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On Fridays this year, we ask...

What's in the Box?

The Box in question is the glovebox of my car, home to my extremely motley tape collection. By the time I owned a car with a tape player tapes were on the way out and most of my music was in CD format. However, charity shops were practically giving tapes away, which meant that I bought rapaciously and eclectically. A half-remembered 80s band who once released a single I'd liked a little ? A band I'd vaguely heard of ? An unknown group with good cover art ? Bring them on.

Of course, the net result is that I've ended up with a tape collection which any music-lover would be slightly ashamed of. There was a relatively narrow window (late 70s to later 80s) when tapes were big news, and my horde represents that. However, in amongst the terrible pop I've found some gems and I reckon its time to come clean about my guilty musical secrets.

In The Box this week we have:

Now That's What I Call Music 3 - Various Artists

When rummaging through dusty boxes of tapes in charity shops I'm always delighted to uncover a Now That's What I Call Music X. There's something utterly delightful about time-based compilations (the other good example that I've encountered being the 1990s Shine indie compilations); they perfectly preserve a musical snapshot of a particular month.

Looking down the tracklist for NTWICM3 there are some usual-suspect 80s choons. I Want To Break Free, Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go, It's Raining Men, yeah, yeah, we know.

To me, the interesting part is the songs that were big enough to make it onto the compilation, but then were soon after consigned to the dustbin of history. Names I don't know at all come up on the list. Anyone heard of The Art Company ? They're on here doing Susannah, which the crowd present at the recording seem to know but I've never heard before. Then there's the bizarre Thompson Twins' song about knowing what it means to work hard on machines. And the obligatory euro-pop entry comes from Propaganda (who?) with Doctor Mabuse.

I was tempted to post one of these, but have instead gone for a track I barely know by a very well-known band. It's one of those which makes you think "eh ? can see why it isn't one of the better known efforts" then suddenly whips out a refrain and outro that are instantly familiar. I must have heard it years and years ago, and not thought of it since, but there it was hidden away in the dustier corners of my hindbrain.

Madness - One Better Day

It used to be fashionable to lay down port for your children. I'd recommend laying down some current music compilations - they'll probably be happy, even if you think today's music is rubbish.

[Poll #1173207]

Date: 2008-04-18 03:17 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] snathe.livejournal.com
Duel is played fairly regularly on Radio 2, for some reason. It's not a bad song at all.

Thank you for the hospital radio wishes; I've already done a couple of shows where I've covered for people who have been away, but the powers that be have now given me a weekly slot - exciting stuff! I must have done something right.

So, should you ever find yourself in need of hospital treatment in Southport, try and get yourself admitted between 7:00pm and 8:30pm on a Thursday as that's when you'll hear me (Channel 45 - extension 4213 if you want a request)

I shall have a listen to Just Like Heaven, too - Kath (my girlfriend) is a big Cure fan so I'll raid her collection this weekend...

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