I've been revisiting the Psychedelic Furs catalogue this past week. For about three years in the mid-80's, The Furs edged out a few legends from my favorite artist list. In 1986, I saw the band four times on their "Midnight To Midnight" tour, twice in N.Y.C., once in a suburb of Pennsylvania, and once on the West Coast, when I planned a Los Angeles vacation around their show at The Universal Amphitheater.
"Midnight To Midnight" was a bit of a disappointment after what I think are their two best records, the Todd Rundgren produced "Forever Now" and "Mirror Moves," an album that feels like every track should have been a hit single. The first single from "Midnight," "Heartbreak Beat" was strong. But nothing, at the time, sounded half as good...until my recent spin. It's better than its reputation.
As a matter of fact, everything I listened to over this stretch sounded great, especially "Book Of Days," which if memory serves, wasn't exactly the comeback fans or critics were hoping for. Maybe I'm wrong, but that's how I remember it, though the All Music Guide review says otherwise.
I was also reminded of a night in 1992, while working the evening shift at Smash CDs on St. Mark's Place. Richard Butler lived in the East Village and would pop his head in from time to time. I think he was checking on his new project "Love Spit Love" and whether we were selling any copies. I had been listening to a live Gary Moore bootleg and the song "Still Got The Blues" was already in progress when Butler walked in right at the moment Moore was about to start his epic solo by sustaining one note for about 15 seconds. The front door opened, Butler walks in, hears the note, immediately falls to his knees and air guitars that note while contorting his face into a faux-ecstasy grimace. Moore continues the solo proper, Butler stands up, looks at me and laughs, makes an about face and walks right out. That visit lasted 15 seconds and I still think of it whenever I hear the Furs music.
7 comments:
Sal- if I recall, the band members (in particular Tim Butler) disparaged Midnight a few years after its release. I think he said that they were trying to become Bon Jovi.
As for Book of Days, I never really embraced that album even though it feature the return of their original drummer. The one song that stands out for me on the album is "Entertain Me"
Love the story of Richard visiting the store!
I'm not a huge Furs fan, but I agree 100% with what you wrote about Forever Now, Mirror Moves, and MTM. Mirror Moves is damn close to perfection and MTM was a disappointment (except for Heartbreak Beat). Pretty sure I still have MTM in the record collection, so I'll have to dig it out and try again.
The Furs are one of my favorite bands from the 80's. Saw them in San Diego with Dream Syndicate as the opener, with both bands putting in strong sets. The first four albums still get regular rotation from me. Will have to try Book of Days again.
Not long after Mirror Moves came out, I met Steve Kilbey and Marty Willson-Piper from The Church through a friend who was managing them at the time. Steve was (respectfully) annoyed that he hadn't written the line in The Ghost In You, "And love, love, love you can't give it away".
- Paul in DK
Great Richard Butler story. I've always enjoyed The Furs. I thought there latest album, "Made Of Rain", was quite good.
Great story!
I think the Furs have been unfairly maligned over the years, so it was good to read your post. And that Richard Butler snippet is a little gem. Will it make it into the book we're waiting on? Cheers!
I've never paid attention to them at all until minutes ago. Great story about his record store visit; makes me like them already. Plus, Todd Rundgren!
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