Damian and I went to see ABC at Sony Hall on Wednesday -- writeup TK -- and the pre-concert playlist was a real treat. Most of the songs were time-honored (mostly new wave classics) -- Talking Heads, the Cure, A-Ha, Duran Duran, Dead or Alive, Wang Chung, Eurythmics, Fine Young Cannibals, Cheap Trick, Blondie, A Flock of Seagulls, the Police, ELO, Hall and Oates -- and seeing which songs got the crowd most excited was highly entertaining. (The masses still melt for Modern English!) But today's pick for SOTD was what tickled me most, because I realized I know and love this song yet couldn't tell you the first thing about it. Turns out there's a reason.
According to information compiled on Wikipedia, the San Diego-based band started to generate buzz around town with the single, which was released off their self-titled EP in 1982. (Remember EPs?!) That led to opening for the Motels, Rick Springfield, Toto and the Greg Kihn Band. But apparently just as the single began to take off -- and work was underway on making a requisite video -- they found out that their Japan-based record label was abandoning the U.S. market, leaving them high and dry.
"Without the backing of a label, they were left with no promotion, and the band's single and mini-album quickly fell off the charts. The band attempted to continue, signing with CBS, but any new musical projects were shelved. Individual band members gradually quit the group over the next several years. The remaining members would continue until the band eventually broke up in 1988."
Kind of a sad but all-too-common record-biz tale. But at least we still have the greatest hit of the 1980s that never was to still enjoy!
Read the full story HERE.
P.S. How fun is this cover by Cherie Currie of Runaways fame?!!!!
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