Forty years ago today, on the 7th of June 1980, the band released their long-awaited debut album ‘New Clear Days’. The 11 track LP featured the singles ‘Turning Japanese’ and ‘News At Ten’, but omitted ‘Prisoners’ in the UK (although it was included on the US & Canadian releases in place of both ‘Cold War’ and ‘America’). The album was recorded in London at the end of 1979 with the legendary Jam producer Vic Coppersmith-Heaven at the controls. From the opening track, the new wave ‘Spring Collection’, to the closing epic ‘Letter From Hiro’, every song was packed full of the hooks and hallmarks of the Vapors’ sound. The album disappointingly only peaked at 44 in the UK charts. You can listen to the full album, in all its glory, on Spotify here
Whilst listening to the album, you can also read through some of the press reviews from the time below…
To many great songs to pick just one, this album still stands the test of time after 40 years, an all time classic album, I have around 8-9 thousand vinyl/cds in my collection and this would be in my top 10.So yeah I hold this very close to my heart❤️ brilliant songwriting, great story telling in Dave’s lyrics, catchy hooks thumping bass lines, utter class
NCD’s will always be in my top 10 albums of all time. I was 16 when i bought this having already bought Prisoners having heard it on JP show. NCD’s is one of those rare albums you can play from start to finish side 1 is as good as side 2. There are songs I like more than others but on the whole there isn’t a bad song on here. I have also got to appreciate my least favourites more having seen the band play those live. My first introduction to the band was through hearing “Cold War” on the JP show during their session they did in 1979.I remember being hooked by the long slow build up there is to this song.
It’s like the whole band are introducing themselves one by one through their instrument of choice.Cue Steve teasing us as he glides between a couple of bass notes before we then hear Ed as he adds a few intermittent power chords this creates the atmosphere that’s gradually continuing to build.Symbols are just very lightly brushed as we now hear a second guitar join the party. That distinctive Vapor guitar rhythm from Dave. At this point the listener is still trying to guess where this song is going before snares are added and we are off to the military beat of The Vapors. Best songs on the album for me “Cold War”, Waiting For The Weekend” and Somehow”. There all so good,
Love these reviews, always knew we had our very own “little bloody messiah” and “clever little buggers”! NCD made such an impression on me at 17. My album cost £3.99 and I got the sleeve signed by the band back in the day. Spring Collection was always a big favourite and I get such a buzz hearing it live these days, but all the tracks are outstanding. Long Live The Vapors!❤🎸🎶
I was 5 years old, and it passed me by… a few years later I remember Turning Japanese still being a song that was talked about in the playground… Fast forward to 1990ish and the sound of the suburbs compilation. I was in bands at that time and that album (with turning Japanese on) really formed the sound I wanted to get to (never managed it)… but still hadn’t discovered NCD… fast forward to 2004 and I met a lovely lady (who was daft enough to marry me) she had NCD in vinyl… on our first date she played it to me… wow… that was probably the best night ever. I discovers the album/sound I’d been looking for – so that album and the band have such a special place in this household. Cheers The Vapors 🙂… happy anniversary NCD! Love it!!!
Great to see and read these reviews again – many of which are familiar to me almost word for word from scrapbooks made over the years. Incredibly happy memories of this album and the anticipation of its release. So well played and produced, 40 years on it still leaps out of the speakers and works it’s magic, both musically and lyrically too. For me personally, all of the fun had gone from the ‘youth tribes’ by the middle of 1980 (Mod, Skins etc etc) You didn’t have to follow any codes to follow The Vapors, just dress down, turn up, have a ball and feel the incredible collective good vibe from the crowd and the band. So happy to see that nothing has changed, long live The Vapors, The Vapors Family and this classic and much loved album
Even as a hormonal teen I wanted more than sex, drugs, and rock-n-roll in my life and in “my” music. The Vapors delivered that, and more! NCD has stuck with me all these years and has maintained relevancy. The songs have withstood the test of time and are smart, clever, happy, sad, witty, fun, and thought-provoking. When I did a massive clear-out a few years ago, my Vapors lps survived the cut as they are just too treasured to part with. Loved them then, love them now. xxoo