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.
Mr. Jones
The Psychedelic Furs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Moderately pretty.
She is all the girls, you know.
We are going far away.
We're going for a ride.
Mr. jones has got a plan,
If you just come inside.
So good, so far.
Movie stars, and ads,
And radio define romance.
Don't turn it on,
I don't want to dance.
Mr. Jones is beautiful.
Your eyes are made of glass.
Looking through the window,
You can see the world go past.
Here's another nine o'clock,
And here's another day.
Wonder how the weather is,
And what the people say?
So good, so far.
Slow down, ha ha.
Movie stars, and ads,
And radio define romance.
Don't turn it on,
I don't want to dance.
Mr. Jones can turn you on
And turn you off again.
Mr. Jones is all of you
Who live inside a plan.
Put your head upon the pillow,
Never put it down.
That would only wake you up
And turn your head around.
So good, so far.
Slow down, ha ha.
Movie stars, and ads,
And radio define romance.
Don't turn it on,
I don't want to dance.
The Psychedelic Furs’ “Mr. Jones” is a song that delves deep into the themes of escapism and conformity, while critiquing the societal norms that encourage both. The lyrics paint a picture of individuals, such as Mrs. Jones, who feel trapped and unsatisfied with their roles in life, as well as those like Mr. Jones, who have accepted their predetermined lives and are content with living within the constructs of society.
The first verse introduces us to Mrs. Jones, who is described as being “moderately pretty,” but also as being “all the girls you know.” This seems to suggest that she is interchangeable with any other girl in the world, and that there is nothing particularly special or unique about her. The chorus repeats the line “So good, so far, slow down ha ha,” which can be interpreted as both a sense of contentment with life, as well as a warning against becoming too comfortable and complacent.
The second verse focuses more on Mr. Jones, who is described as being “beautiful” with “eyes made of glass.” He is seen as being part of the system that encourages conformity and routine, with lines like “Put your head upon the pillow never put it down / That would only wake you up and turn your head around.” Overall, the song seems to suggest that while there may be benefits to following the rules and living within societal norms, there is also a danger in becoming too comfortable and not pushing against those boundaries.
Line by Line Meaning
Mrs. Jones is 17 and 6 and 24 moderately pretty
Mrs. Jones is a composite of all the girls you know, each one varying in age and beauty.
We are going far away, we're going for a ride
We are leaving behind the mundane and embarking on an adventure, a ride through the unknown.
Mr. Jones has got a plan if you just come inside
Mr. Jones has a plan for you, a scheme that promises excitement and thrill, all you need to do is step inside.
So good, so far, slow down ha ha
Life is good and everything seems perfect, but it's important to slow down and enjoy the moment.
Movie stars and ads
Media influences our perception of romance, as portrayed through movies and advertisements.
And radio define romance
The radio too plays its part in shaping our notions of what love should be like.
Don't turn it on, I don't want to dance
Don't fall for these superficial romances, I don't want to play this dance.
Mr. Jones is beautiful, your eyes are made of glass
Mr. Jones appears beautiful to you, but his charm is fleeting, like the fragility of glass.
Looking through the window you can see the world go past
As you look out of the window, you realize that the world is moving on, while you are stuck in a fixed routine.
Here's another 9 o'clock and here's another day
Another day has started, with all its mundanity and boredom, same as the previous ones that passed like clockwork.
Wonder how the weather is and what the people say
Life is monotonous, and you wonder about trivial things like the weather or gossip about others to pass the time.
Mr. Jones can turn you on and turn you off again
Mr. Jones can make you feel alive one moment and then leave you feeling cold the next.
Mr. Jones is all of you who live inside a plan
Mr. Jones represents anyone who lives their life according to a fixed routine, without exploring anything new or exciting.
Put your head upon the pillow never put it down
Resting is important, but if you keep lying down forever, you will miss out on the joys of life.
That would only wake you up and turn your head around
Waking up and changing your perspective may seem jarring, but it's necessary to break free from the monotony of life, to see the world in a different light.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DUNCAN KILBURN, JOHN ASHTON, RICHARD LOFTHOUSE BUTLER, ROGER MORRIS, TIMOTHY BUTLER, VINCENT DAVEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
misterjohn john
The Revenge Of The Stoned Rats
Did you see the short clip of them live in
Oxford on
10th September 2017
i filmed?
Not very good quality, just for posterity.. I shall try and get it to the top of my ridiculously large "MyPlaylists" section!
Regards from England,
near to Stonehenge.
:●)
Dan Harvey
This album was sound of the summer of '81 for those in the know
Deborah Paley
@Bob Malack 66 here, Ciao from the Big Apple.
Bob Malack
ya, Bob at 65, and very in 'the know'...
Andrew Bluebells
was an angry young 17 when this came out in 81, a wee bit more mellow now im 55, just a wee bit!
Bob Malack
Robert at 65, and I give NO quarter to snotty nosed milinials...they got nothing on us!!
Gabriella Travaline
TALK TALK TALK! my 1st LP as a teen in the angst filled 80's. I'm Still Smitten! xo
misterjohn john
The Revenge Of The Stoned Rats
Did you see the short clip of them live in
Oxford on
10th September 2017
i filmed?
Not very good quality, just for posterity.. I shall try and get it to the top of my ridiculously large "MyPlaylists" section!
Regards from England,
near to Stonehenge.
:●)
misterjohn john
About my 50th album in my teens and still one of my all time favourites. Seen them live as often as possible from 1980 onwards including Glastonbury1986. Every time they come back home to tour England...Last time was in Oxford last year, there's a small clip of them playing on that night on my channel somewhere.
Paddy Campbell
Gabriella Travaline Same here...x
Marianne Duffy
Side 1 - one of the best/eclectic music on a r&r lp