There comes a point in life where you are looking for something different. Something outside the normal that you are used to. For music fans, one place to turn is the music of Stan Ridgeway from the 1980s. He was a songwriter and musician that wrote songs that weren’t the normal or ordinary and often told a story. From his days being the frontman for the band “Walls of Voodoo” to striking out on his own, Stan always had a story to tell and did so in the coolest ways possible. So sit back and enjoy these Top 5 Must Listen Stan Ridgeway songs.
The Big Heat
A song that was first released in 1986 off of the album “The Big Heat.” The sing itself dates older than that as it was performed in concerts by Stan’s group “Wall of Voodoo” dating back to 1982. The song is about a small group of large men who are following someone (most likely the listener) around the country for something that was done off the scene. It is not said if these men who are following you are cops, the mob, or something more sinister. The song warns that “someone is following you” and paints the creepy picture that you are not alone.
Don’t Box Me In
Released in 1983 and a combined effort from Stan and former The Police drummer Stewart Copeland. Stewart plays the drums while Ridgeway produces the vocals for the song. The song was released as part of the soundtrack for the film “Rumble Fish” and then released as a single. It tells the story from the singer’s perspective as he sings that he is being boxed in with life and he needs to get out and do things for himself. It tells that whenever “you” call, he is right there just behind you. It tells that the singer of the song is devoted to this person and doesn’t get much in return from being so attached and throwing everything behind them.
Drive She Said
This was a song that was released in 1985 as part of The Big Heat album and later released as a single. It tells the story of a cab driver who picks up a mysterious woman and drives around the block aimlessly for a while before the cabbie asks the lady for a destination. She just answers back to keep his hands to himself and just drive. He sees that a bag she is carrying is from a bank she robbed and he is acting as her getaway. When he is confronted by cops about the lady he admits to only remembering that she told him to “keep his hands to himself” and “Just Drive” as she gets away on a boat.
Camouflage
Camouflage was from “The Big Heat” album and was released in 1985. It sold well as a single across Europe and several other countries but did not enter the charts in the US. The song tells the story of a young marine PFC during the Vietnam war in 1965. He was caught by himself as “Charlies” approach but was saved by a mysterious marine who said his name was Camouflage. The big marine acts a bit strange but helps in saving the boy and bringing him back to the outskirts of HQ and then winks and disappears. The boy is told by members of the camp that Camolfalge had been there all week and the night before he died, Camouflage said he wanted to save a young marine caught in a barrage.
Mexican Radio
Mexican Radio was on the album “Call of the West” and was released in 1982. This featured Stan while he was leading his band “Walls of Voodoo” and is said to be one of their most well-known songs. It has been said this song was written by Walls of Voodoo guitarist Marc Moreland and Stan Ridgeway while together listening to unregulated Mexican AM radio. This station was one of many south of the border stations that blasted their signal into the United States.
