Computer Games: Mi-Sex’s 1979 New Wave Breakthrough

In 1979, Mi-Sex released Computer Games, a synth-heavy new wave hit that topped Australia’s charts for one week. Released on CBS, it charted for 25 weeks, landing at No. 13 for the year. Written by Steve Gilpin and Kevin Stanton, with music by Stanton and Murray Burns, it was the second single from their debut album, Graffiti Crimes. It overtook The Boomtown Rats and bowed to The Buggles, marking Mi-Sex’s only No. 1. A Kiwi-Aussie classic, let’s dive into its origin, chart run, and lasting buzz.

From NZ Punk to Sydney Synths
Mi-Sex formed in New Zealand in ’77, led by Steve Gilpin, with Kevin Stanton (guitar), Murray Burns (keyboards), Don Martin (bass), and Phil Smart (drums). Starting as a punk act, they moved to Sydney in ’78, chasing bigger stages, and leaned into new wave. Computer Games, from Graffiti Crimes, captured the digital age’s dawn—think arcade games and early PCs. Gilpin and Stanton’s lyrics, paired with Stanton and Burns’s synthy music, gave it a futuristic edge. Recorded in Sydney with producer Peter Dawkins, it was a leap from their first single, But You Don’t Care, showing off Gilpin’s grit and Burns’s keyboard flair.

Chart Power
Charting on October 15th, ’79, as catalogue number BA 222563, it hit No. 1 on November 26th, toppling I Don’t Like Mondays. It held for one week—25 weeks total—before Video Killed The Radio Star arrived. It ended ’79 at No. 13, a strong second single. The B-side, Wot Do You Want?, kept the new wave kick. Mi-Sex’s sole Australian No. 1, it also reached top 5 in Canada and top 40 in the UK, fueled by Countdown airplay and CBS’s push. Dawkins’s production made it a radio and club staple.

The ’79 Scene
Australia in ’79 was a musical hotspot—punk was cooling, new wave was heating up, and synths were king. Computer Games rode the wave with its slick, danceable sound, perfect for Countdown’s neon glow. Less gritty than The Angels, less zany than Mental As Anything, Mi-Sex carved a niche with their electronic strut, tapping into the era’s tech fascination.Why It Endures
Computer Games launched Mi-Sex—Graffiti Crimes hit the top 10, and hits like People followed. Steve Gilpin’s death in ’92 was a loss, but the band plays on. A retro gem, it’s in ‘Aussie classics’ playlists and got a nod in Stranger Things for its synth vibe. Play it, and you’re in a ’79 club, lights flashing. Mi-Sex’s high-water mark, it’s still got that futuristic spark. Got a Mi-Sex story? Share it below—I’m all ears!