[Adventurous Buggles] -- In this new year, I want to continue highlighting albums turning 40, so now I focus my efforts on works that were released in 1982. This week's featured album, however, was actually released in November 1981. But four of its five singles were released in 1982, with the second single hitting the charts on 1/7/1982. So, I'm declaring that Adventures in Modern Recording – The Buggles' second, and final, studio album – counts as being 40 years old this month. According to Wikipedia, Adventures in Modern Recording is largely a solo record by singer/bassist Trevor Horn. Seems that Geoff Downes, The Buggles keyboardist on the first album, left the duo to start the English quartet, Asia ... and he did so right at the beginning of recording this sophomore effort. So, what we lack in terms of a solid Buggles effort, we gain in terms of a blueprint for later electronic, and even more progressive, recordings by Trevor Horn.
Of course, living up to the expectations set by the duo's 1980 debut, and its chart-topping debut single (remember "Video Killed the Radio Star"?), would have been a tremendously difficult task. And, to no one's surprise, I suppose, the Buggles (er, Horn) didn't hit that mark. I mean, do you remember this album? I do vaguely recall "I Am A Camera," but I'm not certain I caught it on the radio back in late 1981 or even early 1982. And the title track, which was the single released on 1/7/1982, is terribly fun, but it's hardly a hit record. Still, there are some pop gems on here, "Beatnik," "On TV," and "Inner City" among them. They probably deserved better than being buried here. But at least we are unearthing them this week, right?
Flashback #1: Adventures in Modern Recording – The Buggles
That's all till next week. Dedicated 80s-philes can find more flashbacks in the Prophet or Madman archives or via Bookended's 80s Flashback tag. As always, your comments are welcome on today's, or any other, flashback post. And if you like what I'm doing here, please share the link with your friends. If, however, you don't like the flashback, feel free to share it with your enemies.
I'll see you in seven!
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