Put The Needle On The Record - Week #80

Put The Needle On The Record Week #80 Roxy Music - Avalon

For this weeks feature we go back to May 1982 and the Roxy Music album "Avalon".

"Avalon" was the 8th album released by Roxy Music and is 1 of only 2 Roxy Music albums I like, the other being "Flesh & Blood", "Avalon" definitely sees the band at their peak, as it is a stunning album and Bryan Ferry is on top form. It is also the bands most successful album and was also the bands last studio album. The album was produced by the band and Rhett Davies.

Stand out tracks for me are "Avalon", "Take A Chance With Me", "To Turn You On", "More Than This" (my favourite track, "The Space Between" and "While My Heart Is Still Beating".

A very interesting fact for you, the sleeve for the record was done by Peter Saville, who is renowned for producing artwork for Joy Division and New Order, I had no idea he had done the cover for this album!

Three singles were released off the album, "More Than This", (which reached number 6 in the UK Singles chart), the title track "Avalon", (which reached number 13 in the UK singles chart) and "Take A Chance With Me", (which reached number 26 in the UK Singles chart).

The album, reached Number 1 in the UK chart album chart.

Track Listing

More Than This
The Space Between
Avalon
India
While My Heart Is Still Beating
The Main Thing
Take A Chance With Me
To Turn You On
True To Life
Tara

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

Maximum 80s #138

Welcome to edition 138 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

Icicle Works - Whisper To A Scream (Extended Club Remix)
Simple Minds - New Gold Dream (German 12 Inch Remix)
Primary Colours - Paint Love Blue (Extended Mix)
Kingdoms - Heartland (Extended Version)
Echo & The Bunnymen - Bring On The Dancing Horses (Extended Mix)
Kissing The Pink - One Step (Extended Remix)
Thomas Dolby - One Of Our Submarines Is Missing (Extended Version)
Fiction Factory - Ghost Of Love (Extended)
Limahl - Never Ending Story - Club Mix)
Lloyd Cole - My Bag (Dancing Remix)
Tears For Fears - Change (Extended Version)
The Game - Walk Away (Special Mix)

Rubik's 80s Mix #138 (February 1988)

White Lion Radio have released edition #138 of Rubik's 80s Mix, on this show, we feature tracks that were in the charts, in February 1988.

 

Listen to the show on Mixcloud here

Playlist For The Show:

Jermaine Stewart - Say It Again
Luther Vandross - Give Me The Reason
Taylor Dayne - Tell It To My Heart
Deacon Blue - Dignity
Eddy Grant - Gimme Hope Jo'Anna
Kylie Minogue - I Should Be So Lucky
Billy Ocean - Get Outta My Dreams Get Into My Car
Alexander O'Neal Ft Cherrelle - Never Knew Love Like This
OMD - Dreaming
The Mission - Tower Of Strength
Sting - An Englishman In New York
Bomb The Bass - Beat Dis
Michael Jackson - Man In The Mirror
Eighth Wonder - I'm Not Scared
Morrissey - Suedehead

Put The Needle On The Record - Week #79

Put The Needle On The Record Week #79 Duran Duran - Seven And The Ragged Tiger

For this weeks feature we go back to November 1983 and the Duran Duran album "Seven And The Ragged Tiger".

This was the bands 3rd album and for me, is their best and most consistant album, with quality tracks from start to finish and some superb 12 inch mixes released on the back of it. The album was recorded in Australia, France and the Caribbean (alright for some!). Surprisingly their was a lot of tension between the band members during the recording of the album which initially saw little productivity owing to arguments about the direction the album was going in.

It didn't get good reviews from the music critics either, however, it was a huge commercial success and also featured some pretty lavish promo videos.

My favourite track on the album is "New Moon On Monday", in addition other tracks that I really like are "The Reflex", "Of Crime And Passion", Shadows On Your Side", "Union Of The Snake", (I'm Looking For) Cracks In The Pavement and The Seventh Stranger". 

3 singles were released off the album "Union Of The Snake" (which reached number 3 in the UK Singles Chart and also number 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100), "New Moon On Monday" (which reached number 9 in the UK Singles Chart and Number 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100) and a remixed version of "The Reflex" by Nile Rodgers (which reached number 1 in both the UK Singles chart and US Billboard Hot 100).

The album reached number 1 in the UK Album Chart

Track Listing

The Reflex
New Moon On Monday
(I'm Looking For) Cracks In The Pavement
I Take The Dice
Of Crime And Passion
Union Of The Snake
Shadows On Your Side
Tiger Tiger
The Seventh Stranger

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

Put The Needle On The Record - Week #78

Put The Needle On The Record Week #78 Philip Oakey & Giorgio Moroder

 

For this weeks feature we go back to July 1985 and the Philip Oakey & Giorgio Moroder album "Philip Oakey & Giorgio Moroder".

This one off self titled album by Philip Oakey & Giorgio Moroder is a fantastic album, filled with pop gems, including the massive hit single "Together In Electric Dreams" and other pop nuggets, including "Good-bye Bad Times" (my favourite track on the album), "Be My Lover Now", "Why Must The Show Go On", it also featured some excellent 12 inch mixes of some of the tracks too.

Apparently, according to Phil Oakey, the album was completed in a matter of days and was produced by Moroder. I've always found it strange that on compilations "Together In Electric Dreams" is credited to The Human League!

Three singles were released off the album, "Together In Electric Dreams", (which reached number 3 in the UK Singles chart), "Good-Bye Bad Times", (which only reached number 52 in the UK singles chart....unbelievable!!) and "Be My Lover Now", (which reached number 74 in the UK Singles chart).

The album, reached Number 52 in the UK chart album chart.

Track Listing

Why Must The Show Go On
In Transit
Good-Bye Bad Times
Brand New Lover
Valerie
Now
Together In Electric Dreams
Be My Lover Now
Shake It Up
Together In Electric Dreams (Extended)
Together In Electric Dreams (Instrumental)
In Transit (Extended)
Good-Bye Bad Times (12 Inch Remix)
Good-Bye Bad Times (Instrumental)
Be My Lover Now (12 Inch Remix)
Be My Lover Now (Instrumental)

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

i-Select #119 (Part 2)

 White Lion Radio have released Part 2 of Edition #119 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

Conscience - Girl In A Car (Update)
eLxAr - All Is Quiet (In The End)
LLUVA & Sonia - After A Thousand Moments
Perfect Female Type - Epsilon Drift
Metroland - The Smaller Reset
David Ehrke - Futureworld
Late Night Hour - Knight Rider
Neonshe - It Girl
K.A.R.R Ft JJ Mist - Runaway Heart
Jay Cee - Torch Songs For Divas (Vocoder Mix)
7 Rising - Come Back
Scenius - Beat The Light
Après La Nuit - Save Your Soul (Antiflvx Remix)
Kvasi - Kom Ihag Potatis
LightSource Ft Neon Shards - Into The Grey
Andrew Corbin - We Could Be On Fire
eLxAr - Bliss In D
Church Of Trees - Mystery Boys (RSDystopianMix)
Conscience - You Can't Change The World (Update)

Put The Needle On The Record - Week #77

Put The Needle On The Record Week #77 Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark - Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

For this weeks feature we go back to February 1980 and the self titled debut album by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark.

I actually discovered OMD by listening to a session they recorded for John Peel and also bought their singles, "Electricity" (how this wasn't a massive hit I will never know, quite possibly one of the catchiest songs ever released!) and "Red Frame White Light", a song about a telephone box in Liverpool the band used as their "business office".

It is such a raw sounding album, which for me, makes it a fabulous album, a fine example of this is the version of "Messages" that is on the album compared to the re-recorded version released as a single. Lots to enjoy on this album, my favourite tracks are "Bunker Soldiers", "Almost" (B-Side of the "Electricity Single"), "Electricty" (obviously), "The Messerschmitt Twins", one of my favourite OMD tracks, "Messages", "Red Frame White Light" and "Pretending To See The Future", the only track that I have never liked on the album is "Dancing".

The concept of the album is centred around war themes, the album was self produced at their own studios in Liverpool, built from their advance received off the record label, however, Andy and Paul were never happy with the production and described their efforts as naive.

It was at this point that OMD expanded to 4 members, with Martin Cooper and Malcolm Holmes joining the band, they had performed as a duo up until that point and used backing tapes on a 4 track tape recorder that was given the name "Winston".

Reviews of the album were generally positive.

I bought the LP on the day of release from a record store in the Arndale Centre in Manchester, possible called "Bradley's", an interesting bit of information for you, the LP included an address that you could write to for more information on the band, which I sent a letter too and actually received a reply from Andy and Paul and they enclosed information about the bands history, typed information sheets about the instruments they used and they were signed by Andy and Paul, 45 years on I still have this wonderful artifact, so it is probably extremely rare!

3 singles were released off the album, "Electricity", (which reached number 99 in the UK Singles chart - baffling beyond belief!), "Red Frame White Light" (which reached number 67 in the UK singles chart) and "Messages" (which reached number 13 in the UK singles chart)

The album, reached Number 27 in the UK chart album chart.

Track Listing

Bunker Soldiers
Almost
Mystereality
Electricity
The Messerschmitt Twins
Messages
Julia's Song
Red Frame White Light
Dancing
Pretending To See The Future

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

i-Select #119 (Part 1)

 White Lion Radio have released Part 1 of Edition #119 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

BlakLight - Buried Alive
Matthew Nowhere Ft Lunar Twin - Transforming
Eric C Powell & Andrea Powell - The Getaway (Graflex Italo Remix)
Projekt Ich Ft Conscience - Leave My Dreams
Hatif - On Our Own
Lonelyklown - The End Of The World
Mayah Camara - Crush
Obsession Of Time - Scared Now
MTTM - Electricity
Exposed Brick - Kafka's Laughter
Melo - I Don't Speak French
Knights - Supernatural Lover
ReveLever - Never For Granted
Björn Norestig -  Rose
Eno - Waiting For A Sign
DRUMxWAVE Ft The Bad Dreamers - Stars
Projekt Ich Ft Frecuencias Ocultas - (Un(d)AbtanzBAR Mix I)
Hatif - Sleight Of Hand
BlakLight - One Last Time

Put The Needle On The Record #76

Put The Needle On The Record Week #76 Pet Shop Boys - Introspective

For this weeks feature we go back to October 1988 and the Pet Shop Boys album "Introspective.

"Introspective is the 3rd album released by the Pet Shop Boys and was a unique release, in that the album featured 12 inch mixes of all the tracks on the album, some of which were then edited into more radio friendly mixes and it is a fabulous album, it contained just 6 songs, all of which are brilliant, it of course features the classics, "Left To My Own Devices" and "Domino Dancing", as well as, another big favourite of mine "I'm Not Scared", which Neil and Chris originally wrote for Eighth Wonder, the album also includes one of their best ever tracks, a cover of the hit "Always On My Mind" and the mix on Introspective is a real banger!!

It was well recieved by music critics and has sold over 600,000 copies in the UK alone.

The tracks "Left To My Own Devices" and "It's Alright" were produced by Trevor Horn, "Always On My Mind", was co-produced by the Pet Shop Boys and Julian Mendelsohn, and the other 3 songs on the album were produced by the Pet Shop Boys and Frankie Knuckles ("I Want A Dog"), Lewis A. Martinee ("Dominio Dancing") and David Jacob (I'm Not Scared").

Three singles were released off the album, "Domino Dancing", (which reached number 7 in the UK Singles chart), "Left To My Own Devices", (which reached number 4 in the UK singles chart) and "It's Alright", (which reached number 5 in the UK Singles chart).

The album, reached Number 2 in the UK chart album chart.

Track Listing

Left To My Own Devices
I Want A Dog
Domino Dancing
I'm Not Scared
Always On My Mind/In My House
It's Alright

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

Maximum 80s #137

 

Welcome to edition 137 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

Psychedelic Furs - Pretty In Pink (Berlin Mix)
Tears For Fears - Pale Shelter (Extended Version)
Erasure - Chains Of Love (The Unfettered Mix)
Secret Wish - London Dancing (12 Inch Remix)
Marc Almond - Tears Run Rings (The Justin Strauss Remix)
Vitamin Z - Burning Flame (Extended Dance Mix)
Sean Novack - This Is Your Captain (Extended)
Bryan Ferry - Slave To Love (12 Inch Remix)
Seona Dancing - Bitter Heart (+3 BPM Remix)
White China - Real World (Extended Version)
Radio Movie - Do What You Want (Long Version)
Q Lazzarus - Goodbye Horses (Extended Version)

Put The Needle On The Record - Week #75

Put The Needle On The Record Week #75 New Order - Low-Life

For this weeks feature we go back to May 1985 and the New Order album "Low-Life.

"Low-Life" was New Orders 3rd album, released by Factory Records and was the follow-up to "Power Corruption & Lies" and is more electronic than their previous albums, something that makes this album, one of my favourite New Order albums and was an album a played to death on the cassette player in my car during 1985! It has been an album that is rarely talked about, which is a shame, because it is an excellent album.

Whilst the album only contains 8 tracks it is quality from start to finish, my favourite tracks on it are "Love Vigilantes", "The Perfect Kiss", "Sub-Culture", "Face Up" and "Elegia". By the way Neil Tennant reviewed the album for Smash Hits, before making it big as part of the Pet Shop Boys, rated this album New Order's best to date, high praise indeed. 

New Order produced the album themselves and Peter Saville designed the artwork, which was quite unique, as it featured photograpns of all members of the band. The album was certified silver on the back of 60,000 plus sales in the UK

Just two singles were released off the album, "The Perfect Kiss", one of their very best singles for me, the 12 inch is a masterpiece, (which reached number 46 in the UK Singles chart - absolutely criminal it only reached that chart position), and "Sub-Culture", which was remixed by John Robie, (which reached number 63 in the UK singles chart....another baffling fact!).

The album, reached Number 7 in the UK chart album chart.

Track Listing

Love Vigilantes
The Perfect Kiss
This Time Of Night
Sunrise
Elegia
Sooner Than You Think
Sub-Culture
Face-Up

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

Rubik's 80s Mix #137 (July 1984)

White Lion Radio have released edition #137 of Rubik's 80s Mix, on this show, we feature tracks that were in the charts, in July 1984.

Listen to the show on Mixcloud here

Find out more about our shows on our official webpage:

https://whitelionradio.myfreesites.net/

And on our Facebook page:

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

Playlist For The Show:

Prince - When Doves Cry
Shannon - Sweet Somebody
The Human League - Life On Your Own
The Thompson Twins - Sister Of Mercy
Ultravox - Lament
Divine - You Think You're A Man
Blancmange - The Day Before You Came
A Flock Of Seagulls - The More You Live The More You Love
Queen - It's A Hard Life
Hazell Dean - Whatever I Do (Wherever I Go)
Michael Jackson - Farewell My Summer Love
Tina Turner - What's Love Got To Do With It
Jeffrey Osborne - On The Wings Of Love
Echo & The Bunnymen - Seven Seas
Phil Fearon & Galaxy - Everybody's Laughing

Put The Needle On The Record - Week #74

Put The Needle On The Record Week #74 Ultravox - Rage In Eden

For this weeks feature we go back to September 1981 and the Ultravox album "Rage In Eden".

"Rage In Eden" was the 5th album released by Ultravox (2nd Midge Ure era release) and was the follow up to "Vienna". It was always going to be difficult to release this album and for it to be as good as "Vienna", I must admit I wasn't overly impressed with it when it first came out, however, over the years I have re-assessed it and feel it is an excellent album, in the main. Like "Vienna" the album only featured 9 tracks and aside from "The Ascent" and "Accent On Youth" it is a good solid album, I immediately liked "The Voice", a superb song and in my Top 5 Ultravox tracks, "The Thin Wall" took a while to grow on me, whilst the tracks "Your Name (Has Slipped My Mind Again)" and "I Remember (Death In The Afternoon)" are also standout tracks on the album.

The album was once again co-produced by Conny Plank and the sleeve artwork was designed by Peter Saville (who is well known for his album cover designs for the likes of New Order and Joy Division.

I actually saw the band live on the tour to promote this album at the Manchester Apollo, the only time I have seen them live, from what I recall they were fabulous live.

Only 2 singles were released off the album, "The Thin Wall" (which reached number 14 in the UK Singles chart) and "The Voice" (which reached number 16 in the UK Singles chart - it deserved to do better than that!).

The album, reached Number 4 in the UK Album chart.

Track Listing

The Voice
We Stand Alone
Rage In Eden
I Remember (Death In The Afternoon)
The Thin Wall
Stranger Within
Accent On Youth
The Ascent
Your Name (Has Slipped My Mind Again)

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

i-Select #118 (Part 2)

 White Lion Radio have released Part 2 of Edition #118 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

The Gliding Faces - Lift
Nova - Frequency
Hoffman Cruise - Drive
Fragile Child - Broken Soul
Lyst - Ray Tracer
Gulvoss - Lord Of The Game
Rogue FX - Great Escape
Mayah Camara Ft Perfect Female Type - Play Your Games
The Gliding Faces - Wake Me Up Tonight (People Theatre Dungeon Remix)
Late Night Hour - Flynns Arcade
Richard Evans - Born Perfect
Arpraxis - Love Of The 80s
Dilemmachine - Fred
MTTM - Beyond The Sea
Arvid Tuba - Take Me to Metropolis
CRED - To Hold On
Power Rob & Night Rider 87 - In The Desert
JXNS - Where The Roads Unwind
Lluva - Lobo Hombre En Paris
The Gliding Faces - What We Had
Hoffman Cruise - Stardust
Fragile Child - Broken Soul
Proletarian Poetry - State Of The World

Put The Needle On The Record #73

Put The Needle On The Record Week #73 Depeche Mode - Violator

For this weeks feature we go back to March 1990 and the Depeche Mode album "Violator".

"Violator" by Depeche Mode, is regarded as the bands best album and it is hard to argue when you look at the high quality of tracks on the album, "World In My Eyes", "Halo", "Personal Jesus", "Waiting For The Night", "Enjoy The Silence" and "Policy Of Truth", that said, I do think the final 2 tracks on the album "Blue Dress" and "Clean" are fillers. On my MP3 player I have replaced the last 2 tracks with "Happiest Girl" and "Sea Of Sin", which were part of the "World In My Eyes" single release.

The album was produced by Flood and was warmly received by music critics and is one of the albums that was included in the book, 1001 albums you must hear before you die, the album sold over 7 1/2 million copies.

One observation is, that the singles released off this album are outstanding, probably the best collection of singles that have ever been released off any album.

Four singles were released off the album, "Personal Jesus" (which reached number 13 in the UK Singles chart and number 28 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the states), "Enjoy The Silence", one of my all time favourite Depeche Mode tracks, (which reached number 6 in the UK singles chart and number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the states), "Policy Of Truth", (which reached number 16 in the UK Singles chart and number 15 in the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the states) and "World In My Eyes, (which reached number 17 in the UK Singles chart and number 52 in the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the states).

The album, reached Number 2 in the UK chart and number 7in the Billboard 200 chart.

Track Listing

World In My Eyes
Sweetest Perfection
Personal Jesus
Halo
Waiting For The Night
Enjoy The Silence
Policy Of Truth
Blue Dress
Clean

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

i-Select #118 (Part 1)

White Lion Radio have released Part 1 of Edition #118 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

Conscience - Parallel worlds
Alenis - As She Dances
Psy'Aviah Ft Sorrow Stories - Healing (Lectreau's Radio Process 7inch Mix)
Demokratie - And Then (Radio Edit)
Matthew Nowhere - Echoes Still Remain
The Rude Awakening - Plastic Friend (dEk101 Adagio Mix)
April O'Neil & DMME - When The Party Is Over
Michelle Ward Ft Ed Rome - What I Wanted
Nature Of Wires - Dead To Me
Matthew Nowhere - Love Is Only What We Are (Radio Edit)
SIXMIXSIX - Unspoken
Iammilan - Why Would I Lie To You (Idiot Synchrony Radio Edit)
Alan Dreezer - Apart
Tenodi Boris Ft Kosmic Kiss - Sand Dune
Conscience - Between The lines (EP Version)
Jay Cee - Ergo I Win
Demokratie - Living A Boy's Adventure Tale (Radio Edit)
Out Runner - Blackout
Alenis - As She Dances
Matthew Nowhere Ft Lunar Twin - Transforming
Split Vision - Blasphemous Rumours (Depeche Mode Cover)
April O'Neil - Twilight Dreamscape

Put The Needle On The Record - Week #72

Put The Needle On The Record Week #72 Michael Jackson - Thriller

 For this weeks feature we go back to November 1982 and the Michael Jackson album "Thriller".

Who doesn't own a copy of the Michael Jackson album "Thriller"! It is the biggest selling album of all time, shifting 70 million copies. The album cost $750,000 to make and was recorded between April and November in 1982.

The album was Jackson's 6th studio album and features some of his biggest hits and best tracks, such as, "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'", "Thriller", "Beat It", "Billie Jean" and my favourite track off the album "Human Nature". It was produced by Quincy Jones and of course featured some groundbreaking video's, including the title track "Thriller". The album was warmly received by music critics and hit the top of the charts in many countries around the world.

Seven singles were released off the album (it only featured 9 tracks!), "The Girl Is Mine", an odd choice for first single, as for me, it is the weakest track on the album, (which reached number 8 in the UK Singles chart), "Billie Jean" (which reached number 1 in the UK Singles chart and number 1 in the States), "Beat It", (which reached number 3 in the UK Singles chart and Number 1 in the states), "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'", (which reached number 8 in the UK Singles chart and number 5 in the States), "Human Nature", not released as a single in the UK (Which reached number 7 in the Billboard chart in the states), "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing"), (which reached number 11 in the UK Singles chart and number 10 in the states) and "Thriller", (which reached number 10 in the UK Singles chart and number 4 in the states). .

The album, reached Number 1 in both the UK Album chartand The Billboard Top 200 in America.

Track Listing

Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
Baby Be Mine
The Girl Is Mine (With Paul McCartney)
Thriller
Beat It
Billie Jean
Human Nature
P.Y.T (Pretty Young Thing)
The Lady In My Life

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

Maximum 80s #136

Welcome to edition 136 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

Virgin Dance - The Dream Is Over (We Can Do It) (Extended Version)
A-Ha - Train Of Thought (US Mix)
Paul Young - Come Back And Stay (Extended Club Mix)
Howard Jones - Things Can Only Get Better (Extended Mix)
OMD - If You Leave (Extended Version)
The Cure - Close To Me (12 Inch Mix)
Belouis Some - Some People (The Population Boom Boom Mix)
The Book Of Love - Pretty Boys And Pretty Girls (Extended Mix)
The Art Of Noise - Moments In Love (DMC Remix)
The Twins - Ballet Dancer (Long Version)
Cutting Edge - Country Boy (Special Extended Version)
Dead Or Alive - In Too Deep (Off Yer Mong Mix)

Put The Needle On The Record - Week #71

Put The Needle On The Record Week #71 Marc Almond - Tenement Symphony

For this weeks feature we go back to October 1991 and the Marc Almond album "Tenement Symphony".

As well as being a massive Soft Cell fan, I also enjoy the electronic side of Marc Almond's solo work and "Tenement Symphony", his 7th album as a solo artist is excellent and includes my favourite Marc Almond solo track "My Hand Over My Heart", a song written with Dave Ball, the other half of Soft Cell, it is a stunning tracks, other gems on this album include "Jacky", "Meet Me In My Dream" (another track co-wrote with Dave Ball) and "The Days Of Pearly Spencer". I don't think it quite reaches the heights of his album "The Stars We Are", that is his best album, along with "The Velvet Trail" (highly recommend this album, a stunning piece of work, with every track being outstanding).

The album features some top notch artists that helped with the recording of the album, the likes of Trevor Horn, Anne Dudley, Dave Ball, JJ Belle and a host of other fabulous musicians.

Three singles was released off the album, "Jacky" (which reached number 17 in the UK Singles chart), "My Hand Over My Heart" (which reached number 33 in the UK Singles chart....criminal!! it should have made number 1) and "The Days Of Pearly Spencer" (which reached number 4 in the UK Singles chart).

The album, surprisingly, only reached number 39 in the UK Album chart.

Track Listing

Meet Me In My Dream
Beautiful Brutal Thing
I've Never Seen Your Face
Vaudeville and Burlesque
Champagne
Prelude
Jacky
What Is Love
Trois Chansons de Bilitis (Extract)
The Days Of Pearly Spencer
My Hand Over My Heart

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

Rubik's 80s Mix #136 (March 1987)

White Lion Radio have released edition #136 of Rubik's 80s Mix, on this show, we feature tracks that were in the charts, in March 1987.

Listen to the show on Mixcloud here

Find out more about our shows on our official webpage:

https://whitelionradio.myfreesites.net/

And on our Facebook page:

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

Playlist For The Show:

Freddie Mercury - The Great Pretender
Mel & Kim - Respectable
Alison Moyet - Weak In The Prescence Of Beauty
Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Watching The Wildlife
Genesis - Tonight Tonight Tonight
The Style Council - Waiting
Fine Young Cannibals- Ever Fallen In Love
Kool & The Gang - Stone Love
Club Nouveau - Lean On Me
U2 - With Or Without You
The Mission - Severina
The Whispers - And The Beat Goes On
Boy George - Everything I Own
Pepsie & Shirley - Heartache
Dead Or Alive - Hooked On Love

Put The Needle On The Record - Week #70

Put The Needle On The Record Week #70 Soft Cell - Non-Stop Ecstatic Dancing

For this weeks feature we go back to June 1982 and the Soft Cell album "Non-Stop Ecstatic Dancing".

Non Stop Ecstatic Dancing is a remix' album, that features 2 remixes of tracks from Soft Cell's debut album "Non Stop Erotic Cabaret", as well as a remixes of two of their early singles "Memorabilia" and "A Man Could Get Lost", as well as, a new cover version, the track "What", and finally a remix of the B side of "Where Did Our Love Go" (one of my all time favourite Soft Cell songs). The album features 6 tracks in all and is regarded as one of the first remix albums to be released, The Human League were first with their remix album "Love And Dancing".

Originally, the album was set to be produced by Donald Fagen of Steely Dan, and several tracks co-written by him were recorded, but those songs were shelved due to label disputes with MCA Records. The whole album had to be scrapped due to songwriting liabilities and Soft Cell famously had to write and record the album in the span of one week!

Just one single was released off the album, the track "What" (which reached number 3 in the UK Singles chart), the b-side was called "....So"!

The album reached number 6 in the UK Album chart.

By the way a new 2CD edition is being released in June, that features previously unreleased bonus tracks.

Track Listing

Memorabilia
Where Did Our Love Go
What
A Man Could Get Lost
The Twilight Hour
Chips On My Shoulder
Sex Dwarf
*Tainted Love/Where Did Our Love Go (Extended)
*Memorabilia (Extended)
*What (Extended)
*So (Extended)
*Torch (Extended)
*Insecure Me

*1998 CD Bonus Tracks

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

i-Select #117 (Part 2)

White Lion Radio have released Part 2 of Edition #117 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

O.a.G. - Reach Out (Marc O'rell Remix)
Eden Future - Telekinetic Visions
Sex Code - Your silent face
Arvid Tuba - I Want To Be Rebooted
Red Cell - The Pale Waltz
3DAYWKEND Ft Nolo - Feel The NRG
MTTM - Meet Me At The End
In Absentia - Enola Gay
Sad Devotion - Out There
Scenius - Funny Sky
Muricidae - Euphoria
Radiohimlen & SCALA - Celsius
Eckotrigger - Endless Fall
B De Carey - I Don t Want To Be A Hero (Radio Mix)
Out Runner - Neon Heart
SIXMIXSIX - Johnny
Elin Engdahl Ft Elitronic - Bound For Glory
Lyst & Broken Videos - Re-Animator
Arkavoid - Black Eyes
O.a.G. - This Isn't Sorry (New Hope Mix)
Hyperfield - The Power Of Love
K3rpat & Arpraxis - Madam Don't Crash For Shane (Arpraxis Remix)
Avoid-A-Void - Dance Of Dead
Conscience - Black lines (EP Version)
Split Vision - Love to Hate You (Erasure Cover)

Put The Needle On The Record - Week #69

Put The Needle On The Record Week #69 Japan - Gentlemen Take Polaroids

For this weeks feature we go back to November 1980 and the Japan album "Gentlemen Take Polaroids".

"Gentlemen Take Polaroids" was the 4th album released by Japan and their first released via Virgin Records. I will be honest I wasn't a massive fan of Japan, I liked some of their singles but their albums did nothing for me, with the exception of this album, which is definitely their best long player and features some outstanding tracks, especially "Gentlemen Take Polaroids", "Nightporter", "Taking Islands In Africa" (Co-Written with Ryuichi Sakamoto) and "Methods Of Dance".

The album sold reasonably well, however, it received mixed reviews by music critics.

Two singles were released off the album, the title track and my favourite track on the album (which reached number 60 in the UK Singles chart) and "Nightporter", released after the band split up (which reached number 29 in the UK Singles chart).

The album reached number 51 in the UK Album chart.

Track Listing

Gentlemen Take Polaroids
Swing
Burning Bridges
My New Career
Methods Of Dance
Ain't That Peculiar
Nightporter
Taking Islands In Africa

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

i-Select #117 (Part 1)

 White Lion Radio have released Part 1 of Edition #117 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 - Childhood Memories
Conny Olivetti - Feelings Good Or Bad
Mayah Camara - Boyfriend
Future Analog Ft NEONshe - Algorithm
Sund Ft James Knights - I Die For This Love
LonelyKlown - Lonely Night 74
Nuance - Miracle Man (Radio Edit)
Projekt Ich Ft Frecuencias Ocultas - Say It And Stay With Me
Voith - In The Shadows (We Fall In Love)
Hurtsfall - Robert Smith's Eyes (Matt Pop Mix)
Nature Of Wires Ft Luka - Rise Of The Light
Rogue FX - Mind Corporation
Exposed Brick - Another Woman
Stefania Avolio - Goosebumps
Conny Olivetti - The Future
Positronic - Praise
The Gliding Faces - Runway (Single Mix)
Future Analog - Only Have Eyes For You
Christopher Anton - Heartbeat One (REActive Tachycardia Radio Edit)
JXNS - We Never Felt The Fall
Future Analog Ft Wesley Reid & Roz Ireland - Summer Of Love
LonelyKlown - Wrong (Abnormal)
Voith - Alone With You
Conny Olivetti - Can You Fix My Sound
Stefania Avolio - White Veil

Put The Needle On The Record - Week #68

Put The Needle On The Record Week #68 The The - Soul Mining

For this weeks feature we go back to October 1983 and the The The album "Soul Mining".

I first came across The The (Matt Johnson) via the brilliant "Some Bizarre Album" compilation released in 1981, an album that not only featured The The, it also included new and upcoming bands like Depeche Mode (early version of "Photographic"), Soft Cell ("The Girl With The Patent Leather Face"), Blancmange ("Sad Day") and B-Movie ("Moles"). The track that was included by The The was called "Untitled".

Fast forward to 1982.....I saw that The The had released a new 12 inch single called "Uncertain Smile", which I bought and thought it was excellent, it is around a 10 minute version of the track and I liked its unique sound, interestingly it was produced by Mike Thorne, who had also produced the singles released by Soft Cell around that time (Tainted Love, Bedsitter, Say Hello Wave Goodbye, Torch and What).

The album "Soul Mining" featured a new recording of "Uncertain Smile" (I still prefer the original 12 inch) and also included a couple of my all time favourite tracks, "This Is The Day" and "Perfect" (Again this featured a re-recorded version), the latter didn't appear on all versions of the album released. Another highlight on the album for me is the track "I've Been Waitin' For Tomorrow (All My Life)". It is always an album I enjoy listening from time to time as it prods some happy memories in my life.

Sadly it is the only album I have by them as after this release I didn't like the music they produced, however, I have very happy to have this album in my collection.

Another interesting fact for you, his Matt Johnson's brother designed all the sleeves for The The releases.

The album was warmly received by music critics and sold reasonably well.

Three singles were released off the album, "Uncertain Smile (Oroginal Version)" (which reached number 68 in the UK Singles chart), a remixed version of "Perfect" (which reached number 79 in the UK Singles chart) and the brilliant "This Is The Day" (which reached number 71 in the UK Singles chart).

The album reached number 27 in the UK Album chart.

Track Listing

I've Been Waitin' For Tomorrow (All My Life)
This Is The Day
The Sinking Feeling
Uncertain Smile
The Twilight Hour
Soul Mining
Giant
Perfect*+

*1987 CD Release Only
+Australia, New Zealand, Canada & United States Release Only

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

Maximum 80s #135

Welcome to edition 135 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

Blancmange - Don't Tell Me (Dance Remix)
Kraftwerk - Tour De France (Kling Klang Version)
Fleetwood Mac - Little Lies (Extended Version)
Telekin - Imagination (Extended Version)
Shalamar - Over And Over (12 Inch Version)
Landscape - Einstein A Go Go (12 Inch Mix)
Talk Talk - Living In Another World (Extended Remix)
Tavares - Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel (12 Inch Version)
The Pointer Sisters - Goldmine (Shep Pettibone Extended Remix)
Erasure - Victim Of Love (Extended Mix)
Jermaine Stewart - We Don't Have To Take Our Clothes Off (Dance Remix)
Pet Shop Boys - In The Night (Disco Version)

Put The Needle On The Record - Week #67

Put The Needle On The Record Week #67 Holly Johnson - Blast

For this weeks feature we go back to April 1989 and the Holly Johnson album "Blast".

Life after Frankie Goes To Hollywood, goes on for Holly Johnson, with this excellent debut solo album "Blast", an album a friend of mine lent me and I was really surprised at how good it was, with my favourite tracks being "Love Train", "Americanos", "Heaven's Here" and "Feel Good". I never knew that Queen's Brian May plays guitar on "Love Train"!  

It was an album that sold over 300,000 copies (artists today can only dream of sales like that!) and stayed in the UK Album chart for 17 weeks, Holly himself stated that his favourite tracks on the album were "Love Will Come" and "Heaven's Here", the title of the album apparently comes from the title of a short lived magazine named "Blast".

Four singles were released off the album, "Love Train" (the 12 inch mixes are superb!), (which reached number 11 in the UK Singles chart), "Americanos", (which also reached number 11 in the UK Singles chart), "Atomic City", (which reached number 18 in the UK Singles chart) and "Heaven's Here", (which surprisingly only reached number 62 in the UK Singles chart).

The album reached number 1 in the UK Album chart.

Track Listing

Atomic City
Heaven's Here
Americanos
Deep In Love
S.U.C.C.E.S.S
Love Train
Got It Made
Love Will Come
Perfume
Feel Good

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

Rubik's 80s Mix #135 (July 1982)

White Lion Radio have released edition #135 of Rubik's 80s Mix, on this show, we feature tracks that were in the charts, in July 1982.

Listen to the show on Mixcloud here

Find out more about our shows on our official webpage:

https://whitelionradio.myfreesites.net/

And on our Facebook page:

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

Playlist For The Show:

The Jam - Just Who Is The Five O'Clock Hero
Bananarama - Shy Boy
Irene Cara - Fame
Trio - Da Da Da
Hot Chocolate - It Started With A Kiss
Yazoo - Don't Go
Madness - Driving In My Car
Kid Creole & The Coconuts - Stool Pigeon
The Stranglers - Strange Little Girl
Talk Talk - Today
Survivor - Eye Of The Tiger
Blancmange - Feel Me
The Fun Boy Three - Summertime
Boystown Gang - Can't Take My Eyes Off You
Bucks Fizz - Now Those Days Are gone

Put The Needle On The Record - Week #66

Put The Needle On The Record Week #66 - Heaven 17 - Penthouse And Pavement

For this weeks feature we go back to September 1981 and the Heaven 17 album "Penthouse And Pavement".

Heaven 17 formed when Martyn Ware and Ian Craig White were turfed out of The Human League, which was an acrimonious split, Glenn Gregory joined Heaven 17 as their lead vocalist.

"Penthouse And Luxury" was the debut album released by the band in 1981, the same year that the new Human League album "Dare" was released, It is clear that both bands strived to produce outstanding albums. "Dare" was clearly the more successful of the two, however, both should be considered 80s classics.

There are plenty of highlights on "Penthouse And Pavement", the lead track, "Play To Win", "The Height Of The Fighting", "(We Don't Need This) Fascist Groove Thang", We're Going To Live For A Very Long Time" and my personal favourite off the album "Let's All Make A Bomb"

The album was well recieved by the music critics, especially in the New Musical Express, that rated the album as the 5th best album of 1981, Dare was awarded 6th place (not sure I agree with that!) and Smash Hits who rated the album 8/10.

Four singles were released off the album, "(We Don't Need) This Fascist Groove Thang" (which reached number 45 in the UK Singles Chart), "Play To Win" (which reached number 46 in the UK Singles Chart), "Penthouse And Pavement" (which reached number 57 in the UK Singles Chart) and "The Height Of The Fighting (He-La-Lu), (which failed to chart).

The album reached number 14 in the UK Album chart.

Track Listing

(We Don't Need This) Fascist Groove Thang
Penthouse and Pavement
Play To Win
Soul Warfare
Geisha Boys and Temple Girls
Let's All Make A Bomb
The Height Of The Fighting (He-La-Hu)
Song With No Name
We're Going To Live For A Very Long Time

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

Put The Needle On The Record - Week #65

Put The Needle On The Record Week #65 Yazoo - You And Me Both

For this weeks feature we go back to July 1983 and the Yazoo album "You And Me Both".

"You And Me Both" was the second album and final album released by Yazoo, it also saw the final nail in the coffin for band due to musical differences Vince & Alison parted ways, fortunately, their parting gift was a cracking album, equally as good as their debut "Upstairs At Erics".

The album features some of Yazoo's best ever tracks, Including, "Nobody's Diary", "Mr Blue", "Anyone" and "Walk Away From Love" (which should have been a single), I also like the throw away track "Happy People", sung by Vince! Apparently it was a song Alison refused to sing!

As with their debut album "You And Me Both" was produced by Eric Radcliffe and was well liked by most of the music critics.

A shame really, the partnership fizzled out after the album was released.

Only one single was released from this album, which was "Nobody's Diary" (which reached number 3 in the UK Singles chart), it is also Vince Clarke's favourite Yazoo track  and it is a song that was written by Alison Moyet, so things can't have been that bad, I agree with Vince, it is their best track.

The album reached number 1 in the UK Album chart.

Track Listing

Nobody's Diary
Softly Over
Sweet Thing
Mr Blue
Good Times
Walk Away From Love
Ode To Boy
Unmarked
Anyone
Happy People
And On

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

i-Select #116 (Part 2)

White Lion Radio have released Part 2 of Edition #116 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

Hollywood Brown - Made 4 Me
Michael Angelaux - Dance In The Rain
Second Complex - No Mercy
Confect - Voidbound
Mcl ft Maria Geo - Run to You (Silvr Sage Remix)
Sub Neon- Nightbreed (Woren Remix)
Lunar Plexus - The Game
AC83 - Starstruck (Retrosynth & Retroreverb)
JXNS - Figures And Rust
Manco - High On Love
Rogue FX - Renegades
Pumpkin Connection Ft Tulika Srivastava - Jaadu (Thierry Sent)
Perfect Female Type - Skunk Hunter
Little Finger - Beautiful Day (The Rude Awakening Remix)
Starsign - Steal The Sun
Symmetrix - Open Mind
MNTL - Need Your Lovin
Michael Angelaux - The Prisoner
Ray Gun Hero - Transcending Skyscrapers
The Safety Word & Bending Grid - Vanity Life (Bending Grid Remix)
Confect - Eternal Sleep
Arvid Tuba - I Am Prompting
Hollywood Brown - Miami Beach
Miami Dan - Tampa Nightlife
Second Complex - No Way Out
Covered In Snow - Homecoming

Put The Needle On The Record - Week #64

Put The Needle On The Record Week #64 Erasure - Wonderland

For this weeks feature we go back to May 1986 and the Erasure album "Wonderland".

"Wonderland" was the debut album released by Erasure and amazingly wasn't a success at all, which, even to this day amazes me as it is such a brilliant album, with plenty of pop nuggets, some of my favourite Erasure tracks are on this album, such as, "My Heart So Blue", "Cry So Easy", "Reunion", "Who Needs Love Like That" and "Oh L'Amour", if you are looking for the perfect synthpop album, this is it, the songwriting is exceptional with hooks a plenty, if you love electronic/synthpop music, you really should have this album in your collection.

I actually bought this album on the strength of the songs the band performed in a Radio 1 session, especially "Who Needs Love Like That". The album was warmly received by critics and rightly so.

Personally I rate this one of Erasure's best ever albums and overall is much better, than their breakthrough album, "The Circus" and is another album that is still refreshing to listen to some 39 years after it was released!

Three singles were released off the album, "Who Needs Love Like That", (which reached number 55 in the UK Singles chart and when it was re-released in 1992 it reached number 10), "Heavenly Action" (which reached number 100 in the UK Singles chart) and "Oh 'Amour" (which reached number 85 in the UK Singles chart).

The album reached number 71 on the UK Album chart.

Track Listing

Who Needs Love Like That
Reunion
Cry So Easy
Push Me Shove Me
Heavenly Action
Say What
Love Is A Loser
Senseless
My Heart ..... So Blue
Oh L'Amour
Pistol
* Say What (Remix)
* March On Down The Line (Remix)
* Senseless (Remix)

*CD Bonus tracks

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

i-Select #116 (Part 1)

White Lion Radio have released Part 1 of Edition #116 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

The Moons Of Jupiter - Beautiful Life
Platronic - How To Ride The Wave
Benjamin Russell - Blossom (Radio Mix)
Of What Remains - Darkwoods
s475e - Alien Boogie
Metroland - Activity As A Short Timetrigger
Kraftman - Computer Love
Resolution Ft Rob Lowe - Shenandoah
AC83 - Phantoms
Midnight Hi-Fi - Dreamnet.
Melo - Glitter
Projekt Ich Ft MaXi - Heart Of Gold
The Moons Of Jupiter - Dance With Destiny
Benjamin Russell - Better
ARPRAXIS ft Mia G - Moonlight Slide
Nature Of Wires ft Luka - Greed Machine
s475e - Very Old Machine
Resolution Ft Eric C. Powell & Andrea Powell - My Portrait
Of What Remains - Restless Horses
Melo - King Of Nothing
Kraftman - Home Computer
Benjamin Russell - Seeing Trails (Sky Mix)
Bending Grid Ft Ariana Celaeno - Collide
April O'Neil & DMME - When The Party Is Over
To the Stars We Return - See You In Another Universe
The Moons Of Jupiter - Tomorrow

Put The Needle On The Record - Week #63

Put The Needle On The Record Week #63 Depeche Mode - A Broken Frame

For this weeks feature we go back to September 1982 and the Depeche Mode album "A Broken Frame".

"A Broken Frame" was the second album released by Depeche Mode and the follow up to the brilliant "Speak & Spell" album and of course the first album by the band after Vince Clarke left, at the time, before its release, I was really worried about whether the album would be any good but was encouraged by the single "See You". On release day, I toddled off down to HMV on Market Street in Manchester (my second home!) and bought the album and couldn't wait to get home and listen to it.

My concerns soon ebbed away about the album, it was brilliant, with so many highlights, including "See You", "The Meaning Of Love", "Leave In Silence", "Nothing To Fear", Photograph Of You and "The Sun & The Rainfall" (my favourite track off the album and also one of my favourite ever, Depeche Mode tracks. The album was produced by the band and Mute Records guru, Daniel Miller and received mixed reviews from the music critics.

It is an album that has stood the test of time and one I play on a regular basis, I also saw the band live at the Manchester Apollo on the tour for the album, the only time I have seen them live, I had mixed feelings at the concert, because I had just broke up with my girlfriend!

Three singles were released off the album, "See You", (which reached number 6 in the UK Singles chart), "The Meaning Of Love" (which number 12 in the UK Singles chart) and "Leave In Silence", (which reached number 18 in the UK Singles chart).

The album reached number 8 in the UK Album chart.

Track Listing

Leave In Silence
My Secret Garden
Monument
Nothing To Fear
See You
Satellite
The Meaning Of Love
A Photograph Of You
Shouldn't Have Done That
The Sun And The Rainfall

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

Maximum 80s #134

Welcome to edition 134 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

Junior - Mama Used To Say (12 Inch Version)
Secession - Michael (Tom Lord-Alge Remix)
OMD - So In Love (Extended Version)
Kingdoms - Stability (Extended Version)
Dead Or Alive - You Spin Me Around (Like A Record) (Long Version)
Jimmy Ruffin & Jackson Moore - I'm Gonna Love You Forever (Hi-NRG Mix)
Hazell Dean - E.S.P (Extra Sensual Persuasion) (Extended Version)
The Real Thing - You To Me Are Everything (Extended Mix)
Erasure - Chorus (Ben Grosse Remix)
Public Image Ltd - This Is Not A Love Song (12 Inch Mix)
Simple Minds - Glittering Prize (Club Mix)
Men At Work - Down Under (12 Inch Version)

Put The Needle On The Record - Week #62

Put The Needle On The Record Week #62 China Crisis - Difficult Shapes & Passive Rhythms, Some People Think It's Fun to Entertain

For this weeks feature we go back to November 1982 and the China Crisis album "Difficult Shapes & Passive Rhythms, Some People Think It's Fun to Entertain".

Well China Crisis certainly get the award for the longest ever album title!! "Difficult Shapes & Passive Rhythms, Some People Think It's Fun to Entertain" was the debut album by the Liverpool based band. I had heard the single "African And White" but wasn't overly keen on it if I am honest, but that didn't stop me buying the album, I had no idea what to expect from it and was pleasantly surprised, it contains some fantastic tracks, not least the brilliant "Christian", however alongside that gem were other standout tracks, such as, "Seven Sports For All", "No More Blue Horizons", "Some People I Know To Lead Fantastic Lives", "You Never See It", "Temptation's Big Blue Eyes" and "Jean Walks In Fresh Fields". To this day, I always enjoy listening to this record.

The album was released by Virgin Records and featured 4 different producers that worked on the album, including Steve Levine and it got a very positive review by Neil Tennent in Smash Hits (his day job before forming the Pet Shop Boys with Chris Lowe), he had this to say about the album ""They write pretty melodies (and counter-melodies), intelligent but unobtrusive words, and give their songs delicate, dry arrangements, pulsating with muted rhythms and synthesizer and guitar lines."

Three singles were released off the album, "African And White", (which reached number 45 in the UK Singles chart), "No More Blue Horizons" (which surprisingly failed to chart) and of course "Christian", (which reached number 12 in the UK Singles chart).

The album reached number 21 on the UK Album chart.

Track Listing

Seven Sports For All
No More Blue Horizons (Fool, Fool, Fool)
Feel To Be Driven Away
Some People I Know to Lead Fantastic Lives
Christian
African And White
Are We A Worker
Red Sails
You Never See It
Temptation's Big Blue Eyes
Jean Walks In Fresh Fields

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

Rubik's 80s Mix #134

Welcome to edition #134 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 May 1985.

Listen to the show on Mixcloud here

Playlist

Paul Hardcastle - 19
U2 - The Unforgettable Fire
Five Star - All Fall Down
Propaganda - Duel
The Style Council - Walls Come Tumbling Down
Bryan Ferry - Slave To Love
Depeche Mode - Shake The Disease
Loose Ends - Magic Touch
Kool & The Gang - Cherish
Billy Ocean - Suddenly
Duran Duran - A View To A Kill
OMD - So In Love
New Order - The Perfect Kiss
Mai Tai - History
Gary Moore & Phil Lynott - Out In The Fields

Kraftman To Release A Complete Recording Of The Kraftwerk Album "Computer World"

On March 7th Kraftman will be releasing a brand new album, which is something very special, it is a complete recording of the 1981 Kraftwerk album "Computer World".

In addition to the 7 original tracks that appeared on the album, Kraftman has also recorded additional unique mixes & extended versions of some of the tracks that appear on the album.

Full Track Listing

Computer World 5:15

Pocket Calculator :5:35

Numbers 3:08

Computer World 2 2:45

Computer Love 6:53

Home Computer 5:13

It's More Fun To Compute 4:54

 

Bonus Tracks

 

Computer World (Global Expansion) 9:06

Pocket Calculator (Solar Power Mix) 8:51

Computer Love (Remix) (Mix Version) 6:28

Home Computer (Upgrade) 7:12

It's More Fun To Compute (Binary Mix) 7:36

 

The album is available to pre-order from Bandcamp here

Put The Needle On The Record - Week #61

Put The Needle On The Record Week #61 John Foxx - In Mysterious Ways

For this weeks feature we go back to September 1985 and the John Foxx album "In Mysterious Ways".

"In Mysterious Ways" was the 4th album released by John Foxx and is quite a departure from his usual sound and the album has more of a pop feel, and mixes synthesizers and acoustic guitars for its core sound, it is also an album John distances himself from, probably due to its "pop" overtones, however, I think it is a fabulous album. The album has some really strong songs, such as, "Stars On Fire", "Enter The Angel", the brilliant title track "In Mysterious Ways", "What Kind Of A Girl" and "Morning Glory". I rate this as my 2nd favourite album by John from his 80s catalogue, "Metamatic" will always be my favourite John Foxx album!

Two singles were released off the album, "Stars On Fire" (which reached number 89 in the UK Singles chart) and "Enter The Angel", (which failed to chart).

The album reached number 85 on the UK Album chart.

Track Listing

Stars on Fire
Lose All Sense of Time
Shine On
Enter the Angel
In Mysterious Ways
What Kind of Girl
This Side of Paradise
Stepping Softly
Enter The Angel II
Morning Glory

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

i-Select #115 (Part 2)

 White Lion Radio have released Part 2 of Edition #115 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

AC83 Ft Chelsea Wraithchild - Cruel Summer
Soft Cotton County - Blue On Blue
Memory Design - You're Gonna Like Us
O.a.G.- All the Money in the World (Geoff Pinckney Remix)
Retrograth - Shine
Proletarian Poetry - To the End
Kraftman - Pocket Calculator (7 Inch Version)
Of What Remains - In The Fire
J26 - Setella Drift
Neon Capital - Open Water (Digimax Remix)
Just Scott - Just Breathe
Ralphy Grey & James Knights - Win The Race
Soft Cotton County - Coward Of The Country Fair (Radio Mix)
Seth Duncan & Mayah Camara - Wings
Memory Design - More Alive Than Ever Before
eLxAr - Framing
Xennon - The Wish
B De Carey ft Jessica Gelinas - Guiding light
Proletarian Poetry - Darkness
Soft Cotton County - The Future’s Not What It Used To Be
AC83 - Falling For You

Put The Needle On The Record - Week #60

Put The Needle On The Record Week #60 Blancmange - Mange Tout

For this weeks feature we go back to May 1984 and the Blancmange album "Mange Tout".

"Mange Tout" was the 2nd album released by Blancmange, the follow up to the excellent debut "Happy Families" and features some of the duo's best tracks, "Don't Tell Me", "Game Above My Head", "Blind Vision", "That's Love That It Is" and their sublime cover of the ABBA track "The Day Before You Came", I also think "Time Became The Tide" is a brilliant track, the rest of the tracks on the album aren't that good if I am being honest, fortunately the good stuff makes it a very listenable album. The other good thing about this album is that they released fabulous 12 inch extended versions of the singles all of which are brilliant, my favourite track on the album is probably a toss up between "Don't Tell Me" and "Blind Vision".

The album became the best selling album for the band and is probably the peak of their career.

Four singles were released off the album, "Blind Vision", which is my favourite track on the album (which reached number 10 in the UK Singles chart), "That's Love That It Is" (which surprisingly only reached number 33 in the UK Singles chart), "Don't Tell Me", (which reached number 8 in the UK Singles chart) and "The Day Before You Came" (which reached number 22 in the UK Singles chart).

The album reached number 8 on the UK Album chart.

Track Listing

Don't Tell Me
I'll Fly For YouGame Above My Head
Blind Vision
Time Became The Tide
That's Love That It Is
Murder
See The Train
All Things Are Nice
My Baby
The Day Before You Came

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

i-Select #115 (Part 1)

White Lion Radio have released Part 1 of Edition #115 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

Positronic - Glorious Day
Kid Moxie - Creep
Kite - Heartless Places
Split Vision - Dark Delight
ARPRAXIS ft Mia G - Moonlight Slide
Mayah Camara & Micromatscenes - Bring Me To You 2025 (Single Version)
Perpacity - The Void
The Astral Brothers Limited - Broken Feelings
Voith - In The Shadows (We Fall In Love)
Chrom - Agony
Iammilan - let's Make A Pact( Je T_aime) (LorD And Master Remix)
Henric De La Cour - Dead Hank
Positronic - Better Than Life
Rogue FX -Renegades
deZeption - And You Never Hear What I Say (Radio Edit)
Bending Grid & Jolie - Retrospace (Rogue FX Remix)
Kid Moxie - Big In Japan
Church Of Trees - Mystery Boys
Split Vision - Mistress of the Forest
Cold Connection - Save Me Now (P.O. Remix)
Voith - My Shadowblade
Positronic - King of My Heart