80's Days of Summer: Day 24- Slang Teacher

Today's forgotten classic comes to us from former Adam and the Ants bass player, Kevin Mooney aka Wide Boy Awake. 'Slang Teacher' was the one notable hit from the band.


Slang Teacher- Wide Boy Awake (1982, RCA Records)


Slang Teacher- Wide Boy Awake

80's Days of Summer: Day 23- Hey Little Girl

Roxy Music knockoffs Icehouse had a top 40 hit with this slick little number in early 1983 . The song peaked at #31 and was one of several charting songs for the band including 'Electric Blue', 'Crazy' and 'Great Southern Land'. The Australian band is still active today.

Icehouse- Hey Little Girl (1983, Chrysalis Records)


Hey Little Girl- Icehouse
Bonus: Electric Blue- Icehouse

80's Days of Summer: Day 22- Guilty

Figured this fit today.

From the ashes of X-Ray Spex, Classic Nouveaux reached #43 on the U.K. charts with 'Guilty' in November of 1983. The band would go on to have six other songs to make the charts.

Classic Nouveaux- Guilty (1981, Cherry Red UK Records)


Classic Nouveaux- Guilty

80's Days of Summer: Day 21- 4th of July

We celebrate the 21st day of our 80's Days of Summer as well as our nation's 235th birthday with a no-brainer. X's '4th of July' from their 1987 album See How We Are. This was the first X album without founding member Billy Zoom on guitar.

The original, reunited lineup including Exene Cervenka, John Doe, Billy Zoom and D.J. Bonebrake continue to perform to this day.

Havy Independence Day everyone.

X- 4th of July (Demo Versions, 1986)


4th of July - X

80's Days of Summer: Day 20- A New England

So here we are, just hours away from Independence Day. I thought this might be a fitting song. And it's a two-fer.

Originally written and recorded by Billy Bragg in 1983, the song (with an additional verse) was also a hit for the late Kirsty MacColl just a year later. Produced by her husband Steve Lillywhite (of U2 fame, among others) it peaked at #7 on the U.K. charts.

Billy Bragg- A New England (Live, 1985)


Kirsty MacColl- A New England (1984, Stiff Records)


Billy Bragg- A New England
Kirsty MacColl- A New England

80's Days of Summer: Day 19- Is Vic There?

Spending the extended holiday weekend at our annual family reunion. Most of the family is here, question is, Is Vic There?

One-hit wonder Dept. S asks the question and no one really knows the answer. Or cares. The song peaked at #22 on U.K. charts in early 1981.

Dept. S- Is Vic There (Top of the Pops, 1981)


Is Vic There-Dept. S