James Cooke
@dodgydiscs.bsky.social
Pop crazed youngster, books, TV & film, cooking, hiking guy et al. OK piano player. Bitesized reviews of unheard Smash Hits reviewed albums - Su Pollard to Motörhead. On here more than that ‘Twitter’ with the dodgy landlord.
Billy Joel - Glass Houses. Apr 80. UK Peak: 9. American Elton puts together a solid pop rock offering. The one with 'It's Still Rock N Roll To Me' (bright orange pair of pants has made me smirk since the age of 6) & 'All For Leyna' the stand outs. 6.5/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews
December 3, 2025 at 8:05 AM
Billy Joel - Glass Houses. Apr 80. UK Peak: 9. American Elton puts together a solid pop rock offering. The one with 'It's Still Rock N Roll To Me' (bright orange pair of pants has made me smirk since the age of 6) & 'All For Leyna' the stand outs. 6.5/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews
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Watching Father Ted’s a Christmassy Ted and remembered this nugget of pop trivia, the priest with the most boring voice Father Fitzgerald (Sean Barrett) in Ireland's largest lingeree section was the cover star of The Smith's single "How Soon is Now" a still from the 1958 film "Dunkirk".
December 2, 2025 at 9:00 PM
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Wreckless Eric - Big Smash! Apr 80. UK Peak: 30. The one with 'Whole Wide World'. Vocally he sounds like the English Alice Cooper. His songs play to new wave crowd & has a style that's his own. Not bad at all. 6.5/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews
December 2, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Wreckless Eric - Big Smash! Apr 80. UK Peak: 30. The one with 'Whole Wide World'. Vocally he sounds like the English Alice Cooper. His songs play to new wave crowd & has a style that's his own. Not bad at all. 6.5/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews
Entering a competition for the longest cat
December 1, 2025 at 9:13 PM
Entering a competition for the longest cat
Mental As Anything - Espresso Bongo. Apr 80. No UK Chart Placing. New wave with a light touch & a swirly fairground organ. Closer to the likes of Split Enz in sound. A fine sound but needing the knockout tunes. 6/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews
December 1, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Mental As Anything - Espresso Bongo. Apr 80. No UK Chart Placing. New wave with a light touch & a swirly fairground organ. Closer to the likes of Split Enz in sound. A fine sound but needing the knockout tunes. 6/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews
Original Mirrors - Original Mirrors. Apr 80. No UK Chart Placing. This is a very fine pop/rock/synth album which makes me wonder why they failed to land. Elements of early but poppier Duran/Simple Minds. Needs a reissue on CD! 7.5/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews
November 30, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Original Mirrors - Original Mirrors. Apr 80. No UK Chart Placing. This is a very fine pop/rock/synth album which makes me wonder why they failed to land. Elements of early but poppier Duran/Simple Minds. Needs a reissue on CD! 7.5/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews
Purple Hearts - Beat That! Apr 80. No UK Chart Placing. I'm not quite as harsh as David but I do agree about the overall sound. If you enjoyed those 'Sound Of The Suburbs' compilations 30 years ago then you can relate to this. 5.5/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews
November 29, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Purple Hearts - Beat That! Apr 80. No UK Chart Placing. I'm not quite as harsh as David but I do agree about the overall sound. If you enjoyed those 'Sound Of The Suburbs' compilations 30 years ago then you can relate to this. 5.5/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews
Flippin' 'eck Tucker. I've made a Grange Hill pilgrimage (original location) Just stopped for a quick half of Titanic Porter to rest my toes.
November 29, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Flippin' 'eck Tucker. I've made a Grange Hill pilgrimage (original location) Just stopped for a quick half of Titanic Porter to rest my toes.
RIP Imran Sherwani. Great player from the 1988 Olympics & played starring role with 2 goals when England beat Germany in the final. A favourite tv sporting moment
November 29, 2025 at 6:37 AM
RIP Imran Sherwani. Great player from the 1988 Olympics & played starring role with 2 goals when England beat Germany in the final. A favourite tv sporting moment
Tony Rallo & The Midnite Band - Burnin' Alive. Apr 80. No UK Chart Placing. An authentic & technically proficient disco sound complete with Brothers Gibb vocals in places. Fine but a repeat play isn't on the cards for me. 6/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews
November 28, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Tony Rallo & The Midnite Band - Burnin' Alive. Apr 80. No UK Chart Placing. An authentic & technically proficient disco sound complete with Brothers Gibb vocals in places. Fine but a repeat play isn't on the cards for me. 6/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews
Reposted by James Cooke
🚨WOW! The Petition calling for a public inquiry into Russian influence on UK politics & democracy has now rocketed past 75,000 signatures! 🙏
LET’S KEEP GOING!
If a petition is what it’s going to take let’s get this done!
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
LET’S KEEP GOING!
If a petition is what it’s going to take let’s get this done!
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
November 27, 2025 at 9:38 PM
🚨WOW! The Petition calling for a public inquiry into Russian influence on UK politics & democracy has now rocketed past 75,000 signatures! 🙏
LET’S KEEP GOING!
If a petition is what it’s going to take let’s get this done!
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
LET’S KEEP GOING!
If a petition is what it’s going to take let’s get this done!
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
The Whispers - The Whispers. Apr 80. No UK Chart Placing. The one with 'And The Beat Goes On'. A disco funk version of 'My Girl' & the ability not to fall into the trap of formulaic soul for the most part gives this album a lift above the norm. 6.5/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews
November 27, 2025 at 8:26 AM
The Whispers - The Whispers. Apr 80. No UK Chart Placing. The one with 'And The Beat Goes On'. A disco funk version of 'My Girl' & the ability not to fall into the trap of formulaic soul for the most part gives this album a lift above the norm. 6.5/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews
A fixed glare from John Lydon stares out the readers of Smash Hits dated 3-16 April 1980. I've heard 'Initial Success' but the rest is to be discovered. 3 artists are unknown to me on here. #smashhitsalbumreviews
November 27, 2025 at 7:39 AM
A fixed glare from John Lydon stares out the readers of Smash Hits dated 3-16 April 1980. I've heard 'Initial Success' but the rest is to be discovered. 3 artists are unknown to me on here. #smashhitsalbumreviews
Stiff Little Fingers - Nobody's Heroes. Mar 80. UK Peak: 8. Strong LP with plenty of fire in its belly on Side 1 but equally they know how to slow it down on 'Bloody Dub' & 'Doesn't Make It Alright'. 7/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews
November 26, 2025 at 8:04 AM
Stiff Little Fingers - Nobody's Heroes. Mar 80. UK Peak: 8. Strong LP with plenty of fire in its belly on Side 1 but equally they know how to slow it down on 'Bloody Dub' & 'Doesn't Make It Alright'. 7/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews
The Psychedelic Furs - The Psychedelic Furs. Mar 80. UK Peak: 18. I've got admiration for any rock band that can create its own distinctive sound & there's plenty here such as 'The Wedding Song' & 'Sister Europe' to get the goths in a froth. 6.5/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews
November 25, 2025 at 8:26 AM
The Psychedelic Furs - The Psychedelic Furs. Mar 80. UK Peak: 18. I've got admiration for any rock band that can create its own distinctive sound & there's plenty here such as 'The Wedding Song' & 'Sister Europe' to get the goths in a froth. 6.5/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews
Cockney Rejects - Greatest Hits Vol. 1. Mar 80. UK Peak: 22. Like being shouted at by 'Gripper' Stebson & his acolytes for 33 minutes from a vocal perspective, this takes the baton from The Sex Pistols musically speaking. It's catchy but is also a racket 6/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews
November 24, 2025 at 7:52 AM
Cockney Rejects - Greatest Hits Vol. 1. Mar 80. UK Peak: 22. Like being shouted at by 'Gripper' Stebson & his acolytes for 33 minutes from a vocal perspective, this takes the baton from The Sex Pistols musically speaking. It's catchy but is also a racket 6/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews
youtu.be/HAisO5RBpX8?... I missed the time when The Thompson Twins sounded like the early Cure. Quite enjoyed this.
Thompson Twins - Perfect Game (Official Audio)
YouTube video by Thompson Twins
youtu.be
November 23, 2025 at 11:09 AM
youtu.be/HAisO5RBpX8?... I missed the time when The Thompson Twins sounded like the early Cure. Quite enjoyed this.
Blackbeard - I Wah Dub. Mar 80. No UK Chart Placing. A perfectly fine example of the dub genre. Something that just kind of floats around like a miasma. Ok. 6/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews
November 23, 2025 at 11:06 AM
Blackbeard - I Wah Dub. Mar 80. No UK Chart Placing. A perfectly fine example of the dub genre. Something that just kind of floats around like a miasma. Ok. 6/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews
Bob Seger - Against The Wind. Mar 80. UK Peak: 26. Bob Springsteen anyone? This is a warm bowl of American wholesome rock, & a bit more playful than Bruce tbf. The production actually sounds quite rich rather than tinny. Quite listenable overall. 6.5/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews
November 22, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Bob Seger - Against The Wind. Mar 80. UK Peak: 26. Bob Springsteen anyone? This is a warm bowl of American wholesome rock, & a bit more playful than Bruce tbf. The production actually sounds quite rich rather than tinny. Quite listenable overall. 6.5/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews
I'm a pop fan broadly speaking & heartily recommend this 3 part documentary in the wake of the previous 'Boybands Forever'. I have to admit that the girls seem to do this type of pop much better than the boys. Sugababes were my favourites. Girls Aloud were a big omission though #girlbandsforever
November 21, 2025 at 4:32 PM
I'm a pop fan broadly speaking & heartily recommend this 3 part documentary in the wake of the previous 'Boybands Forever'. I have to admit that the girls seem to do this type of pop much better than the boys. Sugababes were my favourites. Girls Aloud were a big omission though #girlbandsforever
ZZ Top - Deguello. Mar 80. No UK Chart Placing. The soundtrack to cruising down a single lane highway in the blazing heat. 'Cheap Sunglasses', 'I'm Bad I'm Nationwide' & 'Manic Mechanic' capture the vibe. Southern fried boogie with extra chilli sauce. 8/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews
November 21, 2025 at 8:11 AM
ZZ Top - Deguello. Mar 80. No UK Chart Placing. The soundtrack to cruising down a single lane highway in the blazing heat. 'Cheap Sunglasses', 'I'm Bad I'm Nationwide' & 'Manic Mechanic' capture the vibe. Southern fried boogie with extra chilli sauce. 8/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews
The Feelies - Crazy Rhythms. Mar 80. No UK Chart Placing. Seems like a live set polished into a full album with some songs a bit undercooked but saying that, there's plenty of taut & tight energy that keeps it rolling along. Feeling ok. 6.5/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews
November 20, 2025 at 8:27 AM
The Feelies - Crazy Rhythms. Mar 80. No UK Chart Placing. Seems like a live set polished into a full album with some songs a bit undercooked but saying that, there's plenty of taut & tight energy that keeps it rolling along. Feeling ok. 6.5/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews
Brothers Johnson - Light Up The Night. Feb 80. UK Peak: 22 I didn't really notice MJ's appearance but this is a competent funk & soul collection with the standout 'Stomp!' 6/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews
November 19, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Brothers Johnson - Light Up The Night. Feb 80. UK Peak: 22 I didn't really notice MJ's appearance but this is a competent funk & soul collection with the standout 'Stomp!' 6/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews
Sugarhill Gang - Sugarhill Gang. Mar 80. No UK Chart Placing. The undoubted highlight is 'Rapper's Delight' & accompanied by some laid back funk & soul with 'Bad News' also noteworthy. Whatever happened to the highly overrated 'talkover' style then? 6.5/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews
November 18, 2025 at 8:04 AM
Sugarhill Gang - Sugarhill Gang. Mar 80. No UK Chart Placing. The undoubted highlight is 'Rapper's Delight' & accompanied by some laid back funk & soul with 'Bad News' also noteworthy. Whatever happened to the highly overrated 'talkover' style then? 6.5/10 #smashhitsalbumreviews