What Ever Happened to Harold Smith?

70s Nostalgiacs Applaud!
by: peter naldrett

Following the success of The Full Monty, it was only a matter of time before another British movie was set in Sheffield. Starring Stephen Fry and Tom Courtenay, Whatever Happened To Harold Smith? has not been as well received by the critics, but it does come with a soundtrack that is a must for anybody with more than a hint of 70s nostalgia in their bodies.

The action takes place in 1977 when disco-obsessed Vince Smith falls in love with exotic punk Joanna, and the soundtrack does well to reflect this backdrop. Kicking off with disco classics "Night Fever" by The Bee Gees and "Boogie Nights" by Heatwave, there are plenty of tracks to prance around in your old flares to.

And then, half way through the album, there is a sudden change of mood, switching to punk with The Buzzcocks, "Anarchy In The UK" by the Sex Pistols and offerings from The Clash and The Stranglers. If there was ever an album of two halves, then this is it, the first half wearing white suits and sequins and the second half dyeing its hair pink and having its nose pierced.

For a period not exactly renowned for its musical excellence, the soundtrack to Whatever Happened To Harold Smith? adequately singles out both the punk and disco eras that were hip in 1977. For those who lived through it, the soundtrack is a double-edged walk down Memory Lane and for those born after the Sex Pistols, now could be the time to do some catching up.