Silicon Teens - Music For Parties

Silicon Teens

Music For Parties

1980

Synthpop

England

Tracklist:


01. Memphis, Tennessee
02. Yesterday Man
03. Doo-Wah-Diddy-Diddy
04. T.V. Playtime
05. You Really Got Me
06. Chip N' Roll
07. Do You Love Me?
08. Let's Dance
09. Oh Boy
10. Sweet Little Sixteen
11. State of Shock (Pt. 2)
12. Just Like Eddie
13. Red River Rock
14. Judy In Disguise
15. Let's Dance
16. Sun Flight



     Silicon Teens were a virtual British electronic new wave pop group. The project was the creation of Mute Records founder Daniel Miller.
     After two releases under The Normal (both the famous 'Warm Leatherette' 7'' and an experimental live recording with Robert Rental), Miller took to his synths to record a series of updated (and somewhat campy) 50s/60s rock n'roll tunes (alongside two originals), adopting a false 'teen' band to handle any budding press. Fad Gadget's Frank Tovey would act as lead vocalist during interviews as the remainder of the 'band' was portrayed by various actors, however, every note and vocal take was recorded by Miller himself.
     The "group" were publicised as a quartet with members named Darryl, Jacki, Paul and Diane, but in reality these individuals did not exist. The project was launched in 1980 with a sole album called Music For Parties, a collection mostly comprising rock n' roll standards from the 1950s and 1960s, played in an upbeat synthpop style. There were four original compositions on the album, those being "TV Playtime", "Sun Flight", and the instrumentals "Chip 'n' Roll" and "State of Shock (Part 2)".
     Despite considerable media interest as a novelty, neither the album nor offshoot singles "Memphis Tennessee" and "Judy in Disguise" were ever hits, though their third (double-A side) single "Just Like Eddie" b/w "Sun Flight" did manage some UK Chart success. Film director John Hughes was so taken with it that their rendition of "Red River Rock" (in a re-recorded version) can be heard in the film soundtrack of the Steve Martin and John Candy film Planes, Trains, and Automobiles. The band's rendition of "You Really Got Me" was featured on a compilation album of New Wave songs put out by French covers band Nouvelle Vague.

     Discography
Memphis Tennessee / Let's Dance (MUTE 003) August 1979
Judy In Disguise / Chip 'n' Roll (MUTE 004)
Just Like Eddie / Sun Flight (MUTE 008)
Music for Parties (album) (STUMM 2) September 1980