Your opinion, please: 366-band, 411 track 1981 box set

also, do be sure to check out The official CDR Go! thread, among many others here

Hope you do '89 and '94 sometime.

What year would you lot say to do next? I did a smaller (3-disc) '79 set a couple years back, I'm thinking that may be the one.

'79 is a good year, too, though if you were going to make this a real series instead of just a synth-pop / post-punk chronicle, I'd do a more distant year.

I didn't expect so many requests from the board--there are probably about 20 copies out of the 100 to be reserved. But I guess 100 isn't a magic number--just a bit tired of putting physically together ; ) So while I'll only guarantee to 100 for the moment (seriously, it takes hours and hours to make them) I'll do my best to accomidate anyone who wants a copy. I'd give about anything to make this a "real" release--there's probably only about 15% major-label content, but it's probably impossible. I wish I could do a charity thing--people would probably pay more than $13 for a charity copy.

1. [01] Embarrassment, The - Celebrity Art Party (1981) (3:06)
2. [02] Minutemen - Straight Jacket (1981) (0:57)
3. [03] Replacements, The - Johnny's Gonna Die (1981) (3:24)
4. [04] Flesh Eaters - Pray Til You Sweat (1981) (2:36)
5. [05] Black Flag - Louie Louie (1981) (1:19)
6. [06] Stiff Little Fingers - The Only One (1981) (4:18)
7. [07] Mx-80 - Cover To Cover (1981) (2:42)
8. [08] Meat Puppets - Big House (1981) (1:06)
9. [09] Agent Orange - Too Young To Die (1981) (2:04)
10. [10] Saints, The - Paradise (Edit) (1981) (2:56)
11. [11] Buzzcocks - I Look Alone (1981) (3:01)
12. [12] Empire - All These Things (1981) (3:15)
13. [13] Secret Hate - New Routines-Suicide (1981) (1:26)
14. [14] Gordons, The - Coalminers Song (1981) (5:43)
15. [15] Virgin Prunes - Twenty Tens (1981) (2:27)
16. [16] Cramps, The - Green Fuz (1981) (2:06)
17. [17] Minor Threat - Straight Edge (1981) (0:45)
18. [18] 100 Flowers - Reject Yourself (1981) (2:34)
19. [19] Undertones, The - Julie Ocean (1981) (1:46)
20. [20] Rudimentary Peni - Teenage Time Killer (1981) (1:11)
21. [21] Flipper - Ha Ha Ha (1981) (2:13)
22. [22] Mission of Burma - Fame and Fortune (1981) (3:35)
23. [23] Gun Club - Goodbye Johnny (1981) (3:45)
24. [24] Josef K - Crazy To Exist (1981) (2:57)
25. [25] Swimming Pool Q's - Rat Bait (1981) (2:21)
26. [26] Dead Kennedys - Nazi Punks Fuck Off (1981) (0:59)
27. [27] Bush Tetras - Rituals (Edit) (1981) (3:02)
28. [28] Wipers - When It's Over (1981) (6:36)
29. [29] X - Adult Books (1981) (3:19)
30. [30] Zoomers - Give Your Heart (1981) (2:13)

BRAIN

31. [01] Art Bears - Truth (1981) (2:55)
32. [02] Birthday Party, The - Cry (1981) (2:41)
33. [03] Deutsch Amerikanische Freundschaft - Rote Lippen (1981) (2:44)
34. [04] Branca, Glenn - Structure (1981) (3:04)
35. [05] Nomi, Klaus - The Twist (1981) (3:06)
36. [06] Flying Lizards - Hands 2 Take (1981).wav
37. [07] Negativland - Dearmary (1981).wav
38. [08] New Age Steppers - Crazy Dreams & High Ideas (Edit) (1981).wav
39. [09] Lemon Kittens - Kites (1981).wav
40. [10] Trio - Kummer (1981) (2:40)
41. [11] Pere Ubu - Lonesome Cowboy Dave (1981).wav
42. [12] Residents, The - Would We Be Alive (Edit) (1981).wav
43. [13] Johnson, Matt - The River Flows East In Spring (Edit) (1981).wav
44. [14] Eyeless in Gaza - The Decoration (1981).wav
45. [15] Einstürzende Neubauten - Abstieg & Zerfall (1981).wav
46. [16] Fire Engines - Candyskin (1981).wav
47. [17] Section 25 - Hit (1981).wav
48. [18] Crass - Bata Motel (1981).wav
49. [19] Liaisons Dangereuses - Aperitif De La Mort (Edit) (1981).wav
50. [20] Crash Course in Science - Factory Forehead (1981).wav
51. [21] Foetus - Thank Heaven for Push Button Phones (1981).wav
52. [22] Cabaret Voltaire - A Touch Of Evil (Edit) (1981).wav
53. [23] Chrome - Planet Strike (1981).wav
54. [24] DNA - Blonde Red Head (1981).wav
55. [25] Clock DVA - 4 Hours (1981).wav
56. [26] Homosexuals - Nursery Chymes (1981).wav
57. [27] Mertins, Wim - Multiple 12 (Edit) (1981).wav
58. [28] This Heat - Makeshift Swahili (1981).wav

CONVERTIBLE

59. [01] Young Marble Giants - Final Day (1981) (1:43)
60. [02] Orange Juice - Poor Old Soul (1981).wav
61. [03] Martha & The Muffins - This Is the Ice Age (Edit) (1981).wav
62. [04] Altered Images - Happy Birthday (1981).wav
63. [05] Church, The - Too Fast For You (1981).wav
64. [06] Scritti Politti - The Sweetest Girl (Single) (Edit) (1981).wav
65. [07] Romeo Void - Myself To Myself (1981).wav
66. [08] Barracudas - Don't Let Go (1981).wav
67. [09] dB's, The - Black and White (1981).wav
68. [10] Go-Go's - Our Lips Are Sealed (1981).wav
69. [11] Magazine - The Honeymoon Killers (1981).wav
70. [12] Beat, The (English) - Too Nice To Talk To (1981).wav
71. [13] Marine Girls - Tonight (1981).wav
72. [14] Pretenders - Message of Love (1981).wav
73. [15] Necessaries - More Real (1981).wav
74. [16] Teardrop Explodes, The - Falling Down Around Me (1981).wav
75. [17] Squeeze - Is That Love (1981).wav
76. [18] Go Betweens, The - Your Turn, My Turn (1981).wav
77. [19] Hitchcock, Robyn - Love (1981).wav
78. [20] Stranglers, The - Golden Brown (1981).wav
79. [21] Ramones - It's Not My Place (1981).wav
80. [22] XTC - Respectable Street (1981).wav
81. [23] Pylon - Crazy (1981).wav
82. [24] Costello, Elvis - Strict Time (1981).wav
83. [25] REM - Radio Free Europe (1981).wav

CASSETTE

84. [01] Clean, The - Billy Two (1981) (2:22)
85. [02] Fall - Prole Art Threat (1981).wav
86. [03] Dow Jones & The Industrials - Ladies With Appliances (1981).wav
87. [04] Tronics - Cruisin (1981).wav
88. [05] Terraplanes - Evil Going On (1981).wav
89. [06] Nervous Gender - Fat Cow (1981).wav
90. [07] 49 Americans - Love at first sight (1981).wav
91. [08] Cardboards - On the R to TZ (1981).wav
92. [09] Felt - Something Sends Me to Sleep (1981).wav
93. [10] Concrete - Uranium (1981).wav
94. [11] Discount Chiefs - Different Light (1981).wav
95. [12] Disturbed - Betrayed (1981).wav
96. [13] Scapa Flow - Somewhere (1981).wav
97. [14] Dancing Cigarettes - Mr. Morse (1981).wav
98. [15] Amoebas In Chaos - Designer Genes (1981).wav
99. [16] Tall Dwarfs - All My Hollowness to You (1981).wav
100. [17] Monitor - Amphibious (1981).wav
101. [18] Dolphins - She Took a Long Cold Look (1981).wav
102. [19] Blue Orchids - Bad Education (1981).wav
103. [20] Voice Farm - AM City (Edit) (1981).wav
104. [21] Biting Tongues - Reflector (1981).wav
105. [22] Flux of Pink Indians - Sick Butchers (1981).wav
106. [23] Aztec Camera - Just Like Gold (1981).wav
107. [24] Diagram Brothers, The - Put It In A Bigger Box (1981).wav
108. [25] Pel Mel - Ipanema Mon Amour (1981).wav
109. [26] Marine Girls - Times We Used to Spend (1981) (1:44)
110. [27] Human Switchboard - I Used to Believe in You (1981).wav
111. [28] Social Climbers - Hello Texas (1981).wav
112. [29] Half Japanese - My Knowledge Was Wrong (1981).wav
113. [30] Television Personalities - This Angry Silence (1981).wav
114. [31] Via Veneto - Empty (Edit) (1981).wav
115. [32] Violent Femmes - Waiting For The Bus (Demo) (1981).wav
116. [33] Thick Pigeon - Silhouettes (1981).wav

COMPUTER

117. [01] Depeche Mode - Just Can't Get Enough (1981).wav
118. [02] Japan - Talking Drum (1981).wav
119. [03] Deutsch Amerikanische Freundschaft - Der Mussolini (Edit) (1981).wav
120. [04] Associates - White Car In Germany (Edit) (1981).wav
121. [05] Devo - Working In A Coal Mine (1981).wav
122. [06] Heaven 17 - The Height Of The Fighting (1981).wav
123. [07] Eurythmics - Take Me To Your Heart (1981).wav
124. [08] Dolby, Thomas - Europa & The Pirate Twins (1981).wav
125. [09] Plastics - Diamond Head (1981).wav
126. [10] Yello - Bostich (1981).wav
127. [11] Numan, Gary - Stories (1981).wav
128. [12] New Musik - Areas (1981).wav
129. [13] Blue Nile, The - I Love This Life (1981) (3:46)
130. [14] Duran Duran - Girls on Film (1981).wav
131. [15] Gottsching, Manuel - E2 E4 (Excerpt) (1981).wav
132. [16] Teardrop Explodes, The - The In-Psychlopedia (Edit) (1981).wav
133. [17] Cybotron - Alleys Of Your Mind (1981).wav
134. [18] Buggles, The - Blue Nylon (1981).wav
135. [19] Soft Cell - Tainted Love (1981).wav
136. [20] Cars - Shake It Up (Edit) (1981).wav
137. [21] Classix Nouveaux - 623 (1981).wav
138. [22] Tuxedomoon - Incubus (Blue Suit) (1981).wav
139. [23] Human League - The Things That Dreams Are Made Of (1981).wav
140. [24] Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - Sacred Heart (1981).wav
141. [25] Kraftwerk - Computer Love (Edit) (1981).wav

FEET

142. [01] British Electronic Foundation - Rise of the East (1981).wav
143. [02] Bush Tetras - You Can't Be Funky (1981).wav
144. [03] Heaven 17 - We're Going To Live (Edit) (1981).wav
145. [04] Foxx, John - Europe After the Rain (1981).wav
146. [05] Dome - D-D-Bo (1981).wav
147. [06] 23 Skidoo - Last Words (1981).wav
148. [07] ESG - UFO (1981).wav
149. [08] Gang of Four - What We All Want (1981).wav
150. [09] Rip Rig Panic - How Caged Bird (1981) (3:32)
151. [10] Logic, Lora - Wonderful Offer (1981).wav
152. [11] Mekons - St Patrick's Day (1981).wav
153. [12] Newman, Colin - Alone (1981).wav
154. [13] Kraftwerk - Numbers (1981).wav
155. [14] Liquid Liquid - Zero Leg (1981).wav
156. [15] Massacre - Gate (1981).wav
157. [16] Family Fodder - Film Music (1981).wav
158. [17] Goat that Went Om - The Pirate Song (1981).wav
159. [18] Dif Juz - Diselt (1981).wav
160. [19] This Heat - Paper Hats (Edit) (1981).wav
161. [20] Trio - Danger Is (1981).wav
162. [21] Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - The New Stone Age (1981).wav
163. [22] Pigbag - Sunny Day (Edit) (1981).wav
164. [23] Public Image Ltd - Flowers of Romance (1981).wav
165. [24] YMO - Light in Darkness (1981).wav

FIRE

166. [01] A Certain Ratio - Waterline (1981).wav
167. [02] New Order - Chosen Time (1981).wav
168. [03] Fad Gadget - Make Room (Edit) (1981).wav
169. [04] Fun Boy Three - The Lunatics (1981).wav
170. [05] Byrne, David - The Red House (1981).wav
171. [06] Creatures - But Not Them (1981).wav
172. [07] Raybeats - Calhoun Surf (1981).wav
173. [08] Josef K - Heart Of Song (1981).wav
174. [09] Thomas, David - Crickets in the Flats (1981).wav
175. [10] Killing Joke - Butcher (Edit) (1981).wav
176. [11] B-52's, The - Give Me Back My Man (Remix) (Edit) (1981) (3:04)
177. [12] Dif Juz - Soarn (Excerpt) (1981).wav
178. [13] Hitchcock, Robyn - Grooving on a Inner Plane (Edit) (1981).wav
179. [14] INXS - Stay Young (1981).wav
180. [15] Lounge Lizards - Do The Wrong Thing (1981).wav
181. [16] Prince - Controversy (Edit) (1981).wav
182. [17] Pigbag - Papa's Got Brand New Pigbag (Single Version) (1981).wav
183. [18] Talking Heads - Houses In Motion (Edit) (1981).wav
184. [19] Bauhaus - Of Lillies and Remains (1981).wav
185. [20] Specials, The - Ghost Town (Edit) (1981).wav
186. [21] Tom Tom Club - Genius Of Love (1981).wav
187. [22] Wire - Midnight Bahnhof Cafe (Edit) (1981).wav
188. [23] Family Fodder - Emergency (1981).wav
189. [24] Raincoats - Shouting Out Loud (1981).wav

HEART

190. [01] Cure, The - All Cats Are Grey (1981).wav
191. [02] Passions - Alice's Song (1981).wav
192. [03] Depeche Mode - Any Second Now (Voices) (1981).wav
193. [04] Durutti Column - The Missing Boy (1981).wav
194. [05] Costello, Elvis & The Attractions - Gloomy Sunday (1981).wav
195. [06] Mx-80 - Promise of Love (1981).wav
196. [07] Talking Heads - Once In A Lifetime (Edit) (1981).wav
197. [08] New Order - Doubts Even Here (1981) (4:20)
198. [09] Shelley, Pete - It's Hard Enough Knowing (Edit) (1981).wav
199. [10] Sound, The - Winning (1981).wav
200. [11] Japan - Ghosts (1981).wav
201. [12] This Heat - A New Kind Of Water (1981).wav
202. [13] Raincoats - Only Loved At Night (1981).wav
203. [15] Gist - Love at First Sight (1981).wav
204. [15] Numan, Gary - Dance (1981).wav
205. [16] Psychedelic Furs - No Tears (1981).wav
206. [17] Gang of Four - Paralysed (1981).wav
207. [18] Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - Romance Of The Telescope (1981).wav
208. [19] Ultravox - Rage In Eden (1981).wav
209. [20] Weekend - Nostalgia (Demo) (1981).wav

ICICLE

210. [01] Czukay, Holger - Fragrance (Edit) (1981) (3:16)
211. [02] Harrison, Jerry - Worlds In Collision (1981).wav
212. [03] Comsat Angels - Restless (1981).wav
213. [04] Selecter - Their Dream Goes On (1981).wav
214. [05] Tall Dwarfs - Luck of Loveliness (1981).wav
215. [06] Gun Club - Promise Me (1981).wav
216. [07] ESG - You're No Good (1981).wav
217. [08] Siouxsie & the Banshees - Into The Light (1981).wav
218. [09] Penguin Cafe Orchestra - Telephone and Rubber Band (1981).wav
219. [10] Anderson, Laurie - O Superman (For Massenet) (1981).wav
220. [11] Phew - Fragment (Edit) (1981).wav
221. [12] Thomas, David - Big Dreams (1981).wav
222. [13] Del-Byzanteens, The - Girl's Imagination (1981).wav
223. [14] Was (Not Was) - Oh, Mr Friction (1981) (3:32)
224. [15] Eno, Brian & David Byrne - A Secret Life (1981).wav
225. [16] Echo & The Bunnymen - All My Colours (1981).wav
226. [17] Material - Square Dance (1981).wav
227. [18] Sakamoto, Ryuichi - Kachakuchane (Edit) (1981).wav
228. [19] Slits, The - Earthbeat (Peel Session) (Edit) (1981).wav
229. [20] Wyatt, Robert - Born Again Cretin (1981).wav
230. [21] Delta 5 - Different Fur (1981).wav

BRIEFCASE

231. 45 Grave - 45 Grave (1981) (3:21)
232. 999 - Bongos on the Nile (1981) (2:55)
233. A Flock of Seagulls - Telecommunication (1981) (2:32)
234. ABC - Tears Are Not Enough (Edit) (1981) (2:22)
235. Adam & The Ants - Prince Charming (1981) (3:17)
236. Airmail - In a Moment (1981) (5:16)
237. Alternative TV - My Hand Is Still Wet (1981) (3:19)
238. Angelic Upstarts - I Understand (1981) (2:53)
239. Aquila - Without a Care (1981) (4:17)
240. Article 58 - Lost & Found (1981) (3:26)
241. Au Pairs - Love Song (1981) (2:48)
242. Avacados - I Never Knew (1981) (2:23)
243. Babylon Dance Band - Remains of the Beat (1981) (1:47)
244. Bangs - Getting Out Of Hand (1981) (2:12)
245. Beelzebub Youth - Push Push Push (1981) (2:04)
246. Ben Watt - Cant (1981) (3:17)
247. Black Flag - What I See (1981) (1:55)
248. Blah Blah Blah - Central Park (1981) (3:53)
249. Blancmange - Sad Day (Early) (1981) (2:24)
250. Blondie - Rapture (Edit) (1981) (3:39)
251. B-Movie - Remembrance Day (1981) (3:44)
252. Bouncing Czechs - 1992 (Edit) (1981) (2:23)
253. Bow Wow Wow - Why Are Babies So Wise (1981) (2:55)
254. Bunnydrums - Little Room (1981) (3:05)
255. Buzz - Life Ends (1981) (1:57)
256. Cardboards - Electrical Generator (1981) (3:32)
257. Chameleons - Here Today (BBC) (1981) (3:44)
258. Chefs - Someone I Know (1981) (2:07)
259. Chemicals Made From Dirt - Ike (1981) (2:27)
260. Christian Death - Dogs (1981) (2:54)
261. Club Tango - Performance (Edit) (1981) (2:24)
262. Colours Out of Time - The Waiting (BBC) (1981) (3:39)
263. Commericals - Simon (1981) (2:18)
264. Comsat Angels - Now I Know (BBC) (1981) (4:14)
265. Conservatives - Suburban Bitch (1981) (1:21)
266. Crispy Ambulance - The Presence (Edit) (1981).mp3
267. Cure, The - Primary (1981).mp3
268. Dalek I Love You - Heartbeat (1981).mp3
269. Damned, The - Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde (Edit) (1981) (2:52)
270. Dancing Cigarettes - Puppies in a Sack (1981).mp3
271. Dangerous Girls - Men in Suits (1981).mp3
272. Danse Society - Continent (1981).mp3
273. Dark Day - Extermination (1981).mp3
274. Deep Freeze Mice - Dr. Z (1981).mp3
275. Department S - Age Concern (1981).mp3
276. Dif Juz - Cs (1981).mp3
277. Digital Dinosaurs - The Sideways Man (1981).mp3
278. DNA - 5-30 (1981).mp3
279. Doctor Mix & The Remix - Brand New Cadillac (1981).mp3
280. Dramatis - Love Needs No Disguise (1981).mp3
281. Dum Dum Dum - Dum Dum Dum (1981).mp3
282. Effigies - Strong Box (1981).mp3
283. Eight Eyed Spy - Lazy In Love (1981) (2:57)
284. Ejectors - Little Johnny (1981).mp3
285. Embarrassment, The - Sexy Singer Girl (1981).mp3
286. Eno, Brian and David Byrne - Mea Culpa (Edit) (1981).mp3
287. Essential Logic - Fanfare In the Garden (1981).mp3
288. Ex, The - Weapons for El Salvador (1981).mp3
289. Factrix - Thin Line (1981).mp3
290. Fair, Jad - Fish Can Talk (1981).mp3
291. Fall, The - Middle Mass (1981).mp3
292. Family Fodder - Dinosaur Sex (1981).mp3
293. Fast Set, The - King of the Rumbling Spires (1981).mp3
294. Fifteen Minutes - Last Chance for You (1981).mp3
295. Fingerprintz - Shadowed (1981).mp3
296. Five Or Six - The Trial (1981) (2:49)
297. Fleshtones - The Dreg (1981).mp3
298. Freddy And The Fruitloops - Right & Wrong (1981).mp3
299. Front 242 - Body to Body (1981).mp3
300. Generation X - Dancing With Myself (1981).mp3
301. George Harrassment - Yoghurt (1981).mp3
302. Gifted Children - Lichtenstein Girl (1981).mp3
303. Gilbert & Lewis - Hung Up To Dry Whilst Building An Arch (1981).mp3
304. Girls At Our Best - Go for Gold (1981).mp3
305. Gizmos - Biscuits & Gravy (1981).mp3
306. Goldman, Vivien - Launderette (1981).mp3
307. Haig, Paul - Mad Horses (1981).mp3
308. Haircut 100 - Favourite Shirt (1981) (3:05)
309. Homosexuals - In Search of the Perfect Baby (1981).mp3
310. Icehouse - Icehouse (Edit) (1981).mp3
311. Icicle Works - When Winter Lasted Forever (Edit) (1981).mp3
312. It's Immaterial - A Gigantic Raft (Edit) (1981).mp3
313. Jackson, Joe - Beat Crazy (1981).mp3
314. Jagatara - Hey Say! (Edit) (1981).mp3
315. Jam, The - Absolute Beginners (1981) (2:52)
316. Kontakt Microfoon Orkest - Do the Residue (1981).mp3
317. Lambrettas, The - Decent Town (1981).mp3
318. Last Four Digits - Diddy Wah Diddy (1981).mp3
319. Legal Weapon - Daddy's Gone Mad (1981).mp3
320. Liaisons Dangereuses - Etre Assis Ou Danser (1981).mp3
321. Liliput - Eisiger Wind (1981).mp3
322. Limp, The - Marked Man (1981).mp3
323. Liquid Liquid - Lock Groove (In) (1981) (3:57)
324. Lovich, Lene - New Toy (1981).mp3
325. Lowest Note on the Organ - Piggy Bank (1981).mp3
326. Ludus - Mutilate (1981).mp3
327. Malaria - How Do You Like My New Dog (1981).mp3
328. Marine - Life in Reverse (1981).mp3
329. Mass - Cross Purposes (1981).mp3
330. Massacre - Subway Heart (1981).mp3
331. Maximum Joy - Strech (Edit) (1981) (2:57)
332. Medium Medium - The Glitterhouse (1981).mp3
333. Men At Work - Who Can It Be Now (1981).mp3
334. Metal Urbain - Hysterie Connective (Early Version) (1981).mp3
335. Meteors - Graveyard Stomp (1981).mp3
336. Minny Pops - Dolphin's Spurt (1981) (2:56)
337. Misfits, The - Halloween (1981).mp3
338. Modern English - Black Houses (1981).mp3
339. Monochrome Set - Ten Don'ts For Honeymooners (1981).mp3
340. Mr Science - Mr. Science (1981) (2:23)
341. My Captains - Converse (1981).mp3
342. Names - Music For Someone (1981) (1:56)
343. Native Hipsters - Tropical Fish in the Sink (1981).mp3
344. Neu Electrikk - Lust of Berlin (1981) (2:46)
345. New Musik - This World Of Walter (1981).mp3
346. No More - Suicide Commando (1981).mp3
347. Oingo Boingo - Capitalism (1981).mp3
348. Orange Juice - Wan Light (1981).mp3
349. Our Daughter's Wedding - Airlines (1981).mp3
350. Passage - Hip Rebels (1981).mp3
351. Pin Group - Ambivalence (1981).mp3
352. Plimsouls - Mini-Skirt Minnie (1981).mp3
353. Poison Girls - Ideologically Unsound (1981).mp3
354. Police, The - Darkness (1981).mp3
355. Polyphonic Size - Mothers Little Helper (1981) (3:06)
356. Polyrock - Rain (1981).mp3
357. Pop, Iggy - Sea of Love (1981).mp3
358. Post Raisin Band - Pink Lincoln (1981).mp3
359. Predator - He Thinks He Knows Me (1981).mp3
360. Public Image Ltd - Go Back (1981) (3:47)
361. Quad Pi - Near You (1981).mp3
362. Red Asphalt - Red Asphalt (1981).mp3
363. Red Cross - Puss 'N' Boots (1981).mp3
364. Red Krayola - An Old Man's Dream (1981).mp3
365. Reflections - 4 Countries (1981).mp3
366. Room, The - Bated Breath (1981) (4:01)
367. Russell, Arthur - Sketch for Face of Helen (Edit) (1981) (3:31)
368. Scientists - She Said She Loves Me (1981).mp3
369. Second Layer - Distortion (Edit).mp3
370. Simple Minds - Theme for Great Cities (Edit) (1981).mp3
371. Slow Children- Spring in Fialta (1981).mp3
372. Social Distortion - Telling Them (1981).mp3
373. Sort Sol - Misguided (1981).MP3
374. Spandau Ballet - To Cut A Long Story Short (Edit) (1981).mp3
375. Splodgenessabounds - Cowpunk Medlum (1981) (2:36)
376. Stranglers - Everybody Loves You When you're Dead (1981).mp3
377. Suburban Lawns - Computer Date (1981).mp3
378. Subway Sect, The - Parallel Lines (1981).mp3
379. Surplus Stock - Let's Kill Each Other (1981).mp3
380. Swamp Children - Call Me Honey (1981) (4:54)
381. Swell Maps - Forest Fire (released 1981) (3:01)
382. Takahashi, Yukihiro - Something in the Air (1981) (4:51)
383. Tame O'Mearas - Curl Curl (1981) (2:18)
384. Teardrop Explodes, The - ...and The Fighting Takes Over (1981) (3:54)
385. Teenage Filmstars - I Helped Patrick McGoohan Escape (1981) (2:56)
386. Telefones - Solid Ground (1981) (3:12)
387. The Past Seven Days - Raindance (Edit) (1981) (4:58)
388. The The - Untitled (1981) (3:23)
389. Theatre of Hate - My Own Invention (1981) (3:17)
390. Theoretical Girls - Electronic Angie (Studio) (1981) (3:37)
391. Thompson Twins - Politics (1981) (2:20)
392. Times, The - Biff! Bang! Pow! (1981) (2:52)
393. Triffids - This Boy (1981) (2:56)
394. TSOL - I'm Tired Of Life (1981) (1:51)
395. Tucker, Maureen - Louie Louie (1981) (2:41)
396. Two by Fours - Another 8 Hours (1981) (1:34)
397. UB40 - One in Ten (1981) (4:33)
398. Urban Verbs - Business and the Rational Mind (1981) (4:52)
399. Urinals - I Hate (1981) (2:03)
400. Vapors, The - Jimmie Jones (1981) (3:24)
401. Visage - Mind Of A Toy (1981) (4:28)
402. Vital Disorder - Let's Talk About Prams (1981) (2:17)
403. Walking Floors - No Next Time (1981) (2:27)
404. Wall of Voodoo - Crack the Bell (1981) (3:33)
405. Wanderers - Beyond the Law (1981) (2:08)
406. Weirdos, The - Weird World (Demo) (1981) (3:02)
407. Wild West - Fierce Atoms (1981) (2:25)
408. xAx - Banging Your Head (1981) (3:42)
409. Xpozez - New Law (1981) (1:19)
410. Zoomers - From the Planet Moon (1981) (2:56)
411. Zounds - Demystification (1981) (3:45)

But great work! Incredible!

its not mp3s?

Getting these things to people I know will enjoy them, and maybe even appreciate all the work that went into them, makes it all worth it. I've been working on this thing with varying attention since summer 2003.

It looks like you steered clear of all of the big chart hits, though.

No, it's 9 80min CDs and and 1 mp3-CD. About 85% of it is sourced from my own collection (CDs and vinyl, including Chuck Warner's hyped2death discs). I've "hand levilised" the tracks using careful combinations of normalising and judicious graphic dynamics, and hand-removed vinyl pops in many cases. For the 2nd edition, I'm using nice white-on-top CD-Rs with my thermal printer (black on white) to better match the packaging.

http://manireik.spymac.net/1981/1981_inside.jpg
http://manireik.spymac.net/1981/1981_front.jpg

Yeah, it's not meant to be "objective" (like I gather the CDR700 Go! collections). Though a number of these tracks did chart, in England.

"My god" good or bad?

(also, shamless plug time: Seattle Weekly now has a weekly column called CD-R Go!, check out the first one by me: http://www.seattleweekly.com/features/0509/050302_music_cdrgo.php)

Thanks so much! It's definitely an example of making the most of my material limitations, but I think in the end it doesn't look too cheap. I would've liked to have a square-shaped booklet, but folding/cutting an 8.5x11 is just more practical.

No! School us! How did you do this? Did you own and listen to all these records in 1981, or have you accumulated all these over time? I'm just asking because I'll probably be the average ILMer in, er, eight(?) years, meaning that I pay close attention to and consume music at an alarming rate-- but I couldn't dream of making an anthology like this for, say, 2004... I just looked through the tracklisting, and I only recognized about eighty of the bands. Did you own a record shop or something?

haha thanks. I considered getting in some hip-hop, but I didn't want to be cursory or throw in some token Flash track. Clearly the scenes coallesced at points (NY at least) but I was primarily interested in helping young people (my age and younger) who suddenly the last couple years find it hip to call things "post-punk revival" or "dancepunk" or whatever that there was a lot more to the 78-82 period than Joy Division, Gang of Four, and maybe (if the kid is adventuresome) Wire, much as I love those bands. I split the set up into varyingly definable sounds/feelings/aesthetics to make it more approachable, but the point remains that even though you could probably call 90%+ of it "post-punk," there was a hell of a lot going on. I included a smattering of sub-Hannet-wannabe stuff, but mostly I went for breadth.

I am an addict, plain and simple. I don't know what the "average" ILMer is, but to put it this way: I could've bought at least a couple cars with the money I've spent on music since I was 12. I'm not proud of it in some capitalist aquisitive way--it's just that music is not an option, it's life. That's probably true for most people here (or they wouldn't be here taking all this stuff so seriously-not-seriously). I can't think of anything else on which I'd rather have blown almost every discretionary penny I've earned. I wish I owned a record shop, but I've never even worked at one.

I'll tell you a little secret (not much of one--it's in the opening "essay" for the set)--I was a year old in 1981. I'm ambivalent about how this fact affects my appreciation of all this music. On the one hand, it means I'm hearing things slightly less in terms of whats considered cool at the time; on the other hand, maybe "what's cool" is valid, and I'm not getting the full picture from the recorded sounds alone. I'm fascinated to hear from people who were there about the whole thing--whether the relative inaccessibility of it all made it an elitist bastion, whether the internet deomcratises things--or whether because it was so scarce it was much more community-driven, that its expansiveness came from the necessity of staying busy. I tend to come down on the feeling that I like how I've heard the music--that much as an honest, non-selfconscious scene (a rare thing indeed) can be exhilirating, I'm more likely to have an honest response to the music "on its own terms" coming to it all after the fact and with relatively little knowledge of ephemeral elements. I could be wrong.

! My, that's dedication to be showing when you were a year old. ;-) (I tease, etc.)

I sympathize with you on the money/car thing. Happily I have never owned a car. ;-)

I work in preservation/restoration architecture and even though I live in a small city, I'm a pretty rabid urbanist. So I like to explain to people who love their cars why I find the utter and total reliance on them (indeed, the razind and reconstruction of society to accommodate them) so absurd in the following way: imagine instead of being on wheels, imagine cars were the same amount of metal and glass and rubber all put together into a big 14'-tall "Mech". Then imagine every suburban mother hopping into her 4,000-pound robot to go to the grocery for milk and bread! Fucking insane, but not much scarrier than the way freeways and cul-de-sacced squirrely over-wide roads look to me.

Michael ---

I'm not sure what I raised the bar on besides time-sucking geek hobbies, but . . . thanks!

I'm within a couple spots of 100 as of 10:20A.M. C.S.T., but if you think you would enjoy the set, I still welcome requests. I simply can't guarantee that I will get to those beyond 100 in the immediate future. As the interest seems to be there, however, I guess I have a responsibility to meet it as best I can. If you're willing to wait a little longer (perhaps a month) by all means, go ahead and write to me.

Again, thanks, all. I envisioned this thread quickly falling into oblivion---this is much more fun.

This really is a beautiful thing. You should be proud.

I'm using nice white-on-top CD-Rs

So are these (in any case, very wonderful) cd's pressed, or burned? I gotta say, it's really impressive how you've gotten some of the more underground stuff on here (e.g. Monitor, Nervous Gender)

Oh, they're burned. Very home-made affair. It would be amazing to make a "real" version, but I'm sure it'd cost more than I earn in a decade.

Especially if you had to own 80% of the CDs!

I picked up a copy of I.M.'s box on the original pressing and it is indeed a lot of fun. Good on ya, *i. Stop making this thing and get to work on 1991. :D

And this is PITCHFORK saying this.

It's possible that I'm prone to over-emphasising the advantages of the soujourner path. I had no cool older sibling, no hip (only hippie) parents, and lived mostly in smallish towns and medium cities that could hardly be consdered record shop hotbeds (though after initiated into musical obsession, I later discovered they often had the most cohesive, passionate kind of local music scenes around). My parents instilled in me a sense that music was important (and gave me one of my great loves, Joni Mitchell) but didn't have much breadth to share. I'm still not really sure how I got from The Beatles and Smashing Pumpkins and Simon & Garfunkel at age 13 to Sunny Day Real Estate and Stereolab at 17 to where I am today at 24. I didn't have the internet till I was 17; I didn't even have MTV (120 minutes seems to have influenced quite a few burgeoning music kids in the 90s). So I suppose I carried an inflated sense of my own luck, my own instincts--I managed to get here (here being nothing impressive, you know, a predictable 500 records of Jazz/Blues/World Music etc., but it's a start) "without any help".

Which for a while I was troubled when I found myself being adopted as some sort of knowledgeable figure by younger/less experienced kids some years back. Partly this was due to the fact that I didn't (and still don't really) feel I have much musical knowledge--just a record collection a little larger than most "normal" people my age. But the primary source of misgiving came from a distrust of "giving it away," not in the elitist sense that "I've earned it and you haven't"--I've always assumed that notion to be obvious bullshit, though many of you may disagree. But rather I hesitated because I wondered if somehow I might be depriving people of something if I cut out the "labourious" process of trial and error, the often tedious and risky adventure of placing your own money on the counter. I wondered--would I have really appreciated the music as much, if I hadn't had to "work" for it?

If it tells you anything about where I ended up, I eventually gave 70 mp3-CDs filled with roughly the first eight years of my serious music addiction to a younger cousin. Though I have friends who claim that "the internet ruined music," I decided that even for me, there was relatively little "work" involved in the "process of discovery" anymore. Even before it was common to have high-speed internet and good p2p like Soulseek, the "challenges" were essentially whittled down to "do you have the money to afford to be eclectic". I began to ask, what did it mean to have "earned" ones musical knowledge? Pitchfork might be ruining young minds with their awful writing, but hipster "cheat sheets" had been a staple of "musical knowledge" since well before I was born. My own "country mouse" success story in some ways notwithstanding, hadn't the primary determinant of being musically-in-the-know really come down to a few very undemocratic and ultimately ephemeral things: where you happened to live, how much discretionary money you had, and who you knew (whether people or zines)? Where was "PASSION" on the list? Sure, someone with passion AND all the aforementioned advantages could live a great musical life. But for him the "process of discovery" was about as tricky as popping down to Rough Trade to see what'd come in this week (to exagerate). Meanwhile someone with no real passion but a desire to be seen as "hip" could also pop on down. Meanwhile the passionate kid in the hinterland (or the poor kid in the suburbs) had to stagnate with frustration; or, as in my case, find mail-order, making the process not really so difficult, but not that romantic, either.

Now don't get me wrong. I'm still the sort who needs to "own" the record--mp3's don't count--as my bank account can attest. I'm not even proud of this, as it probably comes down to some consumerist materialism as much as any ethical imperative. But let's be honest--the glory of crate digging, the joy of a good local shop, blowing sizeable savings each visit to London or New York--these are all enjoyable, and it's reasonable to wear them as badges of verity (in our own geek minds, at least). Chatting down at the shop or spinning at the radio station--these will always have a visceral appeal that things like typing away on ILM etc. can't provide. But what are we really on about, ultimately? What compels us to take part in all these geeky rituals? (And being honest, when I see Trekkies, I know that but for the grace of God, there go my passions--we're not that different.) It has to be The Sounds Themselves.

As the 1981 set itself attests, I've clearly come down that "giving it away" is a logical fallacy. All that you can give to a passionate kid, a neophyte who would know more, will only fuel the fire. None of us (well, maybe a few at this place, but in general) knows everything, and I imagine we'd get depressed if we thought we did (and probably all of us, at least early on, hit that wall of asking, "is this it?" before the next thrill of discovery). So what's the damage done if some kid hears This Heat at 16 on a silly boxed set, instead of waiting around till luck of Pitchfork exposure and the whimsy of reissues made it more likely? I say, more power to him--that's less time he might waste on lesser stuff.

Which brings up my final potential qualm about "giving it away": does a "musical tutor" not risk simply indoctrinating his "puil," risk blunting the development of his capacity for discrimination? Well, I'll pose another question in response. For those of you lucky enough to have been the right age at the right time in the right time for Peel's golden age: did you simply take his word on every track? Or even if you did initially, did his opinions remain yours for good? Well, compared to any of us, John Peel is the "tutoring" God; and if God's own trumpet didn't deafen your own opinions, then I think none of us is likely to do so for anyone else. I say: exposure, exposure, exposure. People may not be ready for everything all at once--and so the temporal facet of our beloved "process of discovery" will inevitably reassert itself. Even if some kid queues up half your collection on Soulseek (as numerous have done mine,) it will take them plenty of time to even hear it all, much less listen to any of it. So I embrace the democratic age of access; don't fear the instantaneousness of it all--our ears and our hearts are still analogue, and for those with passion, the process will still take time. Passion should be the only criterion for gaining access to the beautiful world of music (and paying in to keep the practical side will come with salaries, years on).

I love listening to my collection, and remembering that I bought this record in 2001 on a trip to Philly to meet some girl I barely knew, and listened to it the first time we made love; or that it was recommended me by a kindly shop owner in 1996, and that it changed my life. I doubt that many kids will remember "I downloaded this album, the modified date says, on 5th May 2005, along with these other 10 albums". They will, isntead, form their own memories--when the music first meant something to them, what was happening, maybe even when they got the money together to go out and buy the record. I'm not worried we stand to lose anything important.

Intro to the 1981 box, 1st Edition:

My first idea of how to introduce this set was to start with a question: "what do we do when we realise Pandora's box is never going to shut?" I wanted to persuade you that the music heard on this set provides one answer to that question: if our belief in fundamental order is shaken, we resolve to make a beautiful mess. I wanted to argue that a lot of this music is part of a lineage of noble "outré" and progressive popular art made by people trying to restore hope and meaning amidst derelict shells of classicism, modernism, and post-modernism. I would also have tried to say something pithy regarding the historical context of this music, about how the shattering of the notion of monolithic cultures made music like this possible, and necessary; and about Thatcher, Reagan, suburbs, post-industrial economics, the dole, the rise of fundamentalism and yuppiedom and anti-disco rockism.But the truth is, I was in diapers in 1981. As far as outré music is concerned, I have less than a decade of experience with the stuff. My parents were hippies spinning Joni Mitchell and James Taylor records in the '80s. They imbued me with a sense that music was deeply important, but didn't have much of its sonic breadth to share. I "know" about as much about music as could be expected of any musically obsessed twenty-four year old who spent high-school in the School of Indie Rock, owns only a couple hundred jazz records, a hundred (predictable) hip-hop records, overuses Skip James on mixes, and only heard his first Talking Heads album as a junior in high school. What I mean is: I still function musically primarily on passion, not knowledge. I'm confident about my abilities to put together a good mix for just about any tastes; do a decent radio show; and hold my own with young know-it-all record clerks in Chicago. But I don't know enough to write cool, authoritative, impressively linernotish liner notes. The fact that I know all this music after-the-fact or "second hand" should affect the quality of the music; an attempt to give you the storytelling goods secondhand would probably do a disservice to the story.This set inevitably reflects my biases as its curator; but I hope it is deep and wide enough to allow you to decide what the "best," "most important," "coolest" sounds are. In fact, I realise you may even disagree with me that 1981 is worth all the trouble. Personally, I think something was happening from about 1978 to 1982 that is noteworthy in the history of pop music. I think there was an earnest expansiveness and playfulness regarding the boundaries (or absence thereof) between genres and between "art" and "pop". Nothing I could say will convince you--but the music might.

I admit that a portion of these tracks are undeniably dated (if charmingly so,) and will probably trigger nostalgia even if you've never heard them. Progressive (in pop terms) as these tracks were at the time, they established the paradigm for the infamous "sound of the 80s," and by extension the cartoonish aesthetic currently revered by college students too young to actually remember the decade. I resisted investigating many of the bands I knew as pathetic yuppie crooners on my older sister's radio in the mid-80s for years; in their early incarnations, at least, some of those bands have become my favourites. The majority of the music of this particular 1981, however, would set a fire were it released today; the paradigm they operated within (or without) was expansive enough that a lot of the best "progressive" music is still exploring it today (in just the way that many of these bands can be said to have been working in virtual homage to Can or the Velvet Underground).Investigating threads of Influence and innovation; glowing about "prescience;" and dividing the thieves from the tributaries arguably enhances musical enjoyment. But I hope you'll ultimately take this music on its own terms. I came into my interest in the "post-punk period" slowly; I bought the hype young that punk was the Sex Pistols, which I didn't especially like, and therefore skipped ahead to Yo La Tengo and the Pixies. It was only after I stumbled through a couple dozen records that I started to notice common years popping up. My subsequent effort to consciously put together a picture of the movement (and my appreciation of the music as a cultural artifact) came only after I first felt the picture. Even after as work-like a relationship as I've had to this music after spending countless man-hours putting this set together, I still hear it foremostly in the visceral way that I did when I knew nothing of its history.On to the indisputable facts: 395 tracks, 345 bands, almost 21 hours of sound, spanning most elements of the post-punk, art-pop, new wave, hardcore, no wave, d.i.y., new romantic, power-pop, dancepunk, art-punk and electropop spheres. Nine of the discs are audio CDs, carefully selected and sequenced along sonic or emotional themes. The tenth disc is an mp3 "appendix" containing tracks by 130-plus bands that didn't fit the main mixes, most of whom are just as good as those on the main CDs. For some of you, there is little new to you here. For a good many, this may be all the "post-punk" you'll ever want. I don't need to change your life, I just want to play you some music; so if you enjoy any of it, my effort has been worthwhile. It is my secret hope, however, that for a few of you, this will be another step toward deep, passionate addiction to music you might not have known existed. Music does not truly exist without both passionate playing and passionate listening; you make music out of noise by listening well.

One could -- if one wanted to -- create an alternate 1981 set that removes many tracks in favor of a slew of R'n'B selections, but understandably that would reflect the bias of the creator as much as this set does. The whole *point* is that it is biased. (Something like the original Nuggets was biased after all.)

Lovebug -- indeed there were. And hip-hop, and avant garde, and probably Nashville Country for all I know. But this box was never intended to be "the" "objective" story of 1981. I definitely indended to have a limited (but not too limited) scope. I definitely didn't mean to offend anyone by leaving things out--I just figured my scope was one that could use some in-depth anthologising, and it happens to reflect my favourite sort of music going on at the time.

Were I to put my money where my mouth is, I'd assemble the early 80s R&B/rap version of your box. As if. Your anthology is an achievement!

I Love Music CDR700Go! Collections

A series of other single-year retrospectives have been given birth in recent years by the denizens of the music critic circle-jerk I Love Music, who have generated an entire inventory of single-disc mp3 mixes, with listings accessible in the message board's archives. Assembled by folks like Seattle Weekly editor Michaelangelo Matos, All Music Guide contributor Andy Kellman, and former Pitchfork rabblerouser Chris Ott, most are less motivated by personal taste than a desire to most accurately document the calendar year, above and below ground. Hence, the 1976 disc makes room for both the Buzzcocks and "Disco Duck", and Barry Manilow and Pere Ubu are compilation flatmates for the first-- and probably last-- time. Waiving the right to selective hindsight makes the discs great archeological fodder; on random, they play like great radio stations with extreme microprogramming.

Hmmm, can't imagine what year(s) the statement in bold is referring to... *whistles*

I'm not sure I agree that things were as segregated then as they might seem, and I certainly don't agree that post-punk was particularly "rockist" or anti-disco---a large portion of this stuff is very dance-oriented, often with straight-up disco beats. Call it cultural imperialism, call it cooption--I think a lot of these musicians (especially in England) were very broad-minded, heavily immersed in jamaican musics, American funk, and, I suspect, a good deal of African music (both Afrobeat-ish/High-life and traditional forms) as well as a broad swath of "white" music. I guess I'm one to tend to cut arguments about "authenticity" and "originality" down quickly, because they tend to insult just about everyone involved (supposed "originators" and accused "coopters") and paint everything into tight little corners. I'm certain there was plenty of posing and faking and hanging-on, but I prefer to focus on the cooperative, the joyous, the fun. I think there was a lot of play back and forth between the "white" music (apparently what is on my set, though many musicians involved were not racially white) and "black" music at the time--white kids were stealing calypso beats but adding Stockhausen splicing and Scratch Perry echoes, black kids were sampling Liquid Liquid and Tom Tom Club, early goth-tinged electro-pop was providing production aesthetics for hip hop, and on and on. There are very few outright Elvises on this set. I'd love it if you did "the" "other" 1981--I'd love to see all kinds of spheres anthologised in this fashion, and I'd love to put them all in a big CD changer and hit "random". It'd be a lot of fun.

This thing about Elvis and black music is a canard. To my ears, Elvis was equally influenced by country music and Dean Martin as he was by Big Mama Thornton. But that's a whole nother discussion.

Again, I'm not carping or complaining. This set is a public service.

I really appreciate your perspective. What you're saying is fascinating to me, actually--in fact, what you say confirms my suspicions about the ways in which my views might be skewed by knowing the whole era/sphere pretty much from the music only. It doesn't surprise me at all, really, that the musicians may have been able to make leaps that their audience were not. It seems a pretty common occurance that eclectic musicians are doomed to end up serving as "translators" for less eclectic fans, somehow making music said fans otherwise might not try easily digested. It's a shame to think this was the case even in so wide-ranging a sphere as the "post-punk" milieu; it's been my complaint about all this current "dance-punk"/"post-punk revivalist" stuff: the bands involved may know their roots and their roots' roots (I'm in no position to say); but I've met many a young kid who simply feels he doesn't need PigBag, because he has his !!!. I'm ambivalent, because I think the best music is made by those who're most aware of their forbears but least worshipful of them; and like I said before, I deeply resist the concept that there's any "pure" music in the pop world.

$11.50 plus postage. It costs you what it costs me.

The vast majority of the stuff on this thing is not new to me, but as a collector of the era I gotta make sure I cover all the bases. Nice to see you've got some good old fashioned early 4AD stuff in there, too!

Several people called Mark emailed me, but your email address here isn't on my list.

I've got a Gary at an .au email, so I think you're in ; )

i didn't get a reply though...

i was 18 in 1981. its kind of a "out of home go crazy" year for me.

Hmm. Does your last name start with an L? I've got the reply I sent you in my "sent" box, Thursday 10:21 pm

Bimble ---

Very sorry, friend. I don't know how I could've missed it if I got it.

Yeah, I've got you, too. Both you and Mully were amongst the very first few, sent you a reply 10 minutes before Mully. I hope this Lycos thing is reliable. . . I've taken emails from 65 people here, and I've replied to every one of them, by my account. . .

I admit I don't share the nostalgia for vinyl of many; nor do I have any evidence that, on your average player, it is a "superior" format. Honestly, when kids spinning shit over thrift store systems tell me that, I have to try hard not to laugh. I do prefer vinyl sleeves, obviously (LP anyway). That said, when something's only available on vinyl, that's how I'll get it if I need it. I tend to avoid ammassing too much vinyl, though, because it takes up so much space. I'm able to keep about 2,000 CDs in nice black binders in a locker (literally a high scool locker) in my closet; I couldn't live in my place if I had 2,000 LPs.

Conversely, I'm a huge fan of the democratising effect of the CD-R. Talk about "it was easy, it was cheap"! Sure, some store-bought CD-R with one of those horrible "mini-cases" will make an awful artefact; but done right, they can be reasonably attractive.

Anyway, thanks again. Good luck with the deluge of e-mail. Hopefully, nothing crashes! Oh, and if you are able to add me to a waiting list sometime in the next year or two, that would be awesome!

Thanks so much. Really, the kindness everyone who's contacte me has shown has been inspirational. I honestly posted here a bit trepedatiously--I'd heard rather lofty things about the place, and had a minor notion I'd get told what poor choices I'd made, what I'd missed, etc. To a (wo)man, from music editors to teenaged kids, everyone has been very complimentary. I hope everyone feels the same way when they've been digesting the mixes!

Re: the physical object, yeah, I'll always want one. Truth is, at this point, I've begun thinking of the actual discs as permanent "back-ups". I got a 250GB HD about a year and a half ago, and a 100GB portable mp3 player about six months ago, and they've radically changed the way I listen to my music (for the better). It's a far cry from the romanticism of turning the LP over halfway through, but gosh--being able to put a lifetime of music *on random* is pretty awe-inspiring. It's made me feel that my constant rationalisation for my record-buying habits---that I was "building a library" to last a lifetime---wasn't just a convenient justification. I really do love it all, things I haven't heard in years. I'm a traditionalist in many, many ways--but I'm becoming a modernist in regards to music making/listening technology. Hell, the fact that I've been able to make my own little records (ha, CDs) as easily as I might've kept a sketchbook---there's just nothing bad about that I can see.

I definitely share the ambivalence. I wonder if "we"--those like us, from about the age 20 through maybe 60--have the best of both worlds, a combination that will probably be lost on younger kids. I have an aversion to the concept of iTunes that borders on irrational; but younger kids might argue correctly that we're materialists to a fault. I'm not sure who's right, but I do enjoy the "personal archaeology" of looking through my physically-housed music. I like that I have that option, even if I rarely excersise it these days.

You know whos opinion I'd love to hear/read on all this? Brian Eno. Talk about a guy who's managed to be a revolutionary modernist/post-modernist/technologist and yet maintain a level of craftsmanship that almost only comes through a visceral understanding of the music-making process.

Eeep. You probably won't like me much--I made an edit of "Raindance". I agree it's a great track, fantastic atmosphere and very underrated, but I wanted to get as many artists represented as possible (and let people seek out the full versions of the tracks I edited, if they'd like). I still left about 5 minutes of the track ; )

I hope no one will mind that I did an edit of Crispy Ambulance's "The Presence".

Crispy Ambulance is my second fave band ever, but the Presence is the kind of song you can do an edit of and it wouldn't be too offensive. I can understand where you were coming from. Don't worry about it. Remember I'm here to hear the stuff I HAVEN'T heard.

Yep, I got yours this time. Did you get my reply?

For vinyl transfers, I'm not very high-tech, I admit. I just use Soundforge for pretty much all my wav capturing/editing. Then I manually clean clicks and pops, if it's close to a clean rip. I don't trust "auto" cleaning filters--even running Soundforge's "pop" seeker, it almost always finds elements that aren't clicks/pops. So it's just the tedious task of listening close and watching close--but I like looking at waveforms, so it's ok. If the vinyl is irretrevably vinylly, then I just leave it that way.

Before anyone gets the wrong idea---about 15% of the stuff in this set is indeed mp3-sourced or from friends' vinyl. I'm too young to have been "in the right place at the right time," or to have the money to afford multi-hundre-dollar 7"s. And some of the tracks (mainly on the 'Cassette' mix) are sourced from Chuck Warner's rips. I tried to limit the set only to what I owned for a while, but there were some great things I just didn't want to leave out. The vast majority, for better or worse, I've spent the money on over the years.

I only did edits in very judicious ways. Where I could, I even pulled off "seamless" edits, rather than resorting to fade-outs, etc.

I've never met anyone whose second favourite band was Crispy Ambulance before. Are you a big Crepescule/Fac Bel fan in general?

interesting peeps have responses to the mixes themselves. the ilm cdrgo's being mp3 discs tends to make them "resources" rather than playlists i think (i rarely listen to 10 hours at a go...nate's discs are an exception as they work as folders) so your decision to go with 80 min discs entices this response...deliberate?

Fac Bel yes, Crepuscule some, but not as much.

Well, I'm quite sorry not to be able to answer that question. I DID actually go through a little phase with Popol Vuh sometime last summer. Can't recall if I heard Nosferatu theme in the process. Seems like I read about that album, though, or a lot of people liked it or something. I remember Nosferatu more as an old horror movie I saw in my childhood than anything else. Older than Popol Vuh, and no music comes to mind.

deliberate

Not to entice response, no, but to facilitate listenability/accessibility, yes, definitely. Numerous people who got the 1st Edition have told me they love the set, and yet haven't gotten around to the mp3-CD. 181 tracks on one disc is a little prohibitave. I always focused on the mixes--the 'Briefcase' was a means I came up with to allow myself to focus on making the best flowing, most listenable and cohesive mixes possible, and yet still include all the stuff that was great/good/significant but didn't flow.

Some of the "sounds" of the mixes are pretty obvious--the 'Amplifier' disc is clearly the more "rock" disc. But some of them--the 'Flame,' the 'Icicle,' the 'Brain' are a little less analogous to genre. So I'm curious how others think they hold up as individual mixes. I have found that with the exception of a couple of them, they stand as individual mixes with any others I've made, even with all the time/sound "restrictions". Maybe it's like a sonnet--you have to try harder in ways than with free verse, but sometimes it can facilitate a big payoff.

did you get my e-mail, i.m.? i sent it out last night german time and didn't get a reply.

I did indeed get your email, and I sent you a reply.

I wonder if I'm being filtered into people's spam boxes, somehow?

Sure none of you real writers want to salvage its readability with a cogent anecdote or insightful analysis?

Yes, and replied. Looks like I may have to swith email providers for this project. What a pain.

I'm using a new email address. The lycos one seemed to be giving people trouble. So now be on the lookout for a message from soundslike1981@gmail.com instead.

I will send out a mass email to those on each list (separately) so that you'll know your status with certainty. I apologise to anyone who didn't end up on the reserve list because of email problems.

You will not need to reply to the email I send, it's just FYI. If you haven't received notification by Tuesday night (U.S. CST) and you feel you should've been on one of the lists, then email me and we'll sort it out.

Thanks

Here's the updated version of my "essay," I'm very open to any suggestions or criticisms, bearing in mind that I'm far from being a writer/critic myself:

1 9 8 1

My first idea of how to introduce this set was with a pretentiously lofty-sounding question: "what do we do when we realise Pandora's box really can't be shut?" This was supposed to set me up to cogently persuade you that the music found on this set provides an answer: that when our belief in a fundamental order is broken, survivors resolve to make a beautiful mess. I wanted to argue that a lot of this music belongs to a noble lineage of "outré" and progressive popular art made by people trying to restore hope and meaning (and fun) amidst the smoking embers of classicism, modernism, and post-modernism. I wanted to say something pithy about how the shattering of the notion of discrete, monolithic cultures not only enabled this music, but made it necessary. I'd even have set the stage with Thatcher, Reagan, wasteland suburbs, post-industrial economic shifts, the dole, the rise of fundamentalism and yuppiedom and anti-disco rockism. My imaginary essay would’ve made you think you were reading a collaboration between Simon Reynolds, Brian Eno and George Orwell.

But the truth is, I was in diapers in 1981. I didn't start my daily worrying about Grandpa Reagan’s nuclear winter until '87 at the earliest. As far as underground music is concerned, I have about a decade of experience with the stuff. My parents were kindly hippies spinning Joan Baez and James Taylor records. They imbued me with a sense that music was deeply important, but didn't have much of its sonic or cultural breadth to share. Presently, I "know" about as much about music as could be expected of any musically obsessed twenty-four year old who owns only a couple hundred jazz records, a hundred hip-hop records, overuses Skip James on mixes, and only heard his first Talking Heads album as a junior in high school. The point is, I don't have any special insight enabling me to write cool, authoritative, impressively linernotish liner notes. When it comes down to it, I put this set together as a way to avoid having to put in words what is so great about this music. After all, the music puts it best.

This set inevitably reflects my biases as its curator. Indeed, I chose to emphasise certain spheres and leave others out entirely (for someone else to anthologise, hopefully). Still, I hope the set has depth and breadth enough to allow you to decide the "best," "most important," "coolest" sounds. I realise you may even disagree with me that 1981 was worth all the trouble. Personally, I think something was happening from about 1978 to 1982 that is noteworthy in the history of pop music. There was an earnest expansiveness and playfulness regarding the boundaries (or absence thereof) between genres and between "art" and "pop". And I think 1981 may have been the most diverse year of the period, if not the most intense. But nothing I can say will convince you—only the music can.

A portion of these tracks sound undeniably dated (if charmingly so,) and will probably trigger nostalgia even if you've never heard them before. Progressive (in pop terms) as these particular tracks were at the time, they established the paradigm for the infamous "sound of the 80s," and by extension the cartoonish aesthetic currently revered by college freshmen too young to actually remember the decade. However, I believe that the majority of the music comprising this set’s “sound of the 80s” would set a fire were it released today. The paradigm in which many of these musicians operated was expansive enough that a lot of today's "progressive" music is still exploring it (in just the way that many of 1981's best bands were working through Can, Kraftwerk, Sun Ra, the Velvet Underground, et al).

Investigating threads of Influence and innovation; glowing about "prescience;" and dividing the thieves from the originals are games which can arguably enhance musical enjoyment. But I hope you'll first take this music on its own terms. I came into my interest in “the post-punk period" slowly. Till I was about 17 I bought the hype that punk was the Sex Pistols, whom I didn't especially like, and therefore I skipped ahead to Yo La Tengo and the Pixies. It was only after I stumbled through a couple dozen records that I started to notice ’79, ’82, 1981. Any conscious, intellectual concept of a "movement" came only after I first felt the music without analysing it. Though I've become fascinated with the "culture" this music evinces, I'm not pained by not having "been there": the music stands on its own, even without a perfect understanding of its context.

On to the indisputable facts: 411 tracks, 366 bands, almost 21 hours of sound, touching most elements of the post-punk, art-pop, new wave, hardcore, no wave, d.i.y., new romantic, power-pop, dancepunk, art-punk and electropop spheres. Nine of the discs are audio CDs, carefully sequenced along sonic or emotional themes. The tenth disc is an mp3 "appendix" containing tracks by 130-plus bands that didn't fit the main mixes, most of whom are just as good as those on the main CDs. While it may also be a resource, I hope this set is above all a good spin.

For some of you, there is little new here. For a good many, this may be all the "post-punk" you'll ever want. I don't need to change your life, I just want to play you some music; so if you enjoy any of it, my effort has been worthwhile. My secret hope, however, is that for a few of you, this set will be a further step toward a deep, passionate addiction to music you might not have known existed. The event called music doesn’t truly occur without both passionate performance and passionate listening; you turn chaos and noise into meaningful beauty by listening well.

Thanks for the words of support. I think I will leave my intro in, if for no other reason than to maintain the DIY-ness; but it would be fun to add a few bits from those who "were there". There's some usable space in the booklet going to waste ; )

Regards.

You're on the reserve list, no worries.

Thanks

Yeah, they are partly apologetic--but they're also "clever" ways of suggesting some of the loftier things I think may be the case re: this music, without having to actually "proclaim" any of it to be so. In other words, I think there's a lot of interesting stuff to say about the music/period/atmosphere/culture, but I'm not in a position to say it properly. But usually that's what "massive box set" liner notes do--they provide a sage setting of the stage; so I thought I'd have a bit of fun with the conundrum I faced. Just some silliness to fill the space--which is why I tried my best to get a proper writer to give me something to fill it with instead ; )

I really can't. It'd be shit. It's all a sketch in my head, anyway. You've read enough of my garble over the years to know it's not self deprecation for me to say I can't write.

Even if I could say it all properly I'm not sure I'd want to--kind of why I included "links" and other suggested reading material at the back of the booklet, to let the listener decide for themselves whether "what happened" and "what it's all about" matter.

I haven't read it yet obviously (because it's not released,) but in talking with Simon Reynolds a little, it looks like my set will provide a pretty reasonable soundtrack to his upcoming post-punk tome 'Rip It Up and Start Again' (which sounds like it will be more fantastic than I'd imagined).

I'm still taking waiting list requests, at soundslike1981@gmail.com : )

If you have not received an email from me but feel you should have, drop me a line at the address below.

Thanks.

Amazing.

I mean, it will be a lot more amazing in a few months after I have a chance to listen to it all. 21 HOURS!

All to say--I'd love to hear any thoughts/criticisms/suggestions/ideas/anecdotes/etc. those of you who get this thing have. I've spent a good while with the music, and especially with the stuff on the set, and I still love it all--not burned out yet. So I'm curious what people who *haven't* spent such an intense time with it think.

I've bought materials for another 50 copies, so I guess I'm committed to at least that many. But it may still be another 2-4 weeks before I can get to all the "waiting list" people. It's just a very time-consuming process.

The first two CD's were composed of mostly stuff I already knew but there were a few stray things here and there that clearly warrant further research on my part. Currently I'm enjoying the "brain" CD quite a bit. Not only does it have a lot more stuff I hadn't heard before in comparison to the first two CD's, but it's just the KIND of music I want to hear lately. It's soo nice to hear a Birthday Party song in the context of a compilation, too, because I find whole albums of theirs a bit too much to take, even if they did do some really great songs in their career.

Wow, Eyeless In Gaza! I haven't heard them in so long! I actually remember that song, too. Great stuff.

20 copies went out last thurs/friday, and another 12 will go out tomorrow. My plan is to go to the post office every couple days, to give time for enough sets to be paid for to make it worth using my lunch break. I appreciate everyone's timely responses to my mass email.

How did I miss this thread? Wowsa. Amazing. Great work IM.

My email has been sent.

Is there more available for purchase, I would love to get my hands on a copy. It looks fantastic. I'm really impressed like everyone else.

I'm not sure what the most cost-effective method for international shipping is. Try http://ircalc.usps.gov/ with a weight of 12oz from postal code 72205.

Poortheatre, Jmeister --

Go ahead and send me an email at soundslike1981@gmail.com if you would so I can put you on the waiting list. It'll probably be several weeks before I could get to you, so that should give you time to get together the $13.

Mike O.--

Glad it reached you, hope you dig it.

Yours went out Thursday, should be there any day now.

Glad you like it, Joel.

Media mail is supposed to be 4-7 days. Tomorrow makes a week. So with any luck. . . : )

I should've made it more clear that U.S.ers can opt for something faster than media mail if they want to pay for it; but I figured 7 days max wasn't too bad.

Utterly incredible...

Awesome! Somebody ought to do a marathon for charity or something where they try to listen to all 21 hours consecutively!

Let's see---the 9 mixes make 12 hours--has anybody made it to the mp3-CD (the one with the briefcase-esque logo)? That bit may have been overkill--but there's a lot of great stuff that just didn't suit the mixes!

Also I'm rather happy to see Club Tango on there. I have that 7", really like that song a lot. Nice to see Mass and Urban Verbs too!

I'm not sure how much stuff on there qualifies as obscure. Probably some, but then again, none of it is *that* hard to find or I wouldn't have found it. Some of the obscure stuff is thanks to Chuck W or PhilT.

I admit, that Necessaries track is one of my very few cheats. They released an album in '81, then rereleased it under a different name with a few different tracks and a different mastering job the next year. The track you have is from the rerelease--but I think it was *recorded* in '81. Basically, it's far and away the best track and features Arthur (Russell) most prominantly--without his influence, they're a decent but sometimes middling pop-rock band. He's just magic (though I can't say much for the one solo track I knew to have been released in '81--it's a very, very minor sketch---gosh how I wish "A Little Lost" or something like that had been released in '81).

Ah! The penny drops, I was wondering why the voice sounded so familiar. Obscurity is all in the ear of the beholder, m'friend -- certainly the vast majority of the songs and bands are very familiar (hell, I'm listening to Robyn H's "Love" right now and I saw him the other night!), but not all, and I'd be lying to say if I had!

haha I've lost all perspective on this stuff, it's imprinted on my brain--but push me forward to '85 or back to '75 or just about anywhere else, and plenty of stuff that would be well known to ILMers is probably obscure to me. I didn't mean to specialise, and in terms of time spent listening I don't really--but for a project like this, it's kind of required : )

It's very exciting to me that people are hearing stuff that's new-to-them with this thing--hopefully it'll cause more than a few legitimate purchases!

Got to get this, before the fall box set...

The music reaffirms my faith in people in a way, so it's fantastic that putting it all in one place can do the same. Fantastic : ) The queue is so deep, I don't know if I'll get to second helpings, but I'll try!

Yeah, I'd have to echo that. A labor of love and then some -- if the whole enterprise can be summed up in one word, it would be 'generosity,' from everything to getting the music to presentation and forethought and explanation.

The response of the 2nd round has been really quick! 12+ copies will go out today at lunch. The "+" can mean you, if you got an email from me yesterday and are able to respond in the next few hours. Thanks!

You're good, thanks--your copy will head out in a couple hours!

Thanks!

As said upthread, obscurity is definitely in the ear of the beholder - I'm a nave in ILM-land so this is my first exposure to many of these artists and songs.

12 more copies went out this afternoon, should be arriving all next week.

ASTONISHING.

this sets the bar so amazingly high for any kind of personal mix project. I am in awe. It's just such a goddam beautiful thing to hold in your hand. Listening to disc 1 now.

Yes, definitely. In fact, I think you asked the same question a while ago? Just email me at the address below. Thanks.

I'm trying not to re-read the tracklisting, to surprise myself with it later...

listened to only the first two discs, so far. great fun.

thanks, very much, I.M.!

I don't have the list in front of me, but I'm pretty sure I have, and I've already sent you your copy. I'll make sure, though.

Sven ---

Made it in word/pagemaker/photoshop, printed at a local reprographics shop, folded/stapled myself.

RJG ---

Cool, glad it got there.

I got it from www.ioproducts.com. A slightly bootleg looking website, but I haven't had any problems buying from them.

Finding those CD-Rs made me really happy, too. I've had maybe two failed burns in over 1,500.

The whole thing is kindof like those zines, in that the aesthetic was partly a product of my material limitations.

Why yes! Please read upthread. :-)

So far I'm finding that about 10% of it is stuff I'm very familiar with by some of my favorite bands. Another 10 or 20% is stuff I'm pretty familiar with but haven't heard for years. But the great part is of course the 30 or 40% of it that are songs I've never heard or artists I've never heard of but want to hear more immediately. I'll add some more in-depth thoughts later when I've had more time to digest.

I hope you aren't finding the stuff you don't know to be substancially lower quality than the stuff you do know.

http://www.trouserpress.com/entry.php?a=passions

I was never all that into them, myself, but I guess it's kindof interesting they shared a label with the Cure.

Personally, the Passions are one of the more underrated female-lead post-punk bands I know, along with PragVec and Neonbabies (whom I just discovered) and maybe Y Pants. They're a much poppier type of post-punk generally, but with a nice slightly dark rock polish to them. I highly recommend '30,000 Feet Over China,' but 'Michael & Miranda' are both quite good, too. As they're both well out of print (and not looking likely to be otherwise, that I'm aware) email me and I'll see about getting copies to you.

O. Nate ---

Thanks so much! Several people have used that word to describe the set, and I take it as a high compliment of the one thing I can take credit for, which is putting all this stuff in one little place.

I wish I could explicate my choices like you have, Ned. But I guess if I could, it would take 20 pages, as long as this mix is. . .

Yeah, the Passions were amazing. Barbara Gogan's still active musically.

Oh, and also the time John Peel read out the final verse of "d'ye ken John peel" that I had been looking for, to put online as a tribute last year. Bit late now tho.

If you're having those responses halfway through the first disc, I think it's going to be a fun set for you : )

That kind of thing makes me really happy. All my experience with this music is obviously out of context--nevertheless, it's associated with many memories even for me. That I picked the right tracks to bring back the time for those who were there---pure luck, but gratifying nonetheless.

Yeah, I spent a sort of absurd amount of time normalising and doing subtle dynamic gain and manually removing the worst pops to get the stuff to sound good together. Fortunately, there was usually a general cleanliness and sparcity of production on a lot of music then, so production-wise they were easeier to flow together than, say, Big Black, My Bloody Valentine, and a pre-war blues record, etc. But the quality of recording, mastering, mixing varies pretty greatly. It was a lot of work, but hopefully worth it--the sort of thing that hopefully no one will really notice, unless they're prone to thinking about that sort of thing.

I found that by reencoding the briefcase tracks at a slightly lower bitrate (still VBR) I could fit a _LOT_ more on the disc. So, I've now changed it to hold 252 tracks, 207 bands who aren't on the main mixes. This has allowed me to fit in a lot of the stuff I'd previously had to leave out but didn't want to based on musical interest/quality. I don't think it's noticably diminished the audio quality--they were already mp3s, so either you already didn't like how they sounded or you probably won't notice the difference.

Anybody whose copy hasn't gone out yet will get this version. With this disc, the set now comes to officially 408 bands/artists, 482 tracks, 24.5 hours.

Now, to be fair, I'd like to offer to send this version to everyone who's already got a copy, if they think they need _MORE_ 1981. Alternately, I'll make the folder available on my soulseek. So, email me at the address below. If you need a physical replacement, it'll take a while---as in, when I'm done with all the copies of the full set, which could be months from now. But I'd still like to make it available to you.

*PLEASE* make sure to make your subject line say "BRIEFCASE" so I'll notice the emails seperate from others.

Here's the updated briefcase tracklist:

231. Agent Orange - Miserlou (2:06)
232. Black Flag - What I See (1:55)
233. Blue Orchids - Dumb Magician (2:54)
234. Blue Nile - The Second Act (4:20)
235. British Electronic Foundation - Optimum Chant (4:11)
236. Cabaret Voltaire - Landslide (2:07)
237. Cardboards - Electrical Generator (3:32)
238. Comsat Angels - Now I Know (BBC) (4:14)
239. Crash Course in Science - Flying Turns (2:58)
240. Creatures - Thumb (3:58)
241. Cure, The - Primary (3:34)
242. Dancing Cigarettes - Puppies in a Sack (4:22)
243. dB's, The - I'm In Love (3:28)
244. Diagram Brothers - Bricks (2:42)
245. Dif Juz - Cs (4:49)
246. DNA - 5-30 (1:04)
247. Durutti Column - Jaqueline (2:19)
248. Embarrassment, The - Sexy Singer Girl (2:14)
249. Eno, Brian and David Byrne - Mea Culpa (Edit) (1:46)
250. Eurythmics - Sing-Sing (4:05)
251. Fall, The - Lie Dream of a Casino Soul (3:11)
252. Family Fodder - Dinosaur Sex (9:01)
253. Fire Engines - Discord (Single) (2:40)
254. Gang of Four - Outside the Trains Don't Run On Time (3:17)
255. Go-Go's - Automatic (3:08)
256. Homosexuals - In Search of the Perfect Baby (5:28)
257. Liaisons Dangereuses - Etre Assis Ou Danser (3:26)
258. Liquid Liquid - Lock Groove (In) (3:56)
259. Lounge Lizards - Ballad (3:25)
260. Minutemen, The - Boiling (0:57)
261. New Musik - This World Of Walter (2:55)
262. Newman, Colin - Inventory (2:11)
263. Orange Juice - Wan Light (2:30)
264. Penguin Cafe Orchestra - Yodel 1 (4:09)
265. Public Image Ltd - Go Back (3:46)
266. Sound, The - Judgement (5:03)
267. Stranglers - Everybody Loves You When you're Dead (2:41)
268. Teardrop Explodes, The - . . .and The Fighting Takes Over (3:54)
269. Wire - Our Swimmer (Edit) (2:29)
270. X - The Once Over Twice (2:30)
271. Yellow Magic Orchestra - Seoul Music (4:45)
272. Young Marble Giants - Posed by Models (1:24)
273. You've Got Foetus on Your Breath - I Am Surrounded by Incompetence (4:52)
274. Zoomers - From the Planet Moon (2:55)
275. 45 Grave - 45 Grave (3:21)
276. 999 - Bongos on the Nile (2:55)
277. A Flock of Seagulls - Telecommunication (2:32)
278. ABC - Tears Are Not Enough (Edit) (2:22)
279. Adam & The Ants - Prince Charming (3:17)
280. Airmail - In a Moment (5:16)
281. Alternative TV - My Hand Is Still Wet (3:19)
282. Angelic Upstarts - I Understand (2:53)
283. APB - Talk To Me (3:00)
284. Aquila - Without a Care (4:16)
285. Article 58 - Lost & Found (3:26)
286. Au Pairs - Love Song (2:48)
287. Avacados - I Never Knew (2:23)
288. Babylon Dance Band - When I'm Home (2:34)
289. Bad Brains - Pay to Cum (1:30)
290. Bangs, The - Getting Out Of Hand (2:14)
291. Beakers, The - Four Steps Toward a Cultural Revolution (1:29)
292. Beelzebub Youth - Push Push Push (2:03)
293. Bene Gesserit - Do You Know (3:48)
294. Berlinski Zid - Mozgani na Asfaltu (2:44)
295. Birnbaum, Dara - Kojak-Wang (0:55)
296. Black Uhuru - Youth Of Eglington (5:02)
297. Blackouts - Young Man (2:57)
298. Blah Blah Blah - Central Park (3:53)
299. Blancmange - Sad Day (Early) (2:24)
300. Blasters - This Is It (2:15)
301. Blondie - Rapture (Edit) (3:39)
302. B-Movie - Remembrance Day (3:44)
303. Bouncing Czechs - 1992 (Edit) (2:22)
304. Bow Wow Wow - Why Are Babies So Wise (2:55)
305. Bunnydrums - Little Room (3:04)
306. Buzz - Life Ends (1:57)
307. Calm, The - Lol Coxhill (2:09)
308. Chameleons - Here Today (BBC) (3:43)
309. Chefs - Someone I Know (2:07)
310. Chemicals Made From Dirt - Ike (2:27)
311. Cherry Boys - Too Much Confusion (2:44)
312. China Shop - Kowtow (3:53)
313. Chords, The - One More Minute (3:35)
314. Christian Death - Dogs (2:54)
315. Clash, The - The Magnificent Dance (3:25)
316. Club Tango - Performance (Edit) (2:24)
317. Colours Out of Time - The Waiting (BBC) (3:38)
318. Commericals - Simon (2:18)
319. Conservatives - Suburban Bitch (1:21)
320. Crispy Ambulance - The Presence (Edit) (3:19)
321. Dalek I Love You - Heartbeat (2:53)
322. Damned, The - Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde (Edit) (2:51)
323. Dangerous Girls - Men in Suits (2:41)
324. Danse Society - Continent (4:40)
325. Dark Day - Extermination (1:10)
326. Deep Freeze Mice - Dr. Z (3:38)
327. Department S - Age Concern (2:31)
328. Digital Dinosaurs - The Sideways Man (2:22)
329. Doctor Mix & The Remix - Brand New Cadillac (1:47)
330. Dramatis - Love Needs No Disguise (4:39)
331. Drowning Craze - Storage Case (3:05)
332. Dum Dum Dum - Dum Dum Dum (2:56)
333. Effigies - Strong Box (1:11)
334. Eight Eyed Spy - Lazy In Love (2:56)
335. Ejectors - Little Johnny (2:41)
336. Electric Guitars - Continental Shelf (2:55)
337. Essential Logic - Fanfare In the Garden (3:06)
338. Ex, The - Weapons for El Salvador (2:47)
339. Factrix - Thin Line (2:20)
340. Fair, Jad - Fish Can Talk (0:52)
341. Fast Set, The - King of the Rumbling Spires (2:00)
342. Fifteen Minutes - Last Chance for You (2:39)
343. Fingerprintz - Shadowed (3:04)
344. Five Or Six - The Trial (2:49)
345. Fleshtones - The Dreg (3:10)
346. Freddy And The Fruitloops - Right & Wrong (3:09)
347. Front 242 - Body to Body (4:10)
348. Generation X - Dancing With Myself (3:47)
349. George Harrassment - Yoghurt (1:20)
350. Gifted Children - Lichtenstein Girl (3:13)
351. Gilbert & Lewis - Hung Up To Dry Whilst Building An Arch (2:24)
352. Girls At Our Best - Go for Gold (3:22)
353. Gizmos - Biscuits & Gravy (2:05)
354. Goldman, Vivien - Launderette (3:44)
355. Gordon, Kim & Miranda - Working Youth (0:49)
356. Haig, Paul - Mad Horses (4:34)
357. Haircut 100 - Favourite Shirt (3:05)
358. Harrison, Kevin - People in Space (1:55)
359. Icehouse - Icehouse (Edit) (3:04)
360. Icicle Works - When Winter Lasted Forever (Edit) (2:25)
361. In Camera - Die Laughing (4:38)
362. Ippu-Do - Mission Impossible Theme (2:22)
363. It's Immaterial - A Gigantic Raft (Edit) (3:23)
364. Jackson, Joe - Beat Crazy (3:21)
365. Jagatara - Hey Say! (Edit) (2:58)
366. Jam, The - Absolute Beginners (2:51)
367. Kontakt Microfoon Orkest - Do the Residue (4:49)
368. Lambrettas, The - Decent Town (3:12)
369. Last Four Digits - Diddy Wah Diddy (1:52)
370. Leer, Thomas - Kings Of Sham (3:55)
371. Legal Weapon - Daddy's Gone Mad (2:36)
372. Liliput - Eisiger Wind (3:28)
373. Limp, The - Marked Man (2:45)
374. Lovich, Lene - New Toy (3:15)
375. Ludus - Mutilate (2:33)
376. Macs, The - I'm 37 (2:39)
377. Malaria - How Do You Like My New Dog (2:49)
378. Marine - Life in Reverse (2:44)
379. Mass - Cross Purposes (4:26)
380. Maximum Joy - Strech (Edit) (2:57)
381. Medium Medium - The Glitterhouse (2:16)
382. Men At Work - Who Can It Be Now (3:19)
383. Metal Urbain - Hysterie Connective (Early Version) (2:43)
384. Meteors - Graveyard Stomp (2:05)
385. Method Actors, The - You (3:59)
386. Minny Pops - Dolphin's Spurt (2:56)
387. Misfits, The - Halloween (1:46)
388. Modern English - Black Houses (5:44)
389. Monochrome Set - Ten Don'ts For Honeymooners (3:05)
390. Moore, Thurston - The Fucking Youth Of Today (0:49)
391. Mr Science - Mr. Science (2:23)
392. My Captains - Converse (4:29)
393. Naked Lunch - La Femme (5:23)
394. Names - Music For Someone (1:56)
395. Nasmak - Vaseline des Artistes (3:14)
396. Native Hipsters - Tropical Fish in the Sink (3:38)
397. Neonbabies - Profi (3:50)
398. Neonbabies - Spass Muss Sein (1:57)
399. Neu Electrikk - Lust of Berlin (2:46)
400. No More - Suicide Commando (3:19)
401. Oingo Boingo - Capitalism (3:40)
402. Our Daughter's Wedding - Airlines (3:35)
403. Passage - Hip Rebels (3:28)
404. Philosophic Collage - Toxic Poppies (1:34)
405. Pin Group - Ambivalence (3:28)
406. Plimsouls - Mini-Skirt Minnie (2:42)
407. Plus Instruments - Things (2:20)
408. Poison Girls - Ideologically Unsound (2:39)
409. Police, The - Darkness (3:10)
410. Polyphonic Size - Mothers Little Helper (3:06)
411. Polyrock - Rain (4:01)
412. Pop, Iggy - Sea of Love (3:40)
413. Positive Noise - End In Tears (3:47)
414. Post Raisin Band - Pink Lincoln (2:25)
415. Predator - He Thinks He Knows Me (3:00)
416. Quad Pi - Near You (2:07)
417. Rally Go - Mass Brew Action (2:34)
418. Ranaldo, Lee - Shift (0:45)
419. Red Asphalt - Red Asphalt (1:51)
420. Red Cross - Puss 'N' Boots (2:33)
421. Red Krayola - An Old Man's Dream (2:30)
422. Reflections - 4 Countries (1:53)
423. Revillos - She's Fallen In Love with a Monster Man (3:19)
424. Room, The - Bated Breath (4:01)
425. Russell, Arthur - Sketch for Face of Helen (Edit) (3:31)
426. Schizoid - White House (3:13)
427. Scientists - She Said She Loves Me (2:09)
428. Second Layer - Distortion (Edit) (2:39)
429. Shivvers - Remember Tonight (3:21)
430. Simple Minds - Theme for Great Cities (Edit) (4:13)
431. Ski Patrol - Cut (3:55)
432. Slow Children - Spring in Fialta (3:24)
433. Slugfuckers - Schizo Revolution(1981) (mid-fi) (3:44)
434. Social Distortion - Telling Them (3:08)
435. Sort Sol - Misguided (4:19)
436. Spandau Ballet - To Cut A Long Story Short (Edit) (3:19)
437. Spanish Dogs - Cleveland (2:39)
438. Splodgenessabounds - Cowpunk Medlum (2:36)
439. Starter - Part of You (3:09)
440. Stolen Power - Little White Lies (2:45)
441. Strutz - Break Point (2:21)
442. Student Nurse - Discover Your Feet (2:34)
443. Suburban Lawns - Computer Date (1:05)
444. Subway Sect, The - Parallel Lines (2:38)
445. Surplus Stock - Let's Kill Each Other (3:19)
446. Swamp Children - Call Me Honey (4:53)
447. Swell Maps - Forest Fire (released 1981) (3:01)
448. Takahashi, Yukihiro - Something in the Air (4:51)
449. Tame O'Mearas - Curl Curl (2:18)
450. Tanks - March of the Slugs (4:39)
451. Teenage Filmstars - I Helped Patrick McGoohan Escape (2:55)
452. Telefones - Solid Ground (3:12)
453. Tenants - Submind (2:48)
454. The Past Seven Days - Raindance (Edit) (4:57)
455. The The - Untitled (3:23)
456. Theatre of Hate - My Own Invention (3:17)
457. Theoretical Girls - Electronic Angie (Studio) (3:37)
458. Thompson Twins - Politics (2:20)
459. Times, The - Biff! Bang! Pow! (2:51)
460. Triffids - This Boy (2:55)
461. TSOL - I'm Tired Of Life (1:50)
462. Tucker, Maureen - Louie Louie (2:41)
463. Two by Fours - Another 8 Hours (1:34)
464. UB40 - One in Ten (4:33)
465. Urban Verbs - Business and the Rational Mind (4:51)
466. Urinals - I Hate (2:02)
467. U-Turn - Price of Fame (2:16)
468. Vapors, The - Jimmie Jones (Single Version) (3:23)
469. Visage - Mind Of A Toy (4:28)
470. Vital Disorder - Let's Talk About Prams (2:17)
471. Volk, Hugh - Talk of the Town (2:04)
472. Walking Floors - No Next Time (2:26)
473. Wall of Voodoo - Crack the Bell (3:33)
474. Wanderers - Beyond the Law (2:08)
475. Watt, Ben - Departure (1:35)
476. Weirdos, The - Weird World (Demo) (3:02)
477. Wild West - Fierce Atoms (2:25)
478. Work, The - Duty (1:04)
479. xAx - Banging Your Head (3:41)
480. Xmal Deutschland - Schwarz Welt (2:39)
481. Xpozez - New Law (1:19)
482. Zounds - Demystification (3:45)

Do you have any objections with me submitting the track names to CDDB, so that the next person who wants to dump this onto their iPod/whatever doesn't have to type all the track names in? Wanted to check before I went ahead and did it...

Thank you!

I'm fine with submitting the tracklisting. Just don't mention my name or email address anywhere, if you don't mind. I meant to do it myself, but I couldn't figure out how.

I.M.

that briefcase is fantastic looking. and 1981 was a special year too.

I'm afraid it has been : \ Drop me an email and I'll put you on the 'Briefcase' list, and I'll get you the final version eventually.

I've had a few friends express interest in a listening party this weekend, so I'll make sure the word is heard.

That's incredibly geeky and incredibly cool. Hope they like it!

Supposedly some kids in my town are organising a "1981" dance party. I might DJ, even though I don't really "dance".

Haha! If it helps any Mark, I feel the same way you do. Especially since some of the added songs were d/l from me personally only a week before and previously unknown to our compiler. While I don't think including them was a crime in and of itself (I do not think of them as my property), I do think it's a bit dodgy to then claim he "had to leave them out" of the original set for other reasons, and it also leaves me in a position of having to catch up with the other songs added just like everyone else. I.M. is not going to be d/l anything from me anymore if I have anything to say about it, and I don't want any new and improved Briefcases, either.

Friend, by my count, not more than 4 tracks of the 71 I added to the briefcase were downloaded from you, so I'm not exactly sure what you're problem is. It seems you have issues, and your slanted communication has bugged me since day one. Frankly, I'll go a step further than not downloading anything from you--I'd rather not have to talk with you ever again. You speak as though you're giving commands, you ask for my albums list, the only reason I can imagine being you'd like for me to send you albums; you complain about how other people who aren't experts were getting their sets before you, so I bumped you up in the queue; and you tel me I'm ego tripping for sharing with you the nice remarks from Mr. Reynolds I'd just then discovered. You can take your crumby sub-Crispy Ambulance bore-core records and keep them.

*bows*

(Am listening to the final disc right now. Can I just say again how genius this is, and that I can't wait to listen to the Briefcase -- the older version, which though I wouldn't mind the newer one is MORE than perfectly fine.)

One final thing---I think being 10 years old in 1981 doesn't quit qualify you as having "been there". You spoke to me in the most condescending tones, in your aged wisdom and insight; while every guy who really has insight, like Ned or Simon and everyone else, has been supportive and helpful.

You absolutely *do* think of all of this as your property; what confuses me is how, knowing as much of it as you know, you manage to have such piss poor taste.

Cutty---

I'm afraid I don't remember what email address you used to put in your request. Would you mind emailing me again, and I'll see where you are?

grow up please.
moving on.

Thanks, back. I'm looking forward to hearing about which undiscovered (to them) bands people liked best, or what albums they went out and bought as a result of the set : )

1981 nut ---

I'll do my best. There've really been a few incrimental changes over the months, and then this big change recently, so I don't really know who has exactly what. Just trying to remember what's new or has changed since the first versions, here goes:

1. Agent Orange - Miserlou (1981) (2:06)
2. Black Flag - What I See (1981) (1:55)
3. Blue Orchids - Dumb Magician (1981) (2:54)
4. Blue Nile - The Second Act (1981) (4:20)
5. British Electronic Foundation - Optimum Chant (1981) (4:11)
6. Cabaret Voltaire - Landslide (1981) (2:07)
7. Crash Course in Science - Flying Turns (1981) (2:58)
8. Creatures - Thumb (1981) (3:58)
9. Dancing Cigarettes - Puppies in a Sack (1981) (4:22)
10. dB's, The - I'm In Love (1981) (3:28)
11. Diagram Brothers - Bricks (1981) (2:42)
12. Dif Juz - Cs (1981) (4:49)
13. Durutti Column - Jaqueline (1981) (2:19)
14. Eno, Brian and David Byrne - Mea Culpa (Edit) (1981) (1:46)
15. Eurythmics - Sing-Sing (1981) (4:05)
16. Fall, The - Lie Dream of a Casino Soul (1981) (3:11)
17. Fire Engines - Discord (Single) (1981) (2:40)
18. Gang of Four - Outside the Trains Don't Run On Time (1981) (3:17)
19. Go-Go's - Automatic (1981) (3:08)
20. Lounge Lizards - Ballad (1981) (3:25)
21. Minutemen, The - Boiling (1981) (0:57)
22. Newman, Colin - Inventory (1981) (2:11)
23. Penguin Cafe Orchestra - Yodel 1 (1981) (4:09)
24. Sound, The - Judgement (1981) (5:03)
25. Stranglers - Everybody Loves You When you're Dead (1981) (2:41)
26. Wire - Our Swimmer (Edit) (1981) (2:29)
27. X - The Once Over Twice (1981) (2:30)
28. Yellow Magic Orchestra - Seoul Music (1981) (4:45)
29. Young Marble Giants - Posed by Models (1981) (1:24)
30. You've Got Foetus on Your Breath - I Am Surrounded by Incompetence (1981) (4:52)
31. Angelic Upstarts - I Understand (1981) (2:53)
32. APB - Talk To Me (1981) (3:00)
33. Article 58 - Lost & Found (1981) (3:26)
34. Babylon Dance Band - When I'm Home (1981) (2:34)
35. Beakers, The - Four Steps Toward a Cultural Revolution (1981) (1:29)
36. Bene Gesserit - Do You Know (1981) (3:48)
37. Berlinski Zid - Mozgani na Asfaltu (1981) (2:44)
38. Birnbaum, Dara - Kojak-Wang (1981) (0:55)
39. Black Uhuru - Youth Of Eglington (1981) (5:02)
40. Blackouts - Young Man (1981) (2:57)
41. Blasters - This Is It (1981) (2:15)
42. Calm, The - Lol Coxhill (1981) (2:09)
43. Cherry Boys - Too Much Confusion (1981) (2:44)
44. China Shop - Kowtow (1981) (3:53)
45. Chords, The - One More Minute (1981) (3:35)
46. Clash, The - The Magnificent Dance (1981) (3:25)
47. Electric Guitars - Continental Shelf (1981) (2:55)
48. Fleshtones - The Dreg (1981) (3:10)
49. Freddy And The Fruitloops - Right & Wrong (1981) (3:09)
50. Gizmos - Biscuits & Gravy (1981) (2:05)
51. Gordon, Kim & Miranda - Working Youth (1981) (0:49)
52. Harrison, Kevin - People in Space (1981) (1:55)
53. In Camera - Die Laughing (1981) (4:38)
54. Ippu-Do - Mission Impossible Theme (1981) (2:22)
55. Leer, Thomas - Kings Of Sham (1981) (3:55)
56. Macs, The - I'm 37 (1981) (2:39)
57. Method Actors, The - You (1981) (3:59)
58. Moore, Thurston - The Fucking Youth Of Today (1981) (0:49)
59. Mr Science - Mr. Science (1981) (2:23)
60. Naked Lunch - La Femme (1981) (5:23)
61. Nasmak - Vaseline des Artistes (1981) (3:14)
62. Neonbabies - Profi (1981) (3:50)
63. Neonbabies - Spass Muss Sein (1981) (1:57)
64. Philosophic Collage - Toxic Poppies (1981) (1:34)
65. Plus Instruments - Things (1981) (2:20)
66. Positive Noise - End In Tears (1981) (3:47)
67. Rally Go - Mass Brew Action (1981) (2:34)
68. Ranaldo, Lee - Shift (1981) (0:45)
69. Revillos - She's Fallen In Love with a Monster Man (1981) (3:19)
70. Russell, Arthur - Sketch for Face of Helen (Edit) (1981) (3:31)
71. Schizoid - White House (1981) (3:13)
72. Scientists - She Said She Loves Me (1981) (2:09)
73. Shivvers - Remember Tonight (1981) (3:21)
74. Ski Patrol - Cut (1981) (3:55)
75. Spanish Dogs - Cleveland (1981) (2:39)
76. Starter - Part of You (1981) (3:09)
77. Stolen Power - Little White Lies (1981) (2:45)
78. Student Nurse - Discover Your Feet (1981) (2:34)
79. Surplus Stock - Let's Kill Each Other (1981) (3:19)
80. Tanks - March of the Slugs (1981) (4:39)
81. Volk, Hugh - Talk of the Town (1981) (2:04)
82. Watt, Ben - Departure (1981) (1:35)
83. Work, The - Duty (1981) (1:04)
84. Xmal Deutschland - Schwarz Welt (1981) (2:39)

THIS is exactly where I view the problem to be: you don't know who has what. Certainly the set is a great thing as it is, don't get me wrong. I don't regret having it at all. But to continually change the contents of the briefcase shows a blatant disregard for anyone who happens to care about these things. Granted not all people will, and that's fine. But you knew when you announced the 'big change' that it would likely make some people unhappy, because you said you had "a sort of cool, sort of unfortunate announcment to make". So it shouldn't come as a surprise to you.

As for having "piss poor taste" - for goodness sake, taste is a subjective thing and no two people have the same taste. It isn't something you cultivate to impress other people (at least I've never viewed it as such), it just is. I can hardly think of a more benign "insult" than saying someone has "piss poor taste". I don't like some of the bands you are into either - big deal!

As for whether you consider 10 years old to be old enough to have "been there" I couldn't give a rat's ass about that either. Whatever this elusive thing is called "being there" is something only you can define and give meaning to because it honestly doesn't mean anything to me - I don't see it as the status symbol you so obviously do. There are people even 10 years older than I am who have no interest in any of this music and likely never will! People who write books about music like to try to connect the musical trends of a certain time to the social/political atmosphere of the era in question. In my personal opinion, that connection overgeneralizes things and doesn't really go very far. It's just revisionism, and detracts from the artistic acheivements of the musicians themselves. Furthermore, individual accounts of that time are just that - individual accounts. They err on the side of specificity where the aforementioned music writers are too general in their assessments. Anyone looking for an logical explanation as to why so much amazing music came out circa '78-'82 is wasting their time. But that's only my opinion. And just for the record, Ned is the same age as I am.

Again, my point here is just that to continually change the contents of the briefcase isn't the most fair or considerate way to go about things, and I think it actually detracts (sadly) from how great the set is AS IT IS. It means you have more respect for people who wouldn't care about these things than for those who would. I find this puzzling since obviously you are a collector of the era yourself and were in a similar situation, you would be one of those people who cared! I can only explain this behaviour by supposing it all stems from your obvious inferiority complex. From what I can tell you are every bit as knowledgeable as the average ILMer if not more so. There is no need for you to be so self-deprecating - as I noticed two people tried to point out to you upthread as regards the opening two paragraphs of your liner notes.

I know of even one ILMer who is 5 years younger than yourself and quite knowledgeable in his own right, yet he feels no need for such self-deprecation.

So again, I just think to continually change the set is a bad idea and shows disrespect for people. You may feel different, but don't be surprised when people are unhappy.

Furthermore: you claimed you were sharing the new Briefcase folder on slsk. I tried browsing your files tonight as an experiment because I had not been able to browse them before and this is the first time I've tried since installing the new version of the program. I don't plan on d/l from you, but for the sake of anyone else who might want to - I don't see that you are sharing that folder like you said you would. Hence, it seems that you are showing further disrespect for people who might care about these things.

Beyond that, as far as I can tell you're the only person who has any problem with me making changes to the set--especially given that I've offered to "update" anyone who wants to.

As for the folder being shared on soulseek, it was; my shared folders were reset; and I forgot to add it. It's now shared, but since you're in a huff and won't be downloading any of it out of some weird protest of something or other, I guess you don't care.

I welcome criticisms of my selections; debates about the ethicality of such an undertaking as this set; the worth/unimportance of understanding the cultural milieu; or any number of ephemeral subjects related to this music. But whatever has upset you is so unclear that I doubt, after all your words expended on the subject, none of us understands what is the matter. Frankly, I doubt it's of any interest.

Moving on, please.

Thanks in advance.

-Bill

Look, can I be left out of this, please? FWIW, Bimble, I think you've acted very poorly here, as I'm sure I've indicated.

Can you put me back on the waiting list, I.M? I'd like to replace this, and it's certainly worth $26.

I'm glad you appreciate it on a stand-alone-mix level. That much music put across any other way would probably be overwhelming, and not very accessible as anything other than an historical documen---and this music is so very alive to me, I'd have hated to present it that way. Hope the next five mixes (and 12 hours of "bonus" material) hold up : )

Stephen ---

That fucking sucks, I'm sorry to hear. I'll put you on the waiting list again. Let me know if there's anything else I can do to help--did you lost any music permanently? Or just iPod/laptop copies?

As for what I can make out of Bimble's complaint, I guess I just don't subscribe to his notion that the people who contacte me first about the set are per se those who will enjoy it "most". Therefore, I don't see any reason that people later along should miss out just because I realised late into the process that I could fit another three hours of music on the appendix disc; and I don't see any reason people who already got their sets (like Bimble) should feel excluded, as I've offered to send replacement discs for the cost of shipping. Where the set now stands is basically the definitive version--I can't fit anything more. My aim is just to get the music heard.

I'd wondered about that, having never done any iTunes type stuff. If the file gets deleted/lost/stolen, do you have no recourse? Can you not download it again, having paid for the license?

I'm definitely still staunchly materialist about music, for better or worse.

I originally thought he was complaining about your statement that the 71 "extra" tracks were cut due to space limitations, when in fact he's claiming that you didn't even know about (at least some of) those 71 tracks until after you finished the set.

No matter which story is correct, obviously you're going to be a magnet for all things 1981. People will send you lots of stuff from 1981, wondering if you've heard it or not, and it's natural that you would want to update the set with some of this extra material. After all, you said from the start that your choices were subjective and you had no intention of covering all the bases.

So basically, revisions/additions to the set are not only unsurprising, but expected.

thanks I.M.

there's quite a lot to digest here!

Man, it's big.

You won't believe me if I say I never set out for quantity, only for quality. I think that holds true for at least 85% of the stuff, and the rest isn't bad, per se. Hope you dig it.

If so, then more the fool me.

Sorry, just had to get that off my chest.

Glad to hear it! Hope it stays so!

O. Nate ---

That very well could be, though I didn't consciously think of it in those terms. It's obviously one of the less genre-oriented, more general feel-oriented mixes. For me, it was just about "the beat," in a different way somehow than the 'Feet' mix. But I suppose you could say that a large percentage of "post-punk" was influenced by reggae/dub (and to my ears, African musics, and funk obviously, and Can, and Kraftwerk, and VU, and . . . . . .).

In any case, as I'm rather obsessed with rhythm, the 'Fire' disc is definitely one of my personal faves.

-- Ned Raggett (ne...), April 17th, 2005.

The only reason I mentioned Ned at all was because of this quote from I.M. from upthread:

You spoke to me in the most condescending tones, in your aged wisdom and insight; while every guy who really has insight, like Ned or Simon and everyone else, has been supportive and helpful.

My point was: I do not think I spoke to you in a condescending tone, and I would like to understand what this "insight" is that Ned "or Simon and everyone else" can offer about the year of 1981. I mean, if Ned and I are the same age, I find it hard to believe he could offer some special "insight" that I couldn't. However, if I am wrong, and he has been blessed with some special divine powers beyond his years I would honestly like to understand what this "insight" is.

As for what I can make out of Bimble's complaint, I guess I just don't subscribe to his notion that the people who contacte me first about the set are per se those who will enjoy it "most".

Exactly when did I ever say this?

Please stop chipping away at what is inherently a selfless act of I.M. sharing his personal project, and shut the fuck up.

Honestly, let your petty greivances sit for a minute. I don't have the newest briefcase version. I can get it if I want. So can you.

If you feel so slighted by the new version of the briefcase disc, I will be glad to send you money via paypal to reimburse your investment if you promise not to continue whining and derailing this thread. It's worth the money to stop what I consider to be a collosal waste of my time. You can contact me at the below address...I would gladly spend the $13 and get back to the matter at hand.

What are "these things" that you care about for which I'm showing blatant disregard? That's where I'm getting the impression that you think there are those who "deserve" this set more or who will enjoy it more, as I took to be the basis of your very first complaint when you thought you were deep in the queue due to email malfunction. As I've stated before, my "ideal" audience for the set was the kid who knows little but has the potential for passion--not collector scum like you and me. But I decided the only equitable and manageable approach to distributing this mix was first-come-first-serve, a rule I've broken only rarely, once being for you.

I have a feeling Reynolds has avoided being "overly general" in 570 pages worth of investigation. Whereas I probably would be wasting my time if I actually attempted to explicate the cultural relevance of any of this music---I haven't done the research, and I'm not a writer.

I can understand that you don't think it's fair that those who ask for the set at a later date get *more* music---but that's why I offered to send everyone who wants it the recently added stuff. If you really have a problem with the inclusion of the Ski Patrol track I got from you, I'll remove it. That should redress the practical complaints I've been able to discern. You've called me both an egotist and overly self-depricating; I'm pretty certain I'm neither. I know what I know--and I know enough to see how much I don't know. Beyond that, let's just agree to disagree, ok? As far as I'm aware, you're the only person who is "unhappy". At least, let's work this out via a private exchange, if we must.

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/omm/story/0,13887,1464368,00.html

That's about exactly what I had in mind but knew I couldn't pull off.

http://members.aol.com/blissout/postpunk.htm

Doesn't seem to be up anymore, but yeah, when I read that "primer" was when I realised Simon's book was something to look forward to.

That pretty much sums up my curmudgeony stance, at least re: current pop/rock/electronic-dance fare.

I "linked" to that essay in the 'READ' bit of the booklet. Good stuff.

That was a hope of mine--not to satisfy an appetite by to incite it--toward the one form of consumerism I've never had a moments guilt over.

Any major finds for anyone? Any suggestions for "links" in the buy or read sections for possible future editions?

Max

The Black Uhuru I wasn't sure about and didn't initially include, because while it's great, it definitely seems to me to basically be straight reggae, as opposed to reggae-inflected post-punk. Still, a few people suggested I include it, so once I found room, I figured why not.

I included the Prince because even though he's usually considered to have more to do with "proper" funk and pop, the sonic connection seems obvious to me (though it does risk begging the question, why not just include a lot of other supposedly "straight" funk. . .). The sound of prince in that era is right between Worrell and Human League, so it makes sense to me.

Glad you dig it : )

Max ---

drop me a line at the email below and I'll put you on the waiting list.

Arrgh - didn't think I need to contact you. Will sort out my PayPal thing tonight. Sorry - personal life got in the way.

p.s. Does the bad brains track really cut short like that?

Thanks, man. Copies straggled out as early as Nov. 2004, but most were in 2005. With any luck, someday in 2006 there'll be more. I've still got the list--but it's grown to over 250 names, and besides being too busy and too poor to get out ahead on material costs, I just got a little daunted.

Mark --

Not sure I know what you mean. Hopefully there wasn't a defect in the pressing. I doubt I would've edited a Bad Brains track. . .

Piscesboy --

I had plans to do 1982 or 1979, but real life caught up with me. I think a fellow here started up a 1979, but I think real life caught up with him, too. I've been sitting on a 3rd edition of '81 that's got 460 bands, 480 tracks, but haven't been able to do anything with it. If you do a search for "soundslike1981" on myspace.com, you might come across the smaller mixes I post there.

I'm not typing in the contents here tho.

spotify playlist please

This thread is one of the "most read", don't you know?

https://musicophilia.files.wordpress.com/2017/08/1979_ice.jpg

Coming soon. . .

Oh hello.

*drools*

The year of my birth! Excited for this.

Then it turns out it's a headfake and it's 366 bad bootleg remixes of a certain Smashing Pumpkins song.

ooh (bookmarks thread)

Alright, it's all done I think. Slightly smaller affair--seven mixes, no 'briefcase'. But given that at 37 I didn't have the months I had when I was 23 and made '1981' to search out and buy scores of records, cull and re-cull, sequence twenty ways for each mix, and go in and hand-remove every little dust pop, it's been a lot of fun to revisit this music I haven't really listened to as much over the last decade. I hope the results will be enjoyed.

Actually, I had made a 3-disc '1979' back in 2002/2003, before '1981,' only made about five copies I think. I found the old tracklist and realized I selected a lot of the same tracks this time!

I'm going to spend a little more time with it making sure everything is working, and hope to have it up soon. Hope when it's up folks will spread the word.

Looking forward for sure.

https://musicophilia.files.wordpress.com/2017/08/folder1.jpg

Want

Want

Here's the final artist list:

A Certain Ratio · Adam & The Ants · Alternative TV · Animals & Men · Au Pairs · Bauhaus · The Blackouts · Blondie · The Boys Next Door · The B-52's · The Beat · David Bowie · British Standard Unit · Buzzcocks · Cabaret Voltaire · James Chance & The Contortions · Chrisma · Chrome · The Clash · Comsat Angels · Elvis Costello & The Attractions · The Cramps · Crass · Cult Hero · The Cure · Holger Czukay · The dB's · Delta 5 · Devo · Door & The Window · The Durutti Column · Echo & The Bunnymen · The Embarrassment · Essendon Airport · Essential Logic · Fad Gadget · Marianne Faithful · The Fall · Family Fodder · The Feelies · The Flying Lizards · John Foxx · Frank Sumatra · Gang of Four · Gina X Performance · Glaxo Babies · Half Japanese · The Homosexuals · The Human League · Richard Hell & The Voidoids · Industry · Joe Jackson · The Jam · Japan · Josef K · Joy Division · Killing Joke · L Voag · Lizard · M · Magazine · Material · Lizzy Mercier Descloux · Monochrome Set · Anthony Moore · Martha & The Muffins · The Mekons · Metal Urbain · Mo-Dettes · New Musik · Noh Mercy · Gary Numan · The Only Ones · Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark · P-Model · Pere Ubu · Plastics · Iggy Pop · The Pop Group · Pylon · The Raincoats · Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers · Rosa Yemen · Scritti Politti · The Selecter · Simple Minds · Siouxsie & The Banshees · The Slits · Patti Smith Group · The Soft Boys · The Sound · The Specials · Spherical Objects · Squeeze · The Static · Walter Stedding · Suicide · Swell Maps · Talking Heads · The Teardrop Explodes · Theoretical Girls · This Heat · Throbbing Gristle · Urinals · Vice Versa · Voigt 465 · Wipers · Wire · XTC · The Years · Yellow Magic Orchestra · Young Marble Giants

Omfg

Ok everyone--sorry it took a while (13 years. . .) but the follow-up to the '1981' box is finally done: the '1979: Post-Punk' digital box set, with seven tightly themed mixes, 112 artists, and just over eight hours of post-punk's best as it really got going. It's up for streaming or download, along with a one-hour "sampler" mix for the post-punk-curious to get hooked by. ILMers really addicted me to the mix-making thing, because it was such a joy to think of helping such passionate music people revisit old favorites or find new ones. I've been doing my Musicophilia mix blog for nine years now, and it's been a lot of fun.

https://musicophilia.files.wordpress.com/2017/09/1979.gif?w=624&h=624&zoom=2

And you can download or stream it here at Musicophilia. Thank you!

And here's the tracklist:

1979 | Box Set Sampler

01 [00:00] A Certain Ratio - “Do the Du (BBC)” (BBC - ‘Early’ compilation)
02 [02:40] The Pop Group - “Thief of Fire” (‘Y’)
03 [07:14] Talking Heads - “I Zimbra” (‘Fear of Music’)
04 [10:22] Gang of Four - “Damaged Goods” (‘Entertainment!’)
05 [13:46] The Slits - “Love und Romance” (‘Cut’)
06 [16:11] This Heat - “Horizontal Hold” (‘This Heat’)
07 [23:02] Scritti Politti - “Double Beat” (“4 ‘A Sides’” EP)
08 [26:43] Josef K - “Chance Meeting (Early)” (Unreleased - ‘Young & Stupid’ compilation)
09 [29:36] Wipers - “Is This Real?” (‘Is This Real?’)
10 [32:12] The Raincoats - “No Side to Fall In” (‘The Raincoats’)
11 [34:00] Yellow Magic Orchestra - “Technopolis” (‘Solid State Survivor’)
12 [38:15] Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark - “Almost” (“Electricity” single)
13 [42:00] Blondie - “Dreaming” (‘Eat To the Beat’)
14 [45:02] The Cure - “Boys Don’t Cry” (“Boys Don’t Cry” single)
15 [47:39] Japan - “Alien” (‘Quiet Life’)
16 [52:36] Joy Division - “24 Hours (BBC)” (BBC - ‘Peel Sessions’ compilation)
17 [56:43] Wire - “40 Versions” (‘154’)

[Total Time: 1:00:07]

1979 | Fire

01 [00:00] A Certain Ratio - “Do the Du” (BBC - ‘Early’ compilation)
02 [02:38] David Bowie - “African Night Flight” (‘Lodger’)
03 [05:25] Material - “Process/Motion” (“Temporary Music 1” EP)
04 [09:55] The Durutti Column - “Sketch for Summer” (‘The Return Of’)
05 [12:50] The Selecter - “The Selecter” (“The Selecter” single)
06 [15:46] LIzzy Mercier Descloux - “Fire” (‘Press Color’)
07 [20:54] Holger Czukay - “Cool In the Pool” (‘Movies’)
08 [25:56] The Flying Lizards - “Her Story” (‘The Flying Lizards’)
09 [30:27] The Pop Group - “Thief of Fire” (‘Y’)
10 [35:02] Lizard - “T.V. Magic” (‘Lizard’)
11 [38:19] Industry - “Ready For the Wave” (“Industry” EP)
12 [42:02] Blondie - “Atomic” (‘Eat To the Beat’)
13 [46:36] James Chance & The Contortions - “Designed to Kill” (‘Buy’)
14 [49:20] Gary Numan - “Random” (Unreleased - ‘78/79’ compilation)
15 [53:01] Joy Division - “Love Will Tear Us Apart” (BBC - ‘Peel Sessions’ compilation)
16 [56:21] The B-52’s- “Dance This Mess Around” (‘The B’-52’s’)
17 [60:54] The Beat - “Tears of a Clown” (“Tears of a Clown” single)
18 [63:30] Talking Heads - “I Zimbra” (‘Fear of Music’)
19 [66:39] Japan - “Quiet Life” (‘Quiet Life’)

[Total Time: 1:11:29]

1979 | Amplifier

01 [00:00] Gang of Four - “Damaged Goods” (‘Entertainment!’)
02 [03:25] Iggy Pop - “I’m Bored” (‘New Values’)
03 [06:07] Glaxo Babies - “This Is Your Life” (“This Is Your Life” EP)
04 [09:08] Buzzcocks - “You Say You Don’t Love Me” (‘A Different Kind of Tension’)
05 [11:58] The Cure - “10:15 Saturday Night” (‘Three Imaginary Boys’)
06 [15:37] Pylon - “Cool” (“Cool” single)
07 [18:56] The Blackouts - “Make No Mistake” (“528 Seconds” single)
08 [23:27] The Clash - “The Guns of Brixton” (‘London Calling’)
09 [26:31] Rosa Yemen - “Larousse Baron Bic” (“Rosa Yemen” EP)
10 [28:03] Wipers - “Mystery” (‘Is This Real?’)
11 [29:49] Crass - “Mother Earth” (‘Stations Of the Crass’)
12 [33:58] Wire - “The 15th” (‘154’)
13 [37:01] The Boys Next Door - “After A Fashion” (‘Door, Door’)
14 [41:36] Comsat Angels - “Independence Day” (BBC - ‘Time Considered...’ compilation)
15 [44:54] The Sound - “Deep Breath” (Unrelased - ‘Propaganda’ compilation)
16 [47:36] The Fall - “Dice Man” (‘Dragnet’)
17 [49:19] The Raincoats - “Fairytale in the Supermarket” (‘The Raincoats’)
18 [52:17] The Cramps - “Human Fly” (“Gravest Hits” EP)
19 [54:26] The Mekons - “Like Spoons No More” (‘The Quality of Mercy Is Not Strnen’)
20 [56:31] Au Pairs - “You” (“You” single)
21 [59:21] The Embarrassment - “After The Disco” (Unreleased - ‘Heyday’ compilation)
22 [62:54] Noh Mercy - “My Wild Love” (Unreleased - ‘Nōh Mercy’ compilation)
23 [65:39] The Soft Boys - “Do The Chisel” (‘A Can of Bees’)
24 [68:42] The Slits - “Love und Romance” (‘Cut’)

[Total Time: 1:11:08]

1979 | Brain

01 [00:00] This Heat - “Horizontal Hold” (‘This Heat’)
02 [06:50] Alternative TV - “Facing Up to the Facts” (‘Vibing Up the Senile Man’)
03 [10:37] The Static - “Don’t Let Me Stop You” (“Theoretical Record” single)
04 [15:45] Talking Heads - “Drugs” (‘Fear of Music’)
05 [20:49] Siouxsie & The Banshees - “Playground Twist” (‘Join Hands’)
06 [23:45] Frank Sumatra - “The Story So Far” (“Te Deum” EP)
07 [27:23] Public Image Limited - “Poptones” (‘Metal Box’)
08 [35:08] Joy Division - “She’s Lost Control” (BBC - ‘Peel Sessions’ compilation)
09 [39:18] Hector Zazou - “5’. . . Et Quelque De Bonheur. . .” (‘La Perversita’)
10 [44:53] Scritti Politti - “Double Beat” (“4 ‘A Sides’” EP)
11 [48:33] Pere Ubu - “One Less Worry” (‘New Picnic Time’)
12 [52:20] Gang of Four - “Natural’s Not In It” (‘Entertainment!’)
13 [55:24] Art Bears - “The Summer Wheel” (‘Broken English’)
14 [58:02] The Pop Group - “We Are Time” (‘Y’)
15 [64:29] XTC - “Complicated Game” (‘Drums & Wires’)

[Total Time: 1:09:17]

1979 | Cassette

01 [00:00] Scritti Politti - “Messthetics” (“Work In Progress 2nd Peel Session” EP)
02 [01:42] Metal Urbain - “Hysterie Connective” (“Hysterie Connective” single)
03 [04:49] The Feelies - “Fa Ce La” (“Raised Eyebrows” single)
04 [07:03] Walter Stedding - “Landing” (“Get Ready” EP)
05 [08:27] Echo & The Bunnymen - “Read It In Books” (“The Pictures On My Wall” single)
06 [11:22] Theoretical Girls - “Theoretical Girls” (Unreleased - ‘Theoretical Girls’ compilation)
07 [14:14] Voigt 465 - “P” (‘Slights Unspoken’)
08 [15:17] L Voag - “Kitchen” (‘The Way Out’)
09 [17:35] Animals & Men - “Don’t Misbehave In the New Age” (“Don’t Misbehave...” single)
10 [19:37] The Years - “Come Dancing” (“Come Dancing” single)
11 [23:16] Chrome - “Critical Mass” (‘Half Machine Lip Moves’)
12 [25:11] Family Fodder - “Sunday Girl #1” (“Sunday Girls” EP)
13 [27:55] Monochrome Set - “The Monchrome Set” (“The Monchrome Set” single)
14 [33:07] Cult Hero - “I’m A Cult Hero” (“I’m A Cult Hero” single)
15 [36:00] Mo-Dettes - “White Mice” (“White Mice” single)
16 [39:34] Door & The Window - “Dig” (“Production Line” EP)
17 [41:41] Swell Maps - “Midget Submarines” (‘A Trip to Marineville’)
18 [46:14] Josef K - “Chance Meeting” (Unreleased - ‘Young & Stupid’ compilation)
19 [49:07] Cabaret Voltaire - “Silent Command” (‘Mix-Up’)
20 [52:29] Wipers - “Is This Real?” (‘Is This Real?’)
21 [55:06] 1/2 Japanese - “She Cracked” (‘1/2 Gentlemen / Not Beasts’ cassette)
22 [57:00] Urinals - “Hologram” (“The Urinals” EP)
23 [59:08] British Standard Unit - “D’Ya Think I’m Sexy” (‘Hybrid Kids’ compilation)
24 [61:31] The Homosexuals - “Astral Glamour” (Unreleased - ‘The Homosexuals’ Record’ compilation)
25 [63:21] The Fall - “Industrial Estate” (‘Live At The Witch Trials’)
26 [65:15] Spherical Objects - “I Don’t Remember” (‘Eliptical Optimism’)
27 [66:38] The Cure - “Grinding Halt” (‘Three Imaginary Boys’)
28 [69:25] The Raincoats - “No Side to Fall In” (‘The Raincoats’)
29 [71:11] Young Marble Giants - “Brand-New Life” (‘Collossal Youth’ cassette)

[Total Time: 1:14:05]

1979 | Computer

01 [00:00] Fad Gadget - “Back To Nature” (“Back To Nature” single)
02 [05:43] Yellow Magic Orchestra - “Technopolis” (‘Solid State Survivor’)
03 [09:56] John Foxx - “Metal Beat” (“A New Kind of Man” unreleased single)
04 [12:52] Throbbing Gristle - “Hot On the Heels of Love” (‘20 Jazz Funk Greats’)
05 [17:07] Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark - “Almost” (“Electricity” single)
06 [20:55] P-Model - “Kameari Pop” (‘In A Model Room’)
07 [24:47] Gina X Performance - “Nice Mover” (“No G.D.M.” single)
08 [29:12] M - “Pop Muzik” (‘New York, London, Paris, Munich’)
09 [34:07] Devo - “Strange Pursuit” (‘Duty Now For the Future’)
10 [36:50] Gary Numan - “We Have a Technical” (Unreleased - ‘78/79’ compilation)
11 [44:46] Vice Versa - “New Girls Neutron” (“Music 4” EP)
12 [46:48] Plastics - “Robot” (“Copy” single)
13 [49:41] Simple Minds - “Real to Real” (‘Real To Real Cacophony’)
14 [52:27] The Human League - “Blind Youth” (‘Reproduction’)
15 [55:41] New Musik - “On Islands” (“Straight Lines” single)
16 [60:05] Suicide - “Dream Baby Dream” (“Dream Baby Dream” single)

[Total Time: 1:06:28]

1979 | Convertible

01 [00:00] Blondie - “Dreaming” (‘Eat To the Beat’)
02 [03:04] Joe Jackson - “One More Time” (‘Look Sharp!’)
03 [06:20] Patti Smith Group - “Frederick” (‘Wave’)
04 [09:23] The Selecter - “On My Radio” (“On My Radio” single)
05 [12:26] Martha & The Muffins - “Insect Love” (“Insect Love” single)
06 [16:33] Elvis Costello & The Attractions - “Green Shirt” (‘Armed Forces’)
07 [19:14] The Feelies - “Raised Eyebrows” (“Raised Eyebrows” single)
08 [22:14] The Cure - “Boys Don’t Cry” (“Boys Don’t Cry” single)
09 [24:51] The Teardrop Explodes - “Sleeping Gas” (“Sleeping Gas” single)
10 [28:31] Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers - “Affection” (‘Back In Your LIfe’)
11 [32:38] XTC - “Making Plans for Nigel” (‘Drums & Wires’)
12 [36:47] Devo - “The Day My Baby Gave Me A Surprise” (‘Duty Now For the Future’)
13 [39:24] Essential Logic - “World Friction” (‘Beat Rhythm News Waddle Ya Play?’)
14 [42:55] The Specials - “A Message To You Rudy” (‘Specials’)
15 [45:42] Squeeze - “Goodbye Girl” (‘Cool For Cats’)
16 [48:36] Talking Heads - “Heaven” (‘Fear of Music’)
17 [52:39] The Jam - “Strange Town” (‘Setting Sons’)
18 [56:26] The Only Ones - “Flaming Torch” (‘Even Serpents Shine’)
19 [58:43] A. More - “Judy Get Down” (‘Flying Doesn’t Help’)
20 [61:40] Richard Hell & The Voidoids - “Time” (Unreleased - ‘Time’ compilation)
21 [64:41] The dB’s - “Nothing Is Wrong” (Unreleased - ‘Ride the Wild TomTom’ compilation)

[Total Time: 1:08:45]

1979 | Ice

01 [00:00] Japan - “Alien” (‘Quiet Life’)
02 [04:56] Gang of Four - “He’d Send In the Army” (‘Entertainment!’)
03 [08:35] This Heat - “24-Track Loop” (‘This Heat’)
04 [14:27] Adam & The Ants - “Tabletalk” (‘Dirk Wears White Socks’)
05 [19:56] The Durutti Column - “Sleep Will Come” (‘The Return Of’)
06 [21:43] Delta 5 - “Now That You’re Gone” (“Mind Your Own Business” single)
07 [25:53] Pere Ubu - “Kingdom Come” (‘New Picnic Time’)
08 [29:02] Killing Joke - “Turn to Red” (“Turn to Red” EP)
09 [33:01] Bauhaus - “Bela Lugosi’s Dead” (“Bela Lugosi’s Dead” EP)
10 [42:36] Essendon Airport - “How Low Can You Go?” (“Sonic Investigations...” EP)
11 [45:55] Chrisma - “We R” (‘Hibernation’)
12 [49:37] Joy Division - “24 Hours” (BBC - ‘Peel Sessions’ compilation)
13 [53:44] Marianne Faithful - “Working Class Hero” (‘Broken English’)
14 [58:22] Magazine - “The Thin Air” (‘Secondhand Daylight’)
15 [62:29] Iggy Pop - “The Endless Sea” (‘New Values’)
16 [67:14] Wire - “40 Versions” (‘154’)

[Total Time: 1:10:40]

I'll chime in and say that I was given the chance to hear all this a few days early -- it's really wonderful.

looks amazing -- excited to dig in.

FUCK YES

wow!

Thrilled! Downloading! And later, listening!

OK, yeah, this is great! I might have to go through and tag each track with the act, though, since I keep running back to the trackless to see what I'm listening to.

Ugh, track list.

Had a lovely break from 1907 listening to 1981 today, and going to have to find time next week to listen to 1979. Can I be cheeky and ask whether there is going to be a 'briefcase' for 1979 too?

So I love listening to this/these as mixes, but is there an easy way/trick to break up and tag the tracks? My 1981 mixes seem to be track-to-track.

well aware that the mix is a large part of the appeal here and that streaming services are missing all manner of these tracks but there's more there than you might expect and I was looking for an easy way to carry this around, so (with apologies) here's a spotify playlist, sans doubles:
https://open.spotify.com/user/forksclovetofu/playlist/0oTOCanI4oeuEks5xaPXoW

Glad you guys are digging it! The Dangerous Minds website picked it up (as they did with the '1981' digital "reissue") and it's getting a lot of listens--hopefully causing the sale of some records (or at least mp3s)!

Mfktz, are you the guy doing the Centuries of Sound mixes? Impressive project!

Josh in Chicago--I made the decision to go to mixed mp3s some time back because I had some guilt about the feeling that by uploading single mp3s in the age of single-song mp3 sales, I was taking money from artists rather than sending it their way. Single-file mixes seem more like a podcast or a DJ set, more obviously in honor of the music and not in theft. Also, I like that it gives me tighter control over the transitions and flow of the mix--these ones aren't truly "mixed" much, but I go into that more heavily mix by mix.

I've looked into ways of making mixed mp3s display artist name/song name info, like a cue sheet approach, and it basically appears there's really no successful cross-platform way to do that. Hence the tracklists with start times--so you can always find out what you like, when you like it.

But I've also tried to accommodate the fact of streaming via the MixCloud site--https://www.mixcloud.com/musicophilia/--and that also does tell you the artist/track name "live". So maybe that's a better option for you, if the mp3s are distracting from the music?

Ulysses, I have to admit I don't *love* reducing the mixes to a Spotify playlist (and missing tracks) given that I do have the aforementioned MixCloud option, which is streamable; and the mp3s, which are portable. I mean, these are mixes, not playlists or folders of tracks. . . But if it helps people get interested in the music, I guess it's OK. I just don't get the fixation generally with Spotify--why use Spotify, when the mixes are available whether your preference is streaming or downloading? But I'm old, and I still buy hundreds of CDs a year (though I keep them as mp3s I rip), and I don't use streaming services, so what do I know.

Oh and Mfktz, I doubt there will be a '1979: Post-Punk' briefcase, as my collection of post-punk from '79 doesn't go nearly as deep as from '81 (and maybe the genre doesn't go as deep). That said, the next mix that goes up on the blog is going to be several volumes of the 'Le Funk du Monde' focused on 1977-1980, that are going to be amazing. If I did a '1979' briefcase, it'd be a collection from all the non-post-punk music I love from the year. . .

I love the mixes as is! You obviously put a ton of work into them, which is why I'm ultimately cool with long tracks. They flooooow.

Also, mixes as mixes make me pay attention.

Josh, thanks for understanding. I really do wish there were a way to get the artists/tracks to show universally from a mixed mp3, but given there isn't I had to stick to the format anyway despite the inconveniences. And I agree--lack of the ability to hit "skip" has often gotten me to slow down and listen more carefully on mixes by others. Thanks!

Most of the time 2004 still feels recent to me, even though that span is a third of my life. But I guess putting this new "digital box set" next to the old physical box set of '1981' makes me realize a lot of time has passed--and even the mp3s of the new one are out-of-date to many. Hopefully the upside is that there's a whole generation who were 5 when the old box came out, who're primed to discover post-punk!

https://musicophilia.files.wordpress.com/2017/09/79vs81_011.jpg?w=800

https://musicophilia.files.wordpress.com/2017/09/79vs81_021.jpg?w=800

https://musicophilia.files.wordpress.com/2017/09/79vs81_031.jpg?w=800

So did someone send back a copy of 1981 to you?

Soundslike- yes, I'm the Centuries of Sound guy. Can understand why you aren't doing the briefcase thing and why you don't want it on Spotify, but your site in general will still be very useful for me in five years or so, so just wanted to say thanks for that. Also really admire the design of your site, wish I had such skills.

Speaking of forcing me to pay attention, I'm finally listening to Evensong this morning, and right off the bat I don't think I've ever heard of It's Immaterial. Lovely stuff.

and I was looking for an easy way to carry this around

the original is seven mp3s. they don't weigh much.

hey soundslike: thanks again for putting this together; much of it's outside of my listening experience and i always appreciate new meat. i was four in '79 so don't judge too harshly.
to your points: the mp3s are portable but generally much more frustrating to add in or take out on the fly for portability, whereas streaming allows for listening and sharing and paring in a way that works well for me.
the fixation "generally with spotify" is just that it's a service i've used for several years and i've gotten accustomed to it. I didn't start this way! i had thousands of cds and cassettes and vinyl but moving a lot has made me focus more on immediate accessibility and cloud use.

prob also noteworthy that i grew up without a solid radio station experience so it wasn't until after college that the idea of an unbreakable mix even came into view. i like the freedom to explore and repeat and skip tracks rather than drive at someone else's speed i suppose. it's a limitation on my part!

Oh my goodness I will be spending some time with these

So did someone send back a copy of 1981 to you?

Yeah! My friend (in real life) A.M./Ettiem who is an ILMer send me a copy of the 1st edition pre-ILM. So cool of him!

Haha very good!

A q

A quick reminder--the full '1981' box including the 'briefcase' has been up for a year for anybody who didn't get a physical copy back in 2005!

https://musicophilia.wordpress.com/2017/04/04/post-punk-1981-complete-collection-including-the-briefcase/

And for those who did get one 13 years ago--we're old now! ; ) 1981 was 22 years in the past when I started the project. Which means there's some young person out there now making a '1996' box set!

There is literally an entire new listening generation out there since I made this box who get to discover post-punk/new wave--so pass it on!

And while I didn't ever really make the non-post-punk 1981 box--this set has a lot of great 1981 non-pp music, for those who might be interested:

https://musicophilia.wordpress.com/2018/04/03/tribute-to-brian-eno-translucence/

And in addition to the '1979' follow-up set, there's annother post-punk box for those who might be interested, with a 1-hr sampler mix: 'Post-Punk 2007-2017'

https://musicophilia.wordpress.com/2017/10/24/post-punk2007-2017/

Sorry--having some tech difficulties with my phone. This is the set with non-pp 1981 music:

https://musicophilia.wordpress.com/2017/11/14/le-monde-du-funk-1970-1985/

Which means there's some young person out there now making a '1996' box set!
We can but pity them.

Us kids don’t want your old fogie “new wave” music gramps. We like Post Malone and Silento

A project like this for the early/mid-’90s would actually be great (’96 is a bit past the curve).

Or I could just listen to my old CMJ samplers, I guess...

I was fortunate enough to get a physical copy back then. From time to time I glance at my shelf wondering when the CD-Rs will degrade and thinking I should rip them before they do (and while I still have something to rip them with!)

But now I don't have to rip them. Thanks!

I was fortunate enough to get a physical copy back then. From time to time I glance at my shelf wondering when the CD-Rs will degrade and thinking I should rip them before they do (and while I still have something to rip them with!)

But now I don't have to rip them. Thanks!

― fajita seas, Sunday, April 15, 2018 4:15 PM

I've wondered, too, whether those CD-Rs still work after so many years! Supposedly they were the very best in blank white CDs at the time. . .

But glad I could save you the trouble of ripping! Hope you enjoy them anew (and the follow-up sets, too).

Coming January 1, with any luck. . .

https://musicophilia.files.wordpress.com/2018/12/Post-Punk-1980_GIF_Medium.gif?w=900

Dun dun dunnnnnn

👍🏼

Dun dun dun indeed!

https://musicophilia.files.wordpress.com/2018/12/folder.jpg?w=1024

https://musicophilia.files.wordpress.com/2018/12/Post-Punk-1980_GIF_Medium.gif?w=624&zoom=2

POST PUNK 198O

The final link in a trilogy of post-punk/new wave box sets, following up on the original '1981' box set from 2004-2005, and the '1979' set from 2017. This is an eight-mix (all roughly C-90 in length) set covering the year I'd filed away as the breather between the huge statements of 1979 and the massive explosion of creativity of 1981. Turns out, it's just as strong, just as varied, just as exciting.

Featuring:

A Certain Ratio · Animals & Men · The Associates · Au Pairs · Bauhaus · The Beat · The Blackouts · Blondie · Blancmange · David Bowie · Bow Wow Wow · The Boys Next Door · Glenn Branca · The Breakers · Buggles · Buzzcocks · The Cars · Chris Carter · Alex Chilton · Chrome · Colored Minds · The Comsat Angels · Elvis Costello & The Attractions · The Cramps · The Cure · Dalek I · Delta 5 · Deutsch Amerikanische Freundshaftt · Devo · The Diagram Brothers · Din a Testbild · Doctor Mix & The Remix · Dome · Dow Jones & The Industrials · The Durutti Column · Essendon Airport · Factrix · Fad Gadget · Family Fodder · The Feelies · Final Program · Fire Engines · Flowers · Flying Lizard · Free Agents · Friction · John Foxx · Peter Gabriel · Gang of Four · Girls At Our Best · The Gist · The Go-Go’s · The Gordons · Half Japanese · The Human League · Husker Du · Ike Yard · Implog · Indoor LifeIn Camera · INXS · The Jam · Japan · Grace Jones · Josef K · Joy Division · Kid Creole & The Coconuts · Killing Joke · Krisma · Lizard · Ludus · Magazine · Manicured Noise · Marilyn · Martha & The Muffins · Material · Minutemen · Missing Persons · Mission of Burma · Mr. Partridge · Moderne · The Mo-Dettes · The Monchrome Set · Pauline Murray & The Invisible Girls · MX-80 Sound · Nasmak · Neonbabies · New Musik · Colin Newman · Gary Numan · Iggy Pop · The Only Ones · Orange Juice · Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark · Our Daughter’s Wedding · Pink Military · Pink Section · Plastics · Polyrock · Poly Styrene · The Pop Group · Pretenders · Prince · Psychedelic Furs · Pylon · Reptile Ranch · Martin Rev · Reversible Cords · Rinder & Lewis · The Room · Roxy Music · Ryuichi Sakamoto · The Selecter · Simple Minds · Siouxsie & The Banshees · The Slits · Smokey · Sods · Soft Cell · The Sound · The Specials · Squeeze · Richard Strange · The Stranglers · Swell Maps · Talking Heads · Teardrop Explodes · Television Personalities · Telex · This Heat · Tuxedomoon · Ultravox · Units · Urban Verbs · Les Vampyrettes · The Vapors · Alan Vega · Virgin Prunes · Visage · Scott WIlk & The Wall · Wipers · Xex · XTC · Yello · Y Pants · Yellow Magic Orchestra · Young Marble Giants

Download/stream here: https://musicophilia.wordpress.com/2019/01/01/post-punk-1980-box-set/

If you want to check out just the tracklist, check it here.

What, no "Effortless" by Athletico Spizz 80?

Just kidding (maybe).

Good work as ever, sir. And the colour scheme for this one is spot on - exactly how I felt about the music at the time. There was an awful lot of grey or silvery grey sleeve art around, mind, which didn't help.

Not the full-on box-set treatment, I'm afraid, but here's as close as I've come to a follow-up for 1982:

https://musicophilia.files.wordpress.com/2020/04/musicophilia_00_various_-_joy-vol-2-post-punk_1982_cover-a-front.jpg?w=1024

https://musicophilia.files.wordpress.com/2020/04/musicophilia_00_various_-_joy-vol-2-post-punk_1982_cover-b-back.jpg?w=1024

'Joy! Volume 2: Post-Punk 1982'

01 [0:00:00] The Raincoats- “No One’s Little Girl” (‘Running Away’ 7″)
02 [0:04:30] Rip Rig & Panic- “You’re My Kind of Climate” (‘You’re My Kind…’ EP)
03 [0:10:20] African Head Charge – “High Protein Snack” (‘Environmental Studies’)
04 [0:13:40] Haircut 100 – “Favourite Shirt (Boy Meets Girl)” (‘Pelican West’)
05 [0:16:40] Family Fodder – “The Big Dig” (‘The Big Dig’ 7″)
06 [0:19:35] Our Daughter’s Wedding – “Buildings” (‘Moving Windows’)
07 [0:23:30] The Stick Men- “Personality Pollination” (‘This Is The Master Brew’)
08 [0:25:10] Pigbag – “Wiggling” (‘Dr. Heckle and Mister Jive’)
09 [0:30:15] Antena – “Camino del Sol” (‘Camino del Sol’ EP)
10 [0:33:55] Shriekback – “My Spine is the Bassline” (‘My Spine is the Bassline’ EP)

11 [0:37:55] Pylon – “Beep” (‘Beep’ 7″)
12 [0:41:15] Scritti Politti – “The Sweetest Girl” (‘Songs To Remember’)
13 [0:46:20] Sonic Youth – “The Burning Spear” (‘Sonic Youth’ EP)
14 [0:49:40] Delta 5 – “Powerlines” (‘Powerlines’ 7″)
15 [0:52:45] Maximum Joy – “Dancing On My Boomerang” (‘Station MXJY’)
16 [0:55:55] Weekend – “Summerdays” (‘La Verite’)
17 [0:58:45] R.E.M. – “1,000,000” (‘Chronic Town’ EP)
18 [1:01:50] Dog Eat Dog – “Rollover” (unreleased)
19 [1:04:45] Lora Logic – “Martian Man” (‘Pedigree Charm’)
20 [1:09:05] Tones On Tail – “Now We Lustre” (‘There’s Only One’ 7″)

21 [1:13:25] 48 Chairs – “Rhino Whip” (‘70% Paranoid’)
22 [1:17:10] Pere Ubu – “A Day Such As This” (‘Song of the Bailing Man’)
23 [1:20:45] Psychic TV – “Just Drifting” (‘Force The Hand’)
24 [1:24:25] ESG – “The Beat” (‘ESG Says Dance to the Beat of Moody’ EP)
25 [1:26:35] A Certain Ratio – “Touch” (‘I’d Like To See You Again’)
26 [1:31:35] The Gist – “Love At First Sight” (‘Embrace the Herd’)
27 [1:35:00] Special AKA & Rico – “Easter Island” (‘Jungle Music’ EP)
28 [1:39:05] Orange Juice – “L.O.V.E. Love” (‘You Can’t Hide Your Love Forever’)
29 [1:42:35] Yasuaki Shimizu – “Dots” (‘Kakashi’)
30 [1:45:30] Comsat Angels – “After the Rain” (‘Fiction’)

Download/stream here: https://musicophilia.wordpress.com/2020/04/01/post-punk-1982/

The original '1981' set is back up--now in much better audio quality, but as mixed mp3s (not single tracks):

40 years since the post-punk of 1981, 17 years since I made '1981,' a definitive box-set of nine themed mixes spanning the canonized to the unknown. And it still sounds like tomorrow. https://t.co/ePWUOHce9K

Higher quality, as mixed mp3s. Dive in, share, and please BUY MUSIC! pic.twitter.com/ZM90ZOneY6

— Musicophilia (@musicophiliamix) January 5, 2021

Thanks, just now re-tweeted!

When I first shared these mixes on ILM, bith I and the music were a spritely 24 years old. Now we're both 40! But I think the music is aging (or not aging, really) far better than me. In that it hasn't aged a day, vs. I fell down my stairs a few weeks ago...

To celebrate 40 years since 1981, and over 17 since I started making the mixes, they're up in much higher quality here:

https://musicophilia.wordpress.com/2021/01/04/1981-post-punk/

The original box still sits proudly with my other box sets.

These are very much appreciated!

Still love these mixes, particularly the personality behind the songs that are picked. They're often either not my favorites or wouldn't have been my personal picks, but that's the whole point of mixes. It forces me to listen to these songs in a fresh context which in turn flavors how I hear them.

Thanks, all! I definitely often ended up picking tracks that weren't my favorites per se, but instead tracks that fit the vibe and flow of the mixes--so lead to some idiosyncratic choices. But always was the hope, and is now, that folks will hear things they didn't know, and hear those they already knew in a new context.

WFMU's Give the Drummer Radio stream is doing a fun thing today -- all four of today's live shows are playing only music from 1981. Tony Coulter (on now and for ~15 more minutes) focusing on postpunk/industrial/experimental. 12 hours total.