[First posted on my Tumblr March 12, 2017.]
Last September I wrote a favorite Psychedelic Furs albums list. That was when I got all of their studio albums, the last being their sixth album Book Of Days. Back then I liked Book Of Days but it wasn’t as good as the others so I put it in seventh place. However as the months went by and I listened to it more, I started to love it, and so I wanted to redo my list.
Anyway, here it is, my top seven favorite Psychedelic Furs albums!
7. World Outside (1991)
The last album The Psychedelic Furs had ever released (though a new album is in the works), this one has a more softer sound than their previous albums. What I like about World is that Stephen Street, along with The Furs, produced this album, and he’s probably my favorite producer. Though that wasn’t the first time he got involved. Three years earlier, he produced The Furs’ single “All That Money Wants” from their 1988 compilation album All Of This And Nothing.
Stephen had worked with other bands/artists that I like, which were The Smiths, Morrissey’s early solo stuff, and The Cranberries. A few of the songs on World Outside have a Cranberries feel to them, and I like it. On World The Psychedelic Furs wrote two of the most beautiful songs ever: “Sometimes” and “There’s A World.” They’re my two favorite songs on this album.
6. The Psychedelic Furs (1980)
Their debut album, their “beautiful chaos.” I had a difficult time figuring out if I liked this one more or World Outside but after listening to their self-titled album, I like it more than World. The Psychedelic Furs has a blend of punk rock, alternative, and new wave combined. My favorite song on this album is “Sister Europe.” I love the music and the way singer Richard Butler sang. There are also great songs too, like “India,” “Fall,” “Pulse,” “We Love You,” and “Blacks/Radio.” The latter was not included in the American release, cause in the song it contained a quote from Andy Warhol which was kind of controversial.
Though the only song that I skip on this album is “Imitation Of Christ” cause, me being a Christian, I’m not really sure about the lyrics on that one. But I have the 2002 remaster, which has the songs “Susan’s Strange,” “Soap Commercial,” (the two were on the US release and replaced “Blacks/Radio”) and The Furs’ cover of “Mack The Knife,” so they make up for it.
5. Book Of Days (1989)
Like I said earlier, when I wrote my old list, I put Book Of Days in seventh place. But after listening to it more, I love it. This one was a huge change from it’s predecessor Midnight To Midnight. Book Of Days’ sound was a return to the sound of The Furs’ first two albums, but in my opinion, more heavier. Richard Butler said this album was “badly produced” and described it as “underground.” Though I’m not a production expert, it sounds fine to me.
I have to say that the way bassist Tim Butler played is some of his finest on Book Of Days, particularly in the songs “Shine” and “Mother-Son.” I love the music in “Wedding,” that one’s great too.
As for favorite song, it’s “Shine.” I freaking love this song. After when I would listen to Book Of Days I play “Shine” again. I have to say, this song is probably my second favorite song from The Psychedelic Furs. My number one favorite? I’ll talk about it later.
4. Talk Talk Talk (1981)
Talk Talk Talk has the same sound like The Psychedelic Furs but more, I guess I could say, radio friendlyish. The opening track, “Dumb Waiters,” is my favorite song on this album. The music is just so catchy and fun. Other great songs are “I Wanna Sleep With You,” “No Tears,” “Into You Like A Train,” and “All Of This And Nothing.”
“Pretty In Pink,” one of their well known songs, was rerecorded in 1986 for the John Hughes film which was inspired by the song. Although the movie kind of got the story of the song wrong. For those who don’t know the original meaning of “Pretty In Pink,” it’s about a girl named Caroline who sleeps with a bunch of men and the men (whom she slept with) make fun of her behind her back. The term “pretty in pink” is a metaphor for being naked.
Talk is Richard Butler’s favorite album and Tim Butler’s second favorite (I’ll reveal his number one favorite later!).
3. Midnight To Midnight (1987)
After the success of “Pretty In Pink ‘86” The Psychedelic Furs were rushed into the studio to record Midnight. I know they weren’t happy with this one and Richard Butler once described it as “hollow, vapid, and weak,” but with me, I really, really love this album. I love that era, and the punk rock looking clothes they wore, though I think I heard Richard say that he hated wearing them. I think the reason why I love Midnight is cause I got this album three days before I saw them live the first time, on September 2015. While on the way over to the concert, me and my brother listened to this album, so it has special memories to it. Another reason too is that back in 1987, my parents saw The Furs live during the Midnight To Midnight tour. My favorite song on Midnight is the title track.
2. Mirror Moves (1984)
Mirror Moves is my parents’ favorite album from The Psychedelic Furs. My mother told me that when she was a teenager in the '80s she had this album on cassette and would play it 24/7. When my parents saw them live, they were disappointed that The Furs didn’t perform “The Ghost In You,” cause that’s their favorite song. With me, my favorite song on Mirror Moves is “Highwire Days,” it’s such a brilliant work of art.
“The Ghost In You” and “Heartbeat” have special moments connected to them. With “Heartbeat” when I saw the Furs live the first time it was the opening song, and seeing them in person was just so amazing. With “The Ghost In You” that song is more special now, cause last Summer when I saw them the second time, during the “Stars come down in you” part, Richard Butler held my hand and was singing to me. I really didn’t expect that would happen. I still can’t believe that happened. That is a very sweet memory I will never forget.
And my number one favorite album from The Psychedelic Furs is..................................
1. Forever Now (1982)
This is bassist Tim Butler’s favorite album. It contains the US hit “Love My Way,” the title track, “Only You And I,” “Sleep Comes Down,” “President Gas,” “No Easy Street,” and the freaking brilliant “Run And Run.” “Run” is my number one favorite song from The Furs. I really love the chorus in it.
Forever Now was the first album to feature other instruments besides the saxophone, like the synthesizer and the cello. It was produced by Todd Rundgren and had Flo and Eddie on backing vocals. The results? Just amazing. This is why Forever Now is my favorite album.
I hope you all enjoyed it and thank you for taking the time to read it. I might do another top favorite albums list but that will be in the future. Anyway, thanks again!
Last September I wrote a favorite Psychedelic Furs albums list. That was when I got all of their studio albums, the last being their sixth album Book Of Days. Back then I liked Book Of Days but it wasn’t as good as the others so I put it in seventh place. However as the months went by and I listened to it more, I started to love it, and so I wanted to redo my list.
Anyway, here it is, my top seven favorite Psychedelic Furs albums!
7. World Outside (1991)
The last album The Psychedelic Furs had ever released (though a new album is in the works), this one has a more softer sound than their previous albums. What I like about World is that Stephen Street, along with The Furs, produced this album, and he’s probably my favorite producer. Though that wasn’t the first time he got involved. Three years earlier, he produced The Furs’ single “All That Money Wants” from their 1988 compilation album All Of This And Nothing.
Stephen had worked with other bands/artists that I like, which were The Smiths, Morrissey’s early solo stuff, and The Cranberries. A few of the songs on World Outside have a Cranberries feel to them, and I like it. On World The Psychedelic Furs wrote two of the most beautiful songs ever: “Sometimes” and “There’s A World.” They’re my two favorite songs on this album.
6. The Psychedelic Furs (1980)
Their debut album, their “beautiful chaos.” I had a difficult time figuring out if I liked this one more or World Outside but after listening to their self-titled album, I like it more than World. The Psychedelic Furs has a blend of punk rock, alternative, and new wave combined. My favorite song on this album is “Sister Europe.” I love the music and the way singer Richard Butler sang. There are also great songs too, like “India,” “Fall,” “Pulse,” “We Love You,” and “Blacks/Radio.” The latter was not included in the American release, cause in the song it contained a quote from Andy Warhol which was kind of controversial.
Though the only song that I skip on this album is “Imitation Of Christ” cause, me being a Christian, I’m not really sure about the lyrics on that one. But I have the 2002 remaster, which has the songs “Susan’s Strange,” “Soap Commercial,” (the two were on the US release and replaced “Blacks/Radio”) and The Furs’ cover of “Mack The Knife,” so they make up for it.
5. Book Of Days (1989)
Like I said earlier, when I wrote my old list, I put Book Of Days in seventh place. But after listening to it more, I love it. This one was a huge change from it’s predecessor Midnight To Midnight. Book Of Days’ sound was a return to the sound of The Furs’ first two albums, but in my opinion, more heavier. Richard Butler said this album was “badly produced” and described it as “underground.” Though I’m not a production expert, it sounds fine to me.
I have to say that the way bassist Tim Butler played is some of his finest on Book Of Days, particularly in the songs “Shine” and “Mother-Son.” I love the music in “Wedding,” that one’s great too.
As for favorite song, it’s “Shine.” I freaking love this song. After when I would listen to Book Of Days I play “Shine” again. I have to say, this song is probably my second favorite song from The Psychedelic Furs. My number one favorite? I’ll talk about it later.
4. Talk Talk Talk (1981)
Talk Talk Talk has the same sound like The Psychedelic Furs but more, I guess I could say, radio friendlyish. The opening track, “Dumb Waiters,” is my favorite song on this album. The music is just so catchy and fun. Other great songs are “I Wanna Sleep With You,” “No Tears,” “Into You Like A Train,” and “All Of This And Nothing.”
“Pretty In Pink,” one of their well known songs, was rerecorded in 1986 for the John Hughes film which was inspired by the song. Although the movie kind of got the story of the song wrong. For those who don’t know the original meaning of “Pretty In Pink,” it’s about a girl named Caroline who sleeps with a bunch of men and the men (whom she slept with) make fun of her behind her back. The term “pretty in pink” is a metaphor for being naked.
Talk is Richard Butler’s favorite album and Tim Butler’s second favorite (I’ll reveal his number one favorite later!).
3. Midnight To Midnight (1987)
After the success of “Pretty In Pink ‘86” The Psychedelic Furs were rushed into the studio to record Midnight. I know they weren’t happy with this one and Richard Butler once described it as “hollow, vapid, and weak,” but with me, I really, really love this album. I love that era, and the punk rock looking clothes they wore, though I think I heard Richard say that he hated wearing them. I think the reason why I love Midnight is cause I got this album three days before I saw them live the first time, on September 2015. While on the way over to the concert, me and my brother listened to this album, so it has special memories to it. Another reason too is that back in 1987, my parents saw The Furs live during the Midnight To Midnight tour. My favorite song on Midnight is the title track.
2. Mirror Moves (1984)
Mirror Moves is my parents’ favorite album from The Psychedelic Furs. My mother told me that when she was a teenager in the '80s she had this album on cassette and would play it 24/7. When my parents saw them live, they were disappointed that The Furs didn’t perform “The Ghost In You,” cause that’s their favorite song. With me, my favorite song on Mirror Moves is “Highwire Days,” it’s such a brilliant work of art.
“The Ghost In You” and “Heartbeat” have special moments connected to them. With “Heartbeat” when I saw the Furs live the first time it was the opening song, and seeing them in person was just so amazing. With “The Ghost In You” that song is more special now, cause last Summer when I saw them the second time, during the “Stars come down in you” part, Richard Butler held my hand and was singing to me. I really didn’t expect that would happen. I still can’t believe that happened. That is a very sweet memory I will never forget.
And my number one favorite album from The Psychedelic Furs is..................................
1. Forever Now (1982)
This is bassist Tim Butler’s favorite album. It contains the US hit “Love My Way,” the title track, “Only You And I,” “Sleep Comes Down,” “President Gas,” “No Easy Street,” and the freaking brilliant “Run And Run.” “Run” is my number one favorite song from The Furs. I really love the chorus in it.
Forever Now was the first album to feature other instruments besides the saxophone, like the synthesizer and the cello. It was produced by Todd Rundgren and had Flo and Eddie on backing vocals. The results? Just amazing. This is why Forever Now is my favorite album.
I hope you all enjoyed it and thank you for taking the time to read it. I might do another top favorite albums list but that will be in the future. Anyway, thanks again!
