Blue Plate Special: King
King was a new wave band formed in 1984 and gone two years later, after producing 2 albums (both went Gold) and 5 Top 25 singles in the UK and parts of Europe. The band was lead by singer Paul King, who went on to release one solo album before becoming an MTV VJ for a couple of years. King was a very 80’s looking and sounding band, with Paul’s lengthy mullet and spray-painted Doc Marten boots. I remember when their first album, Steps in Time, was released in 1984, and I rushed out to pick up the cassette. The singles ‘Love & Pride’ and ‘Won’t You Hold My Hand Now’ were often played in the youth dance clubs and at community dances, with videos in heavy rotation on MTV.
Some of my favorites from their brief catalog:
Love & Pride – from the album Steps in Time (1984)
I Know – from the Paul King solo album Joy (1987)
Trouble – from the album Steps in Time (1984)
Tortue – from the album Bitter Sweet (1985)
