Wall of Voodoo — Mexican Radio

Wall of Voodoo -- Mexican Radio

• Artist: Wall of Voodoo
• Title: Mexican Radio
• Year: 1982
• Format: Vinyl 7 in.
• Rating (1-10): 6
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1985 ? – Plan 9 Records in Richmond, VA?
• Keeper: Maybe

Stan Ridgway, the singer of Wall of Voodoo, sounds like he is talking more than singing. And I guess I didn’t listen carefully enough because I don’t know what he’s talking about. Maybe it’s interesting. “Mexican Radio” sounds interesting, whatever it’s about. The flipside “Call of The West” just sounds quirky, which is not interesting, to me, today.

M — Pop Musik

• Artist: M
• Title: Pop Musik
• Year: 1979
• Format: Vinyl 7 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: ? – She fell asleep before I could ask.

I’m writing from yet another hotel in Asheville, NC. We close on our new-old house tomorrow morning. This time we brought the kids with us so they can check it out. So far, thumbs up. That said, I did get panhandled three times in as many minutes after leaving a restaurant tonight. I’m not sure if that’s more irritating or funny. This is my fourth near-1000-mile-roundtrip to Asheville in a little over a month.

I’ve always liked this silly song, “Pop Musik.” I played the flipside, “M Factor”, this morning and already I’ve forgotten what it sounds like. That means it’s either completely forgettable, or I’m really tired from driving all day.

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.

Haircut One Hundred — Love Plus One

• Artist: Haircut One Hundred
• Title: Love Plus One
• Year: 1982
• Format: Vinyl 7 in.
• Rating (1-10): 6
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: “Not when it came out”
• Keeper: Yes

There must be a story behind the name “Haircut One Hundred.” All I remember is that these fellows were clean-cut, preppy even, and they seemed very happy to be playing music. At least that’s how it appeared in the video for this single, “Love Plus One.” This is very solid, sophisticated pop. It sounds like they used one of almost every possible instrument on this song and the flipside, “Marine Boy.” Maybe I’m being stingy with my rating of “6.” Mary wouldn’t give me a number.

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.

Captain Sensible — There Are More Snakes Than Ladders

• Artist: Captain Sensible
• Title: There Are More Snakes Than Ladders
• Year: 1984
• Format: Vinyl 7 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1984 – Unknown origin.
• Keeper: Yes

“There Are More Snakes Than Ladders” is a surprisingly tasty pop number from a solo Captain Sensible, better known for his work as guitarist for The Damned. The flip, “The 4 Marys Go Go Dance All Night at the Groovy Cellar”, like most B-sides is a silly throw away number. Should I file it under C or S?

Wall of Voodoo — Far Side of Crazy

Wall of Voodoo -- Far Side of Crazy

• Artist: Wall of Voodoo
• Title: Far Side of Crazy
• Year: 1985
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 6
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1985 – Promo Mary got when working at Plan 9 Records in Richmond, VA.
• Keeper: Yes

This is just a 12″ promo. Both sides have the exact same LP version of “Far Side of Crazy” and nothing else. This is the only Wall of Voodoo recording we have, I think. I like this song better than the bigger hit, “Mexican Radio.” Mary says keep it. I say no reasonable offer refused. Keep that on the DL.

Billy Idol — Don’t Stop

• Artist: Billy Idol
• Title: Don’t Stop
• Year: 1981
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 5
• Owner: Tracy / Mary – We both had copies.
• Acquired: 1981 – Unknown origin.
• Keeper: Yes

Please, do stop. Actually, this is a reasonably listenable pop record. It’s hard to think that Billy Idol was in Generation X, not that they were really all that punk, but still… “Don’t Stop” is a four song EP that includes a cover of “Mony Mony” and the hit orginal “Dancing With Myself.” This guy definitely turned into a clown, but like any decent clown he’s always good for some laughs. More about that later…

The Jim Carroll Band — Catholic Boy

• Artist: The Jim Carroll Band
• Title: Catholic Boy
• Year: 1980
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 6
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1982 ? – Unknown origin.
• Keeper: Yes

Something about Jim Carroll just depresses me. He paints a pretty miserable picture of the 1970s. I remember hearing “People Who Died” on the radio as a teenager and really liking it. It seemed almost punk, but smarter or something. I also really like the track “It’s Too Late”, another of the more rocking cuts. I didn’t get the record right away, but eventually picked it up. I’ve also read his book “Basketball Diaries” and I don’t remember that being too uplifting either. Am I fan? Not so much I guess, but I’ll keep “Catholic Boy” in the collection.

B-Movie — Nowhere Girl

• Artist: B-Movie
• Title: Nowhere Girl
• Year: 1982
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 5
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1982 – Olsson’s in Georgetown, DC.
• Keeper: Yes

This is an early-80s 12 inch single. And it is so “80s” sounding that even people born after it was released, and there really are people like that, would know when it was made. Lotsa synths and somewhat mopey vocals. Mary gives it a 5.