Heaven Sent - The Rise of New Pop 1979-1983

A term forever associated with tastemaker NME scribe turned Svengali Paul Morley, ‘New Pop’ came to describe any forward-thinking British music of the early 1980s which wasn’t ‘rockist’ (macho men with guitars, etc.) or overtly punky and anti-establishment in outlook. New Pop was an aspiration. Punk had shaken up the UK music industry – and more importantly, had inspired a generation of art students, budding musicians and others with a sense of what was possible.

By the end of 1979, while many artists continued to forge a futuristic vision for guitar-based rock music, others saw the potential of reinventing Pop. But this was not chintzy, tacky pop of the kind that had survived punk’s great reset. Instead, credible, progressively minded artists sought to “bring back life to the radio, to make the single count” as Morley himself put it.

Taking its cue from 1979’s big three – M, Flying Lizards and The Buggles – Heaven Sent explores five seismic years that saw aspiration and success replace anti-success, DIY culture for many. Covering a broad musical palette packed, image conscious, highly curated and too sharp for anybody over twenty-five to understand, this was in many ways as much an overhaul of pop music as punk had been of the tired rock scene. Subtler and less anarchic certainly, but always fresh and inventive.

Conceived and curated by the team behind many of our most critically acclaimed post punk, pop and electronica compilations, Heaven Sent is a time capsule period piece, framing perfectly that period between the post-punk aftershock and the mid-80s dominance of Thatcherite High Street pop. A must for collectors and musical historians alike.

TRACK LISTING

DISC ONE

1. M - Pop Musik (Full Length Disco Mix)
2. The Flying Lizards - Money
3. The Buggles - Video Killed The Radio Star
4. Godley And Creme - An Englishman In New York (Single Version)
5. The Korgis - Young & Russian
6. New Musik - Living By Numbers
7. Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - Red Frame/ White Light
8. Toyah - Bird In Flight
9. Grace Jones - She’s Lost Control
10. Pauline Murray And The Invisible Girls - Dream Sequence (One)
11. The Clash - Hitsville U.K.
12. The Passions - I’m In Love With A German Film Star
13. The Human League - Boys And Girls
14. China Crisis - African And White (Inevitable Version)
15. Fad Gadget - Make Room
16. Department S - Is Vic There?
17. Japan - The Art Of Parties
18. Altered Images - A Day’s Wait
19. Heaven 17 - I’m Your Money
20. Thomas Leer - Letter From America
21. The Associates - Q Quarters

DISC TWO

1. Eurythmics - Never Gonna Cry Again
2. Thomas Dolby - Urges
3. The Slits - Earthbeat (7” Version)
4. Monsoon - Ever So Lonely (Indipop version)
5. Hazel O’Connor - Hanging Around
6. Anthony More - World Service (Single Version)
7. A Flock Of Seagulls - Telecommunication
8. Simple Minds - Sweat In Bullet
9. Soft Cell - Bedsitter
10. Chas Jankel - Questionnaire
11. The Creatures - Mad Eyed Screamer
12. Tears For Fears - Suffer The Children
13. Haircut One Hundred - Favourite Shirts (Boy Meets Girl)
14. Dexy’s Midnight Runners - Liars A To E (Single Version)
15. The Teardrop Explodes - Tiny Children
16. Rip Rig And Panic - Bob Hope Takes Risks
17. Mari Wilson - Beat The Beat
18. TV21 With The Cannizarro Strings - All Join Hands
19. The Undertones - Beautiful Friend
20. Blue Rondo A La Turk – Klactoveesedstein
21. John Cooper Clarke - The Day My Pad Went Mad

DISC THREE

1. ABC - Poison Arrow
2. Fashion –