Now That's What I Call Stuart's Favourite Music 71 - A-ha - Take On Me

Probably one of the most memorable music videos from the 1980s, and definitely one of the best songs from that decade, Take On Me actually had a troubled start when the first version of the song failed to chart in the UK in 1984.  It failed to generate much attention for a second time when it was released again in a slightly different form in early 1985.  It wasn't until the third release in September of the same year that the song gained popularity and plenty of air time on the radio which resulted in the song reaching an impressive number 2 on the UK singles charts in October.

This song ranks highly in my list of all time favourite songs and hopefully a whole new generation will get to experience the song thanks for its use in the trailer of the new The Last of Us TV series.  Players of the game TLOU Part 2 will know that Ellie finds a guitar whilst exploring a devastated Seattle and plays (and sings) an acoustic version of Take on Me.

Now That's What I Call Stuart's Favourite Music 70 - Joe Jackson - Steppin' Out

This song takes me back.  Released first in the US in August 1982, this track made it to the UK in October of the same year where it peaked at number 6 on the UK Singles Chart.

It's a proper feel-good song that always brings back childhood memories.

Game Covers - Air-Sea War/Battle (Philips G7000)

Air-Sea War

You will need timing and accuracy for this game as you shoot down the enemy craft while dodging its missiles. Score a point for each direct hit on your opponent's craft, and deduct one if you hit a neutral ship.  You have 3 minutes to play.  When the game is over (time = 00:00) the player with the most points wins.

Battle

Battle demands great skill in handling the controls of the tank, especially when turning and firing.  You have 20 rounds.  Score a point for each direct hit.  There are 3 minutes to play : when game is over (time = 00:00 or both players out of ammunition), the player with the most points wins.  Variations of this game are given by : guided missiles (controlled by joystick), minefield (mines marked by a white cross) - your opponent gains a point each mine you hit, and hilly terrain (you cannot fire or move through the barriers).

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Now That's What I Call Stuart's Favourite Music 69 - Mike Oldfield - The Bell

Nobody writes feel-good music as well as Mike Oldfield.  Today's song is taken from Tubular Bells II, the sequel to his groundbreaking Tubular Bells album released 19 years earlier.

Keeping with the same style as the Finale of Tubular Bells, The Bell replaces Vivian Stanshall with legendary actor Alan Rickman as the master of ceremonies and is a goose-bump-filled seven minutes of pure ecstasy-inducing musical bliss, culminating in the spectacular catharsis sounds of the tubular bells!

The song was released as a single in April 1993 albeit with a slightly shorter runtime and although the single only reached a rather poor number 50 in the UK charts, the album did much better, reaching number one on the UK album charts. 

I guess poor Mike just couldn't convince the younguns of the day to try something different instead of the usual tripe that was beginning to pollute the charts around the early to mid 1990s.

If you've never heard it before, take a listen.  Crank the volume up and blast those bells so that your neighbours start banging on your wall.  It'll be worth it.

And when you're done with that, listen to it from his live concert on the esplanade at Edinburgh Castle.  

Game Covers - Race/Spin-Out/Cryptogram (Philips G7000)

Race

A race against time - travel as far as you can before the two minutes are up.  The game calls for a fast reaction-time and precise handling of the joystick control.  There is a time-penalty for crashing.  The game is over when time left = 00:00

Spin-out

Key 2 selects 3-lap racetrack, key 3 selects 15-lap racetrack.  Race your opponent round the corners and barriers of the Spin0out circuit.  There is a time penalty for crashing or spinning the car.  You have a choice of slow or fast speeds, and basic or complex racetracks.

Cryptogram

A game of knowledge and deduction.  Type a word or phrase onto TV screen (don't let your opponent see it).  The letters of the phrase are then jumbled up, and your opponent must unscramble them (each correct letter remains on screen).  The screen shows the number of mistakes made.  The player who makes least mistakes wins.

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Game Covers - Terrahawks (Philips G7000)

Emergency Message

Alien forces from Alpha Centauri have invaded and captured Mars - STOP

Leader is android "Zelda" - STOP

Enemy plans to invade Earth - STOP

Primary objective to destroy Terrahawk organisation - STOP

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