Psychedelic Furs - Mirror Moves (1984) POLL

Also I think the production on this is especially remarkable. I've heard of Keith Forsey before, but I couldn't tell what other albums he might have produced.

I've started a couple of threads on mid eighties P-Furs, but I'll repeat what I've written: the first half is solid, the second less so ("Highwire Days" excepted).

Have you heard the 12" remix of "Heartbeat," Bimbs? It's 1984 in all its garish glory.

Also: whilst recording "Everybody Rules The World," TFF obviously paid very close attention to the keyboard sound of "The Ghost In You."

*Everybody WANTS

Yeah, Al, that's probably the version of "Heartbeat" I taped off the radio that I actually remember. I'll track it down.

This album was such a massive disappointment. But I feel that way about "Forever Now" too (though I'll take the title track). Abstaining from this poll, the only P-Furs albums worth hearing are the first two & the last two.

The album just doesn't have enough songs.

Yeah, you were right, Al, "Highwire Days" does stand out.

The only song I know of these is 'Heaven', which I love (I bought the 12 inch at the time and played it incessantly), so that gets my vote.

This album was such a massive disappointment. But I feel that way about "Forever Now" too (though I'll take the title track). Abstaining from this poll, the only P-Furs albums worth hearing are the first two & the last two.

Basically true except there are actually a ton of great songs hidden under the layers of buttercream on midnight to midnight

Also this is not an easy poll

I can't disregard post-1974 P-Furs. "All That Money Wants" has always been on my shortlist of great new songs on compilations; and am I the only one who thinks "Until She Comes" is a lovely failed sellout? Listen to the verses: Richard Butler seems to be harmonizing while mumbling.

*post 1984

love this album, actually. "ghost in you" is probably the right answer, but i voted for "my time" (cuz isn't it just like love?).

Also I think the production on this is especially remarkable. I've heard of Keith Forsey before, but I couldn't tell what other albums he might have produced.

He worked with Giorgio Moroder for a long time but most infamously, he was the guy who wrote/produced "Don't You Forget About Me" for Simple Minds. He was also the guy behind the Flashdance soundtrack and all the Billy Idol albums.

So obviously kuh-lasssic

I saw the Furs at Irvine Meadows on this tour and they were OK (I really only went to go see The Bangles who were the opening band and just destroyed the place). John Ashton had more guitar gear on stage than David Gilmour and King Crimson combined (both of whom I also saw around the same time) and I couldn't figure out where the hell he was using all of it.

"The Ghost In You" is pretty timeless and works well with all the Forsey-isms.

Also this is not an easy poll

Actually, this is one of the easiest. "Alice's House" >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> the rest.

i have this on vinyl and haven't listened to it in 20 years. not a huge fan of the forsey sound. i remember reading how desperately butler & co wanted that big breakthrough hit and they thought this was gonna be it. never really happened but they did get a lot of airplay.

Basically true except there are actually a ton of great songs hidden under the layers of buttercream on midnight to midnight

Buttercream indeed! I actually liked that album when it came out, most of it, but I think I'd cringe to hear it now. Can you say OVER PRODUCED??

*post 1984

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Monday, November 17, 2008 11:46 PM (Yesterday) Bookmark

God, I'm glad you clarified that, Alfred, because my brain was seriously fucked for awhile there trying to imagine Psych Furs in 1975. I'm not saying this to make fun, I'm just being honest, you threw my brain for a loop.

So this Forsey dude worked with Giorgio? And had a hand in "Don't You Forget About Me" too? Wow. I'd give him a high five if he were here.

"All That Money Wants" has always been on my shortlist of great new songs on compilations

And how. Among their best period. Prolly makes my POV.

"Abstaining from this poll, the only P-Furs albums worth hearing are the first two & the last two"

Despite being a big Furs fan (and loving songs from Forever Now and Mirror Moves), I basically agree with this. Also, "All that money wants" + "Book of days" lp = greatest moments in their career.

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

Landslide.

Mandate

Despite being a big Furs fan (and loving songs from Forever Now and Mirror Moves), I basically agree with this. Also, "All that money wants" + "Book of days" lp = greatest moments in their career.

Yeah, I mean, it'd be hard to state with an accuracy that'd get at the heart of it just how crucial the Furs were to me for a brief but incredible moment - after learning about those first two albums but before the third one came out. The first time I heard "Into You Like A Train" is burned into my brain - that "yeah fall in love" line articulated both the cynicism and the underlying romanticism that was (or seems like, now) the unspoken energy of the whole adolescent atmosphere at the time. They were not my favorite band, but I often suspected they were the best band - that what they were capable of was leagues beyond any/everybody else. I was in awe of what those two albums could do to me. So Forever Now wasn't just a disappointment, but your classic betrayal, proving all the haters right. Book of Days (I was the only person I knew who even heard it) was something of a vindication, for me - "Torch" is one of their all-time best songs, and there are so many gems on that record. And I do like "All That Money Wants" - it's got that classic blurred, quasi-senseless title and the round-like melodic working that had been their trademark pre-Rundgren.

I can't get "My Time" out of my head. Help!

I mean, it could be a worse choice for an earworm. Don't you have an eraser song, something that when you play it in your head it wipes out whatever ear worm was there?

Isn't it just like love?

Something about Heaven makes me think of the last 10 tracks of Under the Bushes, Under the Stars or some 95 second anthem on the first Suitcase.

Forever Now wasn't just a disappointment, but your classic betrayal, proving all the haters right.

Huh. I bought this album when it came out, not having heard the first two, and still love it.

Wow “Like a Stranger” plunked my brain so hard back into 1984 with such authority. This played on LIR a lot iirc. Not bad really.

I’m gonna see them in 2 days and listening to them very hard— damn they have a lot of good songs, I totally forgot.

Now that i look at the songlist here i see that tho i never owned this album i know every song well, and that is likely alt airplay. By circumstance my friends 82-89 were deadheads or non-music— which aspect I didn’t love, but ay.

They played a song from "World Outside" the other night, but not the single.

Oh, they played "In My Head," which I heard on my college station more than "Until She Comes."

Also: whilst recording "Everybody Rules The World," TFF obviously paid very close attention to the keyboard sound of "The Ghost In You."

14-year flashback response!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWOaN_azH1s

And a link to a history of the famed sample and some places where it appeared:

https://www.failedmuso.com/the-story-of-sararr/