Blondie - Rapture (Special Disco Mix) 12" (1981)

From The Lost Record Covers Club Undeniably an icon of the eighties pop scene, Debbie Harry made the transition with some credibility from punk to pop star darling through the string of pop singles "Denis", "Hanging On The Telephone", "Rip Her To Shreds", "Call Me" and more.  The album "Parallel Lines" blew them across the world as the acceptable face of the new pop standard. The tricky later album, "Autoamerican" , saw them move into another emerging genre which has since taken over the world.  "Rapture" was a hip hop record for white folks when it was still seen as a fad from black Brooklyn.  Similar (in the extreme) to The Sugarhill Gang's "Rapper's Delight" (itself stealing the great rhythm guitar from Chic).  But they acknowledged the source acknowledging "fast fly freddie" et al as they went. Marvellous track - I'm not much of a Blondie fan but this is great. This is a 12" issue to promote the release of the single CHS 12 2485 Chrysalis UK (although made in France for some reason)

Charlie Dore - Listen! (1981)

From The Lost Record Covers Club Charlie Dore - was on the scene around the end of the 70s and early 80s releasing this in 1981 on Chrysalis.  More succesful in Europe than the Uk, "Listen" got a bit of airplay but ultimately the album failed to impress the record buying public.  Nice soft rock album. Features Jeff Porcaro and Steve Lukather from Toto amongst musicians Nice Cover Art! Chrysalis (German) - CHR 1325

Godley And Creme - ISMISM (1981)

From The Lost Record Covers Club The album released following the hit "Weddiing Bells" but also features "Under Your Thumb" - the first release (I think about 10,000) were put out with a punched sleeve making the coloured stripe on the inner bag visible through the artists name.  Later versions were black sleeves with coloured dots spelling out the words. an album for the fans but the two singles are brilliant. Polydor - POLD 5043 (UK)

dalek i love you - Heartbeat (1981)

From The Lost Record Covers Club This was a completely new track to me and doesn't feature on 45Cat yet.  This is a german pressing with a cover which is surely copied from a still of Redford in "All The President's Men" I was aware of d-i-l-y from my days at PolyGram when Phonogram were pushing them as the next cool electronic band (OMD/Soft Cell etc)  - it never really happened for them saleswise but they made interesting music and it has stood the test of time. This is a Vertigo release from Germany - Cat no: 6080 010.

Victorian Parents - Silence Follows (1981)

A Polydor signing during the emergence of the post punks that would move on to being album artists.  Polydor would be particularly strong in this area through it's roster and strong A+R department - The Cure, Siouxsie and The Banshees, The Jam, The Comsat Angels, the EG imprint bringing Eno, Fripp and Roxy who were still seen as a force even then (check out "Manifesto"), Fiction Records would evelop a number of acts via Chris Parry.



From The Lost Record Covers Club

I remember the The Victorian Parents were a big hope for the label at the time and the single "All American Hero" was priority release (View on 45 Cat).  Neither that or the album sold but did receive some critical acclaim not least by the team at Stratford Place.  Playing this now it stands up against it's contemporaries - shame we didn't get to see where the band could have taken it.

I note on 45Cat they are listing an earlier release of "Dead Red Grass Of Home" on the album as being released in '81 on Ellie Jay Records. Possibly the track that got them the deal?

That track is available on YouTube here. 

Polydor - POLS 1049

Sad Cafe - Ole (1981)

From The Lost Record Covers Club

Sad Cafe started their career at RCA where they had one hit album "Facades" which featured "Everyday Hurts" and "Strange Little Girl" - this wasn't repeated and by 1981 they had moved to Polydor.  Singer Paul Young had a great voice and their melodic approach was (perhaps) a little dated when compared with the sounds of post punk pop.  "Follow You Anywhere" was a great choice for a single but alas made little impact on the charts despite loyal airplay from Capital and others.


Paul Young went on to become the voice of Mike and The Mechanics before succumbing to cancer.  He died in 2000 aged just 53.


Polydor - POLD 5045

Visage - Mind Of A Toy (1981)

From The Lost Record Covers Club

From The Lost Record Covers Club

The New Romantics really kicked off when this arrived.  The imagery of the sleeve artwork was a very important aspect of the marketing and the artist image of Steve Strange in heavy make-up etc was to epitomise the genre.  This is very synth heavy and a great pop tune - i've noticed that it seems to be gaining radio play again recently after being out of favour.
Polydor - POSP 236

Japan - Ghosts (1981)

From The Lost Record Covers Club

I missed out on Japan as they happened, really liking this but it was late in their career.  A guy at Bertlesmann gave me a copy of this and told me that i had to get into them - that I had missed something (I think I'd told him that they were a poor man's Duran Duran and I wasn't keen on them!)  He was right and "Assemblage" the collection issued by Ariola soon afterwards covering their earlier stuff proved that they were a force in their own right.  I loved this single and remember the "stop and listen moment" of them being on TOTPs.  I don't think they survived for much longer as a band after this.

Virgin - VS 472 (7" Single)

Kirsty MacColl - You Still Believe In Me (1981)

From The Lost Record Covers Club

The wonderful Kirsty MacColl had a varied career with her great voice.  This was a cover of the Brian Wilson Pet Sounds classic "You Still Believe.." complete with multitracked harmonies.  This followed the dreadful but playful "There's a Guy Works Down The Chip Shop Swears He's Elvis" and returned her to what she did best - using her voice.  It didn't get airplay and didn't sell a light.  High quality and ignored - shame.  Those of us at Polydor were hoping for an album but she must have been dropped after this.

I can't think of another phase of her career where she was glammed up like this for a shoot.

Polydor - POSP 368 (7" Single)

Ultravox - Vienna (1981)

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The 80's brought a whole new raft of bands picking up where Punk/New Wave left off and continuing from the New Romantics period.  Ultravox, Visage, Spandau all moved on to new ground with Ure and friends taking the electronics a bit further, but they had some real songs.  You couldn't escape "Vienna" when it was out and (I think) it only made no 2.  This is the initial release picture sleeve and the early copies were clear vinyl.  It''s a moody track which at the time was groundbreaking.  It is of it's time - but brilliant in it's execution.  Very 80's.  Very moody video.  

Chrysalis - CHS 2481 (7" Single)

Kit Hain - Spirits Walking Out (1981)

From The Lost Record Covers Club

The first solo album by songwriter Kit Hain.  Kit was one half of Marshall Hain who hit big in the 1980 with "Dancing In The City" and "Coming Home" both from a stunning debut album.  Disappointingly they never made a follow-up.  Kit Hain then signed to the revitalised Deram label (following Decca's purchase by PolyGram).  Stand-outs here are "Uninvited Guests", "I'm The One Who's With You", and "Aaron".  Kit later wrote "Perfect Timing" a small hit for Kiki Dee.  Deram released a second album "School For Spies" but i'm not sure what Kit did next.

Deram - SML 1122.