King — Won’t You Hold My Hand Now (Heavy Times Mix)

• Artist: King
• Title: Won’t You Hold My Hand Now (Heavy Times Mix)
• Year: 1984
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 5
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: ?
• Keeper: No

The endless line of King 12 inch singles continues. This one is another version of “Won’t You Hold My Hand Now”, the “Heavy Times Mix.” I’m going to admit that this time I found it less annoying, maybe slightly entertaining. The songs on side two, “Endlessly” and “Never Ending” are probably better. I usually play the record I’m writing about when I post, but right now I’m still spinning the last one, The Gift by The Jam.

Tears For Fears – the hurting

Tears For Fears - the hurting

• Artist: Tears For Fears
• Title: the hurting
• Year: 1983
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 8
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1983 – Somewhere in Germany when she was an exchange student
• Keeper: Yes

Mexicans have taken over my sound system! Now, I can’t stop playing Plastilina Mosh. But I did manage to squeeze in this oldie. I gave the hurting by Tears For Fears a couple plays but I can’t remember much about it. “Mad World” is definitely my favorite song. Mary bought this in Germany when she was an exchange student. So, for her it’s tied up with the fond memories of that experience. She rates it an 8.

OMD (Ochestral Manoeuvres In The Dark) — Telegraph

• Artist: OMD (Ochestral Manoeuvres In The Dark)
• Title: Telegraph
• Year: 1983
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1983 – Somewhere in Fairfax, VA
• Keeper: Yes

Long overdue, here’s the latest record: “Telegraph” by Ochestral Manoeuvres In The Dark, better known as simply OMD. I didn’t expect to like this very much despite the fact that I bought an OMD record myself way back when, but I have to say I do. This single is an almost eight minute “extended version” of the song with a variety of cool synth sounds and vocals that remind me of Alvin and the Chipmunks, or maybe 999. My favorite bit is the chime sound prominent in the early part of the song. The flip side is a drum-less instrumental titled “66 and Fading” that sounds like the band’s name.

King — Won’t You Hold My Hand Now

• Artist: King
• Title: Won’t You Hold My Hand Now
• Year: 1985
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 4
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: ?
• Keeper: No

I’m so tired of these King 12 inches. “Won’t You Hold My Hand Now” was not motivating me to update this site, but I’m getting it over with now. This single is extra boring. I’m not all-out hatin’ on King, it’s just that this is really blah. Buh-bye.

Fad Gadget — Under the Flag

• Artist: Fad Gadget
• Title: Under the Flag
• Year: 1982
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 5
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1983 – Olsson’s in DC
• Keeper: Yes

Tracy says it’s all about emotional attachments, and I have ’em to this LP. My logical grown-up self says, “This record screams early ’80s pretentious goth rock”, but my inner teenager says “I remember when I was in art school, the 9:30 Club played ‘Collapsing New People’ between band sets (a Fad Gadget song not on this LP), and I went to poetry readings.” Poetry readings? I must of had a lot of free time.

The music consists of keyboards, some neat sound effects, a drum machine, and topped with arty lyrics in a Bauhaus vocal style. Like the kids say (said) on American Bandstand, “it’s got a good beat and it’s easy to dance to”, or at least to brood to.

I bought this in Washington in early 1984 or late 1983 in that store on Dupont Circle, Olsson’s? I want to keep it. And why is it in the middle of The Fall records, and shouldn’t it be before Faith even? F-A-D. Oh Well. I also didn’t see the 12″ of Collapsing… If I had to choose between the two, I’d keep the 12″ over this. Oh, I’ll rate it a 5.

INXS — I Send a Message

• Artist: INXS
• Title: I Send a Message
• Year: 1984
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 6
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1987? – Used at Plan 9 Records in Richmond, VA
• Keeper: No

This INXS single, “I Send a Message”, is decent. I think I remember it from the radio or MTV. The back has “Mechanical” which does in fact have a lot of mechanical sounds mixed in with some strange too-arty ska groove. I doubt many people would recognize it as INXS. I think I bought one of their albums way back, but I really know much about the band. That said, I do have a story.

My friend John Hurlock and I went to see the Go Gos at the amusement park King’s Dominion. Please don’t tell anyone I told you this. Anyhow, we were in high school and it seemed like a good idea at the time–have fun at the park all day and see the Go Gos for cheap, $5 or something. This would have been in the very early 1980s. INXS was the opening band. At the time I had heard of them but that was about it. When they came on stage all the girls in the audience started losing it. They were screaming and rushing to the front. John and I were completely baffled since we had no idea Michael Hutchence was such a teen idol. It was like those films of the Beatles at Shea Stadium. Crazy.

Madness — Shut Up

• Artist: Madness
• Title: Shut Up
• Year: 1981
• Format: Vinyl 7 in.
• Rating (1-10): 8
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: “No idea”

You know, I try to do these in a somewhat alphabetical order, but I have records laying all over the place along with Christmas stuff and I can’t keep it straight! I need to backtrack some tomorrow and try to pick an I and a K.

Madness. The great ones. A Sigler household favorite. And this is a great a single. “Shut Up” is of course familiar to me, but “A Town With No Name” on the flipside is one I don’t recognize. What is on an album? Anyhow, it’s an excellent instrumental with a mild spaghetti western vibe. Thumbs up, for both.

Etched in the run off margins:

Side A – PASS THAT BUCK – ARUN
Side B – GOOD LUCK TO THE FAITHFUL SHERPAS

Joe Jackson Band — Mad at You

• Artist: Joe Jackson Band
• Title: Mad at You
• Year: 1980
• Format: Vinyl 7 in.
• Rating (1-10): 8
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1985 ? – Tower in the District of Columbia
• Keeper: Yes

Joe Jackson is the man. He even wrote a song about it. But that’s another record. On this one he’s mad, “Mad at You” to be specific. This single is from the album Beat Crazy and the flipside is an outtake from the album called “Enough is Enough.” I love ’em both. That’s all I’m saying for this one.

Debbie Harry — Liar Liar

• Artist: Debbie Harry
• Title: Liar Liar
• Year: 1988
• Format: Vinyl 7 in.
• Rating (1-10): 5
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: Dunno
• Keeper: Maybe

“From the film ‘Married to the Mob.'” Never saw the movie and never heard this record until today. I have no idea where Mary got it. Debbie Harry does a decent cover of “Liar Liar”, the 1960s hit by The Castaways. The flipside is some weirdness called “Queen of Voudou” by The Voodooist Corporation. I’ve never of them at all. It doesn’t appear to have anything to do with Ms. Harry. The song is sorta synthy and it didn’t really hold my attention so I can’t describe it beyond that.

Depeche Mode — Shake the Disease

• Artist: Depeche Mode
• Title: Shake the Disease
• Year: 1985
• Format: Vinyl 7 in.
• Rating (1-10): 6
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1985 – “I was in art school at the time, you couldn’t be in art school and not buy Depeche Mode back then.”
• Keeper: Maybe

Ah man, I was just about to trash this single and then I listened to it again. I’ve always been sorta neutral on Depeche Mode, but I did buy one album early on. “Shake the Disease” has a cool minor key melody that to me screams for a heavy metal makeover. I know, I say that about every other decent pop song. This time I really mean it. The flipside “Flexible” has a curiously upbeat thing going on that doesn’t sound like Depeche Mode to me. Both songs are good. Lemme see those horn Depeche Metalheads!