
My self-indulgent tour of the music of the early 80s continues.
1981 saw “rock” fully embracing new technologies: synthesizers, sampling and rap. Check out, for instance, the rapping Austrian…
These new technologies played a role in many transformational and evolutionary changes. Pete Shelley, lead singer for pioneering punk band The Buzzcocks, surprised everyone with the synth-led, danceable, transcendent “Homosapien”. The Human League evolved from a quirky experimental synth band to a pop band prominently featuring female vocalists. Track down “Circus of Death” on YouTube sometime if you want to hear how much a band can change in two years. The evolution of The Human League also spun off Heaven 17. New Order arose from the ashes of Joy Division like a Phoenix brandishing a sequencer. Robert Fripp decided, for Robert Fripp reasons, to start a new version of King Crimson after almost seven years of dormancy.
Then there’s Talking Heads, which spawned three separate projects in 1981. What I hear in these records is that David Byrne wanted to be Brian Eno, Jerry Harrison wanted to be David Byrne, and Tina Weymouth is an under-appreciated genius.
Meanwhile, back in the USA, good old guitar/bass/drums rock ’n’ roll was alive and well. 1981 saw the first single from R.E.M. and first albums from Go-Go’s and The Replacements. In addition, Mission of Burma released the EP that would make them college radio station staples.
Part 1: Pull Up to the Bumper, Baby
- You Can’t be Funky – Bush Tetras
- Bustin’ Out – Material with Nona Hendryx
- (We Don’t Need this) Fascist Groove Thang – Heaven 17
- Der Mussolini – D.A.F.
- Der Kommissar – Falco
- The Jezebel Spirit – Brian Eno & David Byrne
- Genius of Love – Tom Tom Club
- Worlds in Collision – Jerry Harrison
- This is Radio Clash – The Clash
- Pull Up to the Bumper – Grace Jones
- Don’t You Want Me – The Human League
- Controversy – Prince
- Everything’s Gone Green – New Order
- Tainted Love/Where Did Our Love Go – Soft Cell
- The Art of Parties – Japan
Part 2: We are on Our Own and the Only Thing Known is Our Love
- Takin’ a Ride – The Replacements
- Our Lips are Sealed – Go-Go’s
- That’s When I Reach for My Revolver – Mission of Burma
- Absolute Beginners – The Jam
- Message of Love – The Pretenders
- Homosapien – Pete Shelley
- Discipline – King Crimson
- Radio Free Europe – R.E.M.
- Afterimage – Afterimage
- We’re Desperate – X
- Cheeseburger – Gang of Four
- The Punch Line – Minutemen
- Raindance – The Past Seven Days
- Tickets are Free – Norman Salant
- Tempted – Squeeze
- Do Me Lover – Carlene Carter with Paul Carrack
- From a Whisper to a Scream – Elvis Costello & The Attractions
- Torchlight – Ellen Foley
- Respectable Street – XTC
- Safe as Houses – Stiff Little Fingers
- Re – Dif Juz