I’m returning to my top 50 favorite rock bands. In this video series, I’m identifying the best three albums by each band. This blog is for band #34 – The Fixx.
Criteria for selecting the best three albums
First, the band must have released more than three albums. Second Greatest Hits albums are permitted. You will see one today for a very specific reason and I also want to mention that I have a bone to pick with this band. Third no live albums are allowed. The Fixx released a few live albums that are pretty good.
The third-best album by this band is their greatest hits
There actually have a few different flavors of greatest hits albums and that gets to the bone I have to pick with this band. They really limit access to their music on both Spotify and Apple Music. I’m not really sure why. It’s kind of odd they stand out from other bands. If you go look on either one of those platforms you’ll see very limited access and some of their albums just aren’t even available. Come on Fixx free the music so other people can enjoy how awesome your band is.
The second-best album by The Fixx
The second-best album by The Fixx is Reach the Beach. This may be a surprise choice. This album was released in the early 80s and it was super popular with mega-hit songs “One Thing Leads to Another”, “Saved by Zero”, and several other excellent songs. Why is it, not #1? I’ll explain in just a moment.
The best album by The Fixx
The best Fixx album is the one they released after Reach the Beach called Phantoms. Why is it better? The music and songs are better. Sure it did not sell nearly as many copies but it is a really really good album. I own it on vinyl. It contains the hit song “Are We Ourselves” as well as “Woman on a Train”, “Sunshine in the Shade”, and “Lost in Battles Overseas”. Some of you are thinking I’ve never heard of any of those songs. You haven’t. You’ve probably never listened to them before. Get this album and listen to the whole thing – it’s that good.
There you have it – the three best Fixx albums. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.
I am Doug Keating and this is my letter to my sons.
Ultimate Fixx is a better compilation.
Agree – that is also a great compilation.
I think the availability issue of the albums has to do with MCA records folding (my speculation). Phantoms is on of my all-time favorites as well! There’s two very good recent albums currently streaming.
That makes sense. I agree – some of the recent releases are good and available.