Where you going with that UB40 in your hand?

Thursday music corner: The Bangles are an American all-woman pop band formed in Los Angeles in 1981, who attained considerable success in 1980s pop charts with singles such as Manic Monday (1985), Walk Like An Egyptian (1986), Hazy Shade of Winter (1987) and Eternal Flame (1989). They have released five studio albums, including three in their 1980s prime, plus numerous compilations, and have scored eight US top 40 singles, with Walk Like An Egyptian and Eternal Flame both topping the US charts. 

Going Down to Liverpool was the Bangles'  third single and the second from their debut album All Over the Place (1984). It was written by Kimberley Rew for his band Katrina & the Waves, and originally released by them in two versions in 1982 and 1983, plus a third version on their 1985 album, after the Bangles version became popular. Noteworthy during a period of high unemployment in the UK, the lyrics reference the UK unemployment application form UB40, from which the 1980s pop-reggae band derives its name. The Bangles version features vocals by drummer Debbi Peterson. The music video featuring Leonard Nimoy was directed by band member Susanna Hoffs' mother, Tamar Simon Hoffs; Nimoy was a family friend. 

The Bangles' single reached number 42 in the New Zealand charts and number 48 in the Netherlands. 

The Bangles - Going Down to Liverpool (1984)

See also:

Music: The Bangles - Getting Out of Hand (first single, 1981)

Music: Katrina & the Waves - Going Down to Liverpool (1982)

Music: The Bangles - In Your Room (1988)

My bleeding heart bleeding to the beat

Thursday music corner: American musician, author and producer Jeff Tweedy (b. Illinois, 1967) achieved success with alt country bands Uncle Tupelo (1987-94) and Wilco (1994-present). He has released five solo albums on the Chiacgo-based and Wilco-founded dBpm Records label since 2017, plus a soundtrack album for the 2001 film Chelsea Walls, which was actor Ethan Hawke's directorial debut. He has written four books, including How to Write One Song (2020) and its follow-up, World Within a Song (2025).

Lou Reed Was My Babysitter was the sixth and final single from the 2025 Tweedy triple album Twilight Override. It was released in September 2025, shortly before the album's release.

Jeff Tweedy - Lou Reed Was My Babysitter (live, 2025)

See also:

Music: Uncle Tupelo - Give Back the Key to My Heart (1993)

Music: Wilco - Handshake Drugs (2004)

Music: Jeff Tweedy - I Know What It's Like (2018)

Transmit the message to the receiver, hope for an answer someday

Thursday music corner: Scottish-born, American-raised musician David Byrne (b. Dumbarton, 1952) came to prominence through the hugely influential group Talking Heads, and his reputation has only grown following his long solo career. His touring shows for albums American Utopia and Who Is The Sky? have been gaining him legions of new, younger fans thanks to their warmth and optimism, and the way they successfully integrate musical and dance performances using unplugged instruments.

Byrne has released 11 solo albums since 1981, including two with Brian Eno (My Life in the Bush of Ghosts from 1981, and Everything That Happens Will Happen Today in 2008), and one each with St Vincent and the Ghost Train Orchestra. This April 2026 performance of Life During Wartime is part of Byrne's Who Is The Sky? tour show, and was recorded at the Coachella music festival in California on 11 April. The track originally appeared on the third Talking Heads album Fear of Music in 1979, and was the album's first single.

David Byrne - Life During Wartime (live, 2026) 

See also:

Music: David Byrne - Everybody Laughs (2025)

Music: David Byrne & Brian Eno - Strange Overtones (2008)

Music: David Byrne - Dance on Vaseline (1997)

Karori pioneers

The first hardy settlers who came into the Karori Valley by way of the Maori path faced difficulties in identifying the sections of their title and initially many camped in the bush together whilst they made their way around the valley.

The first settler into the valley is given to be a Mr J[ohn] Yule who had arrived in Port Nicholson with his family in March of 1840 aboard the Bengal Merchant. Later, Yule was reported by Heaphy in his writings regarding settlement to be clearing about 20 acres of heavily timbered forest in the Karori Valley and to have built a house there within 6 months. He mentions further that Yule was unaided in his occupation except for a Maori assistant and Yule's brother, Alexander. The Yules were referred to as being "two young Scotsmen".

The Chief Justice at the time, H. S. Chapman had also taken up land in the area and by 1846 had erected the first Homewood residence.

By the late 1840s a building had been erected to serve both as a chapel and school, and a shop had been opened. In 1852 church services were being held at Mr S. Lancaster's residence and a small hall had been built on land given by a Mr Haire. This hall apparently stood on the site of the old Council Chambers. Church services were held in the hall and according to a Mr J. Eagle, an early resident in the district, some three people named Collins, Brodie and Kelt were interred on the site. (When excavations were carried out in the 1930s it appears some 6-8 people had been buried there.)

Karori and Makara have always had a close association and it is interesting to recall a selection of early pioneers who came to the district in those first years of settlement, who built homes from out of the bush and thus prepared the way for further development. Names such as Yule, Chapman, Lancaster, Shotter, Haire, Campbell, Lewer, Cook, McKelvie, Kilmister, Spiers, Barnes, Cole, Richmond, Eagle, Monk, Donald and Monaghan can all be put down as early pioneers to the district.

- Joseph & Betty Kenneally, Karori Then, Wellington, 1980, p.5

See also:
Blog: What's on at the Regal, 27 August 2023
Blog: Karori Lunatic Asylum, 15 February 2022

Blog: The old route to Karori, 16 August 2020

This, what I thought I knew

Thursday music corner: Widely-revered English experimental music pioneer Brian Eno (b. Suffolk, 1948) first attained widespread attention as a founding member of glam rock trailblazers Roxy Music from 1971. He appeared on Roxy's first two albums, Roxy Music (1972) and For Your Pleasure (1973), before branching out as a solo artist in 1973. 

Eno has released dozens of albums, both solo and collaborative efforts. Four of his solo albums entered the UK top 40: his debut Here Come The Warm Jets (1974), Apollo: Atmospheres & Soundtracks (1983), The Ship (2016), and ForeverAndEverNoMore (2022). Two notable collaborative albums include My Life in the Bush of Ghosts with David Byrne (1981) and Original Soundtracks 1 with U2 (1995). As a highly-respected record producer he helmed a wide range of albums, including David Bowie's "Berlin Trilogy" Low, Heroes and Lodger, plus 1995's Outside; Talking Heads' Fear of Music and Remain in Light; and six albums by U2. He was the subject of the 2024 'AI-generated edit' documentary Eno by Gary Hustwit.

'This' was the opening track on Eno's 2005 album Another Day on Earth. Its lyrics were informed by random computer-generated cut-up processes.   

Brian Eno - This (2005)

See also:

Music: Fripp & Eno - The Heavenly Music Corporation Pt.1 (1973)

Music: Brian Eno - Needles in the Camel's Eye (1974)

Music: Brian Eno - And Then So Clear (2005)

Kelburn 7.20am