The Fixx- Red Skies (REACTION & REVIEW)
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- Опубликовано: 28 авг 2024
- Song Link: • The Fixx - Red Skies
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Cy Curnin is so incredibly talented. Saw him a few years ago live and he and his band are even better now!
I think the second version was on their best of album and is what I'm used to. One Thing Leads To Another was their big hit. Saved By Zero and The Sign Of Fire are both good tracks.
"Outside" is the song from them you should listen to next. Its their best song, it's also not a commercial hit
Yes yes and yes.
Reach the beach was probably their most successful album. They have some great songs including 'Outside' 'The Fool' 'Opinions' 'Cameras in Paris' and the hits 'Stand or fall' 'Saved by Zero' 'One thing leads to another' among others, well worth your time checking out I believe JP.
This is my favorite song by The Fixx. Their biggest hit was "One thing leads to the other". Not that familiar with them 'tho. I like that you are reacting to random 80s tracks like this one. I was into British New Wave back on the 80s. Will recommend some songs when I decide on which ones. 😊 I was recently listening to and remembering Ultravox "Reap the Wild Wind" ❤ A Flock Of Seagulls: "Space Age Love Song", "The More You Live the More you Love", "I Ran". Alphaville: " Forever Young", "Sounds like a Melody", "Big in Japan". Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark: "So in Love", "Enola Gay", "If you Leave".
They were a good band. Complete on all instruments and really good vocals. I have their Phantoms album on LP and CD. Good stuff.
Glad you found a cleaner/ better version though it's still slightly different than what most of us probably remember growing up to
The song that 'launched' this band onto the mainstream was "One Thing Leads to Another ' - for that reason , perhaps you should go there next though its still commercial .
I like Stand of Fall , Saved by Zero and Are We Ourselves all a bit more but I have to remember I have heard 'One Thing ...' a thousand times - you haven't .
Gives me an 80's MTV flashback. I like the song, definitely fits the 80's New Wave vibe.
F1rst!!!🎉🎉🎉
Red skies tonight oho ohohohohohho
Reach the beach!!!
Man, JP, check 1 Thing Leads to Another.
The Fixx! Awesome, and thanks for running the "cleaner" version. I'm a big Fixx fan, have been since the early 1980s. In addition to the typical recommendations (Saved by Zero, Secret Separation, etc.) I'd prefer a couple more obscure offerings: Question, and Outside. They are both more contemplative and feature some great guitar work. Thanks for the reaction!
Yeah, I was thinking "Outside" would be a good track to check out.
This version is terrible, sadly not at all what those of us who were around at it’s release remember hearing!!
There’s a killer remix that is 100x better 🎉
The Fixx is in my top 10 along with Genesis and Yes.
I’ve seen hundreds of shows and The Fixx is my favorite live band.
Their catalog is incredible!!
The Fixx is a great band...this version sounds like they did it live in The studio. They actually both sound like live recordings. I found the correct recording on:
The Ultimate Collection (The Fixx)
Seems like they love to remix and remaster that song a ton.
I liked these guys at the time and bought the album Reach the Beach. My taste in music was moving in this direction until I heard Zeppelin and Sabbath. This album, and others like it, then began to collect dust.
That figures.
@@pentagrammaton6793 I also started giving away the albums that I no longer listened to. Once CD’s came out, I gave my vinyl collection to my brother in law. No regrets.
I like their song 'Are We Ouselves?' but when I had the 45 single in high school I listened more to the flip side, 'Deeper and Deeper'.
I enjoyed the song back in the day. I even saw them live doing it once.Two things strike me hearing it again today. The first is how repetitive it is without saying much. The second is I never noticed how much their sound had in common with U2. I still enjoy it. Their better songs for me are Are We Ourselves, Deeper and Deeper, Saved By Zero, Secret Separation and One Thing Leads To Another.
Funnily enough, I also noticed the U2 thing, which I hadn't before. Also a bit of Ultravox at one point.
I don't believe this is the original. Maybe an original demo?
I have an original Shuttered Room on vinyl, and this isn't the version on it. As others have said, it's not mixed the same. I've got two cd's with two other different versions (one live). Seems it may be difficult to track down the original.
This is closer to what I remember the original being
ruclips.net/video/cit17Si-Vts/видео.html
The Fixx had a ton of great songs (in my opinion), Stand Or Fall off this album was another popular one. I discovered my favorite of theirs when I picked up a used cd copy of the Calm Animals album with "Driven Out".
Well worth a deep dive 🙂
eta: The second one you listened to sounds like one of the cd versions I have, but not the original off Shuttered Room.
I have never been enamored of The Fixx, specifically for the reasons you outlined.
I liked the Fixx in the 80’s, and somehow like the even more now.
Suggestion:
Try “Napoleon Sheds His Skin” by Red Rider. The outro guitar just sings so beautifully and mournfully! An amazing song!
Good tune - but that 1st version... not good. The production or mix is all wacky. The original version sounded so much deeper. The 2nd one closer. This sounded thin and kinda weak. If you can find Reach the Beach albums worth the full listen.
The best version (originally released on the album) is this one. Have a listen to it JP ! Much better ! ruclips.net/video/cit17Si-Vts/видео.htmlsi=dAx2CMbcZSoORGA0
Their breakout hit was "One thing leads to another", from their "Reach the Beach" album (aslo a great song).
The follow-up to this one is Reach The Beach, which is their best album. It has their big hits "One Thing Leads to Another" and "Saved by Zero", along with some great album tracks.
I wonder why Their early albums are not on Spotify. The Radio version that was on the album was way better. Yes, Cy is an amazing singer. I've seen them live and they were great. They are a great band and the deep cuts are amazing. Not sure how you will get a good feel for them if the albums are not available. Keep trying, they are worth the deep dive.
Yes, It's weird that we can no longer find the album Shuttered Room on Spotify or on their RUclips channel !🤨 Moreover, these two versions of "Red Skies" are bad compared to the original version on the album.
Can't buy early Fixx CDs on Amazon, either. Out of print? I notice the band has started putting out music again recently. Dispute over distribution rights?
The album track is the best one
Almost all of Reach The Beach was taken off spotify :/
@@levilee207 Are you sure? I've just checked Spotify and it still looks like the full Reach the Beach album is still there as well as four bonus tracks.
@@a.k.1740 Ah, I suppose I should have mentioned I'm in the U.S. Likely regional differences
The Fixx so many Great albums ,songs &
Live band i saw them many times in concert .
So part of my 80s high school ans college years. This song was everywhere
No the right version/mix. The second one was a 1987 redo. Just buy A SHUTTERED ROOM to hear it properly. It's a FANTASTIC album.
I agree with that ! For me their debut album Shuttered Room is their very best (let's say on a par with their third, Phantoms) but curiously it can't be found on The Fixx's official RUclips or Spotify anymore (perhaps a recent copyright issue or other...).
I am more of a 70's music fan than 80's, save for some stand out tracks here and there. The 70's weren't just about classic albums and even though one might become a fan of bands and artists because of single releases, there were some fantastic singles that grabbed your attention even if you didn't follow up on their discographies. A couple of examples are from two British bands, namely, "Burlesque" by Family and "Devil's Answer" by Atomic Rooster. Two great songs by two bands that I have heard a couple of albums from, but didn't really continue -distracted by other artists no doubt - so, as you are such a connoisseur of good music [crawl, crawl], I would love to see your reaction. 😊😺
This seems to be a "live" version. The studio cut is amazing.....40 years later and I listen to it all the time
Don't know what version this is. I had this album and this wasn't the version on that record. The audio on this was pretty bad, for sure. 2nd version had better audio, but still wasn't the original that I remember. Anyway, you got the gist of the tune better on that 2nd listen. It is indeed an earworm.
I will say that in 1982 this wasn't as standard a sound as it might seem to have been from today's perspective. This song had a very different sound from most of the other stuff on the classic rock station I grew up listening to. And I think this song is about a nuclear war. That was on our minds quite a bit in the early 80s. I think their second album is more adventurous. I think that Jamie West-Oram has a distinctive guitar style that comes to the front a bit more on their Reach the Beach album.
The only person who had a similar style realistically was probably The Edge. Maybe the guy from Flock of Seagulls on some songs, Space Age Love Song immediately comes to mind.
Yeah, there's literally IIRC five different recorded versions across all their EP's, LP's, and videos of this song. The hissing one is probably the demo recording, while the second one you heard was a rerecording much later in their career. Their writing was VERY influenced by the Cold War and the threat of nukes, like a lot of 80's bands. If you'd like something a bit different from them, perhaps you could give a listen to "Are We Ourselves?"
I personally love this song. An lost 80's gem. ("Stand Or Fall" and "One Thing Leads To Another" are also must-hear songs.) And pairs nicely with GRACE UNDER PRESSURE-era Rush ("Distant Early Warning", "Red Sector A", "Red Lenses"), etc , both in instrumentation (the parallels to Geddy's electric synthy piano/string pads and that guitar solo, especially), and in that Cold-War feel. I definitely think Rush drew inspiration, in their New Wave phase, from these guys, along with the Police and FM.
THE FIXX - Saved By Zero / is another super jammin' song by this awesome group also came out in 1982 classic part of New Wave 80s
You should check out their song: Stand Or Fall
It was about the cold war. I was 16 when this came out, and we were scared of Nuke war from Russia. I love the Fixx. One of the best bands in the 80's
The first three albums would be a great start to The Fixx. They are amazing and even better live! All original member still to this day. This version of this song is… ??? Not the norm? Second version! That’s it. Try Saved By Zero, One Thing Leads To Another for a better start. ❤ Weird song? Try Phantom Living.
Reach The Beach is a 10/10 album. They're definitely worth looking into more. Running, Going Overboard, Reach The Beach, and One Thing Leads To Another are all standouts
I don't remember this as I was pretty young at this point, but it's ok, if pretty typical for its time.
Out of what is available on Spotify, The Fix album Ink is an amazing album start t0 finish. I don't think there is one hit on it but don't let that stop you. Like I said Cy's vocals are so great but one of the other things I love about the Fix is the Keys. Rupert Greenall develops such great soundscapes without sounding cheese, ever. I hope they will put their music back up on the internet. They worked so hard for a long time. I would hate to see them fade away for some ideological stance or something like that. Check out Lost Planes, Secret Separation, Deeper and Deeper live and Driven Out on the 2002 Then and Now release. Some of these songs might be re-recorded for some reason, not sure why. Maybe a record company problem. Todd
Classic MTV song. My kids had this catchy song about nuclear fallout imbedded in their little brains since they were tots by dear old dad but they also knew Heart of the Sunrise and Starship Trooper by age 3 as well too. To me “Secret Separation” is The Fixx’ best pop song that everyone forgot about, or so it seems.
For me who likes The Fixx in general, I find that “Secret Separation” is a very average track and one of those that has always left me cold.
@@a.k.1740 the track always felt more upbeat plus the video is pretty cool. It’s certainly not weird or complex but the vibe has a high energy mid-80’s that I’m a sucker for so, what can I say, they hooked me.
@@stephenpesta1550 I understand your attraction to this song, but personally it's one of my least favorite tracks on the Walkabout album (along with "Treasure It" and the hidden track "Peace on Earth" which is on the CD version).
@@a.k.1740 I’ll delve deeper into this album tonight then based on your recommendation so thanks!
@@stephenpesta1550 You're welcome !
Funny, I was around to hear this single on the radio, everywhere, when it was released. And I never knew that the radio version was not the original studio album version! I have never heard this version before, although it is terrific, too.
From my era,but don’t remember this band - probably for the best .
Sounds like a dime store Big Country/U2 hybrid.
Teardrop Explodes,Icicle Works - 2 bands really worth checking out from this year Justin
LOL they had 4 hits in the US, more than Big Country thought about.
@@eboethrasher That explains everything
My favorite Fixx song! So glad you got around to this one. The second version is correct. Good cold war nuclear annihilation song from the 80s
For their next song, check out "One Thing Leads to Another" . It was a big hit on the radio and MTV
@@joeyblowey123456 The second version wasn't correct, it was a live version or something. The first one was closer to correct actually. The actually correct version is on Spotify it just took some hunting.
The Fixx has the most underlying meanings in song history. When I first heard Red Skies, I thought it was about walking down a street lined with big neon lights, half in red. Hence, Red Skies! They portend go go bars with unlimited sexual opportunities. A glorious night for a lonely guy.
That singer is a scary intelligent dude in control of a great band.
Neither of these versions are the one that we heard on the radio in the US. The second one is quite different. Some people have mentioned how it sounds different... I know there are re-recordings of the Fixx's material out there, at least their main hits, maybe they were not getting paid by their old label enough, I know that happened to bands like The Smithereens. If you go to Spotify, and click on the "This is The Fixx" playlist, there is a "Red Skies" (Original Version) on there that is the OG that I'm used to, you can tell it is different if you listen to some of his vocal nuances (at approx 0:59, he says "running" with a grit and growl that are not on the version that was first listened to, and the second version just isn't it either. The OG other songs are all on Spotify though, One Thing Leads To Another, Stand or Fall, and Saved by Zero are all on there on that playlist I mentioned.
It seems that only the songs from the album Shuttered Room suffer from a lack of visibility on Spotify (and even on RUclips). I don't think it's a label issue since their next four albums were also released on MCA Records and those can be found on Spotify and The Fixx topic on RUclips. Maybe a copyright issue.....
Wow...surprise to see you have just found this band now...The Fixx has been one of my favorite band all time....I can see why you said this song is ok song...but believe me there are many great songs from them and I am sure you would enjoy more....
Hi Justin, i think I'm enjoying this journey as much as you. Quite a few tracks are familiar to me (being of a certain age), but there is always stuff that passed me by.
couple of suggestions from back in the day.
Papas got a brand new pigbag by Pigbag. A wonderful, energetic one hit wonder.
The Whole of the Moon by the Waterboys. Just sublime. Both big hitsi n the UK.
Not a huge Fixx fan, but I do have their first two albums, along with some compilation album, also. I rarely play any of them.
But I did see them in 1983 opening for A Flock Of Seagulls, and they were somewhat impressive. I really enoyed them. But then A Flock Of Seagulls came out and blew me away. Just seeing Paul Reynolds playing guitar was worth the price of admission. And Mike Score still had "the haircut", but it was toned down some.
Both bands were touring for their first two albums, so basically at their peak, IMO.
One other thing from the show - it was one of the loudest concerts I've ever been to. After The Fixx were done, my buddy and me were trying to talk to each other, but mostly what we heard sounded kinda like the adults talking on the Peanuts cartoons. We had been right up against the stage, a little left of center, so before A Flock Of Seagulls came on, we moved back about twenty feet. That helped the ears a little.
I'd love to see you do some reactions from the first two Flock Of Seagulls albums. They had a fairly unique sound, and as I said earlier, listening to Paul Reynolds play guitar is always a fun time.
I really love The Fixx. Sad as this sounds - it was a record I listened to a lot in the early days of lockdown in NYC. This another band that had, IMO, that tension in their music with themes of alienation, war, fear of the modern world, etc.. its all a bit cool sounding but I love it. Maybe my favorite is Stand or Fall. I bought a live album called Reaction - or rather I bought what I thought was their first album Shuttered Room used at a record store but the actual album was Reaction. They sound really good live - funky even. This kind of sound - and I don't know what you would call it.. new wave/dark wave? was probably at its apex from 1981-1984. For me, they're a new wave band that appeal to my gothic sensibilities.
Produced by Rupert Hine. Take note!
Who produced Saga and Rush (twice each).
@@a.k.1740 and the MOR pop prog tour de force/farce that is Anthony Phillips' "Sides"
@@HippoYnYGlaw Absolutely ! How could I forget this one !!!
One Word.EPIC !!!
One of the best out of that eighties genre. Like Duran Duran. Tears for fears.
One Thing Leads To Another from Reach The Beach is their best and absolutely massive hit single played to death on MTV. That’s the one Justin.
ruclips.net/video/EMt6CihetK0/видео.html
Saved By Zero is almost as good.
In the 80's the Cold War ,and the threat of a nuclear holocaust was a very real thing. We 80s kids knew the spectre of our possible future on a daily basis.....this song is a classic 80s theme.
The version I remember (and prefer) is neither of these two. I had no idea there were so many!
Strangely, it seems that the Shuttered Room album that the original version of "Red Skies" was on has disappeared from RUclips and Spotify, which is a mystery in itself !!! 🤔
MTV usually played the live version back in the day.
Yeah the vocals sound a bit different in this one. The album version is pretty cool though, the '87 remix is alright
The first one sounded like a demo track . All the ingredients, but not tightened up. The second , the tempo seemed to be less muddy, and the edges were crisper . It had been produced in the technical definition. I agree, much better ! Give a listen to Saved By Zero as a follow-up.
Glad you listened to a cleaner version, sounds like a 12 in. remix that has been tweaked a bit. This is the only song by the Fixx that I really like (although I do acknowledge their talent and artistry. Their other songs just never connected with me.). Indeed, I cannot listen to this song only once, I have to play it a couple more times in a row (so thanks for the replay!). Also, I have to play it rather loud (some songs just need to be heard LOUD, you know?). Sorry it didn't move you as much as it does me, but hey, your honesty in reacting is what makes us trust your reactions!😊
How about sone SAGA. Very cool Canadian band. I would recommend On the catwalk. On the loose…There’s a bunch more.
I just know the hits for the Fixx which are mentioned by others in the comments. I like the songs I heard from them, but it has never been enough to entice me to listen to them more. I'm glad you found a clean version of Red Skies. It has been a long time since I have heard that song, I'm thinking this song should sound way better than this. Have you ever listened to "Lunatic Fringe" by Red Rider? Great song that use to be played on the radio a lot in the 80s. For some reason this song popped into my mind when listening to Red Skies.
Which "version" is this? I don't recognize it.
The 2nd version you played is the one I’ve heard. That version is on their greatest hits album. Decent 80s 2nd British Invasion band. They had a few top 40 hits. Reach the Beach is their definitive album. That album may have more of the quirkiness you are looking for.
Even though I Like this song, it is Not a good representation of FIXX. Please Listen to the other songs recommended below. Keep Reacting... Great job JP.
I only played them on vinyl.
secret separation single is my fave and sadly seems to be forgotten by most.
Great song..although I believe this is a rerecorded version...sounds really off
Saw them open for The Cars and they were 1000 times better. They were an incredible band live. Their first album is SO underrated. A great band!
I don’t know what that first one was. Sounded like a demo to me. Actually both sounded different from what I recall. If you hadn’t heard The Fix before, ya, this song is ok. It’s a good vibe. I would suggest ‘One Thing Leads to Another’
I bought their LP ‘Reach the Beach’ when it came out. Enjoyable.
The original 1982 version is The Best. You need to listen to it on the album. The Singer is Great. The Song is Beyond Great an EPIC Instant Classic. To hear this Song in 1982 at age 18 Incredible Beyond Words. The remake is Cool not better. The FIXX Super Great Talented Band With Substantial Lyrics.
I liked both "Shuttered Room" and "Reach the Beach" albums. But if someone were to ask me what ONE song to listen to from The Fixx it would not be this one. What the heck was Cy doing on that Tina Turner video though? I never got that one. Still a fan all things considered.
Cy Curnin and Jamie West-Oram appear in the video for Tina Turner's "Better Be Good to Me" as they both feature on the track which is on the Private Dancer album. That's probably the only reason.
JP You definitely gotta listen to the Album OXYGENE 7-13 Released in 1981 this is Jarres 3rd album and it sounds alot better audio like the budget was alot bigger the music is super electronic and creative by Jean Michelle Jarre/ Oxygene 7-13
JP, if you want to get onto some good synth-pop from the early 80s, why hasn't anyone suggested Yaz(oo) and something like "Situation" or "Don't Go"? I mean, we all know about Depeche Mode from the time period, but Yaz would truly drop you into the deep end, lol.
Alternately, a good direction would be early Psychedelic Furs or perhaps The Chameleons? I know you did "Ghost in You" but I think that "President Gas" would be something you would love, JP. And The Chameleons? They have some truly great stuff, although one of their albums is missing from Spotify, sadly enough. I would think a good place to start would be "One Flesh" from the album "What Does Anything Mean? Basically" as it kind of has a good cross section of a lot of their sounds. They have a good variety of range in their songs, although they are of course a product of their time. Those in the know are aware that they are one of the better post-punk bands who are the most under-appreciated.
that bass.... man.
Try also the band "The Alarm"
I would give it at least a 3/5. I don't mind the repetition. It works for this song. It could be that I didn't listen to this genre (whatever it is) that much when it was current. Some on compared it to U2 and I think they are correct.
I think his vocals on the first are better. But the second one has better overall production.
I'm a '70s prog rock fanatic and I find "Deeper and Deeper" to be The Fixx's best song. Justin, I think it may be weird enough for you to enjoy more than "Red Skies". Also, it has some drawn out instrumental stuff that seems to me to be up your alley. This 6m 32s version on RUclips seems to me to sound quite good: ruclips.net/video/0qRHlp2MNks/видео.html
Neither of those are the radio version.
I don't care for the remix, Cy Curin didn't want to do it and didn't care for it either. Record label wanted it. The video you listened to was transferred from VHS to digital, which never works to well.
The Fixx doesn't like Spotify (as any rational person), as they screw the artists over *ROYALLY* (pun included, free of charge). What you're listening to is the audio from the video for the song, which was performed live, specifically for the video, at soundcheck for the show they were performing that night. The next version you played is from their live album, 'React', which is also exceptional. The studio version is much crisper, warmer, more ominous; however, they performed the song perfectly live.
Spotify pays royalties based on their income and the amount of plays they have to spread it across. I'm on Spotify, and honestly it doesn't account for how spottily their music is on Spotify. And they are releasing the brand new music on Spotify, so it doesn't seem to be them with the problem. I would wager that the issue is that they are no longer seeing proper royalties for those songs, and that's why they have re-recorded them, The Smithereens did the same and I know that Toad The Wet Sprocket did something similar too. As is Taylor Swift, obviously. However, this song IS on Spotify, and it is the correct version, too. It and the other three hits he should be concerned with are all on the This is The Fixx playlist. Frankly, if people are going to buy an album, they are going to buy it, but if not, then they won't, but it is better for them to listen to your music legitimately than not, and bands get no money from used CDs, so the small amount you get from Spotify is better than nothing, and other platforms pay better, and they undoubtedly get plays on those as well.
@@eboethrasher Shuttered Room is The Fixx's only album featuring original bassist Charlie Barrett, who is (along with the rest of the band) credited on all tracks on this album. Maybe there is a copyright issue here or it has to do with a publishers problem.....
This is an unusual version of the song. Sounds odd.
My sister played this to me when it came out 1980 or whenever it was it was a favourite of hers at the time , I think it's an OK song but for me most of the value of this track is in nostalgia.
Not the version I have. This sounds like it was in a muddy hog pen
Classic slice of early 80's pop-rock. If you go back to the first season of Stranger Things this might be on the soundtrack (if not then it should be). "Red Skies" was all over FM radio in the early 80's, and the video spent a long time on MTV as well. It encapsulated the Fixx's sound really well -- solid rhythm section (dig that punchy bass), moody synths, Jamie West-Oram's chiming guitars, and Cy Curnin's charismatic vocals. It may not be that distinctive today, but in '82 the Fixx were part of a small but growing cadre of feisty -- mainly British -- groups (along with Simple Minds, Tears for Fears, and U2) making interesting pop-rock music. Rupert Hine's production played a big part in The Fixx's success (which is why bands like Rush were trying to get on his dance card back then). BTW, that second version is a later single remix.
The thing that struck me about much of 80s pop is that it seemed to be a reaction to the complexity and subtleties of rock during the 70s. It may have been a reaction to some of the overblown and over-produced artificiality of some groups during that period. So what we got were productions where every instrument and voice were given nearly equal prominence in the soundscape. Part of it was probably due to the easier availability of synth and other electronics, but a few such as New Order seemed to handle all that a bit better, imo.
Spot on.
Depeche Mode as well, they were equally experimental in their use of samplers, if we are going outside of the more underground proto-industrial type stuff.
This is from the Fixx debute album. IMO their second album is much better and clearly their best, with Saved By Zero being my favorite song. Their third album is pretty good too. After that they abandoned the Synth Pop/New Wave style in favor of a generic Pop/Rock sound and there are only maybe one or two worthwile songs per album after that. They did however produce a handful of very good songs after that. Lead singer Cy Curnin released a few albums under his name (though they sound exactly like the later The Fixx albums), his album The Horses Mouth contains two great songs, "The Good in You" and "Bubble".
A "nice" song about nuclear war! Lol. But then, that cold-war paranoia may be lost on later generations (we 80's kids get it, though; especially being scared !@#%less by THE DAY AFTER...). This goes along with Nena's "99 Red Balloons" (or, "99 Luftballoons", if you're nasty), and Rush's GRACE UNDER PRESSURE, some U2, and the movie RED DAWN ("Wolverines!").
Ok….Here is my Fixx story. It’s not great and I have a bias
My band had new album coming out this was 1990 and before its release we got the opportunity to open for them for about 2 weeks. All seemed good and we were psyched about having the opportunity to play in larger venues. Unfortunately they weren’t the most cooperative act we had ever played with. Which led to us referring to them with a capital D in place of the F. Long story short we were being booked by the same agency . They reported back to our agent very negatively about us trying to get us kicked off the tour and we ended up losing our agent as a result. This would mark the beginning of the decline for us. The rest of the story is way too long for the comment section.
On the up side we played well and were received well by the audiences. The high point was playing a triple bill with them and Cheep Trick as the headliner. That was fun!
About the song….not a big fan. The sound is very dated 80’s that I never was a fan of even back then. But hey I mentioned my bias and it’s just not my cup of tea.
Great story. What was your band called... ? a) Chicory Tip b) Jellyfish c) Supermax d) Max Demian or A.N Other ? (I got the last two names from the wonderful Lost Albums YT channel :>)
@@HippoYnYGlaw I was not tooting my own horn here I was just relating my #ixx story.
However you had some interesting guesses but lets just say "None of the Above".
We were based out of northern NJ and came out of the indie / college radio scene in the 80's. And because we were guitar based we were often compared to REM (as were just about every other band that was out at that time).
Over a span of about 5-6 years We released a few independent EP's and albums during that time and toured a lot up and down the east coast plus 2 national tours. At the time when we were touring with those guys our first (and only) major label release was just about to come out.
It really was in my humble opinion our best work and still holds up well to this day. Needless to say it was not well supported by the record label. Plus us losing our booking agent right at the time when we needed them the most the nails were already in the coffin before it could get off the ground. Things began spiraling downward and we eventually split up in either 91 or 92.
Sadly the singer succumbed to his addiction issues. in retrospect it was interesting how all those things played out but ultimately we were the ones who shot ourselves in the foot. So I don't blame anyone else for what happened.
The good times were GREAT but the bad times were BAD!
@@robertmessing6846 Lovin the history! u toot yer horn. I'm gonna hazard a serious-ish guess and say, without any Online assistance........ Zeitgeist.
I cordially invite others here to guess accordingly. When someone gets it right. JP does an Album listen!! Thanks for the
( partially ) Insightful contribution!
@@HippoYnYGlaw nope🤐
I bought this album when it came out, and neither of the versions you played were on that record. Shuttered Room is actually one of my favorite albums of the 80s. At that time, the Fixx were a quirky mix of new wave, pop and rock influences. Stand or Fall was the best-known song from that album; I think it's way better than Red Skies. The Fixx hit it big in the U.S. with their next album, Reach the Beach, which was a bit more mainstream in tone.
Yes, the album Reach The Beach is more "mainstream" but also less original and suffers from a great linearity overall because I find some tracks far too similar. 'One Thing Leads To Another', 'The Sign Of Fire', 'Running', 'Saved By Zero' and 'Outside' are the five tracks that stand out from the rest.
I much prefer their debut album Shuttered Room which is more diversified in its musical choices but I prefer the modified tracklist and the Sequencing of the US version which I find more coherent, excluding the average "Sinking Island" replacing it by the excellent " The Strain" (single B-side to "Stand Or Fall" in some countries). On the other hand I find "Time In A Glass" (Exclusive to the UK version) totally successful, so all in all, you have to own the CD reissue which offers all the tracks from the UK and US versions😉.
@A. K. I agree 100%... The US version of Shuttered Room has better song choices and flows better.
@@m.gideonhoyle409 Absolutely ! And I'll add that "Sinking Island" works much better live on the album In Concert (King Biscuit Flower Hour) recorded at My Father's Place in late 1982. I never liked its studio version which I find clumsy and doesn't really fit with the rest of the album.
I'd never heard of this band. Personally, I'm not hearing anything that would make them stand out from any number of other synth pop groups that were around in 1982.
They only sold 1.5 million albums so they did something right! I’m no fan boy but they were a solid new outfit and of decent quality for the time period.
don't know if it's bc it's from YT but this sounds extra tinny and thin compared to what i remember from the LP, it almost sounds like it's off a cassette lol.
the fixx were an interesting band from the early '80s. their lyrics were political/environmental/sinister and their main songwriter/lead singer cy currin pulled it off beautifully.
try "stand or fall", "one thing leads to another" and "saved by zero" also.
it's not the same version, i compared the two, there are vocal bits that are different.
Neither version is the original version that appeared on their debut album Shuttered Room and both sound weird. Strangely, even on RUclips we can't find their debut album anymore! I don't know why...but anyway, stick with the second-rate Duran Duran, which seem to suit you better! To each his own I guess..... Too bad you'll never know the greatness of The Fixx 😉
wow
@@eboethrasher Yes I know, reading it again I realized I was being a bit harsh but I still think Justin is missing something. Rather than listen to isolated pieces, it would be better for Justin to listen to an entire album by The Fixx to better immerse himself in their sound. I would have suggested Shuttered Room but unfortunately it can no longer be found on RUclips or Spotify. Second option, their third album Phantoms (released in 1984) would do the trick.
Nice pop band but I never really got excited about their music.
Great, I can tell my Fixx story 🙂 My introduction to the fixx was at one of their album release, promo junkets for (i think) their first LP. A friend of mines family had an independant record store and got invites off the record labels rep. You know the thing, the band puts on a private gig, some press, reps, record store owners, lots of schmoozing to sell the band etc... Now me, I'd had a rough day, and when my friend asked me if i fancied it i said no... I was pretty tired, and had never heard of them, i'll leave it thanks... But then he uttered the magic words 'it's a free (open) bar, oh, and a buffet too'. And that's when i grabbed my coat and headed into town 😂
As for the band/this track... didn't like it/them, thought it lame, tame 80's chart fodder. Not for me in the slightest, too limp.
They were big sound tracks group lot of movie like fleach better off died
Red Skies was on high rotation on MTV, very early on in their career. There’s hints of U2 and other bands of the time. I heard them daily, maybe I’m tainted. They may not be your cuppa. That’s fine.
For me, I dig the streamlined force this band put out. Vocals and guitar are just unique.
Maybe it hasn’t aged well, parts of me haven’t either, so what.
Your Music Mirrors Your Mind
Great song but these version are not the original radio mix Not the best for a first listen Try the songs suggested in the comments before dimissing this excellent band
Decidedly average tune this one was. Not pulling up any trees
Boring, long... all bad.
The second version had much better sound, but it's definitely NOT the original album version. Nevertheless, it's good stuff.