- F- Fashion

Ok, so a break from the norm and here's one you can't buy and these days probably can't even play anymore??

Hailing from Birmingham, Fashion's essential album is the 1982 Fabrique. To my knowledge this has never been released on CD although a version appeared in 2004 which is about as close as you can get The Height Of however not close enough.

The version you need is the cassette Special edition double play including the album plus all of the extended 12" mixes. Standout tracks Move On (plus Mutant Move) Love Shadow (plus Love Shadow Smokey Dialogue) and Dressed to Kill (Dressed to Kill Double Dub)

This was electronic pop/rock at its best. Maybe one day there will be a transfer to cd in all its glory, for now I'll make do with the cassette sampled version. If you find the cassette (remember them) I hope the player still works and doesn't chew up the tape.

- F - 4 Non Blondes, 5.6.7.8's

A couple of bands that I'll list under 'F' maybe not correct but it's good enough for me and the bands deserve a mention.

Sadly just one studio album from Linda Perry and the 4 non Blondes Bigger, Better, Faster, More from 1992 is an essential buy mainly for the classic What's Up the only other outing was the live Hello Mr President.

Then we come to the 5.6.7.8's who without a certain Quentin Tarantino hearing one of their albums playing in a shop in Tokyo and then including them in Kill Bill, the West may never have heard of them. There appear to be eight albums by this slightly strange band. So if you like all girl Japanese surfer music with attitude step forward the 5.6.7.8's. I've got two of their albums but once you've got Bomb The Rocks containing the wonderfully silly and catchy Woo Hoo that's probably all you need. The compilation covers their singles from 1989 - 1996 forget the Beach Boys and go for the Japanese Beach Girls.