By Steve-O on
8/30/2010
ARTIST: Billy Joel
TITLE: Tell Her About it [Jellybean Mix] X
LABEL: 1983, Columbia
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By Steve-O on
8/23/2010
ARTIST: Camouflage
TITLE: The Great Commandment X
LABEL: 1987, Metronome
Like many Depeche Mode fans, I was thrilled to discover this band in the late 80's. At their best, Camouflage evoke the same catchiness as early Depeche, plus dark atmospherics reminiscent of the Alan Wilder era (not to mention Alan's killer side project Recoil.) Camouflage's recent albums are as good as the first, and worth the expensive German import prices. --Steve-O
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By Steve-O on
8/16/2010
ARTIST: Frankie Smith
TITLE: Double Dutch Bus X
LABEL: 1980, WMOT
JACK's Big Breakfast did their 8-Tracks segment on "back to school," and this is a personal favorite. Frankie Smith taught Snoop Dog how to tizalk like a dizawg. --Steve-O
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By Steve-O on
8/9/2010
ARTIST: Ric Ocasek
TITLE: Emotion in Motion [JACK-FM Remix] X
LABEL: Geffen, 1986
Former Cars frontman Ric Ocasek released a few albums on his own, but found true success producing Weezer (their Blue and Green albums) in addition to music by Nada Surf, No Doubt and Romeo Void. --Steve-O
ARTIST: Benjamin Orr
TITLE: Stay the Night X
LABEL: Elektra, 1986
Bassist Benjamin Orr sang upbeat Cars songs like "Let's Go," "Moving in Stereo," and "Just What I Needed." But his solo album, "The Lace," tended further towards the pop ballad territory of "Drive." Ben could've done a killer follow-up, had he not passed away in 2000. --Steve-O
ARTIST: Greg Hawkes
TITLE: Jet Lag X
LABEL: Passport, 1983
Keyboardist Greg Hawkes released his mostly-instrumental side project, "Niagara Falls," months before the Cars' synthesizer-heavy Heartbeat City showcased his ear for electronic texture. Greg is still a respected session musician, and recently released some Beatles covers on the ukelele. (Say what?) Click HERE for his website. --Steve-O
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By Steve-O on
8/2/2010
ARTIST: LaTour
TITLE: People Are Still Having Sex X
LABEL: Smash, 1991
I interviewed Bill Latour in Madison, Wisconsin a few weeks before his song hit #1 on the dance charts. Turns out we had a lot in common -- we were both working as radio DJ's, both producing radio commercials, both listening to Chicago house music but wishing it wasn't so damn repetitious. Bill had a healthy respect for electronica, but he told me his real influences were Elton John and "Weird" Al Yankovic; in fact LaTour had a few parodies of his own spotlighted by Dr. Demento.
Parents and counselors tried to scorn him for the seemingly risque content of "People Are Still Having Sex," but it's worth noting that Bill donated a significant portion of his sales towards AIDS research. --Steve-O
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By Steve-O on
7/26/2010
ARTIST: Transvision Vamp
TITLE: Tell That Girl to Shut Up [Extended] X
LABEL: Uni, 1988
This Holly and the Italians cover has two things going for it: Wendy James on lead vocals, and Zeus B. Held (Dead or Alive, Men Without Hats) as producer. With a name like Zeus, you'd have thought he could release the Kracken, but this single fizzled out way too soon. --Steve-O
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By Steve-O on
7/19/2010
ARTIST: a-ha
TITLE: Take On Me [Demo] X
LABEL: Warner Bros, 1984
This was one of my favorite albums of the 80's, and this update from Rhino is one of my favorite reissues ever. It includes more than two dozen bonus tracks, including some of the a-ha remixes and a few songs that didn't make the album. Upon studying the demos, I was surprised to hear that originally a-ha sounded very much like Real Life, or Speak & Spell era Depeche Mode. It's fascinating to hear how the songs morphed in the hands of producer Tony Mansfield (who'd done music with Naked Eyes before attempting a doomed 1984 version of "Take On Me" which reportedly sold around 300 copies) and Alan Tarney (who made the version of the song we all know and love, as well as most of the band's best material from that point on.) "Scounrel Days" also got the deluxe Rhino treatment and is worth a listen. --Steve-O
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By Steve-O on
7/12/2010
ARTIST: Urban Dance Squad
TITLE: Deeper Shade of Soul [Freak Mix] X
LABEL: Arista, 1990
What's not to love about Urban Dance Squad? A party song for summer. --Steve-O
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By Steve-O on
7/5/2010
ARTIST: Mick Jagger
TITLE: Just Another Night [Extended Remix] X
LABEL: CBS, 1985
It's tough to compete with the Rolling Stones. Even Mick Jagger knows this, given that this song hit the top of the US charts then promply disappeared as radio stations opted to revert to early Stones material instead. Remixed by Francois Kevorkian (known for his Kraftwerk collaborations) and produced by bass player Bill Laswell (beloved for his work with Herbie Hancock for a few brilliant albums in the "Rockit" era.) The cool percussion effects are reminiscent of the Stones' "Undercover of the Night" sound which got revived thanks to TV's The Sopranos. --Steve-O
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By Steve-O on
7/1/2010
ARTIST: B-52's
SONG: Time Capsule Megamix X
LABEL: Reprise, 1998
ARTIST: Herbie Hancock
SONG: Grandmaster D.ST Megamix
LABEL: Columbia, 1987
ARTIST: Michael Jackson
TITLE: Megamix X
LABEL: Epic, 1995
ARTIST: Level 42
SONG: Platinum Edition Megamix X
LABEL: Polydor, 1987
ARTIST: Meco
SONG: Star Wars X
LABEL: Millennium, 1977
ARTIST: Steve OLaf <-- aka moi, Steve-O on the Radio
SONG: Synthetic Dance Music Megamix X
LABEL: Ninth Wave
Original version was a bonus track on the Synthetic Dance Music compilation.
ARTIST: Run DMC
SONG: Return of the Kings Megamix
LABEL: Sony, 2005
ARTIST: Stars on 45
SONG: Beatles Medley X
LABEL: CBS, 1981
ARTIST: Diana Ross & the Supremes
SONG: Supremes Medley X
LABEL: Motown, 1980
ARTIST: Yello
SONG: Metropolitan Mixdown '89 [Part 1] X
LABEL: Mercury, 1989
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By Steve-O on
6/28/2010
ARTIST: Vanity 6
TITLE: Nasty Girl [Hot Tracks Mix] X
LABEL: Warner Bros, 1982
I originally posted this as a bonus track on a Beverly Hills Cop feature. Although the song did not appear on the soundtrack, most will recall it was a perfect fit for Axel's meeting with detectives Taggart and Rosewood in the strip club. Here it is again, this time with proper cover art attached. --Steve-O
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By Steve-O on
6/21/2010
ARTIST: Peter Wolf
TITLE: Come As You Are [Extended] X
LABEL: EMI, 1987
Clearly the success of J. Geils Band wasn't just guitarist John Geils, but also vocalist and former DJ Peter Wolf. Sophomore album Come As You Are topped the Mainstream Rock Chart, and this title song cops a riff borrowed from The Music Explosion bubblegum classic, "Little Bit o' Soul." --Steve-O
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By Steve-O on
6/14/2010
ARTIST: Flying Lizards
TITLE: Money [Long Version] X
LABEL: Virgin, 1979
Given the state of the world economy at the moment, we could all use a little more money. Even in the punk era, few bands played looser than Flying Lizards, and here's the wonderfully annoying "dub" part of the song you rarely hear on the radio. --Steve-O
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By Steve-O on
6/7/2010
ARTIST: Jane Wiedlin
TITLE: Blue Kiss [Extended] X
LABEL: I.R.S, 1985
Years ago I got a chance to meet the Go-Go's after a show at the Pageant Theater in St. Louis. While everyone else gravitated toward Belinda for photo ops, I made a beeline for Jane. She was always my favorite Go-Go, and I could never understand why her sweet-as-syrup solo music was so widely ignored by radio. --Steve-O
ARTIST: Belinda Carlisle
TITLE: Mad About You [Extended] X
LABEL: I.R.S, 1985
Mad About You is the best-known song off this former Go-Go's debut solo album. To my amazement, it was omitted from her Place On Earth: Greatest Hits collection on EMI, despite their having purchased the I.R.S. label half a decade prior to its release. Huh? Never fear, Virgin later managed to re-issue the Belinda album with a ton of extras including this slightly different remix. If you own both CDs, plus her Playboy Magazine issue ... you can die happy.
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By Steve-O on
6/1/2010
ARTIST: Aerosmith
SONG: Dude (Looks Like a Lady) [Extended Rockin' Dude Mix]
LABEL: Geffen, 1987
ARTIST: The Firm
SONG: Radioactive X
LABEL: Atlantic, 1985
ARTIST: Megadeth
SONG: Symphony of Destruction [Trent Reznor Gristle Mix] X
LABEL: Capitol, 1992
ARTIST: Midnight Oil
SONG: Blue Sky Mine [Food on the Table Mix] X
LABEL: CBS, 1990
ARTIST: Red Hot Chili Peppers
SONG: Higher Ground [Pearly Twelve-Inch] X
LABEL: EMI, 1989
ARTIST: Peter Schilling
TITLE: Major Tom (Coming Home) [Club Mix] X
LABEL: Elektra, 1982
ARTIST: Bruce Springsteen
SONG: Dancing in the Dark [Blaster Mix] X
LABEL: Columbia, 1984
ARTIST: Billy Thorpe
SONG: Children of the Sun X
LABEL: Polydor, 1979
ARTIST: U2
SONG: New Year's Day [USA Remix] X
LABEL: Island, 1983
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By Steve-O on
5/3/2010
ARTIST: Space Monkey
TITLE: On the Beam
LABEL: 1985, MCA
Space Monkey was multi-instrumentalist Paul Goodchild and a revolving collection of session musicians (including Adrian Lee of Mike & the Mechanics on synthesizers.) The cover art just doesn't get more eighties than that delightful backlit photo. --Steve-O
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By Steve-O on
5/1/2010
ARTIST: Bangles
TITLE: Walk Like an Egyptian [Extended] X
LABEL: Columbia, 1986
ARTIST: Buckner and Garcia
SONG: Pac Man Fever X
LABEL: Columbia, 1982
ARTIST: The Cure
TITLE: Friday I'm In Love [Strangelove Mix] X
LABEL: Fiction, 1992
ARTIST: Cutting Crew
TITLE: (I Just) Died in Your Arms [Extended] X
LABEL: Virgin, 1987
ARTIST: Eurogliders
TITLE: Heaven (Must Be There) [Extended US Mix] X
LABEL: CBS, 1984
ARTIST: Madness
TITLE: Our House [Special Mix] X
LABEL: Geffen, 1983
ARTIST: Starship
SONG: We Built This City [Special Club Mix] X
LABEL: Grunt, 1985
ARTIST: T'Pau
SONG: Heart and Soul [Extended] X
LABEL: Virgin, 1987
ARTIST: Steve Winwood
SONG: Higher Love [Remix] X
LABEL: Island, 1986
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By Steve-O on
4/19/2010
ARTIST: Paul Hardcastle
TITLE: 19 [Remix] X
LABEL: Chrysalis, 1985
Today being the 19th, it seemed the perfect time to revive one of the many 19 remixes. Today Paul Hardcastle also releases an anniversary version in which he looks at current wars. See below for the trailer. --Steve-O
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By Steve-O on
4/12/2010
ARTIST: Malcolm McLaren
SONG: Buffalo Gals [Album Mix] X
LABEL: Island, 1983
I originally posted this last year as a bonus track under Neneh Cherry's "Buffalo Stance," to illustrate the source of a few of her samples. Eminem would later borrow the Buffalo Gals line and parody it using "trailer park girls." I am reposting it now under the sad circumstance of Malcolm's death in Switzerland this past week. People will always connect his name with the Sex Pistols and their influence on punk in the late 70's, but let's not forget Malcolm's own brilliant music made with members of the Art of Noise. Let's also remember that like God taking Adam's rib to create Eve, Malcolm took several of Adam's Ants to create Bow Wow Wow. Generally hated by everyone he ever worked with, Malcolm still had enormous influence on music, fashion, and even movies in his fascinating lifetime. Goodbye Mr. McLaren! --Steve-O
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By Steve-O on
4/1/2010
ARTIST: Baltimora
TITLE: Tarzan Boy [Extended Mix] X
LABEL: EMI, 1984
ARTIST: Book of Love
TITLE: Boy [Demo] X
LABEL: Sire, 1985
ARTIST: Neneh Cherry
SONG: Buffalo Stance [Sukka Mix] X
LABEL: Virgin, 1989
ARTIST: Gang of Four
TITLE: I Love a Man in a Uniform X
LABEL: Warner Bros, 1982
ARTIST: Grandmaster Flash and Melle Mel
TITLE: White Lines (Don't Do It)
LABEL: Sugar Hill, 1983
ARTIST: Information Society
SONG: Walking Away [Space Age Mix] X
LABEL: Tommy Boy/Reprise, 1988
ARTIST: Kraftwerk
SONG: The Telephone Call [12" Mix] X
LABEL: EMI, 1986
ARTIST: Tech and the Effx
SONG: Kabuki [Jellybean Extended Mix] X
LABEL: Manhattan, 1987
ARTIST: Trans X
SONG: Living On Video
LABEL: Atco, 1984
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By Steve-O on
3/15/2010
ARTIST: Iggy Pop
SONG: Real Wild Child (Wild One) [Extended Version] X
LABEL: A&M, 1986
Congratulations to Iggy Pop for being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame!
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By Steve-O on
3/1/2010
ARTIST: Big Pig
TITLE: Breakaway [Extended] X
LABEL: A&M, 1987
ARTIST: David Bowie
TITLE: Underground [Extended Dance Mix] X
LABEL: EMI, 1986
ARTIST: El Debarge
TITLE: Who's Johnny? X
LABEL: Gordy, 1986
ARTIST: Glenn Frey
TITLE: Heat is On [Extended] X
LABEL: MCA, 1984
ARTIST: Icehouse
TITLE: Great Southern Land X
LABEL: Chrysalis, 1982
ARTIST: Imagination
TITLE: Just an Illusion
LABEL: RCA, 1982
ARTIST: Cyndi Lauper
SONG: Goonies 'R' Good Enough [Extended] X
LABEL: Portrait, 1985
ARTIST: Paul McCartney
SONG: Spies Like Us [Party Mix] X
LABEL: Parlaphone, 1985
ARTIST: Prince
TITLE: Partyman [Purple Party Mix] X
LABEL: Warner Brothers, 1989
ARTIST: Screaming Blue Messiahs
SONG: I Wanna Be a Flintstone X
LABEL: Elektra, 1987
ARTIST: Tina Turner
TITLE: We Don't Need Another Hero [Extended] X
LABEL: Capitol, 1985
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By Steve-O on
2/1/2010
ARTIST: ABC
SONG: When Smokey Sings [Extended] X
LABEL: Mercury, 1987
ARTIST: Bow Wow Wow
SONG: I Want Candy
LABEL: RCA, 1982
ARTIST: Boys Don't Cry
SONG: I Wanna Be a Cowboy X
LABEL: Profile, 1985
ARTIST: Dead or Alive
SONG: Lover Come Back to Me [Extended] X
LABEL: Epic, 1985
ARTIST: Danny Elfman
SONG: Gratitude [Extended]
LABEL: MCA, 1984
ARTIST: Eurythmics
SONG: Would I Lie to You? [Extended]
LABEL: RCA, 1985
ARTIST: Max Headroom
SONG: Gimme Shades
LABEL: Chrysalis, 1986
ARTIST: Joeski Love
TITLE: Pee Wee's Dance [7" edit] X
LABEL: Elektra, 1986
ARTIST: Kartoon Krew
SONG: Inspector Gadget X
LABEL: ZYX, 1985
ARTIST: Cyndi Lauper
SONG: She Bop [Arthur Baker Extended] X
LABEL: Portrait, 1983
ARTIST: Pretty Poison
SONG: Catch Me I'm Falling [Extended] X
LABEL: Virgin, 1987
ARTIST: The Producers
SONG: What's He Got? X
LABEL: Portrait, 1981
ARTIST: Roxette
SONG: The Look [Extended] X
LABEL: EMI. 1988
ARTIST: Fred Schneider & Shake Society
SONG: Monster X
LABEL: Warner Brothers, 1984
ARTIST: Wax
SONG: Bridge to Your Heart X
LABEL: RCA, 1987
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