Wire ‘Eardrum Buzz’ clear vinyl 7″ single (Mute, MUTE 87)

An odd little curio this one – I don’t recall it having been available when the single was first released in 1989 and I came across it a couple of years later courtesy of ‘Record Collector’ magazine, where it was advertised as a ‘withdrawn’ release. Given that Wire had already singed their fingers with the ill-fated ‘Outdoor Miner’ white vinyl single (excluded from its rightful chart position due to hyping allegations), perhaps this was culled at birth to avoid any similar troubles… who knows?

Wire 'Eardrum Buzz' clear vinyl 7" single and picture cover
^ Wire ‘Eardrum Buzz’ clear vinyl 7 inch single and picture cover

It is no different from the regular 7″ release other than the see-through nature of the vinyl, so its one for collectable vinyl junkies only, I dare say. Continue reading “Wire ‘Eardrum Buzz’ clear vinyl 7″ single (Mute, MUTE 87)”

The Passions ‘Love Is Essential’/’Jump For Joy’ French promo-only 7″ (Polydor 2814 357)

A promo-only 7″ of French origin, peeled from the third album by The Passions pairing the album track ‘Love Is Essential’ along with ‘Jump For Joy’, which had appeared early in 1982 as a single A side in the UK.

Passions 'Love Is Essential' 7" promo-only 7" single, 1982 - A side
^ Passions ‘Love Is Essential’ 7″ promo-only 7″ single, 1982 – A side

I picked it up at a record fair in Dundee in the early 1990s, I’ve no idea how common or rare these are – probably not much due to the lack of a picture sleeve and, as far as I can tell, the versions are the same as per the album mixes. Continue reading “The Passions ‘Love Is Essential’/’Jump For Joy’ French promo-only 7″ (Polydor 2814 357)”

Steven Severin ‘Kidnap Garden’, UK promo-only CD (Ryko, RMCD003)

‘Kidnap Garden’ is a promo-only CD featuring a variety of Steven Severin’s non-Banshees songwriting examples – not only his solo material but also examples from The Glove (his 1983 collaboration with Robert Smith of The Cure) as well as Marc and the Mambas.

'Kidnap Garden' front sleeve design

Commissioned by his publishing company of the period, Ryko, the CD is a promo-only affair released in 2004 and not commercially available. More’s the pity, as it is a nicely packaged selection, complete with sleeve notes including track by track comments courtesy of Mr Severin himself. Continue reading “Steven Severin ‘Kidnap Garden’, UK promo-only CD (Ryko, RMCD003)”