Episode 34: Smash Hits – 25 February – 10 March 1987 with Ian Wade

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Welcome back to The Giddy Carousel of Pop, a podcast about Britain’s brightest pop mag, Smash Hits. Fancy that! In this episode, Gav and Si are joined by music journalist and author of ‘1984: The Year Pop Went Queer’ (Nine Eight Books), Ian Wade, for a spin on the carousel back to February 1987 and an issue edited by former Smash Hits staffer Neil Tennant. Along the way, we discuss Boy George, Carly Simon, Mental As Anything, Beastie Boys, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Man 2 Man, Cutting Crew, Freddie Mercury, The Christians, Taffy, The Style Council and a whole lot more. It’s an action-packed issue and edition, make no mistake!

Listen here: https://link.chtbl.com/olkt33oq

Read along with us.
Like Punk Never Happened: https://likepunkneverhappened.blogspot.com/2017/02/february-25-march-10-1987.html
Smash Hits Remembered: https://michaelmouse1967.wixsite.com/website-9/215-25th-february-10th-march-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/1bJiADfYJDxA6zxuCZ403r?si=0ddd7c8e91dd486c
YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfs58mqeRNuGspnZ_92728IsD_MBzrN0N&si=qbSced9geDm7mAWr

HOSTS: Simon Galloway and Gavin Hogg
GUEST: Ian Wade

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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.

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!

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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.