Put The Needle On The Record - Week #83

Put The Needle On The Record Week #83 Spandau Ballet - True

For this weeks feature we go back to March 1983 and the Spandau Ballet album "True".

"True" was the 3rd studio album by Spandau Ballet and is easily their best album, superbly produced by  Tony Swain and Steve Jolley alongside the band, Swain & Jolley were known for their production on albums by Imagination, the band originally started work on the album with Trevor Horn but for whatever reason that didn't work out.

I like the warm smooth sound across the tracks on the album and there are some fantastic tracks on it, my personal favourites are "Lifeline", "Communication", "Gold", "True" (apparently written for Clare Crogan from Altered images), "Heaven Is A Secret" and "Pleasure". The album features 8 tracks inspired by the likes of Al Green and Marvin Gaye.

I have always found Spandau Ballet to blow hot and cold in respect of their album out put, the albums "True" and "Parade" are gems, however the likes of "Diamond" and "Heart Like A Sky" are dreadful albums, the latter especially so.

"True" received a lot of positive reviews by the music press and rightly so, it is their best long player.

Four singles were released off the album, "Lifeline", (which reached number 7 in the UK Singles chart), "Communication", my favourite track on the album", (which reached number 12 in the UK singles chart), "True", (which reached number 1 in the UK Singles chart and number 4 on the US Billboard Hot 100) and "Gold", (which reached number 2 in the UK Singles chart and number 29 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the states). "Heaven Is A Secret" was also released as a single, however, not in the UK, just in some european countries, Germany, Holland and Germany

The album, reached Number 1 in the UK chart album chart and number 19 on the US Billboard 200 chart.

Track Listing

Pleasure
Communication
Code Of Love
Gold
Lifeline
Heaven Is A Secret
Foundation
True

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

i-Select #120 (Part 2)

White Lion Radio have released Part 2 of Edition #120 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

Agency-V - Heart Of Stone (BlakLight Remix)
Graflex - The Angels Of Tomorow
Kosmic Kiss - She Dances Thru The Nite (Mastered Mono Bass)
Munatix -  Driving To Amsterdam
JXNS - One Last Time
Castell & Mayah Camara - Strangers
Melo - Midnight People
NEONshe - Pity Party
LightSource-  Midnight Glow
Rogue FX ft Dewar- Dancing In The Night
Saturday AM - Give You Up
Dream Invaders - Demons
Alenis - Run Away
Fraula - La Folie Du Doute
s475e - My City Celebrates
STEVENZERO - Phantasm
Eric C. Powell & Andrea Powell - The Getaway (Nature Of Wires Remix)
Arkavoid - Ten Years Ago
Graflex - Waiting For The Night

Put The Needle On The Record - Week #82

Put The Needle On The Record Week #82 Simple Minds - Once Upon A Time

For this weeks feature we go back to October 1985 and the Simple Minds album "Once Upon A Time".

"Once Upon A Time" was the 7th studio album released by Simple Minds and it is an album, that sees them at their peak. The album followed the hugely successful single "Don't You (Forget About Me)", both here and in the states, however it isn't included on the album.

The album was produced by Jimmy Lovine and every track is a powerful song, my personal highlights are "Alive And Kicking", my favourite track on the album, "Oh Jungleland", very close to being the best track on the album, "Sanctify Yourself", "Once Upon A Time", "All The Things She Said" and "Come A Long Way", the only track I dislike is "Ghost Dancing". The album received positive reviews by music critics.

Four singles were released off the album, "Alive And Kicking", (which reached number 7 in the UK Singles chart and number 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100), "Sanctify Yourself", (which reached number 10 in the UK singles chart and number 14 on the US Billboard Hot 100) "All The Things She Said", (which reached number 9 in the UK Singles chart and number 28 on the US Billboard Hot 100) and "Ghost Dancing", never a single in my book! (which reached number 13 in the UK Singles chart).

The album, reached Number 1 in the UK chart album chart and number 10 on the US Billboard 200 chart.

Track Listing

Once Upon A Time
All The Things She Said
Ghost Dancing
Alive And Kicking
Oh Jungleland
I Wish You Were Here
Sancify Yourself
Come A Long Way

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

i-Select #120 (Part 1)

White Lion Radio have released Part 1 of Edition #120 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

Ivar F Hansen - Autumn In Colour 
Kraftman - Tour De France '25
Nicolas Rixon - Lost Song (Future Analog Remix)
Steve Hardaker - Oceanwide
Bending Grid & Power Rob - Mr Right
Arcade Beach - Moving Away
Daybehavior - Silver Song
Exposed Brick - Kafka's Laughter (Extended Version)
Positronic - Gravity
SIXMIXSIX - Fragmenta
80s Express Ft New Life Generation - Don't You (Forget About Me)
Kraftman - Neon Lights
Arvid Tuba - Anemoia
Bending Grid & The Safety Word - The Universe Within (The Safety Word Remix)
Avoid-A-Void - Calm In Violence
The Grab Society - Da Da Da Ich Lieb Dich Nicht Du Liebst Mich Nicht Aha Aha Aha
Vogon Poetry & SCALA - Immortals (Oren Amram Remix)
Arcade Beach - Lost In Conversation
Gulvoss - Speed Of Life (Eyeblink Remix Club Edit)
Nicolas Rixon - You Took Me There
Ivar F Hansen - Accapella Conserto

Put The Needle On The Record - Week #81

Put The Needle On The Record Week #81 Sex Pistols - The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle

For this weeks feature we go back to February 1979 and the Sex Pistols album "The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle".

This choice might just surprise a few people but I love this album, I was never into punk or anything but always found the Sex Pistols a fascinating band, total carnage with anything they were involved with, doing things there way way no matter what! Another surprising fact for you, is I bought this album the same day I bought the Tubeway Army album "Replicas", I bought both on cassette! During summer of 1979 when on holiday me and my brother listened to both of these albums over and over again.

Where do you start with this record, well it was released to tie in with a film being released back then with the same name, the big problem they had was, John Lydon had left the band before this soundtrack album was released and as such they needed a vocalist to record vocals and that is why Sid Vicious sings on quite a few tracks, the album also includes the great train robber, Ronnie Biigs who sang vocals on my favouite Sex Pistols track "No One Is Innocent" and Tenpole Tudor who provided vocals on "Who Killed Bambi", "Rock Around The Clock" and the title track "The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle". Lots to enjoy on this album, my favourite tracks are "No One Is Innocent" (of course!), "Anarchy In The UK", "My Way", "Something Else", "C'Mon Everybody", "Friggin' In The Riggin'", and the title track.

If I had one recommendation it is this.....stick the album on crank up the volume and fuck the neighbours!

This was the bands follow up to the hugely successful "Never Mind The Bollocks" album.

A whopping 6 singles were released off the album, the double A Side "No One Is Innocent"/"My Way" (which reached number 7 in the UK Singles Chart), "Something Else" (which reached number 22 in the UK Singles Chart), "Silly Thing" (which reached number 6 in the UK Singles chart), "C'Mon Everybody" (which reached 3 in the UK Singles chart), "The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle" (which reached number 21 in the UK Singles chart) and "(I'm Not Your) Stepping Stone" (which reached number 21 in the UK Singles chart.

The album reached number 7 in the UK Album Chart

Track Listing

Side A

God Save The Queen (Orchestral)
Johnny B Goode
Roadrunner
Black Arabs (Disco Medley)
Anarchy In The UK

Side B

Substitute
Don't Give Me No Lip Child
(I'm Not Your) Stepping Stone
L'Anarchie Pour Le UK
Belsen Was A Gas
Belsen Vos A Gas

Side C

Silly Thing
My Way
I Wanna Be Me
Something Else
Rock Around The Clock
Lonely Boy
No One Is Innocent

Side D

C'Mon Everybody
EMI (Orchestral)
The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle
Friggin' In The Riggin'
You Need Hands
Who Killed Bambi

If you have this album in your collection, dig it out and give it a spin, go on, you know you want to!

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!