This is the 14th volume of a fantastic 15 volume set released in the mid-'90s by Rhino Records. This CD is not the strongest of the 15 volumes. In fact, most of these tracks aren't what I would consider new wave. Songs on this volume were released in the years 1983 - 1985.
Tracks:
- Close (To The Edit) - Art Of Noise (#102 US, #8 UK)
I wish I had listened to AoN when I was in high school. It would have been perfect for a music snob like me to talk about when everyone else at the high school lunch table was talking about Journey or Styx. This is one of the group's better songs. - Tenderness - General Public (#27 US)
I never liked this song on principle. I was upset that the English Beat broke up so I couldn't support General Public. I got over it. - Der Kommissar - After The Fire (#5 US, #47 UK)
Uh-oh. While it was the band's most popular song in the US, this Superfreak knock-off is not the best song by this British band. Not by a long shot. - Smalltown Boy - Bronski Beat (#48 US, #3 UK)
Already reviewed here. It's a good dance tune, even though the falsetto lead vocal isn't easy to hear at times. The song's themes of alienation,family rejection, and homophobia most likely kept it from being a big hit in the US. As a tolerant culture, the US has come a long way since 1984, but still has miles to go. - Voices Carry - 'Til Tuesday (#8 US)
One of my fave 80's tunes. I had this album on cassette tape, but only listened to this one song. Now that I know more about Aimee Mann, I was most likely missing some great songs. - One Night In Bangkok - Murray Head (#3 US, #12 UK)
Show tunes! This song taken from Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus' rock musical, Chess. I'll pass on any song with the lyrics "The queens we use would not excite you." - Imagination - Belouis Some (#88 US, #17 UK)
Even though this is definitely a new wave song, it doesn't ring my bell. - Never Never - The Assembly (#4 UK)
This group was Vince Clarke's project after the breakup of Yaz/Yazoo and before the creation of Erasure. It sounds just like an Yaz tune with shaky lead vocals by Feargal Sharkey of the Undertones. - Sunglasses At Night - Corey Hart (#7 US)
An average pop song from 1984. Even though it completely rips off Sweet Dreams Are Made Of This, I wouldn't call this a new wave tune. - Free Yourself - The Untouchables (#26 UK)
Fun LA ska which owes as much to Stax as it does to Two Tone. - Every Word Means No - Let's Active
Mitch Easter creates a surf rock meets R.E.M. kinda Georgia sounding jangle pop. Quirky, but enjoyable. - Exception Of Love - The Truth
Rip-off of The Jam. What's missing is Paul Weller's songwriting talent. - I Can't get Enough Of You Baby - The Colourfield
I'm a Terry Hall fan, but the world doesn't need another straight-ahead cover of a '60s tune. If you do a cover tune, make it your own! - The Backyard - Miracle Legion
This band sounds like R.E.M., right down to the mumbly vocals. Well, like R.E.M. if they wrote TV show themes. - Anywhere With You - Rubber Rodeo (#86 US)
Kind of a Western New Wave sort of sound. I've never heard of this group before, but at the very least this one song is a well-written new wave ditty. - True Men Don't Kill Coyotes - The Red Hot Chili Peppers
More punk-funk than new wave. While I can appreciate Flea's mad bass skills, this song doesn't belong on this disc.
Personal Memory Associated with this CD: many of these songs, Voices Carry in particular, remind me of the summer of 1985, which was a great summer for me that included working at a plumbing supply, driving the Markmobile, and taking history classes with Mr. Black at night school. The legal drinking age in Texas back then was 19, but I don't think that had any effect on that summer ;)
Previously revisited for the blog:
Volume 2
Volume 3
Volume 8
Volume 9
Volume 12
New Wave Xmas
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