London Shoes always likes a bit of the old ‘Then & Now’ – especially when it involves music related locations.
So the other day Shoes legged it over to the ‘Elephant & Castle’ in London SE1 – to seek out the location where the video for the massive 1982 UK no.1 hit….”Come on Eileen” by Kevin Rowland’s ‘Dexys Midnight Runners & the Emerald Express’.
This single was lifted from the Dexys 2nd album “Too-Rye-Ay” – and was also a no.1 hit is the US / Australia / New Zealand / Ireland / South Africa plus several European countries.
It won the British Best Single award at the 1983 Brits – and in 2015 it was voted the nations 6th favourite no.1’s of the 1980’s.
The video of the song was ranked 38th in the ‘100 Greatest Singles of All Time’.
It was filmed on the corner of Brook Drive and Hayles Street – just a couple of mins walk from the Elephant & Castle tube station.
In the ‘Come on Eileen’ video, Kevin Rowland’s Dexys crew, dressed in their denim gypsy type clobber – perform the song outside a corner shop and in its surrounding streets
Today – some 41 years later – the corner shop is no longer there – and it looks very much that the building is now a private residence – but the land mark is still in situ – as is the allotment area, that was only in its very early days, when the video was filmed.
So – for a but of a laugh, Shoes decided to do a few ‘Then & Now’ photos – with me doing the Dexys band leader Kevin Rowland’s role (ha ha ha).
When all that fun and games was over – Shoes ambled to the end of Hayles Street, and its junction with St. George’s Road – and popped into the ‘Prince of Wales’ pub for a couple of refreshing ‘cheeky’ Guinness’s – before heading off back home.
So -in conclusion, I guess all that can be said is:-
Poor old Johnnie Ray – Sounded sad upon the radio – Moved a million hearts in mono
Too-ra-loo-ra – Too-ra-loo-rye-ay…..and you’ll hum this tune forever
‘Come on Eileen’
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See below for the full gallery of photos supporting this ‘Come on Eileen – Then & Now’ blog
The 1982 single ‘Come on Eileen’ was lifted from the Dexys Midnight Runners 2nd album “Too-Rye-Ay” – and was also a no.1 hit is the US / Australia / New Zealand / Ireland / South Africa plus several European countries.
“THEN” – A ‘still’ from the 1982 ‘Come on Eileen’ video – outside the shop on the corner of Brook Drive and Hayley Street
“NOW” – The corner of Brook Drive and Hayley Street -London SW1 – the location of the 1982 video for Dexys Midnight Runners’ single ‘Come on Eileen’
“THEN” – Another ‘still’ from the 1982 ‘Come on Eileen’ video
“NOW” – Me – outside the location of the 1982 video of Dexys hit single ‘Come on Eileen’.
“NOW” – Another view of the once location for the ‘Come on Eileen’ video
“THEN” – 2 of the female members of ‘Dexys Midnight Runners-Emerald Express’ – wander down Hayles Street, as part of the 1982 ‘Come on Eileen’ video
“NOW” – Me – wandering down the same street – as it is today.
“THEN” – Kevin Rowland ‘Then’ – in a still from the 1982 video for Dexys ‘Come on Eileen’ hit single. The photo scene is the corner of Hayles Street and Lamlash Street
“NOW” – The corner of Hayles Street and Lamlash Street – ‘Now’.
“THEN” – Another still from the 1982 Come on Eileen video – on the corner of Hayley Street and Lamlash Street – with the street bollard in view.
“NOW” – Me – with the Hayley Street & Lamlash Street location – with the street bollard – as it is today
“THEN” – Kevin Rowland and his Dexys Midnight Runners-Emerald Express – posing in Lamlash Street
“NOW” -“NOW” – The same ‘pathway’ in Lamlash Street – the area has now converted into a very pleasant site of greenery & flowers
“NOW” – The same location in Lamlash Street – the area now converted into a very pleasant site of greenery & flowers
“THEN” – in their distinctive dungaree image – the band act out another scene from the 1982 ‘Come on Eileen’ video – down the side of the corner shop at the corner of Brook drive and Hayley Street – SE1
“NOW” – the same site as it is today – with ‘wheelie bins’ replacing the Dexys Emerald Express’
“THEN” – another still from the 1982 ‘Come on Eileen’ video – filmed outside the corner shop at the junction of Brook Drive and Hayley Street – London SE1
“NOW” – me – at the exact same location – some 41 years later.
The “Prince of Wales” pub on the corner of Hayley Street and St. Georges Road – right near to the Elephant & Castle tube station.
A nice chilled Guinness awaiting my attention in the ‘Prince of Wales’ pub – London SE1
Me – necking down a ‘cheeky’ little Guinness in the ‘Prince of Wales’ pub – St.George’s Road – Elephant & Castle SE1
Along with American Pie by Don McLean this was our cricket club favourite guaranteed to get the entire team in a group on the floor on disco nights singing and stamping
Watching that video, I was wondering why the main guy paused like a baseball pitcher. It is not a popular sport in the UK at any given time. So is it cricket that he is fooling around with in the video?
No – good guess though, but its none of those assumptions. The lead singer and band leader ‘Kevin Rowland’ is actually imitating an Irish/Gaelic dancing pose
regards
GEOFF (www.londonshoes.blog)
Fascinating Geoff , I love seeing the then and now shots
‘I swear , at this moment !
A dance floor filler that one , I bet we’ve all done moves to that one after a few bevvies !
“..vagabond type clobber..” 😲
From memory, that’s how most folk in the West Midlands dressed back then 😉
Confession: I wore the Geno hats, but hated dungarees with a passion! I was far too young and clever..
Nice one. Keep ‘em coming Geoff Clements
Thank you, I used to live off Brook Drive and it was so nice to see this!
Glad you enjoyed the read.
regards
GEOFF (www.londonshoes.blog)
Wow, I was guessing it was filmed in a small, dust-frosted coal mining town in Wales or somewhere like that. With my limited view of this world, that was the best guess based on my impression. It is very close to the middle of London in fact.
No – not a Welsh coal mining town – its filmed just off the ‘Elephant & Castle’ – an inner London area in South London – just 1:9 miles from Central London
regards
GEOFF (www’londonshoes.blog)
I recognised the Kennington streets from when I used to live there in the 60’s. Great idea to show the then and now..cheers