Put The Needle On The Record - Week #100

Put The Needle On The Record Week #100 Pet Shop Boys - Behaviour

For this weeks feature and for the final time in this series, we go back to October 1990 and the Pet Shop Boys album "Behaviour".

"Behaviour" was the 4th studio album released by the Pet Shop Boys and is a big fan favourite and an album I really enjoy listening to and it is an album the critics, in the main, really liked. It contains one of my all time favourite Pet Shop Boys tracks "Being Boring", although the album version is disappointing, other standout tracks for me are "Jealousy", "So Hard", "The End Of The World", "This Must Be The Place I Waited Years To Leave" and "Only The Wind". It is quite a varied album too, which adds to its appeal. The album was produced by the boys and Harold Faltermeyer. The album is also listed as one of the 1001 albums you must hear before you die.

4 singles were released off the album "So Hard" (which reached number 4 in the UK Singles chart and number 62 in the American Billboard Hot 100), "Being Boring" (which only reached number 20 in the UK Singles chart, which is baffling to say the least and failed to make the Billboard Hot 100 in the States), the double A Side "Where The Streets Have No Name"/"How Can You Expect To Be Taken Seriously" (a mystery why the 7 inch version of the latter has never appeared on the bands best of collections, only the album version!), (which reached number 4 in the UK Singles Chart and crept into the Billboard Hot 100 in the States at number 93) and "Jealousy" (which reached number 12 in the UK Singles Chart and again failed to reach the Hot Billboard 100 in the states).

The album, reached Number 2 in the UK album chart and number 45 in the Billboard Hot 100 in the States.

Track Listing

Being Boring
This Must Be The Place I waited Years To Leave
To Face The Truth
How Can You Expect To Be Taken Seriously
Only The Wind
My October Symphony
So Hard
Nervously
The End Of The World
Jealousy

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

Put The Needle On The Record - Week #99

Put The Needle On The Record Week #99 Simple Minds - Sons And Fascination & Sister Feelings Call

For this weeks feature we go back to September 1981 and the Simple Minds album "Sons And Fascination & Sister Feelings Call".

"Sons And Fascination & Sisters Feeling Call" was the 4th album released by Simple Minds and is actually a double album, actually it is in effect 2 seperate albums and it was the release that got Simple Minds really noticed. They are also albums that are criminally ignored by the band, especially where re-issues are concerned, it has never had the benefit of a Super Deluxe release afforded to albums released after this set, puzzling to say the least!

These are superb albums with many highlights, on "Sons And Fascination", the standout tracks are "In Trance As Mission", "Love Song" (my favourite track on the album), "This Earth That You Walk Upon", "Seeing Out The Angel", "Sweat In Bullet" and "70 Cities As Love Brings The Fall". Whilst on "Sister Feelings Call", the highlights are, "Theme For Great Cities", "The American", "Wonderful In Young Life" and "20th Century Promised Land".

This was the first release by Simple Minds on the Virgin record label and the albums were produced by Steve Hillage and the music critics were suitably impressed with both albums, with only the NME giving a poor review.

3 singles were released, "The American", (which reached number 59 in the UK Singles Chart), "Love Song" (which reached number 47 in the UK Singles Chart) and "Sweat In Bullet", (which reached number 52 in the UK Singles Chart).

The album, reached Number 11 in the UK album chart.

Track Listing: Sons And Fascination

SIDE A

In Trance As Mission
Sweat In Bullet
70 Cities As Love Brings The Fall
Boys From Brazil

SIDE B

Love Song
This Earth That You Walk Upon
Sons And Facination
Seeing Out The Angel

Track Listing: Sister Feelings Call

SIDE A

Theme For Great Cities
The American
20th Century Promised Land

SIDE B

Wonderful In Young Life
League Of Nations
Careful In Career
Sound In 70 Cities (Dub Mix Of "70 Cities As Love Brings The Fall")

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

Put The Needle On The Record - Week #98

Put The Needle On The Record Week #98 Bronski Beat - The Age Of Consent

For this weeks feature we go back to October 1984 and the Bronski Beat album "The Age Of Consent".

"The Age Of Consent" was the debut album by Bronski Beat and the only album to feature Jimmy Somerville, who left the band in 1985 to enjoy a successful solo career. The album was produced by Mike Thorne, who produced Soft Cell's music during their initial success. The album was recorded in London and New York.

The first 2 singles "Smalltown Boy" and "Why" were a massive success, which of course was reflected in album sales, it wen't on to sell over 300,000 copies in the UK alone. Those 2 tracks are certainly standout tracks on the album, alongside "I Feel Love" (Donna Summer Cover), "Heatwave", "Junk", "No More War" and "It Ain't Necessarily So".

4 singles were released off the album "Smalltown Boy" (which reached number 3 in the UK Singles Chart and number 48 in the US Billboard Hot 100), "Why?" (which reached number 6 in the UK Singles Chart) "It Ain't Necessarily So", (which reached number 16 in the UK Singles Chart) and "I Feel Love (Medley)", Featuring Marc Almond, (which reached number 19 in the UK Singles Chart).

The album, reached Number 4 in the UK album chart and Number 36 In The US Billboard 200 Chart.

Track Listing

Why?
It Ain't Necessarily So
Screaming
No More War
Love And Money
Smalltown Boy
Heatwave
Junk
Need A Man Blues
I Feel Love/Johnny Remember Me

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

Put The Needle On The Record - Week #97

Put The Needle On The Record Week #97 Soft Cell - The Art Of Falling Apart

For this weeks feature we go back to January 1983 and the Soft Cell album "The Art Of Falling Apart".

"The Art Of Falling Apart" was Soft Cell's 2nd studio album release and the follow up to "Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret". Initial copies of the album came with a 12 inch vinyl single that contained the tracks "Martin" and "Hendrix Medley", which I still have in my vinyl collection!

The album was produced by Mike Thorne and features 8 tracks and includes a couple of my all time favourite Soft Cell tracks, "Where The Heart Is" and "Loving You Hating Me", other standout tracks are "Forever The Same", which was planned as a 3rd single but was shelved, even though a 12 inch mix had already been done, which later appeared in the Soft Cell box set, "Keychains And Snowstorms", "Heat" and "Kitchen Sink Drama". The 12 inch version of "Where The Heart Is" is one of my all time favourite 12 inch singles.

2 singles were released off the album "Where The Heart Is" (which reached number 21 in the UK Singles Chart) and "Numbers", baffling that this track was released as a single, (which reached number 25 in the UK Singles Chart). "Loving You Hating Me" was released as a single in the United States and Canada only, why on earth it wasn't a single in the UK baffles me completely and "Heat" was released as a single in the United States only.

The album, reached Number 5 in the UK album chart.

Track Listing

Forever The Same
Where The Heart Is
Number
Heat
Kitchen Sink Drama
Baby Doll
Loving You Hating Me
The Art Of Falling Apart

A 6 disc edition of the album has just been released, which is excellent and very comprehensive, of course we recently heard about the passing of Dave Ball from the band, which was really sad news, especially as a new Soft Cell album had been completed days before he died, which is due out in Spring next year.

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

Put The Needle On The Record - Week #96

Put The Needle On The Record Week #96 Thompson Twins - Into The Gap

For this weeks feature we go back to February 1984 and the Thompson Twins album "Into The Gap".

"Into The Gap", the 4th album released by the Thompson Twins is a career highlight, it was recorded in the Bahamas and was produced by Alex Sadkin, who had produced the excellent "Quick Step And Side Kick".

The album received mixed reviews, however, it was the bands most commercially successful release and rightly so, it contains some of their best ever tracks, such as, "Hold Me Now", my favourite track off the album and "Doctor Doctor". Other highlights on the album are "You Take Me Up", Sister Of Mercy", "Day After Day" and "Who Can Stop The Rain". The album sold over 600,000 copies in the UK and was certified as double platinum and sold in excess of 5 million copies worldwide.

The music critics were divided about this album, which is susprising.

With the quality of this album, 5 singles were released off the it. "Hold Me Now", (which reached number 4 in the UK Singles chart and number 3 in the Billboard Hot 100 in America), "Doctor Doctor", (which reached number 3 in the UK Singles Chart and number 11 in the Billboard Hot 100), "You Take Me Up" (which reached number 2 in the UK Singles Chart and number 44 in the Billboard Hot 100), "Sister Of Mercy", (which reached number 11 in the UK Singles Chart) and " and "The Gap", which wasn't released as a single in the UK, however, it was released in the States, where it reached number 69 in the US Billboard Hot 100.

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

Track Listing

Side 1

Doctor! Doctor!
You Take Me Up
Day After Day
Sister Of Mercy
No Peace For The Wicked

Side 2

The Gap
Hold Me Now
Storm On The Sea
Who Can Stop The Rain

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

Put The Needle On The Record - Week #95

Put The Needle On The Record Week #95 Depeche Mode - Black Celebration

For this weeks feature we go back to March 1986 and the Depeche Mode album "Black Celebration".

"Black Celebration" was Depeche Mode's 5th album and easily their best since "Speak And Spell" up to the point of this albums release, it has some fantastic tracks on it, indeed some of their best ever tracks, such as, "Stripped", "Black Celebration" and "A Question Of Lust", Other highligts are "Here Is The House" and "World Full Of Nothing". What I will say is, the tracks "Dressed In Black" and "New Dress" do not deserve to be alongside the obvious highlights on this album, "But Not Tonight" should certainly have been on the album replacing either of those tracks.

The album was produced by Daniel Miller and Gareth Jones and was hard work to get completed, Daniel Miller was concerned about the Demo's Martin Gore had given him and felt nothing really stood out as a single, after some discussions Daniel Miller relented and let the band record the album and take it in the direction that they wanted to, which resulted in Gore singing lead vocals on 4 songs on the album.

Suprisingly music critics were quite divided about this album, Melody Maker and Sounds hammered the album, however, the NME were more forgiving in their assesment of the album.

4 singles were released off the album, "Stripped", my favourite track off the album (which reached number 15 in the UK Singles chart), "A Question Of Lust", (which reached number 28 in the UK Singles Chart), "A Question Of Time" (which reached number 17 in the UK Singles Chart) and "But Not Tonight", released as a single in America, where it failed to chart.

The album, reached Number 4 in the UK album chart and number 90 in the US Billboard Top 200.

Track Listing

Side 1

Black Celebration
Fly On The Windscreen (Final)
A Question Of Lust
Sometimes
It Doesn't Matter Two

Side 2

A Question Of Time
Stripped
Here Is The House
World Full Of Nothing
Dressed In Black
New Dress

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

Put The Needle On The Record - Week #94

Put The Needle On The Record Week #94 John Foxx - The Garden

For this weeks feature we go back to September 1981 and the John Foxx album "The Garden".

"The Garden" was the 2nd album by John Foxx, following his split from Ultravox and this album goes back to the sound of the Ultravox album "Systems Of Romance" (the last album John Foxx featured on with Ultravox). "The Garden" actually features a track called "Systems Of Romance" that was written but not recorded for the Ultravox album "Systems Of Romance". Another connection between "The Garden" and "Systems Of Romance" is the fact that Robin Simon featured on both of the albums!

It is quite an interesting album to listen to as it touches many different genres, the standout tracks on the album are "Europe After The Rain", "Systems Of Romance", Dancing Like A Gun", "You Were There", "Walk Away" and "The Garden"

2 singles were released off the album "Europe After The Rain" (which reached number 40 in the UK Singles chart) and "Dancing Like A Gun" (which failed to chart in the UK).

The album, reached Number 24 in the UK album chart.

Track Listing

Europe After The Rain
Systems Of Romance
When I Was A Man And You Were A Woman
Dancing Like A Gun
Pater Noster
Night Suit
You Were There
Fusion/Fission
Walk Away
The Garden

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

Put The Needle On The Record - Week #93

Put The Needle On The Record Week #93 Ultravox - Lament

For this weeks feature we go back to April 1984 and the Ultravox album "Lament".

"Lament" was the 7th album released by Ultravox (the 4th with Midge Ure) and after "Vienna" is my favourite Ultravox album and it is an outstanding piece of work and was the last Ultravox album to feature original drummer Warren Cann until they reformed in later years and released the album "Brilliant".

The album was produced by the band themselves, drawing on knowledge gained with working with the likes of Conny Plank and George Martin.

The album features many highlights including, "Dancing With Tears In My Eyes", "Lament" (my favourite track on the album), "One Small Day", "White China" (how that wasn't a single I will never know) and "Man Of Two Worlds". In truth the whole album is excellent and in subsequent re-issues over the years, especially on CD, we were treated to some outstanding 12 inch mixes of some of the songs, including the 10 minute version of "Dancing With Tears In My Eyes", extended mixes of "White China", "One Small Day" and of course "Lament". I recently purchased the 5lp super deluxe edition of this album which is a superbly put together collection and is highly recommended if you can find a copy!

All the songs on the album were written by the band (Midge Ure/Chris Cross/Billy Currie/Warren Cann).

3 singles were released off the album "One Small Day" (which reached number 27 in the UK Singles chart - really surprised it wasn't a bigger hit). "Dancing With Tears In My Eyes" (which reached number 3 in the UK Singles chart and has one of the greatest promo videos produced in the 80s) and "Lament" (which reached number 22 in the UK singles chart - it certainly deserved to go much higher than that!). The track "Heart Of The Country" was also released as a single, only in Germany.

The album, reached Number 8 in the UK album chart.

Track Listing

Side A

White China
One Small Day
Dancing With Tears In My Eyes
Lament

Side B

Man Of Two Worlds
Heart Of The Country
When The Time Comes
A Friend I Call Desire

The recent 5 LP Deluxe Edition mentioned above featured the following track listing:

LP1: LAMENT: White China/One Small Day/ Dancing With Tears In My Eyes /Lament /Man of Two Worlds/Heart of The Country/When The Time Comes/A Friend I Call Desire 
 
LP2: LAMENT (Extended Album Re-Mix Part 1): White China [Extended Re-Mix]/One Small Day [Extended Re-Mix]/Dancing With Tears In My Eyes [Blank & Jones so8os Reconstruction]/Lament [Moby Remix]
 
LP3 LAMENT (Extended Album Re-Mix Part 2): Man of Two Worlds [Extended Re-Mix]/ Heart of The Country [Extended Re-Mix]/When The Time Comes [Steven Wilson 12” Re-Mix]/A Friend I Call Desire [Steven Wilson 12” Re-Mix]
 
LP4: SET MOVEMENTS: Hammersmith 1984: Man of Two Worlds*/Passing Strangers*/We Stand Alone*/New Europeans*/I Remember (Death In The Afternoon)*/Visions In Blue*/Heart of The Country*/Western Promise*/Vienna*
 
LP5: SET MOVEMENTS: Hammersmith 1984 [Pt.II]: Reap The Wild Wind*/We Came to Dance*/White China*/One Small Day*/Hymn*/The Voice* /Lament*/Dancing With Tears In My Eyes*/ All Stood Still*
 
* Previously Unreleased

I also bought a new box set of 8CDs that includes a surround sound mix of the album and a whole host of bonus tracks and is available at a very reasonable £40, again highly recommended.

It is available on Amazon here for those that might be interested:

https://tinyurl.com/5f82s7h9

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

Put The Needle On The Record - Week #92

Put The Needle On The Record Week #92 Visage - The Anvil

For this weeks feature we go back to March 1982 and the Visage album "The Anvil".

"The Anvil" was the 2nd album by Visage and was recorded at Mayfair studios in London and featured the same line-up that appeared on their self titled debut album, with the exception of John McGeoch who had left the band.

Apparently the albums title is named after a famous gay club/bar in New York!

After this album was released Midge Ure left the band and from that point the band lost their way totally, especially with the next album "Beat Boy", which is a dreadful album, however, "The Anvil" is a superb album, my favourite tracks on the album are "The Damned Don't Cry", "Night Train", "The Anvil", "Look What They've Done", "Again We Love" and "Whispers".

It was well received by the music press and some very impressive sleeve designs for the records released. In addition, I should also point out that their were some fantastic 12 inch mixes of the singles that were released.

2 singles were released off the album "The Damned Don't Cry" (which reached number 11 in the UK Singles chart) and "Night Train" (which reached number 12 in the UK Singles chart). "Whispers" was also released as a single but only in Japan.

The album, reached Number 6 in the UK album chart.

Track Listing

Side A

The Damned Don't Cry
The Anvil (Night Club School)
Move Up
Night Train

Side B

The Horseman
Look What They've Done
Again We Love
Wild Life
Whispers

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

Put The Needle On The Record - Week #91

Put The Needle On The Record Week #91 ABC - Alphabet City

For this weeks feature we go back to October 1987 and the ABC album "Alphabet City".

"Alphabet City" was the 4th album released by ABC and it is a gem of an album, featuring some outstanding tracks, such as, "When Smokey Sings", "King Without A Crown" (my favourite track off the album), "The Night You Murdered Love", "Rage And Then Regret", "Think Again" and "Bad Blood".

The album was produced by ABC's Martin Fry and Mark White along with Bernard Edwards, who is best known for being part of the band Chic.

The album's title and titles of several of the tracks were inspired by the Alphabet City section of Manhatten in New York. The album was recorded over a 9 month period at the Marcus Recording Studios in London.

3 singles were released off the album, "When Smokey Sings" (which reached number 11 in the UK Singles chart and performed well on the Billboard Hot 100 in the states, reaching number 5), "The Night You Murdered Love", which included some superb 12 inch mixes (which reached number 31 in the UK Singles Chart) and "King Without A Crown" (which surprisingly only reached number 44 in the UK Singles Chart).

The album, reached Number 7 in the UK album chart and number 48 in the US Billboard Top 200.

Track Listing

Avenue A
When Smokey Sings
The Night You Murdered Love
Think Again
Rage And Then Regret
Ark-Angel
King Without A Crown
Bad Blood
Jealous Lover
One Day
Avenue Z

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

Put The Needle On The Record - Week #90

Put The Needle On The Record Week #90 David Bowie - Low

For this weeks feature we go back to January 1977 and the David Bowie album "Low".

"Low" was the 11th album released by the sadly missed David Bowie. It is part of the "Berlin trilogy" albums record in Berlin, Germany, the other 2 albums being "Heroes" and "Lodger" and is my favourite album from the three released, because of it's electronic sound. The trilogy was also produced by Tony Visconti, who worked with Bowie of many years.

Amazingly Bowie's record label, RCA, refused to release the album for 3 months as they felt it would be a commercial failure! It was an album that divided critical opinion and received very little promotion by the label and by Bowie himself......it is now regarded as a "classic" Bowie album and one of his best ever album releases.

My favourite tracks on the album are, "Sound And Vision", "Speed Of Life", "Breaking Glass", "Warszawa" (my favourite track overall), "Art Decade" and "Always Crashing In The Same Car". It really is an amazing album that was way ahead of its time.

Three singles were released off the album "Sound And Vision" (which reached number 3 in the UK Singles Chart and number 69 on the Billboard Hot 100 in America), "Be My Wife"/"Speed Of Life" (which reached number 57 in the UK Singles chart) and "Breaking Glass"/"Art Decade", which was only released in Australia and New Zealand.

The album, reached Number 2 in the UK album chart and number 11 in the American Billboard chart.

Track Listing

Side 1

Speed Of Life
Breaking Glass
What In The World
Sound And Vision
Always Crashing In The Same Car
Be My Wife
A New Career In A New Town

Side 2

Warszawa
Art Decade
Weeping Wall
Subterraneans

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

Put The Needle On The Record - Week #89

Put The Needle On The Record Week #89 Joy Division - Unknown Pleasures

For this weeks feature we go back to June 1979 and the Joy Division album "Unknown Pleasures".

My fascination with Joy Division continued with this album, I went into a record shop just off Deansgate, where they let you listen to a maximum of 5 tracks off any album, which I duly did and at first I wasn't so keen on it, however, hearing more material by Joy Division on John Peels show on Radio 1 and I eventually bought it, my parents hated me playing the record because it was so dark and gloomy, but for me that is the attraction with this album, it was different, post punk and to be honest wasn't the kind of music I was listening to at the time, I loved the vocal delivery of Ian Curtis, not just on this album but also the outstanding "Closer" album, his lyrics are truly outstanding, what a sad loss to the music world when he took his own life.

The album was recorded at Strawberry Studio's in Stockport with Martin Hannett producing the record (he also produced the bands album "Closer") and of course the artwork, which is iconic, was designed by Peter Saville.

My favourite track off the album is "She's Lost Control", however, I do prefer the re-recorded version, other standout tracks are "New Dawn Fades", "I Remember Nothing", "Shadow", "Day Of The Lords" and "Candidate".

No singles were released off the album.

The album, reached Number 5 in the UK album chart.

Track Listing

Disorder
Day Of The Lords
Candidate
Insight
New Dawn Fades
She's Lost Control
Shadowplay
Wilderness
Interzone
I Remember Nothing

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

Put The Needle On The Record - Week #88

Put The Needle On The Record Week #88 The Lightning Seeds - Cloudcuckooland

For this weeks feature we go back to January 1990 and The Lightning Seeds album "Cloudcuckooland".

"Cloudcuckooland" was the debut album by The Lightning Seeds, who are from Liverpool, and features the brilliant track "Pure", it is a fantastic album with plenty of pop nuggets, my favourite tracks are "Pure", "All I Want" (which was re-recorded for its single release), "Joy", "Bound In A Nutshell" and "Don't Let Go" ( as good as "Pure").

The album features contributions by fellow Liverpool artists, Andy McCluskey (OMD) plays keyboards, Ian McNabb (Icicle Works) provides some vocals and Henry Priestman (The Christians) who plays piano and organ.

Ian Broudie is a very talented guy and well respected and it was excellent to watch them on TV live at Glastonbury a few years back.... his son is now in the band!

Three singles were released off the album "Pure" (which reached number 16 in the UK Singles Chart), "Joy" (which failed to chart in the UK) and "All I Want (which also didn't chart in the UK singles chart), how those 2 singles failed to chart is beyond me.

The album, reached Number 50 in the UK chart album chart.

Track Listing

All I Want
Bound in a Nutshell
Pure
Sweet Dreams
The Nearly Man
Joy
Love Explosion
Don't Let Go
Control The Flame
The Price

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

Put The Needle On The Record - Week #87

Put The Needle On The Record Week #87 The Cure - The Head On The Door

For this weeks feature we go back to August 1985 and The Cure album "Head On The Door".

I am not a Cure fan to be honest' I have liked a lot of their singles and "The Head On The Door" is the only album of theirs I actually own. The album was their 6th studio album and I actually bought the record after hearing the brilliant single "Inbetween Days", it is definitely an album that veers on pop and I think that is why I like it so much. Interestingly Robert Smith of The Cure said The Human League album "Dare" was a big inspiration on this album, and when you listen to it you can see why. I bought this album not long after I moved to a new flat and it was on my turntable on a regular basis at the time.

The album received good reviews from the music critics and became their biggest international success, doing well in many countries all over Europe and the United States.

The tracks that stand out for me are "Inbetween Days" (which has a sound not to disimilar to New Order and is my favourite track on the album and one of my Top 3 Cure songs), "Kyoto Song", "Six Different Ways", "Push", "Close To Me" and "Sinking".

2 singles were released off the album, "Inbetween Days" (which reached number 15 in the UK Singles Chart) and "Close To Me" (which reached number 24 in the UK Singles Chart).

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

Track Listing

Inbetween Days
Kyoto Song
The Blood
Six Different Ways
Push
The Baby Screams
Close To Me
A Night Like This
Screw
Sinking

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

Put The Needle On The Record - Week #86

Put The Needle On The Record Week #86 The Communards - Red

For this weeks feature we go back to October 1987 and the Communards album "Red".

I am not a fan of The Communards in general but this is an excellent album and quite varied and is the follow-up to their self titled debut album . The album was produced by Stephen Hague, who at the time was also working closely with the Pet Shop Boys as their producer and his style is clear to hear across the output by both bands during this period.

Quite a few highlights on this album, I especially like the tracks "Tomorrow" (my favourite track off the album), "There's More to Love Than Boy Meets Girl", For a Friend", "Never Can Say Goodbye" and "Matter Of Opinion".

In the main critics gave favourable positive reviews of the album when it was released and the album title is a nod to the duo's socialist leanings at the time.

Four singles were released off the album, "Tomorrow" (which reached number 23 in the UK Singles chart), "Never Can Say Goodbye", (which reached number 4 in the UK Singles chart), "For A Friend" (which reached number 28 in the UK Singles chart and "There's More to Love Than Boy Meets Girl" (which reached number 20 in the UK singles chart). 

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

Track Listing

Tomorrow
There's More to Love Than Boy Meets Girl
Matter Of opinion
Victims
For A Friend
Never Can Say Goodbye
Lovers And Friends
Hold On Tight
If I Could Tell You
C Minor

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

Put The Needle On The Record - Week #85

Put The Needle On The Record Week #85 The League Unlimited Orchestra - Love And Dancing

For this weeks feature we go back to July 1982 and the League Unlimited Orchestra "Love And Dancing".

Love and Dancing is a remix album by the English synth-pop band The Human League, released in July 1982 by Virgin Records. Issued under the band name "The League Unlimited Orchestra" as a nod to Barry White's disco-era Love Unlimited Orchestra, the album was principally the idea and work of producer Martin Rushent and contains dub-style, largely instrumental remixes of songs from the band's multi-platinum selling album Dare (1981), along with a version of the track "Hard Times", which had originally been the B-side of the single "Love Action (I Believe in Love)".

This album along with the Soft Cell album "Non Stop Ecstatic Dancing" were the first ever remix albums released and bulit on the reputation of 1980s 12 inch extended singles.

Virgin Records originally relented against the idea of the remix album, not wanting to pay for or release it. Rushent had to fight their opposition in order to create the album. Oakey remained unsure about the project and left Rushent to make the release on his own.

This was another purchase from HMV on Market street in Manchester! Side 1 of the album is solid enough, however, side 2 disappoints with very short versions of "Seconds", "Open Your Heart" and "The Sound Of The Crowd". 

As this was a remix album no singles were released.

The album, reached Number 3 in the UK chart album chart.

Track Listing

Hard Times
Love Action (I Believe In Love)
Don't You Want Me
Things That Dreams Are Made Of
Do Or Die
Seconds
Open Your Heart
The Sound Of The Crowd

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

Put The Needle On The Record - Week #84

Put The Needle On The Record Week #84 The Associates - Perhaps

For this weeks feature we go back to February 1985 and the Associates album "Perhaps".

"Perhaps" was the 3rd studio album released by The Associates and the first without original member Alan Rankine and featured the one remaining founder of the band, the brilliant Billy MacKenzie. It was an album that took 2 years to make, as the mastertapes mysteriously went missing (apparently it is believed that MacKenzie had hidden them as he was unhappy with the record) and so the album was started again from scratch and involved 4 different producers which resulted in the album costing £250,000 to make, which for the early 80s was a massive amount of money, but what you have at the end of it is a very cinematic album with beautiful arrangements.

Strangely this was another album I bought on cassette as it included bonus mixes, of course now I have it on CD. Billy MacKenzie is truly superb on this album, his voice is something else, my favoutite tracks are "Those First Impressions", "Waiting For The Loveboat", "Perhaps", "Breakfast" (best track on the album - that piano riff...wonderful!), "The Best Of You" and "The Stranger In Your Voice".

It is really sad that Billy MacKenzie took his own life in January 1997 at the age of 39.

Three singles were released off the album, "Those First Impressions" (which reached number 43 in the UK Singles chart), "Waiting For The Loveboat", (which reached number 53 in the UK Singles chart) and "Breakfast" (which reached number 49 in the UK singles chart, which is criminal to say the least!). 

The album, reached Number 23 in the UK chart album, and is honestly a gem of an album, if you haven't come across it do some digging it will be worth it.

Track Listing

Those First Impressions
Waiting For The Loveboat
Perhaps
Schampout
Helicopter Helicopter
Breakfast
Thirteen Feelings
The Stranger In Your Voice
The Best Of You
Don't Give Me That "I Told You So" look

The original cassette included the following bonus tracks

Perhaps (Instrumental)
Thirteen Feelings (Instrumental)
The Stranger In Your Voice (Instrumental)
Breakfast, Titled "Breakfast Alone" (Instrumental)

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

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 output, 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!

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!

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 Biggs 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!