Say, we can go where we want to, and where we're going is back to 1982!
Men Without Hats initially formed as a punk band in 1977. However, by 1980 was retooled and reformed into a synthesizer based group. The name originated from the Doroschuk brothers, who during Montreal's cold winters refused to wear hats, calling them selves, "the men without hats."
The group released their first EP that same year, but wouldn't find success until releasing their first studio album, Rhythm Of Youth. The track which led the way, The Safety Dance. It not only reached the charts in the United States, but also Canada and the UK. This was most likely aided by the unique music video, which saw steady rotation on MTV.
It's right here where today's Retro Spin takes place.
Finding the original pressing of this album is incredibly difficult, and by no means cheap. Copies can easily sell for upwards of $500.00. Which is why when I saw one listed for $15.00, I about fell on the floor. Sadly, while I was composing myself, someone else swooped in to grab it. So for me, sadly, I am stuck with my digipak re-release with bonus tracks.
What's interesting to note about Rhythm Of Youth is that, in 1982, depending on if you got it in the US, Canada or UK, you would get a very different listening experience. This can also be impacted by the format in which you buy it on. Releases on LP in Canada and the UK were both the same. However, for the 1983 US LP, the song Living In China was removed, with the track Antarctica added in its place. Additionally The Safety Dance was the extended dance mix.
A cassette version was released in the US in 1983 which kept the song, Antarctica, but also included Living In China. Due to space constraints, the dance mix of The Safety Dance was replaced by the original edit.
Canada and the UK also got a CD pressing in 1984 which included five additional bonus tracks. These not included the dance mix of The Safety Dance, but also all four tracks from the band's 1980 EP. This is the particular version I am after.
Putting on my digipak version (grumble), I really wasn't expecting much from this album. As such, it was a great surprise to find myself not only invested, but enjoying what I was hearing. Of the fifteen tracks which encompass the expanded version of the album, I grabbed seven.
I was glad to find that this release not only had the extended dance mix of The Safety Dance, but also the original version. Personally, I don't like when CD versions of albums maximize space by providing alternate cuts of songs in place of the original. I prefer, and want the original.
Overall, I found myself really liking what I heard. It was synth pop goodness, and it was surprising that only one song from the album made any form of impact. In fact, the group wouldn't have another hit until 1987's Pop Goes The World, with the song of the same name.
We'll eventually get to that album here at The Toy Box. However, until them, I'm off to listen to something else.
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Disclaimer: They Toy Box does not endorse or contribute to piracy. Retro Spins posts are intended for educational and entertainment purposes only. None of the music discussed here is available for sale, downloading or distribution.
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| THIS WEEK ON THE CHARTS January 16, 1982 |
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| THIS WEEK ON THE CHARTS January 16, 1988 |
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