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 I 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

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https://whitelionradio.myfreesites.net/

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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!