The Cure - Close To Me - Extended Version

This is the original extended version of Close To Me which featured on the 12 inch single released in 1985. It's a particular favourite of mine, mainly because of those gorgeous New Orleans style jazz trumpets. The original version that features on the album The Head On The Door is without a brass section.

Released on 9th September 1985, Close To Me was the twelfth single release by The Cure, reaching #24 in the UK. A remix released in 1990 faired even better, peaking at #13. The previous single, In Between Days, was the first to be released from The Head On The Door and reached #15. No further songs were lifted from the album to be released as singles.

The album itself is at odds with Robert Smith's ghoulish looks and the blurry sleeve artwork. It's a mainly vibrant affair, full of distinctive and catchy pop tunes, although there are still dark and moody moments. In general, it doesn't suffer from the 80s production techniques that have dated so many other albums from the same era. This was the first album by the English band to feature drummer Boris Williams, who remained with the band until 1993. Bassist Simon Gallup (he left the band in 1982) rejoined the line-up and still plays with the band today.

Don't miss the video of a stunning live performance of A Forest by The Cure on this blog.

Leo Sayer - Orchard Road

Firstly, I want to mention that this isn't a remix of Orchard Road. However, as Leo Sayer hardly ever gets a mention when it comes to discussing the subject of 80s music, I really wanted an excuse to feature the guy on this blog.

Although the British singer/songwriter is now best-remembered for the 2006 remix of Thunder In My Heart Again which topped the UK charts - you may also remember when he lost his rag on the reality show Big Brother during 2007- he achieved success with several hits during the early part of the 1980s.

Orchard Road reached #16 in the UK singles chart during March 1983. Taken from the album Have You Ever Been In Love, the lyrics to the ballad were written by Sayer himself. The previous single Heart (Stop Beating In Time) had reached #2 during 1982. Although Leo had numerous Top Ten hits during the 70's - including his biggest single, When I Need You, which reached #1 in the UK, US and Canada, and which my Mum bought on 7" vinyl in 1977 and I played rather a lot - this was actually Leo's last Top 40 hit single in the UK until 1998, when a dance version of You Make Me Feel Like Dancing by Groove Generation reached #32.

If you're old enough to remember the seventies like me, you will still have memories of Leo's golden days, when he had 7 consecutive top ten hits including You Make Me Feel Like Dancing and Moonlighting, which I used to play quite often on good old vinyl. However, as I've already hinted at, they were actually my Mum's records, and I still have them in a dusty old box which is gathering cobwebs. One day I may just vget around to buying another turntable so that I can actually play them again!

You can select from hundreds of music videos from the 80s at my website simplyeighties.com.