But, as I was going through my old vinyl during a day off from work, I came across albums that I loved and/or that were used on all my mixed tapes whose legacies didn’t make it much past the 80’s. Some of these bands could all be going strong for all I know, but I've lost track of them. At the risk of embarrassing myself, here goes:
Fishbone EP – Fishbone: This is one of my favorite albums of the 80’s and I saw them twice at the 9:30 Club in Washington D.C . in 1985. They were a group of young African Americans from California who had many musical influences, a product of school busing in the 70’s. This particular EP was heavily ska based and I was a huge fan of the British Ska movement in the late 70’s. Plus, they added a little funk and hard rock to the mix. Every song on the album is great and the lead singer was a supremely talented performer. They had some follow-ups, but, I gave-up on them after the first follow-up as I didn’t like the direction they were headed.
Born, Sandy, Devotional – The Triffids: In the 80’s there was nice little Australian movement which included the Celibate Rifles, Ed Kuepper and, my favorite, The Triffids. I loved this album to death. It’s kind of an Australian Echo and the Bunnymen. “Seabirds” and “Lonely Stretch” were my favorites and the cover made want to visit Australia with I never did. This album was is regarded as a top album of all time in Australia, but you don’t hear much about the Triffids much in this neck of the woods.
Rockabilly Psychosis and the Garage Disease – Compilation: This album of rockabilly (American) music was produced in London in 1984 where, believe it or not, there was a big rockabilly movement. The kids in London were all dressing like they were from the American heartland, and this album was a top selling Indie album. Of course, the music spans several decades and includes tracks from the Gun Club and the Cramps, but my favorite stuff is the early stuff which includes, “Love Me” by the Phantom, “Surfin Bird” by the Trashman, “Pycho” by the Sonics and “The Crusher” by the Novas. In fact, when I played “The Crusher” for my boys when they were little they would laugh hysterically.
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The Man – Bill Drummond: Bill Drummond was a very outspoken Scotsman, who, actually, made a big splash in the late 80’s and early 90’s in the UK with his controversial band, or whatever it was, KLF. I’m not sure what that was all about. This album is somewhat more traditional folk music, but not quite, but the Triffids backed him on this album. One song was called “Julian Cope is Dead,” and, I understand, Julian Cope had a response on one of his albums.
Hole – Scraping Foetus Off the Wheel: aka Jim Thirlwell, Clint Ruin or Jim Foetus, he was a one man performance artist, industrial type guy sort of like Nine Inch Nails, but even more warped. “Lust for Death” and “Water Torture” were two of my favorites, but this album kicked ass. Okay, maybe “Hot Horse” was a bit much. I also had “Nail,” then Foetus kept changing his name and I lost track. He might still be around for all I know.
Herbman Hustling – Sugar Minott: I spent the early 80’s pretty much obsessed with Reggae music, and, in the end, my favorite ended being Sugar Minott who was, in my mind, king of the dance hall. I got to see him live at Kilimanjaro in Washington, DC and it was the first show I went to by myself. The 80’s were a great time for the Dance Hall Style as other greats included Frankie Paul and Half Pint.
Groovy Hate Fuck (feel good about your body) – Pussy Galore: Jon Spencer’s band before Jon Spencer’s Blues Explosion which was one of my favorite 90’s albums. I can’t say I actually liked Groovy Hate Fuck, but I bought the album for two reasons. First, I worked with the drummer at a large and highly prestigious DC law firm. We were both paralegals, or gophers might be the right term. Second, I really wanted to hear what the song “Pretty Fuck Look” sounded like. Maybe the song wasn’t all that great, but what a great title.
My Ever Changing Moods – Style Council: I’m probably the only fan of the Style Council that admits to being a fan of the Style Council. I became a monstrous Jam fan about the time The Jam broke-up, so I was primed for the Style Council. I love the song “My Ever Changing Moods, “ and the album of the same name. If I hear it I’ll sing it and loud. Also, liked “The Paris Match” and “You’re the Best Thing.” Style Council had a successful follow-up with “My Favorite Shop” UK version or “Internationalist” US release which I loved then everyone decided they hated the Style Council including Paul Weller himself. Well, I still love the Style Council, and I don’t care what anyone thinks.
Go Go Crankin, Paint the White House Black – Complilation: Yes, during, just about, all of the 80’s I was living in Washington DC which was then the murder capital of the world. But, there was a local music scene in those rough sections of town which sported big bands with lots of percussion which mixed rap, funk and standards and just kept playing and playing. This music was referred to as Go Go, but really, it was just the local music scene in Washington, DC. You didn’t hear much about Go Go in the outskirts of DC, among the more white population, where I lived, and you didn’t read about it much in the Washington Post or the more adventurous City Paper. In fact, if I wanted to read about Go Go Music, I had to read the New Music Express (NME) the famous English music paper which understood what the music was all about. This album includes the standard Go Go acts, Chuck Brown and Soul Searchers, Trouble Funk and Experience Unlimited (EU). EU got its shot by appearing in Spike Lee’s second movie “School Daze.”
Potatos, a collection of folks songs from Ralph Records – Compilation: This is a collection of folk and blue grass songs, some being standards. This very warped compilation includes contributions from The Residents and Mark Mothersbaugh who does tons of music for TV. But, standouts for me include “Perfect Scrambled Eggs” by Negativeland and “The Billy Bee Song” by an unknown Appalachian artist. Of course, there’s the “Legend of Sawny Bean/Sawney’s Death Stance” by Snakefingers Midi-evil Vestal Virgins. Great, great fodder for mixed tapes.
Sunshine on the Leith – The Proclaimers : Okay, the Proclaimers might be one of the all-time most popular Scottish bands, but in this country they made their splash in the 80’s with their super charged super hyperactive brand of folk music. I saw them at the Bayou in Georgetown and was dancing on the tables by the end, and realized I hadn’t yet had anything to drink. It was a natural high.
Moonhead – Thin White Rope: I truly love this album. The singer sounded like a cross between an angry Michael Stipe and Bob Dylan. The guitars were searing and twinkling at the same time, so much for the ears to grasp. Yet, I know nothing about this band, in fact, I had to look them up on Wiki and there wasn’t much there. I won’t mention what “Thin White Rope” means. But, I actually, downloaded this album last week since my turn table doesn’t work and I’ve renewed my love for this band.
Polkatharis – Brave Combo: A rock band from Texas, I believe, that played polka. Their songs always fit nicely into one of my mixed tapes. I saw them opening for the Violent Femmes in 1984 at, yes, the 9:30 Club. All I can say is that they fired on all cylinders and they were fun as hell. I was completely worn-out by the time the Femmes came on stage. Their version of the “Happy Wanderer” was always a nice compliment to “Lust for Death” on a mixed tape.
Telephone Free Landslide Victory – Camper Van Beethoven: Okay, I might be cheating here as CVB’s legacy went beyond the 80’s. Technically, CVB first broke-up about 1989, and its leader David Lowery started Cracker then brought CVB back together. But, I think this is one of the most important albums of the 80’s. “Club Med Sucks”, “Take the Skinheads Bowling” and the “Ambiguitey Song”, plus all the weird polka, reggae, Eastern European influenced instrumentals. At the time, it was completely off the wall, and I never heard anything like it. I saw them at the 9:30 Club and they were terrible. Then I read an interview with David Lowery in SPIN a couple of months later and he said that there were all these homeless people hanging out in the changing room when they got to the 9:30 Club that night and that killed their mood prior to the performance.
Please share your lost treasures from the 80’s. Actually, I’d like to hear about any lost treasures from any decade.
