Burning The Ground Exclusive
Following the brooding and atmospheric textures of their critically acclaimed 1985 debut …undone, British band The Lucy Show took a bold sonic turn with their second—and final—album, Mania, released in 1986. With this album, the band shifted toward a more polished, upbeat, and commercially accessible sound, embracing jangly guitars, brighter melodies, and a cleaner production style. The lead single from this release was the energetic and hook-laden “New Message.”
“New Message” immediately signaled a departure from the band’s earlier gothic-tinged introspection. Clocking in with punchy guitars, melodic bass lines, and a propulsive rhythm, the song channels a style more in line with contemporaries like The Psychedelic Furs, The Church, or even early R.E.M., while still retaining The Lucy Show’s lyrical depth and emotional intensity.
Lyrically, the song touches on themes of miscommunication, modern detachment, and longing—topics that resonate even more strongly in today’s digital age. Mark Bandola’s vocals are more assertive here, riding atop a dense but shimmering wave of guitar-driven production.
Despite positive reviews and a growing cult following, Mania and its singles, including “New Message,” didn’t break through to mainstream success—partly due to label troubles with Big Time Records, which went under shortly after the album’s release. Sadly, this led to the band’s premature disbandment.
Over time, however, Mania has earned a well-deserved reputation as a lost classic of the ’80s alternative scene, with “New Message” standing out as a highlight—a vibrant track that captures the tension between artistic evolution and commercial appeal.
SIDE A:
New Message (Solo Trumpet Mix) 4:56
SIDE B:
New Message (Instrumental) 3:29
New Message (New Version) 3:29
Invitation 2:39
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Big Time – 6043-1-BD
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Single
Country: US
Released: 1987
Genre: Electronic, Rock
Style: Synth-pop, Indie Rock
CREDITS:
- Mixed By – Gordon Milne, The Lucy Show
- Producer – David Ruffy, Mark Bandola, Rob Vandeven
- Written-By – Mark Bandola, The Lucy Show
NOTES:
Recorded at Red Bus Studios, London 2/87
Original version from the Big Time LP “MANIA”
Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS
VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net
THE GEAR:
Turntable: Technics SL-1200MK7
Cartridge/Stylus: Ortofon Concorde Music Black
Turntable Isolation Platform: ISO-Tone™ Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro Spin Acrylic Mat
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Phono Pre-amp: Pro-Ject Tube Box DS2
Tubes: Genalex Gold Lion 12AX7 ECC83/B759 Gold Pins Vacuum Tube – Matched Pair
DAC: Alpha Design Labs GT40a USB DAC
Record Cleaning: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans: Epson Workforce WF-7610 Professional Printer/Scanner
SOFTWARE:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 25 (Recording)
Down Sampling/Dither: iZotope RX Advanced 2
Artwork Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Click Removal: Manual
FLAC/MP3 Conversion: dBpoweramp
M3U Playlist: Playlist Creator
RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi
**24bit FLAC Only Available For Seven Days!
Password: burningtheground
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I’ve always loved this version of the song! I first discovered it on a compilation LP called The Big Time Syndrome and it just lept out with those shimmering opening synths and then that stellar trumpet solo. This shoulda been huge….
I wasn’t aware of this band before you posted this on here. Very catchy sound however, and sounding like some other bands around that time.
Thanks Paul 🙂
Like Daniel it’s been a while for me too, but this tune is a cool discovery.
Thanks as always for all your efforts and sharing such gems, Paul.
peace,
dj
You’re welcome, Don Julian 🙂
How you surprise me, Paul! I remember the band, at least in name, as I was quite aware of bands back in the day. You’re certainly a time machine, Paul. I’m having a Renaissance of my youth! Thank you ever so much!!
Jeff
Jeff, your comment made my day! I absolutely love being called a time machine—that’s exactly the kind of journey I hope to take everyone on. It’s amazing to hear you’re having a bit of a musical renaissance—what a perfect way to reconnect with those memories. Thanks so much for being along for the ride!
New to me! Thanks a lot Paul! I have missed posts like this. Hope there will be more. I know it’s been a while since my last comment but I needed such a great discovery like The Lucy Show.
Thanks so much, Daniel! I’m really glad this one hit the spot for you. The Lucy Show is definitely a hidden gem, and it’s always a pleasure to shine a light on bands that deserve more recognition. Don’t worry about the time between comments—I’m just happy to have you back! More discoveries are definitely on the way.