Naked Eyes — Promises Promises

• Artist: Naked Eyes
• Title: Promises Promises
• Year: 1983
• Format: Vinyl 7 in.
• Rating (1-10): 6
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: ?
• Keeper: Maybe

This sounds so ’80s, but it’s decent pop. I definitely like it more than the other single of this year, “Always Something There To Remind Me.” But if never heard either of them again that would be OK by me. Mary gives “Promises Promises” a 6.

Joe Jackson — Memphis

• Artist: Joe Jackson
• Title: Memphis
• Year: 1983
• Format: Vinyl 7 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1984 ? – When Mary worked at Tower Records in DC.
• Keeper: Yes

This single was part of the soundtrack to the movie “Mike’s Murder” starring Debra Winger. Yeah, I’ve never seen it either. Anyhow, the primary riff in “Memphis” sounds so much like the Spencer David Group song “I’m A Man” that I can’t help but think of that when I’m listening to this. Despite that the “Memphis” vibe is more new wave than classic rock. I like it, but it bothers me. “Breakdown” on the flip is an ethereal instrumental number, and unlike any Joe Jackson music I’ve ever heard.

Fad Gadget — One Man’s Meat

• Artist: Fad Gadget
• Title: One Man’s Meat
• Year: 1983
• Format: Vinyl 7 in.
• Rating (1-10): 6
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1983 – Olsson’s in DC?
• Keeper: Yes

After just one listen to “One Man’s Meat” you might think it’s just angsty, electronic, New Wave, disco. You wouldn’t be completely wrong, but there’s more to it than that. It definitely sounds like the early 1980s, so yes it’s a bit dated, but it’s also pretty interesting. The flip, “Sleep”, is a plodding arty electronic bore. Or, is that just his serious side? The package included another 7 inch of “Collapsing New People.” We’ve already played and logged that song in 12 inch format on a previous letter F day.

X — More Fun In The New World

X -- More Fun In The New World

• Artist: X
• Title: More Fun In The New World
• Year: 1983
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 9
• Owner: Tracy / Mary – both had copies
• Acquired: Too tired to remember

From another hotel room in Asheville, NC… I get my house inspected in the morning and today my brother Grayson put a contract on a house he and Kellie want only a couple miles away. I slept for about an hour last night. We left before 5 AM and have been on the move ever since. I’m so tired I feel nauseous, but I can’t sleep so here’s the next record, played, obviously, yesterday before we left home.

There aren’t many bands that can record an album as eclectic as “More Fun In The New World” and still have it hang together so well. I’m too beat to write anything really insightful. I will say I love X completely and this is probably the album of theirs that I’ve heard the most. In highschool my friends John Hurlock and Scott Belbin and I were always driving around with this one blasting from the tape deck. I wish saw, or at least talked to those guys more often.

Slim Harpo — The Best of Slim Harpo – The Original King Bee

• Artist: Slim Harpo
• Title: The Best of Slim Harpo – The Original King Bee
• Year: 1983
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1983 – I think I mail ordered this directly from Rhino Records.
• Keeper: Yes

I file Slim Harpo under “H” but I’m going to go out on a limb and guess that neither of those are his real names. I bought this record in one of my many blues phases; I was still in highschool during this one. The thing is Slim is not all that bluesy. Many pursists don’t like his stuff because he mixed it up with everything from rock and roll to country. That eclecticism didn’t keep him from having fans in the highest echelons in rock. Many bands from the Rolling Stones on down have recorded covers of his songs, “I’m a King Bee” and “Hipshake” in particular. The Moody Blues even named their band after one of his songs. My favorites are “Baby Scratch My Back” and “The Hippy Song.”

The Faith — Subject To Change

• Artist: The Faith
• Title: Subject To Change
• Year: 1983
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1983 – Probably Olsson’s in Georgetown, DC.
• Keeper: Yes

Did this come out after the band had broken up? I asked Mary what she would rate “Subject To Change” and she said “I’d give it a 7.” I said “7, that’s a pretty good review” and she replied “it’s a pretty good hardcore record.” I agree and enough said.

Etched in the vinyl margins:

• THIS SIDE: PULL YOURSELF TO PIECES
• IVOR SIDE: TOO STUPID FOR WORDS

And speaking of the vinyl, check out the sweet blue vinyl below. What color are your MP3s?

Dischord No. 11 people. My wife is so punk rock!

ABC — Beauty Stab

• Artist: ABC
• Title: Beauty Stab
• Year: 1983
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 8
• Owner: Tracy / Mary
• Acquired: 1983 – Unknown origin.
• Keeper: Yes

“Beauty Stab” is the second album by ABC, and it’s very different than their debut. This is a darker, more rocked out, more arty, and less funky record. It’s also much more guitar-heavy, but with horns and strings still in there. They certainly didn’t repeat themselves. The most under-rated pop band ever.

R.E.M. — Murmur

• Artist: R.E.M.
• Title: Murmur
• Year: 1983
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1983 – Guessing here… Tracks in Norfolk, VA.
• Keeper: Yes

Dullsville baby, dullsville! Maybe I made a mistake by playing Judas Priest’s “Point Of Entry” album (Lemme see those horns people!) for a little afternoon pick-me-up. Then, I played R.E.M.’s “Murmur” immediately afterward. I was anticipating an all-out boredom assualt and thought a little heavy metal buffer just made sense. Instead, I think it made R.E.M. sound even more boring. You can’t follow Priest with the jingle jangle, man!

It’s hard for me now to think of myself as getting excited about R.E.M. But there was a time when that was true. I remember seeing them live early on with Dream Syndicate and maybe even when “Chronic what? Town” came out. They sounded new and different, and maybe I was more open-minded as a youngster.

Of course, this is good music. I just don’t want to hear it anymore. So, what’s my problem?