Cassette of the Day: Survival Sampler/SR-1A Sound Rations

Survival Sampler: Fear and Loafing, collage ca. 1985 by StudioMONDO

I don't recall how I came into possession of this cassette but it's still one of my favorite albums to listen to. Not one dud on the whole compilation of mid-80s New Wave, Pop and Rock acts from the Second British Invasion. It was the catalyst for my later purchases of music by groups like The Smiths, China Crisis, Scritti Politti and Depeche Mode, groups I, back then, knew little or nothing about.  There's also a great song from The Assembly a one time project of Vince Clarke (of Depeche Mode, Yazoo, Erasure) that leaves you wanting more like it.

I just recently found out what the original packaging looked like (I did the artwork above because I just had the tape) but it was really cool and I wish I had it.

A quick scan on eBay yielded yet another surprise: it was also issued as a vinyl LP! I guess should burn it to a CD even though, unlike most of my cassettes, it still plays flawlessly.

Survival Sampler / SR-1A Sound Rations
Warner Brothers 4-25104
Audiocassette 1984
A1. The Smiths - What Difference Does It Make|
A2. The Church - Electric Lash
A3. China Crisis - Wishful Thinking
A4. Scritti Politti - Wood Beez (Pray Like Aretha Franklin)
A5. Carmel - More More More
A6. King Crimson - Sleepless
B1. Aztec Camera - Pillar To Post
B2. The Cure - The Caterpillar
B3. The Bluebells - I'm Falling
B4. Modern English - Rainbows End
B5. The Assembly - Never Never
B6. Depeche Mode - Everything Counts

Video Review of the Day: Robbie Williams

Today i decided to do a little housecleaning. While rummaging through my collection of VHS tapes i found a bunch of promo music videos. Among them was Rock DJ by Robbie Williams. It's a mediocre song made more interesting by this video in which begins with Robbie center-stage in a roller rink full of yawn-inducing, generic fashion models. He becomes increasingly distressed at not being the center of attention and begins a striptease to catch the eye of any of the women and, particularly, those of the DJ Lauren Gold.
     There's a pretty good idea at work here and it's well executed with better than average make-up effects and CGI so it's, actually, a lot of fun to watch with the sound off (or on depending on your tolerance for Robbie Williams). It's one of those things you want to view every once in a blue moon. Unfortunately, after watching it today, it is stuck in my VCR so now i can't watch my VHS copy of Volumen.

Music: 2/5 - i'm bewildered by the popularity of this goof
Video: 3/5 - a good idea wasted on a bland song