Going Down To Liverpool To See Michael Steele
-
Artist:
-
Album:
-
Track:
Friday 20/6
Diary
Hi Mog,
Just got home. I only visit Liverpool a couple of times a year, but it's always a pleasure. Over the last few years the regeneration of the city has meant that there's a new vibrant look that can't fail to make Liverpudlians proud. It's funny, the song that makes me think of Liverpool isn't the obvious Beatles or Gerry & The Pacemakers tune. It's The Bangles' "Going Down To Liverpool". I always play the song on the long drive up the M6. It's from their best album "All Over The Place". The band were pretty unknown and hadn't sunk to leaning on Prince or doing stupid dances to gain attention. Just four Paisley clad girls singing jangly Pop songs. I remember seeing them when they first toured in 1984, and my brief teenage crush on bass player Michael Steele. Then they became massively popular and my interest drifted. Back home, I shelve the CD until that next drive to Liverpool.
Comments (4)
Michael Steele's cute, but none of them are exactly hard on the eyes. This passed me by first time around, not sure why; The Bangles got ample exposure. Infectious tune, great cameo (Guess Leonard Cohen was busy; these gals look right up his alley. I suppose they needed a driver who could look convincingly pissed off, never Cohen's métier).
Apparently Petey, Susannah Hoffs was close to Leonard Nimoy's son, hence his appearance. This song may have passed you by because it was released well before "Manic Monday" and the manic popularity that followed.
Being from the States, I've only gotten to Liverpool three times, all within the last 15 years. Wish I could get there more often.
The Bangles are pretty good no matter what stage of their career you listen to. I tend NOT to care for the big hits since the rest of the catalogue is so attractive. I bought none of their releases when they came out, then bought a Best Of cassette, eventually leading me to acquire everything they put out. It was their cover of a Jules Shear song "If She Knew What She Wants" that pulled me in to that final orbit.
Dermahrk - You've visited during the good times. It is a great city, the people are friendly and they've got great wit. The song you mentioned "If She Knew What She Wants" was easily the best track off their breakthrough album "Different Light". I also liked "In Your Room", which was off the next album.