Jessica 6 in 1981

Jessica 6 in 1981

5 July 2011

It was incredibly difficult to choose tonight's playlist, as there was so much good music around in 1981. To tell you that I LEFT OUT favourites by The Cure, Adam & The Ants, Bow Wow Wow, Japan, REM, The Beat, OMD, Bauhaus and The Specials, you'll know that the quality of music that year must have been pretty high. I hope you enjoy the songs that made the final playlist, and they were...

NEW ORDER - Ceremony

7" version - FAC 33 [Factory Records], released in March 1981, #34 UK singles chart

PLASMATICS - Black Leather Monster

From Metal Priestess EP [Stiff Records]

AGENT ORANGE - Everything Turns Grey

From debut album Living In Darkness [Posh Boy Records]

THE J. GEILS BAND - Rage In The Cage

From twelfth album Freeze Frame [EMI], released in October 1981, #1 US Billboard 200 (1982) and #12 UK album chart (1982)

ROMEO VOID - Fear To Fear

From debut album It's A Condition [415 Records], released in July 1981

THE GUN CLUB - Fire Spirit

From debut album Fire Of Love [Ruby Records (USA), Beggars Banquet (UK)], released in August 1981

WALL OF VOODOO - Red Light

From debut album Dark Continent [IRS Records], released in August 1981, #179 US Billboard 200

PLAY DEAD - Poison Takes A Hold

7" single [Fresh Records], released in June 1981

THE STRANGLERS - How To Find True Love And Happiness In The Present Day

From sixth album La Folie [Liberty Records (EMI)], released in November 1981, #11 UK album chart

SUBURBAN LAWNS - Janitor

From debut album Suburban Lawns [IRS Records]

MARILYN AND THE MOVIE STARS - So Disgraceful

12" single [Aim Records]

THE PLIMSOULS - Now

From debut album The Plimsouls [Planet Records], #153 US Billboard 200

Request for Jeff Brenneman (sorry for the delay, Jeff!)

THE PSYCHEDELIC FURS - Dumb Waiters

From second album Talk Talk Talk [Columbia Records], released June 1981, #30 UK album chart

7" single released in May 1981, #59 UK singles chart

THE GO-GOs - This Town (live)

Recorded live in Cherry Hill, New Jersey on 31 August 1981

Also featured on debut album Beauty And The Beat [IRS Records], released July 1981, #1 US Billboard 200

THE NAILS - 88 Lines About 44 Women

From Hotel For Women EP [City Beat Records/Jimboco Records], song recorded at 151 Nails Studio, NYC

Next month I'll be in 1957 - send requests to me via the RadioNowhere website, or via Twitter - but in the meantime enjoy 1981!