Thompson Twins - Into the Gap

This was the kind of music that more or less defined the '80s, at least the first half of the decade before the big guitars and hairspray took over. It was techno world infused new wave that was a mashup of styles all wrapped up in a video friendly faces. The videos were infectious, and seemed to be everywhere. Smack in the middle of the frame was a photogenic Tom Bailey with his feet firmly planted while he twisted his body and waved his arms. Whenever I drive by a used car lot and see those inflatable dancing tube men, I think of Thompson Twins.

While I was never a big fan, there were some earworms that I really liked, although I never picked up anything by the band, until '88 when I picked up The Best of Thompson Twins: Greatest Mixes, and discovered they weren't the radio singles ... the phrase greatest mixes should have been a giveaway. There are times I'm not the sharpest knife in the fork drawer.

Into the Gap pretty much scratches my itch with respect to the band. The only song I would like to have had is "Lay Your Hands on Me" but I have it already elsewhere so I really don't need to chase the dragon and find the record ... unless I find it.

I always thought these guys were bigger than they really were. Here in Canada, they sold a couple hundred thousand copies which is a pretty big deal, and in the US where they have ten times the population it went platinum. Still a big deal, but not what I had imagined. I shouldn't knock it, most of my favourite bands never sold close to this on their best day.

What Thompson Twins weren't twins at all. I know, that may seem pedantic but I remember hearing a story told by the band that when they first toured some promoters thought the band were a duo. I guess if you don't read the rider these things will happen. The most successful line up, that lasted three short years, featured Tom Bailey, and backing vocalists Joe Leeway and Alannah Currie. Bailey had one of those voices that stood out. 

The songs were written by the band and the lyrics were written by Alannah something I wouldn't have guessed. Never judge a book by the cover I suppose. I always thought she was an adjunct to the band - I mean really she played percussion and the marimba. Still they were a band which was kind of cool, as it does give them some legitimacy. At least for me. The album was recorded at Compass Point Studios, Nassau and was produced by the late Alex Sadkin and Tom Bailey. Alex died in a motorcycle accident at the age of 38 in a motorcycle accident. Prior to his death he had produced albums by artists as varied as Foreigner, Joe Cocker, Grace Slick, Robbie Nevil and Duran Duran.

The album opens with one of their memorable songs, "Doctor! Doctor!" a song that has held up remarkably well. I don't remember being overly enamoured with it back in the day, but I wouldn't change the channel if it came on the radio. Now not everything here is wine and roses, sure time and nostalgia have softened some of the edges, but there were a some songs here that I still have a hard time believing the band was able to deliver "You Take Me Up" with a straight face as they did the harmonica sections. Sure the chorus is catchy, but man I just cannot stop thinking this is the band's cheesiest moment. It's right up there with ABBA singing "Pick a Bale of Cotton." Thankfully the band recovers with "Hold Me Now" a song I always really liked. This is probably one of their best songs. It's infectious.

The rest of the album was really solid, and to be honest the whole album was much better than I had expected it to be. Even the maligned (by me) "You Take Me Up" had a great chorus. Hard to imagine that the band was really only around for a few short years then they were gone.

Into the Gap indeed.

Mind the gap.