Design crazy – Page 18

14 May, 202127 January, 2022

Kraftwerk – ‘Die Roboter’ MusikExpress magazine German 7″ single (Kling Klang/Parlophone, 2017)

What is it? A one-sided 7″ single with a 3 minute 33 seconds edit of the ‘3-D’ re-recording of ‘Die Roboter’ given away exclusively with the German magazine MusikExpress in its August 2017 issue. The flipside, rather than completely blank, still has a red label design with the pixelated band members logo and has an etched artwork design on the vinyl, with ‘KRAFTWERK’ (top) and ‘12345678’ (bottom) in the familiar pixelated font so beloved of many a Kraftwerk release from 1981 onwards.

This is the first of what now appears to be something of a biennial series of 7″ releases for Kraftwerk in MusikExpress magazine. It was followed in 2019 with a new edit of ‘Autobahn’ on blue vinyl 7″, which was featured in a previous post. Continue reading “Kraftwerk – ‘Die Roboter’ MusikExpress magazine German 7″ single (Kling Klang/Parlophone, 2017)”

7 May, 202114 May, 2021

Button badge goodness – Post-Punk Selection 1 (Joy Division, Gang of Four, Wire)

A small but historical selections of period badges, of a Post-Punk flavour this time round. None of your recent eBay purchases here, I can vouch that all of these designs pictured date back to 1981/82, which is when I picked them up and swiftly fastened them to lapel or pocket flap to sport around town. They would have almost certainly been from 1-UP records in Aberdeen, when they were still to be found on Rosemount Viaduct.

Continue reading “Button badge goodness – Post-Punk Selection 1 (Joy Division, Gang of Four, Wire)”

28 April, 202127 January, 2022

Side by side: René Halkett and David Jay – ‘Nothing’ / ‘Armour’ 7″ (1981) and 20th Anniversary re-issue CD (2001)

1982 into 1983 was when I first really got the Bauhaus bug. Summer of 1983 into Autumn of that year in particular it reached fever-pitch, with having been able to see Bauhaus live and with the release of the band’s final album and various solo project releases from Tones On Tail and David J. This would continue for some time as I delved back into the band’s previous releases and other solo project releases.

Amongst them was the release in focus here. It sounded intriguing, from what little I knew about it. René Halkett, original member of The Bauhaus (or Staatliches Bauhaus Weimar’ to be more formal) makes contact with bass player of Bauhaus and a friendship emerges that leads to a collaborative single. Bauhaus were regular pilloried in the music press for their assumed pretentiousness and… oh my… this surely came with a capital P in their eyes!

Rene Halkett and David Jay - 'Nothing' / 'Armour' 7" front cover — *^ René Halkett and David Jay – ‘Nothing’ / ‘Armour’ 7″ front cover*

Continue reading “Side by side: René Halkett and David Jay – ‘Nothing’ / ‘Armour’ 7″ (1981) and 20th Anniversary re-issue CD (2001)”

21 April, 202127 January, 2022

The Human League – ‘Travelogue’ Canadian LP (Virgin/Polygram VL 2202, 1980)

The Human League’s fine second album, presented here in the altered version released in Canada alone that saw a different sleeve design and altered tracklisting. All in all, added up to an appealing import temptation from the racks of HMV. Whether it was to the band’s liking, I don’t know – can’t be very satisfying to spend all that time and effort sequencing a running order and sleeve design only to have a record label change it – even retitling one of the tracks!

The Human League - 'Travelogue' Canadian LP front cover — *^ The Human League – ‘Travelogue’ Canadian LP front cover*

First off, the altered sleeve design… ditching the more familiar design used for the front in most other territories, this version chose to re-use the cover photo used for the ‘Holiday ’80’ EP, tweaking the title graphics to keep the regular ‘Travelogue’ titling. Meanwhile, the back cover kept the layout, though with an alterations to the colourway to tone in with the front cover, I presume, with block blue background instead of a golden yellow. Continue reading “The Human League – ‘Travelogue’ Canadian LP (Virgin/Polygram VL 2202, 1980)”

14 April, 202127 January, 2022

Button badge goodness – Echo and the Bunnymen Summer 1983 UK tour badges

The one and only time I have seen Echo and the Bunnymen play live was on one of the the Scottish dates of their short ‘Ley Lines’ tour of Summer 1983. The band were in fine form at this time, and for me 1983 was a great year of exciting gig going, this gig one of a few memorable occasions that summer. Naturally, mementoes were required so these badges and a t-shirt were purchased from the merch stall. The print quality of the button badges is not the sharpest – it’s not the photos – the enamel badge is a beauty though and it’s still in decent nick despite having seen active service on my safari (the Jobson influence, natch) / combat jacket lapels a fair bit!

Continue reading “Button badge goodness – Echo and the Bunnymen Summer 1983 UK tour badges”