Cherry Red explore UK power pop and new wave scene

Cherry Red has announced a 3CD “power pop and new wave” set – Harmony In My Head – for release on 26th October.

From the press release:

“New Wave was a term coined in 1977 to describe a clutch of new artists whose music shared much of the energy of punk, but boasted a more sophisticated level of musicianship and a heavier reliance on traditional pop melodies. Although the term had such a wide def inition in the States that it was quickly rendered almost meaningless, it was more strictly applied in the UK, with the radio friendly likes of Elvis Costello and Squeeze scoring numerous hits and influencing  younger bands to the extent that, by the early Eighties, the New Wave itself had become Old Wave.”

Acts featured include Elvis Costello, Squeeze, Buzzcocks, Eddie  &  The Hot Rods, Nick  Lowe, The Jags and Wreckless  Eric, who are joined by other less successful acts (The  Records, The Freshies, The Flys) as well as a host of rare 45s on tiny labels, many of which have never been on CD  before.

The set comes with sleevenotes from compiler David Wells.

Tracklisting:

Disc One –

1. HARMONY IN MY  HEAD – The Buzzcocks
2. YOU BELONG TO ME – Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3. TIME GOES BY SO SLOW – The Distractions
4. TAKE ME I’M YOURS – Squeeze
5. TROUBLE  WITH  LOVE – Any Trouble
6. RICH  KIDS – Rich  Kids
7. TEENARAMA – The  Records
8. BORN A WOMAN – Nick Lowe
9. SUFFICE TO SAY – Yachts
10. FIRST TIME – The Boys
11. HE’S FRANK (SLIGHT RETURN) – The  Monochrome  Set
12. SARAH SMILES – Bram Tchaikovsky
13. YOU KNOW WHAT I’M THINKING GIRL – The Pleasers
14. DOES STEPHANIE KNOW – Squire
15. HOWARD HUGHES – The Tights
16. SHE’S GONNA BREAK YOUR HEART – Salford  Jets
17. TEENAGE CRUSH – The Trend
18. STRIKE TALKS – The  Donkeys
19. COULDN’T BELIEVE A WORD – The  45’s
20. THIS IS THE WAY … OK – Bleeding  Hearts
21. (YOU’RE GONNA) LOSE THAT GIRL – The Name
22. CAN’T SEE – The  Drones
23. TURN THE LIGHTS OUT – Venigmas
24. CRAZY TODAY – UXB
25. (I WISH IT COULD BE) 1965 AGAIN – The Barracudas

Disc Two:

1. DO ANYTHING YOU WANNA DO – Eddie & The Hot Rods
2. I’VE GOT A HEART – The Realists
3. THE REAL ME – Radio Stars
4. IRENE – The Photos
5. I’M SORRY – Straight Eight
6. WEST ONE (SHINE ON ME) – Ruts
7. BILLY – The Circles
8. BROKEN DOLL – Wreckless Eric
9. I NEVER WAS A BEACH BOY – The Jags
10. BIFF! BANG! POW! – The Times
11. LET’S TALK ABOUT THE WEATHER – The Radiators
12. JILLY – The  Piranhas
13. EVERYDAY, EVERYWAY – Really 3rds
14. HOW ABOUT ME AND YOU – The Carpettes
15. UFO – The Monos!
16. 9 O’CLOCK – Snips
17. SHATTERED BY IT ALL – TV21
18. HEY BABY – Disguise
19. SOME BOYS – Going Red
20. DON’T WANT YOU BACK – The Letters
21. RUBY TOOT – The Vandells
22. WHILE I’M STILL YOUNG – The Autographs
23. WASTING TIME – Strangeways
24. CURTAINS FOR YOU – The A ccidents
25. DOWN AT THE ZOO – Those Naughty Lumps
26. 24 HOURS – The Chefs

Disc Three:

1. LOOK AT THE OUTSIDE – Chelsea
2. PLAIN JANE – New Hearts
3. CRAZY WEEKEND – Staa Marx
4. STRAIGHT LINES – New Musik
5. COMMON TRUTH – Amazorblades
6. YOU’RE SO FUNNY – Fast Cars
7. SHE’S SO GOOD LOOKING – Knox
8. ANGRY WITH MYSELF – The Smirks
9. MY BUSINESS – Eater
10. NOW THAT IT’S OVER – The Users
11. SCIENCE FICTION (BABY YOU’RE SO) – The Dodgems
12. LADY OF THE AFTERNOON – Shooter
13. NO MONEY – The Freshies
14. NAME DROPPING – The Flys
15. OUT OF PLACE – The Outsiders
16. MAGIC ROUNDABOUT – The Stiffs
17. SOMETHING TO TELL YOU – The Wasps
18. (I CAN’T) PUT MY FINGER ON YOU – The Amber Squad
19. MR. SAD – The Thought Police
20. SONS OF SURVIVAL – Doctors Of Madness
21. HAPPY SONG – The  Nips
22. WAIT A MINUTE – The Cherry Boys
23. HIGH RISE – The Trainspotters
24. DRUMMER MAN – Tonight
25. HEARTS IN HER EYES – The Searchers

About Douglas Baptie (208 Articles)
Editor at Words & Guitars. Lives in Carlisle, far away from 'that London'.
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