17 July 1982
I don’t get it. Was there a big ‘South Pacific’ revival that year? A Captain Sensible cargo cult? Or is it simply that the critical mass of ‘children’s record’ plus ‘stage musical record’ plus ‘novelty record’ overheated into a number one hit?
Obviously as a small child back then I was aware of ‘Happy Talk’ being pointed at me on kids’ TV, though without knowing that grown-ups had gone in big on it too. This is actually the first time I’ve listened to the whole record, and… it’s not as bad as I had feared. Captain and kids are all tolerable; no affectations or stage-school jazz hands. (I say that while deliberately steering clear of any TV clips of this from the time.)
I suppose anyone who had to play records in the vicinity of children, be it school musicals or birthday parties, may have bought this for their DJ set. As to why you would voluntarily listen to it in any other environment, I’m none the wiser.
