New Musik - Living by Numbers - 1980

[roadrunner1ification]

I only just discovered this song when I was given it on cd. Really good 80s beat. Well worth a hit.

[ZLUGGO]

Great tune.

[musicaldfh]

music from a time we will never see again its all practice in your bedroom and get on the telly for 5 minutes this is why talent is hanging on by its nails

[reoreason]

I used to love their musik.

[etvb1]

Very cool song!

[butthefollowing]

That's the other way to spell melancholy: N E W M U S I K...

[TheSpikefm]

OMG! Talk about screwing up your chance!!!!!!!

[2spaceace]

seen them play live when the album from A to B came out,they were so different from any other bands about at the time,its a real pitty they never did well in the charts,did 2 more albums and they were no more,also i think some of their stuff would make great re-mix material.

[AQUAVIVARIA]

Tony.............Numan fan......Thing wHat u r ! Allthiss silly sh8 ! My Gags diein (( Die: you die)in of canncers ! An This Tune woke me up Spud ! ;)'''''''Ha Gues Stephen Hawkins does win ! Cheers mate ! Have a Happy whotollla Day ! ;) Johnathon mf stark ! ! (aqua)

[MDJarv]

That bass player is a pocket fisherman... lol

[jcreaser]

Great song! Cool dude bass player!!

[lineswine]

The whole of New Musiks' output was loaded with studio tricks - for example the word "numbers" has reverb on it, but only that word. There are many, many more songs on the 3 albums that show this rare level of talent, but suffice it to say "Tony Mansfield sure knows his way round a studio".

[HardWarUK]

for every internet retailer there one employee for every medium size retail store there is eight employees. That's why the Internet's cheap. We are committing suicide in the West. This songs tells us that/

[freeradical1956]

totally brilliant song, foretelling the future even now.

[Dogstar060763]

Great, great track. A real 80's classic. Only a matter of time until some trendy film-maker grabs this one for a soundtrack. New Musik were an excellent, if short-lived phenomenon. Tony Mansfield was a visionary producer, too.

[degunter2009]

makes me happy!

[Davejimjr]

epic bassline :D

[muttoncyborg]

656344566643456542368753641516­45  !!!!

[Modenpow]

I knew Tony MAnsfield at school, played football with him every day in the playground etc but didn't realise how talented he was. This track and World of Water are brilliant.

[gedhession]

Does anybody remember this song being used in an advert for Casio watches, aroung the same year?

[gamesplaystation1]

@gedhession i did exist xd

[MadderPrinciple]

Great song - "you can bet someone is counting you...they don't want your name, just your number." one of the most prophetic lyrics, I agree, if only we had listened!

[MegaWocko]

how can you play a bass guitar with one hand

[alecahauf]

@MegaWocko Def Leppard had a drummer with one hand and they managed lol

[Planetoxo]

Least this vid doesn't have the stupid Steve Wright comments on it.

[rodcrippler]

youtube.com/watch?v=5bb2SzKcBF­I

[evilrobottolhurst]

I've just sold a car and what with the insurance and the DVLA plus all the postcodes this brilliant song came to mind.

I've never seen the video. I was disappointed not to see all the people behind the voices at the end. Also, the numbers they are living by clearly do not include "number 3 but scissors on top".

[redstarbug]

Fantastic. Can't help thinking the lead singer looks like Keith Harris though...

[stanstedeye]

classic

[goritsaman]

What a classic tune, best ever record from my youth

[kevlength]

Wot a twit the bass player is!

[pigyob]

@kevlength Durr it's just for the video!

[kevlength]

@pigyob still a twit!! HEH HEH HEH!!

[kevlength]

@pigyob still a twit!! HEH HEH HEH!! Actually he's a big wanker!!

[1middlesbrough]

i remember this, a good one

[24nov67]

the singing cockney twats lmfao

[Lulu1901]

Loving this song, remember it well. They don't want your name, just your number - so true !! xx



[Wolfspiderxl]

As opposed to 'Painting By Numbers' clever lyrics , nice music

[Cabezombi]

LUCA PRODAN NOT DEAD!

[SherryLewis62]

Thanx for this!!! I'm boppin' around the living-room! I had blue hair when this one came out...and blue satin boots to match!

[mediamonkeymovies]

OMG this takes me back - shocking how old we're all getting!!!!!!

[XangaiTheBest]

Almeida estarás sempre vivo nos nossos corações e na nossa memoria com saudades.XANGAI, ESQUI LA,COSME, SARDINHA, MANUEL.

[10fatbelly10]

één van de knapste songs van de eightees !!

[MrLawman10]

was played at the pub last night, great song.

[MithrilSilverteeth]

Very nostalgic. 1980 was a pivotal year in music, a lot of creativity & originality!

[tonystower]

31 years old! But more relevant today than ever. Forgotten your PIN? "They don't want your name... just your number..."

[kevinturvy]

Loved this when it came out and now its making me feel nostalgic...

Jesus 31 years ago i was just a kid and now i am a bloody grand parent and can here my own parents saying " this isn't real music"

[nintendoman014]

1 person does not live by numbers

[nik1969100]

Light years ahead of its time - sounds more futuristic than most of today's shit.

[flaxonx3]

Wasn't it great when you didn't have to look like a catalogue model to be on a music show and had to rely on having a modicum of talent .

[TheBeatleman66]

@flaxonx3 totally agree, i remember listening to this song on british forces radio way back then,

[doowopway]

This was my favourite track from 1980.It is a digital lifetime!

[someblokecalledchris]

sheer classic

[mds810]

Whats worse, the vision or the reality?

[Chalkerfan]

Tony Mansfield was a visionary.

If only we'd listened to this song properly :-(

Now "they don't want your name", just your number.

What a fuckup we've made of society and ourselves.

[TheAlfie66]

Great Tony Mansfiled, leader of the wonderful band,New Musik.

[baldrickthecunning]

I noticed you cut out Steve Wrights introduction :)

[pedrofaba]

the most underrated band of the 80's with china crisis

[Glamking1]

No one hasnt posted the musikladen performance of their song, but althoughly its now been coincided on the official box set being all of their consquences uncut earlier this year.

[ddavebsm]

absolutely brilliant! Still have all their vinyl albums! If you like this music have a look at The Korgis

[BagolyBolcs]

This is SO good it captures the year 1980 better than anything else recorded that year. My GOD its thirty years ago.........................

[RetroCool73]

@BagolyBolcs I agree, somehow the New Musik singles all seem to capture the spirit of 1980 in a nutshell despite there being a whole heap of classic singles from all manner of different artists and different styles. That "new wave" era of 1978-1984 just never stopped evolving, but it's a pity New Musik (and indeed Tony Mansfield) didn't get the praise or sales they deserved

[PenarthJem]

I wish my TOTP collection included these guys, brilliant track and a brilliant LP

[shivalinger]

This stuff was soooo way ahead of it's time, more relevant today than ever !!

[leekc586]

Good stuff.

[jrcvdoc]

I was 11. 42 now, but still remember it. Great song. Thanks.

[rodjames98]

@jrcvdoc lol! i was 19 and i'm 50 now! somehow to me, that sounds worse!

[TheSluddsy1]

FUCK THIS TAKES ME BACK..I WAS 16....FUCKIN ELL

[24HoursFromCulture]

From A to B was the first album I ever bought with my own money

[1starryeyedkid]

fab

[4441Rob]

Fantastic song what a great group New Musik was all there songs were a gem.

[doublezoinks]

The lyrics are amazing and such a prophetic song . . . :)

[seancreedradio]

Ironically the hook was used for a Casio advert of the time...

[KaitainCPS]

@seancreedradio

That's the thing for which I remember it the most! I think they actually-re-recorded it for Casio, replacing "Adding to history" with "Casio Company".

[kevenglish]

Great stuff. Haven't heard that in years.

[Chalkerfan]

One of the best songs of the early-synth era.

Tony Mansfield was/is a genius.

This song illustrates just how dumb we all are now.

Back in 1980 we were all alive and individuals and now.......

It can't be explained, nowadays everyone is a barcode.

[IfIfsandands]

@Chalkerfan I remember this song from then. I was only a kid when I heard it but the idea scared me. I'm glad to say, I did my own thing, I hope I didn't become another number, but you could argue this warning from the past was just not heeded.

[SIRSMITH08]

whats going on with the chap with only one hand on his guitar ? mmmm

[SIRSMITH08]

i agree means more now than then , good stuff 

[SurpriseGuest1]

Thanks man!

[pinkandjefflynne]

Iconic song for 1980...means more now than it did then

[whatsthestoryamglory]

@pinkandjefflynne

So very true!!

[NEILVANCE]

@pinkandjefflynne Great quote man, so true and I agree, and I'am sure, a lot of us! cheers. :-)

[terryjohn]

@pinkandjefflynne tep- feb-80-dole numbers.

[EonPeon]

I love the way Tony Hibbert (bassist) refuses to give in to the 'Top of the Pops' mime expectation by playing bass with his left hand in his pocket!

[radiator0]

had these guys looked liked the boys (now men ) from spandoow or duran duran they'd have been massive such a shame they were brilliant ..

[ashingtoon]

Loved them then and love them still... timeless gems!!!

[tizmawpux]

I love this band so bloody talented and under rated

[louluvscats]

A diamond of a song,sadly put on the shelf by music channels and radio stations, to play more new commercialised scrap! I Love this song, Nice memories of 1980.Great post! Benja :-)

[colinm71]

im sure it was a hit slightly after 1980

anyway great happy wee track

[nessie986]

they dont want ur name just ur number x

[jeffi58]

I love New Musik, they are the best. The best time was in the 70`s and the 80`s.

[drpoxy]

Absolutely - I agree 100% !

[weegerri1sm]

Ohhh yes indeed! :D

70's, 80's = good times!

[porridgeeveryday]

they dont want your bog roll, just your poop poop de poop to recycle.

[amrak63]

An overlooked gem. ^_^

[ZLUGGO]

Fantastic band and marvellous song. Their first album is magnificent.

[cappoman51]

loved this band so simple but so great

[leletate1]

QUALATHEHEHE!!!!!

[larryharryhausen]

Feel just the same derivaombrosa. It's hard to understand how quickly the years go by. Just goes to show that good music stands the test of time - this could've been produced today, nobody could tell the difference. Great era of music.

[yorkie6687]

@larryharryhausen Great comment!

[Ignatius99999]

great song, thanks for posting!

[staffsyeoman]

how very prophetic it was in the still analogue age... "They don't want your name.." Always loved the bored-looking bass player!

[derivaombrosa]

great great song and i was much more younger then now...

[staceutube1]

din no keith sung weres orville

[Syl20Jonathan]

Amazing!!! this is my favorit song with straight line

I love New Wave music!!!!!

[sledgehead2000]

f--king great track

[ashingtoon]

This band deserved to be massive, they produced some great songs... miss this band :O(

[newall7]

fab record

it was on dlt,s  cringe slot on the brekkie show in 1980

[jimenaman]

I object of course but I think I am living by numbers. A name is of no importence anymore, just your number. Be afraid be very afraid, things are not as they should be.

[punchcar]

6 months later, New wave was a major influence towards pop music (techopop in the UK). This also inspired 'new romantic' wave pop (duran duran, a flock of seagulls, etc.) This also has an 'Buggles' sound to it, another early wave group.

[punchcar]

Epic/CBS wanted to cash in on 'new wave', so they created the 'nudisc' label in the US. It featured this group and artists from Stiff records (UK). Specially pressed 10" vinyl E.P.s didn't save the trend early on. Now they are collectables. This group never got the airplay they needed. Highly recommend all their recordings.

[waldorf3]

Love this song from 1980 cant believe this song is 29 years old , we must be living by numbers in this digital lifetime!

[19chimp24]

one of the catchiest songs..it got me hooked on this group..great stuff

[andyw92]

Agree 100%

[dipper1963]

excellent 80s song that now goes unrecognised