Of the bands not included on Rhino’s Brit Box, one that truly deserves reconsideration is the Railway Children. Formed in 1984 in Northern England, the Railway Children are perhaps best remembered for their 1990 hit “Every Beat of the Heart.” However, it’s the band’s first two albums that remain somewhat forgotten gems of late ’80s indie-pop sound.

Although originally signed to the legendary Factory Records –- home of Joy Division, New Order, and Happy Mondays –- the Railway Children’s aesthetic had little in common with the burgeoning rave and “Madchester” sounds. Centered around the photogenic singer-songwriter Gary Newby, the Railway Children were a Smiths-influenced band whose combination of blue-eyed soul and melodic guitar-based pop also shared similarities with the more theatrical new romantic outfits like Haircut 100 and ABC.

Both their 1987 debut Reunion Wilderness and the 1988 Virgin Records sophomore effort Recurrence reveal the band’s knack for marrying darkly organic college rock with savvy radio-friendly production. In that sense, the band also brings to mind the influential Scottish ensemble Orange Juice, albeit minus the angular post-punk/funk influence.

Check out the Railway Children’s gentle pop sound:

The First Notebook (Reunion Wilderness)
Brighter (Reunion Wilderness)
A Gentle Sound (Reunion Wilderness)
Somewhere South (Listen On: The Best of the Railway Children)
Monica’s Light (Listen On: The Best of the Railway Children)
In the Meantime (Listen On: The Best of the Railway Children)
Every Beat of the Heart (Native Place)

Adopting a somewhat dance-oriented feel on 1990’s Native Place, the Railway Children were buoyed by the success of the New Order-ish single “Every Beat of the Heart.” However, with the success came increasing pressure on the band to go for an ever more commercial sound. That outside influence, combined with a corporate takeover of Virgin by EMI in the early ’90s left the band without a label. Facing the oncoming tsunami of grunge, Newby simply decided it was time to take a break.

Newby, who did release the 1997 album Dream Arcade under the Railway Children moniker, now lives in Japan and continues to produce and record music.

Visit Gary Newby’s website.