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! 

Maximum 80s #142

Welcome to edition 142 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

The Sugarhill Gang - Rapper's Delight (12 Inch)
Shalamar - The Second Time Around (12 Inch Version)
Blondie - Atomic (Diddy 12 Inch Mix)
The Whispers - And The Beat Goes On (12 Inch Disco Single)
The Cure - A Forest (Extended Mix)
Positive Force - We Got The Funk (12 Inch Version)
Leon Haywood - Don't Push It Don't Force It (12 Inch Version)
Jermaine Jackson - Let's Get Serious (12 Inch Version)
Lipps Inc - Funky Town (12 Inch Version)
Bob Marley & The Wailers - Could You Be Loved (12 Inch Remix)
George Benson - Give Me The Night (Long Version)
Kelly Marie - Feels Like I'm In Love (Original 12 Inch)

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!

Rubik's 80s Mix #142 (March 1986)

White Lion Radio have released edition #142 of Rubik's 80s Mix, on this show, we feature tracks that were in the charts, in March 1986.

Listen to the show on Mixcloud here

Playlist For The Show:

Sigue Sigue Sputnik - Love Missile F1-11
The Bangles - Manic Monday
ELO - Calling America
Prince - Kiss
Pet Shop Boys - Love Comes Quickly
Sinitta - So Macho
David Bowie - Absolute Beginners
Howard Jones - No One Is To Blame
Samantha Fox - Touch Me (I Want Your Body)
Falco - Rock Me Amadeus
Janet Jackson - What Have You Done For Me Lately
Queen - A Kind Of Magic
New Order - Shellshock
Atlantic Starr - Secret Lovers
Diana Ross - Chain Reaction

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!

i-Select #123 (Part 2)

White Lion Radio have released Part 2 of edition #123 of i-Select.

This is a series of shows that focuses on Electronic/Synthpop bands from around the world, that are unsigned, signed to a small independent label or self release their material.

If you like electronic music, you will enjoy this show

You can listen to the show via Mixcloud:

https://www.mixcloud.com/whitelionradio/i-select-123-part-2/

Full Playlist

LonelyKlown - When The Birds Of Autumn Sing
APL - Salvage Operation
Split Vision - City Limits
Eugene - Une
Icicle - Bouquet Of Sun Rays
Soapnote - Invisible
Perfect Female Type - Rosanna
Positronic - A Sky Full Of Stars
MTTM - We Are Alive
Zynic - Everyday Is Like Sunday
Après La Nuit - Life And Lies (Original)
Liquid 1nc - Liquid Lunch
Elin Engdahl Ft Elitronic - Utopia
AC83 - Almost Human
Funkenstaub - With You Again (Narcotic Elements Remix)
Spring Break 83 - Sunsets Of Summer
APL - The Monday Morning Trauma
Rogue FX - The Great Escape (Perfect Female Type Remix)
Miami Nights 1984 - Golden Hour
Icicle - Dry As Dirt
Split Vision - Inside My Sphere

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!