Stiff Records is a British independent record label formed in London, England, by Dave Robinson and Jake Riviera. Originally active from 1976 to 1986, the label was reactivated in 2007.
The Belle Stars were an all female British pop/rock band. Formed in 1980, they are best known for their 1983 hit single "Sign of the Times" as well as their cover of "Iko Iko" originally released in 1982 and featured on the soundtrack to the film Rain Man in 1988.
"Iko Iko" is a much-covered New Orleans song that tells of a parade collision between two tribes of Mardi Gras Indians and the traditional confrontation. The song, under the original title "Jock-A-Mo", was written and released in 1953 as a single by James "Sugar Boy" Crawford and his Cane Cutters but it failed to make the charts.
Pylon was an American new wave/post-punk band from Athens, Georgia, United States. The band's danceable sound, a blend of new wave, post-punk, jangle pop, alternative rock and funk rock, influenced the Athens music scene and the 1980s American pop underground. AllMusic wrote that Pylon's "role as elder statesmen of the alternative rock explosion is unassailable".
From October 26, 1974 until August 28, 1976, Billboard's Disco Action section published weekly single retail sales charts from various local regions along with Top Audience Response Records in their magazine. Billboard debuted its first national chart devoted exclusively to 12-inch Singles Sales in their issue dated March 16, 1985. This record type is most commonly used in disco and dance music genres where DJs use them to play in discos or dance clubs because of the exclusive extended remixes that are often only made available on this format, but Billboard's 12-inch Single Sales chart ranks releases by artists from all styles of music that release maxi-singles.
"Let's Go to Bed" is a song by English rock band the Cure, released as a stand-alone single by Fiction Records in November 1982. In the aftermath of the dark Pornography, Robert Smith returned from a month-long detox in the Lake District to write the song, the antithesis to what the Cure currently represented. It was later included on the album Japanese Whispers, which compiles the band's three singles from 1982 to 1983 and their five B-sides.
"The Love Cats" is a song by English rock band the Cure, released as a stand-alone single in October 1983.
"The Flame" is a power ballad released in 1988 by the American rock band Cheap Trick and the first single from their tenth album Lap of Luxury. It was written by songwriters Bob Mitchell and Nick Graham.
"Signal Fire" is a song from Irish alternative rock band Snow Patrol, appearing on the soundtrack of the film Spider-Man 3, released on 24 April, 30 April, 2 May and 14 May 2007, depending on the region. It was the only single released from the soundtrack. It was recorded at Grouse Lodge and was produced by long-time Snow Patrol producer Jacknife Lee. The song was also initially offered to Shrek the Third.
"We Came to Dance" is the fourth and final single from Ultravox's sixth studio album Quartet, recorded in Air Studios and released on Chrysalis Records on 27 May 1983. The single reached #18 on the UK charts on 18 June. This was the last of seven consecutive top-20 singles for the band.
"I'll Tumble 4 Ya" is a song by English band Culture Club, released in 1983 as the fifth and final single from their debut album Kissing to Be Clever.
"Let's All Go (to the Fire Dances)" is a song by English post-punk band Killing Joke, released as the sole single from their 1983 studio album Fire Dances, on 12" and 7" vinyl by E.G. Records in June 1983. The single reached number 51 in the UK Singles Chart and was the band's first single with a music video.
The Belle Stars is the only studio album by the all-female band of the same name released in 1983. The band's eponymous debut album reached number 15 on the UK Albums Chart. The Belle Stars had some success with their single "Iko Iko", a cover of The Dixie Cups' 1965 hit. It charted at number 35 in June 1982 on the UK Singles Chart. Seven years later the song became a hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart after it was featured in the movie Rain Man, where it peaked at number 14.
Michael J. Mullins is an English lead vocalist, backing singer and songwriter, best known as the lead singer of salsa band Modern Romance (1982–85). Modern Romance achieved eight top 40 singles and two hit albums. After the band called it quits in 1985, Mullins continued working within the music industry, most notably as a backing singer for Cliff Richard. He can be seen singing with Cliff Richard live on Top of the Pops and on the Christmas number one single "Mistletoe and Wine" (1988). Mullins has since performed with Alan Parsons as part of The Alan Parsons Project.
Kalima was a Manchester-based Factory Records band who were active from 1980 to 1991 and in 2001 after a reformation, playing in a funk, Latin and jazz style.
"Ya Di Ya" is a song by American R&B singer, Gina Thompson. It features guest vocals by Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott and was released as the lead single from Thompson's unreleased album, If You Only Knew (1999).
"Sign of the Times" is a song by English pop/new wave band the Belle Stars, released as the fourth single from the band's self-titled only studio album. It was their seventh single overall and first single written by the band since 1981's "Another Latin Love Song". The single was the band's only top ten hit, reaching No. 3 on the UK Singles Chart in the week of 19 February 1983. It peaked at No. 75 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the week of 14 May 1983.
"Sweet Memory" is a 1983 song by English pop/new wave band The Belle Stars, released as their eighth single overall. Unlike its predecessor, Sign of the Times, it did not make it into the top 10 in the UK. However, it did manage to get into the top 30, peaking at #22.
Natasha England, often credited as Natasha, is a Scottish pop singer whose version of "Iko Iko" reached number 10 on the UK Singles Chart in 1982.
"Sex Bomb Boogie" is a song by British band Sigue Sigue Sputnik, released as single from their debut album Flaunt It. It was only released as a vinyl single in Germany and as a video-only in the UK.
