Jon Savage's 1986-1990 Rollin Under The Melody.
Label: Ace.
Format: 2 CD.
Jon Savage's 1986-1990 Rollin Under The Melody is the final compilation in what's been, a long running series. This is the eleventh compilation in a series that began in 2018. However, does the series end on a high?
During the period between 1986-1990, music was changing and new genres were emerging on both sides of the Atlantic. This was nothing new, as music has constantly changed. That was the case in 1965. The year was documented in Jon Savage's 1965 - The Year The Sixties Ignited, which was the first volume in the series.
Subsequent volumes documented how music continued to evolve, and documents the advent of new genres. This included everything from psychedelia, folk-rock, pop-psych, sunshine pop and progressive rock. That's not forgetting glam rock, pub rock, Krautrock, punk, new wave, techno, rap and indie. Music continued to evolve between 1965 and 1985, which the previous volumes in this series covers.
At the forefront of many of these musical movements were groundbreaking musicians, pioneers who were willing to push musical boundaries to their limits, and sometimes, beyond. This they were often doing against a background of seismic societal change. It wasn't just music that was changing, but also the world.
These changes were documented throughout the series. For those who didn't live through these times, it's a taster of the music that was made and released, and also gives a glimpse into what was an ever-changing world.
That continues in the final volume of the series, Jon Savage's 1986-1990 Rollin Under The Melody. It features thirty tracks on two CDs. It's an eclectic collection of tracks that ranges from baggy and house to post-punk, proto-grunge. That's not forgetting minimalist avant-garde, neo-psychedelia and dance rock.
Disc One.
Opening disc one is the instrumental version of 'Mystery Of Love' by Mr Fingers. It was released by Alleviated Music in late 1985, and was the groundbreaking debut from Chicago house pioneer. Later, Larry Heard aka Mr Fingers, would release Washing Machine and Amnesia, which were two more highlights of a long and illustrious career.
In February 1986, Edinburgh-based Shop Assistants enjoyed an indie hit with 'Safety Net.' It was released on the 53rd & 3rd label. It's a track that owes much to punk, and even maybe, the Velvet Underground. However, it's not aged well despite its message about who fragile life is.
Cameo's 'Word Up!' was released in 1986 gave the group the biggest hit of their career. It reached the top ten in twelve countries, and topped the US R&B charts. No wonder. It was an infectiously catchy fusion of funk, soul, R&B and rock that was a favourite of dancers and DJs.
'Theme From S-Express' was released on Rhythm King by S-Express in April 1988. Sampling was used extensively to produce what was an uplifting and anthemic house track with a feelgood sound.
The Primitives were formed in Coventry in 1985, and released 'Crash' on RCA in early 1988. It's a song that's been influenced and inspired by the music of the sixties and seventies. The result is a hook-laden and melodic mixture of indie pop and rock. It features one of Tracy Tracy's finest vocals and it's no surprise that it gave the group a top five singles.
'Che' by Spacemen 3 was released in November 1988. It's a cover of a track from Suicide's debut album. However, here Spaceman 3's cover is a mesmeric example of mood-changing neo-psychedelia.
Closing disc one is 'Full Fathom Five' by The Stone Roses. It was the B-Side of the single 'Elephant Stone' when it was released as a CD maxi single in 1988. 'Full Fathom Five' is 'Elephant Stone' played backwards with the group overdubbing vocals and guitars to add to what's a mixture of rock, psychedelia and post punk.
Side Two.
One of Todd Terry's aliases in the late-eighties was Black Riot. Using the pseudonym, Terry released 'A Day In The Life (Club Mix); in November 1988. He combines house, rap and samples to create a dancefloor filler that's stood the test of time.
When Fine Young Cannibals released 'She Drives Me Crazy' in December 1988, it was their fifth single. It was also their most successful single, reaching number five and topping the US Billboard 100. The track was recorded in Prince's Paisley Park studio, and is a fusion of Roland Gift's unmistakable falsetto vocal, synthesised drums, beeping, squeaking synths and guitars that veer between jangling and jazzy to full blown power chords. The result was the group's finest hour.
For many people, A.C. Marias' single 'One Of Our Girls Has Gone Missing will fall into the category of a hidden gem. It was released on Mute in February 1990, and features an ethereal, wistful and trouble vocal from Angela Conway. She was a video director, which is how she met Wire guitarist Bruce Gilbert. They combine to create what's welcome inclusion to the compilation.
Soho weren't an overnight success. Two years after releasing their debut single, 'Hippychick (No Acid Ted Mix)' gave them a hit on both sides of the Atlantic in 1990. There's anger in the vocal in a track that combines pop, eighties electronic music, nineties Nu-Soul and even rock. The result was the most successful track of Soho's career and undoubtedly the best.
Neil Young wrote 'Only Love Can Break Your Heart,' and his version is, the definitive version. It's been covered by many artists and bands over the years. This includes Saint Etienne in May 1990. Sarah Cracknell delivers a hopeful vocal against a genre-melting vocal that shuffles along. Good as it is, doesn't come close to reaching the heights of Young's original, which is a classic.
'The Only One I Know' features The Charlatans at the peak of their powers. This fusion of psychedelia and rock was released in May 1990 as the group's sophomore single. It reached number nine in the UK, and was without doubt, their finest single and is a also a reminder of what was christened by cultural commentators as the summer of baggy.
Closing disc two is 'Take Your Time' by The High. The single was released in on London in October 1990, and is a truly mesmeric and oft-overlooked slice of psychedelia by the Manchester-band.
These are just some of the tracks on Jon Savage's 1986-1990 Rollin Under The Melody. It's the eleventh and last compilation in this long-running series. Does it bring the series to a close on a high? Not really. While this eclectic compilation is long on quality, there are several tracks that disappoint. There are many better tracks that were released between 1986-1990 that would've been worthy candidates for inclusion. As a result, Jon Savage's 1986-1990 Rollin Under The Melody is a good, but not great compilation. Some of the earlier compilations in the series are much better. Having said that, for anyone who lived through this period, then Jon Savage's 1986-1990 Rollin Under The Melody may well be of interest to them.
Jon Savage's 1986-1990 Rollin Under The Melody.
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