Secret Affair - Business As Usual

Review by Dennis Xu

Business As Usual by Secret Affair: A Retro Gem That Still Packs a Punch Alright, let’s get into it. Business As Usual by Secret Affair is one of those albums that just feels like a time capsule from 1982. You know what I mean? It's got this mix of rock, pop/rock, and alternative vibes with dashes of New Wave, Mod Revival, and Punk/New Wave sprinkled in. Honestly, it’s kinda wild how they managed to blend all these styles without losing their identity. And hey, for an album released across Australia, the UK, Ireland, Germany, Japan—you name it—it still holds up today. The record kicks off with some killer tracks, but two really stuck out to me: “She’s On Fire” and “Somewhere In The City.” Let’s break ‘em down. First up, “She’s On Fire.” Man, this track slaps. Like, straight-up earworm material. The energy hits you right away, and there’s this rawness to the vocals that makes it feel alive. There’s something about the guitar riffs too—they’re sharp enough to cut glass but catchy as hell. Every time I hear it, I’m reminded why punk-infused power pop was such a big deal back then. Plus, can we talk about how many times this song shows up on the album? Three versions! Feels like they really wanted to hammer home how much they loved it. And honestly? They weren’t wrong. Then there’s “Somewhere In The City.” This one feels like walking through neon-lit streets at night—equal parts moody and mysterious. The lyrics paint pictures of urban life, and the beat has this driving rhythm that keeps pulling you forward. It’s not as in-your-face as “She’s On Fire,” but it’s got its own charm. Like, it sneaks up on you after a few listens and suddenly becomes your favorite part of the whole album. Props to producer Martin Griffin (and the rest of the crew) for nailing that vibe. One thing I gotta mention—the production quality here is solid. Mastered by JA (whoever you are, good job!) and produced by a team including Nick Tauber and even the band itself, everything sounds tight. No sloppy edges or muddy mixes. Even the photography by Tommy Wroblewski gives the whole package this cohesive retro-modern look. Shoutout to Cooke Key for the design work too; the cover art totally fits the era. Now, here’s the kicker. Listening to this album made me realize something kinda funny. For all its polish and genre-blending brilliance, Business As Usual almost feels… underrated now. Sure, Secret Affair had their moment, especially during the Mod Revival scene, but where’s the love for this record these days? Maybe it’s because people think of bigger names from the early '80s when they think of New Wave or Punk. But trust me, if you dig deeper than the surface-level classics, this album deserves way more props. So yeah, give Business As Usual a spin if you haven’t already. Whether you’re vibing to “She’s On Fire” or getting lost in “Somewhere In The City,” it’s clear Secret Affair knew how to craft tunes that stick. Oh, and fun fact—if you listen closely, you might catch yourself wondering why more bands don’t sound like this anymore. Just saying. Final thought? If aliens landed tomorrow and asked for proof humans could make cool music, I’d hand them this album. Then maybe ask if they’ve got any space snacks while we’re at it.

Download Secret Affair - Business As Usual

Artist: Secret Affair
Album: Business As Usual

1982

Rating: 4.2

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Filename: secret-affair-business-as-usual.zip

MP3 size: 143 mb
FLAC size: 1216.6 mb

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Tracks

Track	Duration	Preview
Follow the Leader	2:52
The Big Beat	2:49
I Could Be You	2:42
Somewhere in the City	03:10
She's On Fire	3:9
Follow The Leader	3:01
Lost In The Night	3:32
Three Wise Monkeys	3:29
She's on Fire	03:09
Somewhere In the City	3:10
She's On Fire	3:35
One Voice in the Darkness	03:19
Hide and Seek	3:2
Lost In the Night (Mack the Knife)	3:27
Somewhere In The City	3:20
Hide And Seek	3:11
Dancemaster	3:8
One Day (In Your Life)	4:11
One Voice In the Darkness	3:19
One Voice In The Darkness	3:23
Do You Know?	3:56
Lost in the Night	03:27

Video

Secret Affair Lost in The night

Do you know - Secret affair

Lost in the night - Secret affair

secret affair - one voice in the darkness

Secret affair 'Do you know' on BBC 'Swap show'

Images

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Catalog Numbers

Labels

Arista
Captain Mod
Arista Records
I-Spy Records
Vivid Sound Corporation, Gang Stage Hipstars

Listen online

online anhören
ascolta in linea
online luisteren
ouvir online
escuchar en línea
écouter en ligne
lytte på nettet
lyssna på nätet
kuunnella verkossa

Formats

Vinyl
LP
Album
CD
Reissue
Cassette

Companies

Role	Company
Distributed By	I-Spy Records
Licensed Through	Ariola Eurodisc GmbH
Record Company	Arista Records Ltd.
Copyright (c)	Arista Records Ltd.
Printed By	Mohndruck Graphische Betriebe GmbH
Phonographic Copyright (p)	Arista Records Ltd.
Published By	Bryan Morrison Music Ltd.
Pressed By	Sonopress
Marketed By	Arista Records
Lacquer Cut At	Tape One
Manufactured By	Polygram Record Operations Ltd.
Mastered At	Master Room

Credits

Role	Credit
Producer	Martin Griffin (tracks: A1 to B1, B3, B4, B6), Nick Tauber (tracks: A1 to B1, B3, B4, B6), Secret Affair (tracks: A1 to B1, B3, B4, B6), Simon Fraser (tracks: A1 to B1, B3, B4, B6)
Written-By	Cairns, Page
Design	Cooke Key
Mastered By	JA (tracks: A1 to A6)
Photography By	Tommy Wroblewski
Lacquer Cut By	JA (tracks: A1 to A6)

Notes

Made In Germany
Imprimé en République Fédérale d'Allemagne
Irish print Arista paper labels with slight misprint of Track 3 Side A - as "So You Know?"
P & C: 1981 Arista Records Ltd., England
Some Sleeves Have "Promotion Copy Not For Resale" On Rear Of Cover Embossed In Gold

Barcodes

Rights Society: GEMA
Rights Society: STEMRA
Label Code (On label): LC3484
Matrix / Runout: Made in Germany 204496 A-1/82 S III
Matrix / Runout: Made in Germany 204496 B-1/82 S III
Label Code (On sleeve): LC7488
Other (On sleeve): Germany -320
Other (On sleeve): France AE 260
Label Code (On sleeve): LC 7488
Price Code: Germany -320
Price Code: France AE 260
Pressing Plant ID (B-Side label, embossed): [Bass clef]
Barcode: 5 032556 201421
Matrix / Runout (A-Side Label): SMX-59053
Matrix / Runout (B-Side Label): SMX-59054
Matrix / Runout (Runout A stamped / etched): I SPY 3 A // 2 ∇420 T 1 4 5 JA TAPE ONE
Matrix / Runout (Runout B stamped): I SPY 3 B // 1 ∇420 R 1 1
Matrix / Runout (runout A stamped / etched): I SPY 3 A // 2 ∇420 T 1 4 5 JA TAPE ONE
Matrix / Runout (runout B stamped): I SPY 3 B // 1 ∇420 R 1 1
Barcode: 4540399081199
Matrix / Runout (A Side Hand-Etched Runout): I-204.496-A-1N¹
Matrix / Runout (B Side Hand-Etched Runout): I-204.496-B-1N¹
Rights Society: SGAE
Depósito Legal: B-25837-1982
Other (Impuesto De Lujo A Metálico. Permiso Nº): 6649
Barcode: 5 032556 201629

About Secret Affair

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Power pop - mod band Active since the late 70's

Members

Ian Page
David Cairns
Dennis Smith
Paul Bultitude
Dave Winthrop
Seb Shelton
Russ Baxter

Interesting fact about Album

Did you know that *Business As Usual* by Secret Affair is like a musical time capsule from 1982? It’s wild how this album blends genres like Rock, Pop/Rock, and Alternative with styles such as New Wave and Mod Revival. The band managed to mix it all into one record. Tracks like "She's On Fire" and "Somewhere In The City" show off their knack for catchy hooks and raw energy. Fun fact: the same mastering engineer, JA, handled tracks A1 to A6, giving part of the album a consistent vibe. Plus, photography by Tommy Wroblewski added a striking visual edge. Released across countries from Australia to Japan, it became a global Mod anthem. Pretty cool for an album that feels both chaotic and cohesive, right?

Comments

cavaliercareer

2025-03-13

One the greatest sounds in 'pop music' history came fom Secret Affair!
Over 40 yrs on and I still believe this statement.

robinsaknests

2025-03-13

Paul Baltitude on drums replacing Seb Shelton, who moved away to join Dexys Midnight Runners MKII

penelopedelacruz

2025-03-12

the times lok so bright

proffico

2025-03-11

Up there with there best tracks .. totally loved these guys n still do .. im 56 now but still a mod at heart .. never really leaves you if you truly got it !

jamiebenedetto

2025-03-11

This is a grat song from a great album. I used to be a mod in the early 8Ts, though it`s a shame, that Secret Affair were dumped for just being a Mod Band - they deserved much more.

murrayjanelle16

2025-03-11

good video

avvcaterinaarcuri

2025-03-11

Been listening to Business As Usual (the album that includes this song) over and over this past week and I must say that overall, it's the best Secret Affair album. Trouser Press magazine was way, way off of its dismissal and thumbs-down of this very fine lp back in the day (shame on you!). Go figure, eh?