Wasn't "Crazy" a hit for Icehouse? It is in my mind.
steed
· 9 months ago
Yeah, absolutely - the single before "Electric Blue" - went to #14.
pitre
· 9 months ago
I am a huge fan of this series. A lot of nearly-forgotten gems are being brought back to my attention, and I appreciate the accompanying 'liner notes'. Thanks.
One comment this week: if you go to the replay cameras: “Whisper to a Scream (Birds Fly)” — 1984, #37
I think a foot came down out of bounds on this one.
steed
· 9 months ago
Holy shit. That's a first. I actually put a top 40 song in the post. Maybe I was pushed out of bounds....I'm amazed at the things the eyes miss. I must have read this post 6 times - and didn't catch that once.
pitre
· 9 months ago
I wasn't sure if there was a 'this is close and I love it so I'm putting this one on anyways' rule. And I would argue that this song is not out of place on this list ...
In any case, many thanks again for this 'beauty and warts' history of music in the 80s. I get peeved when I listen to '80s' radio station who have ludicrously blinkered memories of what was actually played then...
thefxc
· 9 months ago
Mad props for Industry's "State of the Nation"! I never knew that charted at all. Stranger To Stranger is a wonderful new wave pop concoction, check it out in your local dollar bin.
Rob
· 9 months ago
Didn't Information Society have another top 40 hit besides "Pure Energy"?
I remember a while back, the former lead singer blogged about how he stopped VH-1's "Bands Reunited" from ambushing him. Or did I read it here?
Rob
· 9 months ago
One more thing: As long as you brought it up, I highly recommend you go to Janis Ian's site for her essays on her arguments against the RIAA. They really are among the most enlightening you will ever read.
Oh yeah, I've read her site - very well written. I have even more respect for her after reading that.
Info Society had "Walking Away" as well, went top 10...#9 I think
Aynthem
· 9 months ago
"Running" was a big club hit back around 85-86 (at least around NYC). Wiki says it reached #2 on the dance charts after the Tommy Boy remix was released. I had (don't know if I still do) the original 12", which is one of the best dance songs of the 1980s, hands down. Used to love mixing in it with Noel's "Silent Morning".
Jeff
· 9 months ago
Oh, man, what a week! Icicle Works and Billy Idol? Could it get any better?
Yes, yes it could. Don't knock the Indigo Girls too much. I was never a fan until I met my wife. Now I've seen them in concert more than any other group/artist. They put on one heck of a show, especially their acoustic shows (which they seem to be doing more and more of lately). They really have a way of connecting to their audiences that I have never seen before.
I never leave an Indigo Girls show disappointed. Thanks for making them the 'Best Song' of the week.
steed
· 9 months ago
Yeah, see - I think in the back of my mind I know they are decent at what they do. It's not my cup of tea in the least bit - but I know there's talent and while I don't like them - the songs aren't terrible. It's hard for me to really knock artists like that. Though you can say whatever you want about their shows - there's still no way in hell I'd ever get near that.
JonCummings
· 9 months ago
Their shows ARE pretty awesome--and I've probably seen them just slightly fewer times than Jeff, though it's been a long time since the last one. Their fans (and not just the lesbians) feel very intensely about them, which makes for a cool vibe at the shows.
MarlboroTestMonkey7
· 9 months ago
Check out Billy's version of Plastic Jesus and Summer Running from his 2005 album. Cool IMO.
DavidMedsker
· 9 months ago
I love Icehouse's first album (as well as the one that spawned "No Promises"), and had no idea "We Can Get Together" charted that high. Awesome.
I totally forgot that "Rebel Yell" didn't crack the Top 40. How the hell...?
Old_Davy
· 9 months ago
"Rebel Yell" STILL receives airplay around my neck of the woods. And it didn't even break the top 40. Amazing.
I'm totally not a fan of 80's techno, but there's something about Icehouse that really appeals to me, especially their album "Primitive Man". What a tour de force. I love the album's closer "Goodnight Mr. Matthews".
Eric S.
· 9 months ago
"Break These Chains" from "Primitive Man is in my Icehouse Top 5. It's about as close as they came to an out and out rocker.
julie.s
· 9 months ago
Did you take down the icicle works song? I don't see it...and I would agree with pitre, even if it was top 40, it still fits in nicely with the list...plus I don't think I've heard that song since 1984 and would love to hear it again.
steed
· 9 months ago
Yep, it's gone - it's really not part of this series - though I too agree - fits nicely.
Thanks for the repost. I look forward to this series every Wed.
Andrew Tonkin
· 9 months ago
I deeply love Bottom Feeders and read it with glee—you really know your stuff, and show an unusual tolerance for very commercial pop. So I must take you to task over Inner City—it's a fine example of excellent Detroit techno, a valid and curiously timeless dance genre. I own this 45 and cherish it. Thank you for letting me speak my mind and keep up the good work!
k
· 9 months ago
I gotta second your emotion on Inner City's "Good Life." I love that song.
steed
· 9 months ago
Thanks Andrew and k - my real question though is what makes this "detroit techno"? My ears can't tell the difference between this sound and the european dance sound in the late 80s-early 90s.. Did one of them just steal the sound and call it their own - or is there some either significant or even slight difference that set the two apart.
tdolbyfan
· 9 months ago
Crazy #7, remember? by the way, great post, is that all for the letter I?
steed
· 9 months ago
One more week for the letter "I" - nice to blow through a letter in 2 weeks time.
Eric S.
· 9 months ago
This may not be the best week, but I think it's the most eclectic.
Outside of "Electric Blue", the singles weren't my favorite Icehouse songs. Songs like "Taking The Town" from "Sidewalk" are what stick with me.
I've probably only heard that Industry song a handful of times since 1983, but I do remember it from MTV.
Chris X
· 9 months ago
I raised my hand for the first part of the Icehouse quiz, immediately remembering "Crazy", then dropped it on part two. I always dug them. Didn't John Oates' moustache write "Electric Blue" for them?
Info Soc recently started kicking again; I saw their reunion show and it was one of the best shows I saw all year. Shocked "Repetition" was ever released, I always thought "Tomorrow" would make a better single(it certainly still gets regular rotation in my DJ set, as do all of their old hits; "Peace and Love, Inc" was released in the 90s -did that one ever chart?). Their "Lay All Your Love On Me" cover is fantastic, certainly better than Erasure's version, and I've never been an ABBA fan, so I couldn't tell you about the original.
"Rebel Yell" didn't crack the top 40? I'd have thought that was at least a top 10 hit!! I thought it was gonna be one of those "didn't chart high the first time around, but was rereleased and became a smash hit" stories. Wow. You learn something new every day (or every Wednesday at least!)
I remember that Inner City song now that I'm listening to it here. Not impressed.
Never tried counting the "Colors" in the Ice-T song, but I dare you to have a go at counting the word "It" in Faith No More's "Epic." Pretty sure I've gotten a different result every time I've tried.
steed
· 9 months ago
That's a challenge. I'll have to try it later.
steed
· 9 months ago
Okay man, here's my count....95 times "it" is used in "Epic" - how'd I do?
matt
· 9 months ago
Icehouse were huge in Australia. They were originally called 'Flowers' and their first album was called 'Icehouse'. It also had a song on it called 'Icehouse'. Then they changed the band name to match. Confusing!
1984 album 'Sidewalk' had 3 great singles. This one has always been a favourite of mine:
Doesn't James Ingram's "There's No Easy Way" belong on this post. I believe it hit number #58 on the charts.
steed
· 9 months ago
You're right Crockett - it does. I left out the other two bottom feeders because they were duets that I already talked about back in A with Patti Austin, but glanced over this one. Nice catch. It will be the first one in next week's post!
Keith
· 9 months ago
Interestingly, "Rebel Yell" is my favorite Idol song now, but I never really appreciated it originally. I do remember hearing Icehouse "Great Southern Land" frequently on a local station back in the early 80's, I guess the program director must have been a fan because apparently the single didn't chart on any of Billboard's charts. And, if next week is the final week of the letter I, that means an appearance by my all time favorite recording artist, Donnie Iris!!
wags
· 9 months ago
Sorry I'm so late to the party this week! I nearly forgot to stop by... what with all the nothing I'm doing these days... ;-). Anyway, I thought the week started off a wee bit slow with Ian and those Icehouse singles though I do remember and liked Electric Blue quite a bit, but otherwise definitely in my top two of posts music-wise. And I have to agree with you about the "Detroit Techno" sound -- it would've fit well in the Trainspotting soundtrack which is mostly Euro techno. I hear the slightest bit more R&B in Inner City's vocals than you might find in any European techno but not really enough to me to make them distinct genres.
Some Useless Information
· 9 months ago
I could be wrong but I believe the Turbografx 16 CD system and the Sega Genesis CD system, early cd-based gaming systems, both supported the CD+G format as well. I've seen a couple of CD+G compilation disc images for download out there on the internet.
Ray
· 9 months ago
I definitely remember the Inner City track getting lots of airplay in Chicago. They also hit the Top 10 there with their previous single "Big Fun", which surprisingly did not chart nationally (at least not on the pop chart)... IIRC it was also used in a beer commercial back in the day.
King_of_Wands
· 8 months ago
What about the Icehouse song "Hey Little Girl"? I remember that song playing on one of the local video shows back around 82 or 83? Did it even chart at all?
All Comments
One comment this week:
if you go to the replay cameras:
“Whisper to a Scream (Birds Fly)” — 1984, #37
I think a foot came down out of bounds on this one.
In any case, many thanks again for this 'beauty and warts' history of music in the 80s. I get peeved when I listen to '80s' radio station who have ludicrously blinkered memories of what was actually played then...
I remember a while back, the former lead singer blogged about how he stopped VH-1's "Bands Reunited" from ambushing him. Or did I read it here?
http://www.janisian.com/article-internet_debacl...
Info Society had "Walking Away" as well, went top 10...#9 I think
Yes, yes it could. Don't knock the Indigo Girls too much. I was never a fan until I met my wife. Now I've seen them in concert more than any other group/artist. They put on one heck of a show, especially their acoustic shows (which they seem to be doing more and more of lately). They really have a way of connecting to their audiences that I have never seen before.
I never leave an Indigo Girls show disappointed. Thanks for making them the 'Best Song' of the week.
I totally forgot that "Rebel Yell" didn't crack the Top 40. How the hell...?
I'm totally not a fan of 80's techno, but there's something about Icehouse that really appeals to me, especially their album "Primitive Man". What a tour de force. I love the album's closer "Goodnight Mr. Matthews".
(download)
Outside of "Electric Blue", the singles weren't my favorite Icehouse songs. Songs like "Taking The Town" from "Sidewalk" are what stick with me.
I've probably only heard that Industry song a handful of times since 1983, but I do remember it from MTV.
Info Soc recently started kicking again; I saw their reunion show and it was one of the best shows I saw all year. Shocked "Repetition" was ever released, I always thought "Tomorrow" would make a better single(it certainly still gets regular rotation in my DJ set, as do all of their old hits; "Peace and Love, Inc" was released in the 90s -did that one ever chart?). Their "Lay All Your Love On Me" cover is fantastic, certainly better than Erasure's version, and I've never been an ABBA fan, so I couldn't tell you about the original.
"Rebel Yell" didn't crack the top 40? I'd have thought that was at least a top 10 hit!! I thought it was gonna be one of those "didn't chart high the first time around, but was rereleased and became a smash hit" stories. Wow. You learn something new every day (or every Wednesday at least!)
I remember that Inner City song now that I'm listening to it here. Not impressed.
Never tried counting the "Colors" in the Ice-T song, but I dare you to have a go at counting the word "It" in Faith No More's "Epic." Pretty sure I've gotten a different result every time I've tried.
1984 album 'Sidewalk' had 3 great singles. This one has always been a favourite of mine:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROBepLfoQjQ
It's on Youtube if you don't remember the song...