Ideal — Der Ernst Des Lebens

• Artist: Ideal
• Title: Der Ernst Des Lebens
• Year: 1981
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 6
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1981 – Mary bought it in Germany when she was an exchange student.
• Keeper: Yes

I’m writing this one from Virginia Beach, we’re house hunting, but I did actually play the next week’s worth of records, just all yesterday before we hit the road. Also, this really isn’t an “I” day, but I misplaced this one earlier in this pass through the alphabet. Back on track with my favorite letter, “X”, tomorrow.

You may think this band’s name is pronounced I-DEEL, but it’s really i-dee-ALL. They are German, very German. All of the lyrics are in German, and I’m not sure if that makes me like it more or less than I would if knew what they were saying.

Stylistically Ideal are all over the place. One song may sound like Missing Persons, another will have steel drums(?) with more of a pop/ska feel. Some of this apparent eclecticism may come from the alternating of vocalists. Sometimes the one woman in the group is the lead singer and other times it’s a man. One of the more manly songs is “Sex in der Wüste”, or “Sex in the Desert.” Remember what I said about not understanding the lyrics? I’m guessing on this one it’s better that way. This song is so arty, so early ’80s that it you can imagine it being the inspiration for any number of skits on Saturday Night Live. And now… we dance.

(You probably won’t get good search results unless you add some other words like the song title above.)

Kajagoogoo — Too Shy

• Artist: Kajagoogoo
• Title: Too Shy
• Year: 1982
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 5
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1982 ? – Unknown origin.
• Keeper: Yes

Just to be clear, this is Mary’s. Not that I don’t like ’80s pop. I’m just saying it’s Mary’s record. Believe it.

Don’t get too excited; this is just a 12″, not a full album. The “Midnight Mix” of “Too Shy” is a reasonably listenable pop song, but the flip side is just plain irritating. It’s not even danceable. In case you’re wondering those band members on the back cover are all “men.”

Mary says it rates “above 5”, but I’m holding the line because of that flipside.

Joe Jackson — Beat Crazy

• Artist: Joe Jackson
• Title: Beat Crazy
• Year: 1980
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 8
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1981 – Kempmill Records in Annandale, VA.
• Keeper: Yes

This one’s more eclectic and experimental than the first two. I don’t know if there were any radio hits on Beat Crazy, but for some reason the title track is more familiar than the rest. Maybe one of my friends had it on a mix tape or something. Also, this record was released as “The Joe Jackson Band.” I think everything else was just Joe Jackson.

Fad Gadget — Collapsing New People

• Artist: Fad Gadget
• Title: Collapsing New People
• Year: 1984
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1984 – Olsson’s in Dupont Circle, DC.
• Keeper: Yes

This is a proper 12″ single with two mixes of Collapsing New People and one B side that is ultra-goth. One cool tidbit is that the “guest musicians” are Einstürzende Neubauten. Frank Tovey, the man behind Fad Gadget, has been all over the music map. I would describe this single as an artier, more interesting version of early Depeche Mode. I’m sure EN contributed a lot. The photo attached is the backside. It’s fun to see the crowd from 1983.

Anyhow, this song screams for a heavy metal cover version. I’m ready to get the band back together! Who’s with me?!?

B-52s — Mesopotamia

• Artist: B-52s
• Title: Mesopotamia
• Year: 1981
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 6
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1981 – Mary got it at a “cheesy chain record store” in Annandale, VA.
• Keeper: Yes

This one’s for Lee, a.k.a. Danny Ocean.

This is a six song EP and it was produced by David Byrne. Some of it sounds similar to “Remain In Light” era Talking Heads. I think this release was near hitless, though “Nip It In the Bud” may have gotten some play. It’s definitely my favorite track on an otherwise bland release.

Joe Jackson – Look Sharp

• Artist: Joe Jackson
• Title: Look Sharp
• Year: 1979
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 10
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1980 ? “I know I was in high school…”
• Keeper: Yes

This is Mary’s record. I’ve never thought of myself as a big Joe Jackson fan before, but I do now. This one has the big hits “Is She Really Going Out With Him?” and “Look Sharp.” The last song “Got The Time” was covered by Anthrax in ’90s, but believe me, Joe rocks it just as hard and twice as cool. Everything else here is just as great, if not as well known.

B-52’s – Party Mix

• Artist: B-52’s
• Title: Party Mix
• Year: 1981
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 5
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1987 ? Mary got it when she was working at Plan-9 Records in Richmond, VA.
• Keeper: Yes

We have some other B-52’s records but this one makes me wish we had more of the early stuff. This one is really just a DJ 12 inch. The highlight for me is when they mix in Private Idaho. Other than that it’s kinda dull.

One of my most vivid music memories is of being in Virginia Beach around 1980 and seeing the new wave kids dancing at the Peppermint Beach Club. At that time the place was sort of an open-air joint. I remember standing in the sun on the boardwalk, hearing Rock Lobster blasting out of the building, while barefoot teenagers were jumping up and down inside. It was like something out of a ’60s beach movie. It was just cool. I gotta get that record!