Hitlist: "Into the Fire" (1986)

Now this is a curio- a performance of a really obscure 80s band buried in an edition of an alternative comedy show from 1986. ("Saturday Live" from UK TV Channel 4) The tune's alright, but I really have never heard of this lot before or since, and I used to watch this show regularly. (I can't find any info on the band on the internet either.) In fact, I'm wasn't even originally sure of the song title (I thought "I Call Your Name", was the most likely option, but I've been informed otherwise.) I'm also wasn't 100% sure that the band's name isn't "Hit List", as it appears in the clip, as opposed to "Hitlist" as it appears in the programme credits, but the latter appears to be correct.

However, despite the mystery surrounding this band (Who obviously never acheived even ONE hit, never mind a whole list of them), it's still a fascinating document of adult pop culture from almost 2 decades ago. Look out for the mullets, long coats, Ferris Bueller on the keyboards, hexagonal synth drums, funky berets, "sidekick" backing vocalists a la Chas Smash of Madness, Quantel video trickery, lasers, neon lights stacked in boxes a la 80s TOTP, edgy live editing, bright studio lighting, tiny "concept" sets, handheld cameramen jumping in and out of shot, multicoloured post-punk "ransom" style lettering, a pretty appreciative crowd, ... Oh and the tune's not too bad either.

As an extra, this clip starts of with a short monologue by Harry Enfield as "Stavros" done in the style of another Channel 4 program "Right to Reply", in which ordinary members of the public could go to a "video box" to complain about something they saw on telly. The main reason I've included this is that he re-appears from time to time on the main feature dancing around like a loon, something most bands probably wouldn't tolerate these days...

UPDATE: Thanks to gobler for suppling some info on the song title and bandname.

Category:

Comedy

Tags:

• 80s
• hitlist
• unknown
• videotaped
• mullets
• alternativecomedy
• harry
• enfield
• 1986
• channel4
• saturdaylive
• harryenfield

[biguppercut]

This track was written by my uncle his name was gordon riddle, sadley he died a few years ago aged 46. they released the song the same week as the bradford fire disaster and virgin pulled it from the charts. he was friends with the guys from maddness and they helped him in the production

[alephnaughtpix]

I never heard of it apart from this programme, but I didn't realise it was because it was pulled- really bad luck there. Didn't know the guys from Madness were involved though. Thanks for your comments.

[alephnaughtpix]

True, but neither does the dictionary definition usually specify any particular musical qualities. Supremely cheesy they are, but I didn't hear of them at the time, nor since, hence they are more obscure to me than some indie bands like, say, Stump, were are the time.

[gobler]

nice vid! the band is indeed called Hitlist, however the song is called "Into The Fire." i've never seen this live performance before. thanks for sharing :)

[alephnaughtpix]

Because there was no title on the screen, I was wondering if it was called something like that, or even "Blindfold". Thanks for the info, gobler.

[alephnaughtpix]

BTW Do you have any more info about Hitlist or a link?

[glyn1963]

It would be nice if someone with info on the band could do a Wikipedia page I've added them to the list of things titled "into the fire" and given the Virgin catalogue number. You will get more info on the band if you search google for the album " Good Evening Yugoslavia"  sorry I can't post a link here.

[glyn1963]

I searched for years for this, I used to have it on an old edition of the Max Headroom show (the one were he just topped and tailed the music vids and did one short interview not the chat show style one) that must have been 1986 or so. I thought it was a great song and video, the video is elsewhere on you tube as is a full version of the record played from the vinyl. There may also be a remix somewhere, I have seen references to it but haven't located an actual copy.

[warrell24]

This brings back a few memories. Gordon Riddell is the guy playing the Simmons pads. I was the drummer in his previous band, Rhythm Method, and I was sorry to hear that he died some time back. Gordon was a great songwriter and it's a shame that he didn't go on to make it big. You can check out Rhythm Method's only single by searching youtube for 'Rhythm Method Diana'. Thanks for posting this.

[wake1986]

Good Song..!

[jannejanne66]

Cool! SIMMONS and a Jupiter 8!

[biguppercut]

@vjonesgo that would be wonderful do you have a email address i could send my Address to?

[vjonesgo]

@biguppercut --Hi Derek-Oh yes I did. Can I send them to you somewhere?

[discovery781]

this got tons of play in the gay clubs