CULTURE CLUB ‎– This Time - The First Four Years 1987

 

As glamorous as Boy George is when dressed to kill for his performances, or even generally in his day wear, my lasting image of him is from 2006 on the streets of New York City with a hi-viz jacket and a broom doing community service for the Department of Corrections. Far from being a low point or making him a subject of ridicule, it increased my admiration for him - he messed up, he got caught, he took his punishment. Good for you George.

One thing he didn't mess up, through all the other mess-ups, was his music. If you remember nothing else from the 80's I can pretty much guarantee everyone can see Culture Club in their mind's eye, singing and dancing on a paddleboat called 'The Chameleon' steaming down the Mississippi in the 1870's. Sadly you'd be wrong, they were actually on 'The New Southern Belle' on the Thames in Surrey. The Chameleon bit is right though, 'Karma Chameleon' to be exact.

The group only formed in 1981, and their debut album 'Kissing to be Clever' the following year spawned 5 singles, among them the worldwide #1 'Do You Really Want To Hurt Me'. 

When 'Colour By Numbers' came out in 1983 the group were already well established and when 'Karma .. 'became their second #1 they were unstoppable.

This compilation includes - as it says on the tin - a selection of the first four years, and out of the 12 tracks at least 8 are must-haves. As well as the two tracks mentioned above you get 'Church of the Poison Mind', 'Time (Clock of the Heart)', 'It's a Miracle', 'I'll Tumble 4 Ya' and more.

Boy George had a secret relationship with drummer Jon Moss, largely unknown to the general public, but when they broke up after a pretty abusive four years George spiraled down into drug abuse and that started a long period of upheaval for the band. They broke up, they reformed, George did a solo career, Jon Moss was there and then he wasn't. Very confusing and volatile. In 2018 there was a new album released, 'Life' billed as Boy George & Culture Club and coincidentally, as we speak, Boy George is back on telly promoting a new concert on 19 Dec 2020 at the SSE Arena, Wembley. 

Give Culture Club another listen, there are some great songs in there.

Karma Chameleon

Do You Really Want To Hurt Me