My Insipid Record Collection – The House of Love

All You Need is Love this month.   That and your mortgage payment of course.   Happy Saturday everyone.   Today’s post is about an English band called The House of Love.  Their heyday was between 1986 and 1993, but apparently they reformed the last couple of years and are making another go of it.  Good for them.   I don’t know how many bands in history named their first two records the same thing (I’m going to overlook  the eccentric brilliance of Peter Gabriel for purposes of this discussion), but The House of Love had two records, on different labels with different songs, called The House of Love right out of the chute.  The first one was released in 1988.  The record I came to discuss today was released in 1990.  To avoid confusion, Wikipedia states, the CD in question here is commonly referred to as Fontana (the label) or The Butterfly album.   Now I just need my Duncan Butterfly yo-yo from 1972 for synergy.

I have to admit, I did love the cover of this record.   It was simple and beautiful.   I know the value of album artwork has declined significantly with the onset of the CD, but it still resonates with me a bit.   Let’s be clear though; I bought this CD because I loved the music.   It’s kind of funny; when I go back and do research for these posts  I sometimes can’t recall if a song was actually a hit on the radio or if I just put it on one of my famous mixed tapes and made it a “hit” in my own world and mind.   Fortunately much of that information is available so I don’t look like the moron that I am.   I’m an album guy anyway, screw the singles…yeah that’s right, I’m old school…

The first incarnation of The House of Love released five studio albums between 1988 and 1993 before taking a long sabbatical.   It seems one of them, 1990′s A Spy in The House of Love, was a mishmash of B-Sides and outtakes.  Don’t quote me on that, but I didn’t really care.   The Butterfly Album had great singles on it like “I Don’t Know Why I Love You, Shine On and Beatles and The Stones.”   I might have heard ”I Don’t Know Why I Love You” three times before I was madly in love with that song.   I’m not a religious man at all, but I was completely clueless about the lyrics of this song.  I had no idea of the religious overtones until many listens later.  I still don’t really care, but it is interesting.  It kind of reminds me of when I finally figured out what Matthew Sweet was singing about in “Divine Intervention.”  I know what you’re thinking…”what gave it away moron?”…but I don’t give lyrics as much weight as the music itself.   I was in love with both of these songs almost the instant I heard them.   If it has a good riff I could care less what the hell the band is singing about.  Sounds absurd I know, but sometimes that’s just how it is for me.   Don’t hold it against me.

As far as I’m concerned, The House of Love had four absolutely stellar singles (the fourth being “Marble” from 1990′s A Spy in The House of Love).  I’m sure there were others and honestly I have no idea what their newer material sounds like.   I’ll have to investigate and get back to you.  The point is, this was “Indie” music circa 1990.   When I was Googling the CD one of the hits said “An Indie Classic!”  I can buy that.  I’ve always had a strong affinity for these songs and now I’m leaving them here for you to enjoy.  Love-itis month continues!

The House of Love – I Don’t Know Why I Love You.mp3

The House of Love – Shine On.mp3

The House of Love – Beatles and The Stones.mp3

The House of Love – Marble.mp3

The House of Love – Marble.mp3 YSI

Buy or download The House of Love (Butterfly) from Amazon here.