Bananarama “Love in the First Degree” 1987. 12″ single. Unaware of its release date, I fortuitously scheduled a happy hour meetup last night on its 39th anniversary (September 21st 1987) with a friend that Joe and I have affectionately nicknamed “Bananarama Brian” (his favorite band is, obviously, Bananarama; he’s even flown across the country to see them in concert multiple times). So in the spirit of fun chats, bubbly wine and snacks, I’m spinning the second single from the new wave/synthy dance pop band’s fourth album, Wow! (“Love in the First Degree” was released in 1988 in the US for some reason). It went #3 in the UK and to #48 in the US. Compared to some of their earlier hits, it’s pretty bland late 80’s dance pop: very formulaic for the time though clearly the dance clubs loved it (#2 UK dance chart, #10 US dance and top 10 in many other countries). The song was nominated for British Single of the Year but lost to the ear worm of the decade: Rick Astley’s “Never Gonna Give You Up.” The 12″ has three versions of the track: the “Eurobeast Style” mix, the 7″ single mix and the “Jailer’s Mix.” Much more fun and interesting is the track that isn’t a version of the single: “Ecstasy (Wild Style)” is a funky synthpop almost-instrumental (there are virtually no vocals).

M545 “Seven” and “I’ll Kill For Yesterday” two 45″ singles, 2021 & 2022. Yesterday we went to our first ever Packers Halftime Show at Cactus Club to see M545 play a short and sharp 15 minute set (note the Packers helmet on the wall behind the band, they were finishing their set as the 3rd quarter was starting). M545 are a local (Bay View, Milwaukee) punk band, one of neighborhood favorites. They play great classic-style hardcore punk: fast, tight with neither whining nor growling vocals (I can’t stand either end of that spectrum in the punk canon). We picked up both of these singles at the show and both are great! Each has 3 tracks and my top is “Displaced” (from 2020): it has a very 80’s punk vibe with a menacing bass line. Also great is “Let Go” from the same disc with its barely controlled chaos and pogo-friendly beat. Members Juan (guitar/vocals) and Ted (bass/vocals) traded off singing during yesterday’s set while drummer Scottie (also backup vocals) kept things tight and on track.

Fun fact: when googling M545 is you’ll get a hit for jazz musician Pat Metheny as M545 is the catalog matrix for specific localized printing of  the 1993 Turkish cassette edition of the Pat Metheny Group’s The Road To You. I’ve never listened to that album but I’m very confident it has nothing in common with Milwaukee’s M545.

Laurie Depies “A Loriella Compilation” circa 1991. Remembering Laurie today, September 17th, which would have been her 55th birthday. She made this mixtape for our friend Jim around 1991 (based on the some of the songs included), around 30 years ago and about a year before her disappearance. Jim gave me this tape that he’s had in his collection a few months ago and I absolutely started crying, so grateful for this made-with-heart gift. In the 80’s and early 90’s me and my friends were all about the mixtape, choosing songs that we were into, both old and new. Laurie’s eclectic tastes are 100% represented on this tape, too, ranging from classic and prog rock to 80’s new wave and goth to late 80’s/early 90’s alternative and most assuredly a glimpse into her mindset when she put it together. And in true Laurie fashion, there’s just a bit extra R.E.M. and Siouxsie. 

For some of my memories of Laurie and photos from around that time, please see the post I wrote in 2022 on the 30th anniversary of her disappearance.

Tracklist of “A Loriella Collection”

Side One

The Guess Who “No Time”

King Crimson “Man With an Open Heart” 

The Doors “Tell All the People”

Jefferson Airplane “Somebody to Love” 

Van Morrison “Moondance”

Paul Simon “Was a Sunny Day”

Talking Heads “Warning Signs”

Yes “It Can Happen”

R.E.M. “1,000,000”

Rolling Stones “Shattered”

Kate Bush “Running Up That Hill”

Donovan “Hurdy Gurdy Man” 

Side Two

Primus “Jerry Was a Racecar Driver”

Eurythmics “Who’s That Girl”

Wall of Voodoo “They Don’t Want Me”

Throwing Muses “Mexican Women”

Fred Frith “Too Much, Too Little”

? (this is Fred Frith “The Welcome” — Shazam didn’t exist back then)

Siouxsie & the Banshees “Spellbound”

Soup Dragons “I’m Free”

P.I.L. “Seattle”

R.E.M. “Finest Worksong” 

Red Hot Chili Peppers “Show Me Your Soul” 

Siouxsie & the Banshees “Kiss Them For Me”

Bauhaus “Slice of Life”