[Low Wishes] -- I apologize for not posting a flashback last week. To make up for that omission, I'm sharing a two-fer flashback this week. In both cases, the album was the third studio release from its respective band. And, aside from the month/year combo, that's the end of any similarities between the two.
Low-Life – Released 40 years ago last week week (May 13, 1985), this record was the third studio album from New Order. Bernard Sumner (vocals and guitar), Peter Hook (bass), and Stephen Morris (drums) had formed New Order in the ashes of Joy Division. And Low-Life marked probably the highpoint of the band's blending of post-punk, synth, and dance pop. While the album peaked at only #94 on the Billboard 200, it was top 40 or better in several other countries, including hitting #7 on the UK Albums and #1 on the UK Independent Albums charts respectively. There were only two official singles from this album – "The Perfect Kiss" (the single was over 10min long while an edited version appears on the album) and "Sub-culture" – both of which charted well here in the US and across the pond. Low-Life received positive reviews in 1985, and it continues to receive critical praise, which you can read here.
7 Wishes – Dropping just before the summer of 1985 – 40 years ago this week on May 20, 1985 – 7 Wishes continued Night Ranger's hard-rocking path in the vein of 1982's Dawn Patrol and 1983's Midnight Madness. 7 Wishes peaked at #10 on the Billboard 200, and it went platinum. In addition to the three hit singles, this album included "Interstate Love Affair," a tune that appeared on the soundtrack for the 1984 film, Teachers. Speaking of Billboard Hot 100 hits, 7 Wishes included: "Sentimental Street" (#8), "Four in the Morning" (#19), and "Goodbye" (#17). Of course, with the latest Flashback date occurring one day after my late father's birthday, I had to find a way to include "Goodbye," the song that concluded my Flashback post for May 3, 2013, the day of his death.
Which album do you recall, or still listen to: Low-Life or 7 Wishes? Maybe both?
Flashback #1: Low-Life (May 13, 1985)
Flashback #2: 7 Wishes (May 20, 1985)
And 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.
See you in seven!
No comments:
Post a Comment