Frankie Goes To Hollywood – Relax (1983)

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Having already cast his successful spell over ABC and Malcolm McLaren, Trevor Horn’s next project would be a game changer. Frankie Goes to Hollywood’s ‘Relax’ was released by ZTT Records in 1983. The super-producer had gone all in – the layers of electronics, the Linn drum machine and all those drops that would become so familiar on subsequent dance floors. Remixes were abound and a version of the song would feature on the band’s debut album Welcome to the Pleasuredome released in late 1984.

Grace Jones – Slave To The Rhythm (1985)

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In 1985, iconic model Grace Jones and production pioneer Trevor Horn disappeared into the studio to record an album together. Horn was riding high on the back of his work with Frankie Goes to Hollywood on Welcome to the Pleasuredome. Jones had been dabbling with different media – namely her appearances with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Christopher Walken in the movies Conan the Destroyer and A View to a Kill, respectively. The combination of bold production and a larger-than-life persona offered a promise that had the studios diverting the Slave To The Rhythm project to Jones – it was actually originally intended as a Pleasuredome follow-up for FGtH. The promise was fully realised on the album’s title track with its choppy guitars, cinematic horns, lyrical hooks and feature of Ian McShane’s familiar voice.

World’s Famous Supreme Team – Hey DJ (1984)

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It’s been just over 5 years since Malcolm McLaren passed. His career collaborations are both famous and infamous. Less celebrated is his work in 1983/84 with Trevor Horn and DJs Sedivine the Mastermind and Just Allah the Superstar. This is The World’s Famous Supreme Team and ‘Hey DJ’. Great memories.

Propaganda – Duel (1985)

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Propaganda signed to Trevor Horn’s ZTT label and released the brilliant album A Secret Wish. ‘Duel’ followed ‘Jewel’ at the back end of Side A. The avant-synthpop track would be regularly remixed – most famously as ‘Jewelled’, which was used as the music for BBC’s World Rally reports. The original still sounds great – Susanne Freytag’s teutonic vocals are pitch perfect for the sound.

Art Of Noise – Moments In Love (1984)

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After Buggles and before Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Trevor Horn teamed together with music journalist Paul Morley and several other scenesters to create Art Of Noise and its avant-garde synthesised sound. Their ‘Moments In Love’ were their best and have deservedly featured on a plethora of chill-out compilations since.