A Record a Week: Culture Club - Colour By Numbers

SIDE 1.
KARMA CHAMELEION
IT'S A MIRACLE
BLACK MONEY
CHANGING EVERY DAY
THAT'S THE WAY (I'M ONLY TRYING TO HELP YOU)

SIDE 2.
CHURCH OF THE POISON MIND
MISS ME BLIND
MISTER MAN
STORMKEEPER
VICTIMS

No need to tell you that this was the springboard for Boy George's career. Also no need to tell you that the lead-off song, Karma Chamelion is the group's most successful single.

This album blends the sound of reggae, new wave and the pop sound that was so synthesizically popular in the 80's. It also sort of has a whiff of the boy band sound that would be ultra-popular later in the decade and into the 90's. If you read this, you'll know my take on the sounds of the 80's, so I will spare you that rant. However, I must admit that Karma Chameleon is one hell of a catchy song with a lot of good dance to it. Also, it reminds me (fondly) of this (musically talented, but retrospectively terrible) band 'The Chubs' that was around in Burlington when I was a teenager. They were a ska band that covered this song and a couple others in addition to their own songs, including the ever-nerdy 'Ska Wars'.