NEWRO'S PICK: PASSION PUPPETS - LIKE DUST

Artist: Passion Puppets
Song: Like Dust
Format: 7" vinyl
Length: 3:35
Year: 1983
Country: UK (London)
Style: new wave, alternative pop, indie
Bitrate: 128kbps
Notes: Passion Puppets look like a synthpop act on album covers but are actually more guitar oriented. They could pass for anyone from Haircut 100, Scary Thieves, A Certain Ratio, Cactus World News or even Ocean Blue from the late 80s depending on the song! The album version from Beyond the Pale clocks in at 4:14. The bonus extended "Like Dust" comes from Hardest Hits, Vol. 1, the first time that song was released on CD back in '94.

Bonus: Like Dust (Extended version - 5:52)
Bonus: Terminal Culture (from Beyond the Pale)
Bonus: Powder Monkeys (bonus track only available on the CD version of Beyond the Pale)

Newro's Pick: Positive Noise - "Give Me Passion"

Artist: Positive Noise
Song: Give Me Passion
Format: 12" vinyl
Length: 3:10
Year: 1981
Country: Scotland
Style: new wave, post-punk, synthpop
Bitrate: 192kbps
Notes: This is Positive Noise's debut single which had "Ghosts" and "End of a Dream" as a B-side. You won't find "Give Me Passion" on any album although "Ghosts" appeared on their debut album, Heart Of Darkness. PN went from a Gang of Four/Wire-esque post-punk/art-noise sound on their first album to a slick synthpop dance machine on their second album Change of Heart. Lead singer Ross Middleton left in '81 to form Leisure Process with saxophonist Gary Barnacle. None of their albums have ever been released on CD.

Bonus: Charm (12" vinyl, non-LP, 1981) - 192kbps
Bonus: Ghosts (from Heart of Darkness, 1981) - 192kbps
Bonus: Positive Negative (from Change of Heart, 1982) - 192kbps
Bonus: A Million Miles Away (from Distant Fires, 1985)
Bonus: Dance Floor (a guess at the title, this is an unidentified song downloaded from Soulseek years ago. An extensive internet search could not locate the source; any hardcore PN fans out there who can tell me what record release this song came from?) - 128kbps
Update 8/31/08: "Dance Floor" was mistakenly ripped as Positive Noise. Thanks to a comment by darkdance, the song was actually done by Our Daughter's Wedding.

NEWRO'S PICK: REAL LIFE - LIKE A GUN

Artist: Real Life
Song: Like a Gun
Length: 3:14
Format: Vinyl, 12" B-side
Year: 1983
Country: Australia
Style: new wave, synthpop/synthrock
Bitrate: 256kbps
Notes: This rarity is the b-side to the extended mix of "Send Me an Angel" and still sounds amazing 25 years later. The bonus cut was a minor hit from their second and last album with the original lineup -- Flame. Trivia time: "Send Me An Angel" is up to 17 versions at last count.

Bonus: I Wish (from Flame, 1985 - 128kbps)

NEWRO'S PICK: MINISTRY - I WANTED TO TELL HER (COLD TRAX MIX)

Artist: Ministry
Song: I Wanted To Tell Her (Cold Trax Mix)
Length: 6:00
Album: Ultra Hot Razor Cuts (Second Edition)
Year: unknown
Country: England
Style: new wave, synthpop
Bitrate: 128kbps
Notes: This rare 4-track vinyl EP includes 12" mixes by The Human League, A Flock of Seagulls, The Cure and Ministry. Check it out here.

Bonus: I Wanted To Tell Her (from With Sympathy - album version, 5:29) - 192kbps

NEWRO'S PICK: IMAGES IN VOGUE - IN THE HOUSE (EXTENDED)

Artist: Images in Vogue
Song: In The House
Format: 12" vinyl single
Year: 1986
Country: Canada (Vancouver)
Style: new wave, synthpop
Bitrate: 256kbps
Notes:The band re-recorded the 1985 album version of "In The House"as a single, keeping only a few elements of the original recording. The new version extended remix came b/w "Save It" (Extended Mix).

Bonus: Save It (Extended Mix - 1986)
Bonus: Rescue Me (from In The House LP, 1985)

REQ: Shiny Two Shiny - Waiting for Us (extended)

Here's the other request I promised for Daryle in DC. Huge props to yipyipcoyote over at NWO for the link. This is the last request for a while, y'all. I had a blast dishing 'em out.


Artist: Shiny Two Shiny
Song: Waiting for Us (long version)
Format: 12" Vinyl [5:45]
Year: 1983
Country: England
Style: new wave, synthpop
Bitrate: 192kbps
Notes: Flo Sullivan, aka, Gayna Rose Madder, on vocals. The band name came from a line in the Velvet Underground track 'Venus in furs'. Today's request was released with the b-side "Ritual Hate."

NEWRO'S PICK: AZTEC CAMERA - JUST LIKE GOLD

Artist: Aztec Camera
Song: Just Like Gold
Format: Vinyl, 7" [3:09]
Year: 1981
Country: Scotland (Glasgow)
Style: new wave, indie-rock, britpop
Bitrate: 128kbps
Notes: Roddy Frame's excellent single debut b/w "We Could Send Letters," later released on the High Land, Hard Rain album in 1982. To my knowledge, "Just Like Gold" hasn't made its way to an album or CD compilation yet.

Bonus: We Could Send Letters

NEWRO'S PICK: INDIANS IN MOSCOW - JACK PELTER AND HIS SEX CHANGE CHICKEN

Artist: Indians in Moscow
Song: Jack Pelter And His Sex Change Chicken
Format: 12" extended vinyl [5:07]
Year: 1984
Country: England (London)
Style: new wave, post-punk, electropop, darkwave
Bitrate: 128kbps
Notes: I think this c/w the 7" mix and "Salt" promo edition of 50 white labels. Somebody please confirm this?

Bonus: Jack Pelter And His Sex Change Chicken (album version - 3:09) - 192kbps
Bonus: Big Wheel (extended mix from Big Wheel 12" EP - 8:02) - 160kbps

NEWRO'S PICK: COLOURBOX - FAST DUMP

Artist: Colourbox
Song: Fast Dump
Album: Colourbox MAD 509
Year: 1985
Country: England (London)
Style: electropop, dub/reggae, new wave, experimental
Bitrate: 128kbps
Notes: Colourbox MAD 509 was released as a bonus Mini-LP with the first 10,000 copies of CAD 508. The four tracks on the A side were included on the CD version of CAD 508. The tracks on the B side (including "Fast Dump") have yet to be released on CD. "Fast Dump" also came as the B-side to "Say You", which hit #7 in the UK in 1984.

Bonus: Say You

UPDATE: REQUEST PAGE CLOSED

Dear readers and requesters,

I have good news and bad news. The bad news first: Life has gotten too busy. Unfortunately, I can no longer dedicate the time I need to keep this blog updated regularly at the high standards you've become accustomed to. Therefore, I have to shut down the REQUEST PAGE. The page will remain open, but comments are now closed.

The good news? I'm not shutting the site down. Whenever I have some downtime, I will still post "Newro's Picks" and other features.

If and when priorities of life change, I will be sure to open up the request page again for all of you. Thanks for your understanding.

Sincerely,

Newro

REQ: Visage - The Promise

This is a first time request for Daryle hanging out in the nation's capital. Still digging around my archives for your other request, Shiny Two Shiny. Don't know if I have it, stay tuned. Enjoy!


Artist: Visage
Song: The Promise
Album: Beat Boy
Year: 1984
Country: England
Style: new romantic, new wave, electropop
Bitrate: 192kbps
Notes: Beat Boy is the third and final album by Steve Strange. As Daryle mentioned in his message, this is the only Visage album never to be released on CD, although some of the tracks were released on the incredibly rare "Master Series" compilation.

Bonus: Mind of a Toy (Dance Mix - Vinyl 12", 1981)
Bonus: Frequency 7 (Dance mix - from Mind of a Toy Vinyl 12", 1981)
Bonus: Beat Boy (Dub - 7" vinyl b-side of "Beat Boy, 1984)

REQ: Adam & the Ants - Beat My Guest

By request (twice!) for music blogger "kindsaluv." Enjoy!

Artist: Adam & the Ants
Song: Beat My Guest
Album: B-Side Babies
Year: 1994
Country: England
Style: post-punk
Bitrate: 160kbps
Notes: This is the b-side of the 7" Stand And Deliver single, which reached #1 in the UK charts in 1981.


Bonus: Zerox (from Dirk Wears White Sox)

REQ: The Wild Swans - God Forbid (US Version)

By request for Michelle in the Philippines (note: your other request is not 80's). Enjoy!


Artist: The Wild Swans
Song: God Forbid (US Version)
Album: Incandescent
Year: 2003
Country: England (Liverpool)
Style: alternative pop, post-punk
Bitrate: 160kbps
Notes: Incandescent is a retrospective collection double CD containing rare Wild Swans recordings from 1981-1987, but mostly from the band's earliest period. "God Forbid" could easily pass for New Order. Also check out this edition of Six Degrees of Separation for more Swans and Care tunage.

Bonus: God Forbid (Original Mix)
Bonus: God Forbid (Live)

REQ: Secession - Touch (Part 3)

By request for Todd from Ann Arbor, MI. Sorry, I only have the extended version. Enjoy!

Artist: Secession
Song: Touch (Part 3)
Format: 12"single
Year: 1984
Country: Scotland
Style: synthpop
Bitrate: 192kbps
Notes: Parts 1 & 2 are on the 7" vinyl single. Parts 3 & 4 are on the 12" vinyl single.


Bonus: Touch (Part 4 - Instrumental)
Bonus: Touch (RZMD DJ Mix on Retro Wonderland)

REQ: The Shamen - Jesus Loves Amerika

By request for Kindsaluv from Florence. Check out his (her?) awesome blog full of rare albums!


Artist: The Shamen
Song: Jesus Loves Amerika
Album: In Gorbachev We Trust
Year: 1988
Country: Scotland
Style: alternative dance
Bitrate: 192kbps
Notes: In Gorbachev We Trust was their second album. It transitioned them from the psychedelic indie rock of their first album Drop to electronica experimentations that would shortly bring them full swing into the rave/techno scene of the early 90's.

Bonus: Something About You (from Drop, 1987) - 192kbps
Bonus: Christopher Mayhew Says (from Drop, CD re-re-release, 1999) - 192kbps

REQ: The Weather Prophets / Painted Word

She's baaaack. By request for Michelle in the Philippines. (note: Dr. Detroit was already posted. Run a Google search on the sidebar). Enjoy the jangly indie guitar psych-pop!


Artist: Weather Prophets
Song: Why Does The Rain
Format: 12"' vinyl single
Year: 1987
Country: UK
Style: indie pop
Bitrate: 320kbps
Notes: Deleted 1987 UK 4-track 12" vinyl single that includes "Midnight Mile", "Mayflower" & "Annalea Song." It also appears on Temperance Hotel, a selection of sessions, outtakes, b-sides & "best mistakes."



Artist: The Painted Word
Song: Independence Day
Format: (7" and 12"' vinyl single)
Year: 1986
Country: Scotland
Style: indie pop
Bitrate: 128kbps
Notes: This is their debut release and came out on U2's Mother label.

REQ: Industry - "Still of the Night"

Brian from Grand Rapids, MI is looking for an "alternative mix" of Industry's "Still of the Night." This is the first request I've taken where I'm not 100% sure I got it right. Enjoy anyway and somebody correct me if I'm wrong!


Artist: Industry
Song: Still of the Night
Album: Industry (EP)
Year: 1983
Country: UK
Style: new wave, synthpop
Bitrate: 320kbps
Notes: The 5-song EP has a slightly longer version of "Still of the Night" than the album version. Their best known single is the anti-militarist "State of the Nation."

Bonus: State of the Nation (from Stranger To Stranger, 1984) - 320kbps

NEWRO'S PICKS

20 total songs on this issue of Newro's Picks. It includes six extended remixes, live cuts, b-sides, outtakes and rarities. New wave, synthpop, power-pop, new romantic, indie rock, you name, it's here. Something for everyone. These are the songs that represent what I listened to in L.A. between high school and college (did I just give away my age?). Enjoy!


Artist: John Foxx
Song: Underpass
Album: Modern Art (The Best of John Foxx)
Year: 2001
Country: UK
Style: new wave, new romantic, technopop
Bitrate: 256kbps
Notes: This album includes rare & unreleased tracks from the founding member of Ultravox. This version of "Underpass" is the 7" Single Edit from 1980.


Artist: New Musik
Song: While You Wait
Album: Anywhere
Year: 2001 (original release: 1981)
Country: UK (London)
Style: new wave, synth-pop
Bitrate: 256kbps
Notes: Reissued second album. Lead singer Tony Mansfield went on to produce A-Ha, Aztec Camera, The B-52s and others.

Artist: Blancmange
Song: Feel Me (Extended Version)
Year: 1982
Country: England (Harrow)
Style: new wave, synth-pop
Bitrate: 256kbps
Notes: The album version came from Happy Families and reached #46 in the UK charts.

Artist: The Adventures
Song: Another Silent Day (Extended Remix)
Format: 12" 3-Track EP
Year: 1984
Country: Ireland (Belfast)
Style: synth-pop
Bitrate: 192kbps
Notes: Song hit #71 in the UK charts. The b-side included "Happy Depression."

Artist: Thomas Leer
Song: International (Global Mix)
Format: Vinyl, 12"
Year: 1984
Country: England
Style: new wave, synth-pop
Bitrate: 256kbps
Notes: Image shows the original 12" cover art. Upload comes from Hardest Hits, Vol. 5 CD released in 1994.

Artist: Big Country
Song: Where The Rose Is Sown (extended remix)
Album: Greatest 12 Inch Hits V.1 [Import]
Year: 2001 (original release: 1984)
Country: Scotland
Style: alternative rock
Bitrate: 256kbps
Notes: The album version came with Steeltown - their second studio album.

Artist: Sparks
Song: I Married A Martian
Album: Whomp That Sucker
Year: 1981
Country: USA (L.A.)
Style: new wave
Bitrate: 256kbps
Notes: Dinosaurs from the 70's glam pop era who converted to new wave /synthpop in the early 80's.

Artist: The Plimsouls
Song: Everyday Things
Album: The Plimsouls
Year: 1981
Country: USA (L.A.)
Style: power pop
Bitrate: 192kbps
Notes: From the 1992 CD reissue that includes their debut 12" EP as bonus tracks. A must have for power pop fans.

Artist: Arcadia
Song: Say The Word
Album: Playing For Keeps (Soundtrack)
Year: 1986
Country: England
Style: synth-pop
Bitrate: 256kbps
Notes: Duran Duran side-project released this as a non-album single in '86. It did not chart.

Artist: Mental As Anything
Song: Berserk Warriors
Album: Cats And Dogs
Year: 1981
Country: Australia (Sydney)
Style: new wave, indie rock
Bitrate: 256kbps
Notes: Quirky and witty new wave rock with poppy melodies. The song reached #30 in Australia.

Artist: XTC
Song: Making Plans for Nigel (Live)
Album: My Father's Place or Hurrah's, NYC (Bootleg)
Year: 1980
Country: England
Style: new wave, indie pop/rock
Bitrate: 192kbps
Notes: Live! That's all I can say...

Artist: Members
Song: Radio
Album: Going West
Year: 1983
Country: England
Style: new wave, nu-funk
Bitrate: 256kbps
Notes: Going West (Uprhythm Downbeat in the U.S) also featured their hit "Working Girl." Radio Dub (Extended) will be posted by request.

Artist: Oingo Boingo
Song: Waiting For You
Album: N/A (see notes)
Year: 1983 or 1984
Country: USA (L.A.)
Style: new wave
Bitrate: 160kbps
Notes: This is a bootleg unreleased outtake from the Good for Your Soul studio sessions.

Artist: Classix Nouveaux
Song: Forever And A Day (Extended Version)
Album: The Very Best of Classix Nouveaux
Year: 2000
Country: England (London)
Style: new wave, new romantic
Bitrate: 128kbps
Notes: The album version can be found on Secret - their last one from 1983. It reached #83 in the UK charts.

Artist: Ministry
Song: Cold Life (Extended Version)
Album: Twelve Inch Singles
Year: 1994 (original song release: 1982)
Country: USA (Chicago)
Style: new wave, synthpop, industrial
Bitrate: 256kbps
Notes: The early Wax Trax! Records days before they went screech-grind-buzzsaw industrial metal.

Artist: Kissing the Pink
Song: Radio On (Live)
Album: N/A (see notes)
Year: 1983??
Country: UK
Style: new wave, darkwave
Bitrate: 256kbps
Notes: Very rare. Recorded in London under the header "BBC Live Concerts."

Artist: Aztec Camera
Song: Set The Killing Free
Format: Vinyl, 7" or 12"
Year: 1983
Country: Scotland
Style: Indie Rock
Bitrate: 256kbps
Notes: Rare b-side of "Walk Out To Winter."

Artist: Endgames
Song: Ready Or Not
Album Building Beauty (Expanded Edition)
Year: 1983
Country: Scotland (Glasgow)
Style: new wave, synthpop
Bitrate: 256kbps
Notes: This was the original vinyl b-side of the 12" "Love Cares" single.

Artist: The Suburbs
Song: Life Is Like
Album The Suburbs
Year: 1986
Country: USA (Minneapolis)
Style: new wave, modern rock
Bitrate: 320kbps
Notes: The Suburbs was produced by Prince's Revolution drummer Bobby Z. The band broke up a year later.

Artist: Pete Shelley
Song: Millions of People (No One Like You)
Album XL1
Year: 1986
Country: England
Style: new wave, synthpop
Bitrate: 256kbps
Notes: Buzzcocks frontman's second solo synthpop album. XL1 plays like a sequel to the excellent Homosapien. "Millions..." reached #94 in the UK.

REQ: Figures On A Beach / Men Without Hats

These two go out to a VERY lucky first time requester Jenny from Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Welcome aboard. Huge hat tip to user "01101001" on the NWO board for the FOAB ups. Enjoy and spread the joy!

Artist: Figures On A Beach
Song: In Camera Obscura
Format: 12" Dance Mix
Year: 1985
Country: USA (Detroit)
Style: new wave, synth-pop
Similar Artists: Images In Vogue, B-Movie
Bitrate: 192kbps
Notes: This is actually the b-side that came with "Paradise (Extended Mix)." Band known for their '89 hit "Accidentally 4th St. (Gloria).

Bonus: Paradise (Extended Mix)




Artist: Men Without Hats
Song: Freeways (Super 87)
Album: Freeways EP
Year: 1980
Country: Canada (Montreal)
Style: new wave, synth-pop, synth-rock
Bitrate: 192kbps
Notes: The Freeways EP combines their first EP, Folk Of The 80's, with their then-current "Freeways" single. It's never been released on CD or any full-length album of original material. Other mixes on the EP are sung in French ("Nationale 7") and German ("Europa 8"). The "Euromix" version extends the track and uses verses from all three languages.

Bonus: Freeways (Nationale 7)
Bonus: Freeways (Europa 8)
Bonus: Freeways (Euromix)

REQ: Tom Tom Club - Devil Does Your Dog Bite?

Kyle from Pennsylvania sent in the request. I didn't have it, so I sent out the all-points bulletin and got a response. Big hat tip to BigBri from NWO for the upload. Enjoy!


Artist: Tom Tom Club
Song: Devil Does Your Dog Bite?
Album: Married To The Mob (soundtrack)
Year: 1988
Country: USA
Style: new wave, nu-funk
Bitrate: 192kbps
Notes: The soundtrack also includes Sinéad O'Connor, New Order, Ziggy Marley, Q. Lazzarus, The Feelies, among others. It was also released as an added bonus track on the Japanese CD version of Close to the Bone. You'll also find it as the rare b-side of "Don't Say No."

Bonus: Genius of Love (long version)
Bonus: Suboceana (Live at the Bayou in Georgetown, 1989)
Bonus: Q Lazzarus - Goodbye Horses (from Married To The Mob)

REQ: Style - Telephone

Rocketboy13 from my neck of the woods - L.A., is desperately looking for this rare gem. Despair no more brother. Enjoy!

Artist: Style
Song: Telephone
Format: Vinyl, 12"
Original Version: Visioner LP
Year: 1985
Country: Sweden
Style: new wave, synthpop
Bitrate: 128kbps
Notes: This would be the B side, which is in English. The A Side, "Telefon" is in Swedish. I'm told it's the better version. Anyone have it, leave a comment! Amusing fact: "Telephone" never charted, but the band had seven Top 20 hits in Europe between '86 - '88. However, the one everybody remembers is "Telephone."

REQ: Real Life - Send Me An Angel (Remixes)

Jugs from the Philippines writes: "Real Life has released a total of 17 versions of 'Send Me An Angel,' mostly remixes (so says Wikipedia). How 'bout uploading at least one of the rare ones?"

I'm not sure if these are rare (please comment and let me know), but here are a few, plus your other request on Remix #5. Enjoy!

Artist: Real Life
Remix 1: Send Me An Angel '89 [Dance Mix]
Remix 2: Send Me An Angel '89 [Edit]
Remix 3: Send Me An Angel '89 [House Mix]
Remix 4: Send Me An Angel ('95 Remix)
Remix 5: Catch Me I'm Falling (extended)
Style: new wave, synthpop
Country: Australia (Melbourne)
Bitrate: Remix 1&2 @ 192kbps; Remix 3&4 @ 256kbps; Remix 5 @ 160kbps
Notes: "Send Me An Angel" was the first single off of the debut album Heartland. It reached #29 on the American charts in 1984 and earned the band "Best debut album of the year" in the Australian Countdown Music Awards.

REQ: Devo - Here To Go

Regular requester Michelle in the Philippines wants some Devo. Here to please...and then some (check bonus cuts). Enjoy!


Artist: Devo
Song: Here To Go
Album: Shout
Year: 1984
Country: USA
Style: new wave, technopop
Bitrate: 192kbps
Notes: "Here To Go" was a Top 50 Billboard Hot Dance/Maxi-Single. In 1997, the album Shout was re-released on Infinite Zero records, and included two bonus tracks: "Growing Pains" (a B-Side to "Are U Experienced?"), and a version of "Shout" from Devo's E-Z Listening Music collections. This version is out of print and very rare, often fetching up to $50 on eBay.

Bonus: Growing Pains (off re-released Shout, 1997) - 192kbps
Bonus: Shout (E-Z Listening Version) - 192kbps
Bonus: Here To Go (Go Mix Version) - 192kbps
Bonus: Here To Go (Here To Dub Version) - 192kbps

REQ: Figures on a Beach - Feel the Mood

DC from L.A. is making his first request. Enjoy!


Artist: Figures on a Beach
Song: Feel the Mood
Album: Standing on Ceremony
Year: 1987
Country: USA (Detroit)
Style: synthpop
Bitrate: 128kbps
Notes: Figures on a Beach played in an artistic New Romantic/synthpop style that was hard to pin down. By this album, the quintet was signed with Sire Records and hooked up with producer Ivan Ivan before disbanding in 1991.

Bonus: Swimming (12" vinyl, 1983) - 192kbps

REQ: Colourbox - Shotgun

Maximo from Switzerland is rivaling everyone else with some killer requests. Nice pick. Enjoy!

Artist: Colourbox
Song: Shotgun
Format: Colourbox 12" EP
Year: 1983
Country: UK
Style: dub, technopop
Bitrate: 256kbps
Notes: Colourbox (the brothers Martyn and Steven Young + Lorita Grahame's vocals) drew on influences as varied as blues, soul, rock, electro, dub and funk, combining elements from each with movie dialogue and weird and wonderful samples. Their label also spawned Cocteau Twins, Dead can Dance and the Wolfgang Press.

Bonus: The Official Colourbox Worldcup Theme (7" version)
Bonus: Breakdown (original 12" version)