Thursday, 3 April 2008

NASH THE SLASH

DANCE AFTER CURFEW
(ORIGINAL 12" DANCE MIX)


Nash the Slash is a Canadian progressive rock, classical, and alternative musician. He was a member of the band FM in the 1970s, before launching a solo career in 1978, producing an audiovisual collaboration with artist Robert Vanderhorst which continues to this day.

Nash's music is a complex blend of new wave, new age and punk rock, using electric mandolins, violins, drums machines and an arsenal of effects and sonic devices. He has written, played and produced almost all of the material on his solo albums by himself.

Since 1979 Nash has always performed with surgical bandages covering his face. Born Jeff Plewman, he has attempted to keep his true identity the subject of some speculation. In a 1981 interview with the UK magazine Smash Hits, Nash's response to a question about his real name was "Nashville Thebodiah Slasher". By never officially confirming or denying his name, some fans came to believe Nash to be an alter ego of Ben Mink, who replaced him as FM's violinist in 1978. This is a common misconception but he has been photographed onstage with Ben Mink. While in the UK, he was rumoured to be Billy Currie of Ultravox fame.

In 1980 and 1981 Nash was personally invited by Gary Numan to tour the UK as his support act, and also toured Europe with The Tubes. He was signed to Richard Branson's DinDisc (Virgin) label and in 1980 he released the album Children of the Night in Europe. Returning to Toronto in spring 1981, Nash followed up the success of Children of the Night with the album And You Thought You Were Normal. This included the track and later single Dance After Curfew on which a then relatively unknown Daniel Lanois took the production helm. The single proved to be a favourite in the dance clubs at the time and also has the distinction of being a club and radio hit in Poland, which was then still behind the iron curtain.

DANCE AFTER CURFEW
(ORIGINAL 12" DANCE MIX)


Wednesday, 2 April 2008

ALTERED IMAGES

I COULD BE HAPPY
(ORIGINAL EXTENDED 12" DANCE MIX)

Altered Images were a Scottish new wave band whose members were ex-school friends with an equal interest in the UK post-punk scene. After being championed by legendary DJ John Peel, they quickly garnered enough attention to be offered a deal with Epic Records, but mainstream success was not immediate; their first two singles failed to reach the top 40.

After the band's 1981 success of their first album, Happy Birthday, and an equally successful tour, they released their 1982 album Pinky Blue. The album showed them following a more pop route. The lead off single, I Could Be Happy, went to #7 in the UK with the album reaching #12, making it more successful than their previous effort. Despite this success many critics who supported them previously began to turn sour.

I COULD BE HAPPY
(ORIGINAL EXTENDED 12" DANCE MIX)


Monday, 31 March 2008

HAIRCUT ONE HUNDRED

FAVOURITE SHIRTS (BOY MEETS GIRL)
(ORIGINAL EXTENDED 12" VERSION)

Although Haircut One Hundred only lasted a few years they were successful right away after they began performing. Their first album, Pelican West went straight to #2 with the lead off single, Favourite Shirts (Boy Meets Girl), going to #4 in the UK charts back in 1981. The album also produced 3 more singles, one of which, Love Plus One, was featured on an earlier post on Born Again '80s. Great tune!

Sunday, 30 March 2008

ROMEO VOID

NEVER SAY NEVER
(ORIGINAL EXTENDED 12" VERSION)


Romeo Void were a New Wave band from San Francisco, California who were active from 1979 to 1985. Their popularity was primarily in alternative and college radio, and as a dynamic performing act. The original band members met at the San Francisco Art Institute. Most of the band members were also visual artists and did their own album art.

Never Say Never was first released in 1982 as a self titled 12" E.P. which was co-produced by Ric Ocasek of The Cars. The track was later included on the band's second studio album Benefactor that same year but as a shorter clean edit more suitable for general radio broadcast. The track was a favourite on early MTV.