Tonight's show is the best of my friend Jay's records. He gave them to me three years ago, when he thought he was dying from cancer, asking that I play them on the radio so he could hear them again and I did nine shows worth at the time. He beat the cancer, but died this week from Covid.
Various – More Coffee For The Politicians (Phoenix Underground Music Compilation #3)
Placebo Records, 1985
Regionally focused comps were super helpful back before the internet. Best way to focus on a specific scene.
This one has a nice variety of musical styles. It's #3 in a series from Placebo spotlighting the Phoenix Scene (e.g. "This Is Phoenix, Not The Circle Jerks" and "Amuck").
There's a white paper insert with some Placebo Records and their respective prices listed. It's an order form you'd mail in.
Ambition can consume a band, and this sprawling, beautiful pop masterpiece ate Tears for Fears (along with four years, four producers, numerous sidemen [including Phil Collins and Pino Palladino] and a lot of money).
It’d be 15 years before Orzabal and Smith would work together again (on the great Everybody Loves a Happy Ending), so no doubt the process was painful.
GARY NUMAN
The Pleasure Principle
1979 Canada pressing
Once I finished listening to the John Foxx record, I had to put this on.
Gary & John are two artists that are forever entwined for me.
The Pleasure Principle is one of the greatest albums of all time, regardless of genre or era, and NO I did not stutter.
Without Gary (and John as well), it’s hard to imagine a world that has Nine Inch Nails, Ministry, or Depeche Mode.
Just a legendary artist. #vinyl#vinylrecords#synth#newwave#synthpop