When the Boom Was On — release notes

Emotional Rescue's reissue of the band's six-song "mini-album" (as the format was known then), originally released in 1983.

Furniture started in 1979 and were already veterans of the London club circuit by the time of the mini-album's release. Used to swimming against prevailing tides — playing the flute in front of punks, citing John Barry instead of The Clash as an influence, "becoming adept at not quite fitting in." Their name itself confused seekers of mystery or glamour.

Initially played a punk'n'funk hybrid supporting bands like Funkapolitan and The Birthday Party. After one self-released 7" single and a line-up change, the core trio — Jim Irvin (vocals, percussion, keyboards), Hamilton Lee (drums and percussion) and Tim Whelan (guitars, keyboards, vocals) — signed to Survival/Premonition records.

Musical influences cited: Chic, Can, Sinatra, Isley Brothers, The Shangri Las, Sun Ra, Dexys Midnight Runners. Drew on the early-'80s London jazz revival aesthetic — "up to a point."

Jim Irvin quote: "We were suburban kids from Ealing and Hounslow, and we didn't see the point in pretending to be star material. We knew about being heartbroken in smoky pubs, so we sang about that. Most bands were being new romantics, doing the post-punk skronk or Numan/League/OMD electro. We came on in our street clothes and mixed it all up. I resented the '80s for its insistence that everyone stay in lane. We wanted to weave about a bit."

Scratched into the run-out groove of When The Boom Was On: "Death of the Cool, pt.1".

Live shows added guest musicians on violin, sax, trombone or double bass. At the trendy Camden Palace they "won over the crowd with their off-beat ordinariness." Media response was slow.

- "Transatlantic Code" — compares the clichés of a certain type of American romance (Bogart, Sinatra, Dean) to the reality of life in West London
- "They're On Me" — "probably one of very few pop songs to feature double bass and the word 'newsagent'"
- "Robert Nightman's Story" — centerpiece of early live shows, powered by a riff on marimba and Tim's abrasive rhythm guitar; Jim "flirting with American imagery, evoking a character who is 'jumping the cars on the mystery train'"
- "I Miss You" — "a Furniture classic, later showcased live on TV show, The Tube, a torch song so good you'd think Julie London might have cut it"
- "Why Are We In Love" — sung by Tim Whelan; "a key reason for the revival of interest in the band." Hami's pattering rhythm part and the sweet clarinet melody played by longstanding guest member Larry Whelan (Tim's brother). Has attracted a following among "discerning DJs," making original pressings increasingly rare
- "A Letter To Myself" — together with "Why Are We In Love" introduced the band's new, expanded line-up adding Sally Still (bass, vocals) and Maya Gilder (keyboards), the configuration that would endure until the band stopped in 1990

Self-produced. Recorded in Denmark Street and at various small facilities in West London. Described as "both nostalgic and curiously modern."

The reissue was carefully remastered and repackaged, followed by the companion EP On Broken Glass (12" mixes from several lesser-known but equally intriguing EPs).