Dollar - The Dollar Album (1982)

Note: the CD I listened to was the 2010 reissue.

Yes, that's really the album cover and title. Earlier this year, while listening to Just Can't Get Enough: New Wave Hits of the '80s, Vol. 11, I wrote the following about the Dollar song, Mirror Mirror (Mon Amour):

Written by Trevor Horn and Bruce Woolley, who wrote Video Killed The Radio Star. Produced by Horn. I hadn't heard this song before buying this CD, but I can almost guarantee that I would have loved this song back in '81. Maybe I can find a cheap copy of the album...

Not surprisingly, it was not difficult to find a cheap copy of the album. What is surprising, however, is how easy these songs are to listen to. The Trevor Horn-produced singles sound like Buggles tunes with this bleach blond duo singing on them while the remaining songs are derivative harmless new wavish disco-pop, but at least they're catchy. This album is a like ice cream: a little bit will make you happy; a lot will make you sick.

Smash Hits

As a long-time Trevor Horn fan, the completist in me is happy that I picked this up. After this album, Horn would really make his mark as a producer in short order: ABC's Lexicon of Love, Malcolm McLaren's Duck Rock, Who's Afraid of the Art of Noise, Yes' 90125, FGTH Welcome to the Pleasuredome. This burst of creative energy in the early '80s led to a very productive and prosperous 30+ year career at the console.

Side note: in true '80s style, the cassette version of this album was called The Dollar Cassette.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: Did not chart

Tracks:  The four Trevor Horn tracks are Mirror Mirror (Mon Amour), Give Me Back My Heart, Hand Held In Black & White, and Videotheque. 6 bonus tracks of alternative mixes are included in the 2010 re-issue (see ice cream simile, above).

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None