Listen: The Gap / The Thompson Twins ThompsonTwinsGap.mp3

You know how it is when a band or artist suddenly gets critical mass? That brief moment when you feel part of mainstream society, because like the mass public, you too can’t get enough. Seems every song is a hit, and the hits just keep coming. To name a few: The Pretenders, Hole, Eurythmics, The Stone Roses, Culture Club or most recently Lady Gaga and The Black Eyed Peas.

When the stars lined up in that way for The Thompson Twins, I felt liberated. ‘The Gap’ was always the standout track from INTO THE GAP, but didn’t quite enjoy the chart showing of the three prior singles, all big successes, pulled from it. By then, the record had sold tons and pretty much anyone who wanted ‘The Gap’ had it on the full length.

As a show opener, nothing could top this song. It’s eerie, medieval drone kept the pop side just dark enough to pretty much outlive it’s counterparts as a long laster. Every so often, when browsing through my shelf for some other title, I’ll just stop and know ‘The Gap’ will hit the spot – like tonight.

Listen: Charlotte Anne / Julian Cope JulianCharlotteAnne.mp3

This came out not long after I joined Island in ’88. Ron Fair was part of the A&R team, and produced the single (plus the album from which it came, MY NATION UNDERGROUND).

I hadn’t seen Ron for years, he went on to big success with The Black Eyed Peas and Keyshia Cole – good for him. But we did finally have a chance to reunite at a recent party in New York – and despite my praise of his work with Julian, he was pretty humble.

‘Charlotte Anne’ is such a classic British pop single. I remember sitting in the little parking lot behind Island’s St. Peter’s Square office in London back then, listening to it in Ron’s car. I loved the track that first time and still do.

Listen: Beautiful Love / Julian Cope JulianBeautifulLove.mp3

Luckily I had the privilege of getting to know Julian and his then sidekick/producer Donald Skinner. They were making one of his masterpieces, PEGGY SUICIDE. What a fucking fantastic work from start to finish that baby is. Soon after release, I ventured to Norwich and caught an early show on the UK tour in support of the album. No lie – it was the place to be in the solar system that night.

‘Beautiful Love’ is probably my all time favorite Julie single – reminds me so much of The Herd’s ‘I Don’t Want Our Loving To Die’. So what’s not to like.

Visiting New York for a few days press prior to the album’s US release, he stayed, as always, with his in-laws out on Long Island. It was a blistering hot July day, and into the office comes Julian wearing flip flops, a wide brimmed sun hat, shades and swim trunks just a touch bigger than your average sized thong. That’s it. He plopped onto the sofa in my office and proceeded to have a totally casual conversation with Phranc and Marianne Faithfull, neither of whom seemed to blink twice.

Island was one hell of a fun place to work at times.