Instant Hit: Helen - Witch

Helen was not a single performer, but a studio-driven Italo disco project active in the 1980s, created by producers Roberto Barocelli, Ennio Ronchelli and Daniela Paratici. Over the years, different vocalists gave life to the tracks, including Elena Ferretti for "Witch". The song was originally released in 1983 and stood out for the layered drum machine rhythms and Elena's striking vocals. The song was reissued in 2010 and 2020.

Instant Hit: The Glove - Like An Animal

The Glove released their debut single, "Like an Animal," in August 1983. As a side project of Robert Smith from The Cure and Steve Severin from Siouxsie and the Banshees, the project allowed both musicians to take a break from their where they recruited Jeanette Landray to take on lead vocal duties for the song. The band released one-off album, Blue Sunshine, before disbanding, with Smith and Severin returning to their original bands.

Instant Hit: Sharon Mitchell - Handsome Stranger

Sharon Mitchell, an American former adult actress, briefly ventured into the music industry with the release of two singles in the early 1980s. One of these was the catchy and exotic "Handsome Stranger," released in 1983 on two different labels. The song narrated the tale of a Mexican woman in pursuit of a wealthy American lover.

Retrovision: Blue Peter - Don't Walk Past

Blue Peter's video for the song "Don't Walk Past" has been remastered in 2021, and the new version is now available on YouTube. Originally released in 1983, the song was part of their second album, Falling. Interestingly, this video marked the first appearance of a Canadian indie label video on MTV in the U.S.

Retrovision: Boys Brigade - Melody

 "Melody" was one of the two single releases for the Canadian New Wave band Boys Brigade. It was released in 1983 and it was also featured on the band's debut and only album which was never reissued.

First Two Studio Albums by Data Reissued

Angel Air Records have reissued the first two albums by Data. Their debut album 'Opera Electronica' has been originally released in 1981 on Polydor records and featured Data's biggest hits "Fallout" and "Fever of Love". Their second album '2-Time' followed two years later and was released on different labels in different countries. Georg Kajanus, the musical mastermind behind Data and the founder has digitally remastered the original album adding bonus tracks as well. 

Both albums have been reissued on November 3rd and can be purchased here. 

Instant Hit: Shoc Corridor- Travelling by Hand

“Travelling by Hand” was the final track on Shoc Corridor’s debut album Experiments in Incest which was released in 1983. In masterful way the album blends synth wave electronica with psychedelic oriental sounds and industrial acid. “Travelling by Hand” indeed catches and resumes album’s sound in one unique formula. Experiment in Incest was reissued in 2015 for the first time by Dark Entries.

Retrovision: Opus III- It's a Fine Day

Twenty five years ago, Opus III topped the UK charts with "It's a Fine Day" reaching #5. The single was actually a cover and house makeover of the classic by Jane released in 1983 and written by poet and musician Edward Barton. The song's video below featured the singer Kirsty Hawkshaw (with her standout shaved head and bodysuit) performing and dancing.

 

Ultravox' - Ultra Box Set Announced for Late October

Chrysalis Records have announced the release of a new Ultravox box set. 'The Albums 1980-2012' is a nine-CD collection featuring the six Midge Ure era studio albums – 'Vienna' (1980), 'Rage in Eden' (1981), 'Quartet' (1982), 'Lament' (1984) and 'U-Vox' (1986) – as well as live records 'Monument' (1983) and 'Return to Eden' (2009). The story is brought right back up to date with the inclusion of 'Brilliant', last year’s studio album featuring the classic line-up after a recording hiatus of almost three decades. All the LPs from the 1980s have been newly remastered by Steve Rooke at Abbey Road Studios. 

The CDs will be in card sleeves and housed in a clamshell box. The Albums 1980-2012 is released on 28 October 2013.

Source:

http://www.superdeluxeedition.com/news/

Instant Hit: Vision - Love Dance

In all honesty, I had never even heard of these guys until a couple hours ago. They're just another in a sea of bands that eluded me during the 80's and I'm sure they won't be the last. Better late to the party than not at all. I did a little digging and this is the handful of info that was available. Basically, they were a five-piece synthpop band out of Rotherham UK. Like many others, they released a minimal amount of material and were never to be heard from again. This string of releases included six singles and one album between 1981 and 1987. The track I'd like to focus on is for the single "Love Dance". It was released in 1983 and reached #74 on UK singles charts. That's it! You now know as much about them as I do. That said, I'm loving this track and video. I decided it was surely worth sharing.

Author: Ty Voltaire

Retrovision: Malcolm McLaren- Double Dutch

Thirty years ago, Malcolm McLaren released "Double Dutch" and entered the UK charts and reached number #3. This song was taken from his seminal debut album Duck Rock released during the same year. The song concerns the skipping game of the same name, with McLaren's narration mentioning several New York double dutch troupes by name, notably the Ebonettes, whose name is also used as a chant in the chorus. The video for the song was released in 1985.

Fiction Factory's Debut to be Reissued on Cherry Red

Cherry Red has announced the re-release of Fiction Factory's debut album 'Throw The Warped Wheel Out'. The album was originally released in 1984 and featured their biggest hit "(Feels Like) Heaven" which peaked at #6 in the UK singles chart in 1983. This reissue comes as a special edition and contains ten tracks from the original album plus nine essential bonus tracks. The bonus tracks on this release appear on CD for the first time in the UK except "I Who Know You". The CD booklet will feature many of the original sleeves and a full UK discography. Out on September 23rd. 

http://www.cherryred.co.uk

A Certain Ratio's- I'd Like To See You Again out on Factory Benelux

Factory Benelux has released a new CD edition of 'I'd Like To See You Again', the third studio album by Manchester postpunk funk group A Certain Ratio, originally released by Factory Records in October 1982. 'I'd Like To See You Again' was the last Ratio album to feature the original quintet of Donald Johnson, Jeremy Kerr, Martin Moscrop, Simon Topping and Peter Terrell, and saw the band move from the ethereal textures of Sextet towards a more stripped-down sound, influenced by the Latin and electrofunk scene in New York. 

 This remastered CD features 5 bonus tracks, including the 7" and 12" versions of dancefloor classic "Knife Slits Water", flipside "Tumba Rhumba", an exclusive remix of "Guess Who", and underrated single "I Need Someone Tonite", issued in 1983 and the first Ratio record to feature keys player Andy Connell. 

http://factorybenelux.com/id_like_to_see_you_again_fbn17cd.html

Tracklist:
1. Touch
2. Saturn
3. Hot Knights
4. I'd Like To See You Again
5. Show Case
6. Sesamo Apriti – Corco Vada
7. Axis 8. Guess Who
9. Knife Slits Water (7" version)
10. Tumba Rhumba
11. I Need Someone Tonite
12. Guess Who (Remix)

Retrovision- Pas De Deux- Mani Meme

Pas De Deux made their debut with the songs "Mani Meme" in 1983. This one shot video for this song was recorded in December 1982 and featured the singer Dett Peyskens. Everything was arranged and produced by Walter Verdin for Parsley Productions. This and many other songs by Pas De Deux appeared on Minimal Wave compilation 'Cardiocleptomanie' which was released in 2011.

Retrovision: Altered Images- Bring Me Closer

Thirty years ago, Altered Images released "Bring Me Closer". It was one of the several singles which were taken from their third album 'Bite' which was released during the same year. The first single "Don't Talk to Me About Love", reached UK #7, becoming one of the group's biggest hits, "Bring Me Closer" made it only to #29. Soon after the final single and the group completed a UK tour, they disbanded.

Best of 1983 - The Singles List

The year 1982 was all about Michael Jackson's Thriller, which became the best-selling album of all time. The video for the song proved to be challenging for the MTV airwaves, and it is also considered as one of the best videos of all time. Along with Michael Jackson's success other artists followed; David Bowie released Let's Dance, his most commercial album to date and ladies rocked too, Madonna and Cyndi Lauper released their debuts too exploring the weird and unconventional and Kim Wilde won the Brit Award for best British female artist. 

In 1982, the first compact discs were produced in Germany and were already sold in Japan during the third quarter of the same year. In 1983, they also went on sale in the USA, and they will certainly revolutionize the music industry in the coming years. 

New Wave slowly faded into Pop and its biggest stars of the decade Michal Jackson, Madonna, Prince and George Michael will rule the charts for the rest of the decade and beyond.

01. New Order - Blue Monday 
02. Depeche Mode - Everything Counts 
03. The Smiths - This Charming Man 
04. Michael Jackson - Thriller 
05. The Sisters of Mercy - Temple of Love 
06. Simple Minds - New Gold Dream 81-82-83-84 
07. Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Relax 
08. Eurythmics – Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) 
09. The The - This is the Day 
10. Siouxsie and The Banshees - Dear Prudence 
11. Yazoo- Nobody's Diary 
12. Echo & The Bunnymen- The Cutter 
13. U2- New Year’s Day 
14. David Bowie – Let's Dance
15. Cyndi Lauper- Girls Just Wanna have Fun
16. Pat Benetar - Love is a Battlefield 
17. Talking Heads - Burning Down The House 
18. R.E.M.- Radio Free Europe 
19. Spandau Ballet - True 
20. PIL - This is not a Love Song 

Best of 1983- The Album List

The year 1982 was undeniably dominated by Michael Jackson's groundbreaking album "Thriller," which went on to become the best-selling album of all time. The accompanying music video for the title track presented a significant challenge for MTV airwaves but is now regarded as one of the greatest music videos ever created. Riding on the wave of Michael Jackson's success, other artists achieved notable milestones: David Bowie released "Let's Dance," his most commercially successful album up to that point. On the female front, both Madonna and Cyndi Lauper made their debut appearances, exploring unconventional and unique styles. Kim Wilde received recognition by winning the Brit Award for Best British Female Artist.

Meanwhile, in 1982, Germany produced the first compact discs, which were initially sold in Japan during the third quarter of the same year. These CDs were later introduced to the U.S. market in 1983, revolutionizing the music industry in the years to come.

As New Wave gradually transitioned into Pop, the decade's most significant stars—Michael Jackson, Madonna, Prince, and George Michael—continued to dominate the charts for the remainder of the '80s and beyond.

 

Retrovision- Fotostat- Fotostat

The robotic duo Fotostat sadly only released one single back in 1983. Back then like some of their contemporaries, they were quite futuristic and ahead of their time. Today their music videos can be watched on YouTube as rare material. This track is called "Fotostat", and was filmed at the Ultratech club in Glasgow in early 1983.

 

Retrovision: Orange Juice- Rip it Up

Orange Juice released "Rip it Up" thirty years ago in March 1983. The song reached number #8 in the UK charts and remained among the top selling songs Orange Juice have released. Good news is that Domino Records will be releasing a comprehensive seven-disc anthology which will include their entire studio recordings, live sessions and a DVD with videos and concert footage. In total, 'Coals To Newcastle' contains 16 previously unreleased tracks with another 23 tracks previously unavailable on earlier re-issues and it will be released on November 8th (UK) and November 9th (US).

 

Das Kabinette- Spy Thriller 2013 Reissue

Due to popular demand, Minimal Wave Records have decided to do a limited repress of Blackpool's band Das Kabinette release 'Spy Thriller'. They were known mainly for their underground hit "The Cabinet" which was originally released as a 7” single in 1983. This track and a couple of unreleased tracks were then released in January 2008 as 'Spy Thriller'. The record sold out quickly soon after. 

The new repress of 'Spy Thriller' comes on 180 gram ultra clear vinyl, limited to 500 hand numbered copies complete with a heavy weight die-cut matte jacket, with a printed inner sleeve which shows through the window. Lyrics included on the inner sleeve. Vinyl will be available in early March 2013. Digital release to follow.