Kick off your shoes and put your back into it because it’s time for another sensual installment of Retro Cassette Friday! This week we will be jamming dancing and loving as we float gloriously through a world of mad plastic melodies.
Jo Jo Zep
Cha
1982
We commence our raging hellride through the waters of time with Jo Jo Zep! A band that until today I knew nothing about. The title of this album stirs up much mystery- are they hoping for a cha-cha but setting low expectations for themselves? Are they paying homage to the sound of a small sneeze? Perhaps we shall never know. Jo Jo Zep are bringing funky blues with just a hint of flamenco. Their cover of Dionne Warwick’s ‘Walk On By’ is pretty cool, it’s given a whole new vibe with some sweet synth, the type that plays when clues start getting uncovered on a nineties murder mystery program. Not sure if I dig it as much as The Stranglers’ version, but it’s definitely worth a listen. I especially love ‘Taxi Mary’ with vocals from Jane Clifton. They have definitely achieved full cha-cha.
Chantoozies
1987
Graeme’s Marvellous Music Knowledge of the Day: this band is largely comprised of out of work actors, including television celebrities David Reyne, Tottie Goldsmith and Ally Fowler who were known for their work on Australian soap operas. This record is good ol’ fashioned cheesy eighties pop like it should be. Catchy synth over boppy drums and jangly guitar, with the band’s four female singers gamely delivering hooks that’ll get stuck in your head for hours. Check the video for ‘Witch Queen’, which seems almost like an eerie premonition of ‘Sabrina the Teenage Witch’.
Culture Club
From Luxury to Heartache
1986
This album is notable as Culture Club’s last album before Boy George embarked on his solo career, as well as being the only album in which Boy George has short hair. In this album Culture Club depart from the reggae-pop stylings that brought them widespread popularity with ‘Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?’ and ‘Karma Chameleon’ and go for more a dance/techno vibe. The results are thoroughly enjoyable despite some of the tracks reportedly taking days to record because of Boy George’s growing struggle with substance abuse. ‘Sexuality’ stands out as a groovy, camp number.
