Demos

Today I came across a record of demos of #1 hits from the 1980s - Number One With A Bullet. It seemed strange that anyone would release a record of demos, which, by their nature, sound unpolished, a little dusty, slightly soulless. Even stranger, this record was reviewed in the New York Times.

Of course I had to slap it on the turntable. What did I learn from listening to the demo versions of Walk Like An Egyptian and Nightshift? Sometimes the star makes the song. Sometimes the song is already made. Sometimes what you need is a producer.