While some might chalk L.A.-based new wave band Wall of Voodoo’s big hit Mexican Radio up as a novelty song, it touches on some surprisingly relevant themes. Inspired by the Mexican “border blaster” radio stations the band listened to as they drove around L.A., the song went to #58 in 1982 (#18 in Canada), blending new wave/synth sound with spaghetti western movie soundtrack inspiration. The band themselves provided the inspiration for other hits.
Does the song hold up today? It sure does.
Enjoy some spaghetti western inspo from Ennio Morricone and from Jerry Goldsmith, whose theme for Our Man Flint made an appearance in Wall of Voodoo’s cover of Ring of Fire.
Here’s Joey by Concrete Blonde, inspired by Wall of Voodoo’s guitarist Marc Moreland
And here’s Longview by Green Day, also possibly inspired by Wall of Voodoo? (Or is that a long-shot?)
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Recommendations:
The Hard Way, On Purpose by David Giffels
Pump up the Volume feat. Christian Slater (and an excellent Cohen cover by Concrete Blonde)
Frequency feat. Dennis Quaid
Raising a puppy and needing some help? Let the Monks of New Skete guide you.
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