[7th Dream, 40 Years] -- Forty years ago this week – on October 11, 1985 – the trio called Love And Rockets burst onto the scene with their debut album, Seventh Dream of Teenage Heaven. This trio took their name from a popular comic series, and while they were a new entity debuting in 1985, they did have previous experience performing and even recording together. You see, these three musicians had been the guitarist (Daniel Ash), drummer (Kevin Haskins), and bassist (David J) for gloomy gothic rockers, Bauhaus (1978-1983). For simplicity's sake, I'm overlooking both Ash's and Haskins' pre-Love And Rockets involvement in another Bauhaus side project, Tones On Tail. Anyway, as the new trio gelled, Ash took on lead vocals with support from David J. And, while this new band carried on some of the darkness of their former outfit, they did so with more of a pop sensibility.
Now, if you remember Love And Rockets, but not their debut, you are forgiven. Neither this album nor its lone single, "If There's a Heaven Above", charted in any appreciable manner, though college radio did its level best to help. Still, along with a cover of "Ball of Confusion", released earlier in 1985 as a non-album single, the band could boast a pair of singles that served as their strong introduction to the record-buying public. At the very least, Seventh Dream of Teenage Heaven piqued interest among the nascent 80s-psychedelic fans. And even without a long resume of hit singles, this record is far from filler. In particular, "The Dog-End of a Day Gone By", "Haunted When the Minutes Drag", and the title track all shine.
Was this record your first experience of Love And Rockets?
Flashback: Seventh Dream of Teenage Heaven (October 11, 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!
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