Vintage Vinyl of the Day - Boy George was Ahead of his Time Culture Club

George O’Dowd aka Boy George was 22 in 1982. Today he symbolizes the English Invasion of 1980's. Culture Club, Annie Lenox, Duran Duran and others were fresh sounds in the US- 20 years after the first British Invasion of the Beatles.

Boy George was inspired by the Glam Rock (Bowie) of the 1970's. Below, an interesting evolution in his look.

Fashionable and androgynous Boy George met former Sex Pistols manager, Malcolm McLaren who was the boyfriend of designer Vivianne Westwood. McLaren had him sing with another band he managed Bow Wow Wow (which was the original band of Adam Ant). The arrangement didn't work out so George started putting his own band together.

Drummer Jon Moss, Guitarist Roy Hay and Bassist Mikey Craig would join George to become Culture Cub. In the spring of 1982 they released a couple singles that failed to attract any attention. That fall they released "Do You Really Want To Hurt Me" which went to #1 in the U.K pop charts. It would go to #1 in several countries. In December it appeared on the U.S. charts at #80. Over the winter it would work it's way up the charts. By the end of January, it was #24. By the end of February was #5.

I was 13 in 1982. I didn't love Culture Club at the time. Didn't hate them but didn't love them. I spent some time listening to CC while I was writing this. I was too young to appreciate the mixed sounds of soul, gospel, country or southern, glam rock and punk all together on 2 albums. He was and still is very talented.

I read something about how he said, Karma Chameleon was a like a simple campfire song! I completely see that. It's simplicity and beat made it something I still sing today.

MTV had their video in heavy rotation. At the end of March, it was #2, and that's where it would stay for several weeks unable to topple Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean". Check it out below.

2 MAJOR albums back to back and the hits are highlighted below

Kissing to be Clever #5 UK #14 USA

1982 Virgin Records, manufactured by Epic

Hits

Do you Really Want To Hurt Me? #1 USA #1 UK
Time #5 USA
I’ll Tumble 4 Ya #9 USA

Color by Number

1983 Virgin Records, manufactured by Epic

Hits

Karma Chameleon #1 USA #1 UK
It’s a Miracle (gospely) #5 UK
Church of the Poison Mind #2 USA
Miss Me Blind #5 USA

Between the 2 albums - 5 straight singles in the top 10 in the US and went even further in the UK.

Link to "Church of the Poison Mind" which is my personal favorite.

Cover of Newsweek 1983

Annie Lennox and Duran Duran

Unfortunately, drugs changed things. The 3rd album was not the hit the first 2 were. In the UK drugs Boy George and drugs were spoken simultaneously. The US didn't want to let him into the country because of his troubles. He was unable to tour and promote the 3rd album here. It fizzled.

I'm glad to see he's still around today and working. He's a talented guy who definitely was ahead of his time and made a big mark on music all over the world!

What are your favorite retro classics from the 1980's??

Thanks for reading!
Melissa

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