When Synth-Pop Ruled Britannia

Episode 34

 

When Synth-Pop Ruled Britannia

An exploration of synth-pop that was popular in the UK.

Playlist

1. Space, “Magic Fly” (1977 United Artists). French group led by Didier Marouani (aka Ecama) and Roland Romanelli. Flirted with electronic disco music. 4:18
2. Giorgio Moroder, “The Chase” (1978 Casablanca). Big synths programmed and played by Moroder. Produced in Germany. An extended play “Casablanca Disco Single.” 13:08
3. The Normal, “Warm Leatherette” (1978Mute). UK artist Daniel Miller. 3:21
4. Vice Versa, “New Girls Neutrons” (1979 Neutron Records). Electronic New Wave / Minimal Synth band from Sheffield, UK. Synthesizers, David Sydenham. 2:02
5. Gary Numan, “Metal” from The Pleasure Principle (1979 Beggar’s Banquet). UK group. Gary Numan on keyboards, synthetic percussion. 3:28
6. Telex, “Moskow Diskow” from Looking For Saint Tropez (1979 Vogue). This Belgian synth group included Dan Lacksman, Marc Moulin, and Michel Moers. 4:12
7. Yellow Magic Orchestra, “Rydeen” from X∞Multiplies (1980 A&M Records). Japanese band featuring electronic keyboards, synthesis and processing, Ryuichi Sakamoto; Guitar, Kenji Omura; synthesis programming, Hideki Matsutake; vocals, Chris Mosdell. 4:25
8. Suicide, “Diamonds, Fur Coat, Champagne” from Suicide: Alan Vega · Martin Rev (1980 Antilles). UK group. Electronics, Martin Rev; vocals, Alan Vega. 3:18
9. Yello, “Bostich” from Bostich (1981 Stiff America). Swiss electronic band formed in 1979 in Zürich, Switzerland. Electronics, vocals, Boris Blank; lyrics, vocals, Dieter Meier; tape, Carlos Peron. 4:32
10. Jon Foxx, “Underpass” (1980 Metal Beat). UK artist. Electronics, John Foxx. 3:21
11. Visage, “Fade to Grey” (1980 Polydor). UK artist. Produced by Midge Ure (Ultravox). 3:50
12. The Human League, “Love Action (I Believe in Love)” (1981 A&M). Electronic band from Sheffield, England. Synthesis Philip Oakey. 3:49
13. Heaven 17, “Play to Win” (1981 Virgin). UK artist. Formed as a side project of the British Electric Foundation (B.E.F.), the production company formed by Ian Craig Marsh and Martyn Ware, after their departure from the The Human League in 1980. 7:26
14. Soft Cell, “Memorabilia” (1981 Some Bizarre). UK artist. Synthesizer, percussion, David Ball; vocals, percussion, Marc Almond. 4:48
15. Depeche Mode, “Just Can’t Get Enough” from Speak & Spell (1981 Mute). UK group. English electronic music band formed March 1980 in Basildon, Essex. Lead vocals, Dave Gahan; keyboards, guitar, vocals, Martin Gore; keyboards, Andy Fletcher; keyboards, Vince Clarke. 3:39
16. Yazoo, “Don’t Go” (1982 Mute). Yazoo was an English Synth-Pop duo from Basildon, Essex. Vocals, Alison Moyet; synthesizers, Vince Clarke. 4:58
17. Kajagoogoo, “Hang on Now” (1983 EMI). UK group.Lead vocals, Limahl; bass, Nick Beggs; E-bow and guitar, Steve Askew; synthesizers, Stuart Croxford Neale; drums and electronic programming, Jez Strode. 3:38
18. The Art of Noise, “Moments in Love” (1985 ZTT). UK group. Vocals, Camilla Pilkington; keyboards, Ann Dudley; engineering, Gary Langan; electronics, Fairlight CMI, J.J. Jeczalik; bass, producer, Trevor Horn. 4:32
19. Propaganda, “Dr. Mabuse” (1984 Island Records). German group.German group from Düsseldorf; formed in 1982 by former Die Krupps keyboarder Ralf Dörper and Andreas Thein. Produced by Trevor Horn. 4:46
20. Pet Shop Boys, “West End Girls” (1985 Parlophone). UK group. Lead vocals, keyboards, occasional guitar, Neil Tennant; keyboards, occasional vocals, Chris Lowe. 3:58
21. Bronski Beat, “Smalltown Boy” (1984 Forbidden Fruit). UK group. Keyboardists Steve Bronski, Larry Steinbachek; vocals Jimmy Somerville. 4:59
22. Frankie Goes to Hollywood, “Black Night White Light” from Welcome To The Pleasuredome (1984 ZTT). UK group. Lead vocals, Holly Johnson; backing vocals, Paul Rutherford; guitar, Brian Nash; bass, Mark O'Toole; drums Peter Gill; keyboards, programming, software, J. J. Jeczalik. 4:02
23. Prefab Sprout, “Appetite” (1985 Kitchenware Records). English pop band from Witton Gilbert, County Durham. This track produced by Thomas Dolby. 3:54
24. Ivan, “Fotonovela” (1984 CBS). Spanish singer, Juan Carlos Ramos Vaquero; produced by Pedro Vidal. 4:32
25. A-HA, “The Blue Sky” (1986 Warner Brothers). Norwegian band formed in Oslo in 1982. Lead vocals, Morten Harket; guitar, vocals, Paul Waaktaar-Savoy; keyboards, vocals, Magne Furuholmen. 3:15

 

 

Opening background music: David Bowie, “Subterraneans” from Low (1977 RCA Victor). Vocals, saxophones, guitar, ARP synthesizer, Chamberlin (tape horn and brass, synthetic strings, tape cellos), David Bowie; Minimoog, ARP, EMS Synthi AKS, piano, Chamberlin, other synthesizers, vocals, guitar treatments, synthetics, Brian Eno; rhythm guitar, Carlos Alomar; bass, George Murray; produced by David Bowie, Tony Visconti. 5:38

This list, not the recordings, originally appeared in the February 2018 edition of Classic Pop in an article by Paul Lester. Check it out!

 

Opening and closing sequences voiced by Anne Benkovitz.