WAS's Awesome New Wave Song Of The Week #1: Red Rockers - China

Long-time reader and comment contributor WAS has volunteered to keep this thing going by showcasing an Awesome New Wave Song of the Week in this space. Check back each week for a regular dose of auditory goodness from the greatest era in music history. I'm pumped and looking forward to reading and listening to his picks. let's get this party started!
                                                         -Marc D.
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And now, a note from WAS and his first entry:

Like Marc D, I am also a firm believer that some the greatest music of all time can be found at the nexus of new wave and synthpop in the early to mid 1980s.  It was a time of amazing developments on the music scene - punk rock was over, but all of the elements that caused it were searching for a new post-punk outlet.  They coalesced into a new movement that evolved into something altogether more exploratory … more listenable… and more interesting.  It wasn’t just a new kind of music … and it was more than just the “DIY" trend that punk introduced (which was rebellious in a conformist sort of way as Bart Simpson says) with the poor playing, mohawks and safety pins.  No this kind of new music was an onslaught of everything - new sounds … instruments .. fashion … clubs … music … video … movies … and yes … even haircuts.

Being fortunate enough to have grown up in NYC, I spun records for my college radio station in the early 80s and visited all the legendary local clubs of the era.  It was a time where pioneering new wave radio station WLIR became WDRE and Dared to be Different.  A time when independent record sellers were everywhere and would spin the latest innovative sounds from around the world the moment they came out.  In short - it was a great time to be alive.

So if you are like me and having withdrawal pains now that Marc D’s amazing Top 200 is done, fear not.  Marc has graciously allowed the blog to live on so we can present …. Awesome New Wave Songs Of The Week !

- Your DJ, WAS

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Red Rockers started out as a punk band from New Orleans Louisiana.  Their punk leanings were broad and deep; once billed as “America’s Clash” they were hardcore to the core and even teamed up with Dead Kennedy’s lead singer Jello Biafra on a Johnny Cash cover.  As they matured, however, their sound changed ... to the point that by 1982, their second album “Good as Gold” had a much more melodious new wave guitar-driven synthy sound and it delivered the one hit wonder song of their career “China”.   It’s a great song that has aged well and still sounds fresh today.  Sadly their success did not continue ... their next album was the Spinal-Tap-esque “Schizophrenic Circus”, complete with a cover featuring the band in cheesy circus costumes.  It garnered similar reviews to Tap’s “Shark Sandwich” (shit sandwich) and that was it for the Red Rockers.  But we’ll always have “China” ... it lives on as their shining contribution to early 80s new wave.

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