Atmospherics: Listen To The Radio

[Fersomling]

I first heard this song on my first trip to Europe in January/February of 1984. Lasting memories through this song of Amsterdam and the Rhine River Valley.

[morphemass]

I hadn't heard this song in about....25 years or so and the lyrics suddenly popped into my head tonight; so memorable, superb!

[MarkManning]

I remember like yesterday 2 4 6 8,it playing in my brothers little red Datsun..1978 ?. He died two years ago of cancer .I broadcast on radio in Ireland and often play it.I've no reason to have the serious blues ...but do...during a recent bout I heard- Listen to the Radio-.Tom couldn't care less if you are 'Bothways'.Your talent captured something truely -Atmospheric- here.At 48 I feel jaded with life..this helps me go on :).Thank you...sincerely..-Mark ...'put another coffee on'..and I did !

[MomoTheBellyDancer]

How so very Peter Gabriel this song is.

[bothways]

@MomoTheBellyDancer that's lucky, given the songwriting credits above :-)

[bmuscotty88]

Is there any meaning to the symbol they draw at the beginning of the video? I recently saw this same drawing on someones desk at work. Does it have a name?

[bothways]

@bmuscotty88 not that I know of - it was a maze design that Nicolas Roeg though would be good to feature, but maybe google image search could find its name for you?

[mcampeau11]

@bothways I think it is a reference to Keith Haring.

Happy New Year!

[muziekbericht]

It`s a lovely, relaxing and a GREAT song.

[canis65536]

I always felt this song was written just for me, scanning the dial late at night. Still own my 7" piece of plastic, BUT I never saw the video until today. What is the significance of all the faces changing from young to old and back again? What has that to do with the song? I don't get that.

[bothways]

@canis65536 Well to be comletely honest I don't really know, but hey - it was Nicolas Roeg directing the video and he ws afamous movie director while I was just some schmuck who'd written a song. So I let him get on with it. It was nice that Steve Laurie and his partner Freddie Stopler, plus Ebo Ross and Paul Harvey from the band were able to play parts in it though...

[back2frinky]

@canis65536 Look at the video this way: you loved the song when you were young, and you'll still love it when you're old.

[martley1]

I hear this much more on Radio 10 Gold from The Netherlands. I presume it was a big hit there. Shane IDS were so rubbish at distribution it may have been bigger here. It certainly should have been.

[pupizzo99]

a masterpiece that bring me to the age of 18 .......a lot of memeories and sensations.

this song Is a little part of my live...tu to post it

wishing the best

:)

[NathanVeenstra]

Love this track! I thought it was much bigger back in the days, most probably because I liked it so much. It was known in the Netherlands as just "Listen To The Radio" BTW.

[meriksx3]

Tom, This and War Baby are two of my favorite songs. The images your lyrics evoke are provacative and emotionally thoughtful. Thanks for posting this. .

[tkshots]

never heard djs play this song...or war baby...probably because when they look for oldies,they automatically think of acts with more hits...it's lazy...i was a dj once...late night local radio in ireland,would play this and war baby a lot...that generation is gone now,but the web keeps us alive...great song tom,atmospheric is what it is....

[gazzo45]

This was a huge favourite of mine when it was released and I bought the single, playing it to death. I was a fan of both Tom and Peter Gabriel and this just blew me away. Great, great song.

This is the first time I've heard it in years and it's still a wonderfully emotive piece of songwriting - which benefits from a great performance/arrangement.

[Hasmatkid]

Fantastic Song, takes me back to my student days. Great for listening to, while winding down from a night out. usually to the Mardi Gras. Listening for the nightly scream of the guy opposite as he set fire to his sheets again. All these years later , I can only hope he gave up smoking or bought a set of asbestos bed linen.

[Sandanista22]

Great song... loved this album! Have it on vinyl which is slowly getting overplayed but the prices being asked for a CD version on Amazon are shocking.... so guess I shall play by needle with great care!

[pupizzo99]

fantastic song: it remind me the time of secondary school 26 yrs ago !!!

fantastic artist: hooping all the best for him !

[adam872]

Bloody hell this takes me back. Great song and absolutely stellar production on it. I had no idea that Peter Gabriel had anything to do with it, but nevertheless it's scarcely a bad thing ;-)

[batsheba1]

oh great song, i remember the small dark room i used to live in in those day's and coming home in the evening and listening to a small transistor radio i used to have....... awesome... thank you Tom Robinson !

[rayygun]

Love this song and video so much.

[rageohol]

now heres a good example of a video i wish I hadnt seen. ..frankly, i had this song in my head for years..and had my own interpretation for it..not what is seen cannot be unseen.

its an ok vid..but its nothing like it is in my mind.

[SMCNI1968]

Awesome bothways, that was one of my top 1980s albums. Sadly my mum slung it in the bin when I went to University :(

[bothways]

@SMCNI1968 Cheers for your kind words - if its of any interest, you can download the whole remastered album (with bonus tracks) for free on my website: tom robinson dot com slash downloads

[SMCNI1968]

@bothways Awesome cheers Tom, made my day :)))

[SixdaysNL]

@bothways

Thanks a lot, great music! They play this song a lot on Dutch 'classic rock' radio ;)

[bobdixon]

@SMCNI1968

This song has haunted me for years...I only heard it a couple of times when it was released and really , really liked it but it seemed to disapear off the airwaves very quickly. Many thanks for posting, what a cracking track

[oscaandchloe]

God he's so damed good....and sexy!!!

[CONSIDERABLYMORE1]

Am I correct in thinking Peter Gabriel had a hand in the writing of this track? Out of interest what did he write?

It is a beautiful song and is perfect late night listening. Agree it deserved to be a much bigger hit but as I recall by 1983 the 80's were turning sour and everyone was selling out. So unless you had a "big" Trevor Horn or S.A.W. production you were consigned to the scrapheap.

[bothways]

@CONSIDERABLYMORE1 The music was based on an idea of PG's when I visited him at New Year 1981. He played me a drum pattern on his new Linn machine & some chords that went with it. I took a cassette & while recording the album North By Northwest in Hamburg developed that fragment into a fullblown song. The lyrics came from listening to BBC World Service at 3am on a tiny transistor. The earlier North By Northwest version of the song is faster & includes Peter's original drum machine pattern.

[jonboy499453]

great song...... the first time i heard it was on the car radio back in the early 80s, i pulled over to listen then went out and bought it...... on vinyl,i still have it.

[jupiterostselo]

Poignant images and classy sounds. ...Vocal tone and phrasing gently reminds me of Thomas Dolby. Thanks very much for uploading.

[Johnoco66]

Class record, love it.

[miff1957]

Brilliant music Tom...........................­

[martin260273]

i first heard this when i was 10, in that year. reminds me always of that time. Great song and clip.

i wonder do you have some nice details of anekdotes from making this videoclip in that time? :)

[scotrelf]

It's a very good track, and one I return to every now and then. Just searched for it again as a guy from work mentioned he had seen you at gig with Martin Carthy and it recalled this to my mind.

I like the brass on here, sits nicely with the theme

[oscar999ify]

This song means so much to me,i'm a radio amateur and the lines atmospherics after dark...etc give me goose bumps.I was 14/15 at the time and used to travel the world at night listening to my radio looking at the dial.I actually first heard this song on a very weak usa station at 2am here in uk,it was raining heavy outside and felt so warm in bed.For a song to induce this much feeling.... pure genius.Mr Tom i hope you feel proud and smiley.One in a million.xxx

[ChristopherHinves]

Growing up in Toronto in the 80s, I had only ever heard the Pukka Orchestra's cover of Listen to the Radio. I loved it...it's perfect late-night music...it made me nostalgic for a time/place in which I had never lived.

Tonight I was in a fast food joint when the Pukka version came on the radio...first time I'd heard it in probably 20 years. Came home and had to look it up on YouTube and discovered this original version which I love even more. Many thanks for song, and the memories!

[debbyuk]

still one of my fav songs after all these years ...............

[wenedsday]

I LOVE this song.... ooooh..... I had forgotten about Tom Robinson.... I used to like him so much....

[parachuteclubbed]

This remains one of my favourite songs for contemplation and introspection. I only own the 12" single, but the extended version is absolutely perfect for that. Both recordings I know of — this and The Pukka Orchestra — just work well: different approaches, slightly different moods, but both completely perfect for the late hour.

[muddyfox4x4]

Superb Track ! Been listening to TRB most of my life ! I even bought a Yamaha FS1e 50cc on the Strenght of a lyric from your single "Up against the wall" ! " Super charged Fizzys on the Ashfelt" 1978 ! Glad your still going Strong and love your Username "Bothways" Tom ! TRB Brings back memories of the Punk Era for me More so than the Sex pistols Clash, Dammed etc ! Hope alls Well ...........

[thomasantw]

Pity this song is not available on iTunes... :o(

[lddav]

I remember you performing this on a kid's TV show and having to substitute "have another cigarette" to avocado vinaigrette in order not to upset anyone.

[DevilMan38]

@lddav Hey I remember that, good one!

[Yugguy1970]

Tom I saw you in Preston, Avenham Park I think it was, long time ago now. Still remember it now. Remember everyone singing along nicely til it got to Glad to be Gay, then there was a lot of humming by the real men who couldnt possibly sing that, lol.

[Skinsman01]

Bothways... many thanks for great music & lyrics, 1st class tracks.

[muziekbericht]

A simple but a very good song

One of my fav`s ever

Frank

[Krashdavus]

CFNY in Toronto, which was only alt music station around, introduced this song to us. I bought the album shortly afterwards. Still have my vinyl copy. Great song. I'd listen to late at night, great vibe.

[pisces619]

All I know is that this song is always the first song of the day for me as I'm drinking my coffee.. seems to be a perfect morning coffee song.

[almapersempre]

almapersempre

tanks tom,io ti porto sempre nel mio cuore....

[RifledBarrel]

that track was written about Robinsons experience living in East Berlin during the cold war days....nice stereo sound quality in this upload.....thanks to the o/p

[bothways]

I actually wrote this while living in Hamburg in 82, which is where the famous Onkel Pö club was, but took a few artistic liberties with the lyrics - there weren't any trams in Hamburg by then, and both the movies Bitter Tears of Petra Von Kant and Taxi Zum Klo were in colour, not b&w :-)... I did later work for a few months in East Berlin where there WERE trams, but the song had been written by then. And yes, for the upload of this vid I did re-sync the audio direct from the digtal remaster.

[RifledBarrel]

@ 'bothways'......thanks for your reply/info...that's a great track you've written.......my fave lyric from it is ' atmospherics after dark, noise and voices from the past, across the dial from Moscow to Cologne....interference in the night, a thousand miles on either side, stations fading into the unknown'....very thought provoking.....I don't know if you are THE Tom Robinson but I wish you all the best :)

[bothways]

@RifledBarrel haha - yes it is me. Thanks for your kind words about the lyrics. Its true i dont now look much like i did when this video was made. But then not many of us look the same now as we did in 1983 :-)

[sorrellsour]

Hmm funny what tangled webs the webs will weave.... today I was accepted as a friend on Facebook by Freddie Stopler. A couple of hours later someone called to say that Nic Roeg was introducing his latest film and doing a Q&A at the local Uni campus. These two facts prompted a youtube search for Atmospherics and there she was. And you! You may remember me as a lodger in F&S's Hackney flat - Leo. Still a great song and video. Regards

[parachuteclubbed]

@bothways: Oh! I just started browsing down the comments and realized this is you! I cannot think of anything else pithy to say other than thank you. :)

[WeShotTheMan]

the vines

[fluffycatears]

Nicholas Roeg!! The Man Who Fell To Earth! (with David Bowie)

[novacrystalas]

A pro song worthy of commendation.

PS Listen to the RADIO

[GasheadAli]

Ah this takes me back! Great song!

[cashelfean]

Why isn't this wonderful song available on iTunes?

[hoyvenmavin]

there was a time when it was available on tr's web site. for free. not sure now.

[DevilMan38]

A beautiful, superbly crafted song.

Best wishes,

Rob

[dojj1968]

Tom - were you disappointed by the relative lack of success of this song as the follow up to War Baby?

[martley1]

I was working in music retail at the time of the release of this single back in late 1983. Basically it was difficult to get stock of this single as IDS (Distribution company) wern't very good. May explain its lowly chart placing.

[vettemuziekjes]

turn it on pls...

[vredendaal1978]

Tom robinson

[wonder661]

atmospherics after dark noise and voices from the past

[Lindsayjane42]

Fabulous song

[Lindsayjane42]

Fabulous song

[Snappycracker6]

Has this song ever been redone? Because I could have sworn I have heard a more upbeat version of this song on an 80's 90's classic rock station...just wondering...this one sounds pretty slow. I thought there was like, more guitar.

[Groyney]

On the B-side of the 12 inch release, there's a live version from a concert in Germany. I'm guessing it was East Germany as when he sang "Radio Moskau" the audience started booing!

[bothways]

Exactly right Groyney - it was at Kino Astra in East Berlin in 1982 with the local band NO55 - the recording was just done straight onto cassette from the mixing desk. Bloody hell. I'd forgotten about that. Wonder if I can find a copy anywhere...

[Groyney]

Tom, if you're quick, there's a copy for sale on e-bay. £7.99 + £2.99 p & p. Just go onto the Records category and search under 'Tom Robinson Atmospherics'. I'd buy it for you now if I could but I haven't even got to a tenner to my name!

[Groyney]

Just had a quick peek on e-bay - there's a copy going for £7.99 + £2.99 p & p. I'd have bought for you myself but I don't even have a tenner to my name. Seems odd, though, the original artist having to buy his own tracks!

[Groyney]

There is a copy available of the 12 inch version on one of the more popular auction sites, if you tap in your name and title track into it's search engine (I can't name the website but I think you know what one I mean).

[Trotsky130]

This always makes me think of the cold war for some reason, Germany in the early 80's Andropov and Regan...

[Doorntje]

This song always reminds me on walking outside in the wind and rain in autumn and then when you enter your house, the darkness surrounds you untill you put on the light and turn on the radio....with a hot coffee getting cosy.

Great song always give me a warm feeling.

[oblackburn]

Great song!

73 & Good DX

[R087360]

Hey oblackburn, I know where you're coming from. I was an amateur radio operator and SW Dxer back in the 70's and 80's. I love the lines "Noise and voices from the past" and "Stations fading into the unknown". It really captures the strange and sometimes eerie feeling I had when listening to far off countries on SW late at night.

73 & Good DX to you too

[bolissi]

simple and beautiful ... God bless creativity

[subedeithemongol]

A children's programme in Newcastle? That sounds like Razzmatazz, which was filmed on City Road. My school was in the audience for sone show. But, sadly, nothing decent musicwise, since the main "attraction" as The Jets, part of the rockabilly revival.

[Groyney]

My, this takes me back. If I remember correctly this made the top 40 in the 1983 Xmas chart, which would undoubtedly make it a number one hit nowadays considering the decline in sales since then. I remember this from a gig at the Cliffs Pavillion, Westcliff-on-Sea the following autumn, just after Hope & Glory was released. It was a Falklands-based theme and the really corny intro from Tom, something like 'So what do they do in Port Stanley? Listen to the radio ..."! Thanks, Tom, superb!

[back2frinky]

It just made the Top 40, peaking at 39 for the chart week ending 3rd December 1983. It should have been a much bigger hit, so wonderfully dreamy and ATMOSPHERIC. I recall Steve Wright, then on Radio 1, using it as a jingle. Is music like this even made now? Noise pollution from the likes of Dizzee Rascal just doesn't compare.

[bothways]

Thanks for your kind words ! But actually Dizzee Rascal was great at the Radio 1 Big Weekend with Calvin Harris last month, he's a major talent - but definitely not the same target audience as mine :-)

[Ultravideoslave]

Weres the peter garbrell version.

[tenerife134]

motorway was good tom . but when you wrote this you were inspired.

[baveuzz258]

Tom you were and are a great song writer poignant words and meaningful melody GREAT

[Kittykoos]

I just adore this, love your music SO much, so talented.

Evokes so much.

[vaartbericht]

O this is such a great song

Thanks for placing

Frank

The Netherlands

[rxd1979]

Such a wonderful song that I haven't heard since I was 8 years old...I heard it again last week and also heard about Tom going to Germany in the 80s before writing this song.

I wonder what made him decide to go there...it's my curious nature ;-)

[bothways]

It was owing tons of money - which I didnt have - to tons of people whom I couldn't pay (including HM Govt). It seemed prudent to leave the UK. A friend in Hamburg and his girlfriend invited me to go and live in the spare room in their flat but would only speak to me in German. Which forced me to learn the language in a hurry...

[BluePowderPanda]

Never really got the charm with old musicvideos, but hell; the music have never been better!

This is easy one of my favorite songs! <3

[octu]

The cover version by the Polka Orchestra was the one I was looking for, I was puzzled when I found this version because it sounded different.

But you're version's good too Tom! Don't mean any insult, it's just I'm more familiar with the P.O. Version

[stoneylane662]

Pukka Orchestra.

[HunSavage]

The first time I heard this tune the vocals were so different I thought it was a Roger Waters song. Did he cover this tune?

[jonsar1]

Great Song and Lyrics; and The Video - Eureka!

[Exdreamist]

Great song! Thanks 4 posting!

[TC95briz]

I always wondered whether Tom wrote this song to test David Bowies theory that any record which mentioned 'radio' and 'cigarettes' would be a certain hit...

[bothways]

never heard that theory. was living in hamburg in 1982 making an album called "North By Northwest" - it was all finished including the backing for (the first, early version of) this song. all except for the lyric. i had to go into an office upstairs and come up with something in an hour flat & these words came out without thinking too hard. i later found out just how many songs in the world already featured the words "listen to the radio". would never have written it if I'd known!!! tom robinson

[penzman]

Sure glad you didn't know at the time how many others about he other radio songs. Love this version as well, I had heard the Pukka version first long ago and just now watching this video ,I remeber seeing that as well quite a while ago. Great lyrics.

[mike65ie]

Not sure about ciggies but radio in the title certainly helps I suspect, DJs being the ego-manicas they are! Not an accident there are many songs, mainly bad, with DJ in the title

[bothways]

once had to sing this on children's television in Newcastle and had to change "have another cigarette" to "avocado vinaigrette". strange times.

[baveuzz258]

Bloody hell I remember that where the hell has all the time gone, I supported the SKIDS once in Birmingham god I regret missing out on some of the best times ever all the best

[rush3k]

This a very good song, I was searching for something else and stumbled on this ... was a toddler back in '84.

[coryhi]

how do you get the more rock one

[bothways]

There's 2 others that I know of - my own live version watch?v=lmy3DLIRyUs&feature=re­latedand Pukka Orchestra's cover which is at watch?v=9lpj5cB_uQ0&feature=re­lated

Tom Robinson

PS obviously you have to add in the usual YouTube stuff at the beginning of the link - it won't let me post the full URL here

[yntangled]

wow I've just sandblasted that labyrinthe image onto a piece of mirrored glass...a few months ago I made a square version of it too!

[CaseFamily]

Gosh, I've not even HEARD this song in years and years. CFNY in Toronto used to play this song - I even own the LP.

My husband had to explain to me the "Taxi To the Klo" and "Bitter Tears" references.

Thank you so much. Oddly, I do recall seeing this video somewhere...

[asherbabe6as]

weird, this is not the video nor the song version I saw back in 84. could it be that Tom did an additional version?!?

[bothways]

well there's the live version at youtube(dot)com/watch?v=lmy3DL­IRyUs but I never made any other video for this song at any point. Maybe you saw a performance on some TV show or other? Tom x

[EyesRed]

First released on the 1982 album "North by Northwest"

Re-recorded for Tom Robinson's solo single in 1983 on the album War Baby: "Hope and Glory"

It was featured on at least six live albums.

[bothways]

Though not in 1984. The only other video footage of this song I know of that existed in 1984 was the WHistle Test version at youtube(dot)com/watch?v=lmy3DL­IRyUs and (see above) we never made any other video for this song at any point. Alternatively Canada's Pukka Orchestra did a cover version of the song, which probably had a video of its own. Tom x

[gstockton]

This song has a very special place in my heart. Listened to it over and over on a trip home to England when I got my green card. I was 17. It reminded me of England, but Eastern Europe too. It has a lovely groove. I love the horns, everything about it in fact.

[Fersommling]

I had taken my very first trip to Europe in January, 1984, and had brought with me a digital radio (very new then) that I got for Christmas. Anyways, the first time I heard this song was on the train somewhere in Germany. "...from Moscow to Cologne..." Something mystical about this.

[Sledge101]

I had no idea that Gabriel co-wrote the song but now it seems almost obvious - no wonder I've never gotten this song out of my head since '83 (13y.o!!) I always imagined the song to be set behind the iron curtain, and listening to the radio was about dissidents tuning into subversive broadcasts...

[canada647]

Toronto's "The Spirit of Radio 102.1" - those were the days.

FORGET about what shite it is nowadays. 24 years ago! WOW! Innovative, that was definitive. Defined by FM radio in its earlier days here in North America.

There were other brilliant FM stations here in North America, but back then, they were few and far between.

24 years later, we're no further ahead. Sigh.

[grecomic]

OMG!! I had that pop-up book as a kid!!

[tinpony92003]

Fantastic song - so evocative.

[Alexandra344]

Beautyful song and good video too

[Johnoco66]

Another goodie from Tom. Nice one.

[martley1]

Tom, you have always been and continue to be an inspiration to me. Those dark days of confused sexualities in the 1970s....you were a beacon and a shining light....all gays didn't love disco!!! you spoke for so many people. It may have been a long time ago, but hearing these songs takes one back. It's good and essential to remember what it used to be like....but has that much really changed?

[hoyvenmavin]

a song thats been in my head for 15+ years. . .and the guy turns out gay

[bothways]

Correct. And your point is?

[hoyvenmavin]

you're right. my bad. just disappointed.

[bothways]

why thankyou :-) the clue is in my username...

[urbandiscount]

bitter tears and taxi to the klo...

haha.

[sloaf]

Thanks! Any vids from TRB 2?

[drunkensausage]

At last!!

Cheers!!