Metal Guru...

This week we take on T.Rex and the mighty Marc Bolan, proper national treasure that he is. 'Metal Guru' went to number 1 on 20th May 1972 and remained there for 4 weeks, it was the bands 4th, and sadly final, number 1 in the UK.

There are a few clips of the track floating about but this live performance on Top of The Pops Christmas special 1972 is certainly our fave, not especially for the performance but more so due to the introduction from a boyish Noel Edmonds in what could certainly be mistaken for a green velvet Elf costume, brilliant!

T.Rex - Metal Guru - Christmas TOTP '72|

Whilst looking up a bit of info on the song we came across a rather excellent quote from Marc Bolan himself, this is how he describes the song:

I relate 'Metal Guru' to all Gods around. I believe in a God, but I have no religion. With 'Metal Guru', it's like someone special, it must be a Godhead. I thought how God would be, he'd be all alone without a telephone. I don't answer the phone any more. I have codes where people ring me at certain times.

An insight into the mind of a genius!

And so what with it being the TOTP Christmas special, and the Glam Rockers penchant for all things sparkly, we thought a shimmering glitzy fitted top would work nicely for this number:

Then given Noels velvet wonder outfit we thought it would be rude not to throw in a bit of velvet too! First up this black velvet bolero that we LOVE:

Rock Candy Black Velvet Bolero, UK 16

Or for a move away from black, we have a fab blue/grey velvet blazer that would look perfectly Glam Rock thrown on over some sparkles:

Rock Candy Blue Velvet Blazer, UK 12

And so back to Marc Bolan, we shall leave you with a couple of our favourite style images, what a snappy dresser he was...

Stand and Deliver!

This week we have chosen Adam and The Ants hit single 'Stand & Deliver'. We love him, it would be criminal not to. 'Stand & Deliver', their most successful single, reached number 1 on 9th May 1981 and remained there for 5 weeks.

My love for Adam Ant goes back a long way, far back enough to have dug out a photo from a friends fancy dress party a few years ago where I went as Adam Ant, spot the white face paint in the middle:

The music video is more like a mini movie and features Adam Ant dressed as a dandy highwayman who is captured but luckily escapes being hanged from the gallows (breathe a sigh of relief...). Without further delay lets watch the video and swoon...

Adam and The Ants- Stand & Deliver

Rather brilliantly the timing could not have been better if planned, we have just yesterday added to our collection a fabulous 1980s New Romantic style jacket that is absolutely perfect should you wish to dress up as Adam Ant:

Rock Candy New Romantic Jacket, UK 14-16

We also have a pretty fabulous leather and metal belt in our current collection which would also work well if you find yourself in need of Dandy Highwayman or Pirate regalia...

Rock Candy Black Leather Skin Belt

Both items equally gorgeous to be worn for occasions other than dressing up!

And so here we leave you, with another couple of dashing photos of Adam Ant to take you on your merry way...

It's in His Kiss

This weeks number 1 revisit takes us to 1991 with a song and movie that I am sure you all have a nostalgic soft spot for. The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss) was a number 1 for Cher for 5 weeks from late April 1991, and came from the soundtrack of her 1990 film Mermaids.

Surprisingly The Shoop Shoop Song was Cher's first solo UK number 1, with her last chart topping UK hit being the well known duet with hubby Sonny 'I Got You Babe'.

Originally recorded in 1964 by Betty Everett, it has since been covered many times around the world by many notable artists including The Searchers, The Hollies, Sandy Shaw, Lulu, The Supremes and Aretha Franklin, to name but a few,  but if you are a child of the late 70s or 80s like myself then I am sure it is the international hit from Cher that sticks out most in your mind and brings back a wave of nostalgia that makes you want to watch Cher and co (an adorable young Christina Ricci's debut movie!) style it out in fab 60s get up in Mermaids! If you haven't time for the whole film then have a little watch of the single video below, with various little film clips included there are a number of great 60s outfits on show:

The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss)

To recreate the look from our current Rock Candy collection we have first off opted for a fab monochrome shift dress:

Rock Candy Monochrome Shift Dress, UK 14

To complete the outfit team with a monochrome head scarf in contrasting pattern:

Rock Candy Monochrome Scarf

Perhaps if you fancy a little more colour then this 60s Jacquard shift is the one for you, in pastel blue it is also right on trend for the current season!

Rock Candy 60s Jacquard Shift Dress, UK 10-12

Accessorize with this fab white patent handbag and you are all set to bust out your best swinging 60s moves and Shoop!

Rock Candy White Patent Skin Handbag

Knowing Me, Knowing You...

As picking 'Knowing Me, Knowing You' also gave us the opportunity to watch clips of Alan Partridge, as well as ABBA, we felt this was the way to go for this weeks blog. ABBA are also the stars of our flyer of course!

Knowing Me, Knowing You was released by Swedish super group ABBA and was number 1 in the UK for 5 weeks from 2nd April 1977, it became one of the groups most successful singles. It was one of the first ABBA songs to deal with the break up of a relationship, although it predates the divorce of the band members and so was not autobiographical unlike some of their later break up songs.

The song has been covered a great number of times, most excitingly by Right Said Fred (who knew??) on a German album which tied in to a TV mini series. We have tried to find a clip of this but to no avail. It is available to download but we thought that would be taking it a bit far! You can however hear a 30 second sample HERE so knock yourselves out!

As mentioned earlier, we happily used this as an excuse to watch 'Knowing Me, Knowing You with Alan Partridge' clips. If you haven't seen it for a while then it is definitely worth revisiting! To start you off we have posted a clip below of the very first episode...

Knowing Me Knowing You with Alan Partridge- Part 1

And so back to ABBA. We have picked out a fantastic live version from a 1979 tour for you to enjoy:

ABBA performing 'Knowing Me, Knowing You' on tour 1979

We only wish we stocked the one shoulder body con outfits that the ABBA ladies are sporting here, WOW! We have, however, still got a bit of disco diva sparkle for you!

First up, a dazzling pale green sequin halter neck in size 8-10, team it with hot-pants or a mini skirt and knee highs and you would be right at home with ABBA or on the set of Saturday Night Fever for that matter...

Rock Candy- sequin-halter-neck-top 

Or perhaps for the more modest of you, or those not wanting to freeze in current cold weather (sigh, when will it end?!), then this shimmering long sleeved gold number might be more for you:

Rock Candy- gold shimmer top

Size UK 12, team it with hot-pants and gold platform shoes!

We dare you not to enjoy a bit of ABBA :-)