Culture Club, Colour By Numbers (1983)

Going through old photos recently, spotted my folks’ first holiday snapshots, Japan and Hong Kong, 1983, they returned with my first stereo, a tape-deck, a “ghetto blaster”, also known as a “bop blaster”. Later, many years later, one of dad’s friends ran it over (by mistake) when leaving a picnic area. I was devastated. He never even offered to replaced it, never even really said sorry – sorta suggested it was in the way. It was, by then, my backup bop blaster, my “picnic stereo” on batteries. The first tapes I had were ones I made for that stereo, Cyndi Lauper and Culture Club songs come back to mind instantly, just put a C-90 tape in and record the radio of the day, fast-forward the ads, play these songs over and over – that was how it worked. And then my brother was given the album Colour By Numbers. I’m not sure where my record came from but I bought it due to the memory; the album cover signifying a time. I hardly ever listen to this album but when I do I’m reminded of all those early music-listening experiences. Being so excited by the thrill of the pop tunes of the day. I reckon Culture Club were a good band, good singles band. I still believe that. No shame, as a character from a Carl Shuker novel might say.

Sample Track: Church Of The Poison Mind

The Vinyl Countdown is a document of every LP I listen to, brand new discoveries and old-old favourites; extremely pre-loved, previously abandoned or with the shrink-wrap having just been removed it’s all here at The Vinyl Countdown