There was a rock song I believe in 1988 (Around the time Steve
Winwood's Roll with it baby was out). Unfortunatley I dont know too
much about it. This song was on the radio (Probably 94HJY Providence
(rock hits) for about 2-3 months if I remember right). I dont think
the band had too many other hits, this was possibly a one hit wonder
(although It probably doesnt qualify as a hit, cause nobody seems to
remember it). But this song did get some airplay. Im not even sure of
the words, but I remember singing something like "Sound the alarms,
the blank blank blank in the killing fields". Where the blanks I used
to kind of hum along... I could be totally wrong, about even the words
that are there. The sound was kind of mellow, low key from what I
remember. I have been trying to find out who sang this song for a long
long time. I remember listening to this song probably lates Spring/
Early Summer of 88. Although I could be a year off, Possibly be 87. It
definitely wasnt 86 or 89, and Im almost certain it was 88.

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Request for Question Clarification by scriptor-ga on 08 Dec 2003 13:39 PST

Dear jumpinjflash,

Do the lyrics of this 1987 song look familiar? Unfortunately, I have
not found a recording of this song yet, so I can't examine how it
sounds so far.

Regards,
Scriptor

--
Good as dead, ..... stays cool, the meat stays warm
Shit is coming on, read the signs, sound the alarms

Patty's killing Mel
Senseless murder I can tell
Patty's Killing Mel
..... cocktail send him in to hell

Diggin' up a bone, you can't tell him not to eat
Is it safe? A deadly game, I will repeat

Susie's killing Sal
Bobby's killing Joe
..... their blood, who's to know?
...... killing Dale
Sally' killing Sam
Get to close you'll understand

Patty? 
Yes Mel?
Is that dustbin in the counter? Does this mean you don't love me anymore?

Patty's killing Mel
High rise .... and condo jail
Patty's killing Mel
Hide the keys, raise the bail
Patty's killing Mel
Right next to the danger zone
Patty's killing Mel
Down the block close to your home
Patty's killing Mel
--

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Clarification of Question by jumpinjflash-ga on 08 Dec 2003 14:10 PST

Hi, I dont think that would be the one... That one sounds like a rap
song. I dont think this one would have swears in it either... This
would be more tame and mellow... I almost thought that Steve winwood
might do it, However I have searched all through his songs, and havent
seen anything close. I have searched quite a bit myself over the
years. I dont think its going to be too easy. Its not Echo and The
bunny men either :-) They have a song called Killing Fields or
something like that, that I though it might be. I really liked this
song but unfortunately never caught the artist. If it helps, I mostly
liked the Hard Rock stuff venturing into Heavy Metal. But not too too
heavy (until later years :-)) So Iron Maiden and Megadeth would be
out. Liked U2, Guns N Roses, Bon Jovi, (hair bands, Cinderella, Poison
etc., White Tiger) And that is the type of music that 94HJY would play
for the most part. There was a band called Camoflage or somethign that
I almost think could have done this, but Im not sure. This would
certainly be a more mello song though. I cant picture a Hair Band or
Rap Band doing it. The chorus "Sound the Alarms, the blank blank blank
in the killing fields" was definitely sung, not Shouted (rap) or
chanted. Hope this helps better define it. I think the band that would
do this would be a bit more eccentric... Like "The Cure". Thanks for
the very quick reply. -Jason

---

Clarification of Question by jumpinjflash-ga on 08 Dec 2003 14:34 PST

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000003C4Z/qid=1070922548//ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl15/104-5154892-2255933?v=glance&s=music&n=507846

Sample of Patty's Killing Mel by the Circle Jerks. This isnt it. Good
Shot though... I was looking at Winwood's  Roll With it album, It came
out in June, 88. I remember this song being played around the same
time with Roll with it... So Im almosy positive it had to be in the
summer of 88 that this song was out.

Thanks again,
Jason

---

Request for Question Clarification by markj-ga on 09 Dec 2003 16:37 PST

Jason --

The more I think about it, especially the cadence of the lyric excerpt
I found, the more it seems like this may be the song you are looking
for. I will be able to get back to this project first thing tomorrow
morning, but I warn that you have looked long and hard, and I doubt
that a sample of the song or the complete lyric can be found online
(although I have been wrong before).

Do I understand from your comment that you would like me to post an
answer that fills out the information I have found, along with a full
explanation of my search strategy and sources for obtaining a used
copy of the recording -- even if I or someone else cannot come up with
the conclusive evidence of complete lyrics or an audio sample?

markj-ga

---

Request for Question Clarification by markj-ga on 09 Dec 2003 16:40 PST

Whoops -- I meant to say that *I* "have looked long and hard" for the
complete lyrics and an audio sample.

markj-ga

---

Request for Question Clarification by markj-ga on 09 Dec 2003 16:46 PST

Jason --

One more thing for you to think about (although you probably already
have) is whether the phrase "sound alarm" sounds more right than
"sound the alarm(s)" that you initially thought was the phrase you
remembered.

markj-ga

---

Clarification of Question by jumpinjflash-ga on 09 Dec 2003 19:44 PST

markj, I found a sample of "Sound Alarm" by Michael Anderson at MSN
music. Of course you have to be a member to play it. But you can sign
up for a 1 month trial (which I did)

http://entertainment.msn.com/album/?song=1576648&album=172924

Congrats! This is the song and thank you very much. I have seriously
been trying to find this song for years and years. Please post
whatever information that you have found on the song. It was well
worth the $20.00 too finally get this answered. And so quick too! I
really didnt think I would ever get the answer, especially on so
little info too. Glad I at least remembered the timeframe. If you
could explain how you found it too, I'd appreciate it. I have tried
every combination I could think of in search engines and File Sharing
programs. Truly, Thanks again. -Jason

---

Clarification of Question by jumpinjflash-ga on 09 Dec 2003 19:56 PST

Hi, Sorry, I gave you the wrong link, that one will take you to a
Sounds Like list. Not quite the same.

http://entertainment.msn.com/album/?song=3331031&album=431230

This one will take you to a list of songs. "Sound Alarm" is the 6th
song. Its only a 30 second clip, but its enough. Please post what ever
info you found on this song including places to buy. Thanks.

Jason --

Thanks for your clarification, and congratulations on finding the
audio clip that nailed down the answer.

As we now know, the track you were looking for is called "Sound
Alarm," written and performed by Michael Anderson.  It was first
released by A&M records on an LP and cassette of the same name, and on
a 45rpm single, in 1988.  Here is a link to an A&M discography page
that pinpoints the release date at August of that year:
A&M Album Discography, Part 12 (Near top of page -- scroll to "SP 5203)
http://www.bsnpubs.com/aandm/aandm12-5200.html

The song reached #17 on the "Mainstream Rock" chart, according to Billboard.com:
All Music Guide: Sound Alarm: Chart Information
http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&uid=UIDMISS70311080805342637&sql=TRqhja7i8jg7dr

As you know, the track was rereleased on CD in 1998 as part of a 2-CD
"contemporary Christian" music compilation on the ForeFront label
called "X [or 'ten']: The Birthday Album."  This compilation is listed
at Amazon.com, but is apparently out of stock. Here is a link to the
list of new and used copies for sale for under $10 through Amazon by
private sellers:
Amazon.com:   ForeFront Records: Ten, The Birthday Album
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/stores/offering/list/-/B000007TF4/all/ref=dp_pb_a/104-4643193-1663904

The compilation is also available from a variety of Christian music
specialists, including, for example, this one for $6:
The Jesus Underground
http://www.thejesusunderground.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=VAR210

Copies of the 1988 "Sound Alarm" album are also available from private
sellers, such as these offering the item in various formats through
MusicStack at $3 and up:
MusicStack: Michael Anderson
http://www.musicstack.com/tsearch/anderson,_michael/sound_alarm


Additional Sites:

Here is a link to the Canadian Amazon.ca page that contains the
snippet of the lyrics to Sound Alarm, posted in a customer review,
that led to the solving of the mystery:
Amazon.ca: Alice Cooper: Dragontown (about halfway down the page)
http://www.amazon.ca/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/music/B00006J40D/customer-reviews/701-3835986-9122755




Search Strategy:

I took a couple of stabs at your question when it was first posted,
but was unsuccessful because I included some variation of the phrase
"killing fields" in all the searches I devised.  The ultimately
successful work began after your comment in which you said, "It may
not be "killing fields" at all."

That prompted me to focus solely on the other snippet from the lyric
that you offered -- "sound the alarms."  I went first to the All Music
Guide and looked for song titles that included variations of this
phrase.  There turned out to be several, so I checked out each one by
song type, date of recording release, etc.

The one that seemed most promising on the face of it was the Michael
Anderson recording called "Sound Alarm."  The All-Music Guide entry is
linked here:
All Music Guide
http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&uid=UIDMISS70311080805342637&sql=A3u6cmpp39ffo

As noted above. this page indicates that the album falls into the
"rock" category, and the link on that page to chart information
indicated the #17 position reached by the single.

Then came the real work of trying to find persuasive evidence that
this was the recording you are looking for.  I was pessimistic at
first because of the "CCM" ("Contemporary Christian") genre
designation for "Sound Alarm" on the All Music Guide page linked
above, and because the artist was and is fairly obscure and seemed to
be identified with Christian music.

The first key piece of information came in the form of some
confirmation that the "Sound Alarm" album was at least largely
secular:
The Exhaustive Christian Music Discography (scroll to "Michael
Anderson," about halfway down the page)
http://ccmdiscography.150m.com/A-WebSite.html
 
The clincher was the discovery of the lyrics excerpt that seemed to
fit both the theme and meter of the lyrics you recalled.  The Google
search that uncovered that information high among its results was this
one:

rock music "michael anderson" "sound alarm"
://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&q=rock+music+%22michael+anderson%22+%22sound+alarm%22



Because of our "conversation" in comments and clarifications I am
totally confident that "Sound Alarm" by Michael Anderson is the song
you are looking for.  If any on the above is unclear, please ask for
clarification before rating this answer.


markj-ga

Incredible research at breakneck speed. If I could rate higher I
would. Very impressed with researcher markj-ga and google answers.

Any chance that it's a song by Scanner off their Hypertrace album
called "the Killing Fields" (1988) with the following lyrics?

8. The Killing Fields

They are soldiers too blind too see
Fighting for their own damnation
See the honour and pride in their chests
Targets feeding guns
There's too much hate to hear the warning
On killing fields where nobody wins

No denying they are the strongest
Blowing out their mother country
Independence - What is the value?
What has made them pay the price?
It's much too late to hear the warning
On killing fields where nobody wins

All men of steel and hearts of ivory
See the comrades side by side
Under fire seems like eternity
A game, sinister
The souls are sold where is the ecstasy?
Where are the bold? Times change
Is there a need for all the wasted youth?
They call it war!

The souls are bold, a newfound ecstasy
The guns are sold, values change
The sirens howl a short infinity
The airforce whispers
The war was cold, now it has turned to flames
Nobody knows the reason why
Is there a need for all this wasted life
There must be more!!

They never wait to hear the warning
On killing fields where nobody wins

There's a fight on the hill
Even time is standing still
But they never will know the score

(War is just a game of tools
Still it's the same, still it's the same
War is made by leading fools
Nothing remains, nothing remains)

[This is from: http://www.darklyrics.com/lyrics/scanner/hypertrace.html]

Search Strat. "killing fields" 1988

Perhaps it was a British band called the La's. They had a song called
"Son of a Gun" around this time.

Here are the lyrics:
If you want I'll sell you a life story/ 
About a man who's at loggerheads with his past all the time. 
He's alive and living in purgatory. 
All he's doing is rooming in hotels/ 
And scooping up lots of wine. 
There was once a boy of life/ 
Who lived upon a knife. 
He took his share of everywhere/ 
But he never took a wife. 
He was born to live like a mercenary. 
Well personally I think that's fine/ 
If you're in the right mind. 
He was burned by the twentieth century/ 
Now he's doing time/ 
In the back of his mind/ 
He can hear them outside. 
Better run, Rabbit run/ 
Run into the sun/ 
Kick your heels in the killing fields. 
Run rabbit run/ 
You're a son of a gun.

If the Cure came to your mind, Jumpinjflash, the song you're looking
for might be classified as New Wave in the 80's, or maybe indie and
britpop in modern terms. Do you recall if the vocals of the voice
sounded deep, like the lead singer of Camouflage, or with British
accent or anything like that about the vocals? How about the music,
was it electric-guitar dominated, or did it have synthesizer sounds?
It could be a guide to help someone remember a song that might have
sounded like the one you were looking for. Know any other song you
think it might be similar to?

Sorry Guys, Neither The La's or Scanner are the ones. I actually found
samples of both songs online. Scanner was definitely too metal, and
the guys voice too high pitched. This was somewhat of a mellow song. I
also think that whoever did it while possibly being somewhat eccentric
(like I said above) would also be pretty mainstream (if thats
possible). I probably should explain 94 HJY Providence RI a little
more where I'm sure is where I heard it... 94 HJY Would be your
typical 80's hard rock commercial station. Not a college station. They
would be pretty much playing run of the mill chart toppers. They
wouldnt venture out into fringe at all, unless for some reason the
fringe was a real hit. The lead singer was defintitely a Male. Kind of
a smooth, not harsh voice. The whole song kind of flowed well. This
song was also on quite a bit as I remember, so it had to be somewhere
on the charts, though maybe close to the bottom. It was only on from
two to three months. I may also be leading you guys down the wrong
tracks with the lyrics. It may not be "killing fields" at all. Could
be "Katie Feels", or "Commie Leers". It sounded to me like "killing
fields", but could be totally off base. I think the main things to
focus on would be. 88 Summer Low End Hard Rock hits. This could even
possibly be a somewhat popular band that I just didnt recognize. Tom
Petty?  I just dont know. I think the person who would be able to
answer this would have to be a well knowledged DJ in the Late 80s. Or
somebody who had access to the top 100-200 hard rock songs in
May-September of 88.

I'll hazard posting this link to a 1988 song by Bathory:

BATHORY LYRICS - Blood Fire Death (1988)
http://www.darklyrics.com/lyrics/bathory/bloodfiredeath.html

Please tell me if it could be the one or not.

While I couldnt Listen to the specific song 'Blood Fire Death' by
Blathory, I did listen to a couple of other songs from that album. I
dont think that Bathory would have produced the song I have stuck in
my head :-) I did read some about Bathory and how the song Blood Fire
Death may be more mellow then some of the others,
however I dont think the song I am looking for fits in with this
album.  Maybe try more along these lines ( I know its an eclectic mix
)  Depeche Mode, Camouflage, Tom Petty, The Cure, Steve Winwood.
Thanks again.

Jason  --

Does this lyrics excerpt sound familiar?

"Sound alarm
It's Armageddon R.S.V.P.
Sound alarm
Babylon's burning sea to sea."


It's from a song called "Sound Alarm", written and sung by Michael
Anderson.  It was released in August 1988 as a single (and on an LP of
the same name), and it reached #17 on the "Mainstream Rock" chart.

Unfortunately, that's the only piece of the lyrics that I have found,
and I haven't found an audio clip from the track of the two
out-of-print recordings on which it was included.  Used copies of
those CD and LP recordings are available online, however.

I can provide an audio clip or two from other later Anderson
performances, but I must caution you that he has metamorphosed into an
all Christian, all the time, singer-songwriter, and the clips
apparently do not represent his singing style on the 1988 recording.

Here is a link to several clips from a 1993 CD:
Elibron: Michael Anderson
http://www.elibron.com/english/other/author_list_la.phtml?artist_id=99265


What do you think?

markj-ga

markj, This could quite possibly be it. Everything fits pretty well. I
am still looking for a sample of the song online. Where did you find
the infromation about this songs place on the charts? and the Lyrics?
If this
turns out to be it I will be very impressed. And if not it Im still pretty
impressed at this find. This has got to be it though... #17 and the lyrics
could be sung in such a way that they would match what has been dancing in my
brain for 15 years. Wow. Please let me know if you can find a copy
online. Again truly impressed either way, Thanks.

Jason --

Thanks very much for the rating, the kind words and the nice tip.

markj-ga