The Vapors

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Guildford, United Kingdom (1979 – 1981)

The Vapors were a new wave band from England that existed between 1979 and 1981.

Based in Guildford, United Kingdom, their members were David Fenton (songwriter, guitar and vocals), Howard Smith (drums), Edward Bazalgette (lead guitar) and Steve Smith (bass guitar and vocals).

Their early musical style owed a great deal to New Wave and Mod influences such as The Jam, Secret Affair and The Jags. Indeed, they were discovered and managed by The Jam’s manager John Weller.

The song for which they are mainly remembered, “Turning Japanese”, was produced by The Jam’s producer Vic Coppersmith-Heaven and hit the Top Three in the UK at the same time that “Going Underground” was at number one.

The Vapors were not one-hit wonders. Follow-up singles “News at Ten”, and “Jimmie Jones”, both coincidentally reached number 44 in the UK Singles Chart.

The band released two albums: New Clear Days (the pun on “nuclear” being intentional) and Magnets.

Tagged as:

new wave, 80s, punk, british, pop
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New Clear Days
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Turning Japanese - Best Of The Vapors
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Vaporized
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Turning Japanese: The Best of the Vapors
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Top Tracks

1	Turning Japanese full track	1,185
2	News At Ten full track	48
3	I Think I'm Turning Japanese	36
4	Spring Collection full track	32
5	Waiting For The Weekend full track	31
6	Sixty Second Interval full track	28
7	Prisoners full track	26
8	Bunkers full track	20
9	Trains full track	18
10	America full track	16
10	Turning Japenese	16
12	Somehow full track	15
13	Talk Talk full track	14
13	Here Comes The Judge (Live) full track	14
13	Jimmie Jones full track	14

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TheOnlyRoc wrote:
20 days ago

Only heard bits of the hit song on radio. It would give me a headache.

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ladyemero wrote:
last month

i'm a sixty second Interval.. lover. I get goosebumps from the bass, mind the bass on loads of their songs is fantastic, they have so many great songs

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lordofanywhere wrote:
August 2009

I love Isolated Case!!!

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rockyn48 wrote:
July 2009

They(The Vapors) were only a one hit wonder in the states, they kicked a** in Europe for several years.

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brownieboy wrote:
June 2009

America and turning Japanese A+++

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kissyfaces wrote:
June 2009

Brings great nostalgia that i actually never experienced. good ol' new wave...

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Setrungo wrote:
June 2009

Saw the Vapors supporting the Jam at Birmingham's Bingley Hall (sadly demolished now) in the year "nineteen hundred and frozen to death". The Jam were superb but the Vapors more than held their own and had the place rocking by the end of their set. Ahhh - memories.

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AllyWonderland wrote:
May 2009

I feel shame I only know "Turning Japanese."

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Mark-Bold wrote:
April 2009

The New Wave-Rock Blockbuster "Flashback": http://www.lastfm.de/music/Mark+Bold

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MrHamasakiSRS wrote:
April 2009

I'm Japanese by now lol great song!

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DepechedinNC wrote:
March 2009

Oh, the good ole days...my VERY intro to the bright new world of "real" music--my ex-husband indoctrinated me when I was 14 in 1981 and I have never been the same... lol

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idaly5 wrote:
March 2009

i love'em , new clear days is great, magntes is even better, if you think the vapors means turning japanese is beacause you don't know them, yeah was their only hit, but they have really good songs

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beoulve wrote:
March 2009

A-HA is only a one hit wonder in USA...

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eriqk wrote:
February 2009

word

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icyhead wrote:
January 2009

why do you all take one hit wonder as an insult? it just means they only had one commercially popular song, not that they only had one good song.

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vickyheywood-x wrote:
November 2008

lmao aww at the one hit wonder comment :')

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ZodzMaverick wrote:
November 2008

One hit wonder, just like A-Ha.

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william_benton wrote:
November 2008

"Civic Hall" is a favorite. My favorite sentimental tune about a drug bust.

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KingHeff wrote:
October 2008

i think the entire album of new clear days is great... one hit wonder my ass... just because it wasnt all 'popular' music its all good

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UB67 wrote:
October 2008

best one hit wonder ever!

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