The Pleasure Principle cover

The Pleasure Principle

Released

Riding high on his breakthrough success with Replicas, Gary Numan entered the studio for his follow up with an expanded backing band and doubtless hopes that he could achieve even more the next time around — which turned out to be a hell of an understatement. Thanks to the international success of “Cars,” a spectacular example of electronic pop possibilities in the form of a chilly, heavy jam, The Pleasure Principle became a new wave standard, including such key Numan songs as “Metal,” the brooding punch of “Films” and the unsettled ballad “Complex.”

Ned Raggett

Recommended by

Suggestions
Introspective cover

Introspective

Pet Shop Boys
Friend or Foe cover

Friend or Foe

Adam and the Ants
Fear of Music cover

Fear of Music

Talking Heads
Futurology cover

Futurology

Manic Street Preachers
Revenge cover

Revenge

Eurythmics
Low-Life cover

Low-Life

New Order
Dirk Wears White Sox cover

Dirk Wears White Sox

Adam and the Ants