Our final entry in The 2024 PopCult Gift Guide harkens back to the summer, when we dropped Radio Free Chicago featuring Thompson Twins Tom Bailey and Thomas Dolby. For fans of great 1980s New Wave music, we have a deluxe anniversary reissue of one of the great Thompson Twins albums, plus we have a new book written by Thomas Dolby.

Before we get to those, let me remind you what I’m talking about with a little recap.

What you see above is Radio Free Chicago, wherein your humble blogger and his lovely wife, who were in the midst of one of our periodic trips to the City of Wind, went to see Thomas Dolby and Tom Bailey (of Thompson Twins fame)  performing at The House of Blues.

The Thompson Twins are Mel’s favorite New Wave band. She even used to trade letters with Alannah Currie. She never got to see them perform live. Tom Bailey was actually set to perform in Chicago a day or two after we got married, but we didn’t find out until it was too late to make it to that show.

On top of that, I’ve been a fan of Thomas Dolby since he was in Bruce Wooly & The Camera Club, plus I’ve always enjoyed the Twins’ music, too. This would not be like going to see Steely Dan. It was a no-brainer to jump the gun and hop on the Cardinal Westward a month before our planned Anniversary trip.

When we got to the House of Blues we wisely upgraded our tickets to the VIP section so we didn’t have to stand for the entire show, and then we witnessed a wonderful night of music. It was the last night of their tour, and everybody was loose and having fun. Thomas Dolby, performing solo behind a bank of keyboards and Linn drums was a kick, performing not only his hits, but also weaving in fun snippets of Gary Numan’s “Cars” and The Cure’s “Love Song” into “One of Our Submarines.” He opened with a vocoder cover of New Order’s “Blue Monday,” which you will get a tiny bit of in this show.

I was armed with my Kodak Zi8 and my cellphone, and while I wanted to enjoy the show as a civilian, I did shoot some video, including one full song by each artist, and you’ll see those above, along with a few fun little bits, like Dolby joining Bailey for a verse of a cover of The Talking Heads’ “Psycho Killer.”  I also got the complete life cycle of the giant balloon during “You Take Me Up.”

Inspired by our summer concert fun and the resulting video, I saved the last two picks in The 2024 PopCult Gift Guide for the Thompson Twins and Thomas Dolby.

Into The Gap Deluxe 40th Anniversary Edition
by Thompson Twins
3 CD set or colored vinyl available where music is sold or at Amazon

In the 1980s the Thompson Twins rose from squat-based free-form indie anarchy – with 1981’s Set and ‘82’s A Product Of… – to world domination, with a set at Live Aid backed by Nile Rodgers and Madonna. They had 7 top 40 hits in the US and 10 in the UK with another 4 top 40 hits in the US Dance Chart including 2 No1’s with ‘Lies’ and ‘Hold Me Now’ and over 10 million album sales worldwide.

Into The Gap by Thompson Twins is an era-defining album of the `80s. This 40th Anniversary Edition is the most comprehensive reissue of this album ever, remastered at Abbey Road Studios and compiled with the full blessing of all three band members from the classic line-up.

This Deluxe 3 CD set includes 30 bonus tracks, 12 of which are previously unreleased. Featuring digitally restored artwork and a 24-page booklet with new liner notes written by John Earls and contributions from all three band members. It’s also available on red vinyl, as a straight reissue of the original album. You can find it whereever music is sold, or follow the links above to Amazon.

Prevailing Wind
by Thomas Dolby
Archway Publishing
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1665758317
$24.99 (softcover) $32.19 (hardcover) from Amazon or other booksellers.

Thomas Morgan Robertson, known by his stage name Thomas Dolby, is an English musician, producer, composer, entrepreneur, and teacher, renowned for his innovative contributions to music and technology. Born on October 14, 1958, in London, Dolby rose to prominence in the 1980s with his hit singles “She Blinded Me with Science” and “Hyperactive!”. His distinctive blend of electronic music and inventive compositions made him a key figure in the new wave movement, though his work spans a wide array of musical styles beyond the high-energy pop sound.

An author as well, Dolby’s memoir “The Speed of Sound” chronicles his adventures in the music industry and beyond, offering readers a glimpse into his multifaceted career. With his novel “Prevailing Wind” released in June 2024, Dolby continues to push the boundaries of creativity and innovation, inspiring audiences worldwide with his endless passion for music and technology.

Here’s the description:

On the eve of WW1, amidst the turbulence of the Ludlow Massacre and the Triangle Shirt Factory fire, the young Haskell brothers Davey (16) and Jacob (21) dream of escaping the poverty of their lobsterman life in Deer Isle, Maine. Their sailing talents catch the eye of the powerful New York Yacht Club, with a chance for glory in the prestigious America’s Cup race series.

The brothers’ bond is tested as they both fall for Edith, a captivating Irish maid. Family loyalty is at stake, and now, the pursuit of sporting fame threatens to drive them apart. Complicating matters further, someone must stay behind to care for their ailing parents.

When a near-fatal accident leaves one brother hospitalized and consumed by the need for revenge, a compassionate Latina nurse helps him heal, showing him a path beyond bitterness.

Meanwhile, the millionaire yachtsmen harbor dark secrets. A glamorous concubine is hidden away on a luxury yacht, leading to blackmail and scandal.

As the bachelor heir to the Vanderbilt railroad fortune grapples with his future, preferring the freedom of the sea over his family’s wealth, the Haskell brothers must navigate their own choices between love, family, and ambition.

Can they overcome the trials that threaten to tear them apart, or will the winds of change leave them stranded in the past?

Fans of Dolby’s musical storytelling will likely enjoy his prose work as well. Prevailing Wind is available from any bookseller using the ISBN code above, or follow those links to Amazon.

The Master List for The 2024 PopCult Gift Guide will be posted later today.