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!