This album was purchased from Camelot Music’s discount bin in late 1992 early 1993 on a visit to America’s largest symbol of capitalism:Â The Dreaded Mall of America.
It was there Matt Sparby and I used to float between Camelot Music store on the first floor and Spectrum Music on the 3rd floor. (Spectrum had the distinction at the time of only carrying laser based media–CDs and Laserdiscs.)
Camelot Music always had a large bin of Canadian imports. The compilation I listen to as I write, “This is Music ’92” from “Quality Music“, contains gems from the early 90s.
Many of the tunes are instantly recognizable. From Jesus Jones’ “Right Here, Right Now” to Amy Grant’s saccharine pop effort: “Baby Baby.” Some of these tunes are more rare since they didn’t receive airplay in the U.S. Oh, not all of it’s quality! For instance, there is the abhorrent “More Than Words” by the band Extreme. A love anthem adopted by adolescent, angst-driven boys and girls as a beautiful love ballad when in fact the song was really a satire on all ballads of the period:
“Sayin’, “I Love You…” is not the words I want to hear from you. It’s not that I want to, not to say–but if you only knew… how easy, it would be to show me how you feel… More than words is all you have to do to make it real. Then you wouldn’t have to say–that you loved me. ‘Cuz I’d already know.“
In other words, “Just shutup and show me baby. I don’t want to hear you talk.”
Of course, some are very good. I’m particularly fond of My Town from Glass Tiger with Rod Stewart, Everybody Get’s a Second Chance by Mike + The Mechanics, Walking in Memphis by Mark Cohn and Joyride by the effervescent pop group of the 80s-90s-and-still-terribly-popular-in-europe-today: Roxette.
If you can, dig this gem up or download some of the tracks from iTunes–they’re a blast.
- Joyride (Album Version) – Roxette
- My Town – Glass Tiger with Rod Stewart
- Right Here, Right Now – Jesus Jones
- Just Like You – Robbie Nevil
- Say You’ll Be Mine – West End Girls
- Everybody Gets A Second Chance – Mike + The Mechanics
- Baby Baby – Amy Grant
- More Than Words – Extreme
- Unbelievable – EMF
- Standing Push And Fall – World On Edge
- Street Of Dreams – Nia Peeples
- Show me the Way – Styx
- Twist My Arm – The Tragically Hip
- Walking In Memphis – Marc Cohn
Definitely some good tracks on there. ‘More Than Words’ makes most of us ‘more than vomit’ – then and now.