Showing posts with label 1983. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 1983. Show all posts
Friday, November 3, 2017
Saturday, October 21, 2017
Re-Flex - Politics Of Dancing - 1983
Anyway, I plotted my remaining albums that I've finished, as well as getting in all of the material that I want to post before I quit. If I could stay on schedule, I'd be posting until next JUNE. Fuck that, sorry. So, it's a toss up between just disappearing altogether, or just posting here and there, when I have time and desire to do so. We will see. Again, just enjoy what gets posted until I pull the plug.
Tuesday, April 4, 2017
Styx - Kilroy Was Here - 1983
This album is cheezy, it is trendy, it is dated, it is melodramatic. But, it is great. This brings back memories of third grade all over again. Kids running around the playground during recess, pretending to be robots screaming Mr Roboto. I got a copy of it as a kid from a friend who taped it off his dad's vinyl. That, along with M's Pop Musik. Holy Cow, did I play that thing.
But, the fact that it appealed to a third grader should tell you that the album itself really didn't have a lot to offer to a honed musical ear. I know, after years of listening and reading up on other reviews and whatnot, that this album really was Styx at it's low end. Although it sold a bunch of albums, the "Rock Opera" approach that DeYoung wished to pursue was not favored by the rest of the band. To me, looking at their career and musical output, I think DeYoung had gone a little loopy and HE is the one that broke up the band. Yeah, he's got a good voice, but DUDE! LOOK AT WHAT YOU DID!!!
The only thing to add to this disc is the two Japanese mixes of Mr Roboto. But, I really did a number on that logo, didn't I?
Saturday, April 1, 2017
Wang Chung - Points On the Curve - 1983
As a kid, though, that sound didn't really appeal to me, yet, as I was still stuck on Break My Stride and Thriller pop trappings. It took Mosaic before I recognized their true talent, and vinyl hunting in the 90s to grab it all and enjoy their work as a mature music aficionado. ALL of their albums have a strong and stable foundation in classic songwriting with enough pop flare to win me over. Their singles are obvious success points of the album, but the rest of the tracks are still solid enough to encourage repeat play. Even the b-sides. Ornamental Elephant is definitely intriguing.
This cover took me almost two hours to make as I had to go back and correct almost every line. To a point I just gave up to it as there was really no way to repair all of the imperfections. It's harder to do covers like this with geometric shapes and lines, as the flaws stick out like pimples on a forehead. With paintings, or photos or abstracts without geometrics, you can remove JPEG artifacts and smudge and blend and blur. You could even use your clone tool. Not this, you have to correct down to the pixel level, otherwise you can see the error. And it isn't even that pretty.
Sorry about missing my post last night. Went to a concert with my son called Winter Jam 2017. Although it really isn't my sort of music, I actually enjoyed myself, and I'm glad I was able to spend time with my oldest boy. He's a great kid...
Friday, March 24, 2017
Thompson Twins - Quick Step & Side Kick - 1983
Mother in law in town... Barely have a moment to even type this. Have a great night!
Saturday, March 11, 2017
OMD - Live In Glasgow - 1983
A great soundboard recording, I think it might be an FM broadcast, but I could be wrong. The show is an awesome set, with one exception. The guys cannot single Souvenir properly, live. It's really freekin' bad on this one. I think that it's definitely a studio track only sort of thing. It sounds like shit.
As for the cover, I did a little research on the title of the album, the artist, his inspiration and work produced by other artists also inspired. I highly suggest you find out what a "dazzle ship" is, if you don't already know. It's very interesting. And this cover is also the work of one artist inspired by the "dazzle ships". Check it out....
One fabulous night of shows left. Don't miss it!
Monday, November 7, 2016
Police - Synchronicity Live - 1983
I can't tell if this an excellent audience recording or a mediocre soundboard recording, I can't tell. But it really gives you the feeling of being there in the crowd and experiencing a great show. I own the DVD of one of the shows from this tour, and although it sounds great, their stage show was a little lacking, but maybe that's due to being a recording rather than being there. I think I would want Sting to be wearing his Mad Max coat, too.
I know not everyone likes live recordings, but I think any good fan of any group should have at least one high quality live recording of every tour for their favorite groups. Not every fucking show, just one for each tour. It gives you the ability to capture their humanity and talent, as you can fake anything in the studio. It's nice to hear them actually working, too. Every show I go to I am impressed by the effort that each and every performer puts into their show, just to make it real for their fans. (Except for Morrissey. I love his music and he sounds pretty good live, but I don't think there's much effort there and I don't think he respects his fans much.)
This show has a lot of great songs, but at 13 tracks it seems a little short. They also cut out all of the banter, false starts and the little extras that make live performances so special. This leads me to believe it must be an edited radio show recording... Don't know.
Doesn't matter, it kicks ass. So does Sting... He the fucking bomb.
Thursday, October 13, 2016
The Fixx - Reach the Beach - 1983
Anyway, I feel a little better.
I remember the singles from this album back in the 80s intermixed with all the other 80s songs I remember. Pretty good, but nothing I was going to get worked up about. Then, in 1997, an employee of mine when I was managing restaurants, suggested I listen to the entire album as it was wonderful. (Before I could do that, though, he got fired for pinching a female co-worker's nipple with his chef's tongs.) I finally got around to listening to it in mid-2004, and I remember being thoroughly impressed. This one would again fit in with my "pleasantly surprised" category. I'd almost call it something in between New Wave and Prog/Classic Rock. A unique and attractive sound.
The singles are great, and the b-sides (as some of you may remember) were difficult to find. The mixes are great, and I love the original cover, so I didn't change it much. I just messed with the font a bit, and gave it some depth...
Anyway, I'm going to go try and relax with the fam, as work SUCKED DICK today, and I need a fucking break from idiocy.
Tuesday, October 11, 2016
Huey Lewis & the News - Sports - 1983
One that didn't make me nervous, wondering what to do. One that made me feel like I felt when I was with my right hand, all alone....
Falling into that category with Bryan Adams and John Cougar Mellancamp, Huey was your standard rock, avoiding the pratfalls of New Wave or Synthpop. They gave us solid tunes that although somewhat dated, can still be played with confidence today without getting weird looks. You know what I mean.
Imagine, me being 14 with nothing more than a boombox playing Business As Usual, Thriller, Seven & the Ragged Tiger and THIS album, Sports, over and over and over and over and over. Yeah, I got fucking sick of it, but that was my musical library (aside from a handful of 7-inch 45s). But, it still hits my top 100 albums of my own life.
Too bad they didn't include more of his tracks on the Duets Soundtrack... That may be one of the soundtracks I post in January, I'm not sure.
Found a couple mixes, which is good, plus a couple sessions. The cover was a classic, so I didn't want to fuck with a masterpiece. It's times like this I wish I had a way to 3D scan/print vinyl, as that would be the best way to appreciate this one....
Too bad that they only lasted one more album before they turned to shit. I'll post Fore! and Picture This, their only other good albums later. Just enjoy this one now...
Wednesday, September 28, 2016
New Order - Power Corruption & Lies - 1983
To me, this was New Order as professional, mature artists. I thought this, having only started listening to NO with Substance, and reflecting back on the material they had already released. I thought it was very well written, tame and un-risky. Little did I know. Now, looking back, I still see this album as an artistic example of professionalism and maturity, but I also see this album setting a gold standard for bands before and after to be measured by. Every track is a classic Post Punk song.
Surprisingly, this is not my favorite NO album, though. I still see Technique as their BEST album. But, this one comes in... I think third? Not bad, considering.
I did what was right and had to be done by squeezing Confusion, Thieves Like Us and Lonesome Tonight on here, as it's almost a requirement. This is where those songs belong. Maybe, one day, I'll make a remix disc for this one.
One reason why I am not a huge fan of this album centers on Blue Monday. YES, I respect the fact that most Techno, House and Electronica are influenced by it. Yes, it was the #1 selling 12-single for many years. Yes, it is a great song. BUT, it is by far the most overplayed and worn out New Order song in existance (followed closely by Bizarre Love Triangle.) I have heard Blue Monday played SO MANY times, I would choke someone if I hear it again.
Sunday, September 18, 2016
Kajagoogoo - White Feathers - B-Sides & Remixes - 1983
Maybe it's just me, though. Maybe, I see the album as something to be expected, while the b-sides and mixes are those little extra gems that you have to work for, search for, more rewarding to find. This isn't just the case with Kaja, here. I think I feel this way about almost every and any artist. You don't know how disappointed I am when I pick up a single or go to download a new single, and there isn't a remix or a non-album b-side included. KISS has sold a billion albums, but I don't think they have a single b-side that isn't already on an album. Bullshit. What sucks, too, is now that artists are releasing digital singles, it's generally just the one track, that's it. Now that REALLY pisses me off.
I digress, but it's because I didn't have a whole lot to say about this one. I like it, it's fun, and it was some extra tunes to mix into my playlist in my bedroom late at night doing my homework. The rest of their material was marginal compared to this, and even this one can barely stand on it's own. But, this little disc will roll in and complete your White Feathers set just nice. It includes that lovely Dodi fanmix that is great, and I had a hell of a time trying to make that logo on the cover look dynamic enough. I may have pulled it off, though...
SO, what are the words? Are they
You're too shy. hush hush, shy you are..
or are they
You're too shy. sh - sh - shy you are...
What are they?
Thursday, August 25, 2016
Depeche Mode - Construction Time Again - 1983
My senior year in High School and I was in love with Music For the Masses, and Violator hadn't been released yet. I remember getting this album on cassette from the used section in at the music store. At that time I was infatuated with a girl named Crystal, and she loved this album, so therefore I had to love the album too. I never told her I had a crush on her, as she was in a different social class than I was, and already had a boyfriend. But, we were friends and shared a love of Depeche Mode.
I'm honestly not that in love with the album. I hate Pipeline and Work Hard, and the rest of the album is alright. Of course, with Get the Balance and Everything Counts, though, you are dealing with two of DM's BEST songs ever. In fact, I would put Everything Counts in their top ten songs, and Get the Balance in the top twenty.
As the tracks are concerned, you can see I've added Get the Balance even though it wasn't an album track. It came out the same year, and fits in perfectly with the album's sound. The remix disc has several fan mixes that fit my strict criteria, as well as a perfect Dreamtime Mix.
The cover of the album is actually a desktop wallpaper from a DM fan named ID Alizes from Devian Tart (devientart.com) It is beautiful and works perfectly as an album cover. I've been waiting to use this one specifically. He's got a bunch, so you may want to go to deviant art and check him out.
Wednesday, August 24, 2016
The Cure - Japanese Whispers - Extended Edition - 1983
There's nothing worse than getting a "album" and finding out that it's only 28 minutes long, it's a collection of previously released singles, and not all of the materiel from those singles was included. I mean, this is BARELY an EP in it's original form. There were no new tracks, not all of the b-sides were included, and none of the remixes were included.
Well, I fixed that. NOW, you have all the singles, all the b-sides, all the remixes, a previously unreleased song, and even a remix by Dreamtime. I've more than doubled the amount of materiel on the disc! NOW it's an album/compilation worth having.
I find this time in Robert's life to be the most innovative time of his career. He pulled away from his Punk/Gothic sound, and truly became Post Punk. This is about the time when the make-up started showing up as well. He broke the formulas of song-writing that he'd previously been using and started writing music that was not only all over the spectrum, but also pushed the experimental boundaries of what was considered "masculine" music. He wrote music that was true to himself and no other. And no better way than by himself, as that was what most of this album was. I think at most the band was a three-piece.
Every song on here is a classic Cure track. I like all of them except for Speak My Language and Lovecats. Yeah, I said it. I don't care for Lovecats. Is that wrong? Dreamtime's mix of The Walk is superb, as always. The flexi-pop of LaMent is terrific, and I really can't tell the difference between the Lovecats remix and the original mix. Maybe I'm missing something....
Have fun with this one, and I'll see you tomorrow with another great album...
Saturday, August 20, 2016
Simple Minds - Up On the Catwalk - Sparkle In the Rain Mixes - 1983
Years later, as the internet exploded and music became a nearly free commodity, I started listening to a lot more bands that I hadn't previously, like SM.
With an affinity for Once Upon A Time, I was naturally drawn to the sound of Sparkle In the Rain. A beautiful album that I feel is what brought the band to the attention of the mainstream music market. My absolute favorite was Up On the Catwalk. The keyboard measures in the chorus are my favorite part. I sometimes have to bust out my air keyboard and play along.
This mix disc collects most if not all of the official commercial releases of remixes. It also collects most of the Dreamtime mixes from the album, too. The Dreamtime mixes, IMO, are really lightyears better than the official mixes. He used parts of all the versions of the tracks and made some really great extended versions. Another great road-trip disc.
Tuesday, July 26, 2016
Orchestral Manoeuvres In the Dark - The Extended Versions - 1979-88
It's hard to say which disc I prefer, as I have favorites on both of them. Regardless, it's a good set, and playing through a 2-disc set doesn't take long. Favorite tracks would include Never Turn Away, So In Love,
Messages, Souvenir, and of course the Martin Hannett mix of Electricity.
I've said before that I don't care for greatest hits collections. I don't. But, when it comes to OMD, and Art of Noise, a lot of times, that's the only way you can listen to them. Don't know why. But, as far as albums go, neither of them can really pull together a cohesive group of songs that I can like. I guess I'm too picky.
Anyway, I thought the font and cover graphic was fitting for this collection. I hadn't made the cover for myself before, but once I got these two, I printed them off. Looks good on my CD wall.
Sunday, July 17, 2016
A Flock Of Seagulls - Listen - 1983
Their music was great, and the hairdos were wild, but that guy with those fucked up glasses... Geez, dude, pick some better frames. Where I come from, glasses like that are called BC Glasses, or Birth Control Glasses. Because, if you were ever wearing glasses like that, you weren't getting laid by anyone.
There's really not a whole lot to say about this album. It was the Seagulls second album, and it had three singles, including Wishing. I liked this album better than their first one, because it sounded more confident and self-assured. Their first album was really wild and raw, like they were throwing themselves out there to make a statement or impact or something. This one wasn't like that at all. It was simply about making good music.
I have all the album tracks and b-sides, but no remixes. That will probably be a separate disc...
Friday, July 15, 2016
The Glove - Blue Sunshine - 1983
As I grew ever more and more fond of the Cure in the late 80s and early 90s, I started to accumulate as much material as I could lay my hands on. I didn't find The Glove until 1992, and even then it was only on cassette. I hate to say it, but I thought it sucked. Sucked HARD. The two Robert songs were great, but I couldn't stand their vocalist. Still to this day she really turns me off.
So, when they released the deluxe set with the RS Demos on the bonus disc, I was ecstatic. Overjoyed. Thrilled. I listened to it like it was a lost Cure album. Well, essentially, that's what it was, to be honest. Yeah, Severin was good in his own right, but IMO, nothing compares to Fat Bob. If that makes some Banshee lovers out there mad, I'm unapologetic about it.
In a comparison side-by-side playing of the original album, and the RS vocal album, it's surprising how different they sound. It's amazing what a difference can be made just by switching up the vocalists.
So, on my version, I kept all the Smith vocal tracks. I cut out all the original release tracks and remixes. I left the b-sides, and anything on which Robert sang. I used a single sleeve as the cover, and here you have a beautiful "New Wave" looking album with all of the goodness, and none of the bad.
I wish I could've been Robert, he was so cool back then. Now, though, eew! Sorry, Bob, but you is fat and scary looking. You look like Aughra from the Dark Crystal. Time to retire. It's best to have burnt out than to fade away...
Friday, June 10, 2016
Ministry - With Sympathy - 1983
Mind you, as time went on and I learned to love Industrial Music and I watched Ministry rise to the top every time, I loved the Industrial Ministry as well, but in a different way. Synthpop Ministry is something different and will always hold a special place in my heart. Especially Halloween.
All of the songs are pretty good, the singles of course are spot on, but my favorites are I Wanted To Tell Her and What He Say. They're all pretty dancy, and they'll keep you humming, quite memorable. I never cared for the album cover, though, so I chose one of the single sleeves. These scans of older albums are nostalgic for me, so I sometimes enjoy leaving the wrinkles and tears and discoloration at times. There's nothing like seeing that old vinyl wear ring on a 45 picture sleeve.
I wonder if Al would ever consider re-releasing this album in an Industrial Metal style like his later work? Would it be any good? One will never know...
Friday, June 3, 2016
All Cats Are Grey - Nothing Ever Changes - 1983
I downloaded them from Mutant Sounds back in 2008 with the two covers and a line or two on what it sounded like. Yes, a heavily Cure-inspired band that is interesting to listen to. Yes, they try to hard to be Robert. And Yes, there isn't any other information available. I scoured the internet and even Discogs has very minimal information. In fact, nothing more than you'd find on the cassette liners.
Well, I'll tell you this. The first four songs were recorded in 1981, and the rest of them in 1983. They are from the UK, and Discogs lists the members names. The song A Forest was supposedly recorded live? I don't know. But that is it. If anyone else can find some more info, I'm sure
But, as always, the covers were for shit. Both of them. Look at them! Come on! So, I picked a nice little stock pic from the web, threw a nice font logo on it, and there you have it.
Now you can say you have a COMPLETE COLLECTION of material from All Cats Are Grey. You are going to be the talk of your neighborhood, now.
Thursday, May 26, 2016
Duran Duran - Seven & the Ragged Tiger - More Mixes - 1983
Obviously, my favorite Duran2 album is 7&tRT. It's followed quickly by Arcadia and Big Thing, but those are for later posts. As I said in my first remix disc for this album, New Moon on Monday was the tune that sucked me in for good. I love this album, always will.
These discs contain not only the official remixes from the singles, but also fan-made remixes that rival the originals. You've got McDoc Evo-XR, Ianroystone, Catbirdman and TMT, all remixers just as good as the rest. I know that there are countless fan mixes out there, but I like to stick with the mixes that are period. They have to sound like they were done in the same period as the originals. No modern effects, no techno beats, no obvious darkwave synth or none of that. The mixes have to sound like the boys made it. These all fit the bill.
The fun part was making the covers. The first disc is from the Video Laser Disc. I swapped out the video graphics on the back (the originals were from Rio, Planet Earth and HLtW, I think), I cleaned up the colors, and tried my damnedest to match fonts. The second disc is obviously the Union of the Snake picture sleeve with a promo shot of the band substituted in, then everything recolored, matched fonts again, and there you have it.
Now, all I have left to do is post the original album.... Question, though. Does "Is There Something I Should Know?" belong with the Rio album, or would it be part of the S&tRT album? Where does that one lonely song go????????????
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