Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Mike Atkinson

LokpoLokpo @lokpolokpo1.bsky.social · 21h

keeping the 1982 vibe going with this edition of the Record Mirror Disco Charts podcast featuring a very engaging guest, none other than Arthur Baker. very fun and very interesting, lots of familiar names from the poll pass by: open.spotify.com/episode/3WmS...

8th May 1982, with Arthur Baker

open.spotify.com

1 2 3

Mike Atkinson @whichdecadetops.bsky.social · 21h

Which Decade S5E9: a Heritage Chart comeback, some persistent shapeshifters, France's Candle In The Wind, diva-house's purple patch, Kid Rock's mate reveals multiple levels, and Parkycore in its purest form.

shows.acast.com/which-decade...

Track listing in the ALT text.
Voting deadline: Mon Oct 20

Well I Ask You - Eden Kane
I Believe (In Love) - Hot Chocolate
Birdie Song (Birdie Dance) - The Tweets
Peace - Sabrina Johnston
Follow Me - Uncle Kracker
Jar Of Hearts - Christina Perri

2

Mike Atkinson @whichdecadetops.bsky.social · 3d

Which Decade Results: Dan joins us from Idaho, we find a damp biscuit in the back of the snack cupboard, and a whoops-excuse-me threatens to derail the entire episode.
shows.acast.com/which-decade...

Zorba's Dance - Marcello Minerbi
Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me - Gladys Knight & The Pips
Say I'm Your Number One - Princess
Waterfalls - TLC
Since U Been Gone - Kelly Clarkson
Are You With Me - Lost Frequencies

1

Mike Atkinson @whichdecadetops.bsky.social · 13d

Arthur turned out to be a top bloke: good-natured, knowledgeable, forthcoming, and greatly amused by some of James’ more withering reviews.

1

Mike Atkinson @whichdecadetops.bsky.social · 13d

If 20 year-old electro-funk fanatic me had known that one day he would be talking to Arthur Baker in granular detail about the music of 1982, he might have spontaneously combusted. This is a wonderful episode, and a particular thrill to publish.

shows.acast.com/record-mirro...

Record Mirror Disco Charts Podcast #9, with Arthur Baker.

1 10

Mike Atkinson @whichdecadetops.bsky.social · 19d

Tenor Saw: Ring The Alarm, Papa Levi: Mi God Mi King, Naturalites & Realistics: Picture On My Wall, Frankie Paul: War Is In The Dance & Pass The Tu Sheng Peng, Saint/Eastwood: Another One Bites, Shirley James/Danny Ray: Why Don’t You Spend, One Blood: Get In Touch With Me, various Eek-A-Mouse.

1 5

Mike Atkinson @whichdecadetops.bsky.social · 20d

NEW WHICH DECADE: Marcello Minerbi, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Princess, TLC, Kelly Clarkson, Lost Frequencies.

An accelerating plate-smasher, two country covers, a hidden rivalry revealed, "alternative is a relative concept", and a gateway-drug flat-smasher.

shows.acast.com/which-decade...

2

Mike Atkinson @whichdecadetops.bsky.social · 28d

Which Decade Results: Nick's Sweaty Brown Envelope.

New Patreon subscriber Mike joins us for a look at the voting for S5E6, where a last place sends Trev "incandescent with rage", a JLS/Morrissey hypocrisy is posited, and Nick takes delivery of a clammy gift.

shows.acast.com/which-decade...

Honky Tonk Women - Rolling Stones
I Don't Like Mondays - Boomtown Rats
Swing The Mood - Jive Bunny & The Mastermixers
Livin' La Vida Loca - Ricky Martin
Beat Again - JLS
Senorita - Shawn Mendes/Camila Cabello

1

Mike Atkinson @whichdecadetops.bsky.social · Sep 8

There was a cola in the 1970s called Zing, which my sister and I both loved.

Mike Atkinson @whichdecadetops.bsky.social · Sep 6

…and now I’m reading your book: wow, stories for days!

1 1

Reposted by Mike Atkinson

DJ PAULETTE @djpaulette.bsky.social · Sep 6

So proud of this podcast and honoured to have been invited by @whichdecadetops.bsky.social and Greg Wilson to chitchat about the Futurist / Electrodisco sounds of my formative music years. #RecordMirror

Mike Atkinson @whichdecadetops.bsky.social · Aug 28

For the latest episode of Record Mirror Disco Charts, @djpaulette.bsky.social joins us for a detailed look at a Futurist/Electro-Disco Top 20 from April 1981: an era when electronics, fashion and politics fused, and when our future fascinated us more than our past.

shows.acast.com/record-mirro...

Record Mirror Disco Charts Podcast #8, with DJ Paulette

4 4 9

Mike Atkinson @whichdecadetops.bsky.social · Aug 28

For the latest episode of Record Mirror Disco Charts, @djpaulette.bsky.social joins us for a detailed look at a Futurist/Electro-Disco Top 20 from April 1981: an era when electronics, fashion and politics fused, and when our future fascinated us more than our past.

shows.acast.com/record-mirro...

1 10

Mike Atkinson @whichdecadetops.bsky.social · Aug 15

Here's our latest Which Decade episode in full - track listings are in the ALT text.
shows.acast.com/which-decade...

3

Mike Atkinson @whichdecadetops.bsky.social · Aug 14

I'll be playing 1980s gay classics (IN A LIBRARY!) in September, for the launch of CJ DeBarra's excellent history of Queer Nottingham (in which I am quoted several times, along with many other people who were there at the time).

Queer Nottingham Book Launch, 18th September, 630pm-830pm, Nottingham Central Library.

2 3

Mike Atkinson @whichdecadetops.bsky.social · Aug 14

S5E7 Part 3/3: JLS, Shawn Mendes/Camila Cabello.
Concluding this episode: an emotionally blackmailing eye-roller, and a steamy alleged long con.
shows.acast.com/which-decade...
Your voting deadline is 6pm UK time, Sunday 31st August.

Beat Again - JLS
Senorita - Shawn Mendes/Camila Cabello

Mike Atkinson @whichdecadetops.bsky.social · Aug 13

Which Decade S5E7 Part 2/3: Jive Bunny and the Mastermixers, Ricky Martin.
Glenn Miller connects to hard house, and después de mí el diluvio!
(31 minutes, Part 3 drops tomorrow.)
shows.acast.com/which-decade...

Swing The Mood - Jive Bunny & The Mastermixers
Livin' La Vida Loca - Ricky Martin

1

Mike Atkinson @whichdecadetops.bsky.social · Aug 12

Which Decade S5E7 Part 1/3: Rolling Stones, Boomtown Rats.
An interstitial Brian Jones sandwich and Bob's prescient regret open our latest episode (24 minutes, Part 2 drops tomorrow).
shows.acast.com/which-decade...

Honky Tonk Women - Rolling Stones
I Don't Like Mondays - Boomtown Rats

1 2

Mike Atkinson @whichdecadetops.bsky.social · Aug 4

Which Decade Results: The Clarinet Clarification, aka The Chapin Gateway, aka The Tennant Easter Egg. Tough week, tight scores, but a long overdue triumph!

shows.acast.com/which-decade...

Last Night Was Made For Love - Billy Fury
Circles - The New Seekers
I'm A Wonderful Thing, Baby - Kid Creole & The Coconuts
Disappointed - Electronic
When You Look At Me - Christina Milian
Feel The Love - Rudimental ft John Newman

1

Mike Atkinson @whichdecadetops.bsky.social · Aug 1

@irvinewelsh.bsky.social is our latest guest for the RMDC podcast, talking about a Disco Top 20 from September 1978, and answering a few questions about his new disco album, Men In Love (a soundtrack to his new novel of the same name)

shows.acast.com/record-mirro...

Record Mirror Disco Charts Podcast #7 with Irvine Welsh

2 9

Mike Atkinson @whichdecadetops.bsky.social · Jul 30

Strongly recommended - this is an amazing, beautiful project.

Frenchbloke @darkoutside.co.uk · Jul 28

One More Tune
ILX and Friends Celebrate JD Twitch

is now available

thedarkoutside.bandcamp.com/album/ilx-an...

2

Mike Atkinson @whichdecadetops.bsky.social · Jul 27

If only this had actually happened (history suggests that it very nearly did!)

Comic strip showing a punk/Ted "unity gig" in Summer 1977, starring the Sex Pistols and Shakin' Stevens.

3

Mike Atkinson @whichdecadetops.bsky.social · Jul 22

We'll remember you for more than that, Ozzy.
(Record Mirror, 25th April 1987.)

But there aren't many worse things that a musician could be remembered for, are there? Or are there? Maybe Ozzy'd beg to differ.

He recounts the tale of how he recently looked over a rehearsal place and, while having lunch in the local pub, was collared by the waitress who wanted to know what brought him down that way and who he was. "So I said, 'Oh I'm a performer, and she said, 'Oh, really? Who do you work for?' and I says, 'Ozzy Osbourne, and she goes, 'Oh, I know him, he's the one who bites the heads off things!" I thought, what a f***ing epitaph! I've sold God knows how many millions of records but on my gravestone it'll have 'Ozzy Osbourne, born, died, bit the heads off...' What a ring legacy! Ozzy Osbourne — the real batman! Ha ha ha ha! I suppose there's one good side to it, at least somebody'll remember me..."

As if anyone could possibly ever forget a character like Ozzy Osbourne.

Mike Atkinson @whichdecadetops.bsky.social · Jul 10

November 2007: here is my Penetrating Critical Insight for the local paper. mikeatkinson.wordpress.com/2007/11/16/c...
Genuinely one of my favourite gigs ever ever ever (I regularly think about this). The "capsule" review cannot begin to describe the experience.

Cardiacs – Nottingham Rescue Rooms, Thursday November 15

Cardiacs have been described as “prog-punk”. It’s an imperfect description, but perhaps as close as you’ll get. Their music is complex and intense, combining the disciplined intricacy of progressiv…

mikeatkinson.wordpress.com

1 1

Mike Atkinson @whichdecadetops.bsky.social · Jul 10

I reviewed a show on a whim, never having heard a note, and we were completely blown away by its brilliance (and wonky time-signature mosh pit). Asking at the merch stand for a good starter CD, I was recommended that very album. Thing is, it just doesn't stand up for me on record at all, alas.

1 1

Mike Atkinson @whichdecadetops.bsky.social · Jul 10

Which Decade S5 E6: a proto-auto-erotic Brightside, Granny Atkinson's Theme Tune, Man Owns Ties: The Soundtrack, The Supergroup Conundrum, Indie Swedes do Millennial R&B, and Propagating The Species with Clive Owen.

shows.acast.com/which-decade...

Voting deadline: Sunday 27 July, 6pm.

3