played by my sister in the room next door.

I really wish I could go back in time and relive the 1980s all over again.  Family walks from Leigh-on-Sea to Southend, family game nights, playing Go For Broke and Game of Life on the kitchen table, seeing my friends daily, and of course playing on my C64, with the only thing to worry about being having to make sure my homework was in on time.

Now That's What I Call Stuart's Favourite Music 57 - New Order (Blue Monday)

Blue Monday is an amazing piece of 80s electronic synth-pop music and has to be included in my list of favourite songs.  Released in 1983, it peaked at number 9 and spent 38 weeks in the top 75.  It fared slightly better when it was re-released in 1988, and reached a much better number 3 in the UK charts.

As soon as this song comes on in the car, the volume goes straight up!

A small bit of personal trivia - Blue Monday was one of the very first songs I attempted to 'track' on my Commodore Amiga in the early 90s due to its simplistic bassline.

Enjoy