Associates - Club Country on Top of the Pops

[lanzodave]

ha ha a classic,,, and fook the Swedes,,who brought us ABBA

[colonopenbracketband]

This tune just fucks with my head! I will never be able to figure out why it sounds like it does and i totally love it for that!

[jayrox40]

the chick on the violin is hot!!

[fac5c1981]

Phew, Martha Ladley is lovely eh? x

[Maundervision]

I think this clip is about as good a summation of the 1980s as anything I've ever seen. [In every respect!]

[RetroCool73]

Perhaps the finest single of 1982 - itself no mean feat. That it's a "catchy pop tune" about a mental instiitution only adds to the genius. And then we have this spectacle, perhaps the finest TOTP performance of the whole early 80s "Michael Hurll revival, Party atmosphere" with Billy & co clearly having a ball in this "family" early evening slot. That the two songs on that weeks show were almost as subversive and that Jimmy Savile was the host (as per the last 20 years) make matters even better!

[BlueMeanieSulk]

@Sluggo - you must take your ear away from your arse. Your posture is having a marked effect on your musical enjoyment ;)

[brigham600]

A Swede with no sense of humour. Did not see that coming you boring cnut.

[lturkyilmaz]

music is beyond of the bands age, awesome!

[Wolfington]

Billy looks a bit of a dick here, but when you're singing alongside a violinist in a leather swimsuit and shades and belting out one of the most imperious hits of 1982 you probably don't care what you look like. Gawd bless you Billy.

[muddlup44]

Its mad and brilliant. He had a great voice. xxx

[therealsoulproduct]

William, he was really something.

[BlueMeanieSulk]

Please have a moment or two for the family given what has happened recently.

[stellaviolens]

@ harrydave69 That's Martha Ladley , now a professor of something at a Canadian University - bet she doesn't go to work dressed like that anymore !!!

[erictapeworm]

What a fab video! Sulk is a fantastic album

[emmarence]

I'm so happy that I didn't see the singer in this clip at that time. The music was hilarious, danced for months on it in the " Social Club".

[lessmosquito]

I think the vocalist is Christine Beveridge a great singer!

[sgtrayelwood]

@lessmosquito

Ehh??!!

That's Martha Ladley. Christine sings on with Billy on "Kites" under the 39 Lyon Street moniker.

[waheex]

one of my fav tracks of all time (sound a bit like smashy & nicey there)

[harrydave69]

Classic voice,,,,sadly missed billy. ps who is the violinist, she's cute? lol

[jonathonstuart]

amazing

[bobbysaab]

the bass is absolutely mental

[vaggelisparaskevas]

a revolution

[earth123ism]

you cant top the 80s

[Cordero787]

One of my favorites singers, ever!!......Miraculous voice! When I first heard their cover of Gloomy Sunday I cried.....Totally felt Billy's pain on that track, I think he had bipolar disorder like I do....Unsure

[SheerMartAttack]

this song really fucks with my head, why does it sound like that? i don't understand how it sounds like it does, it's awesome and it confuses me! arg!

[1289DF]

I love playing this song while driving. I always get to where I'm suppose to be by the end of the song :)

[truocmle]

God! Camp even by new romantic standards. And far too cute to be straight. Sigh.

[earth123ism]

remainds of primary school i loved this track

[earth123ism]

remainds of primary school i loved this track

[ZLUGGO]

Almost as boring as Orange Juice (the band).

[sgtrayelwood]

@ZLUGGO

If you SERIOUSLY think that The Associates and Orange Juice (the band) are "boring", then you need help. Urgently. No, on second thoughts, you're probably beyond help.

[ZLUGGO]

@sgtrayelwood

Who gave you the right to judge me?

How about this one then: I HATE those bands.

And if you think that someone gave you the right to DICTATE, then YOU are the one in need of help.

[sgtrayelwood]

@ZLUGGO

Christ on a bike. Get yourself a sense of humour transplant. It was a j-o-k-e. Tongue in cheek. Not serious. Etc. etc. Much as I pity anybody who doesn't worship the wondrous Mr. Mackenzie with as much fervour as I do, I nonetheless respect their right to their differing tastes.

(That was also tongue in cheek, if it weren't obvious enough.)

[ZLUGGO]

@sgtrayelwood

Well, I am NOT amused.

[sgtrayelwood]

@ZLUGGO Jeez, are all Swedes snotty, humourless twats, or is it just you? (Apologies to any other Swedes out there: I'm sure that it isn't really the case.)

Now, why don't you try doing the logical thing, and go watch some YT videos of bands that you actually like, as opposed to "HATE". Or maybe you actually enjoy shit stirring. Now run along, there's a good boy.

[mikkifly]

@ZLUGGO name a good swedish band then,dickhead.

[martley1]

@ZLUGGO You need to get your head out of your backside and see Associates for the brilliant band they were. Pristine post punk pop all wrapped around Billy MacKenzie's swooping vocal style that was unique. Their hits on Warners in 1982 were a joy to behold andf Billy never looked sexier than on this TOTP from May / June 1982.

[stellaviolens]

Wow what a great performance.

Billy and Martha being the main attraction - love that they had 4 violinists. It's all so cool and perfectly styled.

Billy and co had everthing the music , the looks and he deserved to be at the top in music for 10 years at least.

[keith2908]

What a beautiful boy!

[ZLUGGO]

@keith2908

I like the ladies in black pantyhose myself.

[pickbaum4]

hands down Billy was one of the best male singers. Sad your gone but the music never dies R.I.P

[laurel701]

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh i love it love it love it xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx­xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[sorted2]

When they introduced those awful balloons was the end of TOTP :(  Brill song though x x x

[youbeendrinkinrob]

Fantastic - "the fault is I can find no fault in you" - how true Billy, how true. "Refrigeration keeps you young I'm told" "But you don't know ... don't them at all" RIP Billy - at least I shared the same physique - well back then I did LOL

[66Tarantula]

Damn, this song is still great!

Billy you were god!

[beatlebird1]

Is Billy wearing Jimmy Savilles vest?

[MrBazzabee]

Thanks Mr.Rocamorra,-and there's plenty more where that came from.Stop your vid at exactly 3.25 ------Billy seems to have spotted something himself !!!!!!!!!!!!

[MrRocamorra]

MR BAZZABEE...WELL SPOTTED!!!!!

[MrBazzabee]

Clever girl Martha, at 3.01 she pulls out a microphone from the back of her swimming cozzie!.In the previous TOTP vid Billy had both of the mikes and playfully keeps it away from her to her annoyance!. Ha, Ha, She wasn't trusting him a 2nd time!!.

[nineteenthly]

For some reason, this song always makes me think of a health farm whose clients are drugged and harvested for transplant organs for rich people.

[jeffryfourmile]

Sir Jim Saville AND The Associates...toooo good

[UKSazzy67]

He looks so camp in this performance! Lovely body he's got and great song!

[yanvey]

omg cud watch him all day, luved him since the early 80s such a shame he is no longer yuh. luv luv luv this song.

[HINKLEY81]

I've still to see the infamous chocolate guitar, lol.

[sgtrayelwood]

That's 18 Carat Love Affair. :-)

[HINKLEY81]

So it is, lol, thanks for that. The lesson is, don't belive everything you read in books, especially Simon Reynols' otherwise excellant "Rip It Up And Start Again". Cheers again.

[ResidentMich]

Pure class!!!!!!

[patashnikk]

One of my top five favourite all time singles.  I just adored Billy.

[5eurocups2005]

White car in Germany is another Great song.

[5eurocups2005]

Brilliant song, sung by a hugely talented guy, party fears 2 is another great song as well along with white car in Germany. Great Band

[alainaime]

Great !

when they came to Paris my band via Viva was opening

the show It was a great but uneasy moment 8

[RSLICKER]

loved top of the pops in the 80s a audience on drugs big hair and a demented jimmy saville saying now then now then all the time,could only happen in the 80s

[penusenvy]

There has never ever been a man with such a sexy secretive little smirk as Sir Billy McKenzie. He was such a wonderful singer too. Absolutely loved him.

[jeffryfourmile]

excellent - love it - thanks for posting

[BlueMeanieSulk]

Thank you Billy :)

[wardie72]

heard this on A2Ashes. Fantastic.

[d5t7h3l9]

yeah me too!! I'd forgotten this as well. What about Party Fears Two?

[ghaladgwaith]

They played this on Ashes to Ashes tonight - had forgotten about this gem until tonight :)

[patickles1]

yeah it was brill thats why i looked it up today!

[chookter1]

This is fucking 80'd music!

[ColumRogers]

OMG This tune is amazing how could it have been forgotton about. Hope i'm not the only young person who loves this song.

[threerockstreet]

@ColumRogers... I hope so so to. I danced to it first time around, and now fast approaching 50, I still have the 12" I bought then and still dance to it :-)

[MordaciousFilms]

@ColumRogers I'm 18, and I'm obsessed with New Romantic/New Wave music. It's my favorite. I've never liked what is going on now...

[robmatthews18]

What a wonderful song takes me back to the 80's as if it were only yesterday.

[funkstagazza]

the girl was very sexy.

[Wolfington]

In't that Martha Muffin singing with him? She looks good.

Awesome tune - God bless Bill Mac.

[Wolfington]

The fault is...I can find no fault in this

[Eatmeyouloser]

76 was the pistols

what happened in 83

[imnowaynerooney]

brilliant takes me back

[TennielLaTwarsk]

I vividly remember seeing this exact performance as a kid and just not being able to cope with it at all... I came to really love it though - thanks so much for posting this!

[stenchwart]

great performance andjimmy didnt look out of place there even though it was 82 he should have done 25 years on pops

[acorn606]

Great memories, weird lyrics. Sadly missed

[acorn606]

Great song, fond memories, such a waste

[lelvish1]

the "alive and kicking" bit sounds familiar...ie. Simple Minds!

[stenchwart]

great song and great band billy was a one off 3 great songs from that band that are classics

[rachfatcat]

Now then now then, the one and only, the sexy and hugely talented and sadly missed Billy MacKenzie, goodness gracious!

Great song. Takes me right back.

[dancingchexmix]

Great...love this! Thanks for posting! Hugs!

[theboomer61]

haven't heard this song in year's but still have an original '45 with the picture jacket. The associates were on the charts in Britain but no one knows them here. The UK rools for music, especially 76-83.

[pomomatthew]

I would say 77-83 or so were perhaps the best years in pop music. Everything has to have a peak, just like the stock market.

[jeffryfourmile]

great performance "as it 'appens" as Sir Jim would say