Put The Needle On The Record - Week #51

 Put The Needle On The Record Week #51 Gary Numan - Telekon

For this weeks feature we go back to September 1980 and the Gary Numan album "Telekon".

This is one of the best albums ever released in my view and was the follow up to the album "The Pleasure Principle", what amazes me is very few people have cited it as a groundbreaking album that inspired other musicians, it is a fantastic record and undoubtably sees Numan at the top of his game.

Gary Numan played 2 dates at the Manchester Apollo as part of a UK tour to promote the album and I attended both nights and was the first concerts I ever attended, it was a stunning show with an amazing stage design, 2 massive towers either side of the stage which housed the 2 main synth/keyboard players, I remember it well, especially as the intro for "This Wreckage" opened the show with the curtains closed and then opened to reveal the set, an unbelivable experience, man it was loud and after the first concert, I was as deaf as a doorpost!! Thankfully my hearing restored to normality after a couple of days, I attended the first concert with my brother, it was his first live concert too.

By the way Nash The Slash was the support artist, was n't keen on his music, however, he did a stun ning version of the Jan And Dean track "Dead Man's Curve", he performed wrapped in bandages!!

Enough reminiscing, let's get back to the album, Numan had released the singles "We Are Glass" and "I Die You Die", neither of which appeared on the original album, however, they were included on re-issues later down the line, candidates for singles were the tracks "I Dream Of Wires", which should have been a single and the tracks "The Aircrash Bureau" and "I'm An Agent". I like every track on this album and is in my Top 5, of my all time favourite albums.

Just the one single was released off the album and that was "This Wreckage" (which reached number 20 in the UK Singles chart), "Remember I Was Vapour" was released as a 12 inch single in German, which I still have in my collection and "Remind Me To Smile" was released as a single in the states which also included "I Dream Of Wires" on the B side, again I have that in my record collection.

The album reached number 1 in the UK album chart.

Track Listing

This Wreckage
The Aircrash Bureau
Telekon
Remind Me To Smile
Sleep By Windows
I'm An Agent
I Dream Of Wires
Remember I Was Vapour
Please Push No More
The Joy Circuit

If you have this album in your collection, dig it out and give it a spin!

i-Select #113

White Lion Radio have released edition #113 of i-Select.

This is a series of shows dedicated to electronic/synthpop bands that are unsigned, signed to a small independent label or self release their material.

Listen to the show on Mixcloud here

Playlist

Kraftman - Forbidden Colours
State Of Anguish - I Stand With You
Eckotrigger - Afterlife
Future Perfect - Ghosts
Man Mind Machine - Two Minute Warning (Edit)
Phaserland - Green Light Druid
State Of Anguish - Still The Same
Lonelyklown - Solstice Song
Le Groupe Fantastique - Dance Like Nobody's Watching
O!Dorian & The Lavettes - When The Night Is Cold
MNTL - Don't Wanna Lose This
Platronic - Winter Stores
Uncreated - We Will Attack (Grendel Remix)
Manhatten - Ben-Day
Mayah Camara & Sellorekt LA Dreams - Paint The Town
DanSTAR ft Ellie B - Neverending Story
Sanctions Music - Soulmate
State Of Anguish - Point Of No Return
Lifelong Corporation - Into The Night
Nature Of Wires ft Luka - Under the Radar
Future Analog Ft Neonshe - Algorithm
Obsession Of Time - Last Christmas
Dream Invaders - Commando
Iterations - Transistor Rhythms
Future Perfect - Worst Mistake
Eternity Range - When Doves Cry (Prince cover)
Eckotrigger - Alone With Someone
MTTM - In Your Skin
Phaserland - Lens Of A Dream
Von Kaiser - Christmas Christmas Christmas

Put The Needle On The Record - Week #50

Put The Needle On The Record Week #50 The Human League - Travelogue.

For this weeks feature we go back to May 1980 and The Human League album "Travelogue".

"Travelogue" was the second album released by The Human Leage, the follow up to their debut "Reproduction". This was the last album released by the original line-up of The Human League before the big split, Phil Oakey continued under The Human League name with a new line up and retained the services of Adrian Wright, whilst Martyn Ware and Ian Craig Marsh went on to form Heaven 17, it was a very acrimonious split and time doesn't seemed to have eased relationships.

"Travelogue" is once again one of my all time favourite albums, I just love the sounds and the structures of the songs and believe me, there are some bloody good songs to be found on the album, "The Touchables" (how this wasn't a single I will never know), "Dreams Of Leaving", "The Black Hit Of Space" and the brilliant closing track "WXJL Tonight", one of my favouyrite tracks of all time.

The album has aged incredibly well considering it is nearly 45 years old!

Surprisingly only two singles were released from the album, "Only After Dark", which actually wasn't a single in the true sense as Virgin Records decided to release "Empre State Human" as a single, a track on their album "Reproduction" and package the pressed copies of "Only After Dark" as a free single with the first 15,000 copies of the "Empire State Human" single and "Being Boiled", a re-recorded version which formed part of the "Holiday '80" EP, which also included the tracks "Marianne" (a track that should have been on the "Travelogue" album), "Dancevision" and a medley of "Rock 'n' Roll" and "Nightclubbing" (which reached number 56 in the UK singles chart).

The album reached number 16 in the UK album chart.

Track Listing

The Black Hit Of Space
Only After Dark
Life Kills
Dreams Of Leaving
Toyota City
Crow And A Baby
The Touchables
Gordon's Gin
Being Boiled
WXJL Tonight

If you have this album in your collection, dig it out and give it a spin

Kraftman Digital Download Offers Throughout December

Kraftman has qualified for free download codes from Bandcamp, so I thought it would be a good idea to use these to do a promotion of the Digital Download versions of album released by Kraftman, so if you buy one of the qualifying albums, which are, "Electrique Fabrique", "Electrique Fabrique (12 Inch Mixes)", "Giro D'Italia", "Giro D'italia (Longer Format)", "Chernobyl" and "Chernobyl (Maximum Exposure)", you can choose one other digital download album as your free album from the same list and you will receive a download code via email, so for example you might buy "Giro D'Italia" and you get one of the other 5 albums available for free.

This will run for the rest of December, so if you are missing any releases now is the time to get them.

 https://kraftman.bandcamp.com/

Maximum 80s #131

Welcome to edition 131 of Maximum 80s here on White Lion Radio, a show that celebrates the 1980s 12 Inch Single!

This a series of shows that features some of the finest 12 Inch Singles from the 80s all in one continuous mix.

The biggest hits in the 12 Inch format from the greatest decade in music history!

Listen to the show on Mixcloud here

Playlist

A-Ha - Take On Me (Long Version)
B-Movie - A Letter From Afar (Big Mix)
Lakeside - Fantastic Voyage (12 Inch Version)
Tina Charles - I Love To Love (12 Inch Teenage Mix By Sanny X)
Michael Jackson - Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' (Extended Version)
Dollar - Oh L'Amour (Bonus Beats Boys 12 Inch Mix)
Depeche Mode - Shout (Rio Mix)
UB40 - Red Red Wine (12 Inch Version)
Madonna - Angel (Extended Dance Mix)
David Bowie - Blue Jean (Extended Dance Mix)
Diana Ross - Upside Down (12 Inch Version)
The Stranglers - Skin Deep (Extended)

Put The Needle On The Record - Week #49

Put The Needle On The Record Week #49 Depeche Mode - Speak & Spell

For this weeks feature we go back to October 1981 and the Depeche Mode album "Speak & Spell".

"Speak & Spell" was the debut album released by Depeche Mode and I recall the time I bought the record, I was in the small HMV shop in Market street, in Manchester and was walking upstairs to the section where they sold the 7 inch & 12 inch records, half way up I caught a glance of an LP cover that stood out to me, it was a silver swan wrapped in plastic on a warm red background, then I saw it was the "Speak & Spell" album by Depeche Mode, I did an about turn and picked up a copy of the record, at the time I didn't even know they had released an album!

It has been a big favourite of mine ever since, a timeless synthpop classic with the majority of the songs written by Vince Clarke, a genius where melody lines are concerned, sadly he left the band after this album and of course went on to form Yazoo, then Erasure. It is one of my most played records from the 80s.

The album has plenty of other standout tracks that could have been released as singles, such as, "Photographic" (an early version had been released on the Some Bizarre album), "Nodisco" and "What's Your Name?"

Three singles were released from the album, "Dreaming Of Me", (which reached number 57 in the UK Singles chart), "New Life", which I heard for the first time at the bigger HMV on Market Street, what a record that is, (which reached number 11 in the UK Singles chart) and "Just Can't Get Enough", (which reached number 8 in the UK singles chart).

The album reached number 10 in the UK album chart.

Track Listing

New Life
I Sometimes Wish I Was Dead
Puppets
Boys Say Go
Nodisco
What's Your Name?
Photographic
Tora! Tora! Tora!
Big Muff
Any Second Now (Voices)
Just Can't Get Enough

If you have this album in your collection, dig it out and give it a spin!

Kraftman To Release A Festive EP

Kraftman releases a new EP tomorrow, titled "3 More For Christmas".

 

 

The songs recorded are "Forbidden Colours (Theme to the film "Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence"), originally by Ryuichi Sakamoto and David Sylvian, "The Power Of Love", originally by Frankie Goes To Hollywood and an uplifting electronic take on the David Essex Christmas song "A Winter's Tale".

The inspiration to record the "Theme from "Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence" came after was a youtube video of kraftwerk performing their version of the track at a concert in Japan as a tribute to Ryuichi Sakamoto.

 

Kraftman has given the theme his own kraftwerk styled makeover!

 

https://kraftman.bandcamp.com/album/3-more-for-christmas-ep

Rubik's 80s Mix #131 (July 1980)

Welcome to edition #131 of  Rubik's 80s Mix series, each month we are going to focus on tracks that were in the charts on a specific month in the 1980s, which hopefully will bring back special memories for you, on this show, we feature tracks that were in the charts in July 1980.

Listen to the show on Mixcloud here

Playlist

Kate Bush - Babooshka
New Musik - Sanctuary
Kool & The Gang - Hangin' Out
John Foxx - Burning Car
The Gap Band - Oops Upside Your Head
George Benson - Give Me The Night
Change - A Lover's Holiday
Bow Wow Wow - C30, C60, C90 Go
ABBA - The Winner Takes It All
Roxy Music - Oh Yeah (On The Radio)
Adam & The Ants - Kings Of The Wild Frontier
ELO - All Over The World
Kelly Marie - Feels Like I'm In Love
Average White Band - For You For Love
Sheena Easton - 9 To 5

Put The Needle On The Record - Week #48

Put The Needle On The Record Week #48 Talk Talk - The Party's Over

For this weeks feature we go back to July 1982 and the Talk Talk album "The Party's Over".

This is one of my all time favourite albums, absolutely flawless and I have to say Talk Talk never got the recognition they deserved with their music, especially their first 2 albums. It is an album I continue to play on a regular basis.

"The Party's Over" was the bands debut album and was produced by Colin Thurston, who produced the first 2 albums by Duran Duran.

Interestingly, a certain Neil Tennant (Pet Shop Boys) reviewed the album whilst working at the magazine, Smash Hits, and descibed the album as "One sad mood permeates the whole LP as though they're compensating for the fact that they'd like to say something important but can't think of anything to say. Still, attractive tunes and synthesizer phrases plus sliding bass-playing prosper in the big, careful production. If only they'd cheered up, the party might have been much more enjoyable". Sorry Neil I can't agree with you on that, because for me it contains 9 wonderful and different synthpop tunes and has aged really well.

Three singles were released from the album, "Mirror Man", (which failed to chart), "Talk Talk", (which originally reached number 52 in the UK Singles chart, a remix was released later which reached number 23 in the UK Singles chart) and "Today", which featured the album track "It's So Serious", my favourite Talk Talk track, (which reached number 14 in the UK singles chart).

The album reached number 23 in the UK album chart.

Track Listing

Talk Talk
It's So Serious
Today
The Party's Over
Hate
Have You Heard The News?
Mirror Man
Another Word
Candy

If you have this album in your collection, dig it out and give it a spin!

i-Select #112 (Part 2)

White Lion Radio have released Part 1 of edition #112 of i-Select.

This is a series of shows dedicated to electronic/synthpop bands that are unsigned, signed to a small independent label or self release their material.

Listen to the show on Mixcloud here

Playlist

Covered in Snow - My Great Mistake
Arpraxis & Rogue FX &,Mayah Camara - Some Kind Of Bliss
Eckotrigger - Afterlife
HellaMox - Notorious Love
Sung - Above Us
Bending Grid & Power Rob - Shane
Just Scott - Tonight She Comes
Delerium - In The Deep (Clan of Xymox Remix)
Milano 84 - The right words
Gulvoss - My Salvatio (Rob Dust Remix)
Michelle Ward - Love To Dance
Split Vision - Stay On The Moon
Second Complex Ft Daniel Billqvist - Memories
HellaMox - Breakout
Graflex - Waiting For The Night
deZeption - A New World Is Rising
Ultima Engine - Reflections
MTTM - The Flow
Hatif - Dreams Are Alive
Nostalgia Deathstar - Art v Stem
Andrew Corbin - Fever Child
Eckotrigger - Corridors of Time
Dream Invaders - Enter The Ninja
Bending Grid & Jolie - Predator In Stilettos
Sung - Saviour
HellaMox - Saviour

Put The Needle On The Record - Week #47

Put The Needle On The Record Week #47 New Order - Technique

For this weeks feature we go back to January 1989 and the New Order album "Technique".

This is probably my favourite New Order album, after "Power Corruption & Lies" and has become known as their "Ibiza" album, as that is where they went to record the album, however, very little music was recorded instead it ended up being an orgy of alcohol and drugs! Despite this they eventually recorded what turned out to be a fantatsic album, It was the bands 5th studio album, which they produced themselves. It contains some fabulous tracks "Mr Disco" (how that wasn't a single I will never know) and "Vanishing Point" (again should have been a single), for me, other than "Round & Round", they made odd choices for the singles they released off the album.

It is a quality album, from start to finish, and I like every track on it, this was another album I used to play at full blast on my car stereo!

Three singles were released from the album, "Fine Time", which should never have been the lead single off the album and should have stayed as an album track (which reached number 11 in the UK charts), "Round & Round", which was an excellent choice as a single, a brilliant 12 inch mix too! (which reached number 21) and "Run 2", a track that was remixed for the single by Scott Litt and he did an awful job, the original album version is miles better (which reached number 49 in the UK singles chart).

The album reached number 1 in the UK album chart.

Track Listing

Fine Time
All The Way
Love Less
Round & Round
Guilty Partner
Run
Mr Disco
Vanishing Point
Dream Attack

If you have this album in your collection, dig it out and give it a spin!

i-Select #112 (Part 1)

White Lion Radio have released Part 1 of edition #112 of i-Select.

This is a series of shows dedicated to electronic/synthpop bands that are unsigned, signed to a small independent label or self release their material.

Listen to the show on Mixcloud here

Playlist

Stefania Avolio - Like Bamboo
Uncreated - We Will attack
BlakLight - A Stranger Calls (Rework)
Future Perfect - Rip
Beyond Border Ft Brian Belknap - What Makes The World Go Round
Projekt Ich Ft Arsine Tibe - Kosmonaut (FragileChild Intercontinental Remix)
Sjoblom - Great Times Ahead
Dryve - Autotech
Proletarian Poetry - Panic And Fear
Melo - Want You To See
Mechanical Cabaret - Deviation
Francesca e Luigi - Painting A View
Beborn Beton - Ticket To The Moon
Arpraxis - Diskow
Future Perfect - Sin (Where Angels Fall)
Nature of Wires ft Luka - Blackened Veil
Perpacity - Racing With Flamingos
Neon Space Men - Shake The Disease
The Halo Trees Ft Stefanie Duchene - This House Of Sadness (Electronic Remake)
Lifelong Corporation - Silent Streets (Sunrise Mix)
Mayah Camara - Radio Call
O.a.G. - Reach Out (Marc O'Rell Remix)
Beyond Border Ft Neufeld - Perfection
Dryve Ft Hunz - Synth On Fire
BlakLight - Blinded By The Sun (Rework)
Sjoblom - Turn My Head
Future Perfect - Touch
The Halo Trees Ft Stimmgewalt - Cardboard Cities (Electronic Remake)

Put The Needle On The Record - Week #46

Put The Needle On The Record Week #46 Pet Shop Boys - Actually

For this weeks feature we go back to September 1987 and the Pet Shop Boys album "Actually".

Pet Shop Boys are one of my favourite bands of all time and have been a massive fan from the day they released "West End Girls" as a single. The album "Actually" was the 2nd album they released and a follow up to their huge debut album "Please". Quite a few songs were recorded around the same time they recorded "Please", they had so much material tracks were held over for "Actually", one of those tracks was It's A Sin"!

It is a very impressive album from start to finish, with 4 top ten singles released from it, including 2 number 1 hits, aside from the singles, the album contains one of my favourite Pet Shop Boys tracks ever, "Kings Cross". It is an album that was on repeat play on my car stereo....on cassette!

On this album the duo used an assortment or produces, including Julian Mendelsohn and Stephen Hague (who produced their album "Please")

Four singles were released from the album, "It's A Sin" (which reached number 1 in the UK charts and was a success in America too, where it reached number 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart), "What Have I Done To Deserve This?", which featured Dusty Springfield (which reached number 2 in the UK singles chart...it should have made number 1 and it did well again in the states, reaching number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100), "Rent" (which reached number 8 in the UK singles chart) and "Heart" (which reached number 1 in the UK singles chart).

The album peaked at number 2 in the UK album chart and number 25 on the Billboard 200 chart in the states.

Track Listing

One More Chance
What Have I Done To Deserve This?
Shopping
Rent
Hit Music
It Couldn't Happen Here
It's A Sin
I Want To Wake Up
Heart
King's Cross

If you have this album in your collection, dig it out and give it a spin!

Maximum 80s #130

Welcome to edition 130 of Maximum 80s here on White Lion Radio, a show that celebrates the 1980s 12 Inch Single!

This a series of shows that features some of the finest 12 Inch Singles from the 80s all in one continuous mix.

The biggest hits in the 12 Inch format from the greatest decade in music history!

Listen to the show on Mixcloud here

Playlist

Howard Jones - New Song (Extended)
Silent Running - Young Hearts (Extended Mix)
Teleptahic - We Are Telepathique (Long Version)
Kon Kan - I Beg Your Pardon (Club Mix)
Simple Minds - Sweat In Bullet (Extended Remix)
Visage - Beat Boy (Dance Mix)
Madonna - Burning Up (Extended Version)
Blancmange - The Day Before You Came (Extended)
Billy Ocean - Are You Ready (12 Inch Version)
OMD - Genetic Engineering (Extended)
Ashford & Simpson - Solid (12 Inch Version)
Alison Moyet - Weak In The Presence Of Beauty (Extended Mix)

Put The Needle On The Record - Week #45

Put The Needle On The Record Week #45 Madonna - Like A Virgin

For this weeks feature we go back to November 1984 and the Madonna album "Like A Virgin".

I am a huge fan of Madonna's early albums and the "Like A Virgin" album was part of my soundtrack for my first holiday abroad in Corfu, you could barely turn a corner without hearing the single "Like A Virgin". It was easy to see how she became a massive worldwide success and whilst her recent albums have been pretty poor there are moments when she shines, hard to believe she is well into her 60s!

"Like A Virgin" was Madonna's 2nd album and was produced by Nile Rodgers, and it sold a whopping 21 million copies across the globe and is rightly regarded as one of the best selling albums ever.

Obviously the singles stand out on this album, however, one of my favourite tracks is the cover version of the Rose Royce track "Love Don't Live Here Anymore".

In all 4 singles were released, the lead track "Like A Virgin" (which reached number 3 in the UK Singles Chart and was a number 1 hit in many European countries and topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the states), "Material Girl" (which also reached number 3 in the UK Singles Chart, it was a massive hit across Europe and reached number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the states), the double A Side "Angel" and "Into The Groove" (which reached number 5 in the UK Singles chart and also number 5 in the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the states) and "Dress You Up (which reached number 5 in the UK Singles Chart and number 5 again in the Billboard Hot 100 chart).

The album reached number 1 on both the UK album chart and the Billboard album chart.

Track Listing

Material Girl
Angel
Like A Virgin
Over And Over
Love Don't Live Here Anymore
Dress You Up
Shoo-Bee-Doo
Pretender
Stay

If you have this album in your collection, dig it out and give it a spin!

Rubik's 80s Mix #130 (April 1986)

We bring a fresh idea into the Rubik's 80s Mix series, each month we are going to focus on tracks that were in the charts on a specific month in the 1980s, which hopefully will bring back special memories for you, on this show, edition #130, we feature tracks that were in the charts in April 1986.

Listen to the show on Mixcloud here

Playlist

George Michael - A Different Corner
A-Ha - Train Of Thought
The Style Council - Have You Ever Had It Blue
Simple Minds - All The Things She Said
Five Star - Can't Wait Another Minute
Billy Ocean - There'll Be Sad Songs (To Make You Cry)
Princess - I'll Keep On Loving You
Joyce Sims - All And All
Madonna - Live To Tell
Marvin Gaye - I Heard It Through Grapevine
Depeche Mode - A Question Of Lust
Shalamar - A Night To Remember
Pet Shop Boys - Love Comes Quickly

Put The Needle On The Record - Week #44

Put The Needle On The Record Week #44 OMD - Architecture & Morality

For this weeks feature we go back to March 1981 and the OMD album "Architecture & Morality".

Well what can I say about this album....it is a masterpiece! One of my most played records ever, I am a massive fan of OMD and they are the band I have seen in concert more than any other band or artist, mainly in the 1980s and 1990s, I saw them on the tour for this album at the Manchester Apollo, the second OMD concert I attended, one of the best live bands out there and a band that has given us so many massive melodic hits over the years and of course they are still going strong today. I bought the album from HMV on Market street in Manchester during one of my many excursions to record stores during my lunch breaks from work.

The album is the biggest selling OMD album selling over 4 million copies and is a an album that has been showcased live quite a few times by the band over recent years.

It has so many stunning tracks, as well as, the singles that were released, it included some of my favourite OMD songs, such as, "She's Leaving", "The Beginning And The End" (what a song this is!), a brilliant closing track for the album and "Georgia" all of which could have been released as singles, and of course the brillaint and epic "Sealand". "She's Leaving" was released as a single in the Benelux region. The only track I am not keen on is the opening track on the album "The New Stone Age".

In all 3 singles were released, "Souvenir", one of my favourite tracks on the album, was released in August 1981 (which reached number 3 in the UK Singles Chart), "Joan Of Arc" (which reached number 5 in the UK Singles chart and contained the wonderful B Side "The Romance of the Telescope (Unfinished)" and "Maid of Orleans (The Waltz Joan of Arc)", (which reached number 4 in the UK Singles Chart and topped the charts in several European countries, including Germany, Spain, Holland and Belgium).

The album reached number 3 on the UK album chart.

Track Listing

The New Stone Age
She's Leaving
Souvenir
Sealand
Joan Of Arc
Joan Of Arc (Maid Of Orleans)
Architecture & Morality
Georgia
The Beginning And The End

If you have this album in your collection, dig it out and give it a spin!

New Kraftman Album

Kraftman releases a brand new album tomorrow (1st November) called "Chernobyl (Maximum Exposure)", the album features 80s style extended 12 inch mixes of tracks that were featured on the album "Chernobyl", as well as, associated releases.

If you are a fan of Kraftwerk you won't be disappointed :)

The CD edition features 10 tracks, whilst the Digital Download edition features 11 tracks, including the exclusive track "Chernobyl 1986 (Atmospherics), here is the full track listing and track timings:

01.Chernobyl 1986 (Atmospherics) (Digital Download Exclusive) 06:54
02.Anatoly Dyatlov (12 Inch Mix) 07:37
03.Skala System (Tape To Tape) 07:41
04.AZ-5 (Detonation) 08:23
05.Radiation (Toxic 12 Inch Version) 08:57
06.Uranium-235 07:26
07.Meltdown To The Core (Chain Reaction) 08:37
08.90 Seconds (Maximum) 04:47
09.Acute Radiation Syndrome (Maximum Levels) 06:35
10.In The Red Forest (Desolation) 08:38
11.Dancing In The Square (Extended Dance Mix) 05:49

The album is available on CD and as a Digital Download on Bandcamp here:

https://kraftman.bandcamp.com/album/chernobyl-maximum-exposure

It will also be available across all leading digital download retailers soon, once they are I will update this post.

i-Select #111 (Part 2)

White Lion Radio have released Part 2 of edition #111 of i-Select.

This is a series of shows dedicated to electronic/synthpop bands that are unsigned, signed to a small independent label or self release their material.

Listen to the show on Mixcloud here

Playlist

Ooo Eee Ooo - (Hit Em With) Every Beat
Vogon Poetry & SCALA - Hope of Heading Home (Knadask Remix)
Cold Connection - Voices Of The Night
Nutronixx - Heart On The Run
Arkavoid - The Hex
Mechanical Cabaret - Ripped Red Sails (Theme From Jacks Women)
Soft Cotton County - It Could Happen to You
Michael Angelaux - Crystal Eyes
Agency-V - Pray For The Sun
deZeption - Too Shallow
Logan Sky Ft RIS-707 - Everything Everywhere Endlessly
Church Of Trees - My Best Mistake
eeman - Jump
Chinese Theatre - Bittersweet (Arvid Tuba Remix)
KMX VII- Lost In Orbit
The Black Celebration - Drown With Me
Hollywood Brown - Creature Of The Night
Matt Springfield - Believe In Love
Rain - Angels
eLxAr - Stuck In A Time Loop
Gulvoss - Running With The Light
Lifelong Corporation - Lost In The Echo (Reflection Mix)
Maschine Brennt - Music Technology (Version 2)
Michael Angelaux - Love Is Not To Blame
Aerial Ship Of Flowers - Dark River
Vaylon - Without You
deZeption - Lost Feeling
Dreampocket - Outrun The Night (Neutron Dreams Radio Edit Remix)
Soft Cotton County - The Future's Not What it Used to Be
Mechanical Cabaret - The Lunatics Have Taken Over The Asylum
Arpraxis - City Heat
Bending Grid - The Beast That Follows
Nutronixx - Storm In My Heart
Ooo Eee Ooo - Shadows In The Forest Of Time (Field Of Cows)

Put The Needle On The Record - Week #43

Put The Needle On The Record Week #43 Fine Young Cannibals - The Raw And The Cooked

For this weeks feature we go back to January 1989 and the Fine Young Cannibals album by The Raw And The Cooked.

"The Raw And The Cooked" was the 2nd album released by Fine Young Cannibals and is easily there best and most successful album and even includes a cover version of The Buzzcocks song "Ever Fallen In Love"!

It was also my soundtrack on a train journey to London to attend a training course in early 1990!

It is a fabulous album with quality tracks from beginning to end and has a very distinct sound, unlike anything else released at the time. The album's title is taken from a book by French anthropologist Claude Lévi-Strauss. There was also a companion remix album released called "The Raw And The Remixed" released in 1990 featuring various remixes of tracks featured on the original album, for me the remix album was disappointing.

To show the strength of this album, no fewer than 8 singles were released off it, the album only featured 10 tracks! The first single released was The Buzzcocks cover of "Ever Fallen In Love", released 3 years before the album was released (which reached number 12 in the UK Singles chart), "She Drives Me Crazy" (which reached number 5 in the UK Singles chart and Number 1 on the American Billboard Hot 100), "Good Thing" (which reached number 7 in the UK Singles Chart and again topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the states), "Don't Look Back" (which reached number 34 in the UK Singles Chart and number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in America), "I'm Not The Man I Used To Be", my favourite track on the album (which reached number 20 in the UK Singles Chart), "I'm Not Satisfied" (which reached number 46 in the UK Singles Chart), "It's OK (It's Alright)" was released as a single in Germany, whilst "Tell Me What" was released as a single in France.

The album reached number 1 in the UK Albums chart and also number 1 on the Billboard 200 album chart in the states.

Track Listing

She Drives Me Crazy
Good Thing
I'm Not The Man I Used To Be
I'm Not Satisfied
Tell Me What
Don't Look Back
It's Ok (It's Alright)
Don't Let It Get You Down
As Hard As It Is
Ever Fallen In Love

If you have this album in your collection, dig it out and give it a spin!

i-Select #111 (Part 1)

White Lion Radio have released Part 1 of edition #111 of i-Select.

This is a series of shows dedicated to electronic/synthpop bands that are unsigned, signed to a small independent label or self release their material.

Listen to the show on Mixcloud here

Playlist

Arkavoid - Memories From Nothing
Mechanical Cabaret - It Just Is
SIXMIXSIX - The Time Machine
Destiny Nation - Boys Will Be Boys
Synthetik FM - Brother Louie
Damokles - Time Is Kind
eeman - Radio
Vaylon - External Exile
Pacific Deep - Who To Trust (RE-Active Espionage Remix)
O.a.G. Ft Future Analog - Running (Future Analog Remix Radio Edit)
Projekt Ich Ft Alex Braun - Don't Wake Up
Mindmodvl - For Everyone
Paul Rein - Different
Glenn Main - October Nights
Vidéo L'Eclipse - Another Day (Arvid Tuba Remix)
Destiny Nation - I Don't Feel Like Talking
Nature of Wires ft Luka - Dark Waters
Nostalgia Deathstar - The Ground Belongs To Me
The Halo Trees - Alone In A Room Full Of Mirrors (Electro Mix)
Eric C. Powell & Andrea Powell - Darkness Falls
SIXMIXSIX - Beyond The Veil
Volker Milch & Skull Smith - A Forest
eeman Ft Anna S - Sound of Goodbye
Church Of Trees - Desolation
Synthetik FM - Hope I Never
Vague Notion - polaroid
Midnight Hi-Fi - Penthouse Paradise
Alex Braun & Rob Dust - Never Never
Faint line - Breathe The Water
Destiny Nation - Only One (Fly Away With Me)
Mechanical Cabaret - Devoid
Damokles - Dragonfly

Put The Needle On The Record - Week #42

Put The Needle On The Record Week #42 Tears For Fears - The Hurting

For this weeks feature we go back to March 1983 and the Tears For Fears album "The Hurting".

This album always reminds me of the days I lived in a crummy bedsit in Eccles, Manchester, as it was an album I constantly played during the few years I lived there....not the happiest of times I must add!

Anyway to the album.......This was the debut album by the band consisting of the duo Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith, both had been in a previous band called Graduate and interestingly before they renamed themselves Tears For Fears, their band name was History Of Headaches!! Thank god they saw sense and came up with Tears For Fears, the name is taken from a book by Psychotherapist Arthur Janov, the book also inspired the tracks "The Prisoner" and "Ideas As Opiates".

For the album the band decided to change producers and worked with Chris Hughes, which meant they re-recorded the tracks Suffer The Children" and "Pale Shelter" for the album. Did you know thet their breakthrough hit "Mad World" was originally considered as a B Side!

It is without doubt one of the classic albums released in the 80s and I have to say it is a very strong album, however, I never liked "The Prisoner" or "Ideas As Opiates", other than those 2 tracks the rest of the album is outstanding.

In all 5 singles were released, "Suffer The Children", one of my favourite tracks on the album, was released in 1981 (which didn't make the UK Singles Chart at the time but was a minor hit in 1985 reaching number 52 in the UK Singles Chart), the original version of "Pale Shelter (You Don't Give Me Love)" (which was released in early 1982 and also failed to chart), "Mad World" (which reached number 4 in the UK Singles Chart), "Change" (which reached number 4 in the UK Singles Chart) and a new version of "Pale Shelter", one of my all time favourite records (which reached number 5 in the UK Singles Chart).

The album reached number 1 on the UK album chart.

Track Listing

The Hurting
Mad World
Pale Shelter
Ideas As Opiates
Memories Fade
Suffer The Children
Watch Me Bleed
Change
The Prisoner
Start Of The Breakdown

If you have this album in your collection, dig it out and give it a spin!

Maximum 80s #129

Welcome to edition 129 of Maximum 80s here on White Lion Radio, a show that celebrates the 1980s 12 Inch Single!

This a series of shows that features some of the finest 12 Inch Singles from the 80s all in one continuous mix.

The biggest hits in the 12 Inch format from the greatest decade in music history!

Listen to the show on Mixcloud here

Playlist

Kissing The Pink - Never Too Late To Love You (Kissing The Mix)
Baltimora - Tarzan Boy (12 Inch Summer Version)
Luther Vandross - I Really Didn't Mean It (12 Inch Mix)
New Order - Bizarre Love Triangle (Shep Pettibone Remix)
Lisa Stansfield - All Around The World (Long Version)
Erasure - Love To Hate You (Paul Dakeyne Remix)
Fun Boy Three - Our Lips Are Sealed (Special Remix Version)
The Whispers - My Girl (12 Inch Maxi Single
Heaven 17 - Height Of The Fighting (Full Length 12 Inch Mix)
Thompson Twins - Lay Your Hands On Me (12 Inch Version)
Sandra - Everlasting Love (Extended Version)
Phil Fearon & Galaxy - Dancing Tight (Dance Mix)

Put The Needle On The Record - Week #41

Put The Needle On The Record Week #41 Duran Duran - Duran Duran

For this weeks feature we go back to June 1981 and the Self titled debut album by Duran Duran.

This is a really solid debut album by Duran Duran, with plenty of excellent tracks, including the singles, "Planet Earth", "Girls On Film", and tracks like "Anyone Out There" and "Sound Of Thunder", I was really surprised they released "Careless Memories" as a single, for me it is one of the weakest tracks on the album, I'm not a massive Duran Duran fan, really only liking the first 3 albums. You can't argue that they weren't the frontrunners in the new romantic movement.

The album was recorded during December 1980 and January 1981 and was produced by Colin Thurston.

The band formed as a trio in 1978, consisting of Nick Rhodes, John Taylor and Stephen Duffy, who was the original vocalist in the band, the classic line-up of Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes, Andy Taylor, John Taylor and Roger Taylor came into being in 1980.

The album featured 3 singles "Planet Earth" (which reached number 12 in the UK Singles chart), "Careless Memories" (which reached number 37 in the UK Singles chart) and Girls On Film" (which reached number 5 in the UK Singles chart).

The album reached number 3 in the UK Albums chart.

Track Listing

Girls On Film
Planet Earth
Anyone Out There
To The Shore
Careless memories
Night Boat
Sound Of Thunder
Friends Of Mine
Tel Aviv

If you have this album in your collection, dig it out and give it a spin!

Rubik's 80s Mix #129 (June 1983)

We bring a fresh idea into the Rubik's 80s Mix series, each month we are going to focus on tracks that were in the charts on a specific month in the 1980s, which hopefully will bring back special memories for you, on this show, edition #129, we feature tracks that were in the charts in June 1983.

Tracks by David Bowie, Opus, China Crisis, Tears For Fears, Jaki Graham, Howard Jones, ABC and more are featured on the show.

Listen to the show on Mixcloud here

Playlist

Ultravox - We Came To Dance
Rod Stewart - Baby Jane
Imagination - Looking At Midnight
David Bowie - China Girl
Shalamar - Dead Giveaway
Michael Jackson - Wanna Be Startin' Something
Freeez - IOU
Donna Summer - She Works Hard For The Money
ELO - Rock 'n' Roll Is King
Heaven 17 - Come Live With Me
Mary Jane Girls - All Night Long
A Flock Of Seagulls - Transfer Affection
Big Country - In A Big Country
George Benson - Lady Love me (One More Time)
Irene Cara - Flashdance (What A Feeling)

Put The Needle On The Record - Week #40

Put The Needle On The Record Week #40 Yazoo - Upstairs At Eric's

For this weeks feature we go back to August 1982 and the Yazoo album "Upstairs At Eric's".

This is another one of my all time favourite albums and was played to death when I bought it, it is of course the debut album by Yazoo, which combined the talents of Vince Clarke and Alison Moyet and is a collection of superb synthpop songs, however, I must say, I have no idea why they included the track "I Before E Except after C"! If it was an instrumental track it would be fine, however, it isn't it is just a load of people talking, very odd it was included, aside from that it features some outstanding songs, "Too Pieces", my favourite track and should have been a single, the same goes for "Bad Connection" and "Goodbye 70s", it also includes the classic singles "Only You" and "Don't Go". I also recall that this was another album I purchased from the small HMV shop on Market Street in Manchester.

3 singles were released, their debut single "Only You" (which reached number 2 in the UK Singles chart), "Don't Go" (which reached number 3 in the UK singles chart), by the way, the 12 inch single is fantastic! The final single released was "Situation", however this was only released in the states and Canada, the track was the B side to the "Only You" single and wasn't featured on the album and performed well in the charts in America, reaching number 1 for 4 weeks on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. This particular single was well sought after on import, I still have my copy!

The album reached number 2 on the UK album chart.

Track Listing

Don't Go
Too Pieces
Bad Connection
I Before E Except After C
Midnight
In My Room
Only You
Goodbye 70s
Tuesday
Winter Kills
Bring Your Love Down (Didn't I)

If you have this album in your collection, dig it out and give it a spin!

Put The Needle On The Record - Week #39

Put The Needle On The Record Week #39 The Silicon Teens - Music For Parties

For this weeks feature we go back to September 1980 and the Silicon Teens album "Music For Parties".

This is one of my all time favourite albums and was the 2nd ever album to be released on Mute Records and features electronic versions of classic rock 'n' roll tracks from the 1950s and 1960s, the album also included 3 original songs too. The project was the creation of Mute Records founder Daniel Miller, he created the band that included 4 ficticous members! Daniel Miller himself played all the instruments and provided all the vocals.

The album is best described as bonkers and fun, the idea to create a record like this was pure genius by Miller.

If you don't have this album in your collection you need to get it!

The album featured 3 singles "Memphis Tennessee" (which failed to chart), "Judy In Disguise" (which didn't make the UK Singles chart, however it did reach number 4 on the UK indie chart) and "Just Like Eddie", my favourite track off the album (again it didn't make the UK Singles chart but did reach number 7 in the UIK Indie chart). A re-recorded version of "Red River Rock" was used in the film "Planes, Trains and Automobiles and was released as a single in the UK and the states in 1988.

The album was a success chartwise, however, it performed well in the Indie charts, reaching number 4.

Track Listing

Memphis Tennessee
Yesterday Man
Doo Wah Diddy Diddy
T.V. Playtime
You Really Got Me
Chip 'N Roll
Do You Love Me?
Let's Dance
Oh Boy!
Sweet Little Sixteen
State Of Shock (Part Two)
Just Like Eddie
Red River Rock
Judy In Disguise

If you have this album in your collection, dig it out and give it a spin!

i-Select #110 (Part 2)

 Welcome to part 2 of edition #110 of i-Select on White Lion Radio

This is a series of shows dedicated to electronic/synthpop bands that are unsigned, signed to a small independent label or self release their material.

Listen to the show on Mixcloud here

Playlist

Supercraft - Asleep
Octolab - Friend Or Foe
Second Complex Ft Brian Belknap - Treatment
eLxAr - Demons - Influencers
Cold Connection - Voices Of The Night
Woren - Cruise Control
Lunar Plexus - Take Your Time
Linda Jo Rizzo & Milo Blue - You're The One (Radio Edit)
Muricidae - Sold My Soul
Ironic Sweden - Mordor
Nostalgia Deathstar - Human Resource
Split Vision - Hit That Perfect Beat
Supercraft - Nothing More
Sjoblom - Dead For Years
Woren - Never Forget This Moment
Of What Remains - Thorn
SIXMIXSIX - Phone home
Cold Connection - Degraded Life
Melo - Cut Me Loose
eLxAr - Demons - The Dividing Line
Carnivali - Electric Blue
Second Complex Ft Color Theory - Surrender
Covered In Snow - Cemetery Club
Supercraft - This Time Is Mine
Francesca e Luigi - Brand New Start
Capital X - Ever
Danne Machmar - Kissing In The Moonlight
Woren - Infinite
Alan Dreezer - We Have Come A Long Way
Arpraxis - City Heat

Put The Needle On The Record - Week #38

Put The Needle On The Record Week #38 ABC - The Lexicon Of Love

For this weeks feature we go back to June 1982 and the ABC album "The Lexicon Of Love".

Without a doubt one of greatest albums of the 1980's and an album I still play on a regular basis, superbly produced by Trevor Horn and a ground-breaking album on so many levels and quiet different from any album released in the 80s.

I was on a family holiday with my parents and brother in Llandudno, it was my brother that bought the album on cassette from Woolworths whilst we were on holiday, I had taken my cassette player with me on this holiday so we played this album to death, much to the annoyance of our parents, I forgot to take the mains lead for the cassette player and so we spent a fortune on batteries, probably more that the cost of the album!!

This was ABC's debut album and we had heard the first 3 singles released before the album came out and we were really looking forward to hearing athe full album and we weren't disappointed. Naturally when we returned home I bought the album on vinyl.

The album featured 5 singles, "Tears Are Not Enough" (which reached number 19 in the UK Singles chart), "Poison Arrow" (which reached number 6 in the UK Singles chart and number 25 in the Billboard Top 100), "The Look Of Love", their biggest hit (which reached number 4 in the UK Singles chart and number 18 in the Billboard Top 100), "All Of My Heart", my favourite ABC track (which reached number 5 in the UK Singles Chart) and "Valentine's Day, which was released as a single in Japan only, something I never realized until I did some research about the album!

The album reached number 1 in the UK Album Chart and also did well in the states, reaching Number 24 on the Billboard Top 100 chart.

Track Listing

Show Me
Poison Arrow
Many Happy Returns
Tears Are Not Enough
Valentine's Day
The Look Of Love (Part 1)
Date Stamp
All Of My Heart
4 Ever 2 Gether
The Look Of Love (Part 4)

ABC released the album "The Lexicon Of Love II" in May 2016 and is as equally good as "The Lexicon Of Love" and definitely is worthy of your attention.

If you have this album in your collection, dig it out and give it a spin!

i-Select #110 (Part 1)

Welcome to part 1 of edition #110 of i-Select on White Lion Radio

This is a series of shows dedicated to electronic/synthpop bands that are unsigned, signed to a small independent label or self release their material.

Listen to the show on Mixcloud here

For more information about all the shows on White Lion Radio please visit our Official Homepage:

https://whitelionradio.myfreesites.net/

White Lion Radio on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/WhiteLionRadio/

Playlist

Metroland - Co-Operation In A Shortened World
Synthetik FM - Europe After The Rain
Cult With No Name - All In The Mind
Conscience - Lies Like Your Life (Remix)
Stereo In Solo Ft Kay Burden - TV News
MORE - Righteous Foolishness
LonelyKlown - Sunday Papered People
Vaylon - In The Shadows
Zero Corporation - Alive
Katja Von Kassel - Walking In West Berlin
Stereo In Solo - Flowers On The Moon (Fused Remix)
Hyperfield - My Only Light
Mechanical Cabaret - Existential
Proletarian Poetry - To the End
Mayah Camara & Sellorekt LA DREAMS - Showdown
Machine Made Pleasure - Freedom
Spin Klass - Greenfields
Francesca e Luigi - Make Me Sad
STARwave - Bolt From The Blue
MORE - The Way She Goes
Conscience - Just To Win (Radio Edit)
Cult With No Name - Scars
Michael Angelaux - Louise
Battlemode - Just Pretend
Synthetik FM - Turn Around And Count 2 Ten

Put The Needle On The Record - Week #37

Put The Needle On The Record Week #37 China Crisis - Working With Fire And Steel (Possible Pop Songs Volume Two)

For this weeks feature we go back to October 1983 and the China Crisis album "Working With Fire And Steel (Possible Pop Songs Volume Two)".

For me China Crisis are one of the most underrated bands from the 1980s, they never got the recognition they deserved, they are still going strong and their most recent studio album "Autumn In The Neighbourhood" is an outstanding piece of work, on a par with some of their best work, they are also a fabulous live act to see. "Working With Fire And Steel" was the bands 2nd album, the follow-up to "Difficult Shapes & Passive Rhythms Some People Think It's Fun To Entertain", it is an album of pure quality and one of my all time favourite albums and contains some wonderful pop nuggets, such as, "Wishful Thinking", "Papua" (which should have been a single as it is one of their very best tracks), "Here Comes A Raincloud" and "Tragedy And Mystery".

The album was recorded at the Amazon Studios in Liverpool and at The Manor Studio in Oxford.

The album featured 4 singles, "Tragedy And Mystery" (which reached number 46 in the UK Singles chart), "Working With Fire And Steel" (which reached number 48 in the UK Singles chart), "Wishful Thinking", without doubt a classic 80s track and their most successful single (which reached number 9 in the UK Singles chart) and "Hanna Hanna", they should have released "Papua" as the 4th single! which reached number 44 in the UK Singles chart.

The album reached number 20 in the UK Albums chart.

Track Listing

Working With Fire And Steel
When The Piper Calls
Hanna Hanna
Animals In Jungles
Here Comes A Raincloud
Wishful Thinking
Tragedy And Mystery
Papua
The Gates Of Door To Door
The Soul Awakening

I highly recommend the 3CD deluxe edition of this album that was released in 2017, it includes B sides, live sessions, demo's and more.

If you have this album in your collection, dig it out and give it a spin!

Maximum 80s #128

Welcome to edition 128 of Maximum 80s here on White Lion Radio, a show that celebrates the 1980s 12 Inch Single!

This a series of shows that features some of the finest 12 Inch Singles from the 80s all in one continuous mix.

The biggest hits in the 12 Inch format from the greatest decade in music history!

Listen to the show on Mixcloud here

Playlist

Secret Service - Flash In The Night (Extended)
Soft Cell - Memorabilia (Extended)
Lionel Richie - Running With The Night (Extended Version)
Wham - Bad Boys (12 Inch Version)
The Associates - Those Forst Impressions (Extended Version)
The Style Council - Have You Ever Had It Blue (12 Inch Version)
Re-Flex - The Politics Of Dancing (12 Inch Extended Mix)
Depeche Mode - Strangelove (Maxi Mix)
Amii Stewart - Friends (Extended Version)
John Foxx - Endlessly (12 Inch Version)
Haywoode - Getting Closer (Extended Version)
Kajagoogoo - Big Apple (Extended 12 Inch Version)

Put The Needle On The Record - Week #36

Put The Needle On The Record Week #36 Wham! - Make It Big

For this weeks feature we go back to November 1984 and the Wham! album "Make It Big".

The 80s wouldn't be the 80s without a bit of Wham! on your turntable would it? This was the duo's 2nd album, the follow up to the album "Fantastic" that me and and my brother had on casette and played it to death in the car at full blast, thinking we were cool!

I prefer "Make It Big" as it definitely has the better songs on it, apparently the album was recorded in France so the duo could top up their tans inbetween recording sessions, why doesn't that surprise me! George Michael also produced the record.

The only drawback for me was the fact the album only contained 8 tracks, however, you can't complain about the quality of the songs, top notch without a doubt. One stand out memory for me about this album was the fact that the video for "Freedom" was on constant rotation in the pubs with video jukeboxes across Manchester, the 12 inch version of the track is superb.

The album featured 4 singles, "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" (which reached number 1 in the UK Singles chart and number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart), "Careless Whisper" (which reached number 1 in the UK Singles chart and number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart), "Freedom", my favourite track on the album (which reached number 1 in the UK Singles chart and number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart) and ""Everything She Wants", which was a double A side with the Christmas classic "Last Christmas" (which reached number 2 in the UK Singles chart and number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart)

The album topped the album charts in both the UK and the States, as well as,numerous places in Europe and beyond. in the UK Album Chart.

Track Listing

Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go
Everything She Wants
Heartbeat
Like A Baby
Freedom
If You Were There
Credit Card Baby
Careless Whisper

If you have this album in your collection, dig it out and give it a spin!

Rubik's 80s Mix #128 (June 1985)

We bring a fresh idea into the Rubik's 80s Mix series, each month we are going to focus on tracks that were in the charts on a specific month in the 1980s, which hopefully will bring back special memories for you, on this show, edition #128, we feature tracks that were in the charts in June 1985.

Tracks by David Bowie, Opus, China Crisis, Tears For Fears, Jaki Graham, Howard Jones, ABC and more are featured on the show.

Listen to the show on Mixcloud here

Playlist

Animotion - Obsession
David Bowie - Loving The Alien
Madonna - Crazy For You
China Crisis - King In A Catholice Style (Wake Up)
ABC - Vanity Kills
Opus - Live Is Life
Tears For Fears - Head Over Heels
Fine Young Cannibals - Johnny Come Home
Howard Jones - Life In One Day
Dead Or Alive - In Too Deep
Stephen "Tin Tin" Duffy - Icing On The Cake
Jaki Graham - Round And Round
Katrina & The Waves - Walking On Sunshine
Sister Sledge - Frankie
Paul Hardcastle - Rain Forest

Put The Needle On The Record - Week #35

Put The Needle On The Record Week #35 Blancmange - Happy Families

For this weeks feature we go back to September 1982 and the Blancmange album "Happy Familes".

This was the bands debut album and I first came across Blancmange via the "Some Bizarre Album" compilation that featured the brilliant "Sad Day", incidently the Some Bizarre album also included unknown acts at the time, Depeche Mode, B-Movie, Soft Cell and The The. They soon got signed to London Records and released the double A side "I've Seen The Word" (one of my top 3 favourite Blancmange tracks) and God's Kitchen (a track I have never liked and baffled why it was released as a single). The album has aged well and is still an album I enjoy listening too. Why later re-issues have the orchestrated version of "Waves" rather than the original version baffles me, the original is miles better. At the time of release the album received mixed reviews and, for me, it is an essential 80s album. One thing is for sure it was a unique sounding album.

I can't recall where I bought this album from, but I do remember the DJ and the Rotters Club in Manchester playing a promo of the new version of "Waves" as part of his set!

The album featured 4 singles, "I've Seen The Word"/"God's Kitchen" (which reached number 65 in the UK Singles chart), "Feel Me" (which reached number 46 in the UK Singles chart), "Living On The Ceiling", their biggest hit (which reached number 7 in the UK Singles chart) and "Waves" (which reached number 19 in the UK Singles Chart).

The album reached number 30 in the UK Album Chart.

Track Listing

I Can't Explain
Feel Me
I've Seen The Word
Wasted
Living On The Ceiling
Waves
Kind
Sad Day
Cruel
God's Kitchen

If you have this album in your collection, dig it out and give it a spin!

i-Select #109 (Part 2)

Welcome to part 1 of edition #109 of i-Select on White Lion Radio

This is a series of shows dedicated to electronic/synthpop bands that are unsigned, signed to a small independent label or self release their material.

Listen to the show on Mixcloud here

For more information about all the shows on White Lion Radio please visit our Official Homepage:

https://whitelionradio.myfreesites.net/

White Lion Radio on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/WhiteLionRadio/

Playlist

More - Fall Behind (Sometimes)
Agonised Too - Love Machine
Sayana - One Day (Radio Edit)
Synthetik FM - Wot
Vaylon - Tranquility
Let's Talk - Dancing In The Rain
Pegasus Asteroid - Dark Blue Ice
Jay Wires - Illusion
The Grab Society - Gratis (Radio Edit)
SUBNEON With Shred Kreuger - Nightbreed - Nightbreed
Maschine Brennt - Anura (Edit)
New Life Generation - Enjoy the Silence 2024 (Video Playlist Remix)
Agonised Too - Sunrise
Symmetrix - Wish
Red Peril - Space Dogs
Rogue FX & Dewar - Livin (Radio Edit)
Vaylon - Under The Sea
Fraula - Travelogue
Virgin Vampires - Virgin Vampires
The Badly Behaved - High as Hell (Radio Edit)
George & The Imagination Machine - Blue Room
Arpraxis - Retro Fitted Memory
Projekt Ich - Peace Is A Wonder (Dark State Remix)
Dreampocket - Outrun The Night (Edit)
Let's Talk - Ship Of Fools
Agonised Too - Summer Suffering
Synthetik FM featuring RE-Active - Lost And Memorized
Vaylon - Underneath The Weeping Willows
STARwave - Where Were Meant to Be
Gulvoss - My Salvation
More - Exactly Who We Were

Synthetik FM Album "Undercover 80s - Volume 1" Reviewed

Synthetik FM is the music project of Bobby Clark, who is based in Knoxville, Tennessee in the states, his influences are clearly 1980s synthpop and New Wave and the new album titled "Underground 80s - Volume 1" (work on volume 2 has already started) is what we are reviewing. The album features his electronic takes on a wide range of 80s artists and he has teamed up with vocalists from all over the world, the interesting thing about this release, is the fact he has chosen some lesser know hits, including music by John Foxx, Robert Palmer, Camouflage, Giorgio Moroder and Captain Sensible, alongside some classic tracks originally recorded by Tears For Fears, Kraftwerk, China Crisis, Modern Talking and more!

The album opens with a refreshing take on the Kraftwerk track "Pocket Calculator", I am a massive Kraftwerk fan and this version is superbly put together, it has been given a modern overhaul with some excellent voice parts, the mix also features sounds heard on Kraftwerk's original.

"Brother Louie", was a very successful single by Modern Talking and the version on this album stays pretty close to the original, it captures the energy of the original and the synth sounds are exceptional, especially those orchestra stabs, a wonderful version of a very popoular song from the 1980s.

I must admit I never anticipated to hear a Captain Sensible track on this album, but that is one of the interesting things about this album, some of the choices are left of centre, and I say that in a positive way, the electronic re-working of "Wot" is fabulous and the vocals are brilliant, the fusion of synths and vocals are just perfect.

The cover of the Giorgio Moroder track "From Here To Eternity" is mindblowing, the disco elements of the original have been brilliantly reproduced....I would love to hear a cover of Donna Summers "I Feel Love"! A flawless re-creation of the music and vocals. A 5 1/2 minute disco romp! The attention to detail of these cover versions is remarkable.

I have to confess the track "Will You Be There" had me stumped, it isn't a track I have heard before and had no idea who did the original version, searching online proved a nightmare because the only results I got were from Michael Jackson's track of the same name! I stuck with it and finally discovered that it was originally recorded by Celebrate The Nun and my word Synthetik FM's version is a mirror image of the original, an amazing cover and the track is excellent, it's catchy and upbeat, brilliant track! I did say that the album included some obscure 80s tracks!

Tears For Fears 80s output was definitely big for me and I'm so pleased to hear a version of "Change", excellent sequencers and a throbbing beat and the vocals are a very close match to the original, I like the atmospheric synth in the track, the other key thing for me is the fact that the version contained here is a dance re-work, definitely a more upbeat version.

"Wishful Thinking" is oustanding, those synths that play the main hook are devine and add atmosphere to the track, nice punchy rhythm and once again the vocal is staggeringly close to the original version, an incredible rendition of China Crisis' biggest hit, one of my favourite tracks on the album.

The atmospheric theme continues on "I Hope I Never", wonderful synth pad sounds that sway, a beautiful rendition of the track originally recorded by Split Enz, excellent vocal too as it isn't an easy track to sing, I love that middle 8 section of the song, I think I only ever heard the original version once or twice and this is a superb cover.

"Images Of Heaven" is another song that fits into the more obscure cover versions on this album, I have never heard the original version before, recorded by Peter Godwin and I listened to the version on this album before listening to the original on YouTube, the version contained here is better than the original, more depth and stronger soundwise, it is superbly produced as is the whole album.

Next we have a cover of the Dead Or Alive track "Turn Around And Count 2 Ten" and it packs a punch, definitelty has the energy of the original, superb music and strong vocal, defintely captures THAT 80s sound, another brilliant cover.

"Johnny And Mary" was originally recorded by Robert Palmer and Featured on his album "Clues" an album I bought back in 1980 because it included a version of the Gary Numan track "I Dream Of Wires"! The version captures the spirit of the original so has that driving bass-line and the synth sounds, another impressive version of one of my favourite Robert Palmer songs.

Next we have a cover of a fabulous track originally recorded by Camouflage, "Love Is A Shield" and it has been superbly replicated here, with once again, the vocals really close to the original, the sounds have more depth and attention to detail has to be admired.

I am so delighted that a John Foxx cover version of "Europe After The Rain" has been recorded for this album, the original is brilliant and John is one of my favourite artists so I know his music and have to say this is a stunning version, brilliant rhythm, atmospheric pads, the original was quite organic soundwise this is a more electronic version and it certainly works really well, another big favourite for me.

The album closes with a cover version of "Lost And Memorized" by Cee Farrow, a song I have never heard before and I love it, really clean sound and again I prefer this version as there is more to it compared to the original, it's a wonderful track and I must delve into the music catalogue of Cee Farrow.

What we have here are 14 superbly produced versions of a wide range of 80s tracks and is a joy to listen too from start to finish, what is appealing is the choice of tracks, to take on the more obscure tracks takes guts and it has paid off big time, a quite stunning album that will be on heavy rotation, the music is exceptional and the vocal talents across all the tracks is to be admired.

As for Bobby, clearly a gifted musician and I would also like to mention Michael Kauzlarich aka X-Sonic, of Johnson City in Tennessee, whom Bobby first worked with back in 2013 when remixing a couple of tracks for him, as in addition to doing vocals on two songs, he mixed and engineered about 98% of the album and has done an exceptional job.

I and I cannot wait for volume 2!!

10/10 A flawless album!

The album will be released on September 7th and is available on CD and as a Digital Download via Bandcamp and White Lion Radio listeners can get themselves a discount of 10% by using the code "lion80" at the checkout:

https://synthetikfm.bandcamp.com/album/wot

You can connect to Synthetik FM on Facebook here:

https://www.facebook.com/synthetikfm

Enjoy the music & Remixes of Synthetik FM on Reverbnation here:

https://www.reverbnation.com/synthetikfm/songs

Find out more about X-Sonic here:   

https://x-sonic.com/