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The Associates

The Associates were a Scottish post-punk and pop band, formed in Dundee in the late 1970s by singer Billy Mackenzie and guitarist Alan Rankine. 

The group first gained recognition after releasing an unauthorized cover of David Bowie's "Boys Keep Swinging" as their debut single in 1979, which lead to a contract with Fiction Records.



They followed with their debut album 'The Affectionate Punch' in 1980 and the singles collection 'Fourth Drawer Down' in 1981.

The following year they scored hits with  "Party Fears Two" and "Club Country", during which time they were associated with the New Pop movement.




Rankine left the group that year, leaving MacKenzie to record under the Associates name until 1990.

I've also included their cover of 'Heart of Glass' made famous by Blondie.



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