Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube
    Nostalgia Central
    Banner
    • Home
    • Blog
      • Lists
      • Playlists
    • Television
      • Shows by Decade
        • 1950s Television
        • 1960s Television
        • 1970s Television
        • 1980s Television
        • 1990s Television
      • Shows by Genre
        • Comedy
        • Drama
        • Kids TV
        • Variety
        • News & Sport
        • Advertisements
      • Shows by Country
        • UK TV
        • USA TV
        • Australia & NZ TV
        • Canada TV
        • Europe TV
        • Japan TV
      • Shows A to K
        • Shows A
        • Shows B
        • Shows C
        • Shows D
        • Shows E
        • Shows F
        • Shows G
        • Shows H
        • Shows I
        • Shows J
        • Shows K
      • Shows L to Z
        • Shows L
        • Shows M
        • Shows N
        • Shows O
        • Shows P
        • Shows Q
        • Shows R
        • Shows S
        • Shows T
        • Shows U
        • Shows V
        • Shows W
        • Shows X
        • Shows Y
        • Shows Z
      • Shows 0 to 9
    • Music
      • Music by Decade
        • 1950s Music
        • 1960s Music
        • 1970s Music
        • 1980s Music
        • 1990s Music
      • Music A to K
        • Music A
        • Music B
        • Music C
        • Music D
        • Music E
        • Music F
        • Music G
        • Music H
        • Music I
        • Music J
        • Music K
      • Music L to Z
        • Music L
        • Music M
        • Music N
        • Music O
        • Music P
        • Music Q
        • Music R
        • Music S
        • Music T
        • Music U
        • Music V
        • Music W
        • Music X
        • Music Y
        • Music Z
      • Music 0 to 9
      • Genres
      • Music on Film & TV
      • One-Hit Wonders
      • Online Radio
    • Movies
      • Movies by Decade
        • 1950s Movies
          • Movies 1950
          • Movies 1951
          • Movies 1952
          • Movies 1953
          • Movies 1954
          • Movies 1955
          • Movies 1956
          • Movies 1957
          • Movies 1958
          • Movies 1959
        • 1960s Movies
          • Movies 1960
          • Movies 1961
          • Movies 1962
          • Movies 1963
          • Movies 1964
          • Movies 1965
          • Movies 1966
          • Movies 1967
          • Movies 1968
          • Movies 1969
        • 1970s Movies
          • Movies 1970
          • Movies 1971
          • Movies 1972
          • Movies 1973
          • Movies 1974
          • Movies 1975
          • Movies 1976
          • Movies 1977
          • Movies 1978
          • Movies 1979
        • 1980s Movies
          • Movies 1980
          • Movies 1981
          • Movies 1982
          • Movies 1983
          • Movies 1984
          • Movies 1985
          • Movies 1986
          • Movies 1987
          • Movies 1988
          • Movies 1989
        • 1990s Movies
          • Movies 1990
          • Movies 1991
          • Movies 1992
          • Movies 1993
          • Movies 1994
          • Movies 1995
          • Movies 1996
          • Movies 1997
          • Movies 1998
          • Movies 1999
      • Movies A to K
        • Movies A
        • Movies B
        • Movies C
        • Movies D
        • Movies E
        • Movies F
        • Movies G
        • Movies H
        • Movies I
        • Movies J
        • Movies K
      • Movies L to Z
        • Movies L
        • Movies M
        • Movies N
        • Movies O
        • Movies P
        • Movies Q
        • Movies R
        • Movies S
        • Movies T
        • Movies U
        • Movies V
        • Movies W
        • Movies X
        • Movies Y
        • Movies Z
      • Movies 0 to 9
    • Pop Culture
      • Fads
      • Toys & Games
      • Fashion
      • Decor
      • Food & Drink
      • People
      • Radio
      • Technology
      • Transport
    • Social History
      • 1950s Year by Year
      • 1960s Year by Year
      • 1970s Year by Year
      • 1980s Year by Year
      • 1990s Year by Year
      • Events
    Nostalgia Central
    Home»Music»Music by Decade»1980s Music
    1980s Music Music F One-Hit Wonders 2 Mins Read

    Flying Lizards, The

    Share
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Reddit Email

    Kent-based Irish exile David Cunningham specialised in conceptual excavations of pop hits. His Flying Lizards group was a loose collective of avant-garde and free improvising musicians (such as David Toop and Steve Beresford) with Deborah Evans, Patti Palladin and Vivien Goldman as main vocalists.

    The one that really sold – both in the UK and the US – was The Flying Lizards’ version of the Barrett Strong/Motown hit, Money.

    The noise was unique: barrelhouse piano offset with a subsonic disco pulse and what sounded like tea-trays crashing upon the heads of anyone who didn’t get the point, all barely in time with each other.

    The blank debutante spoken tones of Deborah Evans recited a passionless version of the need for filthy lucre in a shadowy echo of Margaret Thatcher (who had been elected three months before the single was released) at her most sanctimonious.

    flyinglizards

    The backing vocals sounded like muzzled dogs, and a ridiculous guitar solo fizzled and crackled before Evans ended up talking the old soul ad libs with hilarious lack of soul, musical or otherwise.

    A disembodied bleep finished off a record so cold and brittle you could only marvel at its unashamed contempt for everything and wonder how Cunningham and Co. made it so catchy and infectious.

    But then, soul-less greed was about to be the Next Big Thing, so The Flying Lizards were only warning of the coming infection.

    The 1980 self-titled album presented Money and nine other minimalist tracks featuring a musician who couldn’t play accompanying a singer who couldn’t sing.

    David Cunningham
    Guitar, piano, producer
    Deborah Evans
    Vocals
    Patti Palladin
    Vocals
    Vivien Goldman
    Vocals

    Video

    Related Posts

    • faronsflamingos34
      Faron's Flamingos
      Faron's Flamingos emerged from a band formed at the Liverpool Mercury Cycling Club (apparently in the winter months they preferred…
    • Flying Pickets, The
      Flying Pickets, The
      The Flying Pickets was founded in 1982 by a group of actors who had been active with him in a…
    • soul2soul003
      Soul II Soul
      London-based Soul II Soul was one of the most innovative dance/R&B outfits of the late '80s, creating a seductive, deep…
    • Pink Floyd
      Pink Floyd
      Pink Floyd (named after two obscure American bluesmen, Pink Anderson and Floyd Council) formed in Cambridge in 1964 as a…
    • Maisonettes, The
      Maisonettes, The
      The Maisonettes were an English pop band The Maisonettes was formed by Laurence "Lol" Mason following the break up of…
    • riprigpanic2
      Rip Rig + Panic
      Even during the eclectic 80s, it's hard to imagine a major label having pursued a band that never rehearsed, boasted…
    • kansas
      Kansas
      Kansas started out as a bar band playing cover versions of contemporary songs and soul oldies in the American state…
    • Fiat Lux
      Fiat Lux
      This three-piece synthesizer outfit formed in Wakefield, Yorkshire,  in 1982. Taking their name from the Latin phrase for "Let there…

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Reddit Email
    Previous ArticleFlying Burrito Brothers, The
    Next Article Focus

    Comments are closed.

    NC Radio Player
    Search the site
    Nostalgia Central has been a labour of love since 1998. The site carries no advertising, and I rely on donations to help with running costs and to keep the site running for your entertainment and education.

    If you find the site informative or enjoyable, please consider a donation – no matter how small.
    Thank you so much. Enjoy your trip in the time machine!
    You may also like

    • Flying Pickets, The
      Flying Pickets, The
      The Flying Pickets was founded in 1982 by a group of actors who had been active with him in a…
    • Moodists, The
      Moodists, The
      Emerging from the provincial South Australian town of Mount Gambier in the late seventies, The Moodists were at odds with…
    • talulahgosh002
      Talulah Gosh
      Formed in February 1986, Talulah Gosh were a guitar-pop group from Oxford, who formed because they wanted to support The…
    • soul2soul003
      Soul II Soul
      London-based Soul II Soul was one of the most innovative dance/R&B outfits of the late '80s, creating a seductive, deep…


    Nostalgia Central covers the period 1950 to 1999 and contains some words and references which reflect the attitudes of those times and which may be considered culturally sensitive, offensive or inappropriate today.
    Copyright © 1998, 2023 Nostalgia Central. Run by volunteers. Funded by donations.
    • About Nostalgia Central
    • Contact
    • FAQ

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.