Thursday 27 September 2007

Victims Of Pleasure "When You're Young" (Rialto 1982)


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Well, here's another single from Victims Of Pleasure, this time it's their debut single "When You're Young". My copy isn't the first issue (which came out on their own label) but the reissue on Rialto, from the following year. I've blogged about VOP before, of course (they were the subject of the first real post on this blog) but this post is as much about the genius of Colin Thurston, who produced this single. My 1980's were defined by quite a select band of producers: Martin Rushent, Martin Hannet, and Colin Thurston. He produced "Secondhand Daylight", the second Magazine album, and after that I was hooked. his slick, sometimes glacial productions shimmered across the rest of the decade, impressing and amazing me every time. For someone whose style was always supposed to be somewhat detached, impersonal and aloof, there's a warmth and honesty that draws me to Thurston's work.

And what of this particular song? Well, its sense of open-eyed wonder and naive optimism still gets me every time. This was how I felt about everything in the very early 1980's: disappointment and not reaching all your goals wasn't part of my mindset- everything seemed not just possible, but probable. Some of that hope and confidence still drips from the grooves of this (slightly scratchy) single.

Victims Of Pleasure "When You're Young" (mp3)

12 comments:

Mick said...

Let's not forget Tony Mansfield.

Welcome back, Iain. I was starting to think you weren't coming back. I remember your first post well - it's the only time you've posted a record I already own. The early 80's was a time when certain producers started getting almost equal billing with the bands, wasn't it? One other name that keeps cropping up in my collection is John Leckie. I can't say he has a signature style like some of the others but he's produced a lot of great stuff.

Iain Baker said...

Tony Mansfield! how could I forget! all of his stuff with new Musik was totally visionary....even his work with Captain Sensible wasn't all that bad :)
cheers Mick, it's good to be back, I may just even post another tune tonight, to make up for lost time...

So It Goes said...

Welcome back Iain (though I've been in touch with you so often it feels like you never left!) This is definitely up to the standard of their other work that you have posted. Thought-provoking lyrics, too.

VKRSblameVTR said...

I have more "Victims of Pleasure" tracks and Colin Thusrton productions- I would like to trade for the rest of the tracks on "When You're Young" 7" ! Please, THANKS! mybuggles@aol.com

Anonymous said...

I thought I was the only one who remembered this lot. Loved this at the time. I also have a single called Jack and Jill by them.

Iain Baker said...

You're not alone, greenhippo, lot's of people seem to love 'm as well...
And you're right, there was another single called "Jack And Jill", it was the first post on this blog! Have a look in the archives, the link should still be active ;)

Anonymous said...

this song was written and sung by my dad Kenny Jones i'm his daughter Eira Jones and we have just found your site and my dad is thrilled to find its on here. We now live in Hong Kong. thanks for listening.

Iain Baker said...

Wow! eira, it's a pleasure to have you here on my blog, and you can tell your Dad, from me, that this single (and "Jack & Jill", i've posted that as well, have a look in the archives) are some of the best pop records i've ever heard in my life.
:)

Anonymous said...

eira jones:
its good that you like the music becasue when i heard it i loved it too. my dad says thanks and still cant get over the fact that he found you

viagra online said...

t is music with feeling the songs are very lyrical, is music to remember

Anonymous said...

Saw vop and was blown away, should have been huge That kenny jones could write a brilliant tune. How no one has never done a cover version of one of his tunes amazes me. I did notice that Midge Ure nicked his tune If I Was though, unbelievable.

Dominik500 said...

Could you repost this single??

Thanks!