Birmingham 81
banner
birmingham81.bsky.social
Birmingham 81
@birmingham81.bsky.social
Music, architecture, photography, design etc. Sharing my concert photos taken in Birmingham in 81/82 (hence the name). Plus other stuff I've hoarded
Reposted by Birmingham 81
Happy 45th birthday to Do Nothing by The Specials as well - like The Beat's Too Nice to Talk To, it was released on this day in 1980. Both bands appeared on the same edition of #TOTP and swapped bassists for a laugh. Top knitwear choices
youtu.be/0S1BC0XVB6s
December 5, 2025 at 8:28 AM
Reposted by Birmingham 81
Happy 45th birthday to The Beat's Too Nice to Talk To, released on this day in 1980. Does anyone know the locations used in this video - the studio, pressing plant or shop?
youtu.be/gqFVggBJGlc
December 5, 2025 at 8:19 AM
#FallFriday Back at the other place, Sean Lennon has revealed that The Fall were his top artists of 2025 according to his Spotify Unwrapped. Buzzcocks at number 5 too 👏👏👏
December 5, 2025 at 7:56 PM
Remembering Frank Wilson on his birthday. This test pressing of his Do I Love You (Indeed I Do) is on show at Third Man Records in Detroit. The price Jack White paid for it is secret, but it's been claimed to be the most expensive 7" single ever. Another copy went for £26K in an 2009 auction. THREAD
December 5, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Happy 45th birthday to Do Nothing by The Specials as well - like The Beat's Too Nice to Talk To, it was released on this day in 1980. Both bands appeared on the same edition of #TOTP and swapped bassists for a laugh. Top knitwear choices
youtu.be/0S1BC0XVB6s
December 5, 2025 at 8:28 AM
Happy 45th birthday to The Beat's Too Nice to Talk To, released on this day in 1980. Does anyone know the locations used in this video - the studio, pressing plant or shop?
youtu.be/gqFVggBJGlc
December 5, 2025 at 8:19 AM
The very cool Gavina showroom in Bologna, designed by Carlo Scarpa and built in 1961-63 (THREAD)
December 4, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Picked up these 80s gems in Bologna, mostly from the highly recommended Disco D’Oro shop
- VA: Sound D'Afrique (Island 81)
- Paul Haig: Chain (Circa 89)
- Lizzy Mercier Descloux: Suspense (Polydor 88)
- Arlene Phillips’ Hot Gossip: Geisha Boys And Temple Girls (Dindisc 81)
December 4, 2025 at 6:35 PM
RIP Steve Cropper
December 4, 2025 at 8:25 AM
RIP Steve Cropper - such sad news. Here's a playlist of some classic Stax tunes that he co-wrote and performed on, featuring Booker T. & the M.G.'s, Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Eddie Floyd, Wendy Rene, Don Covay...
▶️🎸 open.spotify.com/playlist/7qH...
RIP Steve Cropper
open.spotify.com
December 3, 2025 at 11:35 PM
RIP Steve Cropper - we'll be rightly remembering all those Stax classics that he wrote and performed on, but let's not forget he also produced and mixed some amazing tunes for Ned Doheny, including this absolutely beauty
youtu.be/tAs1YjSDgvY
Ned Doheny - To Prove My Love
YouTube video by mrandybella11
youtu.be
December 3, 2025 at 11:19 PM
RIP Steve Cropper - one of the greatest guitarists ever
December 3, 2025 at 10:20 PM
Now playing: A Certain Ratio’s It All Comes Down to Tim Peaks, recorded live at Kendal Calling 2024. Bought it at the @acertainratio.bsky.social night at @rnrbook-club.bsky.social on Monday
December 3, 2025 at 7:53 PM
Reposted by Birmingham 81
Became a bit obsessed with this theory so fell down a well and compiled a playlist of songs where Roger sounds like a weird cult leader, sociopath, serial killer or deranged itinerant preacher with blood upon his hands. Apologies for Spotify. Tidal is f-ing up.

open.spotify.com/playlist/7lz...
December 3, 2025 at 10:07 AM
Souvenir from our recent Italian holiday: Beppe Loda’s Afro Sound of Typhoon, featuring tunes played at the legendary club in Manerbio, Brescia in the 1980s. I’ve recreated it here
🇮🇹🌍▶️ open.spotify.com/playlist/2Sc...
December 3, 2025 at 6:42 PM
The beautiful Fondazione Collegio Artistico Venturoli in Bologna, Italy. Photos taken last month (THREAD)
December 3, 2025 at 8:18 AM
This week’s best and most random charity shop find - a nice copy of Lovers of Today by Ewart Williams, an extremely rare 1970s soul single from Canada. Only three sold on Discogs for an average of £50+
▶️ youtu.be/5MEdB9PkuXg
December 2, 2025 at 7:22 PM
Another excellent evening at @rnrbook-club.bsky.social featuring two films of A Certain Ratio in NYC in 1980, sounding and looking so great. @davehaslam.bsky.social led the fascinating discussion with Merrill Aldighieri, who shot the show at Hurrah, and with @acertainratio.bsky.social themselves
December 2, 2025 at 8:28 AM
Perfect day out in sunny Margate yesterday: lunch at Sargasso; Bridget Riley at the Turner Contemporary; and Counter Editions at Carl Freedman
December 1, 2025 at 8:37 AM
Remembering Billy Paul and Lou Rawls, born on this day in 1934 and 1933 respectively. Now playing Philadelphia International’s Let’s Clean Up The Ghetto LP, which features both of them
▶️ open.spotify.com/album/2psrWv...
December 1, 2025 at 7:52 AM
On the way to see Squeeze, we stopped off at Deal’s fab Smugglers Records to catch Itchy Teeth promoting their ace new single 1989
▶️ open.spotify.com/album/1iGCWJ...
The Margate band are fronted by Xav and Charlie who also play in Mozart Estate, so we’ll be seeing them again on Friday
November 30, 2025 at 11:01 PM
Very special treat to see Squeeze play at the intimate Astor Theatre in Deal tonight as a warm-up ahead of their stadium tour with Madness. They sounded fantastic and the hits kept on flowing
November 30, 2025 at 10:31 PM
#WeekendSingles by Fashion, PragVEC, Mike Scott, The Waterboys, The Action, Gifted Children, Sparks, Bert Jansch, Stevie Wonder, Coati Mundi, Big Youth, Doll by Doll, Yeah Yeah Noh, Tony Scott, Grace Jones, Def Jef, Jerry Harrison, Motor Boys Motor, Tom Verlaine, Dillinger, The Pogues
November 30, 2025 at 9:12 AM
Happy 70th birthday to Billy Idol
youtu.be/HnDLgNxaEqA
Your Generation - Generation X (Marc Bolan show - EQ'd)
YouTube video by Reavsey Reavsey
youtu.be
November 30, 2025 at 8:53 AM
This is a great mix and they’re back at @thesociallondon.bsky.social on 21 March 🎟️ ra.co/events/2315504
November 29, 2025 at 9:44 PM