You Don't Know What You Got....Until You're Broke!

[Spaz]

I'm sure that we've all experienced this more than we'd care to admit, but I'll ask the question anyway....

When you're broke or can't seem to find anything new or '80s to buy on CD/LP, have you ever gone through your collection and re-listened to many of those CDs you bought long ago that you haven't touched in ages? Have you rediscovered something in your collection that you liked but then gone back during lean times and gave it another listen, only to enjoy it more than you ever have before?

If so, who?



SPAZ
Born of innocence. Free of ignorance.

[SomebodySomewhere]

I think probably the "Skin & Bone" JoBoxers tracks on the "Essential Boxerbeat" CD. I panned those songs right here on this site as being "dreadful" -- and some of them are -- but since then, one of them has really grown on me quite a bit. It's called "One in a Million." And now, to me, it's probably as good as anything on "Like Gangbusters," even if the Boxers sound kind of bored and listless playing it.

"Skin & Bone" was never released in the U.S., and wasn't released commercially in the U.K. (I was told promotional-only copies were sent to British radio stations before RCA washed their hands, but have never seen one to confirm that). Only 2 of the tracks made it to a single, with 5 more debuting on that CD, and another 4 remaining unreleased. Of course, the 4 that are still unreleased... might change back my opinion.

[Spaz]

I quite like "Is This Really The First Time" although it's pretty much a rewrite of 'Just Got Lucky"...


SPAZ
Born of innocence. Free of ignorance.

[SomebodySomewhere]

I said that right here on this site, too!

http://nwoutpost.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=6055

So, then, what's your answer? Come on. Inquiring minds and all that.

[Spaz]

You mean to my original post?

I think that I forgot to add a few examples, didn't I?



SPAZ
Born of innocence. Free of ignorance.

[MARV]

It's funny you should start this thread. I was going to start a thread in the same vein, having recently discovered a veritable treasure trove of cassettes both in my garage and my attic. Some two hundred tapes that I've nearly completed finding digital counterparts to as a part of me wants to toss these tapes but that's a whole other topic of discussion as I am fraught with apprehension just contemplating it. Anyway, check out what I've been listening to all over again lately:

The Mighty Lemon Drops, Laughter
The Cars, Panorama
The Communards, Red
Joe Jackson, Big World
Pixies, Doolittle
Human League, Crash
Psychedelic Furs, Forever Now
Crowded House, Woodface
Peter Murphy, Deep & Love Hysteria
Smithereens, Especially For You
Talking Heads, Naked
Ramones, End of the Century
Nitzer Ebb, That Total Age
Renegade Soundwave, Soundclash
Sugarcubes, Life's Too Good
And tons more.....

Best of all I think, are the mixtapes I made. They're like a window through time, letting me really see what my musical sensibilities were at the time they were made.

<a href="http://www.worldwildlife.org/cetaceans/index.cfm">I dig whales.</a>

[Spaz]

OK, one of my examples would be Dexys Midnight Runners...

I've always been a fan of Dexys...well, ever since I picked up the import LP of "Too Rye Aye" before it was released in the U.S. So, I guess that means about 25 years?

Anyway, I have all the Dexys CDS plus the Kevin Rowland solo albums as well. Since I had no Dexys on my iPod, I pulled the CDs and started loading tracks into my iPod and, lo and behold, I decided to put Too Rye Aye on while loading the other albums into my computer. I had purchased this remaster a few years back whenever it came out (it's the import with more bonus trax than the domestic) but I hadn't thrown it on in years. Man, I can't get enough of it and I've listened to it three times in the last few days, enjoying every musical moment and the memories it gave me. Such a great album overshadowed by the 'Come On Eileen' single which is not even close to being the best track here (I'll vote for "Let's Make This Precious", "Old" and "Until I Believe In My Soul" as my personal faves).....

And I still can't stand the Don't Stand Me Down album. A few years ago, the press began raving about this album when it was remastered and re-released. They were all calling it a lost classic. Apart from a few interesting moments, it's a big boring mess!



SPAZ
Born of innocence. Free of ignorance.

[SomebodySomewhere]

I don't know about a lost classic, but I would hardly mind if it were just lost period.

I think I sort of liked one track on "Don't Stand Me Down," but I don't remember which one it was. Which tells you all you need to know, probably. What I do remember is that none of it was memorable. I'd like to think most non-certifiable artists would have taken one listen to that "torpid snore" and scrapped it, so as to spare the public possible subjection to it. No idea how Kevin Rowland thought that was any kind of worthy followup to "Young Soul Rebels" and "Too Rye Aye," but with the possible exception of Roseanne and the "Roseanne" show, I don't think any famous person has ever managed to sabotage their moneymaking machine that much, that fast.