The Thompson Twins began as a group of squatters, Tom Bailey, Pete Dodd, John Roog, and Jon Podorski. Future member, Alannah Currie, would also squat around the area of Lillieshall Road, Clapham. This is also how they would meet future roadie and manager, John Hade.
Podorski would opt to leave, and after an answer to an ad, Andrew Edge, was recruited. However, after eighteen months, he'd depart to form Savage Progress. Coming full circle, Progress would later tour as a supporting act for Twins in 1984.
By 1980, the lineup consisted of Bailey, Dodd, Roog, and Edge replacement, Chris Bell. Together, they released the single, Squares and Triangles under their own label, Dirty Discs. This was followed up by the single, She's In Love with Mystery.
In 1981, the four were joined by Joe Leeway, and Jane Shorter. This lineup would go on to record the band's debut album. Alannah Currie would also contribute to some of the tracks but wouldn't become a full member until after its release, where she replaced Shorter. Matthew Seligman would also join, necessitating members to shift their duties within the band.
This is the type of stuff I like to unearth from the 80's. Solid debut albums, which set the tone for a future of fantastic follow ups (hopefully). The challenge with Thompson Twin's debut album is that it was never officially released in the USA. Further, it's only been pressed on CD once, as a dual album with their 1982 released Set, and is long since out of print.
The band brings to the table a hybrid of pop and punk, mixed with a unique flare that can only be described as different. They kind of reminded me of The Police but taken a step further. Tracks like When I See You, Politics, Make Believe, and Don't Go Away stand out as the superior among the bunch. However, as a whole, the album is fairly good.
Only in the 80's could a pop band release tracks like Oumma Aularesso (Animal Laugh), Vendredi Saint, and pull them off as enjoyable. Odd and unique for sure, but still enjoyable in a strange way. Worth checking out simply to hear something different.
Thompson Twins were able to secure a recording contract with Arista, and began work on their follow-up, set. However, with its release would come failure, disbandment, and a silver lining for some. Check back tomorrow, as I continue my journey through their 80's discography.
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