Dancing the Weekend Away • 1983

Clockwise: David Bowie, Talking Heads, The Clash, & The Fixx.

Thirty years ago, my Friday night might be spent dancing to some great music, whether I was out in the clubs, or if I was at home in my apartment. Having just moved to New York City, I was fairly broke, so I was heading out as much as you might think. But that didn't stop me from playing albums, or listening to the radio to get my weekend started. And there certainly was a lot of music to get that job done. And if the song wasn't right for it, there was more than likely a DJ somewhere working on a dance mix. The music I picked for tonight is all uptempo fun, even if it might not have been traditional dance material. The first song certainly played with the line, especially considering it was released by edgy Rocker David Bowie. While he was no longer Ziggy Stardust, and The Thin White Duke was no more, and the Berlin Era had passed, but Bowie had no intention to disappear. A few years before, he put out one of my favorite Bowie albums, 'Scary Monsters'. In 1983, he released an album produced by Nile Rodgers, giving it a smooth and sexy feel. "Let's Dance" was the title cut, and it was everything one could ask for. After all, it had Bowie, a soulful band track, and it had people all over wanting to turn up the volume and play it. The song went to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, and also topped the chart in the UK and all over the world. Enjoy the music video for David Bowie's "Let's Dance".

You can purchase David Bowie's 'Let's Dance' from iTunes and Amazon. In the summer of 1983, you couldn't escape the music of the Talking Heads, but then again, no one wanted to do that. With the release of 'Speaking In Tongues', the darlings of the critics and students all over had their fix of the latest music from the band. As usual, they sounded like no one else, always pushing the envelope. While David Byrne was thought of as the frontman, all the music was written by him and bandmates Chris Frantz, Jerry Harrison, and Tina Weymouth. The first single off the album was the incendiary "Burning Down the House", the percussive shit that was heard any place that was playing cool music. The song made it to #9 on the Billboard Hot 100, the highest charting single for the band ever, This is the music video for the Talking Heads big hit, "Burning Down The House".

You can purchase Talking Heads' 'Speaking in Tongues' from iTunes and Amazon. Another band who burned bright in 1983 were the London-based members of The Fixx. Sleek and stylish, the group had the looks, bite, and talent to score on the charts. Cy Curnin, Adam Woods, Rupert Greenall, and Jamie West-Oram were in the band for the making of 'Reach the Beach', the 1983 release that delivered their huge hit to the world. "One Thing Leads to Another" went to #4 on the Billboard Hot 100, and #2 on the US Mainstream Rock chart, appealing to everyone. The album made it to #8 on the Billboard album chart. This is the music video for "One Thing Leads To Another" by The Fixx.

You can purchase The Fixx's 'Reach the Beach' from iTunes and Amazon. My final entry is one of my favorites, for I find it simply irresistible. It was initially released in 1982, when The Clash had a new album out, 'Combat Rock'. At the time, the lineup of the band was Joe Strummer, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon, and Topper Headon. Despite the retro feel for "Should I Stay of Should I Go" was written by the band. Rumor had it the song was written about the strife in the band. Others claimed it was about the end of the relationship between Jones and singer Ellen Foley. Almost a decade later, Jones said it was neither, only an attempt by the band to write a song they loved to play. It was first released in 1982, then re-released in 1983. In the US, the snog made it to #45 on the Billboard Hot 100. But it did make it to #13 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks. For me, this is a classic, one I can't get enough of. Here are The Clash playing "Should I Stay or Should I Go".

You can purchase The Clash's 'Combat Rock' from iTunes and Amazon. By the end of 1983, both Headon and Jones were dismissed by the band. By 1986, The Clash had so many issues, they disbanded and Joe Strummer went to Spain to avoid facing anyone. However, in 1991, the song was re-re-released in the UK, and went to #1 on the British Pop charts. But I can tell you all four albums were in my collection back in the day, and the songs were certainly part of my weekend soundtrack!

Worth Another Listen - The Fixx

In 1979, college friends Cy Curnin and Adam Woods rounded up Rupert Greenall, Tony McGrail and Charlie Barret to form a group in London, calling themselves The Portraits. Like most of the day, their sound was all New Wave and synthesizers and hooks. After two failed singles, McGrail left in 1980 and they brought on Jamie West-Oram and changed the bands name to The Fix. Their work together on some music for a small label took them to a major label deal, and started them on a path to 80s stars, following a spelling change to their name, The Fixx.



In 1982, they put down their first album, and shortly thereafter bassist Barret left the band, replaced by Alfie Agius, who stuck it out for about a year. That first album, Shuttered Room, also provided them with their first taste of success in the US, with the single Red Skies, one of my favorite songs, scoring #13 on the Mainstream Rock chart.



1983 saw the second album released, Reach The Beach, and their first Top 20 hit, Saved By Zero. This brooding song had a dark texture, almost an Oingo Boingo feel, and is my favorite track by the band. It hit #20 on the pop chart, and #9 on the rock chart.



They followed up that song with another from that album, One Thing Leads To Another. With the crisp guitar leading the charge, the song was a real change from the last single. Gone was the dark and moody, and in came the clever hook and intriguing rhythms, pushing emotion to the side to make a fine dance track. The song made it to #4 on the pop chart, and #2 on the Mainstream Rock chart.



The first cut off the 1984 album Phantoms continued the success, scoring #15 on the pop chart, and #1 on Mainstream Rock. Are We Ourselves? might have opened with a moody wind effect, but it owed more to One Thing Leads to Another than the other songs. They returned to the uptempo, with the hooky chorus enabling little New Wavers across the country to herk and jerk themselves across the dance floor. It also had the work of a new bassist, Dan Brown.



The band had some minor success in the subsequent years, but never came close to replicating the Top 20 hits they had. By 1992, they had been released from their label, and have gone through a series of small labels for their music. Brown stayed with the band until 1994, only to return again in 2008. The band still plays tours, and has plans to release their 10th album later this year. You can find out more about the band at their official website here.