NEW WAVE: ON 'ONE HIT WONDER'

That the  New Wave genre in the 80’s  is remembered not only for  bad hairs but for having many “one hit wonders” is  one of the biggest misconception in music, as far as I’m concerned.  

In music, a “one hit wonder” refers to bands or artists who have only one hit single   or one song that overshadows their body of work.
But this “one hit wonder” moniker can be misleading because it    implies that   bands or artists  who have had only one hit single  in a specific  region or country,  are only known or recognize   for their one and only  hit.
Many  of the bands or artists  labeled as “one hit wonder”  may have other  hits or well-known songs that never charted elsewhere   because those  were album tracks and were never released as singles in the first place.
The fact is, many bands or artists  listed as “one hit wonder” in a country like the U.S., are popular ( some massively, like A-ha) and successful in other parts of the world like in Europe, South America, Australia and Asia.
 And an internationally renowned band or   artist popular in Europe or  in other parts of the world may not even have a single chart hit in the U.S. Billboard  (Morrissey).
Let me cite five among  the many   New Wave-associated bands erroneously branded “one hit wonder”:

Aha: Of the bands cited as “one hit wonder” by American firm VH1,  nothing touches my nerves more than A-ha. Their U.S. Platinum-selling debut album,"Hunting High And Low",  produced a no.1 hit “Take on me” and a top-20 hit, “The Sun Always Shines On T.V.”, in the U.S. Billboard chart.  They shouldn’t even  be on the list. That their most popular song “Take On me” overshadows their whole work is ridiculous. Did VH1 survey the more than a million fans who bought (even only)   their debut album in U.S.?   Perhaps, the person/s responsible for putting A-ha on  VH1's list , knew only one song of them. 

The two aforementioned songs were also chart toppers or top 10 hits across Europe and Australia. Other singles from their debut album such as “Train of Thought” and “Hunting High and Low” were also chart hits in Europe. Here in the Philippines, “Love is Reason” was heavily played on FM radio too. Another song from the album, “Living A Boys Adventure Tales” is a classic among New Wavers here. In fact, most of the singles from their first three albums are hits in many regions of the world.
 Throughout their career, A-ha produced 9 albums, 39 singles and  sold millions and millions of records worldwide.  How’s that for a band  referred to as  “one hit wonder”?

A Flock Of Seagulls: Listed in VH1 with their supposedly single hit, U.S. top-10,  “I Run (So far Away)”.The fact is,  they have several international hits such as ‘Space Age Love Song”,  “Wishing (If I Had A Photograph Of You) ( U.S Top-20! ), “Transfer Affection” and their most famous song here, ” The More You Live, The More You Love”. 

 
The Church:  Although having just one U.S. charting single, “Under The Milky Way Tonight” which went no. 24 in the U.S. chart in 1988, here in the Philippines they are also known among New Wavers for “The Unguarded Moment”, “No Explanation” and “Already Yesterday” which were all played in New Wave radio stations in the 80’s  like the legendary  WXB 102. They are of course popular in their homeland, Australia. Their discography consists of   20 studio albums, 9 extended plays and 33 singles.

Modern English: Famous for the New  Wave classic,  “I Melt With You”(U.S. no. 78). Two of their songs that were heavily played on FM radio here in the 80’s  were, “Hands  Across The Sea”( U.S. no. 93)  and “Ink And Paper”.  ”The Border”,  “Someone’s Calling”,"After The Snow", ”Gathering Dust”, and  “Smiles and Laughter” among others,  are also favorites among fans here.  The band has seven albums, the latest, released in 2010.

Soft cell: Although famous for their 1981 remake of “Tainted Love” which went to no. 4 in the U.S. Billboard chart, they have in fact ten top-40 hits in their home country, the U.K.,  five of which are top-10  with “Tainted Love”  hitting no. 1.  In addition , they  placed several songs across the European Charts.
 I could go on and on… But what is the purpose of being recognize as a “one hit wonder”? Is it to pay tribute or respect?  Is it to preserve in our memory such  act/s  remembered  only for  a single song? Is it just a trivial matter, a nice to know?  Is it a form of mockery?    

One thing I’m sure of,  is that many of the New Wave bands and artists often  referred to as “one hit wonder” had in fact  more than one hit and  their careers are not defined  by  one famous  song. Many are  successful and highly regarded, many have several albums, some are prolific and many are still active. 

NEW WAVE: TRANSLATOR - BIG GREEN LAWN

From the cover of the archival 2 CD set released in 2008 (L-R)Steve Barton, Dave Scheff, Larry Dekker and Robert Darlington

 The New Wave genres' resurgence which began a decade ago is gaining more momentum as evidenced by the continued regrouping, touring and releasing of new materials these past few years   by many classic 80's New Wave -associated outfits that have been inactive( as a band) for many years

 These include The Wild Swans, OMD, The Wake, Three O’clock, B-Movie, Red Box, This Final Frame, Blue Zoo, White China and the subject of my blog, Translator, among many  others.

 The Translator is known here among  New Wave enthusiasts as one of the four 415 Records–associated groups  that were in heavy  rotation on FM radio like WXB 102 during the 80’s. The other three are Red Rockers,  Romeo Void and Wire Train.  

Brief History

 The San Francisco-based group was formed in Los Angeles in 1979 initially as a trio of  singer/songwriter/guitarist Steve Barton,  Larry Dekker on bass  and Dave Scheff on drums. The  group was soon joined by another singer/songwriter/guitarist Robert Darlington       completing the  line-up.

 Their   60’s inspired guitar-driven  music were influenced by The Beatles, Cream, and the Byrds, among others.  A meshing of melodic  jangly guitar riffs and hooks, fast drumming , folk-rock, pop,  psychedelia, with edginess and passionate lyrics. 

 During the early to mid-80’s, the band was popular in non-commercial college and New Wave music stations, but unlike contemporary and similar group like R.E.M., they never achieved mainstream success. The group disbanded in 1986  after the release of their fourth album.

 The musical landscape during the early 80's was ruled by  New Romantics and Synth-pop groups and the melodic guitar-based groups were relegated to second tier. Some say they are ahead of their time and could have been more successful in the 90's where alternative guitar-driven bands occupied the mainstream.

Studio Albums

Between 1982 to 1986 the group made four studio albums:

1. Heartbeats And Triggers, 1982

2. No Time Like Now, 1983

3. Translator, 1985

4 .Evening Of The Harvest, 1986

Heartbeats And Triggers

1. "Everywhere That I'm Not"
2. "Necessary Spinning"
3. "Everything You See"
4. "When I Am With You"
5. "Nothing Is Saving Me"
6. "Sleeping Snakes"
7. "Favorite Drug"
8. "Everywhere"
9. "Dark Region"
10. "My Heart, Your Heart"

Their excellent debut album  has all the materials for a classic 80's record like R.E.M.'s Murmur.  Led by the song that kicked-off  Translator, "Everywhere That I'm Not," a very catchy, jaunty and hummable tune that( ironically) deals with  a relationship that is ending. 

Everywhere that I'm Not

Other notable tracks to me are: "Sleeping Snakes," "Everything You see," "When I'm With You," "Nothing Is Saving Me" and "Everywhere"

"Better than solid" songwriting.

This album is  a great starting point to those who want to  explore the group's discography.  No better album to get acclimatize to the   difference in style and  approaches of both songwriters which , however,  are  complimentary,  giving  the band a more  cutting edge. Generally, both song writers have the flair for melody, guitar hooks  and edgy rock but  band-leader and main songwriter,  Steve Barton,  handles the fast-paced (sometimes frenetic) and  rockier side, whereas, Robert Darlington's has a more introspective, mellower and folky approach. "Dave Sheff and Larry Dekker provides the solid rhythm section throughout." 

No Time Like Now

1. "Un-Alone"
2. "Beyond Today"
3. "I Hear You Follow"
4. "Break Down Barriers"
5. "L.A., L.A."
6. "I Love You"
7. "No Time Like Now"
8. "Everything Is Falling"
9. "Simple Things"
10. "The End of Their Love "
11. "About the Truth"
12. "Circumstance Laughing"

A  mellower , slicker and more polished production compared with their debut.

For me, their most pop and "New Wave" sounding album. Their only album where they utilized  Sax.  

Notable  tracks are: 'Un-Alone," Beyond Today," "I Hear You Follow,"  "I Love You," and  "No Time Like Now."

Translator

1. "Gravity"
2. "Fall Forever"
3. "Come With Me"
4. "Friends Of The Future"
5. "New Song"
6. "Another American Night"
7. "O Lazarus"
8. "Inside My Mind"
9. "Heaven By A String"
10. "Breathless Agony"

This is not only my favorite Translator album but is actually one of my favorite albums.For me, of all their albums, this has the most radio-friendly tunes such as "Gravity," "Come With Me,"  " and "O Lazarus."  It   should have brought Translator  mainstream success much like R.E.M.'s Document.

 I understand, it  was not even promoted in the U.S.A. Thanks to the astuteness  and to the  impeccable taste of the DJs manning the New Wave radio stations here in the 80's  like WXB 102, this record, among New Wavers,  is more popular  here than in their home country. 

This is also Translator's most psychedelic album.

Come With Me

Other Notable tracks are:  "Fall Forever" and "Another American Night." 

                           

Evening Of Harvest

1. "Standing In Line"
2. "These Old Days"
3. "Crazier Everyday"
4. "I Need You To Love"
5. "Is There A Heaven Singing"
6. "Winter Crying"
7. "Stony Gates of Time"
8. "Complications"
9. "Point Of No Return"
10. "Tolling Of The Bells"
11. "Evening of The Harvest"

" Come to a crossroads, don't know which way to choose" , sings Steve Barton in  "Point Of No Return"

 Their most mature, rocking, muscular and as if  sensing   it was their swan song, their most contemplative and reflective. For me,  this is their best album.

Most notable track to me is, "These Old Days," a song in the same vein as "Come With Me."  An  earnest, moving,and  touching  love song. I swear this could have been my favorite along  with "Gravity" and "Come With Me"  had  I heard this on the radio in the 80's.  

Other notable tracks: "Standing In Line," "Crazier Everyday," "I Need You To Love, " " Is Their A Heaven Singing," "Winter Crying," "Stormy Gates Of Time," "Complications," "Point Of No Return," "Tolling Of The Bells" and "Evening Of Harvest." ( The rest of the album actually). 

                                                            

 Although they made four solid albums,  they “only had one hit single”, “Everywhere That I’m  Not”. It is their signature song.

 But here in the Philippines,  Translator  is known and loved by fans  for the classic and  enduring  "Gravity” and “Come With me” , from their self -titled  third album.

Post-break up

 Although, the band had broken up in 1986, they continue to reunite occasionally such as performing  gigs in  2006 and  in 415 Records reunion in   2009.  In 1996, ten years after their breakup, the band was put into spotlight anew when Beatles fans mistook their version of "Cry For The Shadow"( 'a 1983 b-side ) as a new Beatles recording for the Anthology sessions.

 Steve Barton continued recording solo and released the albums, The Boy Who Rode His Bike Around The World, in 1999 and Charm Offensive, in 2005.  As Steve Barton and The Oblivion Click,  the following :  Flicker  Of  time, 2006  and  Gallery, 2008.  His latest solo work , Projector,  where he played all the instruments,  was released in 2011. A personal album,  coming  in the aftermath of his dad’s death. 

The Boy Who Rode His Bicycle Around The World

Charm Offensive

Flicker Of Time

Gallery

Projector

                   Robert Darlington  published Ether a book of poetry in 2008.   He released his first solo  record (an EP), Prism,  last  2012.  Dave Scheff  drums with his band and Larry Dekker continue to play  bass to various groups.

Prism

Reunion                     

After 26 years, Translator with the original line-up  released their 5th  album, Big Green Lawn last April, 2012. 

                       

                  

A 7-track mini-album that is available only in digital format (in Itunes and Amazon).

For me, most of the New Wave bands from the 80’s   that have been releasing albums of new 

materials are creating some of their best  music , though we don’t get to  hear them on the radio.

This is also true  for the Translators. Even after 26 years they haven’t  lost a step.This 

album  is like a vintage Translator album, albeit, shorter. It has the nice catchy melodies, 

jangly ringing guitars and great lyrics. In fact, the tracts here can fit anywhere in either 

of their  3^rd and 4^th albums.

                        

Notable tracts  are the  lead single “Soul On Fire,”  “Everywhere About You,” the title track “Big Green Lawn” and “Every Night  I Change”.

Soul On Fire

                          

Though the lead single is a brilliant song,  my favorite tracks are “Big Green Lawn” and Every Night I Change.”

"Every Night I Change" is a 60's sounding rocker with a nice catchy guitar riff  and with poignant lyrics.  

“Big Green Lawn” is very interesting and never fails to draw a smile from me every time I 

listen. I would describe it as  somewhat a   Morrissey or a Paddy McAloon (Prefab Sprout) type of music.  The theme is quite  odd and  the melody and the manner of vocal delivery are  very evocative.

                      

 Steve Barton is  singing  about feeling  depressed and yearns for a place of 

 comfort…

                     

 " ...Sometimes I touch the fire to see if it still burns  me

  Sometimes I touch the wind to see if I turn the world

  or the world turns me

  

  Now that I forgotten  how to read maps

  Where will I go when my world collapses

  Im hearing voices in the thunderclaps(?)

  So I need a holiday

  Take me away to a neighborhood on a …..

  Put me on a chair  with  a blanket across my lap

  On a big green lawn" 

   "...Sometimes I touch the rain to see if it still cools me
  Sometimes I hide from the wind to see if I fool the World 
  or the worlds fool me" 

  "...And the nurses  are so  good to me

  They give me my pills

  Oh so gently..."

                                                          Big Green Lawn

A place with a big green lawn?  With  good and gentle nurses? Now what sort of a place is
that?

All in all, this is a   solid mini-album  by the Translators.  A must-buy   for Translator's fans 

and is  highly recommended to 80's New Wave  fans here especially those who love 

"Gravity" and "Come With Me."

The gravity won't let me go...

I'm a dream and your fading away...

Gravity

References: Wikipedia, band's website, web interviews and articles and  Translator Collection (CD)  liner notes.