I've been on a kick lately checking out the oldest synthpop and new wave I can get my hands on.  Yes, the earliest synthpop is from 1978-79 so technically could be in the 70s post, but synthpop seems more relevant in the 80s.  What are you favorite early synthpop and new wave albums and bands?

Ultravox - Systems of Romance.  I am amazed at how awesome this album is.  It is from 1978 and may be considered the first or earliest synthpop albums.  It was recorded in Germany and produced by Conny Plank (of Kraftwerk production fame).

My favorite "synthpop" bands from the late '70s are The Buggles(released Video Killed the Radio Star in '79) and Yellow Magic Orchestra(released debut album in '78).

Devo: Social Fools (1977)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fo7bgRMrnZQ

Cabaret Voltaire: Kneel to the Boss (1980)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftSWk-mg_Vc

The Human League: Path of Least Resistance (1979)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pE7RbNhaT0c

Kraftwerk: Radioactivity (1975)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhBG1ilB3ao

Throbbing Gristle: Hot on the Heels of Love (1979)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqnVneEBpgQ

The Normal: Warm Leatherette (1978)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5QErPDNcj4

Fad Gadget: Ricky's Hand (1980)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GWS5lNDV3A

OMD: Electricity (1980)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zkMARyxPXw

Yello: Bostich (1979)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cTAbIG0ONQ

Martin Rev: Mari (1980)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvgOBpeCAbA

Gary Numan: Down in the Park (1979)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ci7lssNMRI

OMD: Electricity (1980)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zkMARyxPXw



Oh geez Max, I have not heard this often. One of my buddies was really into OMD before they got famous (before Enola gay or Architecture & Morality was released). We listened to this and "Almost" and "Messages". Here's "Almost"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-CBLQxK6ao

I've been on a kick lately checking out the oldest synthpop and new wave I can get my hands on.  Yes, the earliest synthpop is from 1978-79 so technically could be in the 70s post, but synthpop seems more relevant in the 80s.  What are you favorite early synthpop and new wave albums and bands?


kQOqf3lVPfc
  - Telex, Twist a St. Tropez, 1978.

If you dig early synthpop, get some Telex.  Loved their covers - everything from Bill Haley's Rock around the Clock to Plastic Bertrand's Ca Plane Pour Moi.  We are all getting old, but not this band who kept remixing their own stuff until at least 2006 while naming two of their releases "I Don't Like Remixes" and "I Still Don't Like Remixes".

Oh geez Max, I have not heard this often. One of my buddies was really into OMD before they got famous (before Enola gay or Architecture & Morality was released). We listened to this and "Almost" and "Messages". Here's "Almost"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-CBLQxK6ao


"Almost" is great because you can almost see them struggling to make the chords on the keyboard!  It's an electric organ sound reminiscent of ? and the Mysterians' 96 Tears.  Your friend was into OMD pretty early. "Enola Gay" was released in the fall of 1980.  It was the one after "Messages."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88VKpfBTtxU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01SBf0tsLyI

OMD was already huge when I started buying their records in 1985.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfgyXfOQSJE

kQOqf3lVPfc
  - Telex, Twist a St. Tropez, 1978.

If you dig early synthpop, get some Telex.  Loved their covers - everything from Bill Haley's Rock around the Clock to Plastic Bertrand's Ca Plane Pour Moi.  We are all getting old, but not this band who kept remixing their own stuff until at least 2006 while naming two of their releases "I Don't Like Remixes" and "I Still Don't Like Remixes".


Don't forget Daniel Miller's Silicon Teens --

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HY8zgJUDI9w

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmORfzVWriY&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KdeunCKTO8

Etc...

Soft Cell: The Girl with the Patent Leather Face (1980)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CHdg1RMUZY

John Foxx: Endlessly (1982)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUpxM3vqUns

Roxy Music: same Old Scene (1980)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXOgQN1a7bE

Robert Palmer: Johnny and Mary  (1980)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_SAMrDnXOE

Human Sexual Response: Jackie Onanassis (1980)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyqDnYBQsKw

Rachel Sweet: Shadows of the Night (1981) (D.L. Byron)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zqf5ojFVsMU
Not a single for RS, though I wish it had been.

The Undertones: Teenage Kicks (1978)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKumfRiGdQI

The Runaways: Cherry Bomb (1978)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ta3EQxSsCFQ

"Almost" is great because you can almost see them struggling to make the chords on the keyboard!  It's an electric organ sound reminiscent of ? and the Mysterians' 96 Tears.  Your friend was into OMD pretty early. "Enola Gay" was released in the fall of 1980.  It was the one after "Messages."


My friend Rudy was into them since early 1980.  That's early. I have no idea how he discovered their music. They probably were played on CFNY ( Toronto radio station) and that's about it .

Here's a couple from the band "Saga".  These are from late 1979, early 1980.


"See them Smile" was not a hit, but it's in my top 3 songs of theirs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNWD7Iq1_Jo

This was their only charted single from that album, made it to #84 in Canada. "It's time"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VAUMdXxJ6M

9jMMHHdVJb0

Girls On Film Duran Duran 1981

NSFW

4s9wbRm3rCs

Video Killed The Radio Star: The Buggles 1979

iEfFOd8TDZA

Pop Muzik: M 1979

l_kN_DJQJ3U

Pale Shelter: Tears For Fears 1983

Lots of good stuff in here :)

I like the original version of Video Killed the Radio Star by Bruce Woolley and the Camera Club.  They were not as well known as The Buggles, but they did help launch the career of Thomas Dolby.  This made the Top 30 in Canada ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6ONqpkfNR8

9jMMHHdVJb0

Girls On Film Duran Duran 1981

NSFW

4s9wbRm3rCs

Video Killed The Radio Star: The Buggles 1979

iEfFOd8TDZA

Pop Muzik: M 1979

l_kN_DJQJ3U

Pale Shelter: Tears For Fears 1983


good stuff.  :)

all awesome songs. thanks for posting.  i love the early OMD and Human League albums!!!! 

In high school I really liked a British synthpop band called Yaz. I believe they were known as Yazoo in their country.
I thought I before E was so AWESOME at that time, listening to it now, brings back memories. Sounds kind of creepy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nG4tqI-9K3o

This was another of their big hits in the 80's...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_D3udbawA1Q

Yazoo is a must-have for any synth pop fan.  "Upstairs at Eric's" was released in a few different versions.  Critics maligned "I Before E," but I always thought it was fun.  The two studio albums, "Eric's" and "You and Me Both" haven't gone out of print in 30 years.  Some of their songs, such as Tuesday and The Other Side of Love weren't available in the U.S. until the CD reissues of the nineties.  The Best Of comps are pretty good.  The only drawback being the self-indulgent house dj's who dumped their thump thump thump remixes on otherwise great records.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vh1C1VDlmmk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dp8ninkiXzc

Just snagged a new copy of Upstairs At Eric's on vinyl off Amazon! Was only like $12. Going to have some fun playing that at my next 80's night party!

Just snagged a new copy of Upstairs At Eric's on vinyl off Amazon! Was only like $12. Going to have some fun playing that at my next 80's night party!


A good time will be had by all!

Another fun eighties duo album: Blancmange: Mange Tout

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdQbaCAlCQo