Modern Dance

Saturday's memories of cheap 'n' cheerful compilations reminded me of another K-Tel album that was an attempt to capture the New Romantic and electronic pop sounds that were capturing the imagination of the record buying public. Released in December 1981, Modern Dance is still a great listen, forty years on. As well as Top 10 hits from The Human League, Visage, O.M.D. and Landscape, the inclusion of Japan, Fashion and Heaven 17 is also bang on. The only misfire is the inclusion of The News, who seem to have released three singles, none of which came anywhere close to troubling the UK charts. The song feels like it belongs on a 1970s compilation and is strangely out of time. The rip on this collection also sounds like it's running too fast, but that might be my memory playing tricks.

 

In typical fashion (excuse the pun), the original album has 9 tracks squeezed on each side of vinyl, with early fades, edits and tight sequencing. For this post, I've slightly re-imagined Modern Dance as a double vinyl set, splitting the original Side Two in half and including some full length and extended versions, to allow the songs to breathe.

 

Side Three (22:24)

1) Fade To Grey (Dance Mix): Visage (1981)

2) Einstein A Go-Go (12" Mix): Landscape (1981)

3) Move On (Audio Extra) (Remix By Zeus B. Held): Fashion (1981)

4) Visions Of China (Album Version): Japan (1981)

 

Side Four (23:23)

5) A World Without Love (Single Version): The News (1981)

6) Love Song (Album Version): Simple Minds (1981)

7) Play To Win (B.E.F. Disco Mix): Heaven 17 (1981)

8) Enola Gay (Album Version): O.M.D. (1980)

9) Open Your Heart (Album Version): The Human League (1981)

Side Three (22:24)

Side Four (23:23)

 

The original TV commercial for the album is available on You Tube, with a voiceover from (I think) Radio 1 DJ Peter Powell.