Design & content ©Simon Smalley 2024

home about my memoir reviews evening post interview punk: rage & revolution guest appearances my writing haven backpages Beginnings my literary loves jukebox jive order my book contact me

The chapter titles are those of songs.

Just click the image to listen!

STEPPING OUT

Kool & The Gang (Steppin’ Out)

Single A-side, 1981

Joe Jackson (Steppin’ Out)

Single A-side, 1983

DON’T TREAD ON THE CRACKS

Wah! Heat

‘Don’t Step On The Cracks’ is the B-side to Seven Minutes To Midnight,1980. Me being me, having chapter titles containing ‘stepping’ followed by ‘step’ was annoying.

THE THROAT OF WINTER

Tyrannosaurus Rex

Album track from ‘Unicorn’, 1969

WATCHING THE WHEELS

John Lennon

Single A-side, 1980

Was (Not Was) ‘Wheel Me Out’

Single A-side, 1980

‘Wheel Me Out’ was the original chapter title, but as my experience unfolds, the published title is more apt.

REET PETITE

Jackie Wilson

Single A-side 1957

WHERE HAVE ALL THE GOOD TIMES GONE?

The Kinks

Single B-side of ‘Till The End Of The Day’ 1965

(Later covered by David Bowie on Pin-Ups, 1973)

WHAT BECOMES OF THE BROKENHEARTED?

Jimmy Ruffin

Single A-side, 1966

ALL THINGS MUST PASS

George Harrison

From album All Things Must Pass, 1970

HOT LOVE

T. Rex

Single A-side 1971

REMEMBER WHEN?

The Platters

Album track from Remember When?, 1959

INSECURE ME

Soft Cell

B-side to 12” single Torch 1982

The 12” extended versions are the best musical experience!

REMEMBER THE DAYS OF THE OLD SCHOOLYARD

Linda Lewis

Single A-side (Remember The Days Of) The Old Schoolyard 1974

WHIP IT

Devo

Single A-side, 1980

HOWZAT

Sherbet

Single A-side 1976

WALK TALL

Val Doonican

Single A-side 1964

I SEE YOUR NAME UP IN LIGHTS

Disco Tex & The Fangito Fireflies

B-side to ‘Boogie Flap’

Album track: Disco Tex & His Sex-O-Lettes Revue’ 1975

TOO PERSONAL

Generation X

Debut LP track 1978

TIGHTEN UP

Trojan Records compilation 1969

(Val Bennett’s version of ‘Spanish Harlem’)

AIN’T NO SUNSHINE

Bill Withers

Single A-side 1971

SHOWDOWN

Electric Light Orchestra

Single A-side, 1973

THE FIRST CUT IS THE DEEPEST

P.P. Arnold

Single A-side, 1967

DON’T LEAVE ME THIS WAY

Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes

Single A-side 1975

Thelma Houston

Single A-side 1976

DEATH DISCO

Public Image Limited

Single A-side 1979

SOMETHING’S GONE WRONG AGAIN

Buzzcocks

Single B-side 1979

WILD YOUTH

Generation X

Single A-side, 1977

**The B-side, ‘Wild Dub (Version)’ is the side that I most favoured almost obsessively.

VIOLENCE GROWS

‘Fatal’ Microbes

Three track single, 1979

SAFETY IN NUMBERS

The Adverts

Single A-side, 1977

TOO MUCH PARANOIA

Taken from the Sex Pistols ‘Holidays In The Sun’: “Claustrophobia, there’s too much paranoia..”

Also:

Devo LP track, ‘Too Much Paranoias’ from ‘Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!” 1978

COULDN’T GET IT RIGHT

Climax Blues Band

Single A-side, 1976

BUSTIN’ OUT

Material

12” single A-side, 1980

WITNESS THE CHANGE

Pete Shelley

UK single B-side, 1981

USA single A-side 1981

Canadian limited edition 12” single A-side 1981

SAY HELLO WAVE GOODBYE

Soft Cell

Single A-side, 1982

Back to the top of the page