VOL. 1, TRACK 12: TOM ROBINSON BAND, “2-4-6-8 MOTORWAY”

All of my Internet sources point to the fact that the Tom Robinson Band’s “2-4-6-8 Motorway” is not an Eighties New Wave track at all — no, no, ladies and gentlemen, it’s actually from 1977! So what in the freak is it doing on an Eighties New Wave compilation, you may ask?

All I can say is, some mysteries will never be solved, and that’s probably for the best. Come to think of it, it’s pretty New Wave to put this song on Living in Oblivion when it’s blatantly so ‘70s, and not New Wave, at all.

This is all by way of saying that I am going to refrain from even ranking or rating this particular track. I mean, it’s not remotely a New Wave song, first of all. It’s a catchy tune, but it’s sort of like… Billy Joel meets Bruce Springsteen? And, as adorable and earnest as the Tom Robinson Band seems, they are not doing the music video thing in this particular clip, because it’s not even a music video! It’s just a lip-synched performance from “Top of the Pops.” (Not that you can’t have an absolutely New Wave time performing on “Top of the Pops”… you think Ian McCulloch from Echo and the Bunnymen played it safe? Nah.)

I am trying to be a friendlier, happier person all around, so how about ending on this note: “2-4-6-8 Motorway” is a tuneful and jubilant tune you won’t be able to get out of your head.

But it is not, and I repeat, not a New Wave song.

💘