Groovy Instrumentals For The Hip At Heart - An Instrumental 80's Mixtape ,1980-1986

 

This mixtape was made and given to me by an artist/teacher friend of mine ,Leo Johnson,back in 1986.Nostalgic harpings for the past,and memories of that which once was,will all come rushing back in this fantastic compilation.This is all straight from Leo's extensive vinyl collection.Every closet,crevice and hidden free space was filled to the brim with records of all types.He frequently made overseas trips ,and would always bring back a vinyl haul.THERE ARE NO VOCALS ON THESE SONGS,THEY ARE ALL INSTRUMENTALS!Goes to show,you don't need vocals ,to create feelings or moods,this has a total feeling of the times in which it was recorded.Also this tape is 32 years of age,so it may have sound issues,but nothing that will distract you from deriving pleasure from it.In any case I will now do you the service of walking thru this listening experience,either for or with you,so without further ado:

1.Matt Johnson-"Red Cinders In The Sand" - 1981 -4AD ,as a solo album under his own name ,re-released in 1993 as The The -"Burning Blue Soul",also on 4AD. The song is sparse and tribal,lots of drum sounds definitely off to a weird start.The exact same recording,full LP was retitled as "The The",and re-released in 1993,maybe it was 10 years ahead of it's time on the first go-round?,You tell me.
2.Dif Juz - "re" -1981 -4AD -from the "Huremics" e.p. .There are a couple more cuts but not the complete four tracks from this obtuse instrumental band,with weird 2 letter titles,on this compilation ,and I will refer back to this track number (2) in further listings of this band.This track reminds me of early PIL music,the dreamy,bassy sound,and also any number of other alt bands,Flamin Groovies,maybe,Gang Of Four? No I hear PIL on this here track,what says you?
3.Chris And Cosey - "Heartbeat" -1981 -Rough Trade ,Title track from their first LP "Heartbeat",very electronic,maybe even video-gamey,dance music for robots,still sounds dated and futuristic at the same time,almost early Human League-ish.Much different than their previous band,Throbbing Gristle.
4.Zerra 1 - "Saoirse I Do Cheann"1984 - Mercury Records - from the "Ten Thousand Voices/Message From The Peoples" 12" single ,an Irish band the song title translates in english to ,"Freedom In Your Head",and has an electronic tribal/jungle drum beat,and a panflute hook that is reminiscent of the theme from "Mission Impossible".Kinda ambient in your head stuff.
5.The Monochrome Set - "Andiamo" -1984 -Blanco Y Negro ,from the "Jacob's Ladder" 12" single,B-side.This is a rather surfy one,with tropical steel guitar zooming in and out,a poppy beat,and a beachy feel.They are featured a few more times on this mixtape,stay tuned.
6.The Smiths - "Oscillate Wildly" - 1985 - Rough Trade ,B side to the "Headmaster Ritual" 12" single ,pretty much a piano-driven instrumental ,with Johnny Marr's ,dreamy ,jangly chords,and a cello,along with the Smiths rhythm section ,no Morrisey to whine on this here one,but I'd like to hear what he would've spit on that!
7.Love And Rockets - "Saudade" -1985 -Beggars Banquet ,last track from their debut LP,"Seventh Dream Of Teenage Heaven",starts out with the same chordage as "Here Comes The Sun",by the Beatles,and a beat like a boat slapping against a dock,until it eventually morphs into movie soundtrack madness.Very atmospheric,and you hardly notice the shift ,til' after it's happened.
8.New Order - "Thieves Like Us" - 1984 -Factory , title track from a 12" single ,this song is heard on the soundtrack to "Pretty In Pink" as well.Sounds cool enough for the 80's ,effected guitars,keyboard riffs,bells,slap-bass,electronic drums,synthy as hell! I will refer back to this track number,when they pop back up again later in this tape.
9.Cocteau Twins - "Rococo" -1984 - 4AD - from the "Aikea Guinea" 12" single ,sounds mellow ,acoustic guitar with electronic keys/drum ,accompaniment,until the guitar and the drums/bass kick in for a tour de force,grungey sounding riff,not so far removed from stuff that came 10 years later out of Seattle.Kinda repetitive,but definitely time traveling in your mind.
10.The Monochrome Set -  "March Of The Eligible Bachelors" -1982-  Cherry Red,from the "Eligible Bachelors" LP,this one has a spacey ,theremin-like, keyboard,jangly guitar riff like REM or the Feelies,a surfy beat and bouncy bass,almost has a western desert feel with the guitar twang,and ends with the sound of an angry crowd.
11.The Pogues - "Wildcats of Kilkenny" - 1985- Stiff Records,from their 2nd LP,"Rum Sodomy,and The Lash" ,this one starts with the sound of cats ,and surfy/jangly 80's guitars,and a tribal beat,some pipes,pipe in,about halfway thru,almost doing the commercial jingle for "Irish Spring" soap,and picked mandolins,guitars,bassline,more cat screeches,definitely a very busy track,lively and jig-worthy!
12.The Smiths - "The Draize Train" -1986 - Rough Trade,from the B-side of the "Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others"12" single,also had "Frankly,Mr. Shankly" ,this is as close to disco as the Smiths ever got ,with a disco bass/drums/keyboard combo,Johnny Marr with his signature chordage,and some solos reminiscent of "rock" bands,weird track from them,definitely sounds like something from a film soundtrack.
13.The Monochrome Set - "Yo Ho Ho and Three Bottles Of Rum" - 1984 -Blanco Y Negro - from the "Jacob's Ladder" 12" single ,this is a dreamy slow surfy number,brings back that 80's feeling,it's just of it's time,although I can definitely hear the lineage from 60's surf instrumentals thru their filter.Nice and soft.
14.Dif Juz - "hu" - 1981 - 4AD -,from the "Huremics" 12" (see track 2),this one starts out with some sort of muffled loudspeaker announcement ,and then dives right into a driving riff,plodding bass line,urgent drums,and a one-note solo.cool.
15.New Order - "Murder" -1984 -Factory ,from the "Thieves Like Us" 12" single (see track 8),this one has a repetitive guitar line,a heavy bass,a driving beat ,and some weird sample of a guy yelling in the middle that drifts into an almost ghostly drifting ,far-off,underwater voice,not vocals,but musical sounds,and more of some guy talking throughout,still an instrumental,with samples.
16.Phil Manzanera - "Lagrima" - 1986 -EG Records ,from the "Guitarissimo" LP,this is spanish guitar sound,with a clavinet? perhaps,so ,sounds like something from a western movie,you can almost feel the dust in the air as you tip your cowboy hat back ,and draw your pistol.Very unlike his work in Roxy Music in the 70's.Very moody
17.Bow Wow Wow - "Orang Outang" - 1981 -RCA -from the B-side of the "Mickey,Put It Down" 12" single ,very surfy guitars,almost spanish,twangy,and western,all at once.The standard Bow Wow Wow rhythm section work,and no Annabella Lwin ,to make my dreams come true!
18.Simple Minds - "Film Theme Dub" - 1980 -Arista ,from the "I Travel" 7" single,long before the "Breakfast Club",and "Don't You (Forget About Me)" ,"Alive And Kicking" ,these guys were experimenting with their sound,trying to find their way.This is slow paced and atmospheric,and lives up to it's title.Reminds me of some demented Alice Cooper riff ,from "Welcome To My Nightmare".
19.Chris and Cosey - "Just Like Us" - 1981 - Rough Trade ,from their debut LP ,"Heartbeat" ,this one again reminds me of early Human League,has vocal samples throughout,like Throbbing Gristle without all the industrial flairs.Electronic madness.
20.Dif Juz - "cs" - 1981 -4AD -from the "Huremics" 12" single (see track 2),this one sounds like a mellower Gang Of Four,kinda militaristic,marchy,jangly,Weird voice samples,somebody says something at the endI think this band is pretty great!
21.The Monochrome Set - "Puerto Rican Fence Climber" - 1980 - Dindisc/Virgin ,this one ,from their "Strange Boutique" LP ,is a classic piece of 80's nostalgia.A great jangly band.Surf elements are again present,lots of bands that followed ,owe them a debt of gratitude.Great middle-eastern style surf breakdown solo in the middle.
22.Tones On Tail - "Instrumental" - 1982 -4AD - from their debut 12"ep,this is an atmospheric one,with orchestration and the standard 80's jangly guitar line,a walking bass line,keys,almost Bowie-like acoustic guitar breakdown in the middle bridge.
23.Human League - "Gordon's Gin" - 1981 - Virgin -from their 2nd LP ,"Travelogue" ,this is classic Human League sound,mid-era,before the girls,and the MTV,they finally showed up on this mixtape after me comparing other bands to them,I think now you can see that my comparisons were correct!I pretty much love all the early Human League stuff,I think it's swell,still futuristic ,to me,I imagine people of the future ,in outer space,will listen to this sort of thing.
24.Cabaret Voltaire - "Sluggin' Fer Jesus" - 1981 -Rough Trade ,from their "3 Crepuscle Tracks" 12" single ,this is an edited version of the track,has voice samples of a guy on a loudspeaker,a sequencer keeping the beat,and subtle nuances of keyboards and synths.A nice way to end this tape ,as it began,strangely!
CLICK HERE:
https://archive.org/download/GroovyInstrumentalsForTheHipAtHeart-AnInstrumental80sMixtape/GroovyInstrumentalsForTheHipAtHeart-an80sInstrumentalMixtape.zip

SECRET SOCIETY - Too Blind To See

A new-wave ,alt-dance band ,classified as "free-style" in 1987 Miami. Sounding (and looking) much like Duran Duran ,The Cure ,and Depeche Mode ,combined ,with a few other influences thrown in the mix. I gotta say ,the last number ,the stupidly titled instrumental ,"69" ,sounds almost note-for-note like George Michael and Wham's hit ,"Careless Whispers". Apparently people raved about this cuban/latino group ,back then. Pretty fucking derivative ,if you're asking me. Memories of 80's teen flick soundtracks will fill your cranium! The album looks more goth than it actually is.
CLICK HERE:http://azrowear.net/download/571/SECRET_SOCIETY_-_Too_Blind_To_See.zip.html

BLONDIE - Punk Goddess - Live,Interviews,Rare,Demos

Hey,I found this tape,in a box load of unlabled tapes,and I probably recorded it off the radio in the early 80's. I don't think you'll find this anywhere else! I kept the recording intact ,as one track ,which runs almost a half-hour. It sounds like the ,"Eat To The Beat" tour,and they do some songs you may not have heard before. I also included a file of early demos ,and a slideshow of 100 of my favorite images of Debbie Harry! Some nude shots from different eras,and a bunch of sexy photos. The pic I used above,is nowhere on the web,until now. It came from an old ,"KISS" ,fan magazine ,Peter Criss is on the back of Debbie! It's my favorite photo of her ,I've had it since the late 70's! Just the epitome of a punk girl! Well,enjoy this boot,and the pics!
CLICK HERE: http://www.mediafire.com/?frn364ac7i3kw42

STRYKER - Ride The Lightning

This is an extremely rare collection of,demos,out-takes ,and unreleased stuff ,from my high school chum's band ,Stryker. I know many people out there are looking for more of this classic mid-80's hard rock/heavy metal band. This is after the album was released,and Steve and Sarah were living on the fish farm.Sarah sings in her Pat Benatar/Lita Ford style, Steve does some vocals,and he brought in another singer,I think his name was Mark? He sounds like Rob Halford of Judas Priest fame,and the music is of the same mold.There is some humor ("Frogheads",about old folks) ,an Alice Cooper chestnut, some instrumentals,and a few songs that almost resemble Rush! "The Last Free Man" ,is close to sounding similar to Rush's "Tom Sawyer",and "Spirit" ,is also in that realm.This is the only copy of these recordings,and on my posting of their only album , I included 10 more unreleased tracks,in case you didn't notice, (get it here :http://www.mediafire.com/?nndtl2igtgz) ,which are in line with what we have here.Last I heard ,Steve was composing music for various video games. I'd like him to contact me ,and maybe I can get some more Stryker stuff from him! Thanks ,Steve and Sarah ,for all the tunes,and all the good times!If you are at all into any metal , this will get your blood pumping!
CLICK HERE:
http://www.mediafire.com/?5dhr6fix17nqd1r

THE BLASTERS - Blue Shadows (From the Streets Of Fire S/T)

Neo-50's style, 80's rock n' roll,an original by Dave Alvin,and no mention of them anywhere on the 7" sleeve(not on back either),when this tune is obviously better than the crappy top ten hit on the flip,or what I refer to as the B-side of this record! I did not include the Dan Hartman fartfest,as The Blasters deserve much better! At least the film had a redeeming quality,as Lee Ving of Fear,had a fairly major role,playing a biker gang member.
CLICK HERE:
https://archive.org/download/TheBlasters-BlueShadowsfromTheStreetsOfFireSt/762TheBlasters.zip

McRACKINS -Life,Hey Mikey 7" single

To finish off my Easter set,I give you this single from Canada's ,Mcrackins.The a side is an original,but the b side has Cheap Trick's ,"Surrender" ,and Patty Smyth and Scandal's 80's hit ,"The Warrior".Not very Eastery,except for the fact that they dress up like cracked eggs (and dogs?!)
CLICK HERE:
http://www.mediafire.com/?ajdim0o5x67u2zj

SACKTAP - Stupid Is Born Every Second

One of the dumbest bands of all time!  ,there is much to redeem this,their second LP.(The first one, self-titled,is available on this here blog,somewhweres).You have some poetry readings,some of their trademark Jazz/scat numbers,some more episodes of The Bob and Jerry show,parodies of 70's/80's TV commercials,crazy instrumentals that will trip you out (wear headphones!),a drum solo with a fat guy snoring on top of it,and covers of : The Misfits (Brian "Snax" Siders (R.I.P.) on drums and back-up vocals),Motorhead, 7 Seconds, and Black Flag! There are also some terrible songs,that are some of the worst pieces of shit you may ever hear.Or not!Total Tardcore madness!Fuckin'dumb!

CLICK HERE: https://archive.org/download/Sacktap-StupidIsBornEverySecond/744Sacktap-StupidIsBornEverySecond.zip 

THE GRUNGY DUNGAREES -Working At The Black Label Brewery

The lost tape has been found! A former member of a band called,"Restaurant Sinks",from the 80's,in WA.,sent in the original tape,with a ton of great photos of Grungy Dungarees.The title comes ,apparently,from some of the band members working at the Black Label Brewery,in WA(also some photos of this place). The term ,"grunge",was appropriated from their name ,to designate the new scene.Altho' this was recorded in 1989,just before any grunge bands made it big.The band,members of which later went onto big fame,once again use fake monikers,totally different from the second album.This is a historical piece,and I wish to extend my deepest gratitude to Andy Sordid,for sending this treasure of a relic!Without him,no one would ever have heard this tape,as only a few copies were duped by band members,for close friends,with the stipulation,that it would not make it to the ears of the public.Internet searches turn up nothing on this band.Truly groundbreaking sounds,as Joe Walsh and The Stooges,are covered,along with swell originals.Culled from several recording sessions,at Jack Joe's Studio,in WA.
CLICK HERE: https://archive.org/download/TheGrungyDungarees-workingAtTheBlackLabelBrewery/584TheGrungyDungarees-WorkingAtTheBlackLabelBrewery.zip

THE PANICS-Push The Button

A seminal Ft. Myers punk band,from the start,in 1980.The singer,Spencer ,was a substitute teacher at Ft. Myers High,and later moved to CA to form The Mutts (more on that on a later posting).The drummer,Jim Becker,is a local news caster.Jason Slaughter,on guitar,financed the whole thing,with his riches.Their only LP,after a few singles,this has great songs like,"Test..Test", "Kill It Before It Multiplies", "Feel For Pop",and more.Kinda 60's garage meets 80's punk/new wave.Good friends of Leo Johnson,from whom I learned of them.I used to hang with my friend's band,Nightwing,in high school,and once they were recording in the studio next to the Panics,and kept teasing them,calling them "The Pancakes"(which is actually a good band name,me thinks!)and taunting them for not playing hard rock.Recorded partially at Soundcheck studios in Ft,Myers.This rules,and is a piece of Ft.Myers punk history,as well.
CLICK HERE: https://archive.org/download/ThePanics-PushTheButton/538ThePanics-pushTheButton.zip

ONE EYE OPEN - Boobs (the incomplete set)

This came out in 1996,on Too Many Records,out of Spokane,WA.The band I think,was from maybe Gilman St. scene,or just Bay area,CA.It consists of covers of TV themes and commercials from the 70's-80's.Pretty cool,and Fred has been on me to post this,cuz he can't find it nowhere.So here's to Fred!
CLICK HERE:
https://archive.org/download/464OneEyeOpenBoobs/%5B464%5D%20one%20eye%20open-boobs.zip

MICHAEL ALTON GRIFFIN-excerpts from the chip davis archives

this solo artist is heavily into orgonomics,and power electronics.some of this reminds me of 80's synth and new wave,mostly cabaret voltaire and d.a.f.,but i hear other influences as well.some spoken parts,guy gentry guests on guitar on one track,jimmy cochrane on keys on another track,very intriguing and nostalgic,reminds me of the 80's,waiting around some downtown area anywhere in florida,for the club to open for the punk show we were going to see.mike wrote some notes to this ,in the zip file.i have a tape of a few of his bands,schmutzigmuzik,vitreous humor,and gutbucket,that i will post at another time,none of which sound anything like this.very futuristic and spacey,yet old wave/new wave,the 80's is the decade that's repeating now,right?,so this is kinda topical!very enjoyable listen.

CLICK HERE:  https://archive.org/download/MichaelAltonGriffin-excerptsFromTheChipDavisArchives/169MichaelAltonGriffin-ExcerptsFromTheChipDavisArchives.zip