The Psychedelic Furs
The Psychedelic Furs is an English rock band that was founded in London in … Read Full Bio ↴The Psychedelic Furs is an English rock band that was founded in London in the late 70s. They came together in England's burgeoning punk scene of 1977 and initially consisted of Richard Butler (vocals), Tim Butler (bass guitar), Duncan Kilburn (saxophone), Paul Wilson (drums), and Roger Morris (guitars). By 1979, this line-up had expanded to a sextet due to the addition of John Ashton on guitar and Vince Ely replacing Wilson on drums.
The Furs initially used Martin Hannett as a producer, but their initial self-titled album from 1980 was eventually produced by Steve Lillywhite. The LP quickly established the band on radio and was a top 20 hit in the UK. The album also found success in Germany, Italy, France, Spain and Australia. The US version of the album was re-sequenced, but failed to have as strong a commercial impact.
The Furs found success in the U.S. market with the 1981 release, titled 'Talk Talk Talk', which made its impact on the US album charts and received critical acclaim worldwide. In the UK, the album was a solid hit which spun off two charting singles, "Dumb Waiters" and the original version of "Pretty in Pink". The latter song served as inspiration for the 1986 John Hughes film of the same name, and was re-recorded for the platinum-selling soundtrack.
In 1982, the band was reduced to a four-piece with the departures of Morris and Kilburn. (Ex-Birthday Party drummer Phill Calvert would briefly join the group around this time.) The band's remaining members moved permanently to New York, where they recorded the album Forever Now with producer Todd Rundgren. This album contained "Love My Way", a breakthrough Top 40 hit in both the US and the UK. Ely left the band after this release, though he would return for the 1988 single "All That Money Wants" and the 1989 album Book of Days.
The Furs' 1984 release Mirror Moves was produced by Keith Forsey, and featured the songs "The Ghost in You" and "Heaven". Both charted in the UK, and "Heaven" became the band's highest charting UK hit at the time -- but inexplicably, "Heaven" was never released as a single in America. Instead, Columbia Records opted for "Here Come Cowboys", despite both international success and heavy MTV airplay on "Heaven." "Here Come Cowboys" failed to chart, but "The Ghost In You" was a hit on the US pop charts. The band had become popular in Canada as well, CFNY, Toronto's new wave radio station, listed Mirror Moves as the #1 LP of 1984.
By this time, the band had become somewhat of a staple on US college and modern rock radio stations. As well, they were building mainstream success, fairly consistently placing singles in the pop charts on both sides of the Atlantic, though they would "have more impact on future musicians than they ever did in the marketplace." In 1986, the band re-recorded a version of "Pretty in Pink", which was their biggest hit to that time in the US, and their biggest-ever UK hit.
Richard Butler later claimed that the success of "Pretty in Pink" caused the band to be pressured into entering the studio to record a follow-up release before they were ready. The result was Midnight to Midnight, an album which Butler characterized as "hollow, vapid and weak". A more overtly commercial effort than the Furs had ever recorded before, the album also featured the single "Heartbreak Beat", which was their highest charting top 40 US hit.
However, the Furs were dissatisfied with their new commercial direction, and subsequently returned to a rawer sound with "All That Money Wants", a 1988 track especially recorded for a 'best-of' collection. 1989's Book of Days saw a return to the old-school style and the temporary return of Vince Ely. 1991's World Outside was similarly more of a "back to basics" approach.
From 1988 on The Furs' chart success continued with three #1 hits on the US Modern Rock chart between 1988 and 1991.
The band splintered in 1991, with the Butler brothers going on to found Love Spit Love. After spending most of the decade apart, Butler, Butler and Ashton re-formed The Psychedelic Furs in 2000, and released a live album Beautiful Chaos: Greatest Hits Live, which also featured a new studio recording, "Alive (For Once In My Lifetime)." A DVD version of the performance included live versions of "Alive" and three other previously unreleased songs: "Anodyne (Better Days)," "Cigarette" and "Wrong Train."
Since then the Furs continue to tour the world along with former Love Spit Love drummer Frank Ferrer, ex-Information Society and World Party keyboardist Amanda Kramer and saxophonist Mars Williams who returned to the band after a stint in the late 1980s.
Showing the band's significant influence as a part of the new wave and post-punk movements, their songs have been covered by numerous other artists. Examples include Annie Lennox, Buffalo Tom, Icehouse, Powderfinger, Regenerator, and Robyn Hitchcock.
The Furs initially used Martin Hannett as a producer, but their initial self-titled album from 1980 was eventually produced by Steve Lillywhite. The LP quickly established the band on radio and was a top 20 hit in the UK. The album also found success in Germany, Italy, France, Spain and Australia. The US version of the album was re-sequenced, but failed to have as strong a commercial impact.
The Furs found success in the U.S. market with the 1981 release, titled 'Talk Talk Talk', which made its impact on the US album charts and received critical acclaim worldwide. In the UK, the album was a solid hit which spun off two charting singles, "Dumb Waiters" and the original version of "Pretty in Pink". The latter song served as inspiration for the 1986 John Hughes film of the same name, and was re-recorded for the platinum-selling soundtrack.
In 1982, the band was reduced to a four-piece with the departures of Morris and Kilburn. (Ex-Birthday Party drummer Phill Calvert would briefly join the group around this time.) The band's remaining members moved permanently to New York, where they recorded the album Forever Now with producer Todd Rundgren. This album contained "Love My Way", a breakthrough Top 40 hit in both the US and the UK. Ely left the band after this release, though he would return for the 1988 single "All That Money Wants" and the 1989 album Book of Days.
The Furs' 1984 release Mirror Moves was produced by Keith Forsey, and featured the songs "The Ghost in You" and "Heaven". Both charted in the UK, and "Heaven" became the band's highest charting UK hit at the time -- but inexplicably, "Heaven" was never released as a single in America. Instead, Columbia Records opted for "Here Come Cowboys", despite both international success and heavy MTV airplay on "Heaven." "Here Come Cowboys" failed to chart, but "The Ghost In You" was a hit on the US pop charts. The band had become popular in Canada as well, CFNY, Toronto's new wave radio station, listed Mirror Moves as the #1 LP of 1984.
By this time, the band had become somewhat of a staple on US college and modern rock radio stations. As well, they were building mainstream success, fairly consistently placing singles in the pop charts on both sides of the Atlantic, though they would "have more impact on future musicians than they ever did in the marketplace." In 1986, the band re-recorded a version of "Pretty in Pink", which was their biggest hit to that time in the US, and their biggest-ever UK hit.
Richard Butler later claimed that the success of "Pretty in Pink" caused the band to be pressured into entering the studio to record a follow-up release before they were ready. The result was Midnight to Midnight, an album which Butler characterized as "hollow, vapid and weak". A more overtly commercial effort than the Furs had ever recorded before, the album also featured the single "Heartbreak Beat", which was their highest charting top 40 US hit.
However, the Furs were dissatisfied with their new commercial direction, and subsequently returned to a rawer sound with "All That Money Wants", a 1988 track especially recorded for a 'best-of' collection. 1989's Book of Days saw a return to the old-school style and the temporary return of Vince Ely. 1991's World Outside was similarly more of a "back to basics" approach.
From 1988 on The Furs' chart success continued with three #1 hits on the US Modern Rock chart between 1988 and 1991.
The band splintered in 1991, with the Butler brothers going on to found Love Spit Love. After spending most of the decade apart, Butler, Butler and Ashton re-formed The Psychedelic Furs in 2000, and released a live album Beautiful Chaos: Greatest Hits Live, which also featured a new studio recording, "Alive (For Once In My Lifetime)." A DVD version of the performance included live versions of "Alive" and three other previously unreleased songs: "Anodyne (Better Days)," "Cigarette" and "Wrong Train."
Since then the Furs continue to tour the world along with former Love Spit Love drummer Frank Ferrer, ex-Information Society and World Party keyboardist Amanda Kramer and saxophonist Mars Williams who returned to the band after a stint in the late 1980s.
Showing the band's significant influence as a part of the new wave and post-punk movements, their songs have been covered by numerous other artists. Examples include Annie Lennox, Buffalo Tom, Icehouse, Powderfinger, Regenerator, and Robyn Hitchcock.
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The Psychedelic Furs Lyrics
005 Love My Way There's an army on the dance floor It's a fashion with…
01 Here come Cowboys There are colors flashing People wearing stars and stuff The…
01. Forever Now A banker in a tired suit Is counting in his head He's…
03 Until she comes Until she comes again I can hear the things she said I…
07 Highwire Days They tore up our kisses and ran On tomorrow's pages And the…
08 Only a Game Yeah we're in on the act And love's in the back With…
11 Alice's House In the house where Alice lives (Alice's) it's a mess of souv…
12 there are colors flashing people wearing stars and stuff t…
2. Don't Believe Money's got the medicine You can't believe in anything I wan…
Aeroplane i got a brand new aeroplane i saw it yesterday i'm coming…
Alice In the house where Alice lives (Alice's) it's a mess of souv…
All About You now the time is almost done the race for last is…
All Of The Law when you're out in the crowd trying to make it all…
All of This & Nothing A phonebook full of accidents A girl to drive your car A…
All Of This And Nothing a phonebook full of accidents a girl to drive your car a…
All That Money Wants city sky comes down like rain through all the alleys to…
All That Monkey Wants city sky comes down like rain through all the alleys to…
Angels i try to remember a kiss and i only get sorrow and…
Angels Don i try to remember a kiss and i only get sorrow and…
Angels Don't Cry i try to remember a kiss and i only get sorrow and…
Another Edge in the softest room you sing without a key the butler is…
Ash Wednesday It might be broken And love lies murdered Were those her foo…
Badman i counted down the days the darkened that i was sad down…
Better Days people call to say hello they call to talk about the…
Birdland no wedding song no wedding song can shake my feet or stop…
Book of Days the air here tastes like poison the traffic moves on broken…
Come All Ye Faithful Come all ye faithful and shine a light on And shine…
Danger Love is hiding in the city Here in all of you Put…
Don't Be A Girl don't be a girl for all their kisses for all their…
Don't Believe Money's got the medicine You can't believe in anything I wan…
Dumb Waiters Give me all your paper ma Gimme all your jazz Give me…
easy street 9-9-9 The police don't come Here on easy street All the b…
Entertain Me Speak, talk to me Show what I am And cannot be, talk Enterta…
Fall You will have a dress of white You will have a…
Flowers see the people dead in cars see the bodies bleed i know…
Forever Now A banker in a tired suit Is counting in his head He's…
Get A Room don't want order it won't come there's no why that it goes…
Ghost in You A man in my shoes runs a light And all the…
Goodbye Hello to you hello to me I've somewhere else to be Excuses…
Heartbeat She's a heartbeat Yeah, she's a heartbeat She's a door at th…
Heartbreak Beat I'm a heartbreak beat, yea, all night long And nobody don't…
Heaven Heaven Is the whole of the heart And heaven don't tear you…
Here Come Cowboys There are colors flashing People wearing stars and stuff The…
Hide the Medicine Hide the medicine Hide the medicine from the kids Hide the …
Highwire Days They tore up our kisses and ran On tomorrow's pages And the…
House In the house where Alice lives (Alice's) it's a mess of souv…
I Don Lit like halloween And roadtop signs That I can't read Dream…
I Don't Mine Lit like halloween And roadtop signs That I can't read Dr…
I Don't Want To Be Your Shadow I don't want to be a shadow So he's gone now Now…
I Wanna Sleep With You She comes in like an angel, And goes down like these…
Imitation Of Christ Another Christ is on the cross The nails are words The nails…
In My Head i come pulling all the stops putting rain on all of…
India India, India You're my love song India you're my love song …
Into You Like A Train No kind of love. I don't want to make no scene…
It Goes On You laugh at her in all the cars She's easily confused There…
Like A Stranger Nothing goes on today She says All of our running 'round To …
Love My Away There's an army on the dance floor It's a fashion with…
Mack The Knife Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Mary Go Round Pass your time away Its' just another day And everything y…
Melt With You She comes in like an angel, And goes down like these…
Merry Go Round we are both so second hand we've been around it really doesn…
Merry-Go-Round Don't want order, it won't come There's no why that it…
Merry‐Go‐Round we are both so second hand we've been around it really doesn…
Midnight To Midnight When this town gets lonely I got the new york stars It…
Mother-Son mary comes in a bows and all her lipstick pearls and…
Mr Jones Mrs. Jones is seventeen, and six, and twenty-four. Moderatel…
My Time You've got rain in your eyes And a head full of…
New Dream I see your pretty face Go to check her and scan I…
No Easy Street 9-9-9 The police don't come Here on easy street All the boys…
No Release Wait 'til midnight comes Wearing fashion black She's on a hi…
No Tears There's demonstrations And demonstrations Listen to the weat…
No‐One Who's gonna wear your crown, no one The queens of the…
One More Word All your promises Don't taste so sweet When the world comes …
Only A Game Yeah we're in on the act And love's in the back With…
Only You And I Yeah I fell in love Like all good dreamers do Finally in…
Parade Here comes dawn today To light the candles Burn for you Here…
President Gas You have to have a party When you're in a state…
Pretty in Pink Caroline laughs, and it's raining all day Loves to be one…
Pretty In Pink (Original Versi caroline laughs and it's raining all day she loves to be…
PRETTY_IN_PINK Caroline laughs, and it's raining all day Loves to be one…
Pulse My baby paints herself red She paints her hair Her hair is…
Run And Run Go on get Tarzan Go on get Jane Go on get Superman Go…
Shadow This poor little rich girl Wants all she can hold I know…
She I hope you get your invitation It is here for you Listen…
Shine Shine I heard her sing I need a voice given anything All I…
Shock I hear brand new talk Everywhere I go They got a new…
Should God Forget And voices louder now Not loud enough The world around you…
Sister Europe Stupid on the Steinway So sick upon a steinway The sailors d…
Sister Europe Stupid on the steinway So sick upon a steinway The sailors…
Sleep Comes Down It's raining in my head But no tears come down And I'm…
So Run Down Blue cars, big beat Dead on my feet I get this heat Run…
Soap Commercial This is my shirt This is yours And this is called a…
Sometimes I see you sing I don't need your praise I need a…
Stars The stars are out, they spark and flash A snake is…
Susan In a room Susan is second hand Susan is charity But she…
Susan’s Strange In a room Susan is second hand Susan is charity But she…
Tearing Down The flowers they cover your feet All the colors of you And…
The Boy That Invented Rock & Roll A flight of crows, my insect heart The ticking veins, this…
The Ghost In You A man in my shoes runs a light And all the…
The Psychedelic Furs see the people dead in cars see their bodies bleed i know…
There's A World i can't wait to say goodbye before you break in you,…
This'll Never Be Like Love When love is at your feet with promises to keep It's…
Tiny Hands Tiny hands are counting every second The minutes, hours and …
Torch A thousand rainy days And I spoke on tongues that talk…
Torture It's like torture I can't say no and that's no lie It's…
Turn Your Back on Me Walk away from me Walk away from me Turn your back on…
Until She Comes Until she comes again I can hear the things she said I…
Valentine With all her talk of all the others When it shadows…
We Love You I'm in love with catholics I'm in love with your blue…
Wedding crooked heals on battered boots shoot down ragged miles i'…
Wedding Song Play another wedding song A wedding song goes on and on See…
Wrong Train I took the wrong train Ate all the wrong pills I took…
Yes I Do We are both so second hand We've been around It really doesn…
You & I Yeah I fell in love Like all good dreamers do Finally in…
You'll Be Mine Don't be surprised when every second has its place Don't…