40 years ago - Rat Trap #1

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

40 years ago - Rat Trap #1

Mark L · Loudmouth

Where have the years gone? Scary.

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Looking back it stinks that Rod Stewart knocked them down to #2 with his sexy song (he ain't). Had they had the 3rd week they would have been knocked off by Boney M's Mary's Boy Child. Also they had dropped to #5 after 9 weeks in the chart, so it would have been more inevitable.

Also it was quite amazing that with the Grease bandwagon fully rolling that they topped the chart in an age where they weighed sales. Rat Trap must have sold so much in the two weeks it topped the charts.

Glory days!

-- Edited by ArrGee on Thursday 29th of November 2018 10:32:53 AM

Mike menzies · V Deep

Cant believe its been 40 years I know their singing the same set of songs since they came back but at least we still have them (incidentally) this song sounds as fresh now as it did in 1978. Still love to hear it played on radio takes me back to my youth &ha lot less pressure of life

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Mike menzies wrote:
this song sounds as fresh now as it did in 1978.

It does. In my opinion, the greatest #1 single ever.

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

I wonder if any other single went 3-2-1 to the top of the chart?

Mike menzies · V Deep

All I remember was when bob &eco tore up posters of john travolta I thought how cool was that I was not popular in our household Nash my older brother loved grease etc and hated the rats so did a lot of his friends but me and my cronies played rat trap to death as much as we could all I can say is happy days blasting out tonic and first LP on a cold December night I still play it on vinyl now

TIMBO · Someone's Looking At You

My memories are very similar as a 12 year old. I'd only just started listening to music in late summer/Autumn of 1978, and remember The Jam / The Clash / Buzz****s/ Sham 69 also being favourites, but Rattrap got me hooked, and Bob Geldof tearing up the picture of Grease on TOTP was an iconic moment as hated the hype around the film but my mum and sister loved it (the film that is......still never seen it to this day)....and that started my love affair with the Rats which has continued to this day!!!!!

Timbo

Mark L · Loudmouth

ArrGee wrote:
I wonder if any other single went 3-2-1 to the top of the chart?

Elaine Paige and Barbara Dickson had a similar crawl to the top with I know him so well, definitely 321 as I recall. Not common though.

Mark L · Loudmouth

https://www.pressreader.com/ireland/sunday-independent-ireland/20180708/283446372194619

Geldof said that every taxi driver thinks the same things about him. It doesnt matter whether theyre true or not. That I ripped up f**king John Travoltas picture on Top of the Pops. I didnt. That I told Thatcher to f**k off. I didnt. And that I told six billion people on television to Give us your f**king money now! And? And I did! King Rat laughed.

Err, you did rip Travoltas picture up on TOTP, Bob.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=opd14v2I7Ik

Derek The Dane · V Deep

40 years is frightening.It was Rat Trap that got me into the Boomtown Rats in the first place.Glad the Rats are back and I hope we will see a new album next year.

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Mark L wrote:
ArrGee wrote:
I wonder if any other single went 3-2-1 to the top of the chart?
Elaine Paige and Barbara Dickson had a similar crawl to the top with I know him so well, definitely 321 as I recall. Not common though.

Impressed if you remembered that. OK, were they the first to go 3-2-1? Did anyone go 4-3-2-1?

https://www.ukmix.org/forums/search.php?keywords=number+one+singles+uk I have looked but to no avail

-- Edited by ArrGee on Sunday 2nd of December 2018 07:44:59 PM

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Mark L wrote:
https://www.pressreader.com/ireland/sunday-independent-ireland/20180708/283446372194619
Geldof said that every taxi driver thinks the same things about him. It doesnt matter whether theyre true or not. That I ripped up f**king John Travoltas picture on Top of the Pops. I didnt. That I told Thatcher to f**k off. I didnt. And that I told six billion people on television to Give us your f**king money now! And? And I did! King Rat laughed.
Err, you did rip Travoltas picture up on TOTP, Bob.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=opd14v2I7Ik

Don't Believe What You Read. Especially if Geldof is involved.

Mark L · Loudmouth

ArrGee wrote:
Mark L wrote:
ArrGee wrote:
I wonder if any other single went 3-2-1 to the top of the chart?
Elaine Paige and Barbara Dickson had a similar crawl to the top with I know him so well, definitely 321 as I recall. Not common though.
Impressed if you remembered that. OK, were they the first to go 3-2-1? Did anyone go 4-3-2-1?
https://www.ukmix.org/forums/search.php?keywords=number+one+singles+uk I have looked but to no avail

-- Edited by ArrGee on Sunday 2nd of December 2018 07:44:59 PM

I don't know but Manfred Man did 54321 apparently smile

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD - Louis Armstrong did 3-2-1

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

4-3-2-2-2-1 Havana - CAMILA CABELLO FT YOUNG THUG

but spending 3 weeks at #2

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Space Oddity did 4-2-1

That would have been the perfect song for a countdown

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

TAKE ME BAK 'OME - Slade 3-2-1

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

WOMAN - JOHN LENNON 3-2-1

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Going the other way...

DON'T LET THE SUN GO DOWN ON ME - Elton John/George Michael 1-2-3-4

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

UNDER THE MOON OF LOVE - SHOWADDYWADDY 3-2-1 It seems to be more common than I expected...

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER - SIMON AND GARFUNKEL 3-2-1

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

This had to be one

KNOCK THREE TIMES - DAWN 3-2-1

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

YOU WON'T FIND ANOTHER FOOL LIKE ME - NEW SEEKERS 4-3-3-2-2-1 (A bit elongated)

Noel · Dave

Mark L wrote:
ArrGee wrote:
Mark L wrote:
ArrGee wrote:
I wonder if any other single went 3-2-1 to the top of the chart?
Elaine Paige and Barbara Dickson had a similar crawl to the top with I know him so well, definitely 321 as I recall. Not common though.
Impressed if you remembered that. OK, were they the first to go 3-2-1? Did anyone go 4-3-2-1?
https://www.ukmix.org/forums/search.php?keywords=number+one+singles+uk I have looked but to no avail

-- Edited by ArrGee on Sunday 2nd of December 2018 07:44:59 PM
I don't know but Manfred Man did 54321 apparently

Andy Partridge says that on Senses Working Overtime he deliberately inverted Manfred Mann's countdown on the bit that goes 'I've got one, two, three, four, five senses working overtime'. Now where is the new Rats album more to the point?

-- Edited by Noel on Tuesday 4th of December 2018 04:29:14 PM

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Noel wrote:
Andy Partridge says that on Senses Working Overtime he deliberately inverted Manfred Mann's countdown on the bit that goes 'I've got one, two, three, four, five senses working overtime'. Now where is the new Rats album more to the point?

Always noted a lot of love for XTC from many posters around here in the distant past when people did post before I hacked them off, so you may be interested in TC&I http://wearecult.rocks/xtcs-colin-moulding-and-terry-chambers-to-play-series-of-live-uk-shows Likely to tour in the new year. A set list https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/tcandi/2018/swindon-arts-centre-swindon-england-43967b27.html.

As for the Rats album. I am beyond caring. Should have done it 5 years ago after Isle of Wight & Cork if they were going to do it. At least back then some people were still buying CDs.

Still next year seems right on the 9 year current cycle for Geldof efforts (Happy Club 1992, SAD 2001, Decompose 2010, Whatever 2019).

You posted recently that they went about it as if they were following up the debut LP. Err, I thought they did that with A Tonic for the Troops.

Anyway. I have a new aim in life. To find a song that went 4-3-2-1 in consecutive weeks. Nothing else matters

Mark L · Loudmouth

Try Paul Gambaccini or Tim Rice?

Otherwise it's a slog going through official charts.com or a Guinness Book of Hit Singles

Mark L · Loudmouth

ArrGee wrote:
I wonder if any other single went 3-2-1 to the top of the chart?

La Isla Bonita by Madonna did 321

So did Ted Rogers ... does that count?

Did anyone ever understand those clues?!

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Mark L wrote:
Try Paul Gambaccini or Tim Rice?
Otherwise it's a slog going through official charts.com or a Guinness Book of Hit Singles

Not sure how Guinness Book of Hit Singles helps but I am making some educated guesses on https://www.officialcharts.com

I reckon it needs to be a bit of a grower from a newish act with a long running #1 just about vacating the top spot.

Wherever I Lay my Hat (another 3-2-1)

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Got it!

Thunderbirds!

(I'll get my coat)

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Mark L wrote:

Ted Rogers ... does that count? Did anyone ever understand those clues?!

C'mon, it was easy peasy...

Clue - "The arches might provide a clue, not strolling but he's going too," presented with some sheet music

Answer - "Well, the first three letters of arches might have been clue enough. But we also said 'not strolling but he's going too'. If you take away 'he's' from 'arches', all you have left is 'arc'. If you rearrange those with the sheet music, you're left with 'music maestro please'. So what does it mean? Maestro! It's the British Leyland Maestro! You've won the car!"

...however, the contestant on hearing that they won a British Leyland car probably wished they got the fecking bin instead! At least they could put their rubbish in it.

Mark L · Loudmouth

Just fished out the 1990 Guinness Book and it's no help. Especially after 1990. Yes those clues!

Guinness is mainly black. That means no colour. There are 3 Os in no colour. OOO also means out of office. Yes, out of the office car park comes this Mini Metro..in black. Thanks Ted

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Guinness is mainly black. Take the b from black and the in from Guinness and you have won the bin! Better than a British Leyland Metro!

Mark L · Loudmouth

ArrGee wrote:
Guinness is mainly black. Take the b from black and the in from Guinness and you have won the bin! Better than a British Leyland Metro!

Of that there is little doubt. I reluctantly owned one from 1990 to 1992 so speak from experience!

Bitter experience.

Noel · Dave

ArrGee wrote:
Noel wrote:
Andy Partridge says that on Senses Working Overtime he deliberately inverted Manfred Mann's countdown on the bit that goes 'I've got one, two, three, four, five senses working overtime'. Now where is the new Rats album more to the point?
Always noted a lot of love for XTC from many posters around here in the distant past when people did post before I hacked them off, so you may be interested in TC&I http://wearecult.rocks/xtcs-colin-moulding-and-terry-chambers-to-play-series-of-live-uk-shows Likely to tour in the new year. A set list https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/tcandi/2018/swindon-arts-centre-swindon-england-43967b27.html.
As for the Rats album. I am beyond caring. Should have done it 5 years ago after Isle of Wight & Cork if they were going to do it. At least back then some people were still buying CDs.
Still next year seems right on the 9 year current cycle for Geldof efforts (Happy Club 1992, SAD 2001, Decompose 2010, Whatever 2019).
You posted recently that they went about it as if they were following up the debut LP. Err, I thought they did that with A Tonic for the Troops.
Anyway. I have a new aim in life. To find a song that went 4-3-2-1 in consecutive weeks. Nothing else matters

I don't think the Rats were feeling comfortable enough with themselves to rush into an album just after they regrouped. The short interview with Gary that I posted recently gives an outline of how bad things were for years.

They have had a lot more time to reexamine their relationships, generally do pretty well in the whole thing of getting back together and actually getting pretty decent crowds that they still manage to do to this day.

Re new album I was paraphrasing from one of the interviews with Geldof, possibly the one with Alan McGee (podcast)Of course what I took from what Geldof said was that there was something in both the attitude and sound of the new record that reminded him of the early days, just like starting over if you like.

He touched on this when they were in Wexford saying in the middle of Joey that he could close his eyes and feel that they were back in Moran's Hotel in 1977. It certainly comes across on stage and if anything the band seem to have more energy now and in the last few years then just after they reformed. That's a good sign, that bodes well for when the new album comes out. Geldof won't do a Rats album halfheartedly, it's his life's work so I feel pretty optimistic. Just wish it didn't have to be an eternal wait.

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Noel wrote:
I don't think the Rats were feeling comfortable enough with themselves to rush into an album just after they regrouped. The short interview with Gary that I posted recently gives an outline of how bad things were for years.
They have had a lot more time to reexamine their relationships, generally do pretty well in the whole thing of getting back together and actually getting pretty decent crowds that they still manage to do to this day.

Are the crowds that good? They seem to be playing small festivals these days and the 2013 tour venues were bigger than the 2014 tour venues. The time for an album would have been after Cork & Isle of Wight ahead of the 2014 tour, but instead they released classic rat****s with a couple of ropey new songs (and recorded a couple of others for the Rat**** ep).

It appears they did rush into the studio with little or no regard to how bad things had been. Though as I am not sure they all played on all the songs. Pete did the music and Bob obviously sang but the rest I don't know.

Mark L · Loudmouth

I am a bit closer to Noel on the optimism scale and quite liked Back to Boomtown. I think we will see the album but the delay is frustrating and bewildering. Bit like Brexit really.

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Mark L wrote:
I think we will see the album but the delay is frustrating and bewildering.

I don't know why they don't just release it. Let's face facts this isn't a major release that will be accompanied with a big marketing campaign or a world tour.

At best they might get a week in the charts like The Damned and The Stranglers managed with their last LP and then sell a few copies at festival appearances.

Mark L · Loudmouth

ArrGee wrote:
Mark L wrote:
I think we will see the album but the delay is frustrating and bewildering.
I don't know why they don't just release it. Let's face facts this isn't a major release that will be accompanied with a big marketing campaign or a world tour.
At best they might get a week in the charts like The Damned and The Stranglers managed with their last LP and then sell a few copies at festival appearances.

Agreed. Completely bewildered...might even have benefitted from a festive boost.

2 weeks in the charts!

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Mark L wrote:
Agreed. Completely bewildered...might even have benefited from a festive boost.
2 weeks in the charts!

Yes my missus might have bought a copy for me and taken the sales into double figures. She won't buy one in April as that will be after I get another year wiser

Ian D · House on Fire

Rat Trap even got a mention on last weeks University Challenge!

Mark L · Loudmouth

Ian D wrote:
Rat Trap even got a mention on last weeks University Challenge!

Did they get the question right ?

Mark L · Loudmouth

https://vinylmemories.co.uk/products/the-boomtown-rats-drag-me-down?variant=16832304382050&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI-b2675eT3wIVTLftCh36QAQJEAQYASABEgIu_PD_BwE

Genre 70s pop?? Suppose it includes Rat Trap and Modern so that's OK. Strange version of Modern with indistinct vocals and an oddly muffled sound arrangement.

Sounds like it was recorded under a duvet.

Ian D · House on Fire

Mark L wrote:
Ian D wrote:
Rat Trap even got a mention on last weeks University Challenge!
Did they get the question right ?

Yes they did Mark! It was a question about a specific instrument being played on a couple of given song titles by certain groups. The sax was the answer.

Mark L · Loudmouth

Thanks Ian. Wonder if Baker Street was the other song ....

Ian D · House on Fire

Mark L wrote:
Thanks Ian. Wonder if Baker Street was the other song ....

It was a three part punk band question based on X-Ray Spex.

On iplayer its episode 19 and around 9 mins in.

Mark L · Loudmouth

Thanks

Noel · Dave

ArrGee wrote:
Noel wrote:
I don't think the Rats were feeling comfortable enough with themselves to rush into an album just after they regrouped. The short interview with Gary that I posted recently gives an outline of how bad things were for years.
They have had a lot more time to reexamine their relationships, generally do pretty well in the whole thing of getting back together and actually getting pretty decent crowds that they still manage to do to this day.

Are the crowds that good? They seem to be playing small festivals these days and the 2013 tour venues were bigger than the 2014 tour venues. The time for an album would have been after Cork & Isle of Wight ahead of the 2014 tour, but instead they released classic rat****s with a couple of ropey new songs (and recorded a couple of others for the Rat**** ep).
It appears they did rush into the studio with little or no regard to how bad things had been. Though as I am not sure they all played on all the songs. Pete did the music and Bob obviously sang but the rest I don't know.

Geldof from RTE archives, Christmas 1978. 5 minute clip of interview with David Heffernan's Invitation to Rock.

https://www.rte.ie/archives/2018/1206/1015557-bob-geldof-boo

Mark L · Loudmouth

That was brilliant, thanks Noel.

Noel · Dave

Mark L wrote:
That was brilliant, thanks Noel.

I spotted that on the ever brilliant Bob Geldof Facebook site and in the 'we're all in this together' spirit, made the link just in case anyone missed it.

Had to laugh when Bob tried the Rock Star alcohol concoction only to find it was 'cold tea'. That's the RTE props department for you smile

This was pre MTV as Bob says the only way to reach the US market was through the FM stations who played more progressive music. He's probably right about rock music and the movies being the most important cultural 'currency' back in 1978, but today I doubt that is true.

Mark L · Loudmouth

Wonder if it was actually whiskey and he pretended it was tea for comedic effect? That was what first went through my mind. There is an effortless charm and charisma coming through in this interview. Leaving out the host and other guest!

Whats the best way to approach the US? Flying, by plane lol

Noel · Dave

Mark L wrote:
Wonder if it was actually whiskey and he pretended it was tea for comedic effect? That was what first went through my mind. There is an effortless charm and charisma coming through in this interview. Leaving out the host and other guest!
Whats the best way to approach the US? Flying, by plane lol

Well back in the seventies drinking and smoking was allowed on tv, as in this example from America. smile

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyl4Vvjc7pI

-- Edited by Noel on Sunday 30th of December 2018 06:14:25 PM