Alvin Stardust – A History of Dubious Taste

Almost, But Not Quite There

On Monday, I posted Weezer’s Buddy Holly, and it reminded me of another song, the lyrical content of which was not too far removed from the sentiment of the Weezer track.

I speak, of course, of the original Green Cross Code Man, Mr Alvin Stardust:

And lo! A new series was born. (But I’ve only thought of one record so far, so don’t hold your breath for part two…)

At Dubious Towers, ridiculously named ~~Bernard Newry~~, ~~Shane Fenton~~ Alvin Stardust is famous for eight things:

His Green Cross Code adverts (see above: “See you later, girls!”);
His ‘Coo Ca Choo‘ (not as rude as it sounds, I hope);
His black leather cat suit and glove;
Being married to TV’s Liza Goddard;
His single I Won’t Run Away, about standing by a young girl he has gotten pregnant (admirable), but which he released in 1984, when he was in his early 40s (not quite so admirable…);
Accidentally setting his hair on fire at a gig at one of Peterborough’s top venues (I can find no mention of this online, but I bloody well remember reading about it at the time, and thinking: “Man alive, the amount of Elnett needed to sustain that quiff would have burned!”);
Briefly appearing in Hollyoaks (OK, I didn’t know that one until I researched this post);
This single, from 1984, which – even though it was released ten years earlier – evokes the spirit of the aforementioned, and far superior, Weezer tune.

You see, Alvin also knew how Buddy Holly felt (but Mary Tyler Moore didn’t get a look in, which is perhaps where he went wrong).

For some inexplicable reason (sense the tone), this is not so fondly remembered as the Weezer tune:

Alvin Stardust – I Feel Like Buddy Holly

Now. I think that long-time readers will have seen through my cunning ruse, for although I fully intend to make this a series once I’ve thought of some other songs to post in this category, this has clearly just been an excuse to post some long overdue Ted Chippington.

Guilty as charged: