The third in the ongoing series of The Indie Years. Spoiler...1980 is next!
1) Boys Don't Cry by The
Cure (Fiction)
An early single from Robert Smith's gothic pop band. Despite being totally awesome, it wasn't a big hit until it was re-released in 1986 with a new video. The Cure didn't
even include it on their debut album Three Imaginary Boys
2) Are 'Friends' Electric by Tubeway Army (Beggars Banquet)
Gary Numan's new wave outfit with a synthetic anthem. I once owned this 7-inch which I picked up whilst browsing the second hand racks in a record shop. I miss that - it's not the same now that almost all of recorded music is available at the end of a search engine. However, the flip side is I purchased a lot of lame music back then on a hunch without hearing it. The keyboard riff was later used by the pop group Sugababes on their Freak Like Me single in 2002.
3) Guns of Brixton by The Clash
The Clash were at their creative peak in 79 when they recorded and released the classic London Calling double album. This reggae rock rebel song dealt with a common theme of fighting The Man. It references the reggae movie The Harder They Come and poses a recurring question asked by The Clash - Are you going to surrender meekly to unjust authority or go out kicking and screaming, in a hail of bullets and a romanticized blaze of glory?
4) California Uber Alles by Dead Kennedys (Alternative Tentacles)
The West Coast Punk band sing an unflattering tribute about their State Senator Jerry Brown comparing him to Hitler. They create a terrifying vision of the future which evokes images of a satanic hellhole worse than the alternative 1985 in the Back To The Future movies. Jerry Brown had political ambitions as a Democratic Party's Presidential candidate but he never had enough support to be the front runner - this song may have hindered his appeal. Amazingly he is still Californian Senator today having been re-elected in 2011.
5) Sound of the Suburbs by The Members (Virgin)
Back to England for a song about the punk explosion in the suburbs.
6) Video Killed The Radio Star by The Buggles (Island Records)
Buddy Holly glasses and a synth pop lament on new technology and obsolescence made this a worldwide hit for these one hit wonders.
7) Oliver's Army by Elvis Costello and The Attractions (Radar)
Another anti-war song inspired by The Troubles in Northern Ireland.
8) The Monochrome Set by The Monochrome Set (Rough Trade)
In Britain, there was a band called the B-Sides who morphed into Adam and The Ants. Not all the B-Side band members wanted to be involved in the Ants and The Monochrome Set was established by the members who were opposed to spending the rest of the decade wearing make-up and dressing as pirates and highwaymen.
9) Gangsters by The Specials (2-Tone)
2-Tone ska revivalists from Coventry who sang about social issues and mashed up mod, punk and ska. Gangsters was their debut single taken from the debut album The Specials produced by Elvis Costello who was having a busy year.
10) One Way Or Another by Blondie
Debby Harry sings her Stalkers Anthem.
11) Damaged Goods by Gang Of Four (Fast Product)
Political and dance-able post-punk from Leeds.
12) Cities by Talking Heads (Sire)
Where over a relentless beat the lead singer of Talking Heads deliberates on which city he should live in. He considers both good points and bad points. Options explored include London, Birmingham and Memphis. Who doesn't enjoy a list? The song fades out before any conclusion is reached so I'm sure he just stayed in New York.
13) I'm Bored by Iggy Pop
Where Iggy is bored with it all and sick of all the stiffs.
14) Dead Souls by Joy Division (Factory)
The intense sounds of Joy Division's music stands out above all peers at this point. Their classic debut album Unknown Pleasures was released in '79. This song would later be covered by Nine Inch Nails in the Nineties for the excellent soundtrack of The Crow.
15) I See Red by Split Enz (Mushroom Records)
New Zealand's greatest band return with this unhinged colour coded rocker. Tim Finn's song of being used and abused by an older woman.
16) The Eton Rifles by The Jam (Polydor)
Paul Weller sings about class warfare recalling a fight between an unemployment march and students of the elite Eton College.
17) Up The Junction by Squeeze (A&M)
A three minute love story - "boy meets girl, domestic bliss, pregnancy, poverty, heavy drinking, girl meets soldier, betrayal, bitterness and regret". Love the rhyming couplets especially the ones that seem strained!
18) Into The Valley by Skids (Virgin Records)
Stirring Scottish punk rock with dueling guitars and undecipherable lyrics. Written about a friend who died during a tour of Northern Ireland.
19) Banana Splits (The Tra La La Song) by The Dickies (A&M)
Kids TV themes were fair game for otherwise obscure punk artists who needed a hit. The same tactics were used in the early 90's by otherwise obscure rave artists.
20) Rebellious Jukebox by The Fall (Step Forward)
Manchester's must cultish band recorded their debut album in a studio in a single day - can you tell? The band had just recruited their 16 year old roadie (future Radio DJ and co-founder of The Shirehorses) Marc "Lard" Riley on bass guitar.
Further Reading...
The Indie Years 1979
1) Boys Don't Cry by The
Cure (Fiction)
An early single from Robert Smith's gothic pop band. Despite being totally awesome, it wasn't a big hit until it was re-released in 1986 with a new video. The Cure didn't
even include it on their debut album Three Imaginary Boys2) Are 'Friends' Electric by Tubeway Army (Beggars Banquet)
Gary Numan's new wave outfit with a synthetic anthem. I once owned this 7-inch which I picked up whilst browsing the second hand racks in a record shop. I miss that - it's not the same now that almost all of recorded music is available at the end of a search engine. However, the flip side is I purchased a lot of lame music back then on a hunch without hearing it. The keyboard riff was later used by the pop group Sugababes on their Freak Like Me single in 2002.
3) Guns of Brixton by The Clash
The Clash were at their creative peak in 79 when they recorded and released the classic London Calling double album. This reggae rock rebel song dealt with a common theme of fighting The Man. It references the reggae movie The Harder They Come and poses a recurring question asked by The Clash - Are you going to surrender meekly to unjust authority or go out kicking and screaming, in a hail of bullets and a romanticized blaze of glory?
4) California Uber Alles by Dead Kennedys (Alternative Tentacles)
The West Coast Punk band sing an unflattering tribute about their State Senator Jerry Brown comparing him to Hitler. They create a terrifying vision of the future which evokes images of a satanic hellhole worse than the alternative 1985 in the Back To The Future movies. Jerry Brown had political ambitions as a Democratic Party's Presidential candidate but he never had enough support to be the front runner - this song may have hindered his appeal. Amazingly he is still Californian Senator today having been re-elected in 2011.
5) Sound of the Suburbs by The Members (Virgin)
Back to England for a song about the punk explosion in the suburbs.
6) Video Killed The Radio Star by The Buggles (Island Records)
Buddy Holly glasses and a synth pop lament on new technology and obsolescence made this a worldwide hit for these one hit wonders.
7) Oliver's Army by Elvis Costello and The Attractions (Radar)
Another anti-war song inspired by The Troubles in Northern Ireland.
8) The Monochrome Set by The Monochrome Set (Rough Trade)
In Britain, there was a band called the B-Sides who morphed into Adam and The Ants. Not all the B-Side band members wanted to be involved in the Ants and The Monochrome Set was established by the members who were opposed to spending the rest of the decade wearing make-up and dressing as pirates and highwaymen.
9) Gangsters by The Specials (2-Tone)
2-Tone ska revivalists from Coventry who sang about social issues and mashed up mod, punk and ska. Gangsters was their debut single taken from the debut album The Specials produced by Elvis Costello who was having a busy year.
10) One Way Or Another by Blondie
Debby Harry sings her Stalkers Anthem.
11) Damaged Goods by Gang Of Four (Fast Product)
Political and dance-able post-punk from Leeds.
12) Cities by Talking Heads (Sire)
Where over a relentless beat the lead singer of Talking Heads deliberates on which city he should live in. He considers both good points and bad points. Options explored include London, Birmingham and Memphis. Who doesn't enjoy a list? The song fades out before any conclusion is reached so I'm sure he just stayed in New York.
13) I'm Bored by Iggy Pop
Where Iggy is bored with it all and sick of all the stiffs.
14) Dead Souls by Joy Division (Factory)
The intense sounds of Joy Division's music stands out above all peers at this point. Their classic debut album Unknown Pleasures was released in '79. This song would later be covered by Nine Inch Nails in the Nineties for the excellent soundtrack of The Crow.
15) I See Red by Split Enz (Mushroom Records)
New Zealand's greatest band return with this unhinged colour coded rocker. Tim Finn's song of being used and abused by an older woman.
16) The Eton Rifles by The Jam (Polydor)
Paul Weller sings about class warfare recalling a fight between an unemployment march and students of the elite Eton College.
17) Up The Junction by Squeeze (A&M)
A three minute love story - "boy meets girl, domestic bliss, pregnancy, poverty, heavy drinking, girl meets soldier, betrayal, bitterness and regret". Love the rhyming couplets especially the ones that seem strained!
18) Into The Valley by Skids (Virgin Records)
Stirring Scottish punk rock with dueling guitars and undecipherable lyrics. Written about a friend who died during a tour of Northern Ireland.
19) Banana Splits (The Tra La La Song) by The Dickies (A&M)
Kids TV themes were fair game for otherwise obscure punk artists who needed a hit. The same tactics were used in the early 90's by otherwise obscure rave artists.
20) Rebellious Jukebox by The Fall (Step Forward)
Manchester's must cultish band recorded their debut album in a studio in a single day - can you tell? The band had just recruited their 16 year old roadie (future Radio DJ and co-founder of The Shirehorses) Marc "Lard" Riley on bass guitar.
Further Reading...
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