Police - Park West, Chicago - 1979

Tonight's second show is 9 years older than my last post, and the oldest concert this week.  It's a spectacular ball of energy catching the boys at their best and most creative.  This is a show I would've loved to have seen.  This one would've been fantastic.  Of course, I was only 8 years old at the time, so I didn't know any better, but it would have been the best.

It's got a nice selection of their best, but also some lesser known favorites that are awesome to hear live.  Bouncing, full of energy and hard rocking.  Hard to believe this happened about 20 miles from where I lived, and I had no idea.......

I built this cover from scratch, only using the two pics.  I love how it turned out.  It looks like something straight from their catalog.  A nice little addition to a remarkable history...  ( I have more awesome soundboard Police shows, but I'll wait to post them later.)

Short and sweet, tonight.  I'm fucking tired....

Police - Park West, Chicago - 1979

Police - Reggatta de Blanc - 1979

 When this album came out, I was 7, almost 8.  I wasn't even into music yet.  I was too busy playing with my Star Wars figures, watching Battlestar Galactica, and riding my bike.  Yes, my parents listened to FM Pop Radio in the car, so I'm sure I heard some of these songs back when they were popular, but I don't remember.  When I got their Greatest Hits in 1985, I already knew most of the songs, but I didn't own an actual Police album other than that.

I finally got this one sometime in 1989-1990 (would be my guess).  I know that when I bought it, I was still in High School, but also living in the midwest, after leaving Chicago in 1988.  I graduated in 1990.  ANYWAY...   I got it at a used record store called Recycled Sounds for about 3.00 on scratched vinyl and scruffed-up cover.  I learned most of these songs with the hiss and pop of an old record.  I almost prefer it that way.

This would be my second favorite Police album behind Synchronicity.  There is a little Power Pop, a little Punk, a little Reggae, a little New Wave and a little Rock.  It showed the true diversity in their style, and the melodies are some of their best, despite what Wikipedia says.  Lyrically, meh.  Sting has done better.  But the music is quality.....

I added the b-sides, and since there weren't any actual Police remixes, I added two fan mixes that sound as if they could be actual period mixes.  They are great!

I still don't understand why they would name their album THAT, though. It seems a tad racist...

Police - Reggatta de Blanc - 1979

Buzzcocks - A Different Kind Of Tension - 1979

Firstly, I finally got my Music Hard Drive to work just about an hour ago.  So, I'm back in business for a while!

This was the Buzzcocks final album before the split.  It contains a wide variety of sounds that you wouldn't normally consider to be Buzzcocks or even Punk.  Maybe they could see the writing on the wall as their style of Punk would soon fade to New Wave, Post Punk and Goth.  Also, their seemed to be an extreme amount of drug use going on at the time that was splitting the band.

Despite it all, this album is put together very well, and showcases a lot of the talent that the band members had.  The songs were well written, the melodies were catchy, the message was good, and the performance was tight.  Even so, it wasn't enough to keep the members together.  Shelley was destined to go it alone...

I always thought the cover was a little wonky, so when I couldn't find a decent, high-quality version of it on the internet, I just used their logo to redo it, making it a little harder, a little more modern, and hella cool.  They have already released an expanded version of this album, but it didn't have all of the tracks from that period, but had repeat demos from album tracks.  I'd rather have all the b-sides and demos of unavailable tracks than Peel Sessions and demos of tracks already on the album.  I still had to cut it into two discs, though.  And at two discs and 28 tracks, it still comes out at 114MB, so the quality isn't the greatest.  It's definitely listenable and worth burning, but it's not the best it could be.

Be back tomorrow ~

Buzzcocks - A Different Kind Of Tension - 1979

Orchestral Manoeuvres In the Dark - The Extended Versions - 1979-88

So, several months ago, I posted my "Singles Collection" of every OMD single, b-side and remix up through Dreaming.  I know, though, that listening to 6 discs straight through can be a daunting task.  I know because it's tough for me, even on a road trip.  So, I also made myself an extended/remix collection with one mix from each of their singles, if a mix exists.

It's hard to say which disc I prefer, as I have favorites on both of them.  Regardless, it's a good set, and playing through a 2-disc set doesn't take long.  Favorite tracks would include Never Turn Away, So In Love,
Messages, Souvenir, and of course the Martin Hannett mix of Electricity.

I've said before that I don't care for greatest hits collections.  I don't.  But, when it comes to OMD, and Art of Noise, a lot of times, that's the only way you can listen to them.  Don't know why.  But, as far as albums go, neither of them can really pull together a cohesive group of songs that I can like.  I guess I'm too picky.

Anyway, I thought the font and cover graphic was fitting for this collection.  I hadn't made the cover for myself before, but once I got these two, I printed them off.  Looks good on my CD wall.

Orchestral Manoeuvres In the Dark - The Extended Versions - 1979-88 - Disc One

Orchestral Manoeuvres In the Dark - The Extended Versions - 1979-88 - Disc Two 

Gary Numan + Tubeway Army - Replicas - 1979

And now, it is my pleasure to introduce to you the absolute God of New Wave himself, the illustrious Gary Numan with his Tubeway Army!!!

I got this album sometime in the mid-80s, and fell in love with it.  As time passed by, and music changed and my tastes changed, and this album became older and more distant, I finally realized what Gary was up to.  His music begins to take on an alien sound that haunts and reminds of the past, yet sounds as if it could be music of the distant future as well.  It's as if it exists in a parallel distopian civilization of darkness, cold and barren.

I can almost see this album as a sequel to Ziggy Stardust or Aladdin Sane.  He took what Bowie started and pushed it right over the edge.

To this day I think that Gary Numan is completely under-rated and feel that despite his cult following, he should've been way bigger than he ever was.  His pioneering sound spawned countless imitators, but none could hold a candle to his vision.

I had to laugh when Basement Jaxx released their Where's Your Head At single, and there in the middle is a sample from this album.  A perfect nod to the King of electronic New Wave.

I always liked this album art, front and back.  So, I kept it the same.

This album is QUINTESSENTIAL and a definite MUST HAVE for any New Wave enthusiast. I pity the fool who doesn't have this album in their collection.  I really couldn't take you seriously.

Gary Numan + Tubeway Army - Replicas - 1979

Japan - Quiet Life - 1979

So here's why Duran Duran made it big, and Japan really didn't.

1.  -  They both played New Wave music - BUT - Japan was too Disco oriented, while D2 took it to the next level and created the New Romantic sound.

2.  -  They both wore makeup.  Hell, Nick Rhodes looks like he ripped off David Sylvians look.  - BUT - All the boys in D2 were handsome pretty boys, but, Japan...  Well, they were all ugly.  Sorry, but just a fact.

3.  -  They both had great, singles full of pop hooks.  -  BUT - Japan's album tracks and b-sides were pretty poor, and didn't carry the magic that the singles had.  Japan even reused album tracks from previous albums instead of putting something new on them.  Whereas every track D2 had on their albums were fantastic, and their b-sides and remixes were also terrific.

4.  -  Timing.  Japan came out about 3-4 years too soon.  They missed the MTV exposure that D2 received. 

5.  -  They both had videos for their songs.  -  BUT - D2 put a lot of time and effort and money into making revolutionary and visionary videos.  Japan's videos sucked.

6.  -  Japan split up way too soon.  Had they stuck it out, they could have done better and more.  D2 could have stayed together longer, but that's another story....

Regardless, Japan put out some good music, and they definitely sound like a precursor to D2, or even ripped off by D2.  That conspiracy has been argued for decades, though.  It's best just to enjoy what Japan gave us and groove to the Quiet Life...   again.

Japan - Quiet Life - 1979