Love and Rocket's Ball of Confusion Live 2008

Live at 2008 Lollapalooza, August 3, 2008

U2 With or Without You Covers

Here is a U2 classic covered.


X Factor USA - Drew Ryniewicz - With Or Without You - Live Show 4

From the child prodigy, Sungha Jung.

Boyce Avenue feat. Kina Grannis acoustic cover

Mashup: New Order vs Michael Jackson

Ok, I have to say, youtube is a source of entertainment with people making mashup videos.

Here is Michael Jackon vs New Order:

original cure members, lol tolhurst & michael dempsey

This video interview is a rare piece with two of the founding members of the Cure - Lol Tolhurst and Michael Dempsey.  In addition to Robert Smith, these are the original three imaginary boys.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwPWRwCNrqg&feature=related

Cure at the San Miguel Primavera Sound 2012

This is a pretty good show, the Cure at the San Miguel Primavera Sound 2012 on youtube. An entire 1 hour show courtesy of user dus13th.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwrZUcGdtJg

Radiohead covers Joy Division/New Order

In 2007 , Radiohead attempts to do a cover of Ceremony.

Flesh for Lulu's I Go Crazy

The theme song for John Hughe's 1987 movie, Some Kind of Wonderful.

These dudes came off as a wannabee Jesus & Mary Chain and Billy Idol to me. The song had some popularity due to the association to the film. I never heard from them since.

Rubix Kube w/ Toney Hadley's True

How cool is it to have Toney Hadley show up and join you for a cover song? Well, that was the case with Rubix Kube. Spandau Ballet's front man, Toney Hadley gives these a guys a hand.

I'll be having some more Spandau Ballet post in the near future. Who doesn't like "True?" It was my junior high school dance song.

Perfect as Cats (Cure Tribute Album)

I'll admit I have a liking for cover songs and tribute albums. Some people think they are sacrilegious but I don't care. There can be some good interpretation of old classics.

Perfect as Cats is one of the many Cure Tribute collections out there. Apparently, this one is Robert Smith approved.

There are some gems and there are some turkeys. Overall, it has a good collection of pre-"Head on the Door" tracks. Caterpillar, Jumping Someone Else's Train, Funeral Party,Grinding Halt.

I like some of the female vocal takes such as Khaki King doing a "Close to Me."

Links:
iTunes
Amazon

Bauhaus "Ziggy Stardust"

Bauhaus does a cover of Bowie's Ziggy Stardust.

If my memory serves me,  Peter Murphy and gang were pivotal in launching the whole "Goth" movement in 1978.

Smashing Pumpkins covers Joy Division

Smashing Pumpkins does a live cover of Joy Division's Transmission

Moby's cover of Temptation

The CW is known for picking up some interesting 80s gems on their television shows.

This Moby cover of Temptation was featured on the Vampire Diaries (season 1, episode 3).

New Order Temptation

New Order's "Temptation" is an epic song. Unfortunately, no one can settle which is the best version. The 1987 Substance version is a bit pop and catchy but it doesn't have the warmth of the original 1981 12". I like both but have a strong leaning toward the original. The 1987 version came out during the time when CD players first started gaining popularity. I clearly remember paying $12 for the two disc Substance CD at my local record store. That CD survived many scratches throughout the years.

Here are a collection of versions throughout the years.



Temptation 12" original. In my opinion, this by far the best when played off vinyl. I have both the 12" record and various CD digital imports.  The 12" vinyl was one of the most expensive UK imports I remember paying for.  The CD re-masters do not capture the warmth of the original recording. The lack of polish, the crackle and imperfections in the original studio recording gives the song great personality.

The 2007 Substance version (also known as Trainspotting soundtrack version). Sounds almost like a dance pop track.

Now for some live versions which are great on their own


Live in Glasglow (2006)

LIVE At Finsbury Park 2002

Live in NY 1981. This is New Order at its infancy. I think this is the first live recording of Temptation.

A 1984 Studio live recording.

Nada Surf's cover of If You Leave

Once again, modern television shows such as the O.C. are bringing back 80s music in the form of covers. Today's teens are getting a glimpse of of 80's music in the form of covers.

Nada Surf does a cover of OMD's If You Leave.

The rise and fall of the Smiths

BBC2 does a documentary on the Smiths. This is an interesting 30 minute watch for those Smith and Morrissey fans.

Waterboys Whole of The Moon

Here is another youtube gem.

Mike Scott plays "Whole of the Moon" to a group of British schoolchildren in 1987.

The original song and 1985 music video

Mandy Moore does a modern cover version. Sorta catchy in its own right.

The Cranberries- There is A Light That Never Goes Out (The Smiths Cover)

Cranberries does a cover of the Smith's There Is A Light That Never Goes Out for a French radio station.

As much as I like the Cranberries, I think she slaughtered the song. You be the judge.

I think Nada Surf does a better cover

Not to be outdone, Noel Gallagher from Oasis.

Morrissey does a cover of his own song live at Glastonbury in 2011.

Inbetween Days Rare 12" Remix

This is one reason why youtube rocks! A rare and special 12" remix of the Cure's 1985 hit, "Inbetween Days."

There are so many rare tracks that you simply cannot buy anymore and youtube has been the unofficial archive of these recordings.

There are no CD versions. There are no known deluxe or compilation that has this version.

I like the long drum and guitar intro. Enjoy.

Emily Browning (Sucker Punch) cover of the Smiths, Asleep

Sucker Punch actress, Emily Browning does a highly emotional cover of the Smith's Asleep.

The song is purely her vocal. For an actress, she has a haunting voice that would make Morrissey proud. She also does a great Eurythmic cover on the soundtrack as well.

Asleep (sucker punch cover) found on the Sucker Punch soundtrack. 

The soundtrack was way better than the movie.

Sucker Punch Soundtrack on iTunes

Submarine - Just Like Honey cover

Here is an interesting cover of Jesus and Mary Chain's "Just Like Honey."
My apologies for the youtube adverts.
It is bizarre that many 80s classics are getting butchered today.

The original played by Jesus and Mary Chain. Read the comments on youtube, "These guys have must have the same stylists as Robert Smith." LOL!

Here is Jesus and Mary Chain re-united in 2007; playing a live show.

David Gahan doing a Joy Division Cover

David Gahan of Depeche Mode does a Joy Division cover of Love will Tear Us Apart. Epic

Not to be outdone, the Cure have their own version.

OMD live in 2011 If You Leave at SXSW

Ok, these guys are old but still pretty cool in my book. The hit song "If You Leave" from Pretty in Pink was a major teen anthem for many and prominently played at many High School Junior and Senior Proms.

Now, they are relegated to playing live at local bike shops.

In the cutaway shots, you can see some fellow forty year olds trying to get their groove on. I've seen this scene so many times replayed recently. There is sense of discomfort as middle age New Wavers try to get their groove on.


If You Leave.

Enola Gay

"Jumping Up and Down is compulsory." I guess they were sensing the awkwardness in the crowd.

Clare Crogan of Altered Images

Clare Crogan was my first musical crush of the eighties. She was the lead singer of Altered Images and had a starring role in Gregory's Girl. 20 years later, she still looks fabulous. She must be 50 or 60 by now.

Here are some recent live recordings on youtube.

"See those Eyes"

Another

In her younger days

Introduction to 80s Revisited

I'm a big music lover and I love the lost decade of the 80s. I consider myself to a connoisseur or british pop, alternative music of the New Wave era. I decided to make a blog to share some of my musical finds of all things related to the 80s such as rare 12" mixes, lost recordings, and modern cover remakes.
The bands and music I like are typical 80s such as New Order, the Smiths, Blancmange, Love and Rockets, the Cure, Spandau Ballet.

So lets get started on this blog. I hope you enjoy some of my picks. I'll also throw in some 90s tracks for good measure.