Retrovision: Fad Gadget- Life on The Line

Thirty years ago Mute released "Life on the Line" by Fad Gadget. The song was taken from Fad Gadget's third album 'Under the Flag' which was released in the same year. During this performance (Hotel Suburbia 1983) the group also performed their biggest hits "For Whom The Bells Toll", "Lady Shave" and "Back to Nature". The whole performance and a lot more was featured on Fad Gadget/Frank Tovey compilation which was released by Mute in 2006. 

Reissue: Nuvo West- Nuvo West

The Italian record label Synthetic Shadows has reissued the rare and obscure debut album by the American group Nuvo West. Their debut album 'Scary' was originally released in 1983 through West Records Inc. This new compilations features the remastered edition of 'Scary' plus their unreleased Cassette 'Twankin'' from 1984. The release is out today and it is available in 500 copies.   

Marc And The Mambas- Three Black Nights Of Little Black Bites on DVD/CD

Cherry Red Records will release the long awaited video recording and CD of the legendary Marc And The Mambas live performances given at The Duke Of York’s Theatre in London’s West End in 1983. Mastered and restored from the original VHS tape recordings made by the late Peter Christopherson (Throbbing Gristle, Psychic TV), these remain the only recordings that exist of Marc And The Mambas performing live. 

This limited collector’s edition is intended for Marc Almond’s dedicated fan-base as a souvenir of a renowned and legendary run of concerts and is testament to pivotal moment in the development of his artistry and the direction his post Soft Cell career would take. This DVD and CD Digi-Pak comes with an eight page booklet containing an extensive reminiscence by Marc Almond himself. The release is announced for November 12th.

 http://www.cherryred.co.uk

 

Retrovision: Tears for Fears- Mad World

Thirty years ago Tears for Fears released "Mad World" which became one of their best selling singles of all time. The song was written by Roland Orzabal and sung by bassist Curt Smith. The song reched Number #3 in the UK charts and it would eventually become Tears for Fears' first international hit, reaching the Top 40 in several countries between 1982 and 1983. The promotional clip for "Mad World", filmed in late summer 1982, was Tears for Fears' first music video that was directed by Clive Richardson. 

Two decades later, the song was covered in a much slower, minimalist style by composers Michael Andrews and Gary Jules for the soundtrack to the movie 'Donnie Darko' in 2001. 

Instant Hit: Lisa- Rocket to Your Heart

The American singer Lisa who was mostly known for her Hi-NRG, Synth-pop and Disco style outputs, made her debut in 1982 with "Jump Shout". A year later in 1983, she released one of her biggest hits "Rocket To Your Heart". The song made it to number #2 in the American Billboard Dance/Disco top 80, was released in many countries around the world as an import and went platinum in Mexico, a country where Lisa's music was, and still remains, incredibly popular. 

Instant Hit: Microdisney- Pink Skinned Man

"Pink Skinned Man" was the second single release for the Irish indie pop group Microdisney. It was released in 1983 through Kabuki and featured the wonderful and acoustic "Fiction Land" as a b-side. Perfect soundtrack to the late summer. 

 

Instant Hit: Vogue- Sahara

Vogue was a Los Angeles based group consisting of Aret Michel Madilian, Julie Kubat and Teresa Kubat. They released their only single, a wonderfully synth driven and very atmospheric "Sahara" in 1983. The song was issued as 12" for Aret Records and featured "Shattered Peace" on a B-side. The song appeared on A.A.V.V. Your Silent Face compilation which was released in 2010.  

 

Instant Hit: Bernthøler - My Suitor

"My Suitor" was one of the two singles the Belgian avant garde group Bernthøler released in 1983. The group was formed in the early eighties as a "musical experiment" named after a line in a Virna Lindt song. "My Suitor" was originally released in 1983 in Belgium and a year later in the UK. The band didn't release any albums up to 2004 when their recording material was released on a compilation Merry Lines In The Sky by LTM Publishing (Les Temps Modernes). 

Instant Hit: O'Gar- Playback Fantasy

"Playback Fantasy" was a first single release for the Italian singer and producer Marco Ongaro who recorded a couple of songs and one album during the 80's under a name O'Gar. "Playback Fantasy" was a hit in Europe and it was released in several European countries. The single was released in 1983 and it was issued as both 7" and 12" inch record with the instrumental version of the song as a b-side. It was also featured on O'Gar's only album Gimmick from the year 1985.

Instant Hit: Philip Jap- Total Erasure

Philip Jap enjoyed some brief success with his only album which was released in 1983 thanks to the singles "Save Us" and "Total Erasure" which reached the UK charts in 1982."Total Erasure", his third single, was released in 1982 through A&M Records. The song was available as 7" and 12" inch and featured "Brave Lights" as B-side. Both songs were produced by Tony Mansfield. 

Reissue: Passion Polka- Obsessions EP

Anna Logue Records have reissued "Obsessions" EP by Passion Polka which was originally released in 1982. The EP has been remastered by Marc Senasac with an addition of two previously unreleased 1983 tracks 'Lying next to You' and 'Fighting Alone'. A classic analogue synth-pop one must have!

http://annaloguerecords.blogspot.com/p/releases.html

  

Limahl Returns with a New Single!

Limahl is back with a new single giving us the flashback to the year 1983. "1983" is also the name of his brand new single which is due to be released on January 10, 2012. The song was co-written/produced with Norwegians Tommy Olsen, Rune Maurtvedt and Stig Antonsen. The track will be released worldwide by Dig Music (Norway). The release date is the same as "Too Shy" by Kajagoogoo 29 years earlier.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/1983

Instant Hit: Perfect Strangers- My Kind of Love

Perfect Strangers were a duo consisting of Martha McGowan and Roderick Syers. During their brief existence, they released two singles in 1983 for Chrysalis. Their debut single "Without You" with a wonderful "My Kind of Love" as a b-side was produced by Anne Dudley of Art of Noise, who in the same year produced "The Entertainer" by the Belle Stars. 

Perfect Strangers- My Kind of Love
Perfect Strangers- Without You

80's Duets: Robert Görl & Annie Lennox- Darling Don't Leave Me

Robert Görl released his second single “Darling Don’t Leave Me” in 1983. The song featured Annie Lennox as guest vocalist at the time she already enjoyed some success with her original band Eurythmics. The song was written by Robert Görl, produced by Mike Hedges and released on Mute.

80's Duets: David Sylvian & Sakamoto Ryuichi- Forbidden Colours

"Forbidden Colours" was the second collaborative single release for David Sylvian and Ryuichi Sakamoto. The song composed by Ryuichi Sakamoto with lyrics by David Sylvian was released in 1983 and it was the vocal version of the theme from the Nagisa Oshima's film "Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence". Both artists have recorded several interpretations of the song, both instrumental and vocal and it appeared as a B-side to David Sylvian's release "Red Guitar".

80's Duets: Sparks & Jane Wiedlin- Cool Places

As a big fan of Sparks in the early 80's Jane Wiedlin recorded a duet with Ron and Russel in 1983. The song "Cool Places" was taken form Sparks' album "In Outer Space" which remained their biggest hit in the USA. Wiedlin also helped promote the album on tour and appeared at a few gigs to perform the duets.

Instant Hit: The Twins- Ballet Dancer

The German group the Twins has had several hits during the first half of the 80's mostly in Italy with their synth pop driven Italo disco tunes. "Ballet Dancer" was one of their biggest hits charting not only in Italy, but also in their home country. Very up-to-date, it was released in 1983 and appeared on their album A Wild Romance.

Instant Hit: Pulp- My Lighthouse

Pulp, one of the best 90's bands, really struggled to gain prominence in the early 80's with the release of their debut album It. Most of the songs on this album were acoustic, romantic pop songs influenced by Leonard Cohen. The debut single "My Lighthouse" is the perfect example for it. It was released in 1983 though the Red Rhino Records.

David Bowie- China Girl

The third video labeled as Nude Wave is a clip for David Bowie's song "China Girl". The music video was directed by David Mallet’s and mainly shot in the Chinatown district of Melbourne, and on a houseboat on Sydney Harbour, Australia. It featured the actress and model Geeling Ng lying and David Bowie naked in the surf. Since the video was too explicit for the MTV early years it got slightly censored for the airplay.

Ultravox- Vision of Blue

In 1983, Ultravox released their song "Visions of Blue" and recorded a video for the MTV airplay which contained brief nudity. It two showed topless women with bare breasts, draped in towels washing themselves beside a fireplace. This video was banned by the BBC and MTV due to nudity exhibition. An edited version was later provided for broadcast on Top of the Pops. Since this form of nudity has become quite harmless, the original version of the video can also be found on YouTube.