On This Date, February 1st in 1980: Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark (generally known simply as OMD) released the awkward dance single, “Red Frame/White Light” from the group’s self-titled debut album. The song’s title refers to old school UK based telephone booths.
Thanks to Your Prime Source For Eighties Music Knowledge, The P5 Blogspot for the Tip!
Red Frame, White Light
On This Date, September 15th, in 1981: Thomas Dolby released his second solo single, “Europa And The Pirate Twins,” from his debut album, The Golden Age Of Wireless. The single reached the #48 spot on the U.K. singles chart and the #67 spot on the U.S. singles chart. In “Europa And The Pirate Twins” Dolby makes use of a fantastic word economy to tell the story of a man who pines for a long-lost adolescent friendship with a woman who has grown up to become a famous starlet. For my money, it is one of the most gorgeous and painfully sentimental songs every written.
Dormant for a decade now
We’re back to take another bow
You’ve heard us on the radio
Patched in though the years
And so you’d best be well prepared for us
Cos we can’t be ignored
It’s just modern music that we play
Tomorrow’s sounds from yesterday
Beat boys in the jet age
So sure in what we do
Beat boys in the jet age
And the beat is aimed at you
Foundations have been carefully laid
The preparations all are made
we’re sweeping all in front of us
Re-cycling the vinyl dross
You’d best believe we speak the truth
A finger on the pulse of youth
You’ll hear it in the pubs and parks
The rhythm of a nation’s heart
Beat boys in the jet age
Too restless to contain
Beat boys in the jet age
And the songs remains the same
Re-makes of a time goes by
Your contributes will testify
That this time round won’t be the same
This year’s chance your claim to fame
Concern yourself with making ground
Old and new has been re-found
You’ve seen the writing on the wall
You’ll soon discover that we’re all
Beat boys in the jet age
So sure in what we do
Beat boys in the jet age
And the beat is aimed at you
(Album released on this Date, June 28th in 1980!)
“Yeah, You’re Everywhere That I’m Not…”
On this Date, June 23rd in in 1982: Translator released their debut album, Heartbeats And Triggers. The album included the single, “Everywhere That I’m Not,” which was such a guilty pleasure of mine back in the day, when it used to get played once every 90 minutes on KROQ FM. I especially loved the walking bass line and the parts where the guy singing would mention all of the places that his girlfriend/love interest was that he was not. What a fun song!
Thanks to The P5 Blogspot: This Day in 80s Music for the tip!
“Sleep. Waaahk”
On this day in 1980: Ultravox released their eighth single, “Sleepwalk” backed by “Waiting.” The A side was on their fourth album, Vienna – the first Ultravox album featuring new singer Midge Ure, who replaced John Foxx. “Sleepwalk” was a massively huge hit among my college crowd and was also played incessantly on radio station KUCI, where I was the best DJ on the air for four years.
Thanks to The P5 Blogspot: This Date in ’80s Music for the Tip!