Grace Jones - Private Life (Dub Version) (Island, 1980)

Langorous. Echoplexed. Genius.

Very much enjoying the 'Compass Point Sessions' album at the moment. This gem of dubbed-out tension really stands out amongst some wonderful tracks.

Taut, damped guitar is juxtaposed against burbling synths, pattering rhythm, poised bass and ricochet-ing rimshots.

It's a prowling, febrile track that is at beautiful odds with Grace Jones' calm, controlled, dispassionate vocal. Classic.

Download Grace Jones - Private Life (Dub Version) (Island, 1980)

Grace Jones - She's Lost Control (Long Version) (Joy Division Cover) (Island, 1980)

Sultry Joy Division gone dub action.
 
The pallid, skeletal angst of Joy Division's 'She's Lost Control' is given a blast of Vitamin D by Sly & Robbie on an unlikely Carribbean holiday and stretched out even further across this aptly named "Long Version".

Grace Jones' detached, aloof vocals are a perfect match for the detachment of Ian Curtis' lyric and the tune bumps along on a delicious dubby skank.

Download Grace Jones - She's Lost Control (Long Version) (Joy Division Cover, Dub, mp3) (Divshare)

Prefab Sprout mp3 - Donna Summer (Live 1980)

Fascinating missive from Prefab Sprout's post-punk period. Yes, really.

The version of 'Donna Summer' that was released on the b-side of 'When Love Breaks Down' in 1984 is a sultry, subtle synth-led thing. It's somehow redolent of faded glamour and reeks of showbiz nostagia. I love it and was going post that today but found this version that I'd forgotten about whilst rootling through my Prefab Sprout mp3s.

It was something of a surprise to revisit this Post-Punky early version and hear Paddy McAloon yelp "What's my name? What's my name? What's my name?!"

Download Prefab Sprout 'Donna Summer (Live 1980)' (post-punk, indie, 1980) (Box)

Siouxsie & The Banshees - Happy House (Demo) (1980)

Harder, early version of one of Siouxsie and the Banshees' finest moments.

Spiralling guitar and thumping drums present and correct, just less spangle and polish than the version that ended up on the 'Kaleidoscope' album and as a single.

Edgy and direct, this is Siouxsie and the Banshees at their frantic, twitchy, bewitching best.

Download Siouxsie & The Banshees 'Happy House (Demo)' (indie, alternative, Goth, Post-Punk mp3) (Mediafire)

The Human League - The Black Hit Of Space (Virgin, 1980)

It's wasn't all New Romantic handbags and gladrags...

As great a single as 'Don't You Want Me' was, this is pretty great too. A much more amateurish (in a good way) take on cutting edge electronic pop, 1980-style.

The lyrics are incongruous in the extreme. They might be rubbish but they're brilliant, telling of a record so awesome it creates a black hole. A record that's not just climbed to number one in the charts, it's gone "into minus figures".

The music is wobbly like the theme tune from a sci-fi version of Crossroads and it certainly keeps interesting company. Cabaret Voltaire. Kraftwerk. Wendy Carlos. Gary Glitter...

Intriguing and awkwardly funky.

Download The Human League 'The Black Hit Of Space' (electronic pop mp3) (Mediafire)

The B-52's 'Give Me Back My Man' (Island, 1980)

Offbeat, new wave pop moment.

The B-52's have been responsible for some very suspect musical moments over the years but this is a gem from their early period. I was introduced to it as a b-side on one of the reissues of  'Rock Lobster'.

'Give Me Back My Man' is a real ear-worm that combines elements of new wave pop (think The Cars rather than Klaxons, Talking Heads at their most joyous, Blondie's cool older brother) but subverts them gently with random noises and adroit melodies. Cindy Wilson's vocal sits at the centre of it all, impassioned and compelling.

Download The B52s 'Give Me Back My Man' (alternative, new wave mp3) (Mediafire)