This week in 1985, Belouis Some, the stage name of singer Neville Keighley, released 'Imagination', a single from his debut album on EMI records 'Some People' (24 Oct,1985). Some people at the time saw Belouis Some as "a bit like Bowie". He did have the privilege of working with Carlos Alomar and Earl Slick who did work with Bowie, so maybe a comparison was inevitable. The production of 'Imagination' involved heavyweights like Alomar, Bernard Edwards, and drummer Tony Thompson, all members of the legendary group Chic - who need no introduction.
I was lucky enough to be on the EMI mailing list back then and when this arrived one day on 12" vinyl and on VHS video, I couldn't get the TV screens up at the next gig quick enough to show it.
I came up with this crazy idea in the early 80's to hire a couple of those chunky and heavy colour TV's which were around then, and a VHS player, (from Radio Rentals on the corner of Gaol Square or Vince at Sound & Vison), and with a bit of 'old school' wiring up (nothing digital here), we played out the sound track through the disco speakers PA at the same time as showing the video on the screens which were placed on top of the speakers. I don't remember anyone else doing this at the time and I'm sure we were the first to do this around town.
The Malt & Hops (now the Island Restaurant), was managed by John and Jayne Collins and was one of the first town centre pubs back in the 80's to obtain a late licence. The pub was formally known as The Dirty Duck and underwent an extension and refurbishment in 1982. They started late disco nights in 1984 on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights which proved very popular indeed. The queues to get in often stretched back to the traffic lights or passed the Vets next door. It was great to DJ there and the video screens were a novel attraction at the time.
The song’s controversial music video was directed by the Storm Thorgerson, which further fuelled its notoriety. Thorgerson, known for his work with Pink Floyd, created a video that sparked debates at the time due to its explicit full-frontal nudity. As Thorgerson’s visuals often did, it toed the line between art and provocation. Some defended the video, stating that it was done for "artistic reasons" and was far from gratuitous. He added in an interview with Record Mirror that guitarist Carlos Alomar had jokingly called him a "sexist pig," but later admitted to finding the video wonderful.
The video certainly raised eyebrows, but it wasn’t the first, nor the last 1980s video to push the boundaries. Others shown at the time included 'Sledgehammer' by Peter Gabriel, “Take On Me” – a-ha, anything by Prince, Madonna, etc etc., and of course Michael Jackson. I remember how pleased were were at the time being the first to show 'Thriller', after it exclusively appeared on Channel 4 - but again no one danced, just stood still and looked!
The Imagination video ends where a lady suddenly ages, which leaves you uncertain what that actually means, perhaps something supernatural? The ambiguity leads to diverse interpretations, which makes the video a source of more intrigue.
The track was very slow to climb the UK single chart. With a heavy push by EMI records it was reissued in 1986 and become one of the popular tracks of the year, frequently played in the pubs and clubs, on mainstream radio and even made its way into an advertisement for Barclays Bank and was featured in the 1987 film Ghost Chase.
His career may not of reached the dizzying heights of some others who started out then, but his contributions to 1980s pop music shouldn’t be overlooked. If you never did go to the Malt & Hops Stafford in the mid 1980's, unlucky - or didn't get to see the original 'uncensored' video from 1985 - good luck trying to find it!
Thanks to : I grew up in the 1980's, The Custom Sound Crew 1976- 2000, Vince Ward (Sound & Vison, Oxford Gardens Stafford) and everyone who danced the night away at The Malt & Hops back then!
