I love your average and mean on the years. The first three are my favorites, though I would have to admit here that the last three are great as well, though there is not a lot of Boy George on my redneck CDs... Looking forward to the download. Hope you liked the BosT I sent you.

lots of cool stuff here

great selections by The Ritchie Family, Communards, Pansy Division, Joe Jackson, Kate Bush, The Smiths... I even like the Taco. and I remember that Pointer Sisters song being released twice when I was a youth. always thought that was weird, but looks like it only cracked the top ten on the second time around. they must have been pretty excited about that. didn't Prince's "1999" single also get released twice, once before "Little Red Corvette," and then again just after? as I recall, it flopped the first time around as well.

Excuse my ignorance but is Vince Clarke gay? It's something Kathryn and I were pondering one night. Anyway there's some real chipper tunes here.

Thanks for your comments tornadoZ! Now that you mention Prince, I did think of using something by him, but I lost the thought somewhere along the way (such songs as Delirious or Let's Go Crazy may have fit in well).You are right about the song "1999"; it charted twice in 1983. First, during a 12 week run, it peaked early in the year at #44 and then (following the issue of Little Red Corvette), had another run and peaked at #12 in the last half of the year.Of course it was re-issued in 1999 as well (when it peaked at #40 and charted only for 1 week in January of that year).

Hi KathrynandRupert!
Although Andy Bell is openly gay, his musical partner Vince Clarke (the duo that calls itself Erasure) is said to be straight (although he did live in Amsterdam for awhile).

All the different varieties of cheese make this mix too much for my palate, killing my full enjoyment, but many good tracks remain. I'm particularly partial to the Kate Bush, Depeche Mode, Smiths and Joe Jackson. The Queen song fits the theme, but is (in my opinion) an unfortunate choice from a very wide, very good catalog.

ah-ha. thanks for confirming; very interesting stuff about "1999." maybe you can also tell me about this: did the same thing happen with The Clash single, "Should I Stay or Should I Go?" I swear it was released twice as a single in the US--once before they had a hit w/ "Rock the Casbah," and then again just after. in this case, I think it charted about the same both times (not very high). as evidence, I have in my collection two versions of the 7" single, both US releases on Epic, but with completely different picture sleeve art. the first has "First Night Back In London" as the b-side, whereas the other is paired with "Cool Confusion."

Ah yes Amsterdam, then it's an open case. I've been there a few times and I think I'm still straight although I do like wearing Kathryn's skirts now and then :).

You are right tornadoZ, "Should I Stay or Should I Go?" first entered the top 100 charts the week ending 7/17/82 and charted for 13 weeks, peaking at #45 (the B side then being "First Night Back in London").It was re-issued the following year and re-entered the charts during the week ending 2/19/83, remaining in the top 100 for 10 weeks and peaking at #50 (the B side for the second issue was "Cool Confusion").

Someone To Watch Over Me is such a great song, no matter which version.