Sunday Music: Walking In L.A.

 

No song screams 1980s New Wave more than this debut single from Missing Persons, with lyrics that absolutely ("totally, dude") capture L.A. culture (for some value of that word). It snuck on the charts for about fifteen seconds and hit #70 on the Hot 100, but despite a seemingly lackluster performance, it still crops up on radio playlists more frequently now than much bigger hits from the era. And yes, lead singer Dale Bozzio looked exactly like her album cover pic in live performances, as the quintessential example of "Own your niche". The past is always another country.