SHAKIN' STEVENS – "Oh Julie"

it’s so dull, there’s little to add to what you’ve said already Tom.
Was this taken to number 1 on a surge of Christmas gift vouchers? I can’t imagine who would buy it other than starry eyed kids who didn’t know better and mums and dads thinking that in some ways this was trendy

Hard to believe that this was a number one. I have no recollection of it whatsoever. That said, it’s pleasant enough. Nice accordion.

I agree the song is no great shakes (oops – honestly, that wasn’t a deliberate pun) but musically it’s sprightly enough and I like the idea that it was our only Cajun number one. If Paul Simon’s turbo-charged “That Was Your Mother” from Graceland had been released as a single, you never know.

New entries in the same week included “Being Boiled”, “Arthur’s Theme” and one we’ll be discussing as a Number 2 Watch shortly. Oh, and “I Wanna Be A Winner” by Popular faves Brown Sauce.

My only thoughts on this when I read Tom’s comment were “cajun” (thus not a generic no.1) but I’ve been pipped to it by everyone else. Which suggests there isn’t anything else to say about it… his Give Me Your Heart Tonight, no.11 later in the year, was also accordion-based and much better.

Oh Julie could at least attempt a key change, something, anything, when it stops and starts again. Oh Shaky.

The title was probably pinched from a wonderful song, white doo wop classic Oh Julie by the Crescendos, featuring one of pop’s eeriest and most atmospheric background vocals – I assume it’s meant to be bobby-soxed Julie but she sounds more like Ophelia’s ghost.

I have to admit what is surely painfully obvious now to all commenters, namely that I wouldn’t know cajun if it bit me.

It can’t all be as rubbish as “Oh Julie” though?

not many people liked shakin’ stevens at the time, but everyone who did went on to design a flavour of crisps.

Terrible song, obviously only #1 because of the singer’s then-current popularity, but thanks for the info on the Boothill re-issue. I loved “Jealousy” when it was out, but never got around to picking it up (and it’s not on Spotify).

While ordering the Boothill CD, I noticed “Come See About Me” is one of the bonus tracks, also covered by Mr Barrett. Can anyone remember if Shaky’s own version was particularly cajun-y (or zydeco-y)?

Very useful info Brian. So is Shaky’s record anywhere near it…?

“The Band has a great song about this called ” Arcadian Driftwood “………”

The name of which was borrowed by Howard Chaykin for a minor character in his “American Flagg!” series.

This was a hit with a capital S .

Totally hateful dross, knowing there were a load of women called Julie who would assume he was singing it about them.

There came a point in some artists careers where they could put anything on vinyl and it got to number 1 and this was an example. This is worse than any imported holiday hit from Spain and probably benefited from the strange patterns in the chart when sales were being taken in before Top of the Pops and then the chart the following Tuesday had a song barely moving or going down and then shooting up the following week.

I hated this man with a passion, which doesn’t help and can say with confidence that this is the worst number one up to that point.Worse than Joe Dolce by far.

I was in hospital having an emergency operation on an acute Pilonidal Sinus* when this record hit No 1.

I don’t know which was more effing painful!

*A Pilonidal Sinus is an infected tract under the skin between the buttocks. An infected abscess (ball of pus and surrounding skin infection) develops in and around the sinus.

Okay, Dick, you win the prize for the most spectacular act of digressing in the history of Popular.

Vinylscot (#14) – I think the Boothills’ “Come See About Me” was one of the sing songs they’d do on their b-sides. Possibly even acapella. My memory of their vocal harmonies on the record is really clear but I can’t remember anything about the instrumentation.

As underwhelming a Number 1 as we’ve had in quite some time. Really can’t think of a great deal to say about this – other than stick to the interpretations of old rock’n’roll numbers please Mr Stevens.

And don’t go and follow this up with a record featuring another girl’s name, so you can make lots of easy sales…

NMEWatch: 16th January 1982, suitably enough, Julie Burchill;

“Just the latest in a long line of swinging sonnets penned for moi, heh heh – much better than ‘Jools and Jim’ but nowhere near as good as the Franglais ‘Switchblade Julie’. Working on the basis of fact that whenever any of my schoolteachers called “Julie!” half the class stood up, this should sell and sell. I mean, it’s a much shrewder move than recording a song called ‘Oh Zsa Zsa’. You know what this sounds like – it’s a Shakin’ Stevens Record. If it’s not number one for at least four weeks I shall eat a large leek, which is the welsh national emblem. Thank goodness he’s not a Scot.”

Burchill awarded Single of the week to ‘Where Do They Go?’ by Diana Dors. Also reviewed that week;

Bow Wow Wow – Go Wild In The Country
XTC – Senses Working Overtime
OMD – Maid Of Orleans
The Stranglers – Golden Brown
Spandau Ballet – She Loved Like Diamond
Modern Romance – Queen Of The Rapping Scene
Diana Ross – Mirror Mirror

shaky was the best seller of the 1980s not bad

You drive me crazy went to number two and should have been number one! 😀 i like this song personally but i see what you mean with all the simple rhymes. Shaky aint the brightest spark, but hes a bloody millionaire. So kudos to him.