Gary Numan / The Numa years

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Officially the period where Gary sorta lost the plot (about 1984-1995?), there were other artists released as well (early on), various live recordings, compilations, and even an instrumental album with one Michael R Smith.

Of all these, are any recommended? Especially compilations? It's hard to believe it was all crud. Some of it must be worth hearing.

― Colin Mole, Monday, 28 June 2004 03:09 (twenty-one years ago)

i will always have a soft-spot for beserker, and i think that strange charm is pretty underrated. overall, there's some good stuff during that time, to be sure ... nowhere near as consistent as he was during his beggars banquet salad days (esp. the tubeway army-to-i, assassin period), but there's some pearls to be found. but you have to dig ... but this one ...

http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drd400/d498/d49834y94ev.jpg

... does a pretty good job of presenting his best numa-era stuff (if you can find it).

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Monday, 28 June 2004 03:19 (twenty-one years ago)

It wasn't all crud...but you must choose sparingly. My thoughts on:

Berzerker

The Fury

Strange Charm

Machine and Soul (yes, the one with the Prince covers, god help us)

Not to mention:

White Noise

Ghost

Dream Corrosion

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 28 June 2004 03:22 (twenty-one years ago)

Really, any Numan album where he tries to look like David Copperfield is generally not essential.

― donut bitch (donut), Monday, 28 June 2004 06:46 (twenty-one years ago)

Or as Ned quotes Gary himself - 'The man who just lost it all at Monte Carlo'. Great reviews btw.

― the music mole (colin s barrow), Monday, 28 June 2004 08:16 (twenty-one years ago)

The most striking thing was that even up to "sister (forget)" his last single for Beggars, his sleeves looked fantastic. After that, they all were rubbish. A picture of Gary and some very bad typing. and that's being kind.

One of his singles was a charity thing for dog protection. So the sleeve has a crummy looking pic of an alsatian. Very poor.

I never much liked his music, so can't comment on that.

― mark grout (mark grout), Monday, 28 June 2004 08:19 (twenty-one years ago)

Mark, I have a picture for the White Boys and Heroes 12" that might even make you blanche. Let's see if I can find it.

― the music mole (colin s barrow), Monday, 28 June 2004 08:35 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.kristallpojken.org/Konvolut/Gary_Numan__White_boys_and_heroes.jpeg

― the music mole (colin s barrow), Monday, 28 June 2004 08:38 (twenty-one years ago)

This was in his debt ridden period, when he was reduced to working the streets of Brixton, picking up fancy men.

― the music mole (colin s barrow), Monday, 28 June 2004 08:40 (twenty-one years ago)

http://numanshop.usp.net/numan/shoppics/upload/thefurycas.jpg

Yeah, but what about this LP cover? (the middle bit)

― mark grout (mark grout), Monday, 28 June 2004 08:41 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.musicfolio.com/modernrock/garynuman_thefury.jpeg
Sorry, this one is 'better'

― mark grout (mark grout), Monday, 28 June 2004 08:42 (twenty-one years ago)

That's the 'lost it all in Monte Carlo' shot. It is to Gary Numan what the Mars Bar story is to Marianne Faithfull.

Erm, anyway - are there any good compilations of the Numa years?

― the music mole (colin s barrow), Monday, 28 June 2004 08:47 (twenty-one years ago)

Why Music Mole! Eisbar gave you a suggestion for a comp right at the start!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 28 June 2004 12:00 (twenty-one years ago)

I wish that said "The Jury," and didn't make me immediately think:

http://images-jp.amazon.com/images/P/B00004DTRD.01.TZZZZZZZ.jpg

― Ian Christe (Ian Christe), Monday, 28 June 2004 13:07 (twenty-one years ago)

The other man who lost it all at Monte Carlo!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 28 June 2004 13:08 (twenty-one years ago)

So he did - Remodulate - thanks Eisy. I assumed from the title it was a remix album...

― the music mole (colin s barrow), Monday, 28 June 2004 20:57 (twenty-one years ago)

>>It wouldn't exactly be "U Got The Look", it would be "Hayoooo Gawt Thea Looohoouk!"<<

>>Oooh boy I love these threads.<<

Just checked another Numan thread and found this. Feeling paranoid now.

― Thea (Thea), Monday, 28 June 2004 22:42 (twenty-one years ago)

oh but i love the berserker album cover!

and, as colin once said, gary DOES look furious on that fury album cover.

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Tuesday, 29 June 2004 00:59 (twenty-one years ago)

The Beserker cover is good. Why do we always end up discussing the covers???

― the music mole (colin s barrow), Tuesday, 29 June 2004 01:03 (twenty-one years ago)

i've seen photos from the berserker-era tour ... numan w/ the ultra-white makeup and blue hair. musta been something to see!!

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Tuesday, 29 June 2004 01:07 (twenty-one years ago)

I saw some Numanoids take to the street with that look back in the day.

― the music mole (colin s barrow), Tuesday, 29 June 2004 01:14 (twenty-one years ago)

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