Makin Time — Here is my Number

JUL 01 1985 · 12:00

Makin Time — Here is my Number (1985) Director: Nigel Dick Era: Mid-1980s UK Mod Revival (1985) - Second-wave mod revival period; West Midlands indie bands operating on Stiff-distributed independent labels, bridging 1960s soul-pop aesthetics with post-punk energy in the pre-Britpop landscape. High. This video is a documented artefact at the intersection of two historically significant trajectories: the mid-1980s British mod revival's second phase, and the very early directorial career of Nigel Dick — who would become one of the most influential music video directors of the late 20th century. As a rare low-budget performance promo confirmed on IMVDb, it offers a precise counterpoint to Dick's later high-production work and provides primary visual evidence of the Countdown/Stiff mod revival scene's promotional output. The band's subsequent legacy (Martin Blunt/The Charlatans) adds further archival weight. Context: Released in 1985, 'Here Is My Number' is the debut single from Makin' Time, a West Midlands band signed to Countdown Records (distributed by Stiff Records) and central to the mid-1980s second wave of British mod revival. By this point the original late-1970s mod revival spearheaded by The Jam had subsided, but a cluster of bands — including Makin' Time, The Prisoners, and Secret Affair — sustained the subculture through small-label releases, all-dayer events, and fanzine culture. The single was produced by Pat Collier, notable for his work with Katrina and the Waves, signalling a conscious push for pop crossover that never materialised commercially. The video's director, Nigel Dick, was simultaneously among the most prolific emerging music video directors in the UK, having just completed the Band Aid promo, and would soon relocate to LA to co-found Propaganda Films — making this a rare early-career artefact from one of the medium's defining figures, shot in a modest performance style consistent with independent mod promotional material of the era. Director notes: Confirmed as director of the 'Here Is My Number' promo by IMVDb (https://imvdb.com/video/makin-time/here-is-my-number), with a listed release date of 1985. This video was made during the very early phase of Dick's directing career — the same year as Band Aid — while he was still operating from within the UK independent music infrastructure before relocating definitively to Los Angeles and co-founding Propaganda Films. The Makin' Time connection is likely facilitated by Dick's long-standing ties to Stiff Records, the distributor for Countdown Records (the band's label), where he had previously worked as press officer. The production reflects the modest budget typical of independent mod revival promos of the period: performance-driven, minimal effects, warm practical lighting, and a 4:3 broadcast-ready format.