BEST OF THE 80s

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A FLOCK OF SEAGULLS

1983 Grand Ole Opre, Memphis, Tennessee, USA Single CD A+
15-track fully remastered soundboard recording of this much underrated Liverpudlian synth-pop mega-band at the height of their career.

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ADAM & THE ANTS

1981 Live in Tokyo Single CD A
15-track remastered soundboard of the Ants live at the Budokan - sounds great.

1981 Drury Lane, London Single CD A
19-strutting Ants tracks from a triumphant homecoming show - Ant music for sex people!

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BLANCMANGE

1983 The Paradiso, Amsterdam
Single CD    A
Massively underrated band that penned some real synth-pop bangers. Superb sound quality.

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CABARET VOLTAIRE

1983 The Paradiso, Amsterdam
Single CD    A+
The sound of underground synthpop.- the Cabs were more influential than popular, but they hammered out some great tunes and were sampling pioneers. 10 excellent tracks.

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CULTURE CLUB

1982 Live at the Lyceum
Single CD    A
9 energy-filled tracks from the early days.

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DEPECHE MODE

1981 Crocs, Rayleigh, Essex

Single CD A
The earliest soundboard recording of Depeche Mode. Recorded in 1981 at a local Essex club in Rayleigh called Crocs. Only a few miles from hometown Basildon - ahead of the release of debut album "Speak and Spell" .
This is the original lineup including founding member Vince Clarke, the show is short and sweet - 9 tracks including unreleased "Television Set" and Everley Brothers' cover "The Price of Love". Sound quality is excellent especially given how early it was in this great band's career.

1982 Tiffany’s, Glasgow

Single CD A+
Depeche Mode live recorded in 1982 in Scotland.- First tour without Vince. Band are in great form and the final encore is a cover of 1960s hit 'I Like It'. Sound quality is excellent.

1981/82 BBC Session & Paris Theatre London

Single CD A+
Excellent BBC In Concert recording of Depeche Mode live at the Paris Theatre in London in 1982 and the Richard Skinner Radio 1 radio session from 1981. 

1983 Hammersmith Odeon, London

Single CD A+
DM live recorded in 1983 at the Hammersmith Odeon . Touring the Construction Time Again album and sounding polished and confident. Great mix of early material and just a great show.

1984  Hamburg, Germany

Single CD    A+
Here is one of my favourite Depeche Mode Live shows. Recorded in 1984 in Germany - where the band were massive this really captures their energy. Recorded for German radio it sounds amazing. Includes rarity Ice Machine and the best extended version on New Life.

1986 Birmingham N.E.C. UK

Single CD    A
Depeche Mode fully embrace the darkness on their Black Celebration Tour in 1986. 
This is probably the best recording from this tour, not perfect, but as good as it gets - the recording quality dips for a couple of tracks. That said it a great listen with plenty to recommend it!

1994 Honolulu, Hawaii

Probably the pinacle of DM's coolest period - musically! Fan favourites a-gogo from the "rockstar" years. Dave was living life on the edge but the performances were excellent. The sound is of the higherst quality - a wonderfull show and recording!

2023 Radio 2 In The Piano Room

Single CD A+
The 4 tracks are all played with the BBC orchestra  - one old, Walking in My Shoes, one new, Ghosts Again and one borrowed, Sundown. plus the full radio show and interview. 

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DURAN DURAN

1981 Paradiso, Amsterdam
Single CD    A
Soundboard recording from the famous Amsterdam venue, again with cover version of  “Fame”. Radio broadcast - but with 11 tracks - superb show!

1981 Radio Paris: Au Captain Video
Single CD    A
Early soundboard recording with cover version of Bowie's “Fame”. Radio broadcast only 6 tracks and French DJ - but still great to hear the boys so early on!

1982 London Hammersmith Apollo
Single CD    A+
12-track stunning remastered show originally a BBC in Concert. Band sound young and fresh.

1982 Glasgow Apollo
Single CD    A+
Originally broadcast by Radio Clyde in Scotland, this 10-track show sounds excellent with classic DD cover of Steve Harley's "Come Up and See Me, Make Me Smile". Super show and great Scottish "Rio" cover art.

2024 Madison Square Garden NYC
Double CD    A+
Superb Halloween gig in New York to a capacity crowd. Lots of cool cover versions and themed reworkings of DD classics. Great and fun listen.

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ECHO & THE BUNNYMEN

1985 Gothenburg
Single CD    A
Big band, big reputation, big ego! 19 psychadelic- laced indie rock bangers crammed into one show. You gotta love 'em! Sound quality is excellent..

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ERASURE

1987 Victims of Love, Dome, Brighton
Single CD    A+
Excellent early Erasure performance captured by the  BBC for the In Concert show. 12-tracks excellent sound.

1992 Phantasmagorical, Hammersmith Odeon
Double CD    A+
Brilliant 29-track full-show from Erasure. Includes all the Abbaesque covers and a superb selection of their top pop + plenty of wicked banter (from Andy obvs).

2011 totalPOP! Forest Tour Bedgebury
Single CD    A-
20 pure-pop anthems spanning an illustrious career.

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EURYTHMICS

1983    Touch Tour Hammersmith Odeon

Single CD    A+
Final night of Touch tour, 19 tracks remastered from original soundboard recording. Sounds amazing.

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GARY NUMAN

1980 The Touring Principle, Santa Monica, USA
Single CD    A+
12 great tracks from Numan's finest hour - all tidied up and sounding great.

1983 Warriors,  Hammersmith Odeon, London
Single CD    A+
Another great 12-tracks from the Warriors Tour - great stuff

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HUMAN LEAGUE

1982 Rolling Stone Club, Milan
Single CD    A+
Remastered 15 -tracks from the transition period - early and famous tracks collide for a wild show. 15 tracks.

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KATE BUSH

1979 Manchester Apollo
Double CD    A+
Rare live performance from this great and innovative artist. Full soundboard show - absolutely essential for fans.

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KRAFTWERK

1981 Computer Love tour
Double CD    A+
Superb band, superb tour, brilliant all ends up. All the best tracks at the peak of the German band's prowess. This is all the best recorded tracks from the tour taken from 4 shows - it sounds great!

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NEW ORDER

1982 The Venue, Blackpool, UK
Single CD    A
Wonderful earlyish NO gig in famous seaside resort. Full soundboard recording taped by sound engineer. First playing of "Age Of Consent" and superb proto version of "586".

1984 Studio 54, Barcelona, Spain
Single CD    A+
Remastered soundboard, great show from the band's creative peak.

1985 Oaklands, California 
Single CD    A+
13-track remastered soundboard recording of US show with Bernard in angsty mood. 

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ORCHESTRAL MANOEUVRES IN THE DARK [OMD]

1980 Organisation Tour, Rijswijk, Netherlands 
Single CD    A
Soundboard recording of early show with cover of the Velvet's “Waiting for the Man”

1980 Organisation Tour, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Single CD    A
Another soundboard recording from this great tour - show includes rare outing for "The Messerschmitt Twins"

1980 Organisation Tour, Berlin, Germany 
Single CD    B+
A decent recording, but it's the full 21-track show. Well worth a listen.

1983 Glasgow Apollo
Single CD    A+
Superb remastered 14-track show from the band's seminal moment.

1985 Chicago, USA
Single CD    A+
Excellent sounding 11-track show from the Crush Tour, Interesting mix of music - including some later 80s material

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PET SHOP BOYS

1991 Wembley, London
Single CD    A+
Remastered soundboard 11-track tour-de-force from the Pets.

1999 Atlanta Georgia, USA
Double CD    A-
Full 20-track show from Chris and Neil, recorded on their Nightlife World Tour. Excellent show with great mix of tunes. Sound quality is very good but not perfect.
2007 BBC Radio theatre, London
Single CD    A++
Outstanding special concert recorded for an invited audiance during the Pet's Fundamental Tour. Full12-track show with outstanding sound quality.

2024 Radio 2 Piano Room
Mini CD 8cm    A++
3-track live-in-the-studio recording of the Pets with the BBC Orchestra.

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PROPAGANDA

1985 Ahoy, Rotterdam
Single CD    A+
Plenty of crescendo synth lines and moody industrial posturing from fun German four-piece. 10 tracks..

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SIMPLE MINDS

1982 Arnhem, Netherlands
Single CD    A+
A major band in their ascendency, touring "New Gold Dream" and sounding superb.

1984 Rock Wercher, Belgium
Single CD    A+
Simple Minds hit the big time! Possibly the festival that saw Glasgow's underground heroes turn into the stadium jeggernaugt that everyone knows!

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SPARKS

1994 Hamburg, Germany
Single CD    A+
Brilliant glam innovators turned synthpop pioneers - Sparks set the standard for Euro pop / dance / synth in the early 80s with their Georgio Moroder produced new material. This is a brilliant show and sounds stunning.

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TALK TALK

1986 Hammersmith Odeon
Single CD    A++
Amazing band at the height of their powers, great songs and performance. Sound quality is second to none.

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TEARS FOR FEARS

1983 Hammersmith Palais, London
Single CD    A++
Superb early show from the TFF boys - enjoying their first flush of success - moody, angst-ridden synth pop at it's best


1996 Shepherd's Bush Empire, London
Single CD    A++
Down to a solo project, Rolaand Orzabal takes to the road to showcase his surprisingly mature and enjoyable 90s sound
.

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THE BLUE NILE

1990 Free Trade Hall, Manchester
Single CD    A++
Uber-stylish art pop from the 80s. Glaswegian trio that defined understated, but released one of the albums of the decade..

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THE THE

1990 Kawasaki, Japan
Single CD    A++
Angst-ridden political pop from London's agent provocateur Matt .Johnson. Really is great stuff and sounds amazing!

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THOMAS DOLBY



1984 Dominion Theatre, London
Single CD    A+
14 tracks from the man who brought you "mmmm pop musik", talk about making it big in the States with his varied approach to synyhpop!

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ULTRAVOX

1984   Hammersmit Odeon, London
Single CD    A+
Excellent 13-track show from Midge and the boys. Great sound and gig!

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WORLD PARTY

1993 Brixton Academy, London
Single CD    A+
Superb recording of the "almost rockstars". Some great tunes and a top performance.

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YAZOO

1982 BBC In Concert at the Dominion Theatre
Single CD    A+
Stunning remastered soundboard of rare performance from this duo's fleeting career. One of my favs - out of all my shows!

1983 Liverpool Empire
Single CD    A-
One of the band's final appearances - first time round anyway! Great set and sounding more polished. Not a perfect recording, but rare and very listenable.

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YELLO

2017 Montreux Jazz Festival
Double CD    A+
Superb performance by the quirky Swiss synth pioneers. Some great songs and a top performance. Excellent sound.

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YELLOW MAGIC ORCHESTRA

1979 Bottom Line, New York
Single CD    A
Japan's biggest band in the 80s, Ryuichi Sakamoto's experimental synth outfit pushed the boundaries of pop - think oriental Kraftwerk. Excellent sound.

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