R.E.M. — S. Central Rain (I’m Sorry)

• Artist: R.E.M.
• Title: S. Central Rain (I’m Sorry)
• Year: 1984
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1986 – When she worked at Plan 9 Records in Richmond, VA.

This R.E.M. 12 inch is an import, made in Holland, but with UK licensing stuff on it. Anyhow, I’ve always liked “S. Central Rain (I’m Sorry)” and I think this is the album version. On the flipside is “Voice of Harold” which is some sort of strange rework of “7 Chinese Brothers”, I think, and their version of Lou Reed’s/Velvet Underground’s “Pale Blue Eyes.” There is an article about it at Wikipedia, but it doesn’t explain what “Voice of Harold” is all about. They’re all good, but I like “Pale Blue Eyes” the best.

The Fall — This Nation’s Saving Grace

• Artist: The Fall
• Title: This Nation’s Saving Grace
• Year: 1985
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1985 – Plan 9 Records in Richmond, VA

Mostly just out of ignorance I never got that into The Fall. I think if I had been exposed to them more when I was young(er) and open-minded I would’ve been a big fan. They were post-punk before most people knew what punk was. I like their album “This Nation’s Saving Grace”, but agree with Mary’s comment that “they need some editing.” Which is a phrase she has to hear me say all the time. There are some great arty hooks on this, but I doubt I’ll get back around to playing it much. I’ll stop before I need some (more) editing.

Get the scoop on The Fall at Wikipedia.

Echo and The Bunnymen — Bedbugs and Ballyhoo 12 inch

• Artist: Echo and The Bunnymen
• Title: Bedbugs and Ballyhoo 12 inch
• Year: 1988
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 6
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: Girl ain’t here to ask

I checked “maybe” by the Keeper field for this 12 inch of “Bedbugs and Ballyhoo” by Echo and The Bunnymen. The truth is, even though they are one of my favorite bands ever, I was pretty much done with them by the time this came out. I would only keep it now as part of the collection. It’s more pop than their earlier stuff, not necessarily a bad thing, but still a little twisted. Two remixes on side A and side B has live versions of “Run, Run, Run”, “Paint It Black”, and “Friction.”

As I write this I’m listening to the latest album by Muse, “Black Holes and Revelations”, which is super exciting. I may have to shake up the I’m Heavy Duty! programming a bit to write about some new stuff. Right, Keith?

U2 — Under a Blood Red Sky

U2 -- Under a Blood Red Sky

• Artist: U2
• Title: Under a Blood Red Sky
• Year: 1983
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 9
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1985 – Used, from Plan 9 Records in Richmond, VA.

“Under a Blood Red Sky” is a great live record by U2. Mary gives it a rating of “9” even though she thinks Bono enjoys signing a little too much(?). Based on the enthusiastic-sounding crowd I think these guys will be big one day. I just know it.

You can read more about this record at Wikipedia.

Talking Heads — Speaking in Tongues

Talking Heads -- Speaking in Tongues

• Artist: Talking Heads
• Title: Speaking in Tongues
• Year: 1983
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 9
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: Not sure

Oooo! I forgot how good this album is. I also forgot how many legitimate hits were on “Speaking in Tongues.” I remember hearing at least three songs on the radio, “Burning Down The House”, “Girlfriend Is Better”, and “This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody).” I’m probably forgetting another one or two. My favorite is the mid-tempo funky grinder “Swamp.”

I was in highschool when this record came out, and my entire family went to see the Talking Heads on this tour. And as if that isn’t cool enough, we didn’t all go together. I went with my friends, my brother with his, and my mom with a guy some people know as “Mr. Cool”, others call him “Big”, but I call him “Dad.” Of course, I had to have a concert shirt, but the only one available was a sleeveless yellow number with the art from the album cover. Yeah, I bought it. I had the shirt, but it was just too “new wave” looking, even then, even for me, and I don’t think I ever wore it.

R.E.M. — Fables of The Reconstruction

• Artist: R.E.M.
• Title: Fables of The Reconstruction
• Year: 1985
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: Not sure

This is another R.E.M. record that I just can’t get into even though I think it’s decent music. “Fables of The Reconstruction” has at least two hits, “Driver 8” and “Can’t Get There From Here.” I’ve tried to listen to it a few times over the last couple days, but I always managed to distract myself with other things. Maybe I’m just missing something.

The pictures of the album jacket below may look upside-down, but that’s how it was originally packaged. Trust me, it was oriented correctly. Those guys were just being arty.

Opal — Happy Nightmare Baby

• Artist: Opal
• Title: Happy Nightmare Baby
• Year: 1987
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 8
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1987 – Bought it when I worked at Mother’s Records in Hampton, VA.

The main folks in Opal were David Roback from Rain Parade and Kendra Smith of The Dream Syndicate. Kendra eventually left the band and Hope Sandoval joined Roback to create Mazzy Star. Opal was the record for today, and it’s just a coincidence that I was at my brother’s house tonight and he was playing Mazzy Star. That reminded me how boring that recording is compared to this one. Sure, I like the hit “Fade Into You”, but I like everything on Opal’s “Happy Nightmare Baby.” My favorite is the trippy, riffing, T-Rex-ing album opener, “Rocket Machine.”

Echo and The Bunnymen — Ocean Rain

• Artist: Echo and The Bunnymen
• Title: Ocean Rain
• Year: 1984
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 10
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: No idea.
• Keeper: Yes

Ah yes, “Ocean Rain.” I could listen to this Echo and The Bunnymen record every day and not get tired of it. And that’s pretty much what I did when it came out in 1984. This record is maybe a little more pop than the first three, not a bad thing, and it also has a full orchestra going for it… which is nice.

More about Echo and The Bunnymen and the album “Ocean Rain” at Wikipedia.

The Waterboys — Self-titled Mini LP

The Waterboys -- Self-titled Mini LP

• Artist: The Waterboys
• Title: Self-titled Mini LP
• Year: 1984
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 8
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1984 – Maybe Tracks in Norfolk, VA.
• Keeper: Yes

What’s going on here? This record by The Waterboys in another oddball in the collection. Their original self-titled and full length LP (8 tracks) came out in 1983. This one was released in 1984. It’s labeled as a “Mini LP” and has only five songs, all of which were on the orginal record. They also released an album of new material that same year, “A Pagan Place.” I can’t find this five-songer on any discography I’ve seen. I’m guessing it was a US-only release designed to sell cheap and hype the band for their next full album.

Anyhow, I like it a lot more than I remember liking it then. Songs include:

“A Girl Called Johnny” (the hit, I believe)
“I Will Not Follow” (my favorite)
“It Should Have Been You”
“Savage Earth Heart”
“December”

Wikipedia article about The Waterboys
The Official Website of Mike Scott and The Waterboys

U2 — R.O.K.

U2 -- R.O.K.

• Artist: U2
• Title: R.O.K.
• Year: 1981
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1985 – When she worked at Tower Records in D.C.
• Keeper: Yes

This four song 12 inch was recorded live at the Paradise Theatre in Boston, March 1981. U2 performs “Fire”, “J. Swallow”, “11 O’clock Tick Tock”, and “The Ocean.” It sounds good; they sound really good. The cover is the same on both sides. Not much else to report. This one is for-fans-only.