While more than a one hit wonder, (having previously had a hit with “Happy Birthday“), Altered Images are probably best known for their hit single “I Could Be Happy“. Here they are performing it in Top Of The Pops:

This song comes from their second album, Pinky Blue, released in 1982. I have always argued that not only is this one of the best pop albums released in the 1980s, but is in fact one of the best pop albums ever recorded. It is full of infectious pop tunes and great pop guitar riffs. And of course, there’s Clare Grogan’s amazingly infectious “little-girl” vocals. Don’t be fooled by one of the worst album covers in the history of recorded music, this album is unexpectedly good all the way through.

The album as a whole moves from one great pop song to another, over and over again. Probably the only blip in the whole album is their cover of  Neil Diamond’s  ”Song Sung Blue”. While a lot of people prefer their first album “Happy Birthday”, which is much more post-punk in style, I’ve always been more impressed with Pink Blue’s singular vision of unashamed bubble-gum pop music. If you like 80s pop music, then Pinky Blue is an essential item in your music collection.

Here’s another single from the album: See Those Eyes:

Trivia: Bass player  Johnny McElhone later went on to form the band Texas with vocalist  Sharleen Spiteri.

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