Clarence Ewing: The Million Year Trip writesFriday MP3 Shuffle: Happy Birthday Trevor Horn Edition

[photo by The Times UK]

The UK newspaper The Times named him “The Man Who Invented the ‘80s.” Looking at his accomplishments as a musician and producer, it’s not hard to see why Trevor Horn fits that description. US music listeners probably know him best as the lead singer of the Buggles, whose song “Video Killed the Radio Star” was the first video ever played on MTV and about as close as anything to being the starting signal for the ascendance of video pop culture. That is just one chapter in a prolific career. In addition to being a founding member of The Art of Noise and producer of one of the greatest synth-pop albums ever made (ABC’s The Lexicon of Love), here’s 10 other artists and bands he’s performed with and/or produced: Paul McCartney, Cher, Yes, Grace Jones, Seal, Pet Shop Boys, Simple Minds, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Genesis, Belle & Sebastian. You get the idea. It’s Mr. Horn’s birthday today - play the MP3 shuffle to celebrate. Take your MP3 player, press the “shuffle” button, and share the first 10 songs you hear...

1. Badly Drawn Boy – The Shining (The Hour of Bewilderbeast): Cello-And-Horn Mellowness

2. Daniel Wohl – Neighborhood (Corps Exquis): Cinematic Bass-Tension

3. Maria - Hana Ga Saltara (Utakata no Hibi): Plucky New Wave from Japan

4. Ultravox – King's Lead Hat (Recorded Live At The Lyceum 17/8/80) (Vienna [bonus material]): OG New Wave

5. New Order – Way of Life (Brotherhood): The Missing Link Between Post-Punk and Dance

6. Mozart – Rondo alla Turca from Sonata No. 11 in A Minor, KV 311 (The Masterpiece Collection): Essential Classical

7. James Carter & The Prisoners – Po Lazarus ('O Brother, Where Art Thou?' Soundtrack): Where the Blues Came From

8. Depeche Mode – Never Let Me Down (Music for the Masses): Electronica Ascendant

9. John Cougar Mellencamp – The Authority Song (Uh-Huh): American Pop-Rock Polished to a Top-40 Sheen

10. Right Said Fred – I’m Too Sexy: The Ultimate in Attitudinal Body Music

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