Bubbling under: "Eyes of a Stranger" - The Payolas (1982)

In the same year that produced "Eye of the Tiger" and "Eye in the Sky", a group of Vancouver-based musicians gave us the mysterious and theatrical "Eyes of a Stranger".  

What a fantastic opening to lure us in before we get slapped with a riveting lyric. The guitar echo combined with a reggae percussion creates a unique blend of new wave that sounds like it could be a jam session between The Police and The Cure, plus a dash of inspiration from this classic.

I'm quite sure I heard this track for the first time on CBC's Sunday morning
Switchback hosted by Stan the Man... 

...and speaking of Switchback; was it just me or did every episode seem to play "Come On Eileen" or "My Girl"...or perhaps it's my memory that's gone, gone, gone?

Bubbling under: "Second Skin" - The Chameleons (1983)

Starting in the late 70s U.K. cities best represented by Manchester produced an embarrassment of riches in the post-punk genre (The Buzzcocks, Joy Division) as youth turned to music as an escape from the bleak post-industrial economy. The proliferation of influential artists continued into the 80s with among others, New Order and The Smiths, and 90s with Oasis and the Charlatans. 

Lost in the shuffle is a band called The Chameleons. Never heard of them? Neither did I until recently.

Their 1983 debut album Script of the Bridge offers layered and textured sonic landscapes that combine the sound of early U2, New Order and The Cure. Listen to "Second Skin" on headphones or cranked in the car at night and let the haunting, hypnotic synths and reverb guitar wash over you. Like floating on air. 

Bubbling under: "Do They Know It’s Christmas" - Band Aid (1984)

Band Aid may not have achieved all its lofty goals but it was still a good idea.

Just the fact that the 'who's who' of the British music scene came together to make a charity song spoke volumes about their hearts. It led to the Americans and the Canadians to follow. It inspired Live Aid concerts in the summer of 1985. And dozens of similar gigs.

About the song itself, that intro with the bells still gives me goosebumps. With all the egos in the room (check out Sting starring at Bono) it was amazing that the track even got produced in the first place. 

The spirit and magic of collaboration is on full display as Boy George and George Michael sung emotive lines while the boys from Duran and Spandau Ballet played side by side. 

I'll always remember the SEA staff party in Halifax (1997?) when Bruce from accounting unpacked his acoustic guitar while we took turns botching the lyrics. 

Below are the follow up songs, ordered by my personal preference: Canada's "Tears Are Not Enough" by Northern Lights and the USA for Africa "We Are The World".

Bubbling under: "Tenderness" - General Public (1984)

Members from Birmingham UK's The Beat dissolved and formed two new groups: The Fine Young Cannibals and General Public, founded by Ranking Roger and Dave Wakeling. 

General Public then churned out the infinitely catchy "Tenderness" on radio and video channels in 1984, later featured on the soundtrack of the nerd Weird Science film.