Renegade Soundwave and The Age Of Chance!

OK, after posting about the new OMD cover by Peter Seville, I decided to highlight my other two favorite album cover artists. Both of these are late 80, but they rock none-the-less!

First up is Dave Little. Dave has a very cool distinctive look that he created for one of my favorite club/bud band, Renegade Soundwave. My favorite cover he did was for their single "Cocaine Sex"

I also had the RSW logo he designed painted onto my leather jacket in college. Bad ass!

Next up, Ian Anderson, founder of The Designers Republic. They did all the covers for the band "Age Of Chance" from 1986- 1987. Wicked cool stuff (pre-desktop publishing, no less), like the cover of "Don't Get Mad...Get Even!" and the 12" of the Price cover "Kiss", and my favorite, the artwork for the cover and inner sleeve of their 1987 debut LP,"1000 Years Of Trouble"

Rock On!

Peter Saville and OMD

Well, I just pre-ordered the new OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvers In The Dark) album "History of Modern" which get released on September 28th, 2010. This is very exciting for many reasons. First, this is the first new album from OMD since 1996. Second, This is the first album since 1986 that has the original two member, Andy McCluskeyand Paul Humphreys, who haven't played together as OMD since the Pacific Age album! Third, from what I've been able to glean, this is going to be a 'classic' OMD

sounding album. They kind of lost their way in the 90s and I'm really excited to hear some 'old-school' OMD!

While I was ordering the "Ultimate Box Set" (which includes the CD, a 180gm LP, 7" single, CD of out-takes, and a DVD of the recording of the new album) I also read that the new album cover was created by Peter Saville. You may or may not know his name, but you DEFINITELY know his work!

Peter was one of the founders of FACTORY Records and did all the covers for the Factory bands, most notably Joy Division and New Order. His album covers are completely unique and always left a huge impression on me when I was buying them new back in the day. He did the Power, Corruption and Lies cover, the 12" for Blue Monday, and (one of my favorite) the cover the the 1982 EP "Factus 8". I didn't know at the time, but the art was actually done by Peter's live-in girlfriend at the time, Martha Ladly (formerly of Canadian new wavers "Martha & The Muffins).

I sold a 5 foot tall version of this poster in my record store and thought it was one of the coolest around!

Peter did covers for other non-Factory labels as well, including OMD. He did nearly all the great OMD singles and LP covers, including their wicked cool 1980 debut album with the die-cut cover looking at the sleeve color inside, up to Junk Culture in 1985

It's great to know that Peter is still around and making awesome and relevant artwork and album covers. Thanks Peter for 30 years of eye candy!

(For an extensive list of Peter's cover work, check out this awesome site in Japan!)

My Office

Well, I dug out all my posters from high-school and college and wallpapered my office a-la "Ferris Bueller". Feels good to be living in a record store!

Sixteen Candles

OK all you Madness fans out there. This has driven me crazy for 20 years. What version of the song "Our House" by Madness is playing during the opening dance sequence to the classic John Hughes film "Sixteen Candles"....

I think I have about 6 different versions of this song (12" dub mix, Stretch mix, us special remix, extended mix, budtheweiser mix, etc..) in my music collection, but I can find this one. It is very orchestral compared to the original score...Help please!

Here is a clip to refresh you memory.

UPDATE!!!!

Ok, the musician that wrote and performed many of the music scores for John Hughes, Ira Newborn, was contacted via email and here is what he had to say about the above mentioned "Our House" variation....

"Yes, I did "16 Candles" and I do remember having to "knock off" Our House by Madness because the studio didn't want to pay for the licensing fee...because when a studio commissions a composer to write music, they actually own it. It's called music-for-hire.' 

I don't really have any favorite projects. Maybe "The Blues Brothers" or "Weird Science." Talking to Kelly LeBrock in her underwear is something I will take to the grave with me. More impressive than the Grand Canyon.' 

"Filene" is exactly what it is. I had a girlfriend at the time who was black and I always used to kid her about black people making up funny names for their kids so I started calling her Filene and then used it in the song. I later called her "Lobelia" and used that in some other movie."

So there you go.  The song is called "Filene" and it is a knock off of Madness's "Our House".  Case closed.  

My Musical Milestones

Music has always played a big role in my life. I can track just about any event to a song or album of the time.

Just so there is a record of this; here is a list of all my "format firsts" that I ever purchased.

First 45 - Season In The Sun - Terry Jacks (1974)

First LP (mail order from a TV infomercial!) - The Monkees - The Monkees (Laurie House double LP) (Summer 1976)

First 8-Track - This One's For you - Barry Manilow (1976)

First LP (from a real record store) - Disovery - ELO (1979)

First Cassette - Blizzard Of Oz - Ozzy Ozborne (1980)

First CD - Welcome To the Pleasuredome - FGTH (1985)

First Razormaid CD - The Very Best Of Razormaid! RM-CD-01 (1987)

Burned my first CD-R - bought a first generation "WORM" drive and $1000 software package to be able to do this - freaked out all my friends that I could make my own music compilation CDs! (1994)

First dowloaded song (via Napster) - I Wanna Be A Cowboy - Boys Don't Cry (1999)

First purchased digital song (via iTunes) - Wichita Lineman - Johnny Cash (October 23, 2003) - First day of iTunes launch on PC.

Finally, on April 23, 2008, I acquired the complete Razormaid! library - 5727 songs from 550 LPs/CD since 1984 all in lossless (1000 Kbps) AAC digital format - delivered on a 500GB drive (April 23, 2008)

30 years later and the death of "format" has arrived. It's all 'bits' and can be had with 2 clicks of the mouse.

No more weekend trips the used CD store. No more rummaging through 'cut-out' bins a the Goodwill. No longer a sense of accomplishment of "discovering" that new band after hours of listening in the store.

Apple, you ruined my life.

CD History and other worthless triva

The CD format was invented by a collaboration of Philips electronic in the Netherlands, and Sony of Japan. Collaboration started in 1979.

The original audio CD spec of 74 minutes was set to accommodate a complete performance of Beethoven’s 9th Symphony

The Philips factory in Germany, where the world’s first CD was pressed, belonged to Polygram – the recording company owned by Philips at the time. The first CD to be manufactured at the plant was “The Visitors” by ABBA. Although, the first CD to be RELEASED commercially was Billy Joel's "52nd Street" in Japan on October 1982 (along with 49 other titles, mostly classical)

The CD format was launched in the US in March 1983 with the introduction of the Sony CDP-101 and Phillips CD100 CD players and 16 titles from CBS/Sony (including the Billy Joel "52nd Street" - although it was an IMPORT!!!).

The very first compact disc manufacturing plant that was built in the U.S. was the Digital Audio Disc Corporation [Sony DADC] plant in Terre Haute, Indiana, which opened May 2, 1983, with commercial CD production at the plant starting in September 1984. The first Capital Records CD every released, "Dark Side of the Moon" (catalog number - Capital Records - CDP 46001) were pressed at this facility.

The first CD that I ever bought was Frankie Goes To Hollywood "Welcome to the Pleasure Dome" - released on CD in early 1985 (although it was released on LP and cassette in the US in October 1984). This is also the first CD to be recorded in Full Digital - contrary to many posts that the first was Dire Straights - Brothers in Arms (which wasn't released until May 1985) - although, Brothers in Arms was the first CD to be simultaneously released with it's Cassette and LP brothers as a DDD recording.

FGTH was released by Zang Tuum Tumb Records (ZTT), which was owned by Trevor Horn. Trevor Horn was the lead singer and founder of the Buggles (most famous song was "Video Killed the Radio Star" - which was also the very first video to be played on MTV when it launched in 1981). Trevor was a pioneer in the Digital recording arena - with his digital recording of his first band to be signed to ZTT - FGHT. Trevor also started the band "The Art Of Noise" which was WAY ahead of its time. Trevor also signed Grace Jones and produced the album - "Slave to the Rhythm" - a landmark concept album that he also recored in DDD. It was released in the fall of 1985.

Soundtrack Mix For Thought

OK Goose. I know you DON'T like movie soundtrack CDs. Lots of reasons, some even valid. So, I thought I would build a "Soundtrack Mix" for you to highlight many of the songs that would NEVER have made it to market without a soundtrack as a vehicle.  Some of these are soundtrack only tunes, some are rare b-sides, and some are just great songs that you haven't heard in awhile! These are in no favorite order, simply alphabetical by song title.

So here we go!

Track 1. All These Things That I've Done by the Killers from the movie Southland Tales.

You probably have to see this movie to truly appreciate this tune. It features a mangled faced Justin Timberlake playing a soldier back from tour in Iraq who was involved in some evil civilian killings. This scene from the movie shows Justin in a drug induced trip after taking a shot of 'Instant Karma' - movie version starts about 2:30 minutes into the song.

Track 2. Anyone Else Buy You, by Michael Cera and Ellen Page, from the movie Juno.

This is acutaully the actors from the movie covering a great "Lo-Fi" tune by the Moldy Peaches. Fun song.

Track 3. Better World by Rebel MC from the movie Career Opportunities.

First off, movies are ALWAYS better with Jennifer Connolly. Again, might have to see the movie to really appreciate. Great scene with the dorky hero of the movie stuck in a closed Target store after hours jammin' to this song as he roller skates around the store. Classic early 90's rap before it went 'gangsta'.

Track 4. Born Sippy by Underworld from the movie Trainspotting.

Wow! This track is just awesome. This is a soundtrack only mix that really gets the blood pumping. Some good old mid-90s techno-club!  There are two movies that would get any user to quit drugs cold-turkey.  This is one and the other is Requiem for a Dream.  Both are great, but will make you a bit queazy.

Track 5. Cruising by Huey Lewis and Gwyneth Paltrow from the movie Duets.

Pretty cheesy, but where else would you hear Huey Lewis wax on with Gwyneth Paltrow on this Karaoke classic??

Track 6. Danger - High Voltage by Electric Six from the movie Charlie's Angels 2.

Rockin' song. Sounds like AC/DC meets Erasure. Very dancable.

Track 7. Deadweight by Beck from the movie A Life Less Ordinary.

Soundtrack only song that wasn't on his album. Seriously, I think this is the BEST Beck song ever. Always reminds me of Love and Rockets in their prime. Love this song.

Track 8. Driving Sideways by Aimee Mann from the movie Magnolia.

This movie is on my top 25 for sure. Great mind-bender. PT Anderson, who directed this, had Aimee Mann (of Til' Tuesday fame of the 80s) do almost the entire soundtrack. She has such a great voice.

Track 9. Dry the Rain by The Beta Band from the movie High Fidelity.

This is the movie for every "name that tune" music junkie (like me). I think I can relate to this guy making tapes for friends and girlfiends. This was a monthly ritual back in the 80s-90s for me. Anyway, a great scene in the movie where John Cusak (the owner of the cool record store) says, 'Watch this. I bet I can sell 3 copies of the Beta Band's The Three EPs album" and plays this song - and everyone in the store says, "who is this? It's great!"  Yes, I bought one of the three...

Track 10. Everybody Wants Some by Van Halen from the movie Better Off Dead

OK, so this is pretty much a metal radio song from 1980. But it has completely new feeling when you watch the movie! The dude that made this movie with the talking hamburgers was brilliant!  My first experience with "Booger" as he snorts a snow drift and contemplates the street value of the mountain of snow...classic.

Track 11. Eyes Of A Stranger by The Payola$ from the movie Valley Girl.

This is a 'retro' staple on modern rock radio stations. But still a great tune from the New Wave era.  Nickolas Cage was 'totally awesome' - and who didn't want to shave a "V" into their chest hair after this movie?

Track 12. Going Back to Cali by LL Cool J from the movie Less Than Zero.

Do you remember this movie? You couldn't figure out if you were supposed to think Robert Downy Jr. was cool or to be shunned for playing the 'sex for drugs' role. Anyway, LL put this song on the soundtrack only. What a great rap tune from the 80s! LL, Run DMC, and the Beastie Boys ruled from 85-89.

Track 13. Heavy Metal (Takin' a Ride) by Don Felder from the movie Heavy Metal.

I think this was the ONLY song Don Felder ever did (probably not, but it's the only song worth having!). This movie really had an visual impact on me. It was animated by something like 30 teams of animators from 19 countries, so each story looks and feels completely different. This song was from the B-17 story and the rest of this soundtrack was nearly 90% perfect (including an awesome version of DEVO's Working In the Coal Mine). This song really captures the whole mood of the film. A Heavy Metal rock-n-roll sci-fi trip!

Track 14. Hong Kong Garden by Siouxsie & the Banshees from the movie Marie Antoinette.

This film was made by Sofia Coppola (daughter of Francis Ford - director of Apocalypse Now fame). She is a total new wave fan and it shows on this soundtrack! This is a soundtrack only remix of Hong Kong Garden. What a great song! Siouxsie had such a distinctive voice. I wish she still would be recording.

Track 15. I Go Crazy by Flesh For Lulu from the movie Some Kind Of Wonderful.

Any soundtrack compilation would be incomplete without at least ONE movie from John Hughes (we have two, so we're covered). John Hughes was the voice of our generation. He had the BEST taste in brit-pop/new wave from the early 80s. In fact John actually started his own label called "Hughes Music" to release some of his soundtracks.

Track 16. Mad World by Gary Jules from the movie Donnie Darko.

Yes, this movie is also in the top 25 (maybe top 10). So, if you haven't seen it, rent it. This song is wicked cool cover version of the classic Tears For Fears single Mad World from their first album in 1985. This version by Gary Jules captures the eerie mood of this film perfectly.

Track 17. New Slang by the Shins from the movie Garden State.

I had to include this movie since we are both products of the 'Garden State'. Great movie starring Natalie Portman and Zach Braff. This scene has Natalie Portman listening to the Shins on her walkman in the hospital. She tells Zach what a great band they are. Yes, great song and great band Natalie.

Track 18. Night Drive (Reprise) by Giorgio Moroder from he movie American Gigolo.

This song is actually a very cool, slowed down "moog-ish" version of Blondie's song Call Me (which was written for this movie). Giorgio was a master of synth in the later 70 and early 80s. Great piece of music that fits this time in history perfectly.

Track 19. The Origin of Love by Steven Trask from the movie Hedwig and the Angry Inch.

I will not recommend that you watch this movie (it is about a tranny rock band from Germany), but they did have some very interesting songs. Trask, who stars as Hedwig (pronounced Head-Vig) wrote the songs as well.  This one was accompanied with a video on a Greek mythology-style telling of the origin of love. Very cool.

Track 20. Please, Please, Please Let me Get What I Want by the Dream Academy from the movie Ferris Bueller's Day Off.

Ok, here is the second John Hughes film, and one of my all-time favorites. I think I can quote every great line from this movie. A skill that is in high demand these days let me tell you! This is a soundtrack only version of a classic Smiths song by the Dream Academy (of Life In a Northern Town fame).  By the way, there NEVER actually was a soundtrack CD (or cassette) from this movie.  John didn't think it would sell - too random (included everything from Sigue Sigue Sputnik to Wayne Newton...).  I loved it, so I made my own version of the entire soundtrack including quip quotes from the actual film.  

Track 21. Purple Violets Theme by PT Walkley from the movie Purple Violets.

I am a sucker for a good instrumental, and this one is great. Very unique and very emotional. PT Walkley was a guy/band that was a favorite of the director's: Edward Burns. I think he said he used to see these guys in New York quite a bit before he asked them to do his soundtrack. This movie is somewhat historical as it was the FIRST movie to be released on iTunes before it went to DVD or theater. Decent movie too!

Track 22. Steal My Sunshine by Len from the movie Go.

Great movie! Put this on your Netflix list if you haven't seen it yet. Great cast and great story. The soundtrack is also really great. It was one of the first times I heard the French band "Air", which I think are genius! This song by Len is a very poppy ditty with the music ripped off from the classic 70s disco song More, More, More by Andrea True Connection. This was a favorite song by Christy Paulen back in the summer of 2000.

Track 23. Stuck In The Middle With You by Steelers Wheels from the movie Reservoir Dogs.

This movie shocked me, wowed me, and made me crank-up this song on the jukebox from the Pirates bar on 1st Ave and 77th in NYC after a night on the town with Larry Tulenko. Yeah, this song is over 30 years old, but how cool is it?

Track 24. This City Never Sleeps by the Eurythmics from the movie 9 1/2 Weeks.

A soundtrack only song and worth the price alone. The Eurythmics were great, but this is from the time before they got to poppy. Great moody, sultry song.

Track 25. When You Come Back To Me by World Party from the movie Reality Bites.

This was the movie about our generation. The Gen-X'ers that didn't quite know what to do when we got out of college. Great movie and great song.  "You look like a doily"  is one of my favorite lines ever from a movie.  This was one of my first movies that I saw Jeannie Garafolo.  She is really funny.  Rent it.

Track 26. Who Killed Tangerine? by Tears For Fears from the movie Fever Pitch.

This is a great movie that was filmed during the 2004 Red Sox trip to the World Series - the first since 1918. Once in a lifetime atmosphere to film this movie. This song is from a scene where Drew Barrymore jump onto field and runs across a real game. The chorus of the song (about 2:15 seconds into the song) captures the feeling perfectly!

Track 27. Whole Wide World by Wreckless Eric from the movie Stranger Than Fiction.

Never heard of Wreckless Eric prior to this movie. In this scene Maggie Gylenhall jumps Will Farrell after hearing him play this song. Love her. This soundtrack also has a few by a current favorite band Spoon that is worth picking up!

Track 28. Yoo Hoo by Imperial Teen from the movie Jawbreaker.

Bad movie, great song. Used to rock-out to this with Chris Paulen on our way to the next pub crawl stop.

Track 29. You're So Cool by Hans Zimmer from the movie True Romance.

Awesome instrumental on an xylophone no less! Another great soundtrack song from another scripted movie by Quentin Tarentino (also did Reservoir Dogs).  Believe it or not, this is one of Dixie's favorites as well!

Track 30. Your Song by Ewan McGregor from the movie Moulin Rouge.

OK, another cheesy cover song of an Elton John classic, but Ewan McGregor (Obi Wan Kenobi) did a really good job. Gives me chill bumps a couple places during the song.

That's all for now G-man. I could do much longer playlist, but don't want to burn you out too quickly!  So now you have a bunch of movies to add to your watch list - stick this list up on your white board!

Hope you enjoy.