Come on, girl, and do what you've got to do

[venta]

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.

I apologise for the extremely intermittent nature of The Box of late. My life is rather confused and tumultuous of late and, although it pains me to say it, I've either forgotten or just not had time to go Box-rummaging.

And when you see what's in The Box this week, I bet you wish it had stayed that way.

Jimmy Somerville - The Singles Collection 1984/1990

Yes, it's everyone's favourite squeaky-voiced popstrel, Jimmy Somerville. I make no apology[*] for liking this ridiculous 80s nonsense.

Interestingly (or not) Don't Leave Me This Way is one of the very few songs of that era which I actually remember hearing at the time. I'm too lazy to look up when it was released, but I have very clear memories of dancing to it at my cousin's wedding aged approximately 11 (this was also the occasion of me learning that pale people like myself should not be made to wear mauve).

This singles collection is a proper in-car sing-a-long, although disappointingly I can't sing high enough to hit most of the notes. However, when I am singing in the car there is usually no one to hear. I keep hoping my singing will cause traffic jams to flee in terror; it doesn't, but at least it passes the time.

The Communards - Tomorrow [link expired]

[Poll #1188693]

[*] Though I am a bit embarassed about it.

Comments

[zotz]

Breadline Britain's the one I remember. And some of their bigger hits, obviously. Oh for the days when pop music had something to say about the world. Still, I guess it'll be fashionable again eventually.

I always liked Somerville. It was very strange him getting the push from Bronski Beat - it explains their second album, though. In a rare moment of relevance, the NME commented (roughly - it's been a while) that while stylistic development was inevitable, nobody had expected a slump into commercial mediocrity quite as graceless as actually happened.

[bopeepsheep.livejournal.com]

I was fiercely loyal to Bronski Beat and the Communards even when they produced what I thought then was rubbish (the stuff I like more now) because Jimmy S is my cousin's best friend's cousin, and since said best friend was pretty much living with my Nana throughout the 1980s he kind of felt like my cousin too. I guess it's no weirder a reason to like a band than other teenagers come up with. :D

You Are My World is still my favourite of theirs, but I do like this one.

[d-floorlandmine.livejournal.com]

That's pretty good. I might also have to play it on Tuesday at work ...

the occasion of me learning that pale people like myself should not be made to wear mauve
[snork]

[ulfilias.livejournal.com]

Not my fave 80's artist and i do like some of the bizare one hit wonder ones....and some you *think* are one hit wonders that actualy have albums and stuff !