Ranking the Albums: The Fixx w/Stephen Schnee

[@GrantsRockWarehaus]

0:00: 🎸 Discussion on ranking albums by The Fixx with guest Stephen Schnee at Grant Rock Warehouse. 6:03: 🎵 Appreciating The Fixx's albums over time akin to changing favorite Beatles albums, with a consistent chemistry among band members. 11:47: 🎸 Ranking albums by The Fixx with Stephen Schnee based on unique guitar playing and album longevity. 17:52: 🎶 Discussion of The Fixx album tracks, highlighting optimism, intensity, and variability in rankings. 24:05: 🎶 The Fixx's album 'Beautiful Friction' showcases their evolution and consistent quality 30 years into their career. 30:23: 🎵 Discussion of songs featured in benefit albums and socially conscious lyrics in The Fixx's albums. 36:39: 🎵 Exploring The Fixx's album 'Calm Animals' from 1989, showcasing a departure in their sound towards maturity. 42:29: 📀 Discussion on the availability of albums for streaming vs. purchasing physical CDs 48:45: 🎵 Passionate ranking of The Fixx albums based on personal preferences and tour experiences. 54:35: 🎶 Praising the album 'Red Skies' by The Fixx for its iconic early 80s sound and production. 1:00:19: ⏳ Comparison between UK and US album releases of popular bands, focusing on album sequencing and differences. 1:06:10: 🎵 Emotional connection drives music preferences based on nostalgia and personal experiences. 1:12:50: 🎵 Discussion on The Fixx's classification as a band and their evolution over time. Recapped using Tammy AI

[@MusicandCatLover-vc6jb]

I really love The Fixx, but had never the chance to see them live. But: Some years ago i saw Cy Curnin solo live in a small music club in Germany and it was a pity, that only 3 (!) people wanted to see him. So i had the chance to meet and talk to him and he was such a nice person.

[@artbell259]

if you watch them live, it's like the Cars, a bit dull but of course the playing is there not sure The Fixx have enough hits to keep people going for 90 minutes, which the Cars had of course

[@wolf1977]

@@artbell259 "not enough hits" - I'd say maybe 8 or so total for The Fixx (for non/casual fans) so no, that wouldn't support a 90 minute show. That's what it usually comes down to (unfortunately). Also why original bands have such a hard time playing live. This band has SO MANY great deep cuts

[@wolf1977]

He's also got 4 solo albums (that I know of: Mayfly, The Returning Sun, Solar Minimum, The Horse's Mouth). The best tunes remind me of The Fixx but it's a mix, not as catchy. The best for me being The Horse's Mouth (2013). Each of the first 2 records have 2 or 3 good tracks, Solar Minimum is my least fave. "Celebrating" off The Horse's Mouth is excellent - maybe his best post-Fixx tune. Never heard anything from his pre-Fixx band Portraits (I don't think they ever recorded an album). Also you've got related bands The Teardrop Explodes (more 'New Wave'/post-punk sounding to me than The Fixx & used some horns - with Julian Cope. A bunch of releases). And the band Interview (late 70's/early 80's - two albums - one of the members would move on to Tears For Fears). Dalek I (again more New Wave), 2 albums. And The Colour Field (2 albums & 1 EP-more pop/less New Wave-some catchy tracks - Virgins And Philistines/expanded version is a good record)...My Fixx custom playlist is about 65 tracks/5 hours deep

[@KeithSearock]

Never had the opportunity to see The Fixx "back in the day", but in the last 10 years or so, I've seen them twice. Once in a large, open outdoor space and the second time a really small venue. As stated early in the show - the band BRINGS IT, no matter the setting. I was fortunate that where I grew up, the local rock radio station embraced the band from the onset and gave a lot of airplay to Stand or Fall and Red Skies. I was hooked! Several years later I was done with school and out on my own - hundreds of miles from home for my first gig. It was a really exciting time - yet could be very dark at the same time. There were a handful of albums that helped get me through all that and Walkabout was one of those. Secret Separation, the title track, Camphor ... consistent high quality and would have to sit in my top spot. This is a band that just feels like an old friend. Thanks for this one, guys!

[@staceycarmody9970]

The bonus track on Walkabout after Camphor is Peace on Earth(Do What You Can). I love it, and the whole album. Holds a lot of meaning for me.

[@lazarossamaras4427]

Great ranking. I'm 51 and I discovered this band a year ago. I got Reach the beach and Walkabout cds. I've got to check the others , too.

[@georgemathie8123]

This is the show that I've been waiting for and you guys did such an awesome job of giving this totally underrated band the love that they deserve why I'm such a fan here's why Jamie West Oram what a fantastic guitar player who never gets talked about and Dan k Browns bass work, Cy curnin an amazing vocalist and the rest of the band are amazing to and Rupert Hine's production he brought out the best in this band as for my top 5 favorite the Fixx albums today's ranking is walkabout, reach the beach, calm animals, shuttered room and phantoms

[@GrantsRockWarehaus]

Thanks George!

[@georgemathie8123]

@@GrantsRockWarehaus you're welcome always a joy

[@ZRATAN69]

Great show...💯😎👍

[@stephanevillatte5970]

Great episode,as a fan I'd like to see The Motels ranking albums or career retrospective,it's a band a bit forgotten and missunderstood ,more arty-pop than mainstream,one of the very best of the 79'-85' era in my opinion.

[@wolf1977]

Big Motels fan (the band not the hotel type). Their s/t debut & Careful, All Four One, Little Robbers & Shock are all worth owning. Even the 2017 If Not Now Then When & 2018's The Last Few Beautiful Days. Their Anthologyland is a cool collection

[@GrantsRockWarehaus]

it's coming...

[@Michael_Birk]

It's interesting what SS said about this music sort of melding into one's personal mood. I'm pretty sure that signifies an utterly unique ability/intuition about song writing. Can't wait to get into these records I haven't heard, like Ink, Every Five Seconds. and others.

[@battleshipnewhook]

Fantastic episode, gentlemen. I had no idea Gary Tibbs was in the band. Big fan of Adam and the Ants. There’s a show for ya🤘

[@StephenSchnee]

I'd love to rank all the Adam and Adam & the Ants albums! Grant?

[@GrantsRockWarehaus]

your show or mine?

[@davidellis5141]

@battleshipnewhook Gary Tibbs was in Code Blue who had an excellent album on Warner Brothers in the late 70's. The songs Hurt & Face To Face should have been hits !

[@jonorourke6904]

Love the Fixx great job Grant and Steve totally agree with Reach The Beach at No 1

[@stewiethomas]

1 Phantoms 2 Reach the Beach 3 Shuttered Room. The rest got some great tracks such as Are you Satisfied and Driven Out

[@jazzpunk]

I would love to see The Fixx in a small venue...the YT videos of their Bing Lounge concert is the way to see/hear a band.

[@JohnMacRae23]

A brilliant and underrated band. I didn't really get into them until really late ...a few years back. Got the whole catalog. Some are too new to me to rank. They sit a bit along side Simple Minds to me, another 80s band that kept going with fantastic albums, a great large catalog but no chart time, past their initial peak.

[@wolf1977]

Great great band - one of the best of the 80's. "Woman On A Train" is one of my all time favorite tracks...My album ranking: 1. Phantoms - fantastic album that could actually compete with some of the gest 70's albums (and that's saying something) 2. Reach The Beach - "One Thing Leads To Another", "Saved By Zero" 3. Shuttered Room ("Red Skies", "Stand Or Fall"), Walkabout & 1011 Woodland (re-recordings & live tracks) 4. Calm Animals 5. Every Five Seconds, Want That Life 6. Beautiful Friction 7. Ink & Elemental

[@ericrobertson2024]

Is the song from Streets Of Fire actually on any of their studio LPs ?

[@keithleeuwen877]

Where is Walkabout ?

[@wolf1977]

@@ericrobertson2024 "Deeper And Deeper" is on Reach The Beach (as a 2003 bonus track - it's the extended version = 6.5 minutes). This album also contains their highest-charting song "One Thing Leads to Another". "Streets" was also a 1984 single

[@wolf1977]

@@keithleeuwen877 On my ranking? At #3 - tied with Shuttered Room & 1011 Woodland

[@keithleeuwen877]

oh tied at 3,,,got it .

[@gaznathemoon1128]

I have 4 of their albums, not familiar with their whole discography. 1. Calm Animals 2. Reach The Beach 3. Phantoms. 4. Shattered Room. Great band. Love their lyrics and Cy's vocals.

[@davidellis5141]

Oddly , The Fixx never sniffed a hit in the UK 🇬🇧

[@wolf1977]

Much more success in the US & Canada - even Australia. In this case the UK missed out...

[@RogerMelodicMusic]

Yes it’s shocking really but here in the UK they were cruely ignored because we were obsessed with pure pop, So the more serious thought provoking music The Fixx produced was not what the majority of people liked here, over in the U.S. you guys got it you understood it, the lyrics the whole way the songs were constructed 👍😀👍

[@ryanjacobson2508]

Flock of Seagulls were also more popular in the US.

[@wolf1977]

@@ryanjacobson2508 Great haircuts...NOT! For some reason the great Bill Nelson (Be Bop Deluxe) was involved, co-producing their debut...?

[@davidstuart1756]

With the passing of Greg Kihn it'd be great to see a retrospective of his work on the channel.

[@StephenSchnee]

I'm in. Let's do it, Grant!

[@GrantsRockWarehaus]

done

[@truckerkevthepaidtourist]

Look at the upcoming at the warehouse Forever 70s 😊 And then we put in our boogie shoes on again for part 2 of some more disco first thing in September awesome Now that he's feeling better maybe Pete's going to stop by both of them he likes the 70s pop/yact rock too.

[@wolf1977]

Yacht rock yes (and 70's pop) but don't think Pete's into disco...🤷‍♂

[@GrantsRockWarehaus]

you never know... I'll try and get Pete back in September

[@donbrown9215]

I saw the fixx the first time opening for the police in 83 saw them many times including last year 2023 n they are the most undey 80s band

[@ericrobertson2024]

The movie Streets Of Fire has atleast 3 terrific soundtrack tunes ..Never Be You(Maria McKee),I Can Dream About You(Dan Hartman) and the Fixx track Deeper + Deeper at the end,plus I'd watch Deborah Valkenburgh stand around doing nothing,which is exactly what she did in that mediocre film lol

[@davidellis5141]

She was in The Warriors !

[@ericrobertson2024]

@@davidellis5141 Much better movie and much better closing track In The City from Joe Walsh....True story = Valkenburgh's husband tried to persuade her not to audition for The Warriors film because he thought the character required giant breasts lol

[@webbvandiver9139]

Ur right on there! Saw that movie at theater with my dad. Loved it. Diane Lane always been a hottie.

[@webbvandiver9139]

@@ericrobertson2024the original In the City. Like it better than Eagles take

[@logancollins7097]

You guys ever watch her in Too Close For Comfort haha

[@rickrobb6546]

The Fixx................................ Rules

[@JCStorm76]

Calm Animals and Ink are great. Especially Calm Animals. Number 8 and 9? Stephen I’m disappointed but I’ll get over it. Grant I agree. The 98 to 2003 era is definitely the worst, they’re not bad but the other 8 are all GREAT!. They just lost their way for a bit. IMO the last two albums are definitely better and a return to form. Shuttered Room is probably my number one by a hair over Reach The Beach mainly because it’s more upbeat. Fantastic show guys

[@wolf1977]

I'm really a little surprised at how low Phantoms was ranked here. To me their best album. "I Will" not a successful ballad? Hmmm - music really is totally subjective! And no mention at all (I don't think) for "Woman On A Train" - for me their very best track! YMMV

[@JCStorm76]

@@wolf1977 It’s a very good album

[@GrantsRockWarehaus]

I did not rank Phantoms low... must have been that other guy. haha

[@jazzpunk]

Darn, missed this. I think, when push comes to shove, The Fixx may be my favourite '80s band...and the classic line-up is still doing it well. Interesting bass lines, lotta textures with the keys & guitar, & poignant lyrics. Their most recent albums still have "it". Lucky for me, I bought their LPs & CDs as they were issued. Some are OOP & difficult buys. BEAUTIFUL FRICTION can be bought the Record Label's website...$10, IIRC.

[@jazzpunk]

Stephen...kudos for owning all those albums by The Fixx. I have some holes to fill.

[@truckerkevthepaidtourist]

Great band The fixx. But to be honest for me other than shuttered room the greatest hits pretty much does the trick for me but just got to be honest.

[@ericrobertson2024]

They were a radio band only for me.I wasn't gonna purchase a Fixx album but I didn't change the station when Red Skies or Deeper were played.

[@wolf1977]

@@ericrobertson2024 This band has MANY great 'deep tracks' (IMO). I LOVE Talking Heads & when I first heard The Fixx they hit me kinda the same way - they sounded different. Really smart & well-played music, not overly "80's". Phantoms to me is one of THE great 80's albums by anyone - just stacked with good music. "Woman On A Train" is a must-own track!

[@christianhaynes1954]

Never liked the fixx , watched anyway 👍

[@GrantsRockWarehaus]

Christian, I appreciate the support!

[@christianhaynes1954]

@@GrantsRockWarehaus yes sir , love music and folks giving their opinions on it . Good work Grant 👏

[@gazfunk]

They were ok. They had a few good tunes. They were a classic bargain bin band. I probably wouldn't compare them to The Beatles. lol

[@SamKlemme-nz9xw]

They suck!

[@JCStorm76]

Far from it. You’re just trolling I think

[@GrantsRockWarehaus]

but why? You gotta back it up