Merran - See You Later

7" Single, released in 1985

Merran - See You Later (A-Side)

Merran - Out of My Hands (B-Side)

Pleasure Ground - Life of Jade

7" Single, released in 1984

Pleasure Ground - Life of Jade (A-Side)

Pleasure Ground - Insane (B-Side)

One By One - I Kept My Promise

7" Single, released in 1984

One By One - I Kept My Promise (In-Side)

One By One - Broken In Rhyme (Out-Side)

Update

Tonight I'm drinking pear cider (yum!) and revisiting some old posts on my blog. Do other bloggers out there read their own stuff? I find it really interesting and it makes me wish I'd done and written more in the past.

I'm going through old posts at the moment and fixing videos that YouTube have deleted and resizing the ones that still work. I'm also checking out old links.

I've let my rapidshare files die a slow death as I get the feeling no one really likes using RS any more. I'll continue to use MediaFire for my singles posts but I'm looking for a new home for my longer album shares.

When I started my blog 4 years ago I kept changing the design often. Now, I've kept the same look for a while and I think it's good to be recognizable.

Thanks for stopping by. 

New Latin Quarter!

I was ripping an old Latin Quarter 12" single and rummaging around the internet. This is the first taster from their new album due in 2012. They also plan to tour. A wonderful band.

Flip - I'll Be There

7" Single, released in 1986

Flip - I'll Be There (A-Side)

Flip - Ode To A Friend (B-Side)

Soundtrack - Ghosts of Love

7" Single, released in 1982

Soundtrack - Ghosts of Love (A-Side)

Soundtrack - The Mood I'm In (B-Side)

Link-O-Rama

Great to see Side Room Singles back up again, I discovered so many great records through this blog. Just a great concept too which appeals to my liking for randomness in music.

Well worth checking out.

Mandy - Victim of Pleasure

7" Single, released in 1988

Mandy - Victim of Pleasure (A-Side)

Mandy - Say It's Love (Love House) (B-Side)

The Odds - I Would Be Your Man

The Odds - I Would Be Your Man

From Good Weird Feeling (1995)

Canadian power pop with a deft songwriting edge. Four singles were released from the album; surprisingly, this slow burning torch song was not one of them.

Stan Campbell - Crawfish

7" Single, released in 1987

Stan Campbell - Crawfish (A-Side)

Stan Campbell - Till We Meet Again (B-Side)

Boom Boom Room - Here Comes The Man

7" Single, released in 1986

Boom Boom Room - Here Comes The Man (A-Side)

Boom Boom Room - Days Like These (B-Side)

Alternative Radio - Change of Heart

7" Single, released in 1988

Alternative Radio - Change of Heart (A-Side)

Alternative Radio - Ordinary Boy (B-Side)

Karel Fialka - Still Life (1980)

Here's an album I've been looking for over a number of years. Finally, this is my own rip so others can enjoy it too.

Still Life was Karel Fialka's debut album, released on the Blueprint label (a Pye subsidiary) in 1980. It included the hit single "The Eyes Have It" as well as another single "Armband" and a cover of The Doors' "People Are Strange".

Karel has hardly been prolific in his career, just releasing two other projects Human Animal in 1987 and Film Noir in 2009. His style is fairly unique, combining a pop sensibility, a willingness to experiment, and a sense of drama. Over the course of an album his vocal style grates a little - he tends to sing-shout and has a slight accent - but every track is different and succinct. It's easy to forget that this was pretty cutting edge new wave at the time he recorded it.

You have to admire the cover artwork (presumably an allusion to the track "File In Forget") but I'm not sure what the cutaway picture of the machine gun is all about.

"The Eyes Have It" would also be later re-recorded. This album has never been released on CD however.

1. The Eyes Have It
2. People Are Strange
3. File In Forget
4. The Cost
5. Rough and Ready
6. Armband
7. Still Life
8. The Good The Bad and The Ugly
9. Exude When I'm Bruised
10. Appointment In Samarra

Download [Link removed]


Update: I got a DMCA complaint on this one, which is interesting. I'd be more than happy to point people towards a place where you can legally obtain these tracks, either on a CD or as a download. As far as I know, there is nothing out there. If I'm wrong, I'd love to know!!

Doctor Who Theme

7" Single, released in 1980

Doctor Who Theme (A-Side)

The Astronauts (B-Side)

Sharks In Italy - Time Is Ours

7" Single, released in 1986

Sharks In Italy - Time Is Ours (A-Side)

Sharks In Italy - Precious (B-Side)

Big Sound Authority - This House

7" Single, released in 1985

Big Sound Authority - This House (Is Where Your Love Stands) (A-Side)

Big Sound Authority - I Miss My Baby (B-Side)

H2O - You Take My Breath Away

7" Single, released in 1984

H2O - You Take My Breath Away (A-Side)

H20 - Leonard (B-Side)

Girl With Blue Guitar - They Say I'm A Fool

7" Single, released in 1990

Girl With Blue Guitar - They Say I'm A Fool (A-Side)

Girl With Blue Guitar - Live My Life (B-Side)

Apple Mosaic - Honey If

7" Single, released in 1987

Apple Mosaic - Honey If (A-Side)

Apple Mosaic - Mary Hell (B-Side)

Busy Day

Lots of music related events today. I started off by buying albums from The Lover Speaks and Summerhill at a car boot sale. While rummaging around a charity shop before lunch I found CD's by The Models, Band of Horses, Indecent Obsession, Randy Newman and Depeche Mode.

In the mail I got singles by One By One and Clox.

I drove around this afternoon listening to Blondie (Rip Her To Shreds, Picture This, One Way or Another).

I ripped a few vinyl singles this evening - including Apple Mosaic, Lick The Tins, Quando Quango, and Big Sound Authority.

With days like this I may start enjoying my weekends again!

Empire - My Imagination

7" Single, released in 1988

Empire - My Imagination (A-Side)

Empire - Big City (B-Side)

Flip Me!

The Duel - There's A Living To Be Made

7" Single, released in 1988

The Duel - There's A Living To Be Made (A-Side)

The Duel - Not My Kind of Love (B-Side)

Flip Me!

Beltane Fire - Excalibur

7" Single, released in 1986

Beltane Fire - Excalibur (A-Side)

Beltane Fire - Uther (II) (B-Side)

Flip Me!

Private Lives - Where Do I Go

7" single, released in 1980

Private Lives - Where Do I Go (A-Side)

Private Lives - On Your Own (B-Side)

Here is the elusive first single by Private Lives. There seems to be quite a few fans of John Adams and his various outputs which has provided an alternative music soundtrack to the 80's including synth pop, dance pop, moody balladeering and, as here, new wave power pop.

I wrote to Cherry Red a while back suggesting they might like to reissue some Private Lives stuff, especially as the recent chart band Hurts is basically a carbon copy. But, they do not feel there would be enough interest, apparently.

I will continue to feature more Private Lives material as I am able to track it down. Enjoy!

Thirteen Moons - Suddenly One Summer

7" Single, released in 1986

Thirteen Moons - Suddenly One Summer (A-Side)

Thirteen Moons - Where Did You All Go (B-Side)

Flip Me!

Record Mirror singles review May 9, 1987

Another batch of various singles up for evaluation. Andy Strickland himself went on to be involved with The Caretaker Race.

Here are the ones I've found so far.

Hindsight - Heaven's Just A Breath Away
The Fall - There's A Ghost In My House
Gary Moore - Friday On My Mind
The Flatmates - Happy All The Time
Slade - That's What Friends Are For
The Rosehips - Room In Your Heart
Poison - Talk Dirty To Me
Belouis Some - Let It Be With You
The Bambi Slam - Don't It Make You Feel
Tottenham FA Cup Squad - Hot Shot Tottenham
Frankie Knuckles - You Can't Hide From Yourself
The Wallflowers - Thank You (obviously, this is not the later American band)
Anne Clark - Hope Road
Debbie Harry - In Love With Love
The Brilliant Corners - Brian Rix

I think you'll agree, quite a varied collection. I'm just missing the last two singles.

The Indian Givers - Interview

Interview with the band from Record Mirror, August 5 1989.

Robert Holmes - International Sunshine

 

7" Single, released in 1987

Robert Holmes - International Sunshine (A-Side)

Robert Holmes - The Monkey Song (B-Side)

The Big Supreme - Don't Walk

7" Single, released in 1986

The Big Supreme - Don't Walk (A-Side)

The Big Supreme - My Addiction (B-Side)

Flip Me!

Habit - Medicine Man (1988)

Don't know much about these guys. They released a few singles and a couple of albums in the late '80's and early '90's. This is a CD rip from my collection. The singles were "Shotgun City", "Starlight", "Get Back" and "Lucy".

1. Lucy
2. Love Is For Keeps
3. Medicine Man
4. Heaven (Must Be Playing Games)
5. Build A House
6. Get Back
7. Starlight
8. Shotgun City
9. Anonymous
10. Never Street

Download

RAH Band - Across The Bay

7" Single, released in 1987

RAH Band - Across The Bay (A-Side)

RAH Band - Jammin' On The Byte (B-Side)

Flip Me!

His Latest Flame - America Blue (1990)

Here's another recent find from Notting Hill, a 12" EP from the ever popular Scottish songbirds. "America Blue" was from their album In The Neighbourhood but I believe the other three tracks were exclusive to this release.

His Latest Flame - America Blue

1. America Blue
2. Tongue Tied
3. Footsteps
4. Londonderry Road (Acoustic Version)

Download

Link-O-Rama

I've just been visiting 80's Vinyl Gems which is a new blog I have not seen before. Great posts featuring Black, Vicious Pink, John Foxx, etc., etc. Very nice!!

Actually it's been around for a couple of years, I guess I just have not been paying attention!

Boys In Darkness - Heart of Darkness

7" Single, released in 1984

Boys In Darkness - Heart of Darkness (A-Side)

Boys In Darkness - Under The Bridge (B-Side)

Links updated September 2014!

Unique - His Golden Hand LP (1988)

Over the years I have posted music on the blog, I've always been excited to feature rare and unusual acts I have not seen anywhere else. A couple of years ago I featured a single by Seeing Red from my home island of Guernsey. After attending a local record fair last autumn I also found this LP, which I vaguely remembered being advertised locally at the time, but I had not seen since. I don't know anything about Unique as an artist, but the album was produced by Tim Bran who went on to be involved in Dreadzone. A very rare example of a modern rock/new wave/indie dance record wholly recorded and sold in the Channel Islands. I hope you enjoy this one!

Unique - His Golden Hand (1988)

1. Moon Music Overture
2. I Got Younger
3. Eskimo
4. Inchman
5. Tear of Fire
6. I Got Younger (Nappy Remix)
7. Safe As Houses
8. But I Wasn't Laughing
9. When The World Started Turning
10. I Am Not An Animal

Download
Side One
Side Two

[Update] After discovering the second album, Psychadermic (released in 1991) I found a MySpace page here, in which Unique and his band The Style Warriors show every intention of growing old disgracefully!

[Second Update] I've now re-ripped and posted the album again in two parts.

Feargal Sharkey - Listen To Your Father (1984)

12" Single, released in 1984

Feargal Sharkey - Listen To Your Father (Extended Mix)

Someone asked if I had this one ages ago, but I didn't have it. Then, recently, I was visiting Notting Hill in London for the first time in about 17 years and I found it in the bargain basement at Music and Video Exchange. Appropriately enough, I bought it on Father's Day.

September - Slowly

7" Single, released in 1986

September - Slowly (A-Side)

September - Slowly (Instrumental) (B-Side)

Now tell me, were the 80's sexy or what?

Delta - Footsteps In The Sand (1987)

7" Single, released in 1987

Delta - Footsteps In The Sand (A-Side)

Delta - Saturn Out of Scorpio (B-Side)

Still Life - My World (1983)

7" Single, released in 1983

Still Life - My World (A-Side)



Still Life - Passion Play (B-Side)

From the band's Soundcloud page: "Still Life were an 80's new wave band formed by the songwriting partnership of Jon Newby and Ian Campbell in Louth in Lincolnshire. Signed to a management deal by Richard Ogden (Ozone Mgmt) the pair soon found themselves the proud owners of a 4 track reel to reel and set about writing songs in their parents front rooms. After spending time working with producer Rod Thompson on several of their songs it was decided to record Away From This Town. In 1981 the track was recorded at Producers Workshop, Chelsea, with additional overdubs and mixing taking place at SARM East, Aldgate. Engineer was Julian Mendelsohn and musicians used were Phil Towner - drums, Mathew Seligman - Bass, Anne Dudley - Moog bass and Tessa Niles - backing vocals. Two further tracks, Teenage Fun and Tired of Dancing were recorded as demos for EMI in their Manchester Square studio with Producer Rod Thompson aided by Bram Tchaikovsky. After talks and offers from EMI, Chrysalis and Regarde Records it was decided to sign to Regarde and Away From This Town with b side Teenage Fun was released in 1982 (a 12 inch version was also recorded). The track was reviewed on Radio 1's Round Table and went on to be played on Radio 1 along with plays on regional radio stations for a further 6 weeks. Regarde were unprepared for this instant radio play and had only pressed 100 promotional copies of the single By the time any pressings had been delivered the radio play was long gone. Undaunted a further song, Little Innocent was recorded at Producers Workshop, however, it was soon decided to part company from Regarde and a band was formed with Jon on vocals and guitar, Ian on synth and musicians Mark Reeves - keyboards, Tim Bradley - bass and Paul Barrett - drums. The band recorded further tracks at Sarm West and Redan Recorders with Rod Thompson producing, recording live demos and two further tracks at Chapel Studios with Pink Floyd engineer Nick Grifiths in the producers chair. The band went on play live up and down the country, including a support slot with Culture Club. Following a "pie throwing" incident Tim left the band to return to Doncaster and soon afterwards Mark left and returned to Horsham. Jon and Ian decided to disband Still Life in late 1983."

Kiss Like This - Faith In You

7" Single, released in 1990

Kiss Like This - Faith In You (A-Side)

Kiss Like This - Man and Machine (B-Side)

The Walk - I Didn't Catch Your Name (1984)

7" Single, released in 1984

The Walk - I Didn't Catch Your Name (A-Side)

The Walk - Be Animal (B-Side)

Links were updated by request in February 2017.

Great Outdoors - Bird In The Hand (1986)

7" Single, released in 1986

Great Outdoors - Bird In The Hand (A-Side)

Great Outdoors - Great Romance (B-Side)

The Toy Shop - Attack Decade (1983)

7" Single, released in 1983

The Toy Shop - Attack Decade (A-Side)

The Toy Shop - Never Trust A Stranger (B-Side)

The Tempest - Bluebelle (1985)

7" Single, released in 1985

The Tempest - Bluebelle (A-Side)

The Tempest - I Want To Live (B-Side)

Red Guitars

Don't think I have posted this before, it was a 12" B-Side by the always impressive Red Guitars.

Red Guitars - Blue Caravan (Acoustic)

I don't get to post much these days, but I do read all the comments, so thanks for those.

Joey Wilson - Going Up (1980)

Classy new wave pop from Joey, who sadly died a few years ago.

1.  If You Don't Want My Love
2.  Taking Me Back
3.  Underground
4.  Hold On Girl
5.  Women With Ideas
6.  Call Off Your Dogs
7.  I Was A Fool
8.  My Car, Your Car
9.  Chances We'll Take
10. Out of Our World
11. Underground (Reprise)
12. Going Up

Download

By Request, More John Adams

For Jenny

John Adams - Don't Turn And Walk Away 

Enjoy!

Fix That Link!

After a while of neglecting my blog, I'm going through and fixing broken links, so if you have any re-up requests please let me know.

Sunday Night Special

More requests and other stuff.

Seven - Stranger Than Fiction (1984)

Private Lives - Swim Away (1982) - Rare B-Side from John Adams and the boys

Kevin Kitchen - Tightspot (1985)

More Goodies

A few more:

Hitlist - High Treason

A Bigger Splash - Silence

Still Life - Away From This Town

East of Java

I had a request for more from East of Java, so here are a couple I have:

East of Java - (Taipo Say) Drum

East of Java - And Chucks Out The Mexican (B-Side of "Different World")

Belated Christmas Goodies

Over the Christmas holiday I was back at home in the US and took the opportunity to rescue my turntable from storage and rip a few more obscure singles.

Some of these were requests, but most were just random picks. I did not have time to scan the covers before flying back to Europe and if there are any problems with the rips just let me know - I went through them quite quickly.

Enjoy!

Search Party - Lost Paradise [new rip, updated link November 2015]

Red Bamboo - Dance of Love

John Adams - Through The Eyes of Love

Delta - Mechanismo

Hitlist - Total Isolation