THE TOURISTS - Luminous Basement

The Tourists are best remembered as the launching pad for Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart prior to Eurythmics, but in its three-album existence the band released some truly excellent power pop that stands strong on its own. In fact, the only major similarity between The Tourists and Eurythmics is that Lennox and Stewart were involved in both. Musically, the former took a much more organic approach to pop, emphasizing 60s-styled, Byrds-eque guitars instead of cold synths. Also, Lennox wasn't fully in the spotlight yet, as lead songwriter and guitarist Peet Coombes shared lead vocal duties.

By request, here is the band's third and final LP, Luminous Basement. It didn't score any significant British chart success as singles (I Only Want to Be With You, So Good to Be Back Home Again) from previous albums had, but it remains a strong power pop record with plenty of memorable, energetic tunes such as Angels and Demons, Don't Say I Told You So and So You Want to Go Away Now.

After the release of this album The Tourists fizzled out as Lennox and Stuart broke off to release the experimental In the Garden, their debut record as Eurythmics. The rest is history, and sadly The Tourists have remained unheard by even many fans of the duo.

The Tourists - Luminous Basement (LP, 1980)

Track listing:
1 - Talk to Me
2 - Walls and Foundations
3 - Week Days
4 - So You Want to Go Away Now
5 - I'm Going to Change My Mind
6 - One Step Nearer the Edge
7 - Don't Say I Told You So
8 - Angels and Demons
9 - Time Drags So Slow
10 - Let's Take a Walk
11 - From the Middle Room
12 - Round Round Blues