50/50 have announced their debut studio album, Memories Linger, out December 4 on vinyl and digital via Light in the Attic (LITA).

The 12-song collection, nine of which are previously unreleased, is drawn from more than 150 recordings the British synth-pop duo made between 1979 and 1985. 

Alongside the announcement, 50/50 shared the album’s title track, streaming now on all platforms. You can listen to it here: 

50/50 was formed in the late 1970s by multi-instrumentalist Richard Haines and vocalist David Cowles, who met during informal jam sessions at a studio in Reigate, Surrey, and bonded over a shared interest in the era’s emerging synth-pop and new wave sounds. In 1982, the duo signed a publishing deal with Bocu Music, which is also home to ABBA, Colin Blunstone, and Johnny Logan, and released a handful of singles, including “Memories Linger” and “Just Can’t Win” in 1982 and “Talk Too Much” and “I Saw The Future” in 1983. Despite positive feedback from the press and industry figures, including Genesis manager Tony Smith, the duo struggled to gain a foothold and their output went largely unreleased by 1985. 

Haines described the recording process as “the sheer joy of Dave and I coming up with music, it was just fantastic.” He now runs a photo restoration business in East Sussex, while Cowles, now based on the Isle of Wight, is a retired hotelier. The duo’s work resurfaced after a 2024 article in Record Collector caught the attention of writer Mike Sacks, who brought it to LITA founder Matt Sullivan. 

Memories Linger was newly mastered by engineer John Baldwin and includes liner notes from London-based broadcaster and writer Charles Donovan, with cover art by Darryl Norsen. The LP edition includes a 12-page booklet. The track “Just Can’t Win” also recently premiered on FX’s The Shards. 

Memories Linger is due out December 4. You can pre order it here, and the full tracklist is below: 

1. Memories Linger
2. Just Can't Win
3. Talk Too Much
4. When I Fall *
5. I Don't Want To Talk About It *
6. Falling In Love *
7. Cry On My Shoulder *
8. I'm Sorry I Left You *
9. Reasons *
10. Who Needs Money *
11. Facing The Storm *
12. I Don't Need Love *

• = Previously unreleased