Let’s take a look back at some more pop music from the 80s, the super decade. One of the more curious hit singles of the mid-80s is “One Night In Bangkok”, by Murray Head, an actor who has appeared in a lot of stage musicals, and this featured in the musical Chess that was popular at the time. This had a rather unusual style that was almost rapped and was almost sung.
This was released in November 1984 and reached no. 12, leading to a memorable appearance on Top Of The Pops. I discovered recently when looking online that there had been a cover of this that made the American chart. Louise Robey (better-known as just “Robey”) is a Canadian-born singer, who has also been an actress and model (ooh-wah-ooh, she’s a model…).
In March 1985, her version of “One Night In Bangkok” reached no. 77 in America (I believe that this was never released in this country). This version had more of a dance feel and was also on the American chart at the same time as Head’s original, although that was by far the most successful, reaching no. 3 (this was also a chart-topper in Australia among other countries).
People seemed to be divided on whose version is superior, but her version did make the Top Ten of the Dance Chart though. Robey gets her kicks above the waistline, sunshine. And the fact that she has rather big red hair, and there is also a blue-haired woman in the strange video had no influence on my decision to feature this song in this series, oh no.
Although she did release a few more singles, and one album, in the 80s (and also appear in a few films as an actress, including The Money Pit), she turned out to be a one-hit wonder. Her nice voice didn’t chart again. I haven’t been able to track down any TV appearances or music videos beyond this one. It seems that she left the music business not long after this.
ADAM'S NOSTALGIC MEMORIES 