REVIEW: Various Artists, Richard Blade's Flashback Favorites, Vol. 4 (Oglio Records)
- Bob Gajarsky
With so many 1980's collections being issued, it's often challenging to find one that combines well-known tracks with rarities and obscurities. However, Oglio Records has continued their track record of outstanding 1980's New Wave compilations with Richard Blade's Flashback Favorites, Vol. 4.
The standout track on this compilation is Tears For Fears "The Way You Are". Originally released as "an experiment, kind of a drum progression; it was never meant to be a single", the track reached #24 on the U.K. charts. It has not appeared on any Tears For Fears album and the 12" version of the song is the album's leadoff track.
All good compilations should have several obscure tracks, and Flashback Favorite's Volume 4 doesn't disappoint. Plus One's "Nevermore" is a cult record which had a limited, but devoted, audience; it's very Erasure-ish in musical content and vocals. Suburban Lawns, a seminal new wave band from Southern California, appear with "Janitor", a kind of Waitresses meet Romeo Void type of song.
Extended mixes of some better known songs help pack this version of Flashback Favorites. The O.N. mix of When In Rome's "The Promise" sounds as fresh today as it did 5 years ago and, according to Blade, has "received so many requests that it's one of KROQ's (Los Angeles based modern-rock station) regular flashbacks and is heard almost once a week on my radio show "The Flashback Lunch". Yello's "Oh Yeah", which has gained notoriety for appearing in two movies and a Twix commerical, is also included in its 12" mix.
New Wave fans probably have a few of the tracks which appear on the disc; "Turning Japanese" , which used to be unavailable, has recently appeared on other collections and the Thompson Twins and Ultravox tracks aren't hard to find. However, with the mix of hard-to-get tracks, extended mixes and well-known songs, Flashback Favorites Volume 4 is another must-get disc from Oglio Records for fans of 1980's music.
With an increased distribution network, Richard Blade's Flashback Favorites Volume 4 should be available at your local record store. If not, it can be ordered from 1-800-COOL-CDS or, at Oglio's New Wave Fan Club, at PO Box 404-RB4, Redondo Beach, CA 90277.
Tracks: Tears For Fears - The Way You Are (12" Mix); Ultravox - Reap The Wild Wind; When in Rome - The Promise (O.N. Mix); Plus One - Nevermore (Extended); Naked Eyes - When The Lights Go Out; Spandau Ballet - Chant #1 (Extended); Yello - Oh Yeah (12" Mix); Thompson Twins - Lies (Extended); Dexy's Midnight Runners - Come On Eileen; The Jam - Beat Surrender; The Vapors - Turning Japanese; Suburban Lawns - Janitor
