This is a perfect example of how completely ridiculous the vinyl market has become.
Back in 2010, I bought this for $6.99. The sticker is still sitting right there on the sleeve. I checked Amazon just now. Cheapest copy: $62.84. Discogs for a used copy? $48.04.
DAMN.
I’m glad I grabbed this thing when I did because Altered Images is one of my favourite post-punk bands. *Happy Birthday* came out in 1981, and it wasn’t just post-punk either. There’s twee in there. Jangle pop. Goth. All of it rattling around together.
And I love Clare Grogan’s vocals.
She has this bubbly effervescence that’s almost the complete opposite of Siouxsie Sioux, which makes it pretty funny that Grogan and two other members of Altered Images had once belonged to the official Siouxsie Sioux fan club.
What really gets me is how much she can change. One song, she’s sugary sweet. Another song, she can cut your head off.
*Happy Birthday* was a success in the UK. The title track hit number 2 on the Singles Chart and became the band’s biggest hit. The album itself peaked at 26.
It’s now regarded as a post-punk classic and has been reissued several times on CD and vinyl.
I’ve been listening to this band since I was 22 years old. Thanks to the Internet, I had just discovered post-punk and suddenly had access to all these great Scottish bands from the early ’80s, including Josef K and Orange Juice. I remember collecting a pile of songs I found, making my own compilation, and taping the whole thing with my boombox.
So when I finally got *Happy Birthday* on vinyl, I was thrilled.
Eventually I introduced my daughter to it too.
She loves Altered Images.
