Design crazy

21 July, 202421 July, 2024

Danielle Dax – ‘Up Amongst The Golden Spires’ Japanese CD (Vap, 85009-32, 1987

Once again, time to focus on the ever wonderful and enduring work of Danielle Dax. A relatively straightforward playing-catch-up release, ‘Up Amongst The Golden Spires’ is a Japan-only compilation album that pooled together all of the tracks originally released on the ‘Pop-Eyes’ album (1983) and the ‘Jesus Egg That Wept’ mini-album (1984), released on vinyl format late 1986 and on CD format in February 1987 on the Japanese VAP label. 1987 would be a pivotal year for Dax, with the release of the ‘Inky Bloaters’ album and ever increased media profile. The VAP label would go on to release the exclusive album ‘The Chemical Wedding’, covered in detail in an earlier post, in November 1987 which as well as mingling some previously released material also included versions unreleased elsewhere to this day, as well as the initial release of material that would surface in other territories until later.

Danielle Dax - 'Up Amongst The Golden Spires' Japanese CD - front insert design and disc label — ^ Danielle Dax – ‘Up Amongst The Golden Spires’ Japanese CD – front insert design and disc label

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7 July, 20247 July, 2024

John Foxx compilations across the years Part 7

2014 saw the release of the ‘Virgin Years 1980-1985’ CD boxed set which gathered up most of John Foxx’s work recorded for Virgin Records. As well as individual discs for the four principal albums recorded during the period it contained a fifth disc that compiled a selection of waifs and strays of B-sides and outtake. This compilation was titled ‘Fusion/Fission’ (which had originally been the tithe intended for 1980’s ’Metamatic’, as it happens). This compilation has never been issued separately and is only obtainable as part of the box set, which originally had a release date of 21st July 2014 to be precise, but was actually available from Monday 23rd June 2014 due to earlier than anticipated manufacturing and delivery.

John Foxx - 'The Virgin Years' CD box set (front box design) — ^ John Foxx – ‘The Virgin Years 1980-1985’ CD box set (front box design)

28 June, 202428 June, 2024

Talking Heads – ‘Take Me To The River’ / ‘Psycho Killer’ UK cassingle (Sire, SPC 9, 1981)

This curious little release was issued as part of a series cassette format singles of WEA label artists, such as Gary Numan and Tubeway Army as featured in a pervious post. Packaged in cute little flip-top box packs, the series shared a common theme of design/layout and would pair two the best tracks by each of the artists chosen. As well as this Talking Heads release, the series featured The Pretenders (two releases, no less), Angelic Upstarts, Rezillos, Tubeway Army, The Ramones, Gary Numan, Saxon and finally Jane Birkin.

Talking Heads - 'Take Me To The River' / 'Psycho Killer' 1981 UK Cassingle - flip-top pack front — ^ Talking Heads – ‘Take Me To The River’ / ‘Psycho Killer’ 1981 UK Cassingle – flip-top pack front

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28 May, 202427 May, 2024

Kraftwerk – ‘Tour de France’ UK cassette single (EMI, TC-EMI 5413, 1983)

What a complicated tale there is to Kraftwerk’s ‘Tour de France’ single. So many versions! This post takes a brief dip into the story to focus on only one release, the rather novel cassette single edition that came out in the UK for the single’s original release in 1983. The mixes of the song featured on this cassingle mirror those to be found on the original 1983 UK 12” single, these being;

Side One:

Tour De France (Long Version) (6’30”)

Side Two:

Tour De France (3’00”) (NB: This was the same mix as on the A side of the 1983 UK 7” single too.)
Tour De France 2è Étape (2’40”)

Now then, it’s important to point out from the off that the first two tracks on this release are the French language versions. The third track – ‘Tour de France 2è Étape’ – is listed as ‘Tour de France’ (Version) on the 12” record label and cassette shell instead, for some odd reason. This 2è Étape mix is NOT the same as the mix that was on the B side of the 1983 7” UK single, despite having a similar duration of 2’40”. The 7” B side is a genuine, shorter instrumental mix whereas ‘Tour de France 2è Étape’ doesn’t really feature the music and is more of an electronic percussion and effects workout.

^ Kraftwerk – ‘Tour de France’ 1983 UK cassette single front cover design

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7 May, 20246 May, 2024

John Foxx compilations across the years Part 6

Three years on from the previous compilation release, ‘Metatronic’, 2013’s ‘Metadelic’ was very much a companion piece that chose to focus on the ‘warmer’ periods of John’s solo material, seemingly psychedelic infused as opposed to the more influential, cold and dystopian works his solo work started off with (and would revisit later), and managed to include some previously unreleased exclusives, as well as bring some video materials back into circulation. Or as Foxx describes it in the sleevenotes; “The cyber-punk they called John Foxx’ has dissolved a little and defrosted. He has become healthy and splendored, drifting free.”

John Foxx 'Metadelic' CD front case design — ^ John Foxx ‘Metadelic’ CD front case design

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