Music Throwback Saturday: Electric Avenue

Electric Avenue got to #2 in both the UK and US

eddygrantBefore I can write about the song Electric Avenue, a promise I’d made. Last year, I wrote: “Some time, I need to tell the story of when I saw Eddy Grant in concert.” Then I forgot.

Recently, I saw a photo of my old pal “Mary” on someone else’s Facebook page. Mary and I were casual friends, and we were going to see Eddy Grant performing at the University at Albany. I went to her house, and she and/or others were going to drive to the campus.

I came right from work, if I’m remembering correctly, and I was really hungry, and I ate a brownie she had out, and took another to go. We get to the locale, which didn’t have chairs, but had an open space for dancing. I ate the second brownie.

I’m grooving on the music, when suddenly, I’m in need of leaning against a wall. I am feeling unwell, maybe. Then even standing became too difficult, and my back slid down the wall, and I sat in a corner, I think, I don’t know.
And I really don’t remember much else, such as how I got home.

Sometime that week, I called Mary. She was SURE she had told me there was hashish in those brownies. Maybe there was a general announcement, but I never heard it.

Every time I hear that intro, I have, if not a flashback, an odd physical recollection. Electric Avenue got to #2 in both the UK and US, for five weeks in the States. It appears on the Killer on the Rampage album, and I heard that track on the radio. I have Electric Avenue on a reggae compilation album with Living on the Frontline.

Listen to:
Electric Avenue HERE or HERE
Killer on the Rampage HERE or HERE
Living on the Frontline HERE (short version) HERE (long version)

Author: Roger

I'm a librarian. I hear music, even when it's not being played. I used to work at a comic book store, and it still informs my life. I won once on JEOPARDY! - ditto.

4 thoughts on “Music Throwback Saturday: Electric Avenue”

  1. “Marijuana the Assassin of Youth!
    You can believe it, you know it’s the truth!
    Marijuana the Assassin of Youth!
    Dah-dah-dah-Dah!”
    (Lyrics courtesy of Roger Owen Green)

  2. Then in the middle 80s, larger Montgomery Ward stores relabeled their electronics/appliances sections as “ELECTRIC AVE.” I hope Eddy Grant got paid.

  3. A certain local electrical contractor (which I would NOT recommend anybody use) uses this song as their holding music when you call them on the phone.

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