Inspirational Imagery: Music

Showing posts with label Music. Show all posts

The Clash at Bond's, 1981

This poster is for when the Clash did a residency at Bond's International Casino (now Bond 45, a restaurant) in Times Square in 1981. They played 17 shows in three weeks to support "Sandinista", which, by the way, is one of my favorite albums of all eternity; so as you can guess, I would just about die to be around at that time!!!! And to top it off, the opening bands included the Fall, the Slits, the Dead Kennedys, Bad Brains, and Bush Tetras – all the goods.

It's worth mentioning that all the shows were sold out and they caused fire hazards, riots, police intervention, etc.

For VERY extensive details about the residency, check out this site. It has scans of all associated news articles, set lists, photos, and a timeline of events.

The Coolest Girls

WOWZ!!

Clockwise from left: Chrissy Hynde, Debbie Harry, Viv Albertine, Siouxsie Sioux, Pauline Black, Poly Styrene.

Shot by Michael Putland in August 1980 for New Musical News (or probably NME)

Psychedelic Furs

Man, the Psych Furs have had some really hot covers over the years. I'm sure that it's because their early releases were designed by my all-time fave graphic designer, Barney Bubbles. There are many more covers to be seen, so feel free to take a look around Discogs.

The Psychedelic Furs (pink cover), CBS Records UK, LP, 1980

This sleeve was also released in green and orange

Sister Europe, CBS Records UK 7", 1980
Front above and back below.

Talk Talk Talk, CBS Records UK LP, 1981
Front above and back below.

Forever Now, CBS Records UK LP, 1982

Forever Now, Columbia Records US LP, 1982

This is the US release, which didn't use Barney Bubbles' original design. I still like it though.

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YouTube

PIL, Live in Tokyo

Public Image Ltd., Live in Tokyo, Virgin UK double LP, 1983

Multi-Generational Synth Rarities (?)

Having to define musical genres can be so annoying!
Is it post-punk? Cold-Wave? Proto-Industrial? Electro? New Wave? Who knows, who cares?

Guerre Froide, "Ersatz", from Untitled, Stechak Records 12", France 1981

Wikipedia / Official Website / Discogs

Tokow Boys, "Swinging Pool", from Petite Rockette, Virgin France S.A. 12" Maxi, France 1980

Discogs

Police des Moeurs, "La Politique de la Division"

This Montreal, Canada band formed in 2010.

Bandcamp / Discogs / Soundcloud

Circa Tapes, "Adam and Eve", from Adam and Eve, Romance Moderne digital EP, US 2013

Chicago musician Adam Killing (a.k.a. Adam Sieczka, also from Kill Memory Crash) records under the name Circa Tapes, whose EP was released in 2013.

Soundcloud / Bandcamp / Discogs

Modèle Mécanique, "Dark of the Moon" ca. 2010

Soundcloud / Facebook

Oppenheimer Analysis, "The Devil's Dancers", from Oppenheimer Analysis, Minimal Wave Records 12" remastered EP, US 2005. (Originally released on a 1982 cassette (ed. of 200) entitled New Mexico)

Official Website / Discogs

Kitchen & the Plastic Spoons - Ice Cream to God

Kitchen & The Plastic Spoons, Ice Cream to God; Castor Records, Sweden, Flexi 7", 1981; edition of 1000

Front

Rear

Details of this release on Discogs

Department S - Is Vic There?

Department S was a London post-punk band that emerged from the ska scene, as members of an obscure 2-Tone band, Guns for Hire (which has a clever story about them), as well as Madness. They were originally active between 1979 and 1982. "Is Vic There?" is their most well-known song.

Department S, Is Vic There? Demon Records, UK 7", 1980

Front above and rear below.

Album Covers - 80's New Wave/Electro

Gina X Performance, X-Traordinaire; EMI Electrola, Germany LP, 1980

Japan, Quiet Life; Hansa/Carerre, France LP, 1979

Section 25, Girls Don't Count; Factory, UK 7", 1980

Absolute Body Control, Lost / Found; Tarantulla Productions, Belgium CD (Comp), 2005

Autumn, Synthesize; Minimal Wave, US LP (Comp), 2011

The Wolfgang Press - The Burden of Mules

The Wolfgang Press, The Burden of Mules; 4AD, UK LP, 1983

ITunes

Klymaxx, Meeting in the Ladies Room

"Don't slap me. 'Cause I'm not in the mood."

Right! This shit is out of control.

ZE Records

ZE Records was started in 1978 by Michael Zilkha and Michel Esteban in NYC at a time when the music scene was mixed up, artsy, amateur, creative, and beyond fun. ZE's "Mutant Disco" roster included many of my favorite funky no/new-wave buddies including James Chance, Lizzy Mercier Descloux, Suicide, Ohio's The Waitresses, Lydia Lunch, and Cristina.

Fun fact: Michel Esteban was dating Anna Wintour around this time. Her friend, Chris Blackwell of Island Records, helped ZE get worldwide distribution with a licensing deal.

The label closed in 1984, but was re-established by Esteban in 2003.

Cristina, Cristina, ZE Records US LP, 1980

This is the cover for the US version only.

Lio, Pop Model, Polydor France LP, 1986

Not technically on ZE, but produced by Esteban.

Lizzy Mercier Descloux, Best Off, ZE Records France CD, 2006

Various, Zevolution - ZE Records Re-Edited, Strut UK 2xLP Compilation, 2009

Also not technically on ZE, but produced by Esteban. The taxi illustration is what's used on ZE's generic sleeves

Material ‎with Nona Hendryx, Bustin' Out, Celluloid/ZE France 12", 1981

This cover is not exactly the same as this release, but it's closest to it. I'm not entirely sure which specific release this image is of.

Like a moron, I forgot that I already made a post featuring a bunch of ZE covers, so feel free to check out more.

James Chance

I'm on a James Chance kick lately. He's one of the coolest sax-playing No-Wave heroes of late 70's NYC (Yes, there are actually more than one.) He was in Teenage Jesus and the Jerks, The Contortions, and James White and the Blacks. His music is aggressive, funky disco-punk mixed with free form jazz. YES!

Brian Eno likes it.

With the late Anya Phillips who was his girlfriend, manager, and muse. She's a super cool No-Wave hero too.
She died too early in life, in 1981 of cancer.

With Richard Hell.

Ok, now time to watch videos and hear the songs:

James Chance & The Contortions - Contort Yourself live at the M-80 Festival, Minneapolis, 09/23/1979. Wish I could have been there!!

James White & The Blacks - Sax Maniac

James Chance & the Contortions - I Can't Stand Myself

James White & The Blacks - Contort Yourself This version is different than The Contortions version, more disco and funky.

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James Chance's website

Spandau Ballet, Chant No. 1

This is one of my favorite songs of eternity. Click on the link to download.

Spandau Ballet: Chant No° 1

Rick James, Cold Blooded

I was pleasantly surprised to find that my new (old) copy of Cold Blooded was a gatefold
with this shot on the inside – love the outfit!

Rick James, Cold Blooded; Gordy Records, US LP, 1983

ABC - Tears Are Not Enough

The ABC single Tears Are Not Enough/Alphabet Soup was released in 1981 on Neutron Records (purveyors of fine product) which was ABC's own indie label formed in 1979. They released an early comp EP (1980: The First Fifteen Minutes, which I NEED) and a couple other singles, but ABC was really Neutron's only band.

"Tears are Not Enough" is also on the 1982 album, Lexicon of Love

The interior artwork is after the jump

The B-52's: Planet Claire, Live 1983

Awesome!

Album Covers: Robert Palmer

Eric tries to make fun of me because I felt a little teary-eyed when I heard that Robert Palmer died, but I don't feel ashamed. I liked his songs, and he had a whole slew of sexy album covers.