Fritz's New Wave Relics

[Fritz]

Thomas Dolby "Airwaves" from The Golden Age Of Wireless (1982)




Today Thomas Dolby is pretty much only known as a one-hit wonder for the campy novelty tune "She Blinded Me With Science", but before his big success with that record, he released The Golden Age Of Wireless in 1982. Musician magazine's reviewer declared it "The best damned synth-pop record ever, period." Now I wouldn't go so far as to say that, but it was pretty innovative for its day.

[Fritz]

Great Buildings "Hold On To Something" from Apart From The Crowd (1981)




Singer/Songwriter Danny Wilde spat out catchy Power Pop tunes throughout the 80s with bands like The Quick, Great Buildings, and as a solo performer. Of course his real 15 minutes of fame came later as the duo The Rembrandts (with Phil Solem) and "I'll Be There for You", the theme song from Friends.

[Fritz]

Gary Myrick & The Figures "Guitar, Talk, Love & Drums" from Language EP (1983)




Gary Myrick was originally from Dallas, Texas. His combination of Blues, Rock, and New Wave won him some airplay on modern rock radio and MTV in the US, but he was never well known to broader audiences. Two of his songs, "She Talks in Stereo" and "Time to Win," were used in the 1983 film Valley Girl.

[Fritz]

Fischer-Z "Red Skies Over Paradise" (A Brighton Dream) from Red Skies Over Paradise (1981)




Fischer-Z (pronounced fisher-zed) was actually more popular in Europe than their native Britain. Their name was a play on British regional accents that drop their H's, so it comes out sounding like "Fish's Head".

It seems strange today, but these cold war era nuclear war themes were pretty common back then.

[Fritz]

The Psychedlic Furs "Forever Now" from Forever Now (1982)




The title track to their Todd Rundgren-produced third album is my favorite Furs tune. Sadly, it was never released as a single, so it is not well known.

[Fritz]

The A's "Insomnia" from A Woman's Got The Power (1981)




Another band that kicked around the local club scene in my youth.

[Fritz]

The Twins "Satellite City" from Passion Factory (1981)




The German synthpop duo of Sven Dohrow and Ronny Schreinzer were inspired by bands like Tubeway Army, Gary Numan, Depeche Mode, and OMD.  That influence really shows on their first album, Passion Factory from 1981.  Later, they would become more of a Disco Pop act.

[Fritz]

Roger Glover "The Mask" from Mask (1984)




Deep Purple bassist Roger Glover dabbled with the New Wave/Synthpop sound in the 80s with this unusual tune and video. It got a fair amount of play on MTV (back when MTV actually played music videos).

[Fritz]

Voice of America "Story of Love" - 12" Single (1987)




I know very little about this short-lived group; they only released two singles, but this cut is a hidden synthpop gem.

[Fritz]

Shriekback "Nemesis" from Oil & Gold (1985)




I know it's hardly obscure, but I like it. Tough to name another song that rhymes parthenogenesis in the lyrics. 

[Fritz]

Kim Wilde "Cambodia" w/ Reprise from Select (1982)




Although always quite popular in her native Britain and Europe, in the US, Kim Wilde is mainly remembered for the MTV hit "Kids In America" (1981) and the cover of the Supremes' "You Keep Me Hangin' On" (1987). Of course, she was busy in the intervening years, but few of her albums were ever released Stateside. This moody synthpop number comes from her second LP, Select (1982). The single reached #1 in France and Top 10 in Germany and Australia.

[Fritz]

Klark Kent "My Old School" from Klark Kent 10" EP (1980)




Last weekend was my 35th high school class reunion, so I was reminded of this old tune.

Klark Kent was a pseudonym for Stewart Copeland of The Police.

Copies of the original pressing came on translucent green 10" EP in a 12" sleeve. A humorous label stated:

"You have just purchased an I.R.S. product. Keep in mind, however, that this is no ordinary record. It has been specially sealed under clinical laboratory conditions guarded by 12 armed security officers. Upon contact with light, this 8-song album will shrink to 10 inches and turn green. Exercise extreme caution. WARNING"

[Fritz]

Modern English "Life In The Gladhouse" from After The Snow (1983)




Kinda hard to believe this cut came from the same album as the "I Melt With You".

[Fritz]

Strawberry Switchblade "Trees and Flowers" - 12" Single (1983)




The beautiful Scottish synthpop duo of Rose McDowall and Jill Bryson were part of the bohemian art scene who adored the New York Dolls. Bryson wrote this song, their first single, about her own medical condition, agoraphobia.

[Fritz]

Polyrock "Like Papers On A Rack" from Changing Hearts (1981)




Polyrock was an American post-punk/new wave band formed in New York City in 1978. Strongly influenced by minimalism, the group was produced by the composer Philip Glass and Kurt Munkacsi.