Just Can't Get Enough: New Wave Hits Of The '80s, Vol. 12

this is actually Yazoo or Aztec Camera

Tracy Ullman? The inexplicable American vote again I suppose

A hit in the US as well. And like Big Country I have the sense her stuff is currently more fondly remembered there than in the UK or Europe. Not that it's bad - just a different cultural memory. Also being slightly facetious for unreasonable pop rivalry luls in case that's not obvious.

nah nobody remembers tracey ullman's music here

I don't know where you're getting the idea that Big Country are not remembered in the UK, it's the second time you've said it.

they're still playing all the big venues too:

Gigs

(Dates and times are subject to change)

Fri 20/04/2018 Civic Hall – Cottingham
Fri 27/04/2018 The Platform – Morecambe
Fri 04/05/2018 Georgian Theatre – Stockton
Sat 05/05/2018 The Engine Shed – Lincoln
Sun 17/06/2018 Kelvingrove Bandstand – Glasgow (w/ The Skids)
Tue 19/06/2018 Summerhall – Edinburgh (w/ The Skids)
Fri 06/07/2018 Town Hall – Morley
Sat 07/07/2018 Linton Festival – Linton
Sat 14/07/2018 Brewood Music Festival – Brewood
Sun 15/07/2018 Doune The Rabbit Hole Festival – Stirlingshire
Sat 04/08/2018 Rewind Festival: North – Cheshire
Sat 25/08/2018 Towersey Festival – Thame
Thu 30/08/2018 Musiktheater Piano – Dortmund, Germany
Fri 31/08/2018 Werner Rennen – Hartenholm, Germany
Sat 01/09/2018 The Roxy – Flensburg, Germany
Thu 13/09/2018 The Buttermarket – Shrewsbury
Fri 14/09/2018 MECA – Swindon
Sat 15/09/2018 Phoenix – Exeter
Thu 20/09/2018 Cavern Club – Liverpool
Fri 21/09/2018 The Robin 2 – Bilston

I said they were more fondly remembered in the US, not that they aren't remembered in the UK. Just my impression, but they've never been retro cool and they were loathed by as many as loved them in their heyday. Sure they were big enough to still have a following here. Just a bit of rhetorical joshing though, don't get yer bagpipes in a twist.

Likewise with Ullman. She was a big (and bigger) TV star for longer in the US than UK wasn't she? We'd largely forgotten about her by then.

Old British shit that's more highly rated in the US in part because it's so 'British'. Like Monty Python innit. Anyway, was just musing on where the support was coming from.

I wasn't even aware Big Country was known in the US at all tbh. I don't remember them ever being particularly loathed either. It's not like that I care much either way, it's just a weird take on them.

I don't know how big they were/are in the US either tbh. Just a guess that those anthemic riffs might make more sense (now) in actual big country.

i do remember that simon reynolds once said they were his most hated band.

I wasn't even aware Big Country was known in the US at all tbh. I don't remember them ever being particularly loathed either. It's not like that I care much either way, it's just a weird take on them.

― (Henry) Green container bin with face (Tom D.), Thursday, 19 April 2018 12:59 (six minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

I don't know how big they were/are in the US either tbh. Just a guess that those anthemic riffs might make more sense (now) in actual big country.

― Gonk Steady Crew (Noel Emits), Thursday, 19 April 2018 13:05 (one minute ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

they don't know about US

If I recall correctly (and I do) Big Country had the one enormous hit single and then sort of faded in the US.

Had Simon Reynolds never heard the Alarm?

Big Country was on MTV through "Look Away" and "One Great Thing" and were college radio staples. This is easily verified by looking at MTV and CMJ charts. They scored only one Billboard Hot 100 top 40 hit in "In a Big Country," which hasn't gone away; it's a staple of retro radio.

They played on SNL in '83

NickB, hah

Yaz - no question.