For somewhere between ten and fifteen years of my life, I watched Coronation Street religiously. It was just you did. To be fair, it was only on twice a week back then, rather than every night and twice on Sundays, or whatever it is nowadays. I saw the lorry crash into the Rover's Return and the fire a few years later that nearly burnt the pub to the ground. I saw Brian Tilsley stabbed outside a nightclub and Alan Bradley hit by a tram while chasing after Rita in Blackpool. I saw Deirdre Barlow have her affair with Mike Baldwin and Ken's terrifying reaction (William Roache almost had to act that day!). And then I discovered Brookside and Corrie seemed twee in comparison. That's the thing with soap operas - one minute you're addicted, the next you're onto the next drug. It's funny though - I just mentioned the big tragedies that happened on the Street while I was watching it... but it seems they happen on a weekly basis these days, rather than once every few years. At least that's the impression I get from the front cover of the TV Times.
Coronation Street's been on TV for 63 years now, and particularly in the 60s, 70s and 80s, everybody watched it. So if you were a pop star growing up in those days, it's no wonder you might have dropped a reference into one of your songs.
We'll start today with a new discovery. Michael Knight. How could I not love a band named after the hero of Knight Rider, as played by The Hoff? Furthermore, this is from an album called I'm Not Entirely Sure How I Ended Up Like This. Which seems apt. It's not the easiest listen, but there's something about it I liked enough to buy their entire discography from Bandcamp, so I'll let you know about the rest of their output...
I suppose I’ll soon tire of her charm Unless first she grows tired of me Our love will shine eternally Though I guess there’re her gossip mags And her beloved TV It’s time for Coronation Street
Next up, the always-worth-a-listen Clifford T. Ward, who also likes to name-drop himself, with the T. included...
She likes her television 'Crossroads', 'Coronation Street' And Robin Day's bow tie She likes the quiz shows Where people win a lot of money And that makes sense to her She likes to listen to the radio Music, Clifford T., She says he's nice He's flattered
No wonder the aliens never come to visit. They probably think we'll push them down the stairs and then hide their body in a disused building site round the back of the Rover's.
Richard Thompson sees TV as the new religion...
Jerusalem on the Jukebox, they talk in tongues on Coronation Street Heaven help the Pharisee whose halo has slipped down to his feet A thousand satellite comedians have died for your sins Jerusalem on the jukebox, little angels, beat your wings
...while Stephen Randall is doing his best to get on Product Placement Friday...
Wake me up with cup of Tetley A slice of Hovis Eggs, bacon and beans But the rain is falling down It's falling down, it's falling down On Coronation Street
The army occupy Ireland, but the boot will never fit. Was it Coronation Street? Or was it Londonderry? Oh it doesn't fucking matter, Paul Daniels'll keep us merry.
Not fans then, boys? Not like the Toy Dolls anyway, who seem obsessed with Corrie...
Sitting watching Coronation Street You decide to put your feet up, just about comfy in your seat And she says, I'm feeling hungry If she sends you out for a bag of fish'n'chips You'll know it is time to say
That's just one example. We'll look at another next week.
Laurie Shaw is one of those musicians I discovered through doing features such as this. He reminds me of Jarvis at times. He has (according to Bandcamp) released over 100 albums. The ones I've heard are all worth a listen, but I doubt I'll ever have time to hear them all.
I was ill with jealousy All through Coronation Street But then I was fine After a bit, I was alright
Redhouse Gasoline are from Finland. Yet they appear to know quite a bit about British culture...
When Cynthia’s eyes met Reg’s He felt just like he’d known her for ages His chat-up line was really short and sweet Said she was glamorous enough to be on Coronation Street She never did her GCEs Her mum got sick she had to work at the factory All she ever wanted was for someone to hold her At the pictures late one night Reg slipped his arm round her shoulder
All of which leads us to Billy, still banging on about the British press...
If this does not reflect your view, you should understand That those who own the papers also own this land And they'd rather you believed In Coronation Street capers In the war of circulation, it sells newspapers Could it be an infringement Of the freedom of the press To print pictures of women in states of undress?
Those are the best songs I could find that mentioned Coronation Street by name. However, there are many more which mention some of the street's iconic residents. Next week, we'll take a listen to some of those. I've got quite a few stacked up, but if you know of any songs that namedrops a legend from the street, do let me know.
I was too young to watch The Sweeney when it first aired in the mid 70s. All that violence, bad language and people being told to get their trousers on was too much for my young, impressionable mind. I did catch the repeats in the 80s, but by then I was more familiar with John "Regan" Thaw from Inspector Morse and Dennis "Carter" Waterman from Minder.
The Sweeney was a groundbreaking show in that it started to show the darker side of the force - from coppers who bent the law to get the job done to out and out corruption for personal gain. This coincided with a nasty time for the Scotland Yard Flying Squad the show was named after... and judging by recent reports, very little has changed in the past fifty years.
Oh, and it's another show with a legendary theme tune, written by jazz pianist and Georgie Fame collaborator Harry South...
Last week, Rigid Digit reminded us that certain TV theme tunes appear to have been written soi that you can sing the name of the show over the dominant musical phrase of the tune. The Sweeney follows Hill Street Blues in that: "The Sweeney - The Sweeney - ba ba ba ba baa ba ba ba - The Sweeney - The Sweeney..." etc. I half-expected that technique to have been used on this track by The Filthy 3... but they rather botch it. Still, the video includes some entertaining cameos from the likes of Alvin Stardust, Frank Sidebottom and Terry Duckworth...
There's a whole story behind the creation of this next "lost" 1979 single by the band Speed of Life. It may well be a complete work of fiction, but it's a compelling one.
Of course, if you're not a Londoner, you might have trouble understanding the banter between Regan and Carter. Fortunately, Smiley Culture is here to help...
But first let me tell you more about the Cockney
Who live comfortably and have them yacht by the sea
And when it come to money most of then have plenty
But where them spend it? In the bookie
Lose it all on the dogs or on the gee gees
Or paying off them bribes to the Sweeney
So dem nah go do no time fi no armed robbery
Or catching anything that fell off the back of a lorry
That lyric's clearly a reference to today's undisputed champion... surely the greatest #2 hit to ever feature a whole verse devoted to popular TV cops...
The Sweeney's doing ninety 'cause they've got the word to go
They get a gang of villains in a shed up at Heathrow
They're counting out the fivers when the handcuffs lock again
In and out of Wandsworth with the numbers on their names
It's funny how their missus always look so bleeding same
And meanwhile at the station there's a couple of likely lads
Who swear like, "How's your father?" and they're very cool for cats
They're cool for cats
A rare lead vocal from Chris Difford too, looking about 12 in this video...
When I was a kid, Angela Rippon was the most famous newsreader in the country. Who could challenge her? Richard Baker? Kenneth Kendall? Jan Leeming? None of those guys had danced with Morecambe & Wise!
She even released her own records! Well, her own Exercise Routines Set To Music...
