China Crisis - Black Man Ray

[loadaloops]

why have i woken up to this PlAYING IN MY HEAD????

[kasiel1]

I love this song. great ¨80

[prowresler]

her makeup is best cat make up i have seen in awhile.

[ORNurseify]

Where are they now?

[MrMitchell97]

wow



[cossie903]

top top tune classic

[gillspb]

Saw the boys at rewind and this song still is as good as you will ever hear tres bien

[TheOldHerbaceous]

Love it.

[bodsnvimto]

Simply lovely tune - & it evokes a ton of memories (good & bad) from my teen years.

[snivernala]

wot a great band china crisis were....

[Ztinkyy]

You can't beat that intro to add interest in the material... (What were the times in that room? All questions lead from there.)

Wish I knew what Black Man Ray meant as a title!

[krystalkakes35]

I cannot find 'Worlds Apart' anywhere! Please post if you can. Thanks so much.

[wewonitfivetimes]

Liverpool ! ynwa

[noelreverberation]

1 black man ray-wishful thinking

2 christian

3 woke up

[JailGuitarBill]

Fantastic Tune - great band

[TheSkunk68]

Uno dei miei gruppi preferiti di quegli anni...

Bellissima canzone!

[TheKonaman66]

i just love this group

[victorogorman]

Mullets rule ok !!! Long live the 80s!

[christina3041]

they where from kirkby liverpool merseyside and yes they deserved better than  they achieved but people still listen to there music and i hope 4 a long time xxx

[corro51]

Mullet boy !

[zdam808]

say no to mullets

[grundyville]

yea baby!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[yojinks]

tune

[kidyoda]

MEOW!

[emeffff]

going to see the china crisis christmas show in the cavern, mathew st 11/12/10, they are still going strong and sound fab! long live kirkbys finest!

[TheMaher68]

@emeffff Seen them last night as it is now,great night,outstanding band,Gary is worth the admission fee by himself,just for his banter :)

[zzzzxxxx341]

DAMN!!!., THIS IS MY TIME!!!!! ! I'M OLD!!!!

[colavfc70]

very underated were china crisis.

[pinsonsarabia]

Timeless! melody filled with depth and emotions

[Holmseyd]

Wow thats brought back some great memories, one of my Fav groups of all time. Cheers!

[mrarches]

Black man ray looks like a cat to me.

[DippShits]

Strangely downbeat BUT uplifting at the same time...

[kasley26]

I love this song but can never understand what it's all about. Anyone care to enlighten?

[KasHCubeD]

It sounds much better out of a vinyl or a cassette tape (VHS too; this video)!

[indianwhite]

songs like this help you relax, think, focus, and of course make you happy (w/ tears of joy), songs today will give you a stroke.... such WISHFUL THINKING to go back in time... to a time when people knew how to write beautiful & poetic music.

[altrent27]

@fuckamericanidiot,

"christopher walken as a cat blah blah blah" is up there amongst the funnier things I've ever heard. Plus, *accurate*! Bravo. Still love the song, for many reasons.

[Johnzoil]

@altrent27 I saw Bicentennial man in there too.

[snoebelt1]

I want my youth back, memories were sweet

[greg3331]

This is a wonderful song. 80' were unique!

[Willydark67]

Dolci, romantici, immagini pulite...altri tempi!!!!

[Vuittonbrooks]

ive got goose bumps love this!!

[2009kanuck]

Excellent sound, goes down as one of the best of time...

[fuckamericanidiot]

christopher walken as a cat with a blonde wig and bill hicks drinking a mug of coffee, i think i prefer the video

[Jeddystardog]

OK soooo all you '80s guys' ..we were born mid-late 60s ....HOW CAN YOU NOT ACKNOWLEDGE the fruit/cream of our generation- Kurt Donald Cobain....in 1991 he put music on its ear ! Probably most possibly the last major juncture popular music has taken to date ..BE PROUD you 40 somethings !

[navroful]

Good song. Cheers.

[mariopas1964]

oooo

[Nick13AOR]

Saw these guys live last saturday while on holiday.......Free concert on the seafront at Mallorca.

Not really my music of choice, but I have to say, they were excellent, absolutely first class!

[nikbunnymen]

Hey..80's friends..check out a local melbournian band called Kids in the Kitchen..especially their hit song..''Change in Mood''..a true 80's song.

[akikintheteeth]

What a tune. As for music that is 'written' today...

[TheDennyDeefella]

what a tune from a great liverpool band

[TWEAKLET]

BESTIALITY!

[JBClv80s90s2mch]

Simply real charming, love it!!!

[Dariusbiski]

this isnt music

[thecitizens]

simply brilliant , how i mis the 80's ..

[smithywick]

class class f***in class! wat a tune... this is music....

[Willydark67]

Brano piacevole, delicato accompagnato da immagini belle e pulite...che bei tempi!!!

[RenoTravino]

I was in the gym , had a phone and guess what, I had to lend China Crisis a mike stand for their concert for tonighT @ POLLENCA GOLF RESORT, and now I, m on the guest list, WoW , I too loved the 80s

[fossaalta]

sempre più raffinata , come l' Hermes eau d'orange verte

[liverpoolwithpassion]

Love the scouse accent at the start 'why are you thinkin?'

[arpant]

ahhhh what memories

[deathrowguineapig]

China Crisis - Black Man Ray

[Vincent777Legion1]

Classical 80's feel good tune, may it long reign within :)

[62SPEEDBIRD1]

Just superb

[qqkt1]

wonderful!

[grint34]

complete crap. 

[snowstormcan]

@grint34 you wouldn't know what good music is if it struck you in the head.

[indianwhite]

This has been stuck in my head ever since I've first heard it. I've been an 80's guy for as long as I can remember, and it's IMO the best decade in music.

Absolutely priceless!

[Stereostuart]

Amazing, pure genius, music like it was meant to be.

[Darrell9029]

Will Close - This ones for you, may you rest in internal peace, until we meet again, may god bless

[bugsy101073]

love the 80's

[kennykunt]

Wow,the memories!! Thank you!!

[nevets4ever]

Love China Crisis and Killing Joke....polar opposite bands in the 1980s New Wave/alt rock universe.  Both bands brilliant. Calms the devils and alarms the angels inside.

[mrralvintwerp]

long live the eighties!!!

apart from joe dolce and joe boxers

[ciolamorta]

Really Erasure-ish and Yazoo-ish... simply perfect style...

[ece15757]

oh gosh ..love the 80;s.brings back a lot of good memories.

[jigger0075]

love it!!!!

[razor9116]

they never sang a bad song total class long live the 80s

[drumgold23]

Beautiful. T hat 80.s vibe that just makes me want to go back back back....weren't the girls prettier back then?

[channelpedronumber6]

I buy 7" singles now, and so I will probably get a couple of China Crisis records.

[ravgoodspeed]

Every friday rush home from my epprentice mechanics job, get my tea then a bath. Took ages getting ready. Me and my mates walk to the disco and spend the night chatting up the girls and dancing to groups Like China Crisis. Great music by Great Bands we loved it. ravgoodspeed

[dot4design]

Yes, timeless, only possible in the eighties. More '80`s music on my channel!!!!

[sproggett1]

timelless

[randomiuy]

tis a v good song

[IanBonkers]

China Crisis were a classic Merseyside group who deserved better than they achieved.

[brionity]

@IanBonkers I don't know about that. I don't think they charted, but they made amazing records. All of which I bought... The memories of their music kind of hurts. I think maybe that is why they weren't HUGE successful. Because their music aches a bit.

[honeycookiebear]

@brionity ...... I think I know wht youre talking abt. I get the same feeling cause its during those times tt alot of things happend. But that does not change tt I love their songs.

[sortashaman]

Wow, haven't heard this since listening to radio KEZX in Seattle back about 1990...Thanks for posting!!

[essertpitay]

It took me a while to like it...but now this song has become a part of me, still don't know the lyrics though...

[drexmistyca900]

THIS IS REALLY MUSIC

[RHCPFansite]

I never really heard of this song until I bought the Minsitry of sound's 80s compilation. At first I thought it was a bit cheesy - it is, but it's quite a good song!

[TheMokohya]

Why why should I pretend? God only knows...awesome stuff from one of my favorite bands, Yes, yes I could be wrong, but somehow I don't hink so.

[fossaalta]

teatro salieri: un carnevale e la maestra..di coriano .ciao stupida .che favola con questa musica .riviverla

[Soton1912]

Maccagrabme!

There was no decade when popmusic was as straight as in the 80`s. Comparing this with gangster rap makes me think about answering your mail at all. The lyrics in black music were not encouraging any criminal acts at all, as it´s now, but criticizing social abuses. (Grandmaster Flash, The Message). Stating 80`s music as irritating, makes me wonder what you think about bands as "Kraftwerk" in the 70´s or TV-born Superstars nowadays.

Stay tuned and learn about music history.

[varpy]

this is 1 of them tunes that slipped by you as a kid you kinda remember it in the back of yer head & then when you rediscover it you realise how ffing good it is brilliant track love it

[fossaalta]

e' sempre piacevole come molta musica di quegli anni 80

[maccagrabme]

Perhaps we will all start loving gangster rap in the next 2 decades? Music was not as irritating in the 80's that's for sure.

[stephenvincent]

black man ray...refers to the photographer Man Ray...the picture sleeve for the single was a black image of a piano taken by Man Ray

[dexyshotspur]

Indeed redredreds,,we do change as we get older......but there certainly were a lot of talented class acts about a few decades ago! :-)

[lyndieloo100]

thats true dexyshotspur

[dexyshotspur]

aint it funny how a song can do nought for you..then years later you love it so much!

[redredreds100]

@dexyshotspur that is so true, I think the same with tv shows and tv personalities, I've been rewatching a lot from my younger days, stuff and people i never cared much about, and suddeenly i'm finding i'm enjoying a lot of what i never once liked, i think it's all to do with growing older

[collydog00]

True this song was never ever even on my radar as a young kid but now its one of the best ever lol

[chokobold]

does it matter who its about its a great song enjoy it dont make good things so complicated

[jinxer70]

don't be so bloody stupid.

[fivegomadindorset]

my uncle ray worked in a colliery in south wales and was known as black man jones but as far as i know he never met china crisis although he did see shakin stevens in sainsburys at newport?

[redredreds100]

@fivegomadindorset oh that was funny, i really chuckled at your comment, very witty

[Grazmataz37]

who was black man ray? does anyone know? i had a friend from the states called black man steev. do u think they are related?

[27webber]

Did not get much credit for the brilliant  music there made

[monkeyguffs]

I was 16 when this song hit the charts, two months left at school and the world was my oyster.

[Grazmataz37]

i was 14 and im now a mindless drug addict. hope the oyster had a better pearl for you :)

[redondogaucho]

yes yes i could be wrong....

[collydog00]

Black Man Ray released in UK CHARTS 30TH MARCH 1985 TOP CHART POSITION NO 14 STAYED IN CHARTS FOR 9 WEEKS

[TOPSPINBB08]

BLACK MAN RAY by China Crisis Year 1984

[phoenixcube]

one of my favourite sunday morning albums

[cheskarlo]

best talaga 80's songs NEW WAVE!

[1stlouis]

just sitting here remembering the great days of the 80s god i wish i could go back there, special days, stay with me till i die

[draadjesvlees]

Same here guys; we were lucky to be there in the 80's. It's as if my interests died once the decade turned into the 90's: I'm an 80's guys as well. What I'd pay to get back...

[konemusa]

I liked to ask You, do you remember song "State of the nation by Industry(`84)"? I was suprised that I haven`t noticed so great song for years!

[bally28]

so i'm i but....but i remember it being depressing time...but looking bck it was good music...bad hair bad clothes.

[MountShoreMax]

@draadjesvlees

How time flies... Don't we all missed the 80's. If ONLY someone can take the lead and re-live the 80's concert and organized such an event for our future generation to remember us like WOODSTOCK if not MEGA!

[tubbymarshall]

@MountShoreMax  totally agree.

[morry27]

@draadjesvlees

Yeah the 90s were no comparison, music taking itself far too seriously

as for the noughties ? complete shit

[breda83]

@draadjesvlees I'm with you on that..

[scbwrhcp]

@draadjesvlees Oh cmon Nirvana's good too :) Weezer? :) Pearl jam? :D

[gb95v14197]

@draadjesvlees you are so right well said

[nikbunnymen]

@draadjesvlees ..you've said it mate....

[n8tureboy]

@draadjesvlees

Amen! 80's guy here bro.

Best decade ever.

[konemusa]

Just a great tune! China says that their songs are positive and what else you can tell for example this song? 80`s is where my heart is...

[aitch461]

Gentle but gets the point accross. TOP STUFF. Now back to X factor. mmmmm

[dandreboy]

This 1985 classic.God it stirs some memories.

[ThePierre62]

I remember these songs, as if it were yesterday.

But 30 years have passed.

But my spirit remained in the 80s.

[gb95v14197]

to true me same 80s music the best and to live

[hollynathouse]

these guys have left a trail of AMAZING records. seen them a couple of times...

more please.

[PortVienna80]

I had both this as a 12" vinyl single(!) and the album Flaunt The Imperfection,which was impeccably produced by Steely Dan's Walter Becker.Ah,1985 was a good year because of this.

[vinto34]

the 80s were great...i remember this song well...1985 ...i was 12 awesome times they were too.

[Driftfog]

Well just entered my 44 birthday on the 25/10/09, dam was this so long ago... funny a bootle boy now in Kirkby, swore I wouldnt come here lol, the love of a good woman.

[Dexxxtroyer]

only a handful of people knew this song from where I grew up. I'm lucky I;m one of 'em

"Why, why should I pretend....

GOD only knows in the end."

I didn't know Mystique was in the video...she's got whiskers too. Hahaha.

[COLLAPSE555]

Good!

[keren37]

I'm also someone who for someone this song makes me cry......reminds me of a relationship.....

[Hobgoblin264]

what a great song from a great band, gary daly in the year above me at school .........thousand pittys they got stuck in the 80s..... misssed them at Mathew street. How where they?????/

[LIVIKIA]

this song saved my youth

forever learn as time goes by

im crying when i hear it

[Larkyeejit]

Superb stuff from a superb band

[TransAMGTA1988]

From a superb time!

[doolep]

it was great to see them again in liverpool

[JayFal68]

Going to see them in liverpool at mathew street festival. I'm from liverpool myself and remember them from childhood.

[AdmiralBirdseye]

Love the relaxed mullet.

[Seanogoals]

Really top song by a very under-rated group.

Great to hear it again - thanks for the post.

[scathingreporter]

Black man ray refers to a black man called ray who used to be involved with the young kids in their neigbourhood, helping and encourging them!

[golferboy1]

they are playing at the Mathew Street Festival in Liverpool this weekend.

[wildetimes]

Im a man & im Black ? & im proud to be a Black Man ??? wheres the problem ?

[ThePhunckyOne]

A song's title containing the words black and man. You wouldn't get away with that today.

[AnAutumnsDay]

Surprised that only Man Ray comes to mind and not Ray Charles. As Ray Charles was a black guy and Man Ray wasn't ( why sing about Man Ray as if he were a black guy if he wasn't?) As for the reflection at 3:08 regarding Magritte lost me there i'm afraid ,however the image of the lady from 2:30 to 3:08 looks like a cross between something out of Cats and a photo he did of Dora Maar

[AnAutumnsDay]

Seemingly? China Crisis confused the artist, Man Ray with the singer Ray Charles. I have also read that Black Man Ray may also possibly be a referance to some sort of Apartheid South African rocket, that they were trying to develop to only target and kill people of black african descent??? Personally, I think China Crisis have knowingly used artistic licence in regard to Man Ray and Ray Charles to make the song more memorable .

[clivetemple]

I only thought of Man Ray, never saw it as anything to do with Ray Charles... at 3:08 there's a reference to Magritte in the reflection (not that that means much I suppose)... or maybe I'm just going bonkers. Plus didn't Man Ray paint the bodies of several of his photo models? The cello one springs to mind.

Then again it's probably all pompous self referencing twaddle from a couple of art college wannabees. :)

[simodo36]

Great band,unique songs,wishful thinking one of their best.

LONG LIVE THE 80'S

[jimmy14055]

it,s a tribute to the blind soul singer ray charles

[johnied8509]

anybody knows what this song is about cause I don,t.

[roboroschi]

Only one word: fan-tas-tic !

[JayFal68]

Great Liverpool band from the 80s. I remember them very well. I'm from Liverpool myself and I'm going to see thm at the Mathew Street festival in August.

[pkappel006]

when are they touring the USA??? I'm from Minnesota so I guess I can dream, but if anyone knows, send a message my way....thanks

[hdecre55]

I am from Minnesota too,and I have loved their music for a long time.They are such a class act.

[pkappel006]

I guess I'm not the only one from Minnesota listening to China Crises.....good to hear from a partner that loves this kind of music. What part are you from??? I'm from Vadnais Heights but grew up in White Bear

[hdecre55]

I was raised in Richfield and now am staying in New Hope.Have you ever seen a video about the China Crisis song Blue Sea anywhere? Let me know if you have,I think it is one of their best.

[pkappel006]

no I have not, I tried to find it here in YouTube but no go. I never heard that title song before but as you mentioned it is one of their best. I would try E/bay or Barns & Noble, they usually have the ebtire collection of various groups, at least I have found that to be true.

[Whatcroft]

Saw these guys at Whatfest last weekend (18th July 2009). Slightly older but still a class act.

[yatsa]

Totally agree with "the dene", Flaunt the Imperfection has to be ranked up there, its timeless, never grow tired of listening to it.

[davgeobet]

who is black man ray?

[memphis71060]

Saw these guys when they where support act for Simple Minds. Could have easily been mistaken for top of the bill.

[misfitm]

I too saw them when they were the opening act for Simple Minds, one of the best concerts I have been too!

[memphis71060]

Saw them at Leicester, De Montford Hall. I can still see myself there now.

[ridders40]

great song from the 80's brings back good memories

[thedene]

A great track. 'Flaunt The Imperfection' must be one of the best albums of the 80's, yet China Crisis always seem to get a negative press. Bizarre.

[sugarbabe06]

A band of great talent I wish they recorded more songs

[wooshette]

A very underated 80's band whatever happen to China Crisis

[Jcrack514]

whats yellow and goes cheep cheep?