Just before summer, I released an episode on Peter Godwin, exploring why some artists never seem to break into the mainstream. During my research, I came across an interview where Peter mentioned the upcoming release of a collection featuring his Polydor work. Well, "boxset" might be a bit of an exaggeration—it’s actually a double CD 😃—but it includes everything he released on Polydor. In episode 118, I already talked about how his career was relatively short. After a few singles, which were compiled into a mini-album in 1982, he released a full album, Correspondence, in 1983. However, there was never a follow-up album.
Some of his material was re-released digitally by Polydor a few years ago, but if you missed that or don’t own any of his work, this 2-CD set is the perfect opportunity. The standout tracks are, of course, on the first CD, with his 1982 singles “Emotional Disguise” and “Images Of Heaven” as the highlights. Both songs had the potential to be hits but didn’t quite make it. Still, they remain quintessential examples of early '80s synth-pop. All the different versions are included here, even the spoken-word "dub" versions that mix English and French lyrics.
Peter also wrote an introduction for the booklet and offers his thoughts/background on each song. True to form, he name-drops quite a bit (as he did in his interviews), reflecting on his time at the Blitz club during the New Romantic era (you can hear more about that in my episode on Spandau Ballet). As I read through this impressive list of connections, I couldn’t help but wonder again why his career didn’t take off. I offered a few explanations in the episode, but listening to Correspondence again on CD2 reinforced my feeling that the material just wasn’t strong enough to secure a breakthrough. I remember buying the album back in 1983 but not loving it—and my opinion hasn’t changed much. However, there’s one remixed track on this release, "Window Shopping," that made me think the issue wasn’t only the songs but also the production. The album version is decent, but the remix brings out so much more. Would that have been the approach on the complete album, we would’ve talked differently about Peter Godwin and his career probably. But don’t let that stop you checking out this release.
The Polydor Years by Peter Godwin is out now on Cherry Red
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What I Am Listening Too : Peter Godwin - The Polydor Years
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Just before summer, I released an episode on Peter Godwin, exploring why some artists never seem to break into the mainstream. During my research, I came across an interview where Peter mentioned the upcoming release of a collection featuring his Polydor work. Well, "boxset" might be a bit of an exaggeration—it’s actually a double CD 😃—but it includes everything he released on Polydor. In episode 118, I already talked about how his career was relatively short. After a few singles, which were compiled into a mini-album in 1982, he released a full album, Correspondence, in 1983. However, there was never a follow-up album.
Some of his material was re-released digitally by Polydor a few years ago, but if you missed that or don’t own any of his work, this 2-CD set is the perfect opportunity. The standout tracks are, of course, on the first CD, with his 1982 singles “Emotional Disguise” and “Images Of Heaven” as the highlights. Both songs had the potential to be hits but didn’t quite make it. Still, they remain quintessential examples of early '80s synth-pop. All the different versions are included here, even the spoken-word "dub" versions that mix English and French lyrics.
Peter also wrote an introduction for the booklet and offers his thoughts/background on each song. True to form, he name-drops quite a bit (as he did in his interviews), reflecting on his time at the Blitz club during the New Romantic era (you can hear more about that in my episode on Spandau Ballet). As I read through this impressive list of connections, I couldn’t help but wonder again why his career didn’t take off. I offered a few explanations in the episode, but listening to Correspondence again on CD2 reinforced my feeling that the material just wasn’t strong enough to secure a breakthrough. I remember buying the album back in 1983 but not loving it—and my opinion hasn’t changed much. However, there’s one remixed track on this release, "Window Shopping," that made me think the issue wasn’t only the songs but also the production. The album version is decent, but the remix brings out so much more. Would that have been the approach on the complete album, we would’ve talked differently about Peter Godwin and his career probably. But don’t let that stop you checking out this release.
The Polydor Years by Peter Godwin is out now on Cherry Red