Synth-Pop Britannia

PHILIP JAP      A North London singer who competed in a TV talent contest hosted by David Essex (titled "The David Essex Showcase", funnily enough) alongside such up-and-coming acts as Talk Talk, Thomas Dolby, Toto Coelo, the Belle Stars and Mari Wilson. Philip Jap's main claim to fame though was having a single and album produced by Trevor Horn, who was no doubt relieved to escape the recent Drama of being the frontman for YES. 

1982          53             4           Philip Jap - Save Us - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yB9pTiAOLUE

1982          41             4           Philip Jap - Total Erasure - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6CGpVTyLVk

I was lucky enough to see them live at Newcastle City Hall in 1982. 

JON & VANGELIS      Where Prog meets Synth-Pop.... The history of Rock is littered with the names of so-called 'supergroups' who technically should have been brilliant, but turned out not to be so 'super' after all. One major exception to that rule though, has to be the inspired pairing of Jon Anderson and Vangelis, who not only lived up to expectations, but far exceeded them! Jon Anderson's wonderous Short Stories will always have a treasured place in my Private CD Collection. Jon & Vangelis are quite simply.....the best Synth-Pop duo.....In the world! 

Play it again, Jon 

1980          8           11          Jon & Vangelis - I Hear You Now - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmVdXy4y4KU

1981          6           13          Jon & Vangelis - I'll Find My Way Home - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKqLAVyRaXw

1983         61           2           Jon & Vangelis - He is Sailing - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDuIqAYXMGw

1984         67           2           Jon & Vangelis - State of Independence - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jp7JzaOrao  

KAJAGOOGOO      The never-ending story of Synth-Pop continues with Kajagoogoo, a band led by Limahl - an anagram of his real name, Chris Hamill, so maybe he was just Too Shy to perform under his own name. When Kajagoogoo lost their drummer they also lost part of their name too - briefly becoming Kaja.  

1983          1            13          Kajagoogoo - Too Shy - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkpG4XApJ28

1983          7             8           Kajagoogoo - Ooh to be Ah - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ir_hgbRJTsI

1983         13            7           Kajagoogoo - Hang On Now - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4Ul78H289s

1983          8             8           Kajagoogoo - Big Apple - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ovhp5r5asPc

1984         25            7           Kajagoogoo - The Lion's Mouth - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpgCjDt9zLc

1984         47            4           Kajagoogoo - Turn Your Back On Me - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_ULkLCHa_k

1985         63            3           Kaja -  Shouldn't Do That - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PWDTVgc_L0

KING       No need for a trendy New Romantic band name when you can proudly name your band eponymously. That's what singer Paul King did, although they say Love & Pride comes before a fall, when King's short-lived fame was almost as brief as the lifespan of a terminally ill mayfly. 

1985          2            14            King - Love and Pride - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlXtrnh-Ejo

1985         24            8             King - Won't You Hold My Hand Now - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iqjai5XBNg0

1985          8             9             King - Alone Without You - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fjqUXHH6t4

1985         11            9             King - The Taste of Your Tears - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAmwoNuGvCw

1986         23            4             King - Torture - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wBqFAdUu_A

LA ROUX      Irritating over-produced 21st Century Electroplop for the millennial generation. La Roux are to classic 1980's Synth-Pop what Jethro Tull are to Heavy Metal. You may not have heard the sound of La Roux before, but you'll have heard something very much like it a hundred times over on the radio. A perfect example of everything that's wrong with British pop in the 21st Century. 

LADYTRON       Not a Roxy Music tribute band, but one of the better Electropop acts of the modern era. 

LIMAHL      The spiky-haired one from Kajagoogoo is back with a magical Never Ending Story of elves, unicorns, tree nymphs and woodland fairies - or just another day in the life of Jon Anderson. 

1983         16            8           Limahl - Only for Love - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6LxBYXlMvM

1984         64            3           Limahl - Too Much Trouble - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cD7vq9ekRw

1984          4            14          Limahl - Never Ending Story - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gf1WT8VEZxk