- Artist: New Order
- Title: The Perfect Kiss
- Year: 1985
- Format: Vinyl 12 in.
- Rating (1-10): 7
- Owner: Mary
- Acquired: Unknown
- Keeper: Yes
I think I’ve left that Mano Negra record cover up there long enough for everyone to enjoy it. This cover for New Order’s “The Perfect Kiss” is also handsome, if not as irresistible. Typical of New Order the cover is minimalist but also refined. This is only a 12 inch single and the cover is a metallic silver with the title embossed along the edge. The dust cover is swanky too with one side colored a deep blue and the other listing the tracks in, again, a very minimalist graphic design.
I like the song. I’m pretty sure “The Perfect Kiss” and Bon Jovi’s “You Give Love a Bad Name” were separated at birth. They’re not identical twins stylistically, but I’m here to tell you the melodies are very similar. Now, I’m guessing that few people are fans of both bands, which may be why no one seems to have noticed. But I was working in a chain record store when the Bon Jovi track was a hit. We had a number of teenagers at the store, I was only 19 or 20, and I got to listen this one more times than I care to remember.
Fac 123
- Artist: Depeche Mode
- Title: Shake the Disease
- Year: 1985
- Format: Vinyl 7 in.
- Rating (1-10): 6
- Owner: Mary
- Acquired: 1985 – “I was in art school at the time, you couldn’t be in art school and not buy Depeche Mode back then.”
- Keeper: Maybe
Ah man, I was just about to trash this single and then I listened to it again. I’ve always been sorta neutral on Depeche Mode, but I did buy one album early on. “Shake the Disease” has a cool minor key melody that to me screams for a heavy metal makeover. I know, I say that about every other decent pop song. This time I really mean it. The flipside “Flexible” has a curiously upbeat thing going on that doesn’t sound like Depeche Mode to me. Both songs are good. Lemme see those horn Depeche Metalheads!
- Artist: Naked Eyes
- Title: Promises Promises
- Year: 1983
- Format: Vinyl 7 in.
- Rating (1-10): 6
- Owner: Mary
- Acquired: ?
- Keeper: Maybe
This sounds so ’80s, but it’s decent pop. I definitely like it more than the other single of this year, “Always Something There To Remind Me.” But if never heard either of them again that would be OK by me. Mary gives “Promises Promises” a 6.
- Artist: M
- Title: Pop Musik
- Year: 1979
- Format: Vinyl 7 in.
- Rating (1-10): 7
- Owner: Mary
- Acquired: ? – She fell asleep before I could ask.
I’m writing from yet another hotel in Asheville, NC. We close on our new-old house tomorrow morning. This time we brought the kids with us so they can check it out. So far, thumbs up. That said, I did get panhandled three times in as many minutes after leaving a restaurant tonight. I’m not sure if that’s more irritating or funny. This is my fourth near-1000-mile-roundtrip to Asheville in a little over a month.
I’ve always liked this silly song, “Pop Musik.” I played the flipside, “M Factor”, this morning and already I’ve forgotten what it sounds like. That means it’s either completely forgettable, or I’m really tired from driving all day.
- Artist: B-Movie
- Title: Nowhere Girl
- Year: 1982
- Format: Vinyl 12 in.
- Rating (1-10): 5
- Owner: Mary
- Acquired: 1982 – Olsson’s in Georgetown, DC.
- Keeper: Yes
This is an early-80s 12 inch single. And it is so “80s” sounding that even people born after it was released, and there really are people like that, would know when it was made. Lotsa synths and somewhat mopey vocals. Mary gives it a 5.
