Episode 17: Smash Hits – 28 May -10 June 1981 with Paul Hanley

Welcome back to The Giddy Carousel of Pop! Hang on tight for a top pop ride.

In this episode writer, podcaster and former drummer with The Fall (1980-85) Paul Hanley joins us to peruse a ‘double A side’ issue of Smash Hits from 1981… and a whole lot more. Along the way we encounter Adam & The Ants, Stray Cats, Kim Wilde, Prince, Kraftwerk, Sparks, Stars On 45, Landscape, The Jam and Spandau Ballet among others, plus the usual Bitz, Letters and reviews. Paul also talks about his time with The Fall, who also happen to appear in the pages of this very issue of Ver Hits.

May be a black-and-white image of 3 people, including Gavin Hogg, people standing and indoor — *Gavin (centre) with Paul Hanley (left) and Steve Hanley (right)*

Read along with us thanks to Like Punk Never Happened and Smash Hits Remembered.

And check out the playlists of pretty much all the songs featured in this issue of Ver Hits on Spotify and YouTube.

Listen on your podcast app, click one of the links below or just click the player!

Or, if you listen to podcasts on an Amazon Alexa or Echo, just ask it to play ‘The Giddy Carousel of Pop podcast’, and it will! You can also find us on the podcast section of smart/internet radios.

Find our more about Paul’s books here and check out the Oh! Brother podcast with his brother Steve here.

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The Giddy Carousel of Pop is part of the We Made This network of podcasts.

Episode 16: Smash Hits – 10-23 August 1988 with Jude Rogers

Welcome back to The Giddy Carousel of Pop! Hang on tight for a top pop ride.

In this episode, writer Jude Rogers (The Guardian, The Quietus, Mojo and more) takes us back to her days as a day 10 year-old pop kid in August 1988 and the very first Smash Hits she ever bought. Along the way we discuss Kylie Minogue, Pat Benatar, Tanita Tikaram, Yazz, Bomb The Bass, Bros, Nik Kershaw, Billy Idol, R.E.M., Brother Beyond, band t-shirts, Prince, Michael Jackson and loads more! Plus the usual RSVP and singles reviews. We also hear from one of the pop stars who appears in this issue of Ver Hits!

Read along with us thanks to Like Punk Never Happened and Smash Hits Remembered.

And check out the playlists of pretty much all the songs featured in this issue of Ver Hits on Spotify and YouTube.

Listen on your podcast app, click one of the links below or just click the player!

Find out more about the many things Jude does via her website: http://www.juderogers.com

Jude’s interview with Sylvia Patterson And Miranda Sawyer (The Quietus, 2016): https://thequietus.com/articles/20560-sylvia-patterson-miranda-sawyer-jude-rogers-interview

Jude’s piece on her REM fandom (The Guardian, 2021): https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/feb/24/rem-how-the-arty-pop-gods-taught-a-shy-south-wales-girl-to-be-herself

Our episode with Barry McIlheney where he talks about his encounter with Michael Jackson: https://link.chtbl.com/yt2JHMWr

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The Giddy Carousel of Pop is part of the We Made This network of podcasts.

Episode 15: Smash Hits – 17 February – 2 March 1983 with Richard Drew

Welcome back to The Giddy Carousel of Pop! Hang on tight for a top pop ride.

In the this bumper episode, TV and film production designer and (most importantly) pop kid Richard Drew joins us on the carousel as it spins back to the Smash Hits of late February 1983. OMD are on the front cover and inside we find Musical Youth, Spandau Ballet, Thompson Twins, The Belle Stars, David Bowie, Marillion, Toto, Level 42, China Crisis, The Gap Band, Haysi Fantayzee, JoBoxers, Bonnie Tyler, Orange Juice, Eurythmics, The Beatles, Icehouse and Wham! alongside all the regular features (Bitz, Get Smart, Letters, RSVP). There’s a lot to discuss!

Read along with us thanks to Like Punk Never Happened and Smash Hits Remembered.

And check out the playlists of pretty much all the songs featured in this issue of Ver Hits on Spotify and YouTube (lots of extra goodies on the YouTube playlist for this one).

Listen on your podcast app, click one of the links below or just click the player!

Find us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

The Giddy Carousel of Pop is part of the We Made This network of podcasts.

Episode 13: Smash Hits 1-14 April 1992 – with Laura Kelly

In our first foray into the 1990s, journalist and podcaster Laura Kelly from The Big Issue joins us on the carousel and takes us back to the Smash Hits of 1-14 April 1992.

And it’s a very different Smash Hits from what we’ve covered so far on the podcast, with TV and film stars getting as much attention as pop stars. We’re also introduced to a raft of new features including ‘No! Not The Biscuit Tin!’ and Sylvia Patterson steals the show with her glorious feature on the Manic Street Preachers. Laura tells us about the life-changing impact that piece had on her as a 10-year old music fan growing up in Belfast.

*Disclaimer: Any positive opinions about Right Said Fred were made before they brought shame on Ver Hits family. Just so you know.

You can read the issue for yourself thanks to Smash Hits Remembered and also check out the music from its pages on our Spotify and YouTube playlists. It’s the next best thing to taping it off the radio!

Listen on your podcast app, click one of the links below or just click the player!

Find us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

The Giddy Carousel of Pop is part of the We Made This network of podcasts.

Episode 12: Smash Hits – 29 May – 11 June 1980 with Andrew Harrison

Andrew Harrison, former editor of Select, Q and Mixmag and co-host of Bigmouth podcast (among many other things) joins us on the carousel to look at the Smash Hits of 29 May – 11 June 1980.

In a wide-ranging conversation, artists discussed include Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark, The Specials, Hot Chocolate and many more. Andrew also tells us about his own involvement in Smash Hits and reflects on a career in music mags and some of the lessons learned.

You can read the issue for yourself thanks to Like Punk Never Happened and Smash Hits Remembered and also check out the music from its pages on our Spotify and YouTube playlists. It’s the next best thing to taping it off the radio!

Listen on your podcast app, click one of the links below or just click the player!

Find us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

The Giddy Carousel of Pop is part of the We Made This network of podcasts.

Episode 11: Summer Special 2020

Welcome to The Giddy Carousel of Pop’s swingorilliant summer special!

Simon and Gavin snip out their favourite bits from the ten issues of Smash Hits they’ve covered so far on the podcast, and stick them into their audio scrapbook.

Artists discussed include Simon Le Bon and Arcadia, The Human League, Bros, Elton John and Rod Stewart, The Communards, Kool & The Gang, Climie Fisher and Sinitta.

Listen here or find us on your podcast app.

Find us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

The Giddy Carousel of Pop is part of the We Made This network of podcasts.

Episode 10: Smash Hits – 17-30 July 1985 – Live Aid special

Welcome aboard The Giddy Carousel of Pop. Hold tight for a top pop ride!

To mark the 35th anniversary of Live Aid, we go back to the Smash Hits of 17-30 July 1985 with the help of Tim Robinson from DJ/production duo Nightdubbing. We look at Ver Hits coverage of the historic concerts in London and Philadelphia and hear from people who were there or watched from home. We also speak to three former Smash Hits editors – David Hepworth, Mark Ellen and Barry McIlheney – about their memories of the day along with BBC TV director David G Croft. Marco Pirroni also shares his memories of the day and Adam Ant’s much-discussed performance.

Click the player to listen or this link to the app of your choice.

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Episode 9: Smash Hits – 9-22 October 1985 with Julie Hamill

Welcome aboard The Giddy Carousel of Pop. Hold tight for a top pop ride!

In this episode we go back to the Smash Hits of 9-22 October 1985 with broadcaster, writer and pop geek Julie Hamill. Pete Burns and Morrissey grace the cover and other artists discussed include Simon Le Bon, The Cure, Five Star, Lloyd Cole, Depeche Mode, Billy Idol and many more.

Listen here.

You can read the issue for yourself here and check out the music from its pages on our Spotify and YouTube playlists. It’s the next best thing to taping it off the radio!

Find us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Episode 8: Smash Hits – 25 March – 7 April 1987 with Barry McIlheney

Welcome aboard The Giddy Carousel of Pop. Hold tight for a top pop ride!

In this episode, Simon and Gavin chat to former Smash Hits editor Barry McIlheney about his time at Ver Hits (October 1986 to January 1989) and the 25 March – 7 April 1987 issue in particular.

In just three years, Barry went from being a library assistant living with his mum in Belfast to editor of Britain’s brightest pop mag, via spells at Hot Press and Melody Maker. It was under his editorship that Smash Hits achieved its highest-ever circulation figures, but it wasn’t all plain sailing. From upsetting rock royalty to putting the wrong pop star on the cover, Barry takes us behind the scenes of what life was like at Ver Hits.

Artists discussed include The Mission, Janet Jackson, David Bowie, Terence Trent D’Arby, Curiosity Killed The Cat, Mel & Kim, The Blow Monkeys, Bruce Willis, Michael Jackson, U2 and Genesis. Tom Hibbert takes a trip to Downing Street to meet Margaret Thatcher and Gavin dons his detective’s cap and tracks down an RSVP pop kid.

Listen to the podcast by clicking the player or one of the links below.

Or, if you listen to podcasts on an Amazon Alexa or Echo, just ask it to play ‘The Giddy Carousel of Pop podcast’, and it will!

Find us on BlueSky, Facebook and Instagram.

Episode 7: Smash Hits – 4-17 November 1987 with Catherine Sked

Welcome aboard The Giddy Carousel of Pop. Hold tight for a top pop ride!

In this episode we go back to the Smash Hits of 4-17 November 1987 with pop kid Catherine Sked. U2 grace the cover and other artists featured include T’Pau, Marillion, Communards, Blue Mercedes, Pet Shop Boys (again!), Heartbeat, Sting and Wet Wet Wet, not to mention Billy Idol’s ‘perv breeks’ and Rick Astley’s ruddy big pig.

Listen to the podcast by clicking the player or one of the links below.

Or, if you listen to podcasts on an Amazon Alexa or Echo, just ask it to play ‘The Giddy Carousel of Pop podcast’, and it will!

Find scans of the issue here http://likepunkneverhappened.blogspot.com/2017/11/november-4-17-1987.html
and here http://michaelmouse1967.wixsite.com/smashhits-remembered/233—4th—17th-november-1987.

And check out the playlists of pretty much all the songs featured in this issue of Ver Hits:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5yfCPCio9FsRIjsFsO5WYZ
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfs58mqeRNuHFmVMlAtnmx2rXgmZBaz16

Find us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

The Giddy Carousel of Pop is part of the We Made This network of podcasts.