Maximum 80s (Volume 57)

White Lion Radio have released Edition 57 of Maximum 80s.

This is a series of shows that feature nothing but the very best in 1980s 12 Inch Singles.

The biggest hits on the biggest format from a classic decade......the 1980s.

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Track List

Talk Talk - My Foolish Friend (12 Inch Extended Version)
Queen - Friends Will Be Friends (Extended Version)
S' Express - Superfly Guy (12 Inch)
Erasure - Sometimes (Shiver Mix)
Genesis - Mama (Long Version)
Tears For Fears - Everybody Wants To Rule The World (Urban Mix)
Simple Minds - Sanctify Yourself (Extended Mix)
Nick Kamen - I Promised Myself (Independiente Mix)
Thompson Twins - Lay Your Hands On Me (Extended Version)
Camouflage - The Great Commandment (Justin Strauss Remix)

Day 11 - White Lion Radio's Favourite Vinyl 12 Inch Singles From The 80s

Day 11

 

Depeche Mode - Never Let Me Down Again (12 Inch Split Mix)

I have been an avid fan of Depeche Mode since they released their debut single “Dreaming Of Me” in 1981, sadly I have parted company with them following the release of the abysmal album “Spirit”.

I Digress........”Never Let Me Down” is from the album “Music For The Masses” and what a treat the 12 Inch Vinyl version is! The Split Mix clocks in at almost 10 minutes and is a very powerful version of the track, played loud, my god it is incredible! In addition on the flipside, we have the another version of the track, the “Aggro Mix” and a remix of the track “Pleasure Little Treasure”, one of their best B sides. 

It is no wonder “Never Let Me Down Again” is such a fan favourite in the live setting, brilliant live and again this is an essential vinyl 12 inch to have in your collection, it is probably one of my most played 12 inch vinyl singles.

The track was released in August 1987 and surprisingly only reached number 22 in the UK singles chart, but did make the top 10 in several other European countries.

12 INCH VINYL TRACK LISTING

A1 Never Let Me Down Again (Split Mix) 9:30

B1 Pleasure, Little Treasure (Glitter Mix) 5:31

B2 Never Let Me Down Again (Aggro Mix) 4:52

The “Split Mix” of “Never Let Me Down Again” is available on a remixes compilation on Amazon for under £10 here:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Remixes-81-04-Depeche-Mode/dp/B00DJLOBWA/ref=tmm_acd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1519764545&sr=8-29

Day 10 - White Lion Radio's Favourite Vinyl 12 Inch Singles From The 80s

Day 10.....

Joy Division - Atmosphere (Original 12 Inch)

Now my all time favourite single is Joy Division’s “Love Will Tear Us Apart” but the 12 Inch Single “Atmosphere” runs it close. A powerful and brooding song, with achingly sad vocals, by Ian Curtis. It is rightly regarded by fans and critics as one of the best ever records produced by Joy Division.

The single was released in 1980 and featured a new version of “She’s Lost Control”, another timeless Joy Division Masterpiece on the B Side, the lyrics in this track were about a girl Ian Curtis had come across that suffered from epilepsy and died, something Ian Curtis struggled to come to terms with, especially as around that time he himself suffered from Epilepsy.

The death of Ian Curtis was such a sad loss for the Manchester Music scene.

“Atmosphere” reached number 34 in the UK Singles chart, as far as I know it was only ever released on 12 Inch Vinyl. The tracks on the vinyl were a standard single length and not extended versions.

An essential addition to any Vinyl 12 Inch collection.

If you haven’t seen the film “Control”, which portrays the life of Ian Curtis, watch it, it’s such a powerful movie and Sam Riley is incredible as Ian Curtis.

12 INCH VINYL TRACK LISTING

A1 Atmosphere 4:05

B1 She’s Lost Control 4:41

Both of the tracks on the 12 Inch can be found on this Joy Division “Best Of” collection from Amazon for just under £10:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Best-Joy-Division/dp/B0013LP87A/ref=sr_1_3?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1519763647&sr=1-3&keywords=Joy+Division

Day 9 - White Lion Radio's Favourite Vinyl 12 Inch Singles From The 80s

Day 9.....

Soft Cell - Bedsitter (12 Inch Version)

Well what can I say about this 12 Inch Single, it holds a lot or personal memories for me, not all of them good memories. When this came out I was living in a grubby bedsit and so I connected with this song immediately. I became a big fan of Soft Cell when they released “Tainted Love” (The 12 Inch Version of that is also excellent).

What I like about “Bedsitter (12 Inch Version)" was the fact they introduced totally new elements and lyrics to the mix, brilliantly produced and sounds stunning even by today’s standards.  The 12 inch unfolds like a story, so many lines sung could very well be related to me, they’re not of course but it felt like it at the time. I should point out, that if I allowed more than one song per artist in this feature the 12 Inch of Soft Cell’s “Where The Heart Is” would definitely be included, another song I connected with, especially with the lyrics.

Anyway back to the 12 Inch of “Bedsitter”, it was released in October 1981 and reached Number 4 in the UK Singles Chart (It should have been a number one hit in my book). The extended version is nearly 8 minutes long and absolutely brilliant. On the flip side of the 12 Inch is an extended version of my favourite Soft Cell B Side “Facility Girls”, that is over 7 minutes long, the track tells the story of a bored secretary working in an office, should have been an A side and certainly should have been on the album “Non Stop Erotic Cabaret”.

12 INCH VINYL TRACK LISTING

A1 Bedsitter (Extended) 7:53

B1 Facility Girls (Extended Version) 7:17

You will find “Bedsitter (Extended Version” on a 3CD compilation of all their 12 Inch Singles and associated B Sides, it isn’t cheap though as it is £45 on Amazon here:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Twelve-Inch-Singles-SOFT-2002-01-08/dp/B01GUH6726/ref=sr_1_59?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1519762897&sr=1-59&keywords=Soft+Cell

Day 8 - White Lion Radio's Favourite Vinyl 12 Inch Singles From The 80s

Day 8.....

Seona Dancing - More To Lose (Extended Mix)

Today we have a hidden gem of a 12 inch single in the shape of “More To Lose” by Seona Dancing, a band that only ever released 2 singles (I have both of them on 12 inch vinyl in my collection). What many people won't realize, is this was a band that featured a certain gentlemen by the name of Ricky Gervais!! Ricky was the singer in the band.

“More To Lose” was released in 1983 and only reached number 117 on the UK Singles chart, surprisingly the much weaker single “Bitter Heart” reached Number 79 in the UK Singles Chart!

The Extended Mix takes full advantage of its infectious bass-line and melodic piano riff, how this song wasn’t a massive hit I will never know! It has one track on the B Side, “You’re On My Side”, which is the same version as the 7 Inch B Side, however, it is definitely worth having for the A side alone!

I only bought the record because they were playing it in Virgin records in Manchester, and thought it was awesome and so I asked a member of staff who it was and bought it, might prove to be a worthwhile purchase because surely the original 12 Inch vinyl must be collectable.

12 INCH VINYL TRACK LISTING

A1 More To Lose (Extended Version) 6:03

B1 You’re On My Side 3:06

It must be collectable because on Amazon you can get the 12 inch for a mere £170!!!!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/More-Lose-Seona-Dancing/dp/B0055XZPVG/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1519761816&sr=1-1-fkmr0&keywords=Seoan+Dancing+More+To+Lose

Day 7 - White Lion Radio's Favourite Vinyl 12 Inch Singles From The 80s

Day 7.....

Simple Minds - Glittering Prize (Club Mix)

Simple Minds hit the big time with the release of their album “New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84)” which was released in 1982, I never really liked the lead single “Promised You A Miracle” but always thought that “Glittering Prize” was a perfect track to release as a single, for me it should have been the first single released off the album.

The album remains a big favourite of mine as does the club mix of Glittering Prize, which appeared on the 12 inch single. This version is just short of 5 minutes long, and is surely, one of the bands best 12 Inch mixes. Sadly the 12 Inch only featured 1 track on the B Side which was an instrumental version of the Club Mix.

“Glittering Prize” was released in August 1982 and reached Number 16 in the UK Singles chart.

It is definitely my all time favourite Simple Minds 12 Inch.

12 INCH VINYL TRACK LISTING

A1 Glittering Prize (Club Mix) 4:57

B1 Glittering Prize (Theme) 4:57

Both the Club Mix and Instrumental Mix (Glittering Prize Theme) are available on the 6 Disc Super Deluxe Edition of the album “New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84), which is available for around £35 from Amazon here:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/New-Gold-Dream-Super-Deluxe/dp/B01E1BXMT4/ref=sr_1_24?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1519761171&sr=1-24&keywords=Simple+Minds

Day 6 - White Lion Radio's Favourite Vinyl 12 Inch Singles From The 80s

Day 6.....

Yazoo - Nobody's Diary (12 Inch Version)

Vince Clarke the master of Synthpop! Vince has achieved incredible success over a long period with Depeche Mode, Yazoo and Erasure. When he formed Yazoo with Alison Moyet it looked like the perfect partnership, however, the band lasted for just 2 albums “Upstairs At Erics” and “You And Me Both”, that said, they are 2 fantastic albums packed with Synthpop nuggets, including of course “Nobody’s Diary”, which appeared on “You And Me Both”.

The 12 inch version is synthpop heaven, the extended arrangement is just perfect and runs for around 6 minutes, the only other track on the 12 inch vinyl is an extended version of the original B side “State Farm”, which has a running time of 6 ½ minutes.

This is definitely my favourite Yazoo 12 Inch Vinyl single.

The single was released in May 1983 and reached number 3 in the UK Singles Chart.

The track was written by Alison Moyet.

12 INCH VINYL TRACK LISTING

A1 Nobody's Diary (Extended Version) 6:01

B1 State Farm (Extended Version) 6:29

The 12 Inch Version of “Nobody’s Diary” is available as a Digital Download from Amazon here:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Nobodys-Diary-Extended-Version-Remastered/dp/B01NCULRHE/ref=sr_1_7?s=dmusic&ie=UTF8&qid=1519738659&sr=1-7&keywords=Yazoo+Nobody%27s+Diary