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.
Valentine
The Psychedelic Furs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When it shadows everything
And I can't think
About her silence and her rings
I see no place to pin my thought
And where's what's true between the lines
And in her eyes
I see nothing not a sign
I can't unwind
Your valentines
And I'm untied
I can't unwind
Your valentines
Sunday morning comes too soon
To leave me standing in my light
And there's no time
To set it straight or take a side
And I'm untied
I can't unwind
Your valentines
And I'm untied
I can't unwind
Your valentines
I see no place to pin my thoughts
And where's what's true between the lines
And in her eyes
I see nothing not a sign
And I'm untied
I can't unwind
Your valentines
And I'm untied
I can't unwind
Your valentines
The Psychedelic Furs's song "Valentine" is a melancholic exploration of a strained relationship. The lyrics detail the singer's confusion and frustration with his partner's behavior, particularly her "talk of all the others" and "silence and her rings." He can't find a place to "pin [his] thoughts" and can't discern what's truly going on "between the lines" or "in her eyes." This leaves him feeling "untied" and unable to "unwind" from her "valentines," which could represent either actual Valentine's Day cards or more generally the expectations and trappings of a relationship.
The second verse continues this sense of ambiguity and uncertainty, with the singer feeling like "Sunday morning comes too soon" for him to address these issues before he's "standing in [his] light." He laments that there's "no time to set it straight or take a side." The repetition of the chorus adds to the sense of being trapped in a cycle of frustration and confusion, unable to find a way out.
Overall, "Valentine" is a powerful exploration of the difficulties of communication and understanding in a relationship. The repeated use of "untied" and "unwind" emphasizes the idea that the singer is stuck, unable to find a solution or even a clear understanding of what's happening. The song captures a sense of helplessness and confusion that many listeners may find relatable.
Line by Line Meaning
With all her talk of all the others
She talks about other lovers and it affects everything, making it difficult for me to focus.
When it shadows everything
Her talk of others overshadows everything else, making it hard to see things clearly.
And I can't think
Her constant chatter about love's past and future keeps me from thinking clearly.
About her silence and her rings
Her quiet and distant behavior and her symbolic rings are hard to interpret.
I see no place to pin my thought
I can't seem to find a solid, firm place to anchor my thoughts, it's all too mixed up.
And where's what's true between the lines
I can't discern the truth between the words, as much is left unsaid or hidden.
And in her eyes
Even when I look into her eyes and try to discern what she is feeling, I see nothing revealing.
I see nothing not a sign
There's no clear signal, no sign of what she expects of me or wants from me.
And I'm untied
I'm lost and confused about what's going on between us.
I can't unwind
I can't seem to find a way to relax or unravel the tangled and unclear situation.
Your valentines
Her notes of love and affection, her hopes and expectations are too much for me to handle.
Sunday morning comes too soon
The time for making sense of our feelings and thoughts never seems to be enough.
To leave me standing in my light
I feel exposed and vulnerable when she leaves me to my own thoughts and feelings.
And there's no time
There's never enough time to sort out this complex mix of emotions and intentions.
To set it straight or take a side
There's no clarity, no direction, no clear path forward to follow.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music
Written by: John Ashton, Richard Butler, Timothy Butler
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Tom FlaTTop
The Psychedelic Furs are the dope....and for the squares who don't get it, that means they rock.
Peace. Live to ride.
Aldo Pellizzon
great album i loved it
Steven Voynow
***-Five-Star Album! It doesn't get much better than this.
1groundfog
yes, on the Greatest Hits album it is difficult to see just a few selections from this album, as it demands to be appreciated in its entirety...as an original Psych Furs fan from the Sister Europe days, this album blew me away when it came out...what a way to go out until 2020...
Ian Turton
Love the band so much. Can't say enough good things about them. I think one of the best things were the lyrics, so up front and meaningful. Just beautiful people.
Richie B
Furs are one of the best bands in history, and without a doubt the BEST 80s Band!
geefey840
Best concert I've ever been to. February 13th, 1992 @The Moore Theater, Seattle. They opened with this.
ramiro fauno martinez
My favourite Furs album !!
MC donnyG
Sooo good 💯
pappis2411
It's a shame this Album isnt on Spotify.