81 82 83 84 is a retro-alternative show focusing on music I loved when I attended the University of Waterloo and volunteered at CKMS in the early 1980’s.

You’ll hear a lot of New Wave, punk, post-punk, ska, early goth. Some experimental stuff too, with the occasional more-mainstream tune mixed in.

81 82 83 84 airs on CKMS-FM from the archives on Thursday from Midnight to 1:00am.

Recent Episodes

81 82 83 84 Season 3 Episode 25: Even More Perfect Another sampling from my “perfect songs” playlist. Enjoy!  

81 82 83 84 Season 3 Episode 24: OK, This is the Pops Creep, creep, creep upBut don’t ever be realKnow the truth,But tell only liesThe golden rule is, my friend,Don’t ever be realThe golden rule:Use only your eyes

81 82 83 84 Season 3 Episode 23: Almost Perfect This week’s show reaches beyond our usual focus on retro-alternative music to highlight songs that I consider to be brilliant musically that also mean a lot to me. I hope you’ll enjoy the selections.  

81 82 83 84 Season 3 Episode 22: Eclipse All that you touch, and all that you see All that you taste, all you feel And all that you love, and all that you hate All you distrust, all you save And all that you give, and all that you deal And all that you buy, beg, borrow or steal And all you create, and all you destroy And all that … Continue reading 81 82 83 84 Season 3 Episode 22: Eclipse →

81 82 83 84 Season 3 Episode 21: Don’t Talk to Me About Love Yesterday’s shattered Tomorrows don’t matter

81 82 83 84 Season 3 Episode 20: Art for Art’s Sake Give a country Where I can be free Don’t need the unions Burying me Keep me in exile the rest of my daysBurn me in hell just as long as it pays And here’s the video that Godley and Crème directed for Herbie Hancock’s “Rockit” (a song you might know best as the theme for “Beverly Hills Cop”)  

81 82 83 84 Season 3 Episode 19: Lunch, Anyone? There’s no point in asking, you’ll get no reply Oh just remember I don’t decide I got no reason it’s all too much You’ll always find me Out to lunch

81 82 83 84 Season 3 Episode 18: What? The Funk? Black stations, white stations Break down the doors Stand up and face the music This is 1984!  

81 82 83 84 Season 3 Episode 17: The Keys to Your Heart I found the keys The keys to your heart I got them on a chain When the doors come apart We’ll never be the same

81 82 83 84 Season 3 Episode 16: Add Your Voice to the Sound of the Crowd Get in line now, get in line now Stay in time with the rhythm and rhyme Get around town, no need to stand proud Add your voice to the sound of the crowd  

See all previous episodes.